Unbeknownst to Priscilla, she had just caused another scene that would shake Arivaul in a way no one had ever done before.
"You caught the man nicknamed The Black Assassin. One of the most notorious individuals in Arivaul."
Lucina's words kept echoing in her mind alongside the neverending murmurs of the adventurers that were in the guild's hall to witness that unimaginable feat. However, as much as she was happy to contribute to the safety of the city, Priscilla was letting out constant long sighs that could only be chalked up to excessive weariness.
"'Try not to cause a scene.' I was advised once, but nooo… of course it has to happen with me." She grumbled as she was making her way back to the inn. "Not that it doesn't help me of course, but still…"
She briefly closed her eyes and recalled the receptionist's words.
"You might get a promotion with this bounty. As infamous as this man is, it wouldn't be surprising if they raise you to iron rank."
She couldn't help but sigh again.
'As long as I get to enter the dungeon it should be fine…'
As she made her way to the inn's street, she noticed a few guards with halberds standing guard around the inn's entrance. That instantly sent a jolt of adrenaline through Priscilla's body as she broke in a jog until she reached the establishment.
"Halt." One of the guards stood in front of her with his halberd at the ready. "What business do you have in this place?"
"What business do I have? I rented a room here, what happened?"
"A brawl with some local thugs, we are investigating who is responsible for it so we ask you to-"
"A kid was there, did you happen to see her? Black hair, dark blue eyes-"
"Huh? No, there was no child involved but-" He was briefly stopped by another guard that approached him and whispered into his ear. "What? Hm… her? You mean the Captain's? Hm. Ok." He then turned his attention to her once again. "You can go in, just don't stay in the hall."
"Alright, thank you."
She rushed past the guards and headed in the hall. Some wooden tables and chairs were broken with a few shards of shattered glass sprayed on the floor, blood was also seen in small quantities across the floor but thankfully none were big enough to warrant worry from her. She did notice Gerolt and Karla being treated by a chirurgeon near the kitchen, which upon seeing her, greeted her with a small hand gesture. She returned with a brief wave before heading upstairs. Her rushed footsteps against the wooden stairs echoed with each dry thud before she eventually reached the doorway to the room she rented.
There was a cold feeling in her stomach as she quickly knocked on the door.
"Rio, are you there?"
She could hear a faint shuffle inside the room before an eventual answer came through the door.
"Pris, is that you?"
The knight let out a relieved sigh as she spoke up.
"Yeah. It's me, can you open the door?"
"Okay."
After a distinct sound of the key being slotted in the keyhole a 'kachunk' noise came from the door as it was unlocked. Priscilla gently opened the door and entered before closing it behind her. Upon looking at Rionara, the knight felt something strange. She had an aura much like her commander would have when participating in mock battles.
An aura of death. Priscilla closed her eyes for a brief moment and recalled the moments she spent with the young woman before her and the cold sensation started to subside. She then cleared her throat, opened her eyes and asked.
"Did something happen while I was out?"
Rionara tilted her head a bit before shaking it and replied.
"Aside from the fight downstairs… not really, why?"
"You seem different."
"Different? How?"
"How do I put it…? More mature, maybe?" She scratched the side of her head while trying to push away the thoughts she had about the young woman in front of her. "Sorry, that came out wrong."
Despite Priscilla thinking it was rude of her to mention 'maturity' in front of a grown young woman such as her, Rionara instead smiled and said.
"Hehe, I guess I'll finally catch up to my age, huh?"
The knight walked forward and kneeled in front of her. Priscilla's eyes had a mixture of fondness and sadness as she started to speak.
"Rio. I will ask you once again. What is it that you wish to do? It is not too late for me to arrange someone to take you to Arcadia."
"Huh…? Why are you saying that again?"
"It's just… after some things happened, I'm not sure if you'll be safe even if I am around you."
Her right hand started to close tightly. This wasn't the first time she had an attempt at her life, but back then she was just a squire, a rookie. After she had become one of the royal knights answering directly to the Queen, she thought she was above this. An individual that stood above her peers, indomitable, untouchable.
Her prowess with the blade and magic was praised by many, so much that she was recognized by the hard work she put in those skills. But what happened just a few hours ago made her realize many things. However, Rionara knew nothing of it—which prompted her to ask the knight.
"Why? Is there anyone that can beat you in a fight?"
"Not in a fair fight, at least I like to believe. But life is fleeting, any mistake can be fatal and I can't guarantee you'll be safe at my side all the time. Just today a man tried to take my life."
Those final words made Rionara's eyes widen in shock.
"B-but you aren't hurt, are you?!"
Priscilla shook her head.
"No, but if I wasn't wearing chainmail, that dagger would've found its way straight into my back." She removed her jacket and showed the thin line perforated right in the middle of its back. "That is why I decided to ask you once again. Are you completely sure you want to stay by my side?"
"I'm… I'm no stranger to danger." Rionara straightened her back and puffed her chest as she brought her trembling hand atop of her breast. "B-besides I haven't told you what I can do. I-I can fight too!"
She extended her left hand forward and the middle of her palm started to glow light blue—in a few seconds the agglomeration of mana turned into a modest mote of orange fire dancing in her palm.
Unlike gathering mana from one's core, Rionara was using the mana present in the air to cast the spell. Priscilla was familiar with that method of casting spells, but to find out that someone as young as her to be able to perform such a feat was unheard of.
Although impressed, the knight couldn't just let her stay based on a demonstration alone. Practical experience in combat would be needed to keep herself safe—simply knowing how to cast a spell wasn't enough.
Rionara was genuinely proud that she was able to produce enough mana, let alone cast a simple fire spell, but once she looked at Priscilla's eyes she knew from instinct that just wasn't enough.
"B-but, this isn't the only spell I know! I-I also know ice magic-!"
"Rio." Priscilla left her jacket on her own knee before gently putting out the small flame of the young woman's hand with her own by smothering it with mana. "You don't need to prove yourself to me. I just want you to be prepared. Anything can happen out there, to you, to me."
"I… I know…" She swallowed dry and sniffled once. "I just… I just want to be by your side, Pris."
Those words felt like a dagger cutting deep through Priscilla's heart. But if her title meant anything, she had to put Rionara's safety above all else.
The knight took a deep breath before putting her jacket on again. The young woman in front of her was a splitting image of her younger self when she trained under the Queen.
"I see… but you have to promise me one thing. Do not ever put yourself in danger, if something happens either to me or someone else around you, you must run away."
At that moment Rionara lifted her head and couldn't contain her happiness as she suddenly threw herself into a hug around Priscilla's neck.
"I promise! If that's what it takes to stay with you, then I—I'll become the best at running away!"
Priscilla hesitantly hugged her back while caressing the back of her head. Sadness and guilt weighed down her heart, but the more she wanted to set Rionara free of her past, the more that young woman wanted to stay by her side.
It was illogical, dangerous even, but the knight couldn't help but want to extend a helping hand, even if her own were already soaked deep in blood.
Once Rionara let go, Priscilla slowly stood up and was about to speak up before someone knocked on the door behind her. She turned around while her left hand instinctively moved to the scabbard of her weapon.