>>6225717>“Hello! It’s so good to see you all again!” You exclaim, cheerfully greeting the room of onlookers with a friendly wave and a delightful smile. You weren’t about to be intimidated by Arios. While you’d welcome a fight with the Thunderstrike, the time and place for that would be in Morfis, not as a result of Klement’s trickery. You knew that acting as the bigger man here would only serve to enrage Arios further than trying to provoke him would. And while you held no grudge against him, pissing him off was something that you did find amusing.“Adjunct Alvin!” Marigold says, eyes wide with surprise. “What are you doing here? And who is this…this brute!”
“Marigold. Targa.” Alvin nods. “Seeing as how we’ve clearly dispatched with any pretense of pleasantry, I will not lie and say it is good to see you.”
Arios stares at you with gritted teeth, his hand still tightly gripping the hilt of Thunderbrand. Just when you think he might unsheathe the Hero’s Relic, he lets go, turning back towards Klement, who has been watching the show with much amusement.
“Is this your idea of a joke?” Arios asks him. “I give you an out of this Competition, and you meet me with…this?” He gestures towards you. “Do you believe yourself immune from reproach just because you are no longer in Fodlan?”
“Yes.” Klement laughs. When he does, both his guards and concubines join in, sticking Arios as the butt of their joke. This goes on for several moments, the paladin standing there in silence, and only when their raucous laughter ceases does the Bergliez heir continue.
“You’re right about one thing though.” Klement says, the remnants of a chuckle still there as he wipes away a pretend tear from his eye. “We really are no longer in Fodlan. Which means Fodlan’s rules of civility and law really don’t apply anymore, do they? Over here, you and I are nothing more than simple tourists. At least for now. Once I win the Competition, I’ll have no need to return home. So as far as I’m concerned, you and that upjumped Almyran dog should stick to worrying about yourselves.”
“Very well.” Arios says. “If that is how you wish it, then so be it. Enjoy your liquor and whores while they last, Klement. Soon enough, you’ll be regretting your actions.”
“Go eat shit.” Klement says, offering the paladin a dismissive wave.
Arios and Marigold turn to leave the room, the former looking stone faced while the latter seethes. As they walk past you, he stops to turn your direction.
“I told Klement to give up as a courtesy. You however, will receive no such offer from me. I hope to see you in Morfis, Tristan d’Rusalka. Provided you live long enough, that is.”
>“I’ll see you soon!” You say, smiling once again.The paladin leaves, Marigold following behind in a fuss.
“Who was that cretin?” She hisses. “He’s nothing like you, Arios!”
