{"id":296,"date":"2024-11-21T17:13:32","date_gmt":"2024-11-21T17:13:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/deficientlyattentive.com\/?p=296"},"modified":"2024-11-21T18:00:09","modified_gmt":"2024-11-21T18:00:09","slug":"elrin-daun-and-the-grumbsy-gang-chapter-17-the-love-of-my-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/deficientlyattentive.com\/?p=296","title":{"rendered":"Elrin Daun and the Grumbsy Gang – Chapter 17: The Love of My Life"},"content":{"rendered":"

Previous Chapter<\/a> : Next Chapter<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHer name was Kara Kyles. And she\u2019s the reason I\u2019m here in this fine town of Ferryville,\u201d I toasted to the man behind the bar in The Cerberus. \u201cAnd she wasn\u2019t the most beautiful, at first. But then you see her smile. Then she laughs. Then she giggles. Then she makes fun of you. And this, and that. And sooner or later. You realize the girl with what might be the biggest heart you\u2019ve ever seen, just might be the most adorable thing to walk the face of this gods damned Earth.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I finished my beer and slid it towards the bartender \u201cAnd that\u2019s the worst part. That\u2019s the worst fucking thing ever. We walked for several days. Nearly a week. It was incredible, it really was. I could tell she liked me by the end of it. And I understand she\u2019s dealing with a lot of stuff right now,\u201d at that point in my explanation I had to mumble because I can\u2019t reveal the finer details of her journey. It would compromise her whole family.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSo she\u2019s not in the mood for a relationship, so it doesn\u2019t make sense for me to throw my life away and hop on a boat with her. But what am I here for? Why am I doing any of this if not for someone like her.\u00a0 Right? Not\u2026 Not that I don\u2019t like doing the right thing. But it doesn\u2019t make sense for me to not go chasing after her. I can\u2019t know if she\u2019s the love of my life in a few days, but I also can\u2019t know if she’s not the love of my life in a few days. You gotta take risks sometimes. All the things I do, I do to be worthy of a girl like her.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The bartender finally interrupted my tirade. \u201cWhat do you do again?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cMy friends and I kill people. Like a lot.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n


\n<\/span> He tossed me another drink, but insisted that was my last one. It was pretty watered down, and I thought about complaining, but I was growing tired of complaining. I\u2019d just explained the same story like 10 times in the last hour to several people in The Cerberus.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Of course I was a total professional during the entirety of the escort mission. We were hired because Kara and her younger brother Kalin had made their way from South Kayos all the way to Grumbsy. Unfortunately, the few of their guards that had survived the journey decided to hop on the first boat ride back to Eurome. The Kyles were on an adventure to Norrgard and had a bit too many enemies in Eurome to run the risk of going back just yet.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

There wasn\u2019t a whole lot of action on the mission. Syrielle slaughtered a group of orcs bandits trying to rob us. I fought one of them, but he was wearing full plate armor. I couldn\u2019t do anything about it. Syrielle beat him up and let him go afterwards as a reward for defeating me. Showing a great eagerness for the young warrior to grow stronger one day and challenge her. She\u2019d been pretty unstable lately.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

After having our asses handed to us by Him, things were extremely tense and uncomfortable around Grumbsy. There really hadn\u2019t been much call to adventure for about a month so I was quick to jump at any opportunity we could get.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I had no intentions towards Kara when I agreed to the mission. Considering I hadn\u2019t met her yet, Syrielle was the one who organized the whole thing. My intentions did begin almost immediately upon meeting her.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She was a gem. The best. But, \u201cNow just wasn\u2019t the right time.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n


\n<\/span> Is that true? <\/span><\/i>A part of me feels like she spoke honestly when she said it. The other part of me believes if it were meant to be it would have been. The rest of me remembers that she\u2019s a woman and they\u2019re not always smart enough to realize a good thing that\u2019s standing right in front of them. I hate to be sexist but, <\/span>ask any couple how they got together\u2026<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

