Chapter 56 - Just What I Need

  Three days. It had only been three days since Alex had been in the shop, but stepping into Hadrick’s Quick Fix again makes Alex feel like the previous visit was a lifetime ago. At the same time, Alex realizes just how much that backlash had hurt him. Three days. He’d almost run his spirit ragged again in only three days.

  Granted, the majority of that had all been from the previous night. But all the same, it put everything in perspective for Alex very quickly. He can’t afford to have more episodes like that, even if it had launched his understanding of the skills leagues ahead.

  Alex meanders through the isles of the shop for a bit, locating where the shoes are stored. Unfortunately though, Alex doesn’t see any boots like the ones he’s comfortable with. Most of the selection are more like leather slippers than what he would consider a ‘modern’ shoe. There are a few sturdier boots, but seeing them conjures the phrase ‘ren fare’ to Alex’s mind. He picks one up, examining the way it’s put together. But turning it over exposes the price-tag and he quickly puts it back on the shelf. “A ‘later’ thing, yep.” Alex mutters to himself before making his way to the counter at the back of the shop.

  “There are places that might sell a shoe you would be more comfortable in.” Corvus comments as Alex moves through the shelves and racks. “Some residents have abilities that allow them to create some materials that are functionally similar to the rubber you know.”

  Alex scoffs at that. “If those boots here are eight coins, er obols, for a pair, I don’t even want to know how much a pair like what I’m using now would cost.” He half-whispers back to the crow, his imagination haunting him with twenty and thirty coin pricetags.

  When Alex reaches the exchange counter, it isn’t Varn he sees this time. The person leaning on the counter looks similar though, but his mane is noticeably more blond and braided around his face. “Someth’n I can do for you?” He asks with a pleasantly gravely voice. With the easy casualness of someone who knows they’re where they belong, and the visual similarity, it has to be Hadrick himself.

  Stepping up to the counter, Alex asks, “Ah, yes. How much does one of the animus renewal loans cost?” Then he looks around again. “And, you’re Hadrick, right? I saw Varn the last time I was here.”

  The lion-man grins. “Aye, I’m Hadrick. Thanks for coming back to do business with us.” He says, seeming pleased that he had a return customer. “As for the cost, it’s 15 coins to get you sorted.” Hearing the price makes Alex wince. “You got one from Varn before, so I’m guessing it was a trade rather than straight coin for that one.”

  Alex nods. “Yeah, I was able to trade him some updated information from a Territory I passed through.”

  At that revelation, Hadrick’s face lights up. “So it was you he got that tidbit from! We’ve made a tidy lil profit from that news.” Hadrick boasts, beaming. The smile doesn’t linger though as a look of confusion settles onto the older man’s features. “But you got the renewal then, how’re you already looking half dead already?”

  Rubbing the back of his head, Alex sighs. “I over-exerted myself kinda bad yesterday.” He answers, leaving it at that for now. He pulls out his coin-pouch and looks inside. Even with the eight he’d just earned, the top-up will nearly drain his funds, leaving him just a handful of coins left. He counts out the fifteen and sets them on the counter.

  Hadrick collects the payment and then offers Alex his hand. “For the fifteen coins, I will transfer you one Animus, to be returned to me within five seconds.” Alex nods his agreement and reaches for Hadrick’s hand. With the Deal struck, Alex once more feels the influx of Animus power surging through his spirit, rekindling his soul’s vitality. And with that stronger internal awareness, he can feel the energy suffusing the pathways for the skills, promising an ease with them he’d never known. And he still wouldn’t get to explore it yet.

  Savoring every second of holding the roiling energy within him again, Alex focuses inwards on what he feels, stopping just shy of initiating any skill. All too soon though, the return clause triggers, and Alex feels the Animus being withdrawn again. He sighs, lowering his hand from Hadrick’s. “Thanks, I needed that.” He says, forcing a smile onto his face.

  Hadrick nods back. “Any time, kid. If you need anything else, we’ll be happy to help.” He says kindly, then watches as Alex makes his way back to the front of the shop and leaves.

  For his part, Alex feels refreshed. But having to need the loan again so soon leaves the relief feeling hollow. And he supposes it is, considering what he knows about the structure of his soul now. Regardless, he has what he needs, and knows what he’s running low on.

  He reaches down, rubbing Hara’s neck. “Sorry, we’re probably not gonna be getting the snack this time. But if we get back quick, we can get a few more routes down, and then maybe we’ll be able to get something tomorrow.” He says, hating to disappoint the happy hound.

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  To Alex’s surprise, Hara looks up with a determined expression. “Hara help. Hara help do more job, then can all have more food!” She declares with such conviction that it immediately lifts Alex’s spirits. When he smiles, she starts wagging in earnest. “Hara help!” She says again, brimming with confidence.

  Corvus watches the pair, having taken to wing and idly circling overhead. He doesn’t say anything, but the crow can’t help but feel a bit of vicarious contentment seeing how Alex and Hara take care of each other. Unlike Alex meeting him, or Uril’raya, the encounter with Hara had been pure happenstance. A random act of curiosity had led Alex to her, and his compassionate nature resulted in her accompanying them. And if she had not been there, Alex may very well have never survived the journey.

