4 An Old Flame

The elf gave one more disapproving glance to the man lying asleep beside her, before she rolled off. Seriously, sex isn't just about looking good while you flail around moronically. When will this village's idiots learn? She stood and walked over to a nearby mirror that allowed her to see her pale body in full. She began to tie her golden hair into a ponytail as her clear, teal eyes caressed her reflection. How many busts in a row has that been now? Oh, I made a pun! She chuckled to herself and threw on a black shirt with sleeves that extended just below her wrist, and black pants. She turned and took one look outside the window. The sun is up. Let's go see what the new merchants have to offer, shall we?

Thus, began her usual routine. She descended the stairs slowly and looked over at the innkeeper near the back of the room, sweeping away.

"Here you go, Sam." Her naturally sultry voice rang throughout the room as she tossed him a single gold coin. "This month's rent. Keep the change." She winked at him.

"Thank you, Theresa!" He grinned back as he held the coin like it was a gift from the gods.

"No, thank you. Keep up the good work." She didn't even know what "work" she was referring to. She rarely ate there, actually, she rarely did anything other than sleep there, but she was too used to this manner of pleasantry. It was all but automatic at this point.

She left the inn and breathed in the early morning air. She loved to see that orange haze that fell over the village in its early hours. She smiled up at the sky and proceeded to start walking towards the merchant's section of the village, by the northern entrance.

Every day, travelling merchants would bring wares from different parts of Azeria, and every day, Theresa would add some relics and souvenirs to her collection. She had to do something with that gold she collected over the years. Though, while the point was to buy things, the looks she received from people who knew who she was, and the lustful gazes from ignorant citizens who simply saw a beautiful, elven woman was enough to make her day. Looking to her left, she saw a man discreetly trying to size her up. Looking to her right, she saw another man staring at her, but this one had gone pale. As if he were staring at a wolf in the distance. That was the look she treasured above all others. The look of recognition.

She wandered up to a particular stand that displayed a series of bracelets and amulets made of strange materials. Behind the counter was a demon woman.

"Oyorazamasu." The demon said with a smile.

"Karasu." Theresa replied in kind. "Hm…" She glanced around and analyzed each tab. Each label displayed the material of the item and the price.

Siren's skull – 1 gold and 4 silvers.

Drake's tooth – 98 silvers.

Ice-Wolf's Bluehorn – 48 silvers.

As she read through each label, her eyes widened when she saw one of the names.

Pharryx's Eye – 1 gold and 76 silvers.

For just a moment, she found herself back on the summit of Skytop Mountain. For a moment, her heart stopped. She shook her head and found her smile once more.

"I'll take the drake's tooth amulet, please." She said, as she pulled a gold coin from her purse. The merchant gave her two silvers in change and bowed her head in thanks.

She walked away, trying to steady her breathing. That was close. She almost remembered what happened. There was no need for that. This was a new life she had made. Corin was long gone. There was no need to bring dead people into her day. She enjoyed the recognition she got from people who knew of her past adventures, but she wanted desperately to forget the memories of those times. And so, she did whatever mundane thing she could to keep herself from thinking about the past.

She walked across the street and continued surveying the day's merchandise for some time.

When she noticed the sun directly above her, she stopped. Noon had already arrived, and that meant she'd retire for now. A quick nap might do away with some of last night's disappointment. She began making her way back to the inn. However, just as she arrived outside, she saw something in the corner of her eye. A young girl was hiding in the bushes, eyeing Theresa's room above. She had her back turned to Theresa, who tilted her head at her.

She wasn't hiding in the bushes like a child would, playing a game of hide-and-seek, or waiting for an opportunity to speak to someone they liked. She was hiding as a thief would. Her brown, leather clothing confirmed that assumption in Theresa's mind. Oh? Someone wants to steal from ME? How amusing. She held back the urge to smirk. To her credit, she was fairly well hidden. Anyone else wouldn't have noticed, but Theresa was no ordinary person. She had seen more thieves in her lifetime than most guards. She had worked with them as well on some occasions. She knew their type in and out.

