Chapter 101: The Mimic Epilogue

Belle ran down the streets of Loegrey, desperate to reach her location, unaware of the gazes she was drawing from the men around her as they watched her chest. She had stepped out only a moment for last-minute preparations for their special guests arrival, however some troubling news had reached her ear; news that she needed to relay to Matthew at once, before the guest arrived.

Belle: “*Gasp* Oh no.”

Belle’s hopes were dashed as she laid eyes on the guild, more precisely, the luxurious carriage that was parked outside of it. That could only mean the guests have arrived and were now waiting inside. Belle walked briskly over to the guild and walked directly inside. The scene was of one rather familiar to her; a beautiful, red headed women, currently holding an elderly man up by his collar.

?????: “You absolutely never learn, old man.”

?????: “*Gack* Y-Your mistaken it wasn’t me.”

There standing next, just off to the side, of them was a petite and timid girl trying her best to diffuse the situation. Lily one of the three servers working in the guild, with her eyes spinning flailed her arms with a sound like*Awawawa*, only stopping once she saw Belle.

Lily: “Belle, Welcome back.”

Lily couldn’t hide her relief from seeing Belle calmly approaching. With the proclamation the woman and man turn in their direction as well.

?????: “Belle darling, it is wonderful to see you.”

Belle: “You as well, it is always a pleasure Madam Alexandria.”

Belle cursed as she spoke, bringing a smile to Alexandria’s face.

Belle: “I hope you are in good health?”

Belle’s question was nothing but pleasantries, anyone with eyes could tell that such a woman was the impediment of feminine charm. She had hair like scarlet flame, that danced atop her head with a lavish dress that hugged her voluptuous curves, she had an ageless beauty that drew the gazes of all that passed.

Alexandria: “Always at my peak, well at least until a moment ago.”

As she said that she hoisted the elderly man higher into the air.

Belle: “And I see you are up to your old antics as well, Maxwell”

Maxwell: “B-Belle please save me from this brute of a woman.”

Maxwell, currently being choked out by Alexandria, despite his appearance as a rather refined old Dandy, had a rather difficult time keeping his hands to himself. Though he seemed rather dapper in his gray-black attire and claimed to be just a harmless old man with deteriorating senses, he tended to grab ahold of female assets with pin-point accuracy and a grace that made most believe it was accident. However, both Alexandria and Belle knew better, Maxwell was spry and limber as ever and that he was the enemy to all women.

Belle: “I don’t know what has transpired, but I feel Madam Alexadria is in the right.”

Maxwell: “B-But you misunderstand, m-my hands really slipped this time. I really didn’t mean to grab that glorious bouncing globes you call a boto-gahh.

Alexandria: “So all the other times were on purpose huh?”

Maxwell: “Air, need…air.”

Belle: “I will go inform Master Matthew of your arrival.”

Alexandria: “No need darling, Charis has gone to inform him already, although, she has been gone for a rather long time.”

Belle made a silent sigh; she was sure Charis had gone to sleep half way to her destination and that was the reason why she had not returned.

Belle: “Be that as it may, I will still let him know. When you are done here please make you way up to the waiting room.”

Alexandria: “I’ll do that, thank you my dear.”

Belle: “Thanks is not needed. Lily please mind the reception desk, there is no need to intervene any further.”

Lily: “Ah, but-.”

Lily looked to Maxwell begging to be helped, then back to the reassuring smile of Belle.”

Lily: “U-Understood.”

Maxwell: “Belle, you can’t leave me here.”

Belle: “Please reflect on your behavior.”

Maxwell: "My behavior is no different than any man when presented with such a sight.

The male adventures around vigourously shook their heads, furiously denying Maxwell's accusations as the glares of the women around turned there way.

Maxwell: "Traitors."

Rather it was true or not every man in the room was willing to agree, in the wake of the malice spilling from the women around, now being directed squarely at Maxwell.

Alexadria: "Take your punish like a man."

Maxwell: "Hiiiiiii!"

Belle then took her leave, heading up the stairs, listening to Maxwell beg for mercy.

Maxwell: “I-It couldn’t be help, it’s not my fault, you shouldn’t such a grabble ass-bogu!”

Belle sighed as she listened to the pummeling Maxwell was receiving for his misdeeds. She picked up pace, as she needed to urgently tell Matthew the news, but her feet stopped as she came to a particular door. The room in which the meeting will take place is also the favorite resting spot for Her follow employee.

*Knock, knock*

Belle: “Charis, please get the room ready, our guest on their way up.”

She said nothing more and continued down to Matthew’s door, knocking before walking in.

Belle: “Master Matthew, our guests are here.”

