Chronicles of The Omniverse Archived Lutetia City

as written by Ronin and SerinaBloom

Luka stepped inside, silently and instinctually taking in the scents. He liked it, he decided - a warm, earthy flavor, coupled with the subtle musk that identified one of his own kind.

"I can smell whisky here," he smiled, "did he like to drink?"

"Once in a while yes. He was always one to celebrate with a drink but thats how Iverian men are." Crista chuckled a bit to herself, feeling nostalgic.

Luka smiled. He looked around the house. Small, but cozy. A good place to stay.

He turned to Crista. "Thank you, again. For all of this. I don't know how-" His ears twitched, his brows raising. "The radio on your destrier is calling your name." He blinked, shaking his head a bit. "Sorry. Uh. I think someone is trying to get your attention."

Crista turned to look out the door then looked to Luka.

"I know this place is a bit unkempt but I hope you'll be okay staying here. You'll be safe and when I'm done I'll come back with something for you to eat."

Crista stepped out to her destrier and answered he radio.

"This is Crista."

"Dame Sorrel," the radio squawked, "your destrier's GPS reads you as near the Fontainbleu district. We have an anonymous tip suggesting that a child involved in a recent missing persons case has been forcibly brought into the Moon Bow bar and dance club in that area. You are to investigate immediately."

At the door, Luka looked out from the front porch. There was a slight fear in his eyes. He didn't want her to go.

Crista glanced at the young boy in the door, seeing his fear, but knowing she had another child to go save.

"I'm on my way."

Crista hung up the radio and walked over to Luka, crouching down to his eye level and smiling in a reassuring manner.

"I'll be back as soon as possible I promise. This place is somewhere you can call home now. If you go upstairs to the bed room and look in the closet there should be a small box of things to keep you company until I come back."

Luka nodded, putting on a brave face for her. "Okay." He swallowed the dryness in his throat, attempting a smile. "You promise me you'll be back?"

"I promise."

Crista smiled and ruffled his hair a bit. She turned and mounted her destrier.

"Stay inside, Luka."

She revved the engine and sped off.
 
as written by Ronin and SerinaBloom

Back at the Monastery, the gates were open for Crista's arrival. The girl's parents had been called and the waited at the entrance along with two other paladins and cleric Grunxa.

"Momma!" the little girl squealed as they neared the entrance, fidgeting in Crista's lap. Her mother covered her mouth with her hand, tears brimming in her eyes.

Crista dismounted from her bike after entering the monastery and helped the little girl down, letting her return to her parents. Crista stood back watching the reunion...with a bit of envy.

The girl ran first to her mother - a well-dressed woman who had tried to refrain from crying but couldn't help herself as the tears sullied her mascara. She bent down and scooped her into her arms and held her close. "My angel," she whispered, "my angel, my angel."

The father, noticeably less emotional but still clearly elated to have his daughter back, stepped forward and offered Crista his hand. "You've done my family a great service, paladin." He was garbed in the clothing of a high-ranking church official; guilded shoulder pads, gold buttons and badges pinned to his chest. "May I have the honor of knowing your name?"

Crista took his hand and addressed him formally.

"Crista Sorrel, sir."

"You have my thanks, Dame Sorrel," the clergyman smiled, "if you should ever need anything at all from my family, you need only ask."

Sister Grunxa stepped forward. "We ought to bring the girl inside so we can give her a medical examination."

The two paladins escorted the family into the Monastery. Grunxa turned to Crista.

"Well done, Dame Sorrel. I heard the dispatch. You came under heavy fire." Her head cocked. "Are you injured?"

" Not critically. A bullet did make it through my armor but luckily it only made contact with kevlar."

"I see. Nothing too serious then." Grunxa nodded. She turned and left, offering no further thanks or praise. Crista was a paladin, after all. This was her job.

A low rumbling resonated behind her and Savien pulled up alongside her. His helmet was still on.

"Kid's safe?"

"Yes she's fine now and is happy to be back with her family."

"That's good," Savien nodded. "That's good."

Silence, then...

"Barrows'll be on the run. Be after your head. And mine."

"Right..."

Crista knew she had no choice in going on the mission but if Barrows was going to be after her that would make taking care of Luka that much harder.

"We can stop them."

"Yes. That would be best. We need to take care of them."