Still though, she didn't call for the girl to come out. She didn't call for a guard either. She waited and allowed the thief to proceed. She was curious. What would she take? Would she make it up before being spotted by other, more mundane citizens? She wanted to know. Of course, she had nothing irreplaceable in her room either, so stopping her was of far less interest than answering these questions. In fact, she'd be glad if this girl took something. That would mean more shopping. More distractions. So, she simply took a few steps back and hid in the shadows of a building's ledge.

The girl wore a black mask over her mouth, a black cotton cap that hid her hair, and black paint that covered her skin. Clearly, this wasn't her first time stealing. Theresa was almost impressed with how thorough this child had been in concealing her identity. As the girl began to scale the side of the inn, another question appeared inside of Theresa's mind that prompted her to move forward. How would she react if I just showed up?

She walked over to her. The girl was just below the window.

"Oh, Charlotte save me, a thief!" She cried out, with her best damsel-in-distress voice. No one was around to hear her performance though. The thief yelped and let her hands go in surprise. She fell back and landed on the bush she had been skulking behind. Theresa held back a laugh as she approached the girl, who was trying to get up as quickly as she could. She walked over to her and lifted her by her wrist. The child was clearly petrified with fear. Her eyes were wide, and her pupils were contracted, as though she were staring at death in the face. Was it Theresa's grin that unsettled her? She didn't know.

"A word of advice," Theresa calmly stated, "pick your targets well. Next time, some research would be useful." She maintained eye contact for a brief moment before smiling and letting her go.

The girl fell back, shocked that Theresa had simply allowed her to leave. She stayed for a moment, as if trying to ask "really?", before running as if fleeing from a predator. Finally, Theresa let go the laughter she'd been holding back. Ah, cute. Seriously though, that one could be a very good thief if she weren't so foolhardy. She shook her head and proceeded to head inside the inn. However, before she could step in, a voice called out to her.

"Miss." She recognized him instantly.

"Connor?" She asked, as she turned. She saw an old man with a bald head, dressed in plain steel armor. The irony of her, a fifty-six-year-old woman, calling a forty-seven-year-old man "old" in her mind, didn't escape her, but thanks to her elven blood, she looked to be no less than thirty. "Ah! My favorite village official. How may I help you?"

"Don't you hate village officials?" He shook his head, "anyway, I came because I have something to ask of you." Dammit. Theresa barked inside of her mind. Just when I was starting to look forward to my nap.

"Ugh, fine. What is it?" She said, letting the smile go as the old man proceeded.

"Yesterday, your... uh, acquaintance? The girl with the red hair."

"Yes, acquaintance." Theresa confirmed.

"Her. She killed a sareth. We took the remains in, for the duke to decide what to do with them, but a pack of bandits have apparently been eyeing the corpse. We fear they'll attempt to take it."

"They want to sell the remains themselves?"

"Probably." Connor replied with a shrug. He breathed in. "As we have had our arrangements in the past, we wondered if you may be willing to… Handle these people, for the usual pay."

"Two gold extra." Theresa immediately said.

"What!?" She wouldn't have been surprised if the old man fell dead right then and there.

"No? Then go hire someone else." Theresa turned, as if heading back inside.

"W-Wait!" He stressed. "Fine. Seven gold, total then." Theresa smiled inwardly. She didn't even need the money, she just wanted to see him surprised.

"Don't worry, I was just kidding."

"Oh, thank goodness." He replied.

"Eight."

After torturing the poor man for a while, she decided to take the job for the usual pay. Now, she was in her room, preparing to set out. She didn't need much. Just her black battle robe, her leather gauntlets, and her leather boots. She wasn't at all concerned that they'd harm her, she wore that armor more for style than anything. She decided not to even bring a sword with her. She was beyond those kinds of tools. Looking at herself in the mirror, and acknowledging her fierce beauty, she nodded to herself and departed.

The sun was still up, but the day was ending. According to Connor, they suspected that the bandit's encampment was settled just east of the village. She walked along the dirt streets with a calm pace, making her way to the northern entrance. Wine… Or champagne? What should I have when I finish this? She looked down, thoughtfully as she maneuvered between the herd of villagers in front of her.

She exited the village, and walked along its perimeter, just behind the forest that hugged the village's eastern side. Tom? Maybe I should bed Jim today. After last night's pitiful exhibition, I'm in need of someone who actually knows what they're doing.

