“So, then Mother decided to buy the restaurant itself. All the finest heroes stop by, and the previous managers always seemed to treat them as though they were beneath them. They work so terribly hard, you understand? The least she could do was be more accommodating. They've earned that,” junior lord Revick Kendral said.
“Oh, how lovely! I hope to do something involving charity work for the city myself. From what I understand, a terrible plague of scale-rot has broken out amongst the sea-dwarves in the lower quarter of Reefstone. Perhaps your mother would recommend one of the heroes who frequents her shop?” said junior lady Cecelia Ardwin.
“Certainly! From what I understand, Sir Harna Marrick has returned from her work afield. Perhaps I can—”
SMASH
Cecelia gasped. “What was that?”
“Oh, no!” Revick exclaimed. “Cici, back away from the—”
Air Whistling
CRASH
The body of their dearest friend Tuae Okonnen burst through the door to their classroom, sailing through the air and slamming into the far wall. The magical shield he’d cast around himself flickered and went out. “She…” he gasped, slumping. “She…”
“Tuae!” Cecelia shouted in horror.
“HA HA! FOOL! YOU DARE CHALLENGE ME TO A DUEL AND THAT IS THE BEST YOU SHOW? WEAK!”
A girl in leather armor with a torn, silk dress bunched up beneath it leapt into the room with a broomstick, brandishing it at the fallen lordling. Her body boasted far more muscle than anyone else in the room. She tossed her head back and bellowed at the ceiling, thumping her chest with her free hand. “I HAD NO IDEA HUMANS WOULD BE SO BOLD! EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU DARES TO LOOK ME IN THE EYE! SUCH INSULT! SUCH TERRIBLE MANNERS!”
Revick stepped in front of Cecelia with his arms up, trembling. “Gretta! Please! We’re not trying to insult—"
The girl leveled her broom at Revick. “THAT’S GARKA, MEATBAG! BANE OF BOULDER BEETLES! SHE-MADE-STONESKIN! FOREMOST QUARLING OF THE AMBER YEAR’S CLUTCH!”
Revick flashed a pacifying smile. “I’m sorry, Garka, I didn’t mean—”
“OOOOH! NOW SOMEONE DARES BARE THEIR FANGS AT ME? LET’S HOPE YOU LAST LONGER THAN THE LAST ONE, MEATBAG!”
“No, please!”
”RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!”
ns 15.158.61.8da2
