Chapter 296: Someone's Waiting

With almost half of Ned's power, he took down Teklavit with a snap of his hand on his nape.

Just like Ned, Teklavit was on his way to discovering his power.

The only question that remained was how did Teklavit get his powers? Surely he was human, but the way he used his mana was closer to an elf (almost limitless and faster conjuration). Another thing was, Hunter Quentin and the twins don't seem to sense Teklavit's mana.

So, how come he was like that? Ned asked through his mind.

[It is what you felt.]

[He was indeed human. So, it is either he was born a half-human or half-elf.]

Or?

[Or his powers were transferred to him. Which is highly unlikely judging from this world's technology.]

Unless he was not from here.

[Maybe.]

After they fought, Hunter Quentin took Teklavit out of the courtyard and out of the Forgotten Pint. Afraid that his student might lose his temper once again and go on a rampage.

Hunter Quentin asked for Ned that they talk the next day since it was already late in the evening and he got things he needed to attend to. The things in which Ned doesn't want to know, especially from a man who wasn't just from the Great House of Soak but an order of assassins.

"Ghostbloods, huh," Ned mumbled to himself which startled the twins trailing behind him.

Not that they were following Ned, but since his room was closer to the room of the twins.

"D-did you say something, Ned?" Su'aya lurched behind Ned as he tried to get ahead of him.

"Ah." Ned tilted his head trying to change the uneasiness he was exuding. Well, he did fight. Perhaps the reminiscent of the fight with Teklavit was still coursing his veins. Not that it was a great fight like the one he had with Roy (even though it was just a training), but still, to be able to use some of his strength. Plus, he might get to learn where Gogmurch was being held. "Nothing. It was a great fight betw—"

"You're so cool back there Ned!" Su'aya ran after he said those words to Ned with her face red all over.

[Uh-oh.]

[Should I say gotcha?]

[Or here we go again?]

[Perhaps—]

Sorry, but I should cut you there.

Ned smiled to Su'ayun as they watched her sister running as though smoke was trailing behind her.

"She's right." Su'ayun nodded to Ned. "You were cool back then. But don't get me wrong, I'm not onto boys."

After the two left, Ned entered his room, which, much to his surprise, was gleaming of brightness as though it was recently cleaned.

"Okay…" Ned said after pausing for a moment, trying to enjoy the cleanliness of his room (that he sure to trample later).

Ned arched a lip after he remembered what Master Claire said before that the twins were cleaning his room all day even though he was out for quite some time.

Ned then threw himself to the bed as he watched the night sky through the glassy window right beside his feet. There was an empty side-table, while lights were attached to the ceiling. The room was the same as what he had remembered.

"I still have a couple of months left before my rent ended."

Without much of a thought, Ned let himself be devoured by the soothing sensation the soft bed was giving him.

It was already afternoon when he first opened his eyes for the day. Sound of busy people entering the gaps of his room's window. Walking, and sometimes, running footsteps were echoing behind the door.

Ned climbed off the bed after he heard a soft knocking behind the door.

The hinges grated after the door opened and was followed by a long gasp after he saw Su'aya covering his mouth and eyes. Leaving a small gap between her finger, which made her eyes visible as she looked at Ned above and below.

"Ned…" Su'aya stammered. "Your clothes?"

As Ned looked down, he was wearing nothing but his black boots. Ned hurriedly slammed the door and swept his eyes for his Silk Road.

"Wait… when did I get undressed?"

[No idea.]

Not wanting to be bothered, ICE replied immediately.

Ned didn't bother to give thoughts about ICE's obvious lie. Instead, after seeing the Silk Road tacked under the blankets, Ned hurriedly dressed and proceeds to welcome Su'aya.

"Come in." Ned paused and slammed his forehead. This wasn't a house, so why would he ask Su'aya to come in? Seeing how red Su'aya's fair skin, Ned brushed off other thoughts. "Good morning?"

"Good morning, Ned." Recovering herself from an unexpected event, Su'aya widened her smile as she looked at Ned. "Food is here."

It was too late for Ned to realize that Su'aya was holding something in her hand. It was a bowl covered in a silver plate.

"It's from Master Claire." Su'aya gave Ned the plate and reached for a glass of brown juice on a wooden food wheel. "These from me."

Ned finished his food, then went outside after cleaning himself.