"We will," Savien nodded, "for now, let's get out of our armor and file our reports on what happened." He checked the digital clock on his bike. "I need to get out of the city on an assignment, so let's make it quick."

He revved his bike and rode into the Monastery.

Crista nodded and followed, parking her destrier inside and then going to the armory to remove her suit. She had her own business to take care of after her report and so was quick to get the work done.
 
as written by SerinaBloom

After having completed the mission in Fontainebleu and gotten her treatment from taking the bullet, Crista settled down for the night. Even though she wanted to go back towards the market town to check on Luka in John's old home she was in no shape to do so. She lied there in bed for a while, not finding sleep easily and old memories began floating throuhg her head before she began to drift off into sleep.

Crista found herself reliving memories from a year ago, standing in front of a black smiths shop, with the broken sword she had come to get supplies to fix. As a paladin, Crista was in charge of maintaining her own weapons and gear so she just needed to resupply before heading back to the monastery. She stepped inside the heat of the blacksmiths shop.
 
as written by Ginafien

John appeared from a doorway, wiping his hands with a rag.

"Hello lass, what brings a fine gem like yerself into my shop?" He said with a cheerful air.

He swept his unruly hair back and tied into a quick pony tail.
 
as written by SerinaBloom

Crista's armor quiet clearly bore the crest of the monastic order and so it was easy for anyone to identify her as a paladin.

"Sir, i need a supply of Ramson steel to reforge my blade."

Ramson steel is the sharpest of the sharp. Its martensite microstructure and thin-folding forging technique allows the blade to be sharpened to incredible extremes. Ramson steel can stab through werewolf hide, plate armor ... even dragon scales. Unfortunately, its incredible sharpness is offset by its comparative frailty and lack of flexibility. Ramson steel breaks more easily then any other kind of Lutetian metal. It's not uncommon to see paladins grumblingly reforging their bent swords or simply attaching new blades to their hilts altogether. That said, for as long as it lasts, Ramson steel is the superior cutting metal.
 
as written by Ginafien

John's eyes widened for a second, he quickly inspected her and settled down. Upon seeing the broken sword he snickered.

"I'll fix yer sword lass, forgin' ain't no work fer such a pretty girl." He said with a sly wink.

He knew that ramson steel was incredibly fragile and not much could be done to add to it's longevity. But he was superstitious and believed many things, and one of them was that one could forge a spirit into a blade, a very old notion but one he held dearly. John looked into the young paladin's eyes. John's eyes held a hint of mischief.
 
as written by SerinaBloom

Crista remained unmoved and she continued.

"Theres no need. I know how to forge a blade. Thank you for the kind offer though."
 
as written by Ginafien

"Don't worry, I'll give you a discount and some Ramson steel ta boot, but I will not let you do anything other n cut with that sword."

John was adamant in not letting Christa reforge the blade. Mainly because he wanted to keep such a pretty girl around. He stretched and yawned. Leaning forward against the counter he smirked.

"I have all day lass, and me reforging it will cost less, be more time efficient, and hell, keep a pretty girl around. No matter what you say, I'm reforging that blade for ye."
 
as written by SerinaBloom

Crista simply shook her head and sighed. Poor boy, he didn't know.

"Very well, because you are so insistent and are making such a good offer. I will let you reforge my sword."
 
as written by Ginafien

John grinned and went into the backroom, it was dimly lit but there was a lot of heat coming from the open doorway. Some rattling of metal could be heard, and clunking of something else.

"Come into the forge and hand me your fancy razor." He called from the back room.

He could be heard heating up the forge and going about other things as well.
 
as written by SerinaBloom

Crista followed him into the forge, rather used to the heat after having reforged her sword a few times before.
 
as written by Ginafien

There were a few bars of Ramson steel neatly laid out and ready for exchange. John already had a bar ready to make a new blade as well as something else, it was a quarter the size of the bar and was a dull white.

"Bring out the blade and hand it to me lass."

He said politely and patiently.
 
as written by SerinaBloom

Crista glanced at the other bar he had laid out before handing him her shattered blade.
 
as written by Ginafien

"I'll have to make a new blade altogether."

