Aria Vandervoort

In the capital city you can find anything as long as you are willing to pay.

Of course, information is also easily accessible if you have enough money and know where to look.

Because of the way I have lived my life and the line of work I have done so far, it was not difficult for me to find what I was looking for.

Even though they are not an organization as such, the thieves' guild is well known all over the world. because it allowed you to get all kinds of information it was tolerated by the authorities everywhere.

That's why I now find myself in a dark and diluted alley while waiting for the contact.

As I listened to the sound of drops falling from a nearby water fountain I could feel a presence enter the alley.

A hooded man entered slowly, as we exchanged glances he asked me.

"What are you looking for?" "Information about Aria Vandervoort." I replied.

"It will cost you dearly, 5 golds." "3 golds." I counter.

"No deal..." He said as he turned away. "Wait... Okey, 5 golds." I said kicking myself.

While paying a small fortune, I asked the a question.

"I want to know what Aria usually does, places of interest and that sort of thing."

The hooded stranger broke down the information he had about Aria, even though most of it was useless information or rumors.

There were two things that caught my attention. The first was that Aria always went to a bar called "The whale" after a mission and drank to her heart's content.

She became famous in the place for her altercations with other adventurers and mercenaries. It is said that Aria has an agreement with the owner of the bar so she always avoids getting into trouble with the knights.

However, when a fight broke out, Aria immediately returned to her home in an alley near the commercial district 2. This information was too useful to be so easy to obtain.

I had some doubts about the veracity of this information. Would one of the most important people be so well located and followed? With that doubt in mind I questioned the informant.

His answer was quite logical.

"Well, Mrs. Aria is a person who doesn't hide much, so she is not difficult to follow. Besides, she is not the first one to ask for this information..."

"Well that's..." but before I could finish, the stranger continued. "Also I recommend discretion. Everyone who has asked for this information has ended up with a couple of broken bones at best."

With that warning, the informant left, leaving me deep in thought. I began to weave a plan. It had a good chance of succeeding and the best part was that if it worked, I wouldn't have to confront Aria directly.

The iron sword had left for a mission so it was likely that she would be back by Friday. Today was Wednesday, so I had two days to put the plan into action.

I was determined and a bit excited, so I didn't waste any more time and set off.

***

POV Aria

"I never get to say it, but you are amazing Eleanor!" I shouted excitedly to my classmates as we walked towards the capital city of Vam.

In the distance we could already see the big defensive walls welcoming us. However, I was already used to this view, so I found it a bit surprising.

"I mean, I really thought we would have trouble dealing with the orc general but you beheaded him without any problems by yourself. Hey Emiru, isn't Eleanor a better swordsman than you?”

I was talking to my party mates remembering the last assignment as we always did. Emiru Satsuma the main swordswoman responded to my comment without taking her eyes off the path.

"In terms of pure skill I should be better than the leader, but in raw power and total combat resources I lag far behind in comparison."

Just when I thought of answering. Eliza Lumera the mage answered Emiru between tired gasps.

"Hah. As humble as ever hah. But you weren't the same one who cut down 25 orcs without staining your white robe with blood. Hell Eleador why don't we continue in the chariot."

"Ohhhhh I hadn't noticed!" Usually Emiru wears a white baggy tunic with black sleeves and black pants. And even though I always end up covered in smelly blood and have to wear my leotard as a spare.

Emiru rarely gets blood on her arms, not even on the black sleeves covering her arms.

Emiru answered Eliza with a clear and calm voice to Eliza's words "The honor of a swordsman is in his appearance.” With that unconvincing answer she continued with a mocking smile to Eliza "Besides the leader said that this is to keep our bodies in shape Eliza, didn't she or is it that the mighty 5 circle mage can't do a light walk?"

Eliza replied upset "LIGHT WALKING?? WE WERE LEFT 5 KILOMETERS AWAY!!! YOU CALL THAT LIGHT WALKING!!!?"

"Come on you two. Calm down a little." I said calmly as I tried to calm them down but it didn't seem to work.

Eliza looked like she was going to shoot a lightning bolt at Emiru at any moment and Emiru had her hand on her sword waiting to respond at any moment.

In a situation that seemed like an inevitable fight, I prepared to stop them, but after a while Eleanor opened her mouth.

“Sorry.”

With those simple words the tension suddenly dropped.

Emiru put down her sword with a "tsk" and Eliza simply turned her head away like a scolded child.

