Chapter 34: YOU MESS WITH HER, YOU MESS WITH ME
"So, I'm going to get something done, do you want anything from me, Jaxith?", Said Emelia as she stood up, Miller noticed her from the other end of the counter.
"Thank you, Emelia, actually there's a little request that I want from you.", Said Jaxith.
"Go on.", Said Emelia, Jaxith put his right hand in the pocket of his coat before he got it out while holding two similar stones.
"Wait, I remember those, aren't they the guiding stones I gave to you after you saved me?", Asked Emelia.
"Exactly.", Said Jaxith.
"Well it's good to see that you're still keeping them, so what do you want to do with them?", Said Emelia.
"I want you to make sure that they are still functioning, I may need them if I lost Irene under any circumstances.", Said Jaxith.
"Now I get it, of course, Jaxith, let me take a look.", Said Emelia before she took the stones from Jaxith's hand and inspected them.
"Well, they're not active anymore, their divine energy depleted over the years, it has been seven years since I gave you those stones, you should thank the gods that you didn't need them before or you would have found them useless.", Said Emelia.
"Damn it, can they be fixed?", Asked Jaxith.
"I can do it, I'll just put them in a small cauldron containing blessed water then add a small divine stone to recharge them, after that they will be active and ready for use again.", Said Emelia enthusiastically, alchemy is a great passion for her not just a hobby, it has become a source of a living too for her, Jaxith was thinking about something, if she learned all of this alone by the books and little travelling, then how strong in alchemy she would be if she travelled to Reldret and studied alchemy there.
"Thank you, oh right, I forgot a little thing.", Said Jaxith before he put his hand again inside his pocket but this time he took out a small white sack.
"What's that?", Said Emelia while handling the sack, she felt that it was holding something soft, like a soft piece of meat or something like that.
"While traveling here we faced an Onohly, I suppose Miller told you about it, I killed it anyway and that's not the deal, I made a small cut with my sword at the back of it's skull, I was trying to find if there was a specific organ responsible for providing the four tubes surrounding its face with the gas it produce, and I was lucky, I found a little gland that was attached with the four tubes internally by smaller tubules, I dissected it and brought it with me, I know it could be useful but I don't know how so I I'm asking you if you can make anything useful from it, something to help me as a hunter.", Said Jaxith.
"You mean useful as a weapon right?", Asked Emelia.
"I may really need something like that, the gas make strong hallucinations that could turn a hard battle into an easy one just by using it, I still don't know what types of dangers await me while protecting Irene.", Said Jaxith, Emelia sighed.
"You like the dangerous way, don't you?", Said Emelia while smiling.
"I do.", Said Jaxith calmly before he raised another cup of orange juice that Miller placed a while before and took a sip.
"You're a strange man Jaxith.", Said Emelia.
"And so you're, give me a single reason how a smart person like you didn't think about studying alchemy in a kingdom like Reldret, you know you're much smarter than a lot of those idiot nobles who always brag about their achievements in an important branch like alchemy but they're not even half as good as you, they're just a bunch of idiots with a lot of money so they decide use it on something looks useful to just say that they have done something great just to bring honor to their families, so for real, why didn't you think about it?", Said Jaxith while looking seriously, Emelia smiled before looking at her dad, Miller, who was chatting with a client.
"That's why.", Said Emelia while looking at Miller, Jaxith couldn't understand her.
"I'm sure that Miller wouldn't mind you traveling for studying the thing that you love most, that man loves you and will do anything for you.", Said Jaxith.
"I know, but I don't want to leave him alone, I know how much he will feel lonely without me, before mom got ill I received an invitation from a famous alchemist from Reldret that was here in Vidin, when I knew he was coming to Vidin I travelled to the capital to meet him and insisted on helping him and try to learn a thing or two from him and surprisingly he was interested in me more than all of the noble students that he was teaching although I wasn't one of his students, you could say I was just sticking to him to learn and before he left he gave me this invitation, a complete comprehensive scholarship just for me, he said that I'm pure talented and it's a waste that I'm just using it in simple things, he wanted me to transform this hobby into a workable talent, I was so happy and decided to return to Ebonmere instantly and tell my parents about it, I was sure that they were going to love it.", Said Emelia before she stopped for a moment, Jaxith noticed that she was getting uncomfortable about what she is going to say.
"You've found her ill, right?", Said Jaxith calmly.
"Yeah, Troy, my husband, he brought a doctor who said that she doesn't have much time, I came and I found her like that, I even missed the doctor, she was ill for a while and I wasn't even with her, thanks to Troy he helped them and it was just a few months after our marriage, I didn't love him for nothing.", Said Emelia while smiling.