John really hated Ramson steel, sure it was sharp but he himself considered it inferior, a blade breaking in battle was sure to cause death. With a sigh he tossed the small white object into smelting pot with the bar of Ramson. He disassembled the cross guard and pommel from the shattered blade and inspected the handle. He knew he was going to have to make this precise, maybe he would be a good sport and do a leather wrapping on the handle. As the bar melted along with the object he poured it into a new mold and waited for the molten metal to cool. Once the bar was cooled he began to reheat it as to soften it. Once softened he took a hammer to it first making the tang of the new blade and and extending the rest of the bar into the general shape of a sword. After nearly three hours of forging he had completed the new blade for the paladin with the addition of a leather wrapped handle.

"It should last longer what with the spirit of a dragon in there." He stated proudly.
 
as written by SerinaBloom

Crista raised a brow and took the sword him, getting a feel for it. It seemed balanced and very well made. She could easily see this man had skill in his trade.

"What was it that you put in with the ramson steel?"
 
as written by Ginafien

"I put a bit of dragon bone in there, helps get the spirit of the beast in there, makes it more powerful."

John stated this like it should be a commonly known fact.

"I keep an assortment of bones to add whatever may be needed in a blade. Strenght, speed, balance, power, blood lust."
 
as written by SerinaBloom and Ginafien

Crista still had a raised brow.

"I've never heard of bones being used in forging. How will it affect the steel?"

"In most cases it improves the steel, It adds more carbon into it and strengthens it further, keep care to oil that blade well."

With a stretch John held his hand out to the young paladin, his palm upturned. John looked at Christa from the corner of his eye.

Crista figured that the blacksmith was waiting for his pay.

"Thank you very much. i'm sure you've saved me a few reforging. How much do i owe you?"

"A kiss or a dance by moonlight, but for a sword like that two hundred gold pieces and fifty silvers. If you are wondering yes this is the discount price that does come with that fancy set of steel and extra hundred gold for a bit of dragon bone. That is if you think you can retemper a Ramson steel bar."

Crista blinked slightly not sure if she heard the first part right.

"uh right I understand."

Crista started counting out what he had asked for. Even though for most something like this would be very expensive paladins had extensive fund to keep their gear maintained and ready for battle.

John walked over to a row of medium sized wooden boxes, there were about six of them. He checked the contents of each box and nodded. He walked over to where Christ was and chuckled softly to himself.

"Whats a beautiful woman like yourself doing in the Order?"

He asked bluntly. John was curious as to why she was in the order, she seemed a different sort than most, that was for sure.

Not many people asked her this question but she made sure she had a straight forward answer but also didn't go into any detail.

"I had my reasons."

"I understand, ye'd rather not share the details, that's fair. You're free to go if you're done in my shop lass, unless ye want to stay and cuddle by the forge?"

He offered politely, John had a small grin which in the flickering light of the forge seemed all too mischievous.

Was he really that clueless? Did he not know the rules paladins had to follow. Crista knew now she had been hearing him right.

"Um I'm afraid that I'm done here."

"That's a shame. Oh or maybe we could chat over tea."

He walked into the main room which was the front of the shop there was a side door that led to his house. John opened the door to his home.

"Yes or no to this offer? It ain't romantic It's just two acquaintances chatterin over tea."

Of course the tone of his voice did indicate that he thought of it as a romantic encounter. Then again everything the young man said seemed like a joke.

"I would love a cup of tea but I'm afraid I can't."

Crista would have liked the company of someone outside the order, but she couldn't stay in good conscience knowing what this man was getting at.

John chuckled and finally conceded. He knew when to back down from something.

"Fair enough lass, I'll have to enjoy tea with ye another day."

He closed the door to his home and walks behind his shop counter. He sat on a hair and rested his feet upon the counter.

"Hm. Perhaps. It was nice to meet you sir and thank you again."

Crista made her way out the door of the shop.

It looked like a slow kind of day, John didn't expect much of any sort of orders. After closing his eyes John quickly dozed off. Today seemed like a good day to take a nap.
 
as written by SerinaBloom and Ginafien

It was a long time before the blacksmith came to mind again. It happened when Crista's armor was pierced by bullets. It hadn't wounded her thanks to a second layer of kevlar but it wasn't good to have broken armor. She would just need some supplies to fix it. The armor was like a uniform and so altering it was not an option. She made her way back to the blacksmith's shop, carrying her chest plate, wearing her street clothes. Nothing fancy or feminine. She only had a simple shirt with pants and boots.

