Tales of Undeath: The Von Virtus Chronicles

As they enter his room, they are greeted by an unexpected sight: Virno is already up, attempting some stretches. He is facing away from the door and does not notice them standing there.

Faya: Be careful! What are you doing out of bed already?!

His head turns back, with his body following close behind.

Virno: I feel fine, don't worry.

Rel raises his brow.

Rel: It seems like that doctor might have done too much of a good job...

Virno smiles.

Virno: So... Any news?

Faya nods, excitedly.

Faya: Yes! Your rent is now permanently fixed at 250 coppers...!

Virno's smile widens with joy and relief.

Virno: Thank you, Faya... That's a huge weight off our shoulders. I won't forget it. But...

Virno had his doubts because it seemed almost too easy. The air became tense.

Virno: ... Did he change his mind just like that? Cabdan doesn't seem to be the type to bend like that.

Faya was prepared to dispel them, however.

Faya: Don't worry. I threatened to abandon the arena if he didn't, so of course he had no choice but to accept my terms! He'd never sacrifice his best fighter.

She giggled. Rel smiled slightly, but it was clearly not genuine. He knew she was lying.

Virno: Alright... That's one less thing to worry about, then. Thank you, once again.

He moves towards the room's exit.

Faya: Hey! Where are you going?!

Virno: Home. My mother is probably worried that I haven't returned yet... Plus, I should go tell her the good news. Can we come by tomorrow morning to start working?

Faya: Yes... Of course!

Virno smiles.

Virno: So we'll see you tomorrow then.

He turns to Rel.

Virno: And Rel... It was nice meeting you. Sometime soon we'll have a proper fight. Though I probably need some fist-fighting lessons before I go into another arena bare-handed with you...

Rel smiles and exhales from his nose.

Rel: Nonsense. You're a sword fighter, that much is clear... Keep honing those skills. I'm the one who needs to step up his game! Getting beat by some newbie in my own arena. How the mighty fall...

He lets out a short laugh. Faya smiles, and so does Virno.

Virno: I'll see you around then, guys. Take care.

Rel: Cya.

Faya: Don't be late tomorrow!

Virno leaves the orphanage. They see him through one of the room's windows.

Rel: ... You like him, don't you?

She punches his arm.

Rel: ARGH...

Faya: Shut up...

Rel's face gets serious.

Rel: You know Barr will probably get involved if he catches wind of that...

Faya: Yeah... But he won't. Virno doesn't need to enter the arena ever again, so there's no way the two can cross paths.

Rel: Let's hope you're right...

Faya: Enough of that! How's your head?

She abruptly changes subjects.

Rel: Better than the head of the guy you fought before, that's for sure... Nothing to be concerned about. A couple of days and I should be fine.

Faya: Seriously... What were you thinking going that far, Rel...? It's not like you.

Rel shakes his head.

Rel: Virno is a true fighter... I had give him a good match. The way he took advantage of his surroundings and fought until his own body couldn't take any more...He's got something. Something I don't have, something you don't have... Something nobody around here has.

Faya: Well... Are you sure you aren't the one with a crush on him?

Rel laughs.

Rel: I'm just saying, Faya... Virno might well be our ticket out of here.

Meanwhile, Virno was walking home. On the street, two girls around Faya's age pass him by. One of them was crying, and the other was trying to comfort her.

Girl: It's all right now... We're nearly home. Faya would break their arms before they could do anything to you, so you're safe...

Virno is intrigued by this and intervenes.

Virno: Hey! What happened to her?

The girl turns to him, angrily.

Girl: Mind your own damn business!

She takes a closer look at him, noticing the bandages around his torso.

Girl: Those injuries... Aren't you the one who fought Rel? Faya told us about you. Look, if you know what's good for you, stay far away from Cabdan...

Virno: I'm not planning on working for him ever again, don't worry.

The other girl tugs at her friend's clothing, hurrying her to keep moving toward the orphanage.

Girl: Good...

As they turn around, Virno inquires further.

Virno: Hang on, did he have something to do with your friend's state...?

The girls keep walking.

Girl: Again, mind your own business...! We'll protect her ourselves, thank you...

Virno clenches his fists, debating himself on whether he should chase them or not.

Virno: These goddamn people around here always have such a hard time trusting strangers...

He decides to let them go, and keeps walking home. The rest of the walk was calm and quiet. It was around lunch time when he finally got home. He opens the front door.

Virno: I'm home...! Sorry I took so long.

His mother was sitting at the table, looking pensively at the ground. The table was set, and bread and water were already on the table. She must have been waiting for him. As soon as he enters, she snaps out of her train of thought.

Anya: Virno...! Where have you been all this time?!

She gets up and approaches him, noticing his bandages.

Virno: Before you say anything, don't worry, I'm fine! These will heal in a couple of days... But more importantly... I have good news.

She stands there in front of him, intrigued.

Virno: Cabdan changed his mind. Our rent will remain at 50% forever. Also... I don't have to fight for him anymore. So it'll be the first and last time I come back all bandaged up!

He laughs.

Anya: But... That's great news...!

Virno: And it's not all! I got us both jobs. Starting tomorrow, we can help out around the nearby orphanage. I don't know how good the pay is, but at least we'll be earning some coin...

His mother smiles from ear to ear, and moves in for a hug.

Anya: I don't even know what to say...! This is so great, Virno... I don't know what I'd do without you...

Virno flinches as his mother hugs him.

Virno: Mother... My ribs...!

Anya: Oh my god, sorry!

She steps back immediately.

Virno: It's fine, don't worry. And I did tell you that we didn't need him at all, didn't I...? We'll manage on our own.

She doesn't say anything else in that regard.

Anya: ... Come, let's eat and you can tell me all about what happened! There's a lot of details you're not telling me...

They have lunch together, and Virno tells his mother how his morning's events transpired, while downplaying the intensity of his fight and keeping other details that may worry his mother under wraps...