"I didn't mention anything to them, father was already tearing, he wasn't believing that he will lose her, and so I decided not to bring anything about it, I just told Troy and he told me that I should tell father, but that wasn't possible, father will tell me to take this opportunity and will insist that I travel with Troy, and I don't want to leave him alone, I knew that mom wasn't going to live for a month and then he will be lonely if I travelled, what if he became ill just like her and I wasn't by his side too? I was gradually getting attached to alchemy that I was forgetting my own family, can you imagine that my husband helped them more than I did? And this was the time they needed me the most, I wasn't even there, so I decided to not make the same mistake again, I sent a message to this alchemist and told him that I can't leave my family, he respected me and wished me luck, Troy also said that it's my life and he didn't want to intervene, we both didn't tell anyone about this, you're the first one to know, after that mom left us and I sticked to father, I opened a small alchemy shop at Troy's town and every week I travel to check on father, I just can't afford to lose him too while being away.", Said Emelia while looking at Miller, Jaxith looked at her before looking at Miller.
"That's your life, Emelia, I can't say if that was the right choice or not but it's not my choice to make, I think that Troy is a smart one to say something like that.", Said Jaxith.
"He's, I just don't know someone that could understand me like him, he respected my passion and even when I lost mom he was always by my side, I was happy that we married before mom died, at least she saw me getting married.", Said Emelia while smiling, she is clearly hiding her sadness, but Jaxith couldn't know if their was regret behind that smile or not, that chance that she missed usually don't come twice, but also family matters, that's something missing Irene for example, for Jaxith, things are just black in that case, things he doesn't want to even remember.
"I wish you good luck, Emelia, you're a good woman.", Said Jaxith before he returned to drinking orange juice, he could notice several people looking at him.
"Thank you, Jaxith, I'll get going now, I'll go to the small lab in Miller's house, he's keeping it as I may need it when I'm here, I'll recharge the guiding stones and see what I can do about this gland that you extracted from the beast.", Said Emelia as she stood up.
"Well well, if it's not the strange visitors we've got last night.", Said a bald man who has just entered the inn, he was followed by two other men and the few people in the inn were looking intensely at the situation, Jaxith's back was already towards them as he was drinking juice and decided to ignore them.
"What's your problem, Larry?", Asked Miller from behind the counter, this Larry's intentions are clearly not good.
"Yeah, we got a problem here, Miller, how can you still leave this man and the hybrid with him after what happened yesterday?", Asked Larry.
"What do you mean?", Asked Miller.
"We heard it, Miller, all of the village.", Said one of the two men behind Larry.
"I'm just behind your inn, Miller, my wife and kids weren't able to sleep from fear until she stopped screaming.", Said the other man behind Larry, Larry at once walked towards the room where Jaxith and Irene were sleeping in and took a look inside.
"By the gods, were they doing one of those sick dark rituals in your inn or what?", Asked Larry while looking angry at Miller.
"Of course no, it's more complicated than that.", Said Emelia politely.
"I respect you, Emelia, we all do, but what's happening here is just unacceptable, your father is making a mistake leaving dangerous people like those in the village, we heard about what happened in Orstone and we don't want anything connected with the demons in the village, can't you see how he is? He's a brute!", Said Larry while walking behind Jaxith and the two men followed him.
"You're crossing the line here, Larry, we're all family here, and Jaxith here is a family friend who likes to help everyone, he's a good person.", Said Miller seriously, Jaxith on the other hand was still boldly slowly drinking his juice, he was hearing every word but he still maintains his calm, he can't be simply irritated.
"Good or not, we don't care, we have children and wives and we simply can't ignore something like that in our village, she could kill all of us, come on, Miller, you're one of the most respected men in Ebonmere, how can you accept something shady like that?", Said Larry angrily.
"What do you want Larry?", Said Miller seriously.
"I'm just a normal lumberjack that wants nothing but peace, their existence threatens our peace, all of the village are against their residence, they are not welcome here.", Said Larry.
"That won't happen, I can't tell a guest to leave without a prober reason, they didn't do anything wrong or harm a single person.", Said Miller seriously.
"Oh yeah, so we're going to wait until we wake up and find ourselves in the middle of flames or what.", Said Larry angrily before he averted his eyes and looked at Jaxith who was still ignoring what was happening, Emelia started getting worried by the tension in the inn, literally everyone was looking at Jaxith.
"Why don't you talk, white haired grandpa, you can hold that sword but won't talk like men or you're carrying it for show.", Said Larry sarcastically, Jaxith put down his glass slowly while taking his breath but suddenly the inn's door was opened.
"Hey, Jax, I'm taking Senka for a walk in the village, I thought that I need to ask you first.", Said Irene who just barged in the inn and was walking towards Jaxith but stopped when she felt the tension in the room, she was already close to Jaxith.
"Ahhhh, is something wrong?", Asked Irene while looking around her, she felt that the people around we're eying her in hatred.
"Actually there's, looks like the only place you'll take this Senka is outside the village, you and your boyfriend aren't welcome anymore.", Said Larry while stepping towards Irene.