John was in the backroom mumbling to himself as things were being moved around. Today the shop seemed a bit hectic. John himself was under a heavy order. He didn't even noticed the scent of the young paladin.

Crista stepped into the shop, carrying her chest plate and heard the commotion from the back. She stood silently and waited patiently for the blacksmith.

John came from the doorway, he was lathered in sweat and small tendrils of steam rose from his body, his chest heaved with deep breathing, it was obvious that he had been working for the most part of the day.

"I almost didn't recognize you looking so beautiful."

He managed to utter. Quickly wiping his brow he leaned against the counter. Small rivlets of sweat dripped from his brown and his nose. His amber eyes had an intense and focused look to them today.

"What can I do for you today good paladin?"

Crista took note of the intensity and color of his eyes today. She hadn't noticed before but something about them made her guess maybe the blacksmith wasn't that ordinary. She brushed aside the note about her appearance and place the chest plate with the bullet hole in it down then looked to him.

"I need lemeux grey to repair this chest plate."

Lemeux grey is the most durable and flexible of all Lutetian metals, capable of absorbing enormous punishment without bending or breaking. Crista had been using this set of armor for years and despite the metal's strength, after taking so much damage in battle it have finally given in.

"I think ye mean, you need me to repair this plate."

John stated calmly, his breathing was becoming more even now. he stretched and cracked his back.

"By now you should know that I will not relent."

"I appreciate the offer sir, but this is my uniform. I can't have any alterations made."

"I won't make not fancy alterations, I'll have a look at the piece and repair it accordingly, I give you my word as a blacksmith that I shall not add any personal flair to it."

John held his hand out to shake upon it as if it were already a set agreement.

Crista looked at his hand for a moment before taking it, to shake on the agreement.

"Very well. I'll put trust in your word."

John took the chest plate and brought it to the back room. Finding a bar of Leumux grey he heated it and began to work repairs on the armor. As this wasn't a full reforging it took him a simple half hour to repair the armor.

"That will be fifty gold pieces this time lass."

He looked her over in her civilian uniform, of course it wasn't much to look at but he smiled wistfully.

"Ye look gorgeous today, mind ye I'm sure ya look gorgeous every day."

John always seemed to be in a flirtatious mood around Crista.

Crista only sighed, she honestly hoped that she wouldn't have to explain to this man that paladins were forbidden to have any sort of romantic relationship.

"Thank you very much, sir. I don't believe I know your name."

Crista counted out what she owed him.

"Johnathan O'Flarety blacksmith extrodinaire!."

He bellowed with pride.

"Most people call me John though, pleasure to meet ya."

He bowed with a wide grin.

Crista cracked a small smile at John's over dramatic introduction and let out a single soft chuckle.

"A pleasure to meet you. I'm Dame Sorrel."

That was how Crista was formally addressed

"Pleasure ta formally make yer acquaintance miss sorrel."

John said politely, he wiped the sweat from his brow and stretched again.

"right now seems like a beautiful time for a break, would ya like some tea?"

He offered with a smile.

Crista was still hesitant to take up John's offer. She didn't want to lead him on if he really didn't know what the rules were for paladins, but something compelled her to say:

"Yes, that sounds nice."

John smiled softly and walked to the door that lead to his home. Opening it with a flourish John entered with same amount of gusto. Inside was a simple dwelling, it had a faint hint of whisky and although it was a bit untidy it was nice.

"This is my den."

He chuckled at his own joke.

Crista looked around the simple home and caught what to her was the faint smell of whiskey. It seemed a bit untidy but overall a very welcoming place.

"You have a nice home."

"Thank you, I know it's a bit messy, but i mostly sleep in the forge or take naps in the shop."

John went to the kitchen area and dug in the cupboards until he found some tea, It was a loose leaf black tea with a hint of peppermint. Putting the tea a teapot with a built in infuser he poured some water in and put it on one of his ovens burners.

"Is it your day off today?"

John asked out of curiosity.

"In a way I suppose it is, but that could change if someone calls me on my radio."

He nodded and pulled out a chair for the young paladin. John was beginning to relax, he sunk a bit lower lower into his chair. Waiting for tea to boil he decided to start up a conversation.

"How long have you been a paladin?"

Crista sat down, maintaining perfect posture.

"I've been a paladin for 4 years but I was in the academy for 6 years before that."