"Emiru, I already told you to stop messing with Eliza apologize to her. And Eliza you might be right about me overdoing the walking thing but for the safety of everything it's better to be in shape. I'll still give you a compensation with one of those rare materials you like so much."

Emiru looked as if she wanted to say something but pulled back and uttered a simple "I'm sorry" and Eliza even though she was panting with every step. Her eyes began to sparkle when she heard Eleanor's words.

Eleanor with a smile replied "Besides, Arisa, although it may have seemed easy, it would not have been possible without Eliza's magic support and the spaces that you and Emiru gave me.”

With those words of our leader, the atmosphere became pleasant again while we were walking. Half jokingly I said "That's our leader." And we all laughed a little.

***

We arrived to the city after a while. The first one to leave was Eliza, claiming that her body couldn't take it anymore. Eleanor also said goodbye. She said she would go to inform the guild about the success of the mission and collect the reward.

Then it was Emiru and I. I quickly asked. "So Emi, do you want to go for a drink with me?" However I received the expected answer. "I decline your offer Aria, **** is poison for a warrior's body. As a martial artist you should be the most aware of it."

"Ahhh, you sound like my master Emi. What's the point of life without the little pleasures?"

Just as I finished saying that Emiru was already gone. With a wry smile I said "Well I'll be me again."

I went directly to "The Whale." A small tavern located in a little trafficked street.

If I had to describe it, it would be an extremely simple little tavern.

But I had chosen it because it was the only bar that still accepted me. Although I'm a little embarrassed to admit it, for some reason I always attract trouble when I drink.

So most of the bars and taverns in Vam had kicked me out to avoid trouble.

The only tavern that even with all the trouble I cause admits me is "The Whale." Not without conditions though.

Basically, if a fight breaks out in my presence, whatever the reason, I will have to go home immediately.

Although it's annoying to have that restriction, it's better than not being able to drink there, so I grudgingly accepted it.

As I was thinking this, I walked into the bar. It was around 7 o'clock so it was pretty empty.

Except for me, there was a small group of 3 mercenaries and little else. I greeted Maggie the bartender and daughter of the owner and began to sit in my usual seat.

***

About 3 hours later I was still drinking.

I was still a bit dizzy from the **** and I was telling Maggie how we faced that big group of orcs.

"Then Eleanor decapitated the great orc general causing the others to fall into chaos at the same time." While telling Maggie about our adventures.

I noticed out of the corner of my eye that the mercenaries from earlier had been laughing slyly at my stories, and as the night wore on their mockery had been increasing.

Even though I would have usually ignored them, the **** in my blood prevented me from doing so. As I approached the 3 mercenaries under Maggie's worried gaze.

"Do you have a problem?" I asked. Although I didn't use a threatening tone and it was a confrotative tone.

The leader of the 3 mercenaries spoke as he stood up "So what if we do honey."

This guy despised me without hiding it. Even though it was not enough reason to beat someone up, the lust hidden in the depths of his eyes disgusted me.

Without a word I attacked him. Even drunk these guys were a piece of cake.

By the time I was done their limbs were pointing in directions they should never be pointing.

All around me a few broken chairs and tables lay.

Staggering from the **** and blood I approached Maggie and handed her a couple of gold coins as I usually do when I break furniture and said goodbye.

I wanted to avoid the tavern owner's scolding so I took off like an arrow for home.

As I walked through the dark and empty streets I approached my home.

I reflected on how rarely weak those mercernaries were but quickly tried to forget about it.

Sometimes people don't understand the difference between a charlatan and someone with genuine skill.

Maybe they thought they could easily overpower me.

As I was thinking this and that I arrived at my front door, I fumbled for my keys when suddenly a drop landed on my shoulder.

"Is it going to rain tonight?"

With that in mind I insert the key into the door, but before I can turn the lock I notice something strange. Isn't that drop too viscous to be rain? Just as I think that, I can feel a warm liquid enter my ear at lightning speed.

Before I can understand what's happening, a strange mass falls from the ceiling and rushes from the roof into my ear and mouth. I try to throw a few punches, but due to the shock, my vision blurs and it becomes impossible to counter the strange attack. Not really understanding what the hell is going on, I fall to my knees on the hard floor in front of my door and start to pass out.

Just before I lose consciousness, I feel the strange mass resume its march through my head. A single thought crosses my mind, "Help..." but there is no one to answer my call.