  But Hara was there. Alex did befriend her. And she had saved his life more than once. And she continues to be a loyal friend, one that Alex can count on unquestioningly. While that thought makes Corvus immensely happy for Alex and Hara, it also leaves him feeling the weight of their vastly different status. Thinking to himself, Corvus laments how the nature of being an Apex results in having many acquaintances and partnerships, but so very very few friends.

  Seeing Alex look up to locate him, Corvus wheels down, gracefully landing atop Hara’s back. “It is good to see you restored again, Alex.” He says simply folding his wings in at his side. “I take it you are ready to resume today’s work?”

  “Yeah, I’m ready to really hit it hard.” Alex responds, bolstered by Hara’s infectious confidence.

  “Very good indeed. Perhaps you should try blending the skills again, using the intent-movement and perception-augmentation in tandem once more.” Corvus advises, intent on keeping Alex’s momentum from stalling out due to this scare.

  Letting out a snort, Alex smirks. “Back to the grindstone already. Alright.” He says with good humor. “No reason to let things go to waste, right?”

  “Precisely.” Corvus answers. “Just do not push it beyond normal use this time.” The crow teases lightly, then takes to the air again as Alex turns to start heading back to the courier depot.

  As Uril’raya continues his own daily routine, it isn’t just the first client that took notice of his more lively mood. As he sits back in the sauna of one of New Europa’s decadent bath-houses, he pants openly. Drenched in sweat from the heat of the sauna and the exertion he’d just endured, Uril lets out a wavering groan as the most recent client lifts herself from his lap.

  “My my, you certainly are full of vigor today.” The elven-like woman coos, turning back towards him to catch a glimpse of their aftermath. Her too-perfect skin glistens, wet with sweat and her own excitement.

  Uril barely lifts his head, replying with a self-satisfied smirk. “What.. aren’t I always good at what I do?” He asks, lacing his usual velvet tone into the words like an angler baiting their hook. “You’ve certainly never complained about my performance before.”

  The demoness chuckles softly and plucks two more coins seemingly from the steam in the air and sets them on the bench next to the worn-out incubus. “To encourage you to maintain whatever it is that has you so… vibrant.” She virtually purrs out the last word, leaving him an extra tip.

  Uril waits for her to exit the sauna before he sits up again and wipes his face with his hands. “Damn, having a relationship is making me like cat-nip to these horny fucks.” He jokes to the empty room. He takes a couple more moments to be sure his legs are going to work before slowly standing up. She’d paid for both of their time in the bath-house, and Uril intends to make full use of it.

  Exiting the sauna, Uril strides nude across the tiled flooring, enjoying the sharp snap of his hooves against the ceramic. Only a few feet from the sauna’s door is a pull-chain attached to a shower-head. He grabs hold of it and tugs, sending a spray of ice-cold water washing over his body. The sudden cold makes him gasp, the breath catching in his throat as the thermal-shock overwhelms him for a moment.

  Once the water has rinsed off the sweat and remnants of his services, Uril lets go of the chain, now lightly shivering from the chill. He steps back, then turns to head into the next area of the bath-house. As soon as he steps through the curtained doorway, he’s greeted by the soft sounds of conversation and the scent of the heated brine baths. “Thiiiiis is just what I need.” He groans out, casually stepping down into the salt-water bathing pool. The shift to warmth again elicits an involuntary sigh as he sinks in down to his neck…

  The salted water tingles against his skin, the warmth sinking into his muscles. He’d had a fair number of clients today, easily what he’d consider being ‘busy’. And his body is feeling the effects. He gives a silent thanks for Seela’s love of the baths and getting frisky inside. His spirit is fully sated, overfilled even. Not to mention his wallet. As he relaxes in the pool, he decides he’s done for the day.

  The hours pass onwards, nearing the end of the day. Alex returns from a route to find no more satchels available, all the work complete. Uril’raya casually saunters down the streets, feeling relaxed and satisfied. Both are making their way back to the apartment as the sundown bell announces the typical end of the day.

  Alex blurs through the air, arcing his pathway upwards to skim along a few rooftops rather than follow the street, relying on the perception-augmentation in order to control his trajectories along the irregular building tops. Hara follows at his side, the hound’s tongue happily hanging from her muzzle as she revels in the feeling of ‘flying’ in the city. As Alex crests one row of rooftops, he spots something below, and cuts the skill short. With one foot pivoting on the edge of a roof, he angles downwards, initiating the leap one more time to slide through space.

  “Uril!” The goat turns, hearing Alex call out. He grins, spotting the trio as Alex and Hara land next to him. “Hey!” Alex says, taking a couple panting breaths.

  “Hey Alex, Hara.” Uril says, then looks up to spot Corvus overhead. He waves to The Carrion Lord, then slips an arm around Alex’s hip. “Did you come to walk me home?” He teases, bumping his hip against Alex’s. Even with the blush coloring his cheeks, Alex’s smile never falters from the teasing.

  “Guess you could see it that way.” Alex says, leaning into the embrace.