After finishing that drink, I started babbling again before someone suddenly placed their hand on my shoulder. The first thing I saw was her green eyes, then her annoyed smile. Her blond hair fell to her shoulders, of what appeared to be the perfect figure.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOkay look buddy, you\u2019re adorable, and I\u2019m really a sucker for the whole lonely hopeless romantic thing, but you\u2019re really starting to cross the threshold into creepy.\u201d Her hand gently caressed my shoulder. \u201cSo I\u2019m gonna go take care of some private business for a moment. You\u2019re not the only one putting liquid in you. Why don\u2019t you take a breath and try to say less stupid things when I come back ? A few stupid things is cute, but just make it a little less.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The whole time she sounded like a stern professional, and then she giggled flirtatiously upon the conclusion of her speech. Almost embarrassed by what she said.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I stumbled for a moment. The last thing I wanted to do was give this woman any kind of power over me. Being a jerk is always bad, but you can\u2019t just let them boss you around otherwise they\u2019ll walk all over you. \u201cYeah whatever you say.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She sauntered away and I wasn\u2019t the only one watching her as she went. Not that I noticed anybody else, but the bartender pointed it out immediately.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I just had to ask, \u201cWho the hell is she?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n


\n<\/span> \u201cNever seen her before. I only know like half the people in the bar tonight,\u201d He replied with a laugh. \u201cBeen a good day so far.\u201d His eyes looked out the window, \u201cProbably thanks to that glowing bastard over there.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Having had bad luck with full moons I wasn\u2019t as excited about the situation as he was.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSo you got anything that can sober me up really quick?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNothing cheap,\u201d He told me.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As whiny as I could muster I bellowed, \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n


\n<\/span> \u201cThis is not Bro-land, bitch,\u201d He smacked his hands on the table. \u201cThis is Kayos. And when a damsel like that comes in for someone else, those boys pay a price.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I bought a golden apple for gold. Which was an absurd price, and it didn\u2019t even sober me up at all. It was barely better than coffee if I’m being perfectly honest. This dude probably tried to do magic himself in his backyard and didn\u2019t know what the fuck he was doing.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He knew how to get in my wallet though. Crafty bastard.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

When she returned, a combination of adrenaline, pure will, and a small dash of the effects of the golden apple, brought this ever so spinning world to a slight stillness just for me.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHello,\u201d Her hand was in the appropriate position for an official introduction. She had the softest skin I think I ever felt, yet her grip was still firm. \u201cMy name is Tali, it\u2019s a pleasure to meet you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cElrin Daun, and the honor is truly all mine,\u201d I replied in awe as she sat in the stool next to mine. \u201cSorry you had to hear all of that. I\u2019ve just\u2026 I\u2019ve been through a lot lately with all of my adventures and\u2026 I don\u2019t know where I was going with this excuse I was just gonna start whining again.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell I do understand,\u201d Tali placed her hand on mine. \u201cDo you know how many times I\u2019ve seen a man and woman meet, and for lack of a less on the nose term fall in love, but it\u2019s just not the right time for her? That\u2019s happened like half the time I’ve seen people fall in love.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cRight\u2026\u201d I literally threw a boxing combo in the air with excitement. \u201cLike I don\u2019t want to say it but\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWomen are fucking stupid,\u201d She just said the words like she\u2019s been wanting to say them for years. \u201cWhy do they think you guys are so pushy? It\u2019s because we\u2019re dumb.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roughly a million things popped into my head. None were acceptable thoughts. \u201cOkay, We\u2019re getting into weird territory and I\u2019m definitely gonna say something bad if we keep going.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSmart,\u201d She nodded. \u201cI could see it in your eyes you were gonna fuck this up.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n


\n<\/span> A part of me felt like I was dreaming. Who was this woman? <\/span>Could she be some sort of illusion? <\/span><\/i>I was growing to believe that there was some sort of trickster fae in the area casting an illusion upon me.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSo where are you from? You don\u2019t look native.\u201d I asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cEurome, like yourself,\u201d It was pretty obvious by the look of her but I had to make a conversation. Plus I was hoping she’d give more details for me to ask more questions. Which she did. \u201cCame over a few years ago with my family. Now they\u2019re gone and I am wandering around trying to figure out what the hell I\u2019m doing here or anywhere.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m so sorry,\u201d For once I didn\u2019t feel fake while saying it. Probably because I was so confident something was going to happen that there was no voice in the back of my head telling me all of my intentions were impure. I was able to just talk to her like a person. It was amazing.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve all lost someone,\u201d She pointed at the sword on my hip. \u201cI\u2019m sure many have said that because of you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNot too many,\u201d I admitted. \u201cAnd I really only kill buttheads so they might not have a lot of friends to talk about them afterwards.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