Matthew: “Yes, I was informed.”

Matthew was finishing the last of the paper-work on his desk as Belle entered. Getting up from his desk, he quickly looked himself over. Belle quickly moved towards him, pointing out and fixing the small wrinkles in his clothes and re-adjusting his collar.

Belle: “I have rather urgent news that you should know before the meeting.”

Matthew: “What is it?”

Belle: “Apparently, the ‘Hero’ had made an appearance in the dungeon and apparently Nathan was spotted in the same area as well.”

Matthew immediately frowned upon the news.

Matthew: “Any witnesses?”

Belle: “From what I heard, they only felt the presence of the Hero and the sound of a battle taking place in a forest. Though there were a few who witness the Lycanian and her party member enter the forest long before the battle took place.”

Matthew put his hand to his chin.

Matthew: “Where did you hear this information?”

Belle: “A few adventurers returning from Viridi Wilds, began spreading the rumor. From what I can tell its been a few hours since the battle ended.”

Matthew: “Then for now, leave it as is.”

Belle: “Should we not try to regulate, as to keep the information from spreading?”

Matthew: “If they came from Viridi Wilds, then it’s a good chance the information has been relayed to Midheim as well. Since Viridi Wilds is between here and there, regulating won’t do much good at this point. Let it spread, the Hero was in the dungeon. That’s all they will know.”

Belle: “Maxwell and Alexandria will grow further suspicious. They will believe not believe this a coincidence.”

Matthew: “No; they won’t come to any immediate conclusions. At most they will believe that the Hero and Lycanian have some relation to each other. Regardless of their suspicions, it will be hard to refute hundreds of years of established facts and believe anything otherwise.”

Matthew headed towards the door.

Belle: “And what’s that?”

Matthew: “The Hero can be of no other race, but human.”

-==O==-

Nathan: “You’re telling me she just ‘ran’ off into the forest herself?”

Zane: “That’s it how it went; I had absolutely no intention of letting her come in here alone.”

Ash: “And, you just realize she was gone?”

Nathan and Zane returned to Ash and Iris, after defeating the Mimic. Though they were both surprised to see Zane carrying Nathan around and more surprised that he was allowing it, but they remembered he had yet to recover from his battle and it was the only way and after being handed to Ash, Nathan berated Zane for his stupidity for allowing Jasmine to enter the woods alone and letting her fall into needless danger. She was the reason they were able to get away from the Mimic, but she still should not have been there.

Zane: “Eleanora had only informed me of her disappearance later, she was with her protecting the carriage and warn Jasmine from entering the forest by herself, but they couldn’t stop her from venturing in”

Nathan: “(I can’t believe you believe that?)”

It was obvious to Nathan that Elenora purposely waited to tell him, in hopes of Jasmine not returning.

Nathan: “I immediately entered the forest to find her, but not long after entering, I suddenly felt the presence of the Hero.”

Nathan: “Ngh!?”

Zane: “Though it was short, I at least was able to determine which direction to travel and headed off in search. I had hope she was headed that direction as well”

Nathan: “What do you mean; can’t you track your party members?”

Zane: “Jasmine isn’t an official member yet, I’ve yet to perform the contract. So as I investigated the sudden Hero presence, I found you being ravaged by the foul Mimic.”

Ash: “(So that’s why he doesn’t know.)”

Nathan: “First off, no one was being ravaged, it was my plan.”

Zane: “You planned to be consumed by the Mimic!?”

*Ggugugugugugugu*

Instantly upon Zane words, a sudden miasma sprung up from the fairy sitting on Ash’s shoulder. She slowly shifted her gazed towards Nathan, with malice that took form of a skull above her head.

Nathan: “I THOUGHT IT UP ON THE SPARE OF THE MOMENT, I SWEAR.”

Zane: “Why on Leseres are you screaming?”

Zane couldn’t see Iris, so he was unaware, of the death stare she was currently giving Nathan. She said nothing, but her deathly stare told him everything he needed to know: ‘I will hear about this in great detail later’. Nathan shivered thinking about what’s to come, as did Ash, who was caught in the crossfire.

Zane: “Either way, I’m glad you are safe…… Now Ash, I believe we should be getting close to our destination?”

Ash: “Huh…oh right; yeah. It’s right past these falling trees, that’s where I left her.”

The group climb to the top of the fallen trees, a small clearing had been made in the middle of them and with how large the tees were, they made a makeshift fortress against unwanted guests.

Ash: “I just wish we could have made it here sooner, I’m sorry.”

Zane: “No. The fault is mine alone, where is she?”

