As Ellie returned to the Elven kingdom escorted by the knights in the morning, August immediately told his men to bring him the gold from the treasury to finally pay Nein for his help.
The life in the duchy returned to it's original lively state. Despite the crisis, they moved one quite quickly after mourning over the lost one and just living their lives like nothing happened.
For Nein however, he stirs awake after the bright sunlight landing on his face. He groaned before forcing himself to sit.
"Ugh... Morning already." He mutter before getting off the bed.
He dress himself up and went downstairs to get some breakfast. The inn filled with customers. He take his seat, ordering his breakfast and enjoy his morning.
He pay for his lodging before walking outside. The sun so bright but warm, he do a light stretch before making his way to get his payment.
Seeing everything back to normal somehow put him at ease. Children laughter echoing through the distance along with street vendor selling their stuff.
The guard immediately recognize him even from afar and immediately standby to greet him as he approaching.
"Sir Nein, are you here to collect your payment?" Ask one of the guard.
"I am. Is the Duke's available now?" He ask casually.
"Well... he's currently speaking with a guest, but he already told us to tell you to wait." He explain politely.
Nein nods curtly, thinking about what should he do as he waits.
"Then can you take me to the library?. I'll wait there." He say with light smile.
"Yes, of course. The Duke already giving you permission for that. Please follow me." He begin to lead the way.
They both begin to walk along the hallway toward the library on the second floor. And on his way, August already finished with his talk and emerges from his study until he saw Nein approaching with the guard.
"Ah Nei-." His words got interrupted as someone immediately rushed toward Nein direction.
"Nein!!". A woman immediately lunges herself toward him with excitement.
In split second, he managed to use his ability to unsolidify himself, causing her to phase through and faceplanted into the floor. Creating awkward silence between them.
"You can leave now, thank you for your help." He said to the baffled guard.
The guard simply nods and slowly turning around to leave as she slowly getting up from the floor.
"You and your wierd magic, don't you want to hold me? I make all the way here only to see you." She says with flirting tone.
"Sorry for the sudden delay Nein, but Elias is one of my friends." August join the conversation, he doesn't pry further with Nein weird ability taking Elias suggestions beforehand.
"It's fine, boss not really bothering me." He said that, but she's still trying to touch him.
She wave her hand through him causing the smoke to swirl while maintaining his form.
"So, about the payment." He said, straight to business.
"Yeah, of course. I already prepared it for you. Please follow me." He begin to lead them with him.
And after a few moments, Nein finally got his payment. Two hundred gold and a letter from the Duke. A form of assurance from if someday he's planning to visit Bellonia again.
"Payment confirmed. Thank you." He said with approving nod.
"Don't mention it, if it not because of you, maybe I'll ended up losing more of my people. Once again, I thank you representing my people, Nein winter." He says with his hand reaching out for a shake.
"You're welcome." He take his hand and shake it firmly.
"Now, are you done?." Elias prying suddenly, standing with arms crossed.
Both of them simply chuckles before letting go of each other hands.
"Well then, have a safe return both of you." August said with a smile.
And with that, his job in Bellonia comes with a success. He walks toward the outer gate with Elias as he make his report to her.
She comes to a stop once they exit the gate. She looks at him expectantly while rising her arms toward him. Which is he knows what she meant by that.
"Don't you came here with horse?." He said while looking at her deadpan.
"Oh come on, just this one. Just let your boss spoiling herself okay?." She says defiantly, arms high in the air.
After a long session for debating whether to do it or not, he sigh and bend down to let her ride his back. She smiles and wrap her arms around his neck as he gets up.
"Hold on tight. I'll not be able to catch you if you fall." He make sure to adjust his smoke to support her weight behind him before bracing his legs.
"I'm holding tight." She says excitedly.
And suddenly, he leaps to the air before using his smoke coming out from his sleeves to latch in the air and begin to swings in high speed. Winds ripping through his coat along with her laughter behind him.
{Chain of restriction} is a form of ability that represents black chain made of smoke that prevent any action. It can manipulate anything it touches and make them unable to function naturally.
It takes at least two days with horse to reach Patio from Bellonia. But with Nein way of transportation, they managed to reach it in five hours. He land with a skids on the hard green ground near the town entrance.
"We're here." He said after setting her down.
She's still able to feel the gushing wind on her face and trying to fix her hair while Nein looking just fine.
"Ah, it's boss." One of the mercenary approach them with a friendly smile.
"Is that Nada?" She ask to Nein as she still busy fixing her hair.
"Yeah, do you need some help boss?" He said after seeing her struggling to tie her hair.
"Sure." She hand him the hair tie.
He begin to fix her hair, he's surprisingly good with it as he tied her hair into a pretty bunny tail.
"Oho...are you guys flirting again?" Nada said with a knowing smile at the scene.
"Stop it Nada, don't tease him too much." She said as she feels the difference when he does it for her.
"I'll be going now, see you around boss." He said before walking away, leave them two alone.
He take his way back inside the small town, exchanging glance at others passing by while buying some stuff.
Despite the name, Patio is a fully functional town with permit from the emperor, with Elias as the leader she rebuild the vast greenland into a settlement for those who lost everything. While she's not a great fighter herself, she's an outstanding leader with her intelligence. Gaining respect from others and becoming the leader everyone respected.
Everyone here know the better to not prying into someone else life and is a perfect place for someone with a secret like him. Keeping their relationship simply as a neighbor and partner create a harmony amongst them.
He takes a few lap around the neighborhood before returning to his house. A decent place with enough space for him to move freely without needing to lower his head. He set down all his stuff and went to take a bath before going to his bed after changing into a more comfortable clothes.
"Haa...feels better." He speak to himself after jumping onto his bed.
He's laying down, starring at the ceiling. Peoples still going out even at night, especially in the bar where most of mercenary spend their nights in. The distant sounds makes him sleepy and finally drifting off peacefully.