A nameless inn in the city of Dafur. Gilaahan.
Sofiya's eyelids fluttered open, and a searing headache greeted her, making her groan in agony.
The world swam before her eyes, gradually coming into focus. Even after rousing from her slumber, an overwhelming fatigue enveloped her, tempting her to retreat into the welcoming embrace of sleep.
To her surprise, Sofiya found herself in an unfamiliar room, a far cry from the battleground where she had clashed with Eren. As she struggled to sit up, she noticed the comforting embrace of a modest yet plush bed beneath her.
Confusion clouded her thoughts, and she voiced her bewilderment in a low murmur, "Where... where am I?" Slowly adjusting her vision, she scanned the surroundings, her gaze finally landing on Eren perched by the room's solitary window, lost in contemplation.
"Well… good evening, sleepy head. We've taken shelter at an inn for now," Eren replied, his gaze still fixed on the mysterious outside world. Breaking his trance, he nonchalantly tossed a vial of sparkling Awakened-rank potion toward Sofiya. "Here. Drink this," he offered without bothering to meet her eyes.
With reflexes honed through battles, Sofiya effortlessly caught the vial, her narrowed eyes fixated on Eren. Glancing down at her attire, she quickly ensured that it hadn't been tampered with. She parted her lips to speak but then hesitated, exhaling a resigned sigh. She decided to consume the healing potion Eren had bestowed upon her.
As the liquid slid down her throat, the potion's effects surged through Sofiya's body. Activating her mana circuits, she channeled the healing energies, gradually alleviating her mana fatigue. A sense of rejuvenation washed over her, although she was still far from a complete recovery.
"You stingy man. Couldn't you offer me a decent healing potion? That was a cheap knock-off of Healing Harmony." Sofiya scoffed at Eren in a crisp Russian accent, her tone laced with annoyance. Adjusting her hair, she deftly tied it into a knot at the back of her head.
Eren chuckled wryly before retorting, "What do you expect from a penniless man burdened with an insurmountable loan? I don't possess Healing Harmony. And even if I did, I doubt I would've shared it considering my dire financial situation."
He ran a hand through his white hair, his pale complexion, and piercing blue eyes basking in the warm embrace of the evening light. When he turned to face Sofiya, his enigmatic visage carried a certain allure that captivated her.
The reminder struck Sofiya that Eren wasn't in a position to bestow gifts upon her. After all, he still had to settle a substantial debt with the Stardust Guild for the destruction of his synth body. Additionally, he owed his friends a debt of gratitude for their support during his two-year-long vegetative state back on Earth.
Unbeknownst to Sofiya, Eren also carried the weight of indebtedness to Malcom for the assistance he had received upon entering the world of Gilaahan. In essence, Eren found himself crushed beneath the burden of overwhelming debt.
Sofiya Ivanova, the Hexer girl, thrived on challenging exceptional Rankers of her generation, using them as stepping stones for her personal growth. Although brash in her demeanor and words, she recognized the value of favors bestowed upon her.
Casting her gaze upon Eren, her lips pursed, and her piercing gaze softened as she mustered the courage to utter a few apologetic words. "I... I'm sorry, Eren," she stammered, feeling a twinge of awkwardness at the realization of her imposition on him.
"Don't apologize, Sofiya," Eren's voice now flowed with the melodious tones of Gilaahan's language. Casting a knowing smile at her, he spoke with a hint of amusement, "Regret alone won't suffice. I need you to feel indebted, enough to honor our agreement and join my mercenary unit. You do remember our deal, don't you? The one we made regarding our spar?"
Sofiya's memory was jogged by Eren's words, reminding her of the promise she had made to join his mercenary unit if she lost their duel. Contemplative silence hung in the air as she mulled over the various aspects of her decision before finally finding her voice.
"Eren, forming a mercenary unit while remaining affiliated with a guild seems rather redundant, don't you think?" Sofiya's gaze locked onto Eren, her expression pensive. "Each member of the unit would be obligated to provide a fixed percentage of their earnings to their respective guild. Even a modest 5-10% cut would become burdensome as we undertake more and more missions. It would be wiser for us to accept missions from our guild instead. They are comparatively safer and guarantee a steady income."
Eren let out a weary sigh, shaking his head in disagreement. Speaking in a measured tone, his piercing gaze fixed on Sofiya, he countered her argument.
"Indeed, you're not wrong, Sofiya. But I'm an outcast in my own guild. Do you think the guild administration would assign me lucrative missions? More likely, they would burden me with perilous tasks that offer minimal rewards. And forgive me for saying this, but your relationship with the guild isn't exactly cordial either, is it? You face similar alienation from the guild members if not more."
Sofiya's annoyance simmered as Eren held up a figurative mirror, forcing her to confront the truth. Folding her arms beneath her bosom, she huffed before responding, "Ha! That's of no concern to me. As long as I am compensated for the missions I undertake, I couldn't care less about their opinions."
Eren remained unperturbed by Sofiya's anti-social tendencies, simply shrugging his shoulders before continuing.
"But there's more to it, Sofiya. Right now, a stable income isn't my ultimate pursuit," Eren's voice resonated with an insatiable thirst for liberation. A longing he couldn't fully grasp, a burning desire to break free from the shackles that bound him.
"I yearn to transcend the guild's restrictions, to wander this world on my own terms, unburdened by their bureaucratic entanglements. And I sense a similar yearning within you," Eren's words hung in the air, charged with palpable energy.
He continued, his voice carrying an infectious enthusiasm, "After all, only those who dare may fly. Don't you agree?" Eren's question lingered, its weight stirring a profound response deep within Sofiya's being.
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