Ash pointed to a single tree left standing after the Mimic’s rampage through the area. It didn’t take long for him to spot the person lying beneath its branches.

Zane: “Jasmine.”

Zane jumped down from the logs and hurried over to his party member, Nathan and company joining him after moment. Zane stood over her, with her eyes closed and head turned slightly to the left and a gentle smile as if she was having a pleasant dream. Zane couldn’t help but bring a hand to her cheek. Despite the circumstances, Nathan thought the scene was similar to a fairytale from his world, the prince holding over the princesses’ body as her life slowly slipped away in his hands. However, the next moment shattered that illusion.

Jasmine: “Achoo!”

Jasmine sneezed, leaving a string of mucus dangling from her nose. She looked dazed for a moment before turning her head to her visitors, the strand of mucus bobbing to and fro as she did.

Jasmine: “You brought him Ash; and Nathan too, why is he carrying you?”

Nathan: “Pffft, D-Don’t worry about it, are you okay?”

Jasmine: “Yup, I’m just fine.”

Zane: “Before we continue any further; please wipe your nose.”

Zane handed her a piece of cloth to, as Jasmine finally realized the string hanging from her nose. With a slight blush and a strained laugh she wiped her nose of the obstruction.

Jasmine looked herself over, except for a few wrinkles from napping on the ground, everything else was fine.

Nathan: “Ash told me the Mimic didn’t even attack you, it just took all your stuff and then the Hero appeared then drove it away.”

Jasmine: “Huh?”

Zane: “Then I would really like to thank the Hero, though unintentional, his intervention saved your life.”

Jasmine: “Ugh y-yeah, that’s right the Hero. When he appeared the Mimic took my stuff and ignored me completely.”

Jasmine turned her head away with a strained laugh. Nathan found that suspicious, but more than that, the scent in this area was telling him a story, a story that didn’t match up with what he was told.

Nathan: “(Hmm?)”

Zane: “However, you should not have run off by yourself, the forest is dangerous.”

Jasmine: “Well, some things happened and I needed some time to myself.”

Zane: “There are safer places to think.”

Jasmine: “But, I was able to get the antlers, but that damn Mimic...everything but my dagger was taken.”

Zane: “You’re lucky it had no interest in you. Once we return, we will have a nice long discussion about this.”

Jasmine: “But-”

Zane placed his hand on her head.

Zane: “Please don’t do this again.”

Jasmine: “…….I’m sorry.”

Zane: “I’m glad your safe.”

Nathan: “This is a very wholesome scene, but could you please lead us out? I’ve had it up to here with this forest.”

Nathan jumped down from Ash’s back, having regained some of his strength back, stretching and checking to make sure he was mobile.

Zane: “Right, I have most of this forest mapped out, please follow me.”

Zane began to walk away, with Jasmine soon joining behind him. As she passed by, Jasmine looked towards Ash, a look Nathan caught in the instance that she did it. Ash nodded and followed behind them, only to be held back by Nathan.

Nathan(*whisper*): “So you going to tell me what really happened with Jasmine?”

Ash(*whisper*): “What do you mean?”

Nathan(*whisper*): “Ash…there was no way I wouldn’t notice the thick scent of blood around here, especially, she washed can wash away the stains, but she can’t get rid of the smell that easily. And you and I both know that Mimic would not just leave her alone, she herself said as much.”

Ash(*whisper*): “Sorry, she asked me not to tell anyone what I saw.”

Nathan: “Why, what happened?”

Ash: “Sorry man I can’t.”

Nathan(*whisper*): “Fine.”

Iris: “Master, I will tell you what you want to know.”

Ash: “What?”

Nathan: “Right, she can’t see you so you so you made know promise.”

Iris: “It is as you say, I will tell you all that has occurred.”

Ash: “Nathan, what’s wrong with you? It’s not like you to care so much…”

Iris: “Master risked his life to lure the monster away, he is at least owed an explanation as to why she is not hurt or all he went through would be for naught.”

Ash: “You want her to be hurt?”

Nathan: “What? No. It’s just that, if is how you say it is (then me losing the sword would be for nothing).”

Ash: “Nathan?”

Iris: “Would you be satisfied to find out all your efforts were for nothing, that you placed yourself in needless danger for reason’s no-one cared to explain?”

Ash: “Fine I get it, but I won’t say anything.”

Iris: “I will tell him everything; there is no need for you to break your promise.”

Zane: “Come, we must make haste, if we are to exit the forest while there still daylight.”

Nathan: “We’re coming. We’ll talk when we get out of here; I also have something to tell you guys.”

With Zane leading them, Nathan and friends make their way out of the forest, heading toward Zane’s campsite.