Finally, as she waltzed between several tall trees, she arrived at a campfire. Four tents spread out north, a few meat stands encircled the flames, and a single bedroll were positioned outside. The bedroll held a young wolf girl, dressed in tattered, stained clothing, tied down.

They're slave traders as well? Glad to see multitasking is in style these days. She stood next to a tree as the three men and two women moved around the camp. They hadn't noticed her standing there. Just five? Well, this should be quick. But… Where's the fun in just ending this quickly?

"Hey, how are you all?" She said. Instantly, five heads snapped in her direction. "I'm here to kill you."

"What the fuck?" A man said, as if in complete disbelief that someone would do this. "Who are you?"

"Just a woman trying to do some good for the sake of her village." And her purse. She thought. They're faces were priceless. Anger, contempt, curiosity, all she could have hoped for. However, as she pushed off the tree she had leaned on, she saw one of them was looking at her with a different expression. One of the two women had put a hand to her mouth.

"I-Impossible!" She cried out. Oh? A fan? She smiled.

"Terra, what's wrong with you?" The person Theresa assumed to be their leader, the man who spoke earlier, said as he pulled his sword out.

"T-That's… T-That's…" She stammered as she fell back. Ugh, I can't just kill someone who recognizes me. That would just be cruel. What kind of a person kills their fans? Theresa complained.

"What!?" The bandit's leader asked.

"The Flame of House Varys, yours truly, Theresa Varys." Theresa cut in, as she bowed to them. Judging by their collective look of indifference, it seemed none of the other bandits recognized her. Not even after hearing her name. Understandable, I guess. It's been some time since I… She stopped herself. No, focus. Finish the job first. "I'll give you all one chance to live. Anyone who doesn't want to fight, step over where the slave is." She pointed at the bedroll that lie to her west. The tied-up slave had woken up, of course, thanks to all the commotion. She was looking around, confused. Theresa tried to give her a reassuring look, but she didn't catch it.

The girl who had recognized her immediately moved towards the slave. Smart! Theresa said in her mind.

"Terra! What the fuck are you doing!?" The leader called out.

"John, come on!" Terra called out to one of the men, who seemed to be stuck between abandoning his friends, and listening to the sudden warning. Eventually, he sheathed his sword and ran over to Terra. Good.

"Anyone else?" She looked at the three remaining bandits. They seemed to be more preoccupied with scowling at the two that had just betrayed them.

"Y-You don't even have a weapon!" The leader said. Theresa burst into laughter. This was the most amusing thing she'd heard in weeks.

"OH! That's rich." She wiped away a tear, she was laughing so hard. "Trust me." She inhaled. "I don't need a weapon."

The leader grew impatient and ran towards her. The other two followed. As the bandits charged, she lifted her graceful hands in their general direction.

"Verosi, mayoren." She spoke a supporting chant, a mantra to make her spells stronger, as the bandits drew closer. Her eyes turned white and they began glowing yellow. Her hair lifted with a white aura.

[Heavenly Fire]. She thought, as she extended her arms towards them.

From her palms, a wave of white flame surged. The flame struck their bodies, and the sheer force sent them back. The leader's body hit a tree as it flew in the air, and his burnt corpse split apart at the contact. The other two were swept along the floor, disintegrated. Theresa ended her spell just a few seconds after it began. She felt a slight pain in her heart. Dammit. I used a bit too much magic there. She cringed internally as she approached the three by the bedroll. She looked at the bandits first.

"Leave, and never return." That was all she needed to say. The two bandits sprinted away. The slave wormed back. It was hard to read beastmen, but Theresa could see the wolf girl was scared. She grabbed a nearby dagger, and slowly cut her ropes. "You're free. Do with your freedom what you will. You can either leave, as they did, and walk until you find some other place, or come inside the village with me. They'll probably help you out." She wasn't going to remind the girl that there was currently a war going on, and she was one of the enemies, but she probably knew that anyway. Truth be told, even if they didn't exactly react well to her at the village, the poor girl didn't have much of a choice.

She turned and walked away. The wolf followed behind her, but Theresa didn't let her catch up. She didn't want this stranger to see the expression on her face. She had just used a spell she hadn't used in years. A spell taught to her by the las person she'd ever expected to learn from…

Corin. She thought. Your spell worked again. If only you'd been around to see it. She sighed. My dumb, stupid, idiotic, great apprentice.