Hello Germain greeted as he stopped before the two. He took a bow, "I am Germain of the 12 thrones, ruler of Midland and a former member of the house of Scarlett."
"Oh, um… hi." Joy was unsure how to react in this situation. She's never been greeted by someone this important.
"No need to tense up." It was as though Germain had read her mind, "If the formalities make you uncomfortable I could stop."
"No… um… don't mind a nobody like me. Just, um its fine."
"jeez Joy your stammering a lot aren't you?" Blake took the opportunity to tease her.
"Shut it."
"It would appear as though the two of you are full of energy. However, could we perhaps save the excitement for when you tell me why you brought me here." Germain asked.
"I didn't bring you here, if anything you brought yourself here."
"Huh, you told me to come." He argued.
"And you listened? Here was me thinking you'd blow off this appointment as well." Blake made a cheeky expression.
"Your message seemed very urgent, as such I thought perhaps it was important."
A man attempted to pass them with a box covered by a red cloth.
"Oh, please its ok I'll take it." Germain stretched out his arms.
"Um… sure."
'He's so… kind.' Joy thought to herself, 'He's like Mr.Akame, although he doesn't have an air of mystery about him. I can tell just from looking at him that what I'm seeing is exactly what I'm getting. Its kind of relaxing.' She stared at him for a long minute.
"Is there something on my face?" He asked touching his cheek.
"What no… why would you ask?" Joy stepped back for a moment.
"I don't know maybe its because you've been staring at him like an obsessed teenage girl." Blake noted.
"Blake… stop embarrassing me." She pouted.
"Anyway, I called you here for a very specific reason." Blake explained, "But that'll be discussed during dinner."
"Dinner?" Germain wondered, "Just how long do you intend to have me stay over?"
"C'mon, with the current war in Midland, I know you could use a break. Maybe a week or two."
Germain grabbed the bridge of his nose, "You can't be serious."
"Fine, a week. But don't push your luck." Blake said with a smile.
HOOOT!
"Huh? The boat's leaving?"
Germain turned, "Yes, it has to make it to the capital to pick up my subordinates in a couple of days."
"You didn't come with them?" Blake asked.
"No, they had other business to take care of in Kisumu. They should make it to the ship by the week's end."
'Kisumu, isn't that were Gil is?' She thought to ask, but then realized it wouldn't really paint her in a trusting light.
"Oh, that makes this situation even better."
"How so?"
"Now we can show you around the town."
Germain didn't necessarily mind, however, he had leaned to be warry of such villages.
"So Joy why don't you make our visitor feel at home." Blake turned towards Joy.
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me, make sure you bring him back in time for lunch." Blake said as he walked away.
"Hey wait you can't leave me with him… I mean, I don't mean it in a bad way." Joy explained, "I'm just not good with people."
"People or foreigners?" Germain asked.
Joy didn't say anything.
"Its ok, you don't have to pretend to like me, I'm well aware of what the Vatican is doing to your people. You can despise me if you want." He began to walk away, taking in the site.
"Its not like that." Is what she wanted to say but she still wasn't sure about how she felt. 'It wouldn't make sense, Mr.Akame and Dr.Blake are both nor from around here. But they both treat us like equals. No, they treat us as though we're above them. For the entire time they've been here not a single one of us ever dug those farms.' She turned to look at Germain's back, 'Is he like that, or is he like that old bastard.'
(She was referring to the bishop)
"Hey!" She called out, "Can't go anywhere without your tour guide, can you?"
Germain gave a smile, "I suppose not."
His voice wasn't deep, like most men she knew. He was just like Akame in that way and Gil.It carried an air of care and mystery.
The two headed into town, it was buzzing with life like it normally is of course.
"Wow." He exclaimed, his every word was like a whisper, barely audible of you weren't close enough to listen.
"This village isn't like the others you've seen is it?" Joy proclaimed, "I bet you think it's the best."
"No, not really. I have seen incredible villages in my time, this is just another flavor."
"Flavor?"
"Yes, like how ice cream has many flavor yet stems from the same ingredients." He answered.
He took a look around, many of the children looked at him. Not only that some of the locals were also staring.
"Why is everyone looking at me like that?" Germain asked.
"Seriously, its just because they haven't seen someone like you."
"True."
However, the moment she said this it seemed as though their interest had seemingly vanished and each of them continued with their day to day.
"Curious." He whispered, 'They aren't paying as much attention to me as I had thought they would. It is very interesting.'
"Is their perhaps a place we could go to where there aren't so many people. Preferably one with a beautiful site."
"?" She scratched her head, "There is one place, but I don't know if you'd call it a beautiful site though."
"Take me, I'd love to see it." Germain smiled.
"Sure." She smiled, 'Maybe he isn't so bad after all.'
***
AT THE HOTEL BACK IN KISUMU
"I can't believe you guys left me last night, what If the bad guys came for me?" Catherine complained as the crew packed their bags.
"Bring them here." Akame said extending his hands. Gil placed his bag on Akame's arm. The same black bubbly substance surrounding the bag and it disappeared.
"Catherine it's your turn."
"NO!" She sat on the floor, "I refuse to leave with you two. I can't believe you left me, I was so scared I couldn't sleep."
"But didn't I literally find you a sleep on the couch, passed out completely?" Akame pointed out the obvious.
"No, it wasn't me." She sniffled.
"Will you grow up and let's go." Gil ordered, "Your such a cry baby."
"Mh." She turned and continued to sit.
Akame sighed walking towards her. "Look Cath, it wasn't that we wanted to leave you but it was simply because we had to deal with an immediate threat."
"I could've helped." She sniffled, "Like I helped with Gil's thing. I can be useful too."
"Yeah but this was different than that." Gil tried to intervene but Akame politely cut him off.
"I know, tell you what. Let's find Gil a new teacher, then you and me can start training for real. What do you say?"
"Really?" She asked tears still coming from her eyes.
"Seriously?" Gil asked.
"Yes, of course." Akame smiled, just a little bit. I guess it was more of a smirk than a smile.
"So you'll let me train you with my wisdom?" She asked still sniffling.
"Of course, I can't wait to hear all of the wisdom you have in stock." Akame confirmed.
"Yaaaay!" She shouted giving Akame her bag. Bubbles came and took it.
"We best begin leaving…"
KNOCK!
Just as he was about to say this there was knocking on the door. Akame turned and made his way to the door.
"Be careful, it might be the enemy." Catherine whispered.
"Want me to go check?" Gil asked.
"No." Akame and Catherine said in unison.
"Ok, fine."
Akame went and opened up the door.
THERE WAS NOBODY THERE. But he felt a cold breeze coming from behind him. 'I closed all the windows.'
As such he turned and looked at the window, and there was their culprit. Sited on the window sill, in all white.
"Are you guys ready to go?" He asked.
TO BE CONTINUED!