Chapter Text
Lernen is walking through the busy city, the trials tthe rank of First Class Mage and the prizes were completed, but Lernen hadn't quite finished his mission.
He had challenged Frieren the other night, because of Serie's words, to be honest. The encounter ended without bloodshed, though he came close to death in a way; he still remembers Geld's blade against his throat. Ironically, he's now looking for the Bounty Hunter, knowing that Frieren party is still around. Why tho ? Serie ordered Lernen to find Geld, and to bring him to Serie, cause she wanted to talk to him.
His first idea was to go to the inn where they were staying, unfortunately he only found Stark, who told him that he saw Geld leave early this morning to go to the local bounty hunters' guild. When he enters the establishment, he finds a myriad of individuals with an unfriendly appearance. It's the kind of place that is strangely quiet; people speak in hushed tones while the waiters bring food and drinks.
It's also the kind of place where people stop talking when someone enters, judging him with weary looks, enough to make him shiver just a bit... He just greets with a polite nod and glances around, trying to find the man he's searching for; he finds him sitting at a table with several other bounty hunters, three men and two women, his dog lying at his feet taking a well desserved nap hearing how her little snore fill out with the ambient hushed tone. A few steps is made to approach the table.
‘‘ Good day, ladies and gentlemens. I’m truly sorry to disrupt your conversation.’’ he cleared his throat, his eyes resting on Geld. ‘‘ i’m here for you, Sir Geld.’’
Geld amber eyes looked at the old man, getting up to be at the same leval as him. ‘‘ I’m listening, Sir Lernen.’’
‘‘Thanks for giving me the opportunity to express myself, Sir. Mistress Serie summons you, she didin’t explained why,she just asked me to tell you.’’
Geld nodded, ‘‘ Noted. I will arrives shortly, i have… Some buisiness to finish first.’’
Lernen didin’t added much, just did a little bow and left the place. Geld sat back, at his chair, gloved hand grabbing his schnaps and drank a few sip.
‘‘ By buisiness, you mean… Drinking with us? ‘‘ teased one of the woman.
‘‘ Indeed, been awhile we have been all reunited.’’
A solid two hours later, Serie sits on the white marble stones, watching the flowers droop slightly in the wind and the water make its way in a tranquil, almost boring way. Her long decorated ear twitched. '' you're finally here.'' she didin't turned her head, not yet. '' i hope this cup of schnaps was worth it.''
Geld stood straight, walking toward her yet kept a reasonable distance with the great elven mage. ''Indeed.'' he say, calmly. His mind already assesing how to kill her if needed. There is a 50/50, depends the first who draw. '' Your student told me you wanted t-''
'' What do you think of Lernen ? '' her voice cut sharp the sentence of Geld, which didin't flinched.
'' He's a powerful mage, indeed. Since i've been traveling with Frieren, hadn't seen her take not many damage, Lernen did hurt her... Which makes him a very powerful mage, for far as i known about mages.''
She didin't nodded, didin't turned her head. Almost like she didin't considered Geld, just his words. '' You're no mage… but you killed one. Do you think you could kill him ? ''
She didin't needed to wait for an awnser. '' Yes.'' no boasting no ego, just a fact.
'' Interesting.'' she finally turned her head to glance at the man. '' You're so confident in yours skills, that's almost restores humanity's image.''
He finally make more steps toward her and came to put a knee on the ground next to her, in the most unbothered way, glancing at the water too. '' Your perception of humanity is changing, Serie.'' his gloved hands passed through his beard. '' Fern made you doubt. Cause she is the first human you encounter which can have an absolutely incredible progression curve.'' his hands cames to rest on his thigh.
Serie didin't awnsered to that, just a slight smirk tugging her lips. '' This generation of human you're part of is truly another breed…. The more I meet, the more eccentric you are.''
Geld only shook his head. '' the era of human is coming, Whether you like it or not.''
Again, she didint awnsered to that. Asserting the potential of Geld, before she let escape from her thin lips. '' I'll pay you double what's Frieren offered you to work for me, and only me.''
'' I'll refuse.'' a beat of heart. '' I'm a professional, i've acepted a contract by Ferieren, she didin't released me. I'm bound to her till she say i can go away.'' he got up. Before starting to walk toward the door.
'' Tsk…'' her tongue clicked against her palate, turning her head to look at the man back, proffesionnalism, what an excuse. '' You think you could kill me.'' Geld stopped in his tracks. Cocking his head to the side to look at her, considered her. '' For the right price ? Yes. You're not pregnant and you're far from being a child… So yeah, i could definitively kill you.'' They glanced at each others, in a pure silence. ‘‘Good day to you, Serie.’’ he left, letting her in solitude.
Serie laughed once he left, murmuring more to herself than anything else. ‘‘ Fern refused, now Geld… Frieren herself a good party.’’ she snorted, glancing at the flower magically created, something akin to nostalgia passed through her… The favourite spell of Flamme.