Devilla
Kalice's enemy did not meet its end swiftly, or quietly. Instead, it ended after what must have been a hundred blows, with a loud
crack,
and a
squelch
as her armored fist broke through its armor and smashed through its flesh, bringing it to an ignoble end.
I barely noticed, however, more preoccupied with the dreadful words that had most recently slipped from Lucy's mouth.
"So why didn't you want me to see you outside of heels, anyway?"
"That's..." I hesitated, not quite able to look Lucy in the eyes, even as she squeezed my arm against her armored chest.
Partially because I hadn't put my heels back on yet, and would have had to look slightly
upward
to do so.
"You don't have to tell me if you don't want," she assured me, her voice filled with an odd mixture of innocence and determination - as if she were readying herself to keep me safe from whatever unknown foe might try and drag the answer from my lips.
"It's fine," I assured her, still attempting to figure out how best to phrase things. How to tell her that I simply didn't like the fact that she was taller than me. In the end, there really weren't any clever phrases I could use to work around it. Not if I wanted to be upfront with her. "I simply... dislike being seen as small. It's ridiculous, I know, but-"
"It's not ridiculous!" Lucy protested, squeezing my hand. "I might not get it, but if it bothers you, then it bothers you, right? It doesn't matter if there's a huge reason, or a tiny one! Just that it's important to you!"
"Not to interrupt," Feyra interrupted, "but has anyone noticed the lack of crashing or cursing over the last couple seconds? Because I think the battle's over, one way or another."
"We'll discuss this later, alright?" I promised, honestly rather thankful for an excuse to put things off, if only because I didn't know what to say. It wasn't as if there was some grand reason for my distaste of being short. I suppose if one were to try and analyze me, they might claim it was a physical representation of my inability to measure up to my mother, or ancestors in general... but that was likely assigning too much depth to a simple issue of vanity.
Regardless, it was best to think about that later. For now, I was eager to slip back into the comforting embrace of my heels, withdrawing them from my pack and utilizing my magic to buckle them without bending down. The restoration of my height was perhaps a little more assuring than I wanted to think about, in the moment - and the warm and caring gaze that Lucy was sending my way certainly wasn't helping. All it did was remind me that I was making her worry over nothing, just because I couldn't come out and admit to my flaws. I did my best to ignore all of the above, though, as I walked past the limits of Lucy's sound seal and towards the assumedly victorious Kalice.
"Ugh," came her voice. "You interlopers still haven't left yet? If you were hoping to pick off a weakened enemy, you're too late for the spider, and far too early for... " Kalice trailed off, crossing her arms and looking me over. Despite knowing that she couldn't hurt me, the blue ichor leaking from her gauntlets did add a certain element of intimidation to her look. "
You."
"You remember me, then," I confirmed, arching an eyebrow at her cold reception. "I do hope you aren't planning to use this as an opportunity to make good on your threat to get back at me?"
She scoffed. "As if I'd waste my time on petty revenge. What money's there to be made in
that?
I just said that in order to save some face in front of the goons. What about you? Here to humiliate me some more? Or did you only do that to impress that lumbering potion addict?"
"I'm not an addict!" Feyra protested, emerging from the forest behind me. Sans horse, I noted. "I just... need them. To feel like myself, alright?"
"...So she's here, too, hmmm?" Kalice asked, keeping her attention on me. "Let me guess - you enjoy playing her knight in shining armor? Careful she doesn't drain your wallet dry - anyone who'd borrow from a loan shark to get something that makes them feel good
is
an addict, no matter what they say."
"We're going on a mission together, if you must know," I informed her, narrowing my eyes. While I didn't entirely disagree with her words, I got the impression that Feyra was 'addicted' in much the same way a person might be 'addicted' to their
antidepressants.
Her friends obviously condoned her medicinal use of the potions, after all... Though, by that same token, I did believe Feyra had a problem of sorts - specifically with her pride, which was severely detrimental to her wellbeing, considering she went so far as to go to a loan shark when her actual potion supplier was obviously more than willing to help her out. "I imagine she'll be able to pay for her own potions, without my input, when all is said and done."
"If you're going on a mission, then why are you
here?"
Kalice demanded.
"To ensure an ideal ending to your fight," I answered honestly. Not that I was entirely sure why I cared, at this point. "And to tie up loose ends, in regards to your ill intentions towards me."
Kalice flinched at my words, before scowling. "Is that some sort of threat?"
"I believe
you're
the one who threatened
me
," I reminded her, rolling my eyes at her dramatics. "I simply wished to see if you'd keep to it. If you're unwilling to act upon your hostilities, though, then I don't suppose they matter much in the end."
"So, in other words, you've got no business with me?"
"...I suppose not," I confirmed, glancing at Feyra. I considered suggesting that an apology was in order, but feared that it would come across as an attempt to ingratiate myself, or some such. Perhaps rightly - it wasn't as if I had a reason to care about whether the girl's honor was insulted. Even if Kalice's attitude did rub me the wrong way.
"Then maybe shoo?" Kalice proposed, waving me away with one hand. "I need to dismantle this thing for parts before any predators come in."
"Happily," Feyra interrupted, glaring at me when I opened my mouth to reply.
"Couldn't you be a bit nicer?" came Lucy's voice, preempting my somewhat reluctant agreement. "I know Eena didn't phrase it very well, but she was really worried about your well being, you know? She's the one who heard what sounded like trouble - and even though she had a bad time with you before, she wouldn't have even hesitated to lend a hand if things had gone wrong in your battle!"
"Oh, great," Kalice muttered, directing her attention past me and towards Lucy, who was pushing her way through the branches of a tree. "Ano...ther.... Heroine?!"
"That's me," Lucy confirmed. "And you're Kalice, right?"
"Y-yes, Heroine!" Kalice replied, giving Lucy a nervous smile. She looked deathly pale. "I-I'm so sorry, I didn't know that you were there, or-"
"Or you would have treated my traveling companions nicer?" Lucy interrupted. "You shouldn't be so mean to people who want to help you, whether I'm there or not!"
"I understand, Heroine," Kalice said, bowing her head. "I was in the wrong. Would a donation to the church help to make amends for my mistake? I'll gladly donate all my proceeds from this request, if so. Or even if not so! I'll do it! I mean, it's the least I can do to thank the Heroine for watching over me as I fought. I'm sure your presence brought the Goddess's benevolence down on me, just as your own forbearance has kept her judgment of my errors at bay."