With great sincerity she replied. \u201cWell thank you for killing all the buttheads. You are doing a wonderful service to Kayos.\u201d The shit eating grin that followed nearly melted me right there. \u201cIs it the life you always wanted? The sword?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNobody\u2019s ever asked me that\u2026\u201d I pondered a question I always prepared for. \u201cI guess. What little boy didn\u2019t dream of being a warrior. It\u2019s only the sane ones that grow out of that dream.\u201d I pulled my notebook out of my pocket and opened it up. \u201cMy dream has always been to write. I\u2019m a storyteller. But some say I\u2019m not that good.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Tali took it from my hand without asking and blasted through the first few pages. \u201cI mean you’re funny.\u201d As she kept going she was nodding more and more. \u201cYeah I mean\u2026 You\u2019re definitely unique. But\u2026 Who says you\u2019re bad? You\u2019re bad at things?\u201d She pointed at a specific spot, \u201cThat\u2019s not what \u2018unprecedented\u2019 means.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s a rough draft,\u201d I whined. \u201cI was flowing. In the zone. I don\u2019t know what all the words are when I\u2019m like that.\u201d My tone was rather sassy, and for a second I was self conscious, but her smile relaxed me in an instant.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWords are hard sometimes,\u201d She continued to examine the pages. \u201cI understand.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m glad you can read,\u201d I told her with relief. \u201cMost people around these parts don\u2019t have any idea what I\u2019m doing there. Some of my friends said that I was just a really bad drawer. Though Vergusson doesn\u2019t really know what a lot of things are and Glish is just a bad friend.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s too bad,\u201d Her eyes didn\u2019t leave the pages. \u201cYou\u2019re talented. Sloppy, but fun.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThanks.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Tali handed me the notebook back, and our server finally came to take her food order. She ate far more than a woman with her figure usually would.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou in town alone?\u201d I asked before realizing that might be a creepy question.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2026\u201d She kinda shrugged as she thought. \u201cMade friends with some people.\u201d From the way she said it, it felt like she wasn\u2019t really sure if they were friends. I could relate to that.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYeah I know the feeling,\u201d When she looked at me I explained, \u201cI\u2019ve been running around with a pack of psychos since I got here. Best few months of my life.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t quite the best few months of her life. She told me more of her story, where she was from and how she got here. She prefaced her story by explaining it was a rather boring tale, and it was, but she had such a knack for storytelling.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The details weren\u2019t what interested me. It was the silly little comments she\u2019d make.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

When she was done, I explained more about where I came from. It was obvious her personality wasn\u2019t easily impressed, and she didn\u2019t want to show when she was, but she was with me.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

We sat for several hours just talking. The whole time carrying the same chemistry we held from the very beginning. It was like nothing I said bothered her, and every little quip entertained her. And I felt the same. Not that it took much.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Long before nightfall, she leaned over and said, \u201cDo you just\u2026 Wanna\u2026 Now?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n


\n<\/span> \u201cI\u2019m just\u2026 not sure it\u2019s the right time\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n


\n<\/span> We were out the door before I finished the joke. Prancing our way across the street to the small barn just outside of town she was staying at. I was about to ask if the owners knew she was there, but got distracted looking at her butt and forgot about the question.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As she slid the door open, I grabbed her by the hand to pull her in and finally kiss her. That\u2019s when something hit me on the head. I was fairly confident before I saw it that it was a frying pan. It hit me again and again and I\u2019m guessing a few more times after that.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

When I woke up, my hands were tied behind my back. Tali, if that was her name, was standing next to two men. As the blurriness faded, I could see one had long brown hair and a large scar on his left cheek, while the other was bald and missing several teeth.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou sure he\u2019s right for it?\u201d The man with the scar asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOf course,\u201d Tali explained. \u201cHe\u2019s a traveling warrior.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe doesn\u2019t look like much,\u201d The one with only some teeth criticized.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYeah but he\u2019s honest,\u201d She looked me up and down. \u201cI could tell. If we wanna get the ritual done tonight he\u2019s our man. Nobody in town knows him. Quick and easy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSounds complicated,\u201d I announced. \u201cI mean have you really thought it through?\u201d If you couldn\u2019t guess, I really didn\u2019t know where I was going with the ramble. \u201cI feel like you\u2019re better off with someone else. You know a better warrior than me. I\u2019m not even that good.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWe aren\u2019t looking for a master. We\u2019re looking for average.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I suckity suck.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou told me your stories,\u201d She knelt down so we were eye level. \u201cYou wanna tell me now, that I misread you and that you\u2019re a liar.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYeah\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re not very good at lying.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n


