Natasha the Halve

A long sigh escaped me as I looked down at the crying woman. I remembered Lapia telling me not to become paranoid. I jumped to conclusions while angry and panicking.

I'm not going into the justifying rabbit-hole, I though, looking at the Lupum. A chuckle escaped me.

“Did I injure you?” I asked the Elf sitting on the floor.

She shook her head, and hiccuped while wiping snot and tears.

“Can you stand up?” I asked next.

In all honesty, I didn't really had the time to care for a potentially level 900 person. I was just poisoned, and could have died. My priorities were less on the social morality and more on the primal survival aspect of things. I took a deep breath and tried to calm down.

She nodded and slowly stood up.

“Okay,” I sighed. “Let's go over what just happened so we can see where things went to shit. I'm assuming we're both adults here.”

She nodded and leaned back on the bathroom stall. She was looking at me with a great deal of caution. Something completely understandable, and something I would have appreciated from the start.

“I'll go first,” I said, replacing my armor with the summer dress I was wearing. “First, I was poisoned, most likely. I can't really think of anything that can actually make me feel like that other than poison. Then, a little girl comes and offers me acid to 'fix the pain', claiming someone else pushed her to it. Then, you show up,” I gestured at her. “Claiming that the... objectively weaker woman did it. I'm being 'hunted' by some weird group of people that I know close to nothing about. You, an unknown woman that had been staring at me for quite a while, showed up with incredibly convenient timing.”

She frowned and nodded. Then, I continued.

“I'm not saying I was in the right, but you won't get an apology from me either,” I said, resting my hands on my hips. “Being from Earth does not make us friends in any way, shape, or form. Nor does that make you any different from the people around us. Yes, I'm a total bitch if that means peace of mind and safety for my partners.”

She produced some napkins and cleaned her face. Then, she walked to the sink and washed her hands. After taking a deep breath, she started talking.

“I read about you on the newspaper,” she chuckled. “I saw your drawing and recognized your signature, RuNash,” she tried smiling, but failed. I raised an eyebrow at that. “It was the first thing from Earth I had seen in Galeia, so I got really excited. I am a big fan of your work, and I wanted to meet you so I mounted up and made my way to Lumin Kingdom. After asking about you, I followed your trail. I have a really good tracking skill, you see. When I got here, I heard you were staying here as well, so I just waited. I came to have a drink and then you showed up. I didn't lie about the waitress and the poison. I really heard that. Then, I did something stupid because I wanted to look cool. I even came up with a few lines.” she let out a sad laugh.

I was dying inside. RuNash was not my official tag, it was the account I used to upload spicy content on Twatter. In other words, the horny account. I didn't expect someone to recognize it in another world. It was a habit to sign my sketches with that tag since it was easy and short.

“I see,” I said after a few seconds.

“Also, you didn't really hurt me. It was mostly the fear of looking death in the eye that shocked me,” she fixed her hair and shirt. “I've been through worse out there. I got impaled once, and lost both legs shortly after.”

Pretty tame.

“Good to know,” I nodded. “So, what did you learn from the Lupum?”

She was confused for a second, looking at me as if I grew legs instead of eyes.

“You're not excited to meet someone from Earth?” she asked in disbelief.

“Not in the slightest,” I replied. “I don't care about Earth. Maybe a little curiosity, but that'd be it.”

“Why?” she took a step closer to me. “I miss smartphones, the internet, memes, anime, and a lot more.”

“I'm not going to tell you,” I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “Anyway, what's your name?”

“Fair enough,” she shrugged. “My name used to be Evelynn Heart. My current name is Pokh'Orra Pezh'Che.”

I stared at her for a second. She did a clicking sound, and another that reminded me of Lapia's clothes. It sounded like Po(click)orra Pejjke.

“I'm sorry, what?”

“You can call me Pokora,” she chuckled.

I looked at the Lupum on the ground, then back at her.

“That's unnaturally similar to the war criminal,” I commented.

“I know,” she groaned. “I blame my classmates back at school.”

“Riiiight,” I sighed. Then, I tried to alleviate the atmosphere, “Well, I can't answer who was in Paris.”

“I can't either,” she laughed.

I carefully looked at her. She bounced back pretty fast considering what happened.

“You okay now?” I asked, looking her in the eye.

“Mh?” she tilted her head. “Bitch, that was a little choking and poking. You didn't flay me alive or used my bones as needles to stab me under my fingernails.”

“Don't call me a bitch,” I warned her. “And that's worryingly descriptive.”

“Right,” she sighed, then smiled. “You're pretty tall.”

I nodded. Elves used the weirdest coping methods, even if she used to be human.

“Also, your accent is thicker than a bowl of oatmeal.”

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath through my nose.

“Alright,” I sighed. “I'll ask again, what did you learn from the Lupum?”

“She was blackmailed into poisoning the alcohol,” she said, looking down at the woman in question.

“Couldn't you have said so from the start, you moron?” I sighed.

“I was going to, but someone choked me,” she scowled.

“That doesn't mean 'from the start', you idiot!” I glared back.

Her eyes widened.

“Your iris change when you're angry?” she asked, surprised.

“Do you want a fucking slap?” I asked back, a little pissed. “I'm not playing games here.”

“No, thanks.” she sighed. “Well, I may have been too excited to meet you.”

I crouched and pulled another elixir. Popping the cork, I raised the Lupum's head and slowly pured a little into her mouth. Her body reacted and she swallowed the liquid.

I didn't go through Hell to please fans and play nice.

'Sussanna', if that was even her name, slowly woke up and froze as her eyes met mine.

'Come' I sent to Alyssa.

'Bathroom' I sent to Yolin.

'Now' I sent to Bonte.

I looked into her violet eyes and saw a little fear.