" First of all, who the f**k are? Second thing, Jaxith isn't my boyfriend, third thing, you smell like shit so step away.", Said Irene boldly, her aggressive behavior doesn't change at all, she may be very kindhearted and can cry easily but that doesn't change the fact that she's a sly one.
"She's rude too, listen here, hybrid, we can't let you stay here, if you didn't comply, we will get a bit aggressive with both of you, including that cute one.", Said Larry while pointing at Jaxith, Irene smiled.
"Jaxith? he'll simply f**k you, and I think you'll like it.", Said Irene while smirking! She's literally unafraid from them, of course she won't, she insulted the mayor between his guards, a simple villager won't stop her from making fun of him and he was the one that started it, Jaxith was still sitting calm but he was eyeing how Irene was handling the situation with the side of his eyes, the people around wasn't believing how bold Irene is to reply like that.
"Looks like this hybrid bi**h needs to be taught a lesson.", Said Larry angrily while stepping forward but Irene instantly kicked him in the nuts! Larry fell on his knees from pain, Emelia and Miller weren't believing themselves.
"Who is the bi**h now a**hole?", Said Irene angrily, she lost her temper when he insulted her, with the mayor Jaxith stopped her from making any foolish move but with someone like Larry she won't hold it.
"You piece of s**t.", Said Larry angrily before he quickly pulled a knife from his side pocket, Irene quickly stepped back and put her hand on her dagger!
"LARRY STOP THIS MADNESS!", Shouted Miller who stepped forward looking afraid, Larry was furious that a young girl would make him look that bad but just before he leap at Irene a wooden chair was thrown harshly on his back! The chair was broken and Larry was put on the ground while shouting from pain!
Jaxith slowly walked towards Irene and Larry, he was the one that threw the chair, finally he's going to act.
"Sorry I couldn't hold myself Jax, it's ju-.", Said Irene before Jaxith raised his hand in a way to tell her to be quiet without even saying a word.
Jaxith stood beside Larry who was on the ground, the other two men was hesitating, Miller was rubbing his forehead and Emelia became afraid, Jaxith's face expressions were angry, really angry.
"What're you waiting for? Just beat the s**t out of him.", Said Larry while still hurting.
One of the men quickly moved towards Jaxith who instantly kicked a table between them which hit the man's legs making him lose his balance and fall while running forward towards Jaxith and just before he fell Jaxith elbow-hit him on his cheek while falling sending him unconscious!
Jaxith boldly raised just his eyes and looked at the other man who started feeling afraid but he decided that he won't stop and grapped a machete over a table beside him and quickly stepped and moved towards Jaxith while slashing the machete against Jaxith!
Jaxith calmly hit the wrist of the hand holding the machete with his left hand swiftly by an angle that caused the man to drop the machete at once! Just after it Jaxith kicked him just below his right knee to make him fall on his right knee as if he was kneeling and then he did a quick spin before he laid a strong back kick on his face sending him unconscious too!
In less than a minute three men were down, that's Jaxith, Emelia wasn't believing her eyes, how did he do it fast like that, but again, how can a monster hunter be that good in melee combat? That has nothing to do with monster hunting, that was clearly melee combat techniques, Irene was the only one thinking like that, she still doesn't know how he's that strong and yet he just hunts simple beasts.
"Anyone else wants to try his luck?", Asked Jaxith in his cold demeanor while looking at the crowd who was afraid from him by now, there was no answer.
"Good, now let's get this situation sorted out, Irene will do whatever she wants to do until we leave, she won't harm anyone but also no one should bother her, and if anyone tried any form of racism against her, he will face me personally, am I making myself clear?", Said Jaxith calmly, there was no answer again from the crowd.
"Perfect, Irene, why don't you take Senka and see what you wanted to do with him in the village?", Said Jaxith without looking at Irene, she looked hesitated a bit before she decided not to argue about anything now and moved out of the inn without anyone talking to her.
Miller looked relieved that nothing serious happened but he suddenly found that Jaxith started drawing his sword while turning to Larry!
"JAXITH NO!", Shouted Emelia and Miller together before Jaxith stabbed the wooden floor just beside Larry's head!
Jaxith was positioning the blade of the sword directly towards Larry's neck and the sword was inclined in an angle like it's a scissor and Larry's was going to beheaded!
Larry looked afraid from Jaxith whose face was looking angrily but also bold.
"Now about you, if you ever thought about just insulting her like that again then I'll make sure that you will regret that thought, you mess with her you mess with me, understood?", Said Jaxith boldly while kneeling over Larry, Larry from fear wasn't able to talk so Jaxith quickly pulled the sword down closer towards his neck as if he was moving a lever!
"UNDERSTOOD!", Shouted Jaxith.
"Understood, understood.", Said Larry in fear.
"Good.", Said Jaxith before he slowly stood up and raised his sword before replacing it back.
"Thanks for the drink, Miller.", Said Jaxith coldly before walking out of the inn like nothing happened! But the fear he implemented inside them was easily noticeable.
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