☀️ Arselia and Akonia

Guillon continues the diary.

Day Six

Good news: Beata came to, it was the same old good Beata I know and love. Bad news: when she found out what I did, she nearly killed me. Not gonna argue – I deserved it. But I did save her, after all! Fortunately, she decided she needed me alive, so it was limited to threats of terrible punishment, throwing shoes at me, and a black eye.
Beata decided to borrow money from Aiko. She rushed to "Carneol" and threw a scene throughout the whole house. Not gonna lie, it was funny, and I can understand her, but why does she act crazy while I'm the one feeling embarrassed? I probably shouldn't have told her that Aiko promised to help. At least Aiko wasn't too offended.
Then Beata rushed off at full steam to repay the debt, and I apologized to Aiko, and also got acquainted with the new recruits. Except for Keliandra, brrr.
Aiko hired some actor wannabe Raphael as a secretary. Now there's a pretty face. Apparently, that's why he got the position, since all he can do is act and fool girls. The main thing is that Aiko herself doesn't fall for his charms.
We also finally filled the maid vacancy. A nice girl Astelia, a former actress, was hired. A good-natured and likeable person.
As for combat units, we got Garrett. His face screams – a bandit and criminal worse than the two of us combined. He doesn't stick out too much, but still waters run deep, as they say. Plus, he carries some skull around. Maybe he should see a psychiatrist.
We took Kalina on as a doctor. She knows her stuff, but her manners are something else. A very rude and cynical lady, not very pleasant to talk to. I hope she'll fit in over time.
We also got Merel, a mysterious mage with a mysterious past. Interested in Buruaka, wants to get into power... A suspicious type, which is a kind of norm for "Carneol". Hmm, if he's so interested in Buruaka, maybe I should introduce them to Beata more closely?
Aiko said her friend, the owner of an alchemy shop, was brutally murdered. Beata got agitated and volunteered to help find the culprit. I offered my help, but was practically forcefully kicked out to work.
Work was boring, few clients. I was tormented by bad feelings, tossing a coin. 27 heads, 34 tails. Kasu looked at me like I was an idiot.

Day Seven

Early in the morning, Merel and I went on business to Emerald Alley, minding our own business, when the captain of the guard stops us and says we're under arrest. I got scared about what Beata might have done, but it turned out not to be about her... I didn't resist, which turned out for the best.
Easy to say don't resist when that creepy lady Sarana is staring daggers and demonstratively keeping her hand on her sword hilt. Brrr.
It turned out they arrested everyone except... Except Beata. My heart sank. Gods... I'm still scared to remember it. I prayed she was okay. I think that's when I realized WHAT she means to me.
Missed work, but that day I thought more about our and Beata's lives.

Day Eight

We had a trial. The huge courtroom was packed so full it felt terribly cramped. Everyone wanted our blood... Beata still wasn't there. I was worried, where was she? What happened to her?
The session lasted almost the whole day, but towards evening Her Highness appeared and managed to get us off. Good to have connections in power.
That's when I found out Beata resisted arrest, miraculously survived, and was locked up in prison for a month. I nearly lost my composure. Fortunately, they said I could visit her.
Decided to relocate to Carneol. Got a room for Beata and me.
Was late for work. Got a scolding. Almost quit on the spot. Didn't care about anything.

Day Nine

Early in the morning, our Carneol delegation packed lunch from Pam-Param and set out to visit Beata. As it turned out, the idea of bringing lunch was excellent – during all the time she spent in prison, she never stopped complaining about the local canteen.
Beata looked fine, even smiled, but I know her well. The last few days were very hard for her. The main thing was she was alive and more or less healthy, thank the gods, thank Anuzish.
Raphael gave Beata his book and snidely hinted that she was a fool herself. I swear, one day I'll hit that bastard. But the book turned out interesting, as I later found out.
Keliandra threw a scene, attacked Beata with accusations and threatened her, and then me, made some shady hints... I think I have tremendous willpower for not breaking that pointy-eared bitch's neck right there. Good thing Aiko put her in her place.
On the way back, Aiko stopped by to pick up a new flag for our organization. Hmm, slightly different from what we were working on, but in the same spirit. The main thing is it's beautiful, you can immediately tell we're a solid firm!
Right there she gave us our salary. I got paid for two. Nice, usually in our pair Beata holds all the finances while I'm her pack mule. At least some variety. Feels good to be part of a team.
Went to the pharmacy, "Leaf", for a cooling balm for Beata. A very nice establishment, a specific smell of medicines in the air, stylish black display cases full of jars and bottles, lots of pots with various flowers everywhere. I think it's very beautiful and cozy.
The shopkeeper Nake is a real live Sherian. A very rare sight, the only beastman I've seen here so far. At first, I even thought he was a foreigner from Heles, but then I looked more closely.
It was too late to go back to the prison, so I decided to stop by Carneol before work. And it wasn't in vain. Two pieces of news awaited me.
Bad news: the killer turned out to be Viktor from the port, who cut down half the guard and escaped somewhere. Raphael managed to charm some female guard, and she told him what this Viktor is like. A creepy and dangerous type.
Good news: we have reinforcements, a mysterious priestess Ayano from distant lands. A calm and sensible lady, very likeable. But she inserts many incomprehensible words into her speech. With her talents, Viktor doesn't seem so dangerous anymore.
But Aiko still decided I wouldn't be much use in a fight, just wasting medkits, and judging by Kalina's look, she definitely didn't want to waste medkits on me. So I was sent off in peace.
Right after the meeting ended, I ran to work. Wasn't even late... Almost. And the evening was tense. A couple of thugs barged in, started arguing loudly. They didn't understand polite hints, I had to draw my swords. After a small demonstration, they quickly realized I'd gut them faster than they could say "It's not fair" and chose to retreat. Kasu was so pleased he forgave my recent absence and the bale of hay I slashed during the demonstration.