Below the inn was the source of all the noises: chattering, bickering, and laughing, and an obvious clarity of Master Claire's voice arguing with other guests.

Turns out, the guest was Quentin talking something about Houses with Master Claire.

Ned doesn't want to eavesdrop on their talk, but ever since the Prime Evolution evolved, Ned has yet to find a way to minimize his overly sensitive senses.

Ned smiled with the thought that if he didn't get to train with Roy and evolved Prime Evolution, he might not be able to defeat Teklavit.

"Teklavit?"

Master Claire and Hunter Quentin turned around only to see Ned behind them. Master Claire stood upon Ned's approach.

"I gave him an off for today." His brows were knitted as he looked at the seated Hunter Quentin. "Because someone took an initiative to make the courtyard a battleground and push the limit of his student.

"Tch!" Quentin sneered from Master Claire's statement. "I know, my fault. But I learned something else."

"Your learnings and uncaring attitude." Master Claire glared at the Hunter than at Ned. "Nevermind. Kid, before you do your business with this man here. Someone's looking—rather, someone's waiting for you."

Master Claire nodded to the far end corner of the inn, near the Questing board. There sat a man, alone, with a hood covering his face.

Ned cocked an eyebrow. Somewhat, his demeanor was something Ned was familiar with.

"Hurry up, Ned." Master Quentin raised an eyebrow and blew off an air. "I'll hold with our deal. But only for today, otherwise, say goodbye to your old goblin friend."

"He's not my friend." For all Ned knew, the moment Gogmurch saw him, he might go enraged from tearing his left arm.

That's one thing I need to think about, Ned thought as he made his way between the gaps of the tables and stopped near the hooded man.

"Master Claire said you're looking for me?"

The man pulled down his hood and looked at Ned. An artist might have a hard time painting his face.

"Sujiro?"

"Ned?"

"Sujiro?" Master Claire said as he approached the two with a cup of steaming tea. He then handed a pair of tea along with a sneer. "With you being here Ned, I might lose earnings. Here, this ones on the house."

Ned frowned, as to what Master Claire meant by him being in the Pint yet serves him a cup of free tea.

"I heard it from Master Claire you were planning to take the Hunter's Exam."Sujiro took in a breath after a lengthy statement, he then took a sip of the tea. "He was just happy since his inn was a home for aspiring Hunters you don't know you might pass the exam and represent his inn."

There he goes again, his non-stop talking, Ned thought as he listened to Sujiro then came to sit opposite him.

Sujiro was rather, approachable this time. Although his curly and dark hair was still a mess, his eyes were sharp like his knives.

Was he here to claim his payment? Ned thought as he took a sip from the tea. I can't casually show them my mana stones.

"I'm fine Sujiro-sir." Ned must at least show to Sujiro what a fourteen-year-old ought to do. Being polite was one of them. "Hope you don't mind, I didn't go to Lord Sven's manor the moment I came back."

"No." Sujiro waved a hand to stop Ned. "We looked for you, for a month, until we.. just decided to call it off… we thought you died back there… we thought that you wouldn't survive the explosion."

"Well, I'm here." Ned sipped another cup of tea. "Still… thank you—"

Ned raised an eyebrow after catching Hunter Quentin a table away from them.

What's he doing? Ned thought with his brows knitted. I thought he was on the other side of the corner.

"Especially Lady Sasani, and Twali." Sujiro drummed his fingers over the table and was unable to look at Ned straight to his eyes. "I thought… maybe I'm the only one who thought of it that you died. It was a day after you fell along with that beast."

"You don't need to feel guilty." This however made Sujiro raised an eyebrow but still unable to look at Ned. "If it wasn't guilt, what it is then?"

"Yes. It's guilt. Aside from you being our employer… there's not much of a connection between us or even between you and the team."

"Don't worry, I'll pay whatever I'm missing."

"That's not what I mean!" Sujiro almost cried but stopped as he noticed a man next to their table. "Do you know him?"

Besides was Hunter Quentin with the side of his head tilted toward Ned and Sujiro.

"Quentin." Ned shook his head. Ned wasn't sure if what was happening, but it seemed that Hunter Quentin was listening to them over the other table. "I'll be going the manor after I'm done here. By the way, how is Sasani?"

"Lady Sasani?" Sujiro cocked an eyebrow, somewhat irritated looking at Hunter Quentin. "She's off to the Griffith Kingdom."