Dante slips the orb and pendant back into his pocket. He keeps his gaze on Ace.
"Relax, working up yourself over it won't speed up their downfall."
Ace knew he was right, but damn it whenever those damn cultist bastards were mentioned he couldn't help himself. Those psychos were the one who put his entire village through hell and were now coming for his sister; hell be damned if he wasn't to get mad!
"...You're right, but damnit."
"Like I said, don't get worked up. They haven't been making any significant movements as of late, also they are under direct watch of Ares Faction leader, they wouldn't do anything stupid. They aren't our priority right now."
Ace closes his eyes, terrible memories flashing through his mind, of the years of suffering his people went through and the suffering of him and his sister. He reopens his eyes, his gaze full of anger and resentment but also vigour and determination.
"Right, it's not their time yet. They'll get what they deserve soon enough."
Ace tightens his fist, his gaze sharp and his resolve set. Dante nods softly with the corners of his lips slightly raised, this was the Ace he knew.
"Let's go downstairs, Emilia's waiting. Oh and, I sent a kid this way earlier, some pig was beating him up and I got annoyed."
Ace looks over at him surprised, he was a lazy, inconsiderate, crude and cold bastard...but he helped someone of his own will?
"You? You helped someone by yourself?"
Ace smiles wide, folding his arms and looking at Dante with a proud dad kind of look. Dante's face soured, knowing what was coming, a twenty minute monologue on how to be a hero and what not.
"Hah. It feels good doesn't it? I told you, helping people-"
"Don't bother with the lecture. Let's go downstairs, I'm hungry."
Ace doesn't get to finish before Dante walks off. He laughs before finishing up in the bathroom and pulling on a shirt.
****
Downstairs, everyone was gathered in the eating area, it was still an hour before opening time so they had some time to leisure. Serena and Akira sat at a lowered table, talking happily as they ate what Emilia served. Dante joined, sitting on the bar stool by the counter, watching Emilia as she moved around.
"...What are you making now?"
She turned back to him, a warm smile on her lips, a smile he couldn't get out of his head even if he tried. He swallows softly, her golden brown hair and sun kissed eyes, oh she was just perfect.
"Just something light to start the day. Oh and the kid you sent by here, I healed him up and sent him to the monastery for shelter. I asked Sister Jane to take care of him in a letter."
He nodded softly, he was entranced but barely managed to pull himself together. He cleared his throat, breaking his eyes away.
"That's good, he was beat pretty bad."
"He was, it's sad that someone would do that to such a fragile looking, defenceless child."
She walks over to him and rests her hand on his, a smile on her face and her eyes warm as sunlight. His heart sped up, he could've sworn she could hear it.
"Thank you for helping him. I'm happy you're becoming more compassionate by the day- it's awesome!"
His face turned red, it was unbelievable, such a stoic person could be flustered by simple skin contact. It was quite funny to Ace who was coming in to join, he sits across from Dante. A smirk on his lips, he was too easy to tease like this.
"Are you ok D? You look a bit red there, is it a fever?"
"Fever?"
Onara glances at Ace before looking back to Dante. She rested the back of her hand on his forehead, then his cheeks and he pulled back violently, even more embarrassed.
"I'm fine. It's not a fever, just a little hot."
He shoots Ace a nasty glare, Ace shrugs with a knowing smirk. Akira and Serena laughed after witnessing the scene, Emilia was the only oblivious one. They sat and enjoyed their meals, the atmosphere was peaceful and warm, just how it should be.
Soon the tavern opened up and slowly people filled the inside, some came for an early day drink and others for a quick rest before heading to their mercenary work. The tavern stayed busy all the way into the evening time but somehow Emilia never seemed out of energy.
****
Akira came up beside Emilia and tugged her apron. She looked scared and confused. Emilia stoops down.
"Hey, hey-- what's wrong?"
"Big sis Emilia, the men over there keep saying strange things. I don't like it."
Akira points to a table an old scrawny man with a disturbing look in his eye as he watches Serena and a younger one wet his lips. Shivers went down her spine and alarm bells went off in her head. She pulls off her apron and hands it to Akira.
"Go get Serena and you two play in the other room ok?"
Akira nods and walks off. Emilia steps back and she grits her teeth, she waits patiently for the two girls to be out of the room. She walks over to the man with a cold smile.
"I see you're not quite enjoying what I cooked considering you haven't touched it in over fifteen minutes."
The man jolted slightly in surprise, the old man clears his throat with an awkward look.
"A-Ah, it's just not like my wife makes that's all."
"I see."
She clears her throat before speaking loudly.
"Dear customers, I apologise but due to delayed shipment of some ingredients we won't be open for much longer today, it pains me to say but I hope you understand."
Some of the customers groan and complain but they eventually clear out. The man gets up to leave, the smile from her face drops, her gaze like ice.
"No, not you, you stay here."
"Huh?"
The men looked at her confused and perplexed. One of them tried to push past her but grovel with a pained scream as his forearm was getting crushed by a devastating force.
"GAAAHK!"
"Oh dear, didn't I make myself clear enough?"