Day Ten

In the morning, I dropped by "Tentacle" for diaries; Aiko highly recommended it, and I myself thought it would be a good idea to structure my thoughts and memories. Then – grab lunch and go to Beata.
While I was giving her treats and sharing the latest news, I realized I can't live without her. That I don't want to lose her. And that if something happens to me – Viktor or something else – Beata will never know about my feelings for her. So I decided to confess.
...in reality, it didn't go as beautifully as I fantasized, but far less scary than I feared. I was ready for Beata to laugh at me, make a joke about how inappropriate my feelings were given our... other relationship. But she... She confessed back. Not directly, but hinted so obviously that I had no doubt left. I guess I subconsciously suspected, given her behavior, random hints, and strange phrases... But it's nice to get confirmation. I'm happy.
Today I didn't have to go to work in the evening, so I borrowed a book from Raphael about secret places in Margel. He gave it without question; maybe he's not so bad after all. And the book is very engaging, I didn't even know the city had so many interesting things.

Day Eleven

Aiko took our whole gang and Ayano, who had joined us, to "The Drowned Woman", treating us to expensive and delicious seafood. I even felt a surge of energy. She was so kind she even treated me, even though I wasn't participating, and even left a little for Beata. The waitress seemed to have forgotten my embarrassment, or was trying hard to act like she had.
Of course, I took Beata the treats and told her the news. Too bad I returned the secret places book to Raphael and didn't think to bring it to her. But she was very happy to see me.
There was nothing to do at home – I can't believe I miss work – so I read "The Expeditionary's Rules" which Beata had praised so much. And indeed, a very useful and informative book. I didn't know you could mine fruit or that chests could be poisoned.

Day Twelve

Visited Beata again. She asked me to enchant her crossbow or at least my swords, but I got caught up chatting with her and realized I was out of time, and while walking to work, I remembered the prices for enchanting and got depressed. Good thing she wasn't too angry about my forgetfulness later.
At work, I had to throw out a bunch of overly curious kids. They have no business in a place like that. I wonder where their parents are?

Day Thirteen

In the morning, I asked Kilika to bring Beata lunch, and decided to head to the philosophers' guild. A rather pompous establishment. A spacious, bright hall and lots of platforms where anyone can listen to philosophical discussions, or even join in.
Li Jun, a local regular, a pretty friendly guy. He actively encourages people to share their opinions, lets everyone speak. He also urged me to talk; he was interested in my opinion on the new law banning revealing clothing, which, fortunately, wasn't passed.
I had two opponents. Richard – the psychiatrist Beata mentioned. I agree, a rather pleasant man, but somehow too much in his own head. I'm not entirely sure he was a good psychiatrist and didn't meddle where he wasn't wanted...
The second debater, Bazhena, as I later found out, worked at the local casino. It's clear where she picked up such language. And I thought Beata swore like a sailor. It's even a bit strange she was allowed to express herself in that format, though, as Beata later told me, discussions can get much rowdier.
While I was gathering my thoughts, our Raphael interrupted me. Oh... Here we go again, why was he the one talking nonsense while I felt embarrassed? He buttered up all the participants. It takes a certain talent to get the whole room so worked up.
I almost lost my train of thought, but eventually I pulled myself together and said what I thought – the law shouldn't have been passed for many reasons, including freedom of expression and all that. And also because Beata would have bitten my head off if I thought otherwise.
Returning from the philosophical discussions, I found out that the entire Carneol team was being sent for training in Sijimort. No one was planning to let Beata out... I didn't want to go without her. It was already hard enough seeing her for just a couple of hours a day, and now... It was unknown what, unknown how long, and unknown how.
At work, I was completely lost. I even wanted to ask for time off, but decided it was better to break the news to Beata tomorrow morning; there was still time. I didn't even respond to a persistent customer's flirting. And Kasu considered that a sign of professionalism.

Day Fourteen

As expected, Beata took the news terribly. She cried, cursed, threatened; at least she was smart enough not to try breaking the bars. She really didn't want to let me go, but eventually resigned herself and ordered me to listen to Aiko. I saw how hard the decision was for her; I wanted to refuse myself... But she was right; maybe my presence was needed. And actually, it turned out... Oh. I might as well not have gone. But I'm getting ahead of myself.
On the way back, I walked through the secret places. Went into "The Cherry". Turned out it really is a shop of sweets, goods, and souvenirs straight from Heles. I thought they sold other sweet stuff there. Seems Beata is a bad influence on me. A very colorful, bright, and exotic shop, smelling delicious for several meters around. And how did I manage not to notice the source of that smell before?
The shopkeeper Nyanko, naturally also from Heles, was very nice. Seemed a bit lazy, but apparently that's just the way she is. When I walked in, she was chewing some candy with such appetite that I couldn't resist and bought an assortment. The girl clearly knows marketing.
Remembered I forgot to give Beata the book, asked Garrett to stop by. He didn't refuse. I guess he's a good guy after all, even with his quirks. And who among us doesn't have any?
At work, I had to ask for time off for the training. Kasu was very unhappy, but eventually let me go. Mentally, I was preparing for a long separation from Beata...

16 characters/locations, events are blurrier, made some things up, some can be merged into one event. Overall roughly as many events as Beata had.