John nodded and smiled to himself.

"Do you hate werewolves?"

This question suddenly brought John into a very serious demeanor. He wanted to know what the young paladin's take on his kind was. The air seemed to intensify with tension.

"Why do you ask? Is that a point of interest for you? If you must know, no I don't. I'm rather indifferent to them as far as comparison."

Just like that the tension was gone and John was grinning, also in that moment the tea pot began to shriek. Getting up and pouring two cups of tea he brought the cups over. The sugar was already on the table. Sliding a mug to Christa with a smile John sat down.

"Drink up lass, it's a known brew to increase female bust size."

Crista simply looked at him with a raised brow and a questioning expression.

John grinned and sipped from his own mug.

"It's missing something."

Getting up again and making his way to the cupboard he produced a bottle of whiskey, it seemed well aged and expensive. Coming back to the table he uncorked the bottle and poured just a bit into his tea.

"Would you like some?"

John offered politely.

"I can't drink, but thank you."

Crista took the tea cup and sipped the tea.

The tea was a crisp black tea with peppermint and it came through in flavour. John simply shrugged and sipped his own tea.

"What do you do as a paladin besides say no to a humble blacksmith's advances?"

"You haven't been in Lutetia long have you?"

"No, not very long, This may be the longest I've spent in one place for some time."

He said this a bit morosely, John's eyes held a haunted look to them and he sighed softly.

Crista chose not to pry into John's business and what had him looking so morose.

"Well I'll give you a bit of knowledge about the paladins here. We are the law keepers in Lutetia. We live to protect the people and that is our top priority. As such, we have numerous restrictions."

"Break a couple."

His demeanor changing to playful and flirtatious just like that.

"I can't. There are rules for a reason and I would rather not figure out what those reasons are."

"Rules were made to be broken."

John was smiling broadly. taking another sip of his tea and winking at Christa.

Crista only sighed and sipped her tea. Crista hadn't expected him to be this stubborn but then again most people knew the vows the paladins lived under.
 
as written by Ronin, Ginafien, and SerinaBloom

A low rumbling vibrated from the outside streets - the quaking hum of a monstrously huge engine growling, humming, before shutting off altogether. A small pause followed before a series of swift, heavy handed knocks ruptured from the door to John's shop.

John smiled softly and stood.

"I'll but a moment my dear Sorrel."

Making his way into the shop he opened the door.

"Hello welcome to Iron and bones blacksmithy, how may I be of service to ya?"

He asked politely.

Crista then glanced at the door and sighed, recognizing the sound of a destrier. She went to get her chest plate, expecting that she may be leaving.

The man at the door was average height, well-built in body with sandy blonde hair and green eyes. He was armored like Crista was, his chest plate gleaming in the artificial light spilling out of John's doorway. His helmet was tucked under his arm.

"Good evening," he pressed two fingers to his lips - an Evequec symbol of respect, "I'm looking for Dame Crista Sorrel." He eyed John up and down, a slightly annoyed tinge entering his otherwise bored tone. "Is she ... with you?"

"Aye, she's with me."

John said this with a bite to his voice. He looked the paladin in the eyes with an unrelenting stare. John's lean frame seemed taught and ready to move.

"We were having a cup of tea."

Crista walked up behind John, carrying her chest plate.

"Relax, Jonas. I came here to get my chest plate repaired from the last mission."

"Ah. Repairs." Jonas nodded, his subtle temperaments abated. He noticeably brightened as Crista entered the room, his quiet frown turning into a slight smile. "I just finished my assignments. I saw your destrier's GPS put you in the local neighborhood. Wanted to see if you'd like to head back to the Monastery with me. Grab a meal."

He looked back to John, a bit of his former ice chilling his voice. "Tea, eh? How quaint. It's rare for the Order to receive hospitality like that in this part of town, Mr...?" He extended his hand to the stranger, gaunleted in steel and Kevlar.

"O'Flarety, and I figured a lass as pretty as her deserved to relax with good company."

John's voice still held a noticeable bite, he had already decided that he didn't quite care for this one. John took the paladin's hand and shook, his hand was firm and hard from working days in the forge.

Crista sighed heavily and spoke in a familiar but stoic way towards Jonas.

"Alright, come on Jonas. It's about time we get back."

She stepped out the door and face John was a somewhat softened expression and tone.