\n<\/span> \u201cUnless I\u2019m really good at it?\u201d Suddenly I knew where I was going. \u201cI mean spotting a lie is just spotting anxiety. If you haven\u2019t figured it out, this scenario has me rather anxious. The truth is I\u2019m an actor.\u201d Despite arguing I was anxious, I was carrying incredible confidence. Pretty much outside of lying about the fact that I was lying, I\u2019ve done a pretty good job lying. \u201cI made the whole thing up. I\u2019ve gotten into a few fights in my day, and I\u2019ve lost most.\u201d It makes it easier to slip in a few honest parts here and there. Though that description also applies to what I\u2019ve already told her.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe ain\u2019t a killer,\u201d The Scar man said. \u201cYou got the wrong one. Cut his throat now.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She pulled out a knife prompting me to just burst into incoherency \u201cI\u2019m a killer. I’ve been killed. Lot\u2019s of bad guys on this continent and I fucked them all\u2026\u201d I lost control of my words at the end, I was really starting to panic.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWe aren\u2019t looking for that type of slayer,\u201d She tilted her head and looked me up and down. \u201cIt\u2019s a damned shame though. Probably should have taken two other men at the bar and celebrated with you later. Poor decision on my part. There\u2019s not much else to feel good about around here.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n


\n<\/span> There was much rage in my heart. Instead of yelling I calmly but firmly asked, \u201cIs torture a part of the ritual? Because if not, than this shit is fucking personal.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOf course it\u2019s personal slayer,\u201d She giggled flirtatiously, \u201cCompliments are best when they\u2019re personal. Just relax and take the compliment for what it is.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t actually slay though,\u201d I reminded her angrily. \u201cI could give a fuck about my ego.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Her face scrunched, \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWomen slay by being wanted, men don\u2019t care about being wanted, they want things and the slayers are the ones who get what they want.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBoss,\u201d Scar said. \u201cI think he wants a blowjob.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYo he definitely does,\u201d Toothless added.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She put her fingers frustratedly to her nose, \u201cWhy would I not know that he wants a blowjob? He obviously wants a blowjob.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

When they didn\u2019t answer she ordered them to stay in the barn and keep an eye on me. Then she left to get another warrior. Though she used the word <\/span>killer.<\/span><\/i> But I don\u2019t really like that word. All of the people I killed were like, gonna rape or eat someone. I\u2019m not a <\/span>serial <\/span><\/i>killer.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I\u2019m a protector. A guardian of the land. A defender of the innocent.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I might need to stop hanging out with Roan though.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As she departed the two men sat down on a bench nearby and chatted with each other. I looked around, for obvious reasons. \u201cDon\u2019t try nothing stupid?\u201d Scar yelled.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019ll you do\u2026 Kill me?\u201d That\u2019s when I myself realized they might not have as much power in this situation as we all thought. Based on the looks on their faces, they were putting the same thing together. \u201cI\u2019m gonna do what the fuck I want for the last few minutes of my life and you\u2019re gonna fucking sit there? Unless you want me to get crafty and kill myself before your dumbass ritual.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhy would you do that?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBecause fuck you that\u2019s why!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I scooted to my feet and hopped to my left. Neither of them stood fully up, they were halfway there. \u201cI\u2019ll beat you to that fucking Trident thing,\u201d I said referring to what I now remember is called a garden fork.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

With my hands behind my back, I only had one move to make before they got up any second now. My threats confused them, but they were about to pounce any second.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

One huge jump. As high as I could. Shoving my knees to my chest, I quickly slide my hands underneath my feet. Both goons bolted towards me.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I dashed for the garden fork. They pulled out their daggers. \u201cDon\u2019t kill me,\u201d I shouted and they dropped their weapons. Despite my threat, I did not beat them to the <\/span>fucking Trident thing.<\/span><\/i> Scar rushed me before I reached the tools.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

His body crashed into mine, but I quickly slipped my roped hands around his neck. We both slammed into the ground, but he tried to scramble out of the choke. Which was dumb, because he was on top and his friend could have hit me, but now his failed attempts to scramble left him in the choke while I rolled around to kick Toothless in the dick.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Right where Roan always told me to go.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As he keeled over I tightened my grip on Scar. The goon kept punching my guts, and it hurt, but the grip was too tight. Because I\u2019m a bad ass. Also because of the rope.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

After a while he seemed to go out, but I had to realize another way because another dick kick wasn\u2019t an option. Then toothless began swinging with the rage of a man who had experienced the attack I had just described.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I blocked as best I could, but there was no room for punches, and he wasn\u2019t giving me the space to kick. When he got to close I threw a few elbows, but they were awkward as hell. To avoid giving him distance, I tossed my hands over the back of his head. He threw some body shots, I slammed my knees into his gut. Holding his skull between my forearms and I used my elbows to block his shoulders from generating power into his punches.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He didn\u2019t like mine more than I didn\u2019t like his. With all of his might he tried to escape my grip, but all that dumb ass did was bring his head down. My left knee broke his nose. And as he flailed away my right foot caught the tip of his chin.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Down and out cold.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

And then a <\/span>bonk <\/span><\/i>later, I was down as well. Whatever hit me knocked me out again. Only for a split second though. My eyes opened to find the frying pan, the same one as before, lying next to me. Scar shouted, \u201cDon\u2019t get up again. I swear to the gods.\u201d His feet were shuffling towards me fast.<\/span><\/p>\n


\n<\/span> \u201cYou still haven\u2019t explained the consequences!\u201d I snagged the cooking utensil, and rolled back to my feet to swing at his head as he came at me, but he ducked under and tackled me again.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00a0The pan slipped from my hands while he slammed to the ground with him on top of me. This time I couldn\u2019t get my hands around his neck. He postured up and began raining down punches as I shucked and shook him off.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Our bodies began to roll around, before I found my chance to push away. But he didn\u2019t let up his aggression. I had to go back to blocking punches without throwing any back. My hands went for the same grip for the knees but he shoved me off and punched me in the face.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

After being knocked out twice in the last few minutes, and taking damage since then, the punch hurt. It really hurt. I was wobbling, and stumbling all about. Unable to catch my balance with my hands at all.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

My frantic movements confused him, but he pounced again pretty quickly. Somehow his next punch missed, and for some reason I shoved my arms around him. Whatever my reason was, it was good because it confused the hell out of him, and he had no idea how to respond.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I managed to push my back into a wooden pillar. Once there I headbutted him. That was dumb, but I kneed him the dick. Making my friend of the sea proud once more. As he kneeled forward, I hopped on his back with a choke from behind.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He flapped about, gurgling with agony. But it didn\u2019t matter how hard he fought. In that position it was over. He was done, and this time his friend couldn\u2019t save him so I held the choke long after he stopped moving. I don\u2019t know if I killed him, but he was out for a while this time. The other one was slowly starting to come back together. Though it was clearly going to take him a while.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I fucked his ass up.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

To release my binds I cut the rope on one of their daggers. Having felt insecure about the whole <\/span>killer<\/span><\/i> thing their lives and took off after my sword. And that bitch Tali(?). Despite my insecurities I was pretty sure I was going to kill her. They were doing a job. She made it personal.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

When I arrived back in The Cerberus. she was sitting right there in the same spot. Talking to some other warrior at the bar. \u201cExcuse me!\u201d I announced forcing her to turn around to see my bloody and bruised face. \u201cI believe that\u2019s mine.\u201d My finger was furiously pointing at the weapon on her hip.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The bartender pointed at me and said, \u201cI thought you said he finished quickly and passed out.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Also pointing at me, the man sitting next to her asked, \u201cDid you fuck this dude?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cLike five minutes ago,\u201d She lied nonchalantly. \u201cDo you care?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He thought for a second. I was curious about his answer so I waited for his response.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cShe had two guys with a frying pan that hit me in the head\u2026 A lot.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The warrior looked at her with quite a bit of anger. \u201cIs this true?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell it\u2019s not like he wasn\u2019t into,\u201d She countered. \u201cLike the bartender said, he finished quickly. My methods may be unconventional but I\u2019m obviously onto something.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Very angrily I roared, \u201cWE DID NOT HAVE SEX! That\u2019s not the fucking she meant. I <\/span>finished<\/span><\/i> kicking her friend’s asses <\/span>quickly.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He looked to her for answers and she shrugged with just the most adorable smile. In no way resisting my story. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou vile slut!\u201d The warrior pulled out his sword. I don\u2019t know why he was so mad, maybe he had other things going on. Maybe he\u2019s one of those psychos who hates women, I don\u2019t know his story.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

There wasn\u2019t another word from him. He just attacked her, and with my own rapier she decapitated him in the middle of The Cerberus. My sword was still in the sheath when he began his swing, and back in the sheath before his head hit the floor.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Very wisely I took a step back, \u201cYou know what, I’m looking to get a new sword anyway.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m REALLY not happy you ruined my ritual tonight?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I just took off at that point. I didn\u2019t care what cult she was a part of. I had no idea what God she was sacrificing me to. I was out the door in a moment. Not that I could have dreamed of escaping someone as fast as her.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I was in the middle of the road when a foot dug right into my butt. The strike didn\u2019t land too hard, but she shoved me to the ground with it. Then she slapped me on the ass. I should have been offended. I should have.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

My sword was pointing at my stomach. \u201cYou know\u2026 I really liked you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWho trained you in the art of torture?\u201d My voice cracked and squeaked. \u201cYou have a gift my deer. A bloody damn gift from Zeus himself.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She giggled at my comment, seeming to genuinely enjoy my company until the very end. \u201cI was just trying to pay you a compliment in your final moments.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re literally still leading me on you absolute turd.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo I was serious though,\u201d She must be a master, because it sounded believable.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThis is ridiculous,\u201d I shouted. \u201cYou\u2019re literally saying under different circumstances\u2026 How\u2019s that any different than\u2026 Did you make up that thing about girls and the wrong time<\/em> and all that stuff earlier?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, if there\u2019s one thing you believe I promise you from the Heavens to the Earth I meant all of that sexist stuff I said,\u201d She softly shook her head. \u201cBut I assure you, if I didn\u2019t truly adore you. You wouldn\u2019t have survived this long. But alas, you\u2019ve disrespected my creed, and I can\u2019t allow that to go unpunished.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She gripped the blade, only to be interrupted.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cExcuse me,\u201d The voice came like a fucking angel. Like a goddamn demon. Like a tool sent from Olympus itself to keep me alive forever. Like a weapon from hell sent to vanquish all who stand in my way. Like my gods damned best friend. \u201cHi I\u2019m Syrielle, and I was sleeping at the inn over here when I heard some commotion and now I see my homeboy is in trouble and I\u2019d like to know why you\u2019re trying to kill him before you continue.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOh\u2026\u201d The conwoman looked the samurai up and down. \u201cAren\u2019t you adorable.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t trust her,\u201d I shouted. \u201cShe just said I\u2019m adorable too.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Both of they\u2019re faces conjoined into the same disappointment.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

With great annoyance Syrielle declared, \u201cYou are adorable.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe won\u2019t believe me,\u201d Tali whined.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell to be fair,\u201d Syrielle pointed at the sword. \u201cYou\u2019re trying to kill him.\u201d She closed her eyes and shook her head with a deep breath, \u201cUnfortunately like most people he doesn\u2019t respond well you try to kill him. We\u2019re working on it. He\u2019s got issues.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m trying to compliment him before he dies?\u201d Tali replied.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Syrielle shook her head at me. \u201cYou need to learn to take a compliment.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI was trying to fuck her before she tried to kill me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n


\n<\/span> Finally being a good friend, besides the whole saving my life all the time thing, Syrielle\u2019s disappointed look switched to the lying she-devil, \u201cWell now you\u2019re just leading him on. That’s incredibly rude of you miss. I\u2019m gonna need to kick your ass now. He can\u2019t do it. You’re a lady. He doesn\u2019t stand a chance.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n


\n<\/span> \u201cIt\u2019s a shame the gods cursed us like this,\u201d The conwoman pointed the rapier at the samurai. \u201cWe all could have been best friends.\u201d The worst part was she was right. Even there and then I could tell, she just went down a bad road she couldn\u2019t come back from. On a different road, that\u2019s my best friend. That\u2019s our best friend.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

But on her road, she tried to kill me, and there was a prodigy who in this life was actually my best friend and she was looking rather upset about it. Even though she was smiling with delight. Almost like she could tell what was about to happen just from looking at her opponent.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Their blades clanged together before I saw either of their hands move. After the first few exchanges it was obvious that the battle wasn\u2019t going to be normal. Not for my home girl. This lady, this enamoring psychopath, was just as fast as she was.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As a natural counter striker, Syrille let her foe take the lead. But without her speed advantage to immediately end the fight, she was forced on the back foot. I wanted to get up, and help, but she would never forgive me for it.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Despite the fact that our whole squad did just get our asses kicked by one person as a team not long ago.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Also, this beef seemed personal to them. Which was dumb, because I was the one with the hurt feelings. Though the more I thought about it, Syrielle killing her might feel more validating than me doing so.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Taking her life with my own hands would have been pathetic.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

But only the greatest of men can gain the allegiance of a girl like Syrielle.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The two women circled around, as my guardian refused to allow her back to a wall. She managed to turn her path into an even circle, as they both walked sideways attacking each other. Taking her off the back foot and on even ground.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I\u2019d grown used to watching her blasting through opponent\u2019s with blinding speed, until I saw her and everyone else I know completely outmatched. But to witness her in a more even match, actually being forced to use her footwork was incredible. Her feet barely seemed to touch the ground, it was like she was floating an inch above the dirt.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Within a moment, she was the one putting the pressure on, and Tali was on the back foot. The conwoman was panting and sweating profusely.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Syrielle backed her to a wall, forcing Tali to get overzealous. The katana smacked the rapier up in the air high, and the samurai grabbed the bitches sword hand. She brought it to her knee, knocking the sword out of Tali\u2019s fingers, then elbowed her in the face.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The katana slipped into its sheath in an instant, and the karate master unleashed a flurry of blows upon that evil vile lying cunt. The conwoman fought back and landed punches, but it was total domination once the weapons were put away. When it was over, Tali\u2019s face was unrecognizable. Which in all honesty, was actually more validating than Syrielle killing her.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Instead she did what she said she\u2019d do. She kicked her ass.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

When it was over and Tali laid motionless, my sensei finally turned to me, \u201cShe do that to you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I realized I was pretty bloodied and bruised up from my fight. \u201cNo. I didn\u2019t know she could fight like that until like a minute ago,\u201d I said with wide eyes. \u201cBut, I did kick two of her friend\u2019s asses with rope tied around my hands.\u201d When she looked at me proudly I couldn\u2019t help but add, \u201cSo technically I\u2019m up one over you on this adventure.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re also down one,\u201d She pointed at the unconscious woman I was still oddly attracted to. \u201cActually down two since she also kicked your ass afterwards.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2026\u201d It was infuriating to me that she would joke about that. \u201cThat is not fair. She was a conwoman. She set me up and she\u2019s skilled. And I was already beat up from the first fight.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

My words did not help my case in her eyes. She was only more disappointed. \u201cYou fell for a con artist. How easy are you to fool?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s not fair,\u201d My anxiety was growing and I needed to win this argument, having felt like the one L was closer to ten. \u201cShe heard me talking about Kara, and she agreed that women are stupid.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

At no point in our relationship, had I ever seen a face of chagrin and dismay than the one she gave me in that very moment, \u201cDid you just try to justify what a loser you are by admitting you fell for a pick me girl?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSHE WAS MAKING REALLY GOOD ARGUMENTS!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Previous Chapter<\/a> : Next Chapter<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Previous Chapter : Next Chapter   \u201cHer name was Kara Kyles. And she\u2019s the reason I\u2019m here in this fine town of Ferryville,\u201d I toasted to the man behind the bar in The Cerberus. \u201cAnd she wasn\u2019t the most beautiful, at first. But then you see her smile. Then she laughs. Then she giggles. Then […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-296","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/deficientlyattentive.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/296","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/deficientlyattentive.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/deficientlyattentive.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deficientlyattentive.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deficientlyattentive.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=296"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/deficientlyattentive.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/296\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":303,"href":"https:\/\/deficientlyattentive.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/296\/revisions\/303"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/deficientlyattentive.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=296"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deficientlyattentive.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=296"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deficientlyattentive.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=296"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}