A Familiar Touch
She finished up her work at the guild in record time and slipped out like she was fleeing. First things first, back home. With a mountain of worries piling up.
“I’m back…”
“You’re late. What happened?”
“Huh? N-no, nothing!”
Her heart felt uneasy. How was she supposed to tell Yuria about this? How do you break the news that the guild master had taken a dislike to her? What was the best way to say it without getting an earful? …Maybe just hide it? Yeah, pretending it never happened might be the safest bet. It probably wasn’t even worth mentioning. As if the guild master would show up at Yuria’s shop, right?
“…Something’s fishy. You actually did the job properly?”
“I did! Totally! It was the mandrake root, right? I put in the request at the guild.”
“Hmmm…”
Yuria eyed her intently. To fool her, Noel plastered on a smile and acted casual.
“For real. Ilene took it down fine.”
“I’ll check with Ilene later.”
“Go ahead! I don’t mind!”
Ilene would cover for her. No way that airhead lacked the smarts for it. Yuria’s face twisted in suspicion. She stared for a moment, sighed, and went back to what she was doing.
Crisis averted. Things should be fine now. Next time at the guild, she’d just avoid Kirke’s eyes, and peace would reign. Forever. That’s what Noel naively believed.
Fate always strikes suddenly. Like right now.
It was time to close up shop and tidy the front when she spotted someone approaching from afar.
“The shop’s about to close…”
She squinted. A tall woman’s silhouette…
…No way.
Noel flung the broom to the floor and bolted inside. Big trouble. Kirke was here. She’d definitely come to tattle about what happened today.
Kirke poked around inside. Luckily, Yuria was upstairs for the moment. She wouldn’t know anyone had come.
How to wriggle out of this? Think, think…
“…Got it.”
A plan hit her. Lock the door. She’d think it was empty and leave. Noel slammed it shut and bolted it tight. Then backed away. Hid behind the counter.
Something nasty waited beyond that door. Couldn’t open it. Couldn’t let that in the house.
Knock knock.
Noel held her breath, frozen.
Knock knock knock.
Louder now.
“What’re you doing in there?”
Yuria heard the knocking and came down from upstairs. Spotted Noel.
“Aren’t you gonna get the door?”
She headed for it, grabbing the handle. Noel called out.
“Yuria!”
“What?”
“……Don’t open that door.”
“Why not?”
Wrong move. No excuse came to mind to convince her. Yuria tilted her head and swung it open. Faced Kirke.
“Guild master?”
“Sorry for the late hour.”
“No, perfect timing. I was just finishing up.”
“Yeah? No one answered, so I figured you’d closed already.”
“……”
Yuria turned to Noel. Angry eyes. Smile on her lips, but not in her gaze.
“…Noel.”
She approached slowly. Noel backed away on instinct. Yuria reached out, pinched her cheek. Yanked hard. It stretched.
A whine escaped her gaping mouth.
“Eeeee!”
“What the hell are you doing?!”
“It’s not…”
Yuria let go. The spot stung. Noel scrambled for an excuse, then hit on the perfect one.
“It’s Ilene’s fault.”
Everything traced back to Ilene. Getting on Kirke’s bad side? Ilene. If not for her, none of this. A walking nuisance.
“For real…”
Yuria pinched again. Harder this time. It burned.
After clearing the guild backlog, Kirke headed to the potion shop. To dig up info on this Noel girl. Using the quest as cover.
She explained it was quest-related. She wasn’t here to scold Noel.
“……Can I put my hand down now?”
Noel, standing in the corner with her hand up like punishment, spoke. The shop owner shot her a glare. Noel shut up, eyes to the floor.
Looked like Noel was under the shop owner’s thumb.
“So, that’s why I’m here about the quest.”
“The quest? The mandrake root?”
“I’m taking it myself.”
“You? The guild master personally?”
“Circumstances.”
And that was the point. She’d come to deliver it.
Pointing at Noel, she asked the owner.
“Can I borrow the little one?”
“Noel?”
“Yeah. It’s a bit of a story…”
Kirke laid out her fabricated circumstances slowly.
“Mandrakes are scarce these days. Hard to harvest.”
“Really?”
“Heard the neighboring village guild has one. Going there to pick it up.”
“Why take Noel?”
“Been ages since I saw one. Forgot what they look like.”
A lie. She’d harvested them before. Remembered fine.
“So, taking her to verify it’s real.”
Mandrakes were pricey. Fakes happened. This tale should convince her.
“Why not me, then?”
“Shop’d close.”
“True… Noel’s seen one before…”
The owner asked Noel.
“Noel, can you tell? Remember what it looks like?”
“I do, but…”
Noel trailed off, hesitated, then:
“Don’t wanna go?”
The owner smacked her head. Noel clutched it, eyes welling.
“Noel’s going. It’s an errand.”
“To another village?”
“It’s not far. You’ll be with her, carriage makes it a day trip.”
“Guild covers carriage. Please.”
Noel grumbled at the owner, eyes flicking to Kirke warily. Just a split-second glance, full of caution.
Was she on guard? Against her? Did Noel sense she was probing?
“Still, she has to go. It’s necessary.”
“…Fine.”
Noel shuffled closer, hesitant.
“Take care of me, then.”
“You too.”
Kirke offered her hand. Noel took it. Small, soft girl’s hand. Nothing odd about it.
Unlike hers, callused from swordwork. This one felt untouched by labor. The sensation was oddly familiar. Comforting. Despite it being their first grip.
Why so familiar?
She pulled it closer. Gripped with both hands. Examined it.
What was it? Had she held this hand before?
Lost in it, she realized Noel and the owner stared oddly.
“Um… Yuria.”
“Yes?”
“She’s creepy. Sure about this?”
“…Probably fine.”
Like she’d spotted a weirdo.
“S-sorry! My bad.”
“Hand fetish? That your thing?”
“No!”
Kirke bolted. Enough for today. More digging later.
At the door: “See you then. Get ready.”
Slammed it. Hurried back to the guild.