"Thank you for the tea, John, and for the repairs as well."

"Mr. O'Flarety," Jonas shook his hand with equal force. "I'll remember it." His brows stitched together for an instant at the mention of the company Crista was keeping. "You need not worry about that, sir. She has plenty of company back at the Monastery. With her family."

His face brightened as Crista agreed to go with him. "I'll meet you outside." He looked at John once more before turning and heading out into the street, donning his helmet.

John softened the moment Jonas left. Turning to Christa he grinned.

"At least a hug before ya go? Also if ever ya need anythin' come to me lass, I wont hesitate ta help ye."

"Thank you I will, but no hug yet."

Crista gave a small smile before she walked to her destrier, putting her chest plate in one of the storage bags before climbing on and getting ready to follow Jonas back to the monastery.

Jonas was already mounted in his destrier by the time Crista came out. He watched her approach, a grin spread on his face. "Do you always stop for tea when you're getting your gear repaired?"

John went to the back room to finish the rest of that days orders. He tried not to dwell on the smile on Jonas's face. John may seem like a flirt but he was feeling an ache in his chest when Crista was around.

"No, that was a first. Although it was a rather nice gesture. Come on then."

Crista revved her engine, bringing the destrier to life before speeding off towards the monastery. It had been a pleasant afternoon even if John's flirting had made her a bit uncomfortable and a bit too aware of the rules she lived under. She had enjoyed herself none the less.

John didn't like the look of the other paladin, but he decided that he would stay here because it had been safe for quite some time. He was happy enough and for the most part he was happy.
 
as written by SerinaBloom and Ginafien

About a week after the last meeting Crista had with John she returned to his shop, her destrier rumbling as it stopped outside his door.

After hearing the rumble John's hair stood on end, but the scent that arrived before Christa even stepped inside calmed him. He thought that she might need some reforging done on her sword Ramson was always finicky. Today was a slow day and he sat t the front of the shop reading a novel.

Crista entered into the shop, dressed in her full armor again and she walked to the counter.

"Hello again."

"Hello Sorrel, what brings ya to my humble smithy today?"

John inquired politely, it didn't seem like anything needed repairs but one could never know.

Crista smiled a bit noting the polite greeting.

"I came to buy additioal supplies to take back to the monastery. We have a few new students in the academy having swords made."

John snickered, he knew a few of those swords were Ramson which he had despised so much, with a nod however he stood and stretched.

"How much of what do you need lass?"

"I need 3 bars of Ivaran steel, Leumex grey, ramson steel, and brightglass."

With another nod John went into the backroom and retrieved the required items. After doing a quick tally he decided to give her a bit of a discount. It was fair after all, he did flirt with her very often.

"is that all that brings ya here?"

John's voice rolled from his tongue smoothly.

"More or less. Although a casual chat over tea wouldn't be unwelcome. It's not often paladins are shown such hospitality."

"Just you, cause ya warm my heart like a bellow warms a forge."

With that he opened the door to his home and waited for the Paladin to enter first.

Crista had a small but warm smile on her lips as she stepped in to John's welcoming home.

John got the teapot filled with water and put his ta in. He sat down at the table and stretched, his back cracked loudly.

"How have you been sorrel?"

He asked concerned about her health.

"I've been fine. It sounds like you have been working hard."

"Aye, i've been making a bit of a name for myself. When a blacksmith as good as me shows up one can expect a lot of work coming their way."

John had a wide cocky grin. He seemed to be in a good mood with Christa's visit.

"Well thats very good to hear about your business doing well."

Crista took her cup of tea and sipped it.

"It's not very easy to make it here in Lutetia, especially as a werewolf."

Crista said this casually, not intending for it to sound tense or threatening.

John too sipped his tea and sighed softly.

"If you came here to kill me you should have said so, and here I thought I was doing a decent job of hiding who I am."

John's voice was calm and he suddenly seemed morose, as if resigned to his fate.

Crista looked at him with furrowed brows.

"I'm not here to kill you, John."

"Tell me, how did you figure it out?"

John looked her in the eyes, he was calm and not hostile. He was genuinely curious.

"And i'm glad you're not going ta kill me, although dying by such a beauty's hands would have been the perfect way to go."

"It was your eyes that gave it away. They have a sort of instinctual alertness to them."

John nodded and finished his tea.

"I'