An Average Reincarnation

An Unexpected Rescue

One second passed

Then two.

Sylvestra grabbed her daggers and I nearly jumped.

The third second passed before she sheathed them.

Rafine and I let out a breath that we had been holding.

"I'm going to look around the tavern." was all she said before bolting out of the room.

I was about to follow her until a stiff order from Donovan interrupted me, "Leave her alone, its best for her right now. After we head back, Swift will arrange a meeting with the house Dale."

"Wait me? Wouldn't it be better if you went?"

"You can't move much with your leg in that state, the rest of us will be searching for Alfy."

"Oh, right."

"Donovan," Rafine called over the attention of our leader, "What about her?" she pointedly spoke about the horned girl.

"We can take her with us for now."

I clicked my tongue, even from her I could smell that that girl was suffering from something, I just hope this won't turn out troublesome.

Anyways I finish collected the heads of those I needed to, and our party made our way back to the tavern without much conversation, well besides Swift nagging me sometimes.

"Hey, Prisilla, can I touch your ears?" he coughed out as he leaned against me.

"You already have a cut on your leg, don't make me put one on your arm."

"Sorry, sorry..."

We made our way back to the tavern to find Sylve sitting down on a bench outside, looks like the exhaustion has caught up to her.

"Ha," Swift stumbled away from me, "I'll take the girls, you guys make sure she's alright."

"You sure you can walk Swift?" I asked.

"I'll be fine, besides, if you guys don't calm her down, I'll be in a casket by morning."

Swift took the girls to our room while I locked the bag of heads in our enchanted chest. I got a couple of weird looks, must be the blood, I definitely need a shower after this.

I headed back outside to find the two coherent members of our party just standing there.

I let out a sigh, Donovan and Rafine were undoubtedly the smartest people in our party, but I swear they are so dumb sometimes.

"When did the two of you turn into scarecrows?" I sighed, and sat down next to Sylvestra, gently patting her on her back.

"Leave me be." she managed to mutter out through her tears. She sounded dead tired, must done a few laps nearby while we were coming back.

"Sorry. Knuckleheaded half-blood here, don't really listen to instructions well."

I didn't leave, just kept sitting there, stroking her back.

All of us just sat there for a bit, until....

I smelled something.

Something familiar.

I stood up so rapidly that I nearly fell over and stared into the darkness.

"Yo," I must have had the biggest smile on my face, "Alfy you rascal, where you been?"

The three of them stared at me with the stupidest look, Sylvestra in particular. She had snot coming out of her nose, one of the few moments she looked inelegant.

A toddler appeared into view like magic.

We all stared at him with various expressions. Relief, happiness, guilt, to name a few.

He clutched a box to his chest and even across the distance I could hear his soft whisper very clearly.

"S-s... S-saawwryy."

Sylvestra surged forward like a banshee and hugged him like he was the only thing in the world that mattered.

Which, at that moment, was probably true.

Donovan let out the biggest sigh and nearly destroyed the bench when he sat down.

I caught Rafine as she collapsed.

"Alfy, oh Alfy. I... I'm so glad you're alright." choked sobs came out of Sylvestra.

"Wahhhh"

"Would you look at that," I whispered to Rafine, "The kid is a crybaby after all."

Rafine jabbed me in the ribs.