“I was told you poisoned my alcohol. How about you remember everything and tell me?”

She nodded and a few tears feel down her face.

“Please don't kill me!” Sussanna begged.

“That's up to you and your answers,” I replied.

“That's not right,” the Elf interjected.

“Grow up,” I calmly said.

In my humble opinion, I was doing a pretty good job of controlling my anger. The Elf wasn't helping at all, and I gave up on being polite.

She looked away, crossed her arms, and shook her head.

The sound of footsteps reached me and I turned my head to the door. I realized my position was pretty bad if an assassin or something came in, so I re-positioned myself facing the door.

A Tigea wearing a waitress uniform popped up, and my face soured. Probably Olivia's mother.

“What's going on?” the new arrival asked, then looked at the woman on the floor. “Sussanna?!”

“Who broke the door?” Lapia's voice came from outside the bathroom.

“Probably Natasha,” Yolin laughed. “I bet she had a massive one to dump.”

I chuckled and felt a little calmer.

Alyssa's giggle made me smile, and Bromisnar grunt of disgust managed to make me laugh.

The Tigea walked into the bathroom followed by my companions, and I noticed Olivia hiding behind her mother.

Alyssa approached me and crouched next to me, then placed a hand on top of the Lupum's stomach. A white light came out of her hand and Sussanna let out a groan of pain, followed by a sigh of relief.

“She had a few broken bones, but nothing life-threatening,” she said, and turned to me.

I showed her the elixir, and got a nod in response.

“Have you decided to talk?” I asked the woman still on the floor.

She nodded.

“A few days ago, a Changeling came to the Sharp Paw,” she began with a shaky voice. “They told me I had to poison a Halve if I had the chance. They'd return after the Aphelion and check if I did it, and kill me if I failed.”

“What?” Alyssa gasped, then turned to me. “You were poisoned?!”

“That's right,” I replied with a nod. “I felt pretty bad, then drank an elixir and got better.”

I turned to the Lupum, and raised an eyebrow.

“I was given two vials,” she continued, closing her eyes. “I poured one in your potato spirit, then told Olivia to give you the second dose if you came to the bathroom.”

“YOU WHAT?!” the unknown Tigea shouted in horror. “HOW COULD YOU? SHE'S MY DAUGHTER!”

“I'm sorry, Celeste. I didn't want to die,” Sussanna sobbed. “I thought a Halve wouldn't harm a child even if all was revealed.”

“Well, this got complicated,” Yolin muttered. “Celeste, was it?”

“Yes?” the woman answered, a bit on the edge.

“How about you go get the Watchers?” the Oni offered. “This is not a place for a child to be.”

I saw confusion in the woman's eyes. Hurt, worry, and uncertainty. After a few seconds of self-reflection, she nodded and walked away with Olivia.

“What's this hole?” Lapia asked, looking at the product of the acid.

“That's the second vial, I guess,” I replied. “Olivia threw it at me and I blocked it, then the contents spilled and made a hole on the floor.”

“Looks pretty strong,” Bonte commented, then crouched next to the hole. “Smells like nikontia.”

Everyone sighed, and I just nodded.

I had no clue what that was, and it wasn't time to ask.

“It's a plant-based acid, it's used in mining and industrial work,” Alyssa whispered next to my ear.

Bless this woman!

“But that wouldn't be enough to kill a Halve,” Lapia commented, standing next to Bonte. “At least not Natasha.”

“Anyway,” Bromisnar spoke up, pointing at Pokora. “Who's that woman?”

“My name is Pokh'Orra Pezh'Che. I apprehended and interrogated the Lupum after hearing her talking about poisoning a Protector. Then, I handed her over to Natasha who, in her infinite gratitude, choked me,” she said, giving me a smirk.

I sighed and shook my head.

Good thing she's not talking about Earth shit.

“Meh, you're alive,” Lapia simply said, shrugging.

Yolin laughed loudly, and Alyssa tried not to smile. Bromisnar and Bonte shook their heads, but chuckled.

“What's that supposed to mean?” Pokora asked, confused.

“I said you're in one piece,” Lapia replied, uninterested. “I'm sure you've heard the saying 'A Halve doesn't attack without reason', right?”

“A viper doesn't bite unless you step on it?” Yolin supplied with her arms behind her head.

Pokora just shook her head with a sigh.

“What's your name?” Alyssa asked the Lupum.

“Sussanna,” she replied. “Thank you for healing me.”

“It's okay,” the Luzo smiled gently. “Make sure you explain properly and with names when the Watchers come. If you do a good job, I'm sure you'll only serve a little over a century at the Endless Pit.”

My eyes widened.

“How come?” I asked her, pretty shocked.

“Well, if she was the sole perpetrator, she'd get life,” Alyssa smiled. “But she was just an accessory to attempted deicide, so only a century.”

Only?! But Lupum live up to what? 500 years...? I thought. So it's like going to prison for twenty years?

I shook my head. If anything, it was a light punishment. Attempting to end a being that lived 10.000 years shouldn't be paid with just 100 years of prison.

“What's deicide?” I asked in a whisper, leaning in on Alyssa.

She bit her lips for a second, fighting a smile.

“Killing a higher being, like Halves or Gods,” she replied, looking me in the eye.

I just nodded. I'd have her tell me every single crime there is when we reach Paarjo.

Good thing I called them over. I had no clue on what to do.

Looking at each of my companions, I smiled.

“Also, Pokh'Orra could face charges for assault and battery,” Alyssa continued with a serious expression. “Sussanna's level is what? Ten percent of yours? That's unnecessary violence, bordering on torture of people below you in power. You broke more than a few bones. If you go to court, they could see Natasha as protecting her from further harm by choking you no matter the circumstance, considering your levels.”

“Well... shit,” the Elf muttered.