Chapter 209 - She Parts on Good Terms

Marcus, Flit, and Ruby all paused, wondering what Robin had meant.

"The person we are looking for is our savior." Marcus replied cautiously. "If what you say is true, then you're saying that you're our savior?"

"If you're looking for the one who defeated the Trader, then, yes. That would be me." Robin replied, nonchalantly, leaning up against a nearby wall.

"So? Why are you looking for me?" She asked bluntly, tilting her head. "As I recall, a hero is not too welcome amongst demonkind."

"A grossly exagerrated generalization." Marcus snorted. "Do you think we would renege on a life debt merely because you are the hero? Our tribes are honourable, repaying kindness and injury in kind as they come. If you truly are our savior, then do you have any proof?"

"Proof, huh..." Robin replied, pondering. She lifted her sword to show them the design upon the hilt. "Would this count as proof, I wonder?" She asked.

"The symbol of the just one!" Flit gasped. Inside the silver beam of light, this very symbol had shone with a golden light. The three demon guardians looked at each other, then nodded.

"We will accept your proof." Marcus replied, removing his hand from his sword.

After receiving the skewers, Robin and the three found a nearby place where they could sit down and talk without being overheard. When she passed out the skewers, however, Marcus and Ruby unanimously passed theirs over to Flit, who was only too happy to indulge in the treat.

"Not a fan of skewers, I take it?" Robin noted.

"Dead meat is ...unappealing." Ruby replied.

"Such food does not agree with my stomach." Marcus replied. Robin instantly realized. 'That's right. Horses do not have a constitution that can handle meat. Centaurs would probably need a similar diet.'

"Don't get me wrong." Marcus interrupted her thoughts. "We centaurs have two stomachs, and are perfectly able to eat meat. It's just that I personally have an aversion to it."

"Oh? Would you prefer I get you something else?" Robin asked.

"No, it's fine. Rather, I'd feel guilty being any more indebted to you than I already am." Marcus replied.

"If it's about the Trader incident, then you don't need to worry about that." Robin replied. "I didn't meet with you three because I wanted to call in any accidental debts. Rather, I wanted to ask you three about something unrelated to that incident."

"Ho?" Marcus replied, interested.

"Oya? Is that for real?" Flit asked, a twinkle in her eyes. Next to her, All of Ruby's eyes widened in surprise.

"You three are Demon Protectorates of the Demon Lord, is that correct?" Robin asked.

"Mnn. That is indeed the case." Marcus nodded.

"Then I'll be frank." Robin began. "I am trying to find my way back to my world, but none of the magicians in the human kingdom know how to return me. That is why I would like to speak with the current Demon Lord to see if she might know of a way to return me. But, in order to speak with the Demon Lord, I need your seals of approval. I understand that this might be a difficult request. I am not asking this of you as a form of repayment. If you truly do not approve of me, then I will work hard to earn your approval. I only ask that you give me a chance to prove myself."

The three demon guardians looked at each other and nodded.

"There's no need to do such a thing, Hero. We are more than willing to give you our seals of approval." Marcus said, reaching out his hand.

"We have no doubts about your character. Daughter of the Former Hero." Marcus said, handing his seal over. "I myself fought beside him against the Trader fifteen years ago. We centaurs value honor and honesty the most. Therefore, we bear no ill will towards the Hero who helped free us from the Trader's clutches."

Robin froze. Her identity had been revealed. "H-how did you know?" She asked, surprised.

"Ara? Daughter you say? How surprising! You looked the spitting image of the Hero's son!" Flit exclaimed in surprise.

"We Centaurs have a good sense of smell." Marcus replied, placing his fist over his heart in apology. "Please forgive me for my previous attitude, I was overly cautious earlier."

"It's fine...But, I'd appreciate it if you didn't spread that information around." Robin sighed. "I don't want to be chased by suitors everywhere I go. It would be troublesome to have to deal with such things when all I want to do is go home."

"Understood. Your secret is safe with me." Marcus replied. Then he glanced over at Flit, sternly in warning as he continued. "Your secret is safe with all of us."

Flit froze. It was such a juicy piece of gossip, but from what Marcus said, it was apparent he would hunt her down if she even breathed a word of it. She sighed.

"Aish! Chalk it up to bad luck." She clucked her tongue. "Since I am in your debt, I understand. I won't say anything." While Flit was a bit flighty in temperament, once she promised to do something, she would see it through.

"Entering hunger period...even if I wanted to...won't be able to speak..." Ruby replied, showing her good will. Thus, the three handed over their seals, and promised not to breath a word of Robin's secret.

"What's the matter? Do you think that they're fake?" Flit asked, inquiring about Robin's expression.

"No...It's just...I've spent so long trying to get each of the former seals, that now that I've gotten three at once, it feels a bit unreal." Robin replied. "Everything is going so well that now I'm starting to fear it's going too well, and that something horrible is about to happen soon that'll bring me back down to ground again."

Marcus and Flit laughed, while Ruby faintly smiled.

"We birdfolk have a saying we teach our hatchlings." Flit smiled. "It's 'If you know how to land, you need not fear the fall. Often enough, the dive will lift you higher than you could ever have flown merely gliding.' If it's easy now, accept it. If it becomes difficult later, accept it as well. Only once you accept it, can you adjust your feathers for the winds to carry you aloft."

"Wise words. Who did you steal them from?" Marcus asked.

"My grandmother pfft-te-te! Wait, why did you instantly assume they weren't mine?" Flit asked, aggrieved by Marcus' lack of faith.

"We centaurs are realists, not optimists. Your temperament is not grounded enough to see things so objectively yet." Marcus replied bluntly.

"Flit...not smart." Ruby agreed.

"No way..." Flit fell to the ground defeated in spirit.

"Ignore her. She likes to over-exaggerate things." Marcus told Robin. Robin was silent for a moment.

"Pfft!" She burst out laughing. It was such a jolly round of laughter that Ruby smiled and even Flit couldn't keep her morose act up any longer, laughing along with Robin.

"Thank you!" She said, wiping away the tears in her eyes. "I needed that."

"No, thank you, Hero Robin. For saving us three, we are eternally grateful." Marcus said, with a bow. "It seems we must be on our way. Ruby needs to eat. Flit needs to fly home. And I myself need to go and seek out my herd. Fare you well, Robin. If you are ever near my herd, you are always welcome to come and visit."

"Aye, my flocks eeries will welcome you.!" Flit agreed.

"My younglings...will not eat you." Ruby added. "You will be granted safe passage in our lands."

"Farewell!" Flit waved as the three of them headed for the city gates.

"Safe travels!" Robin wished them well, waving until she couldn't see them anymore.

"Now that that is done," Robin did a round of stretching. "It's about time...shall we do a little bit of shopping, I wonder?" She grinned as she set her sights upon the nearby marketplace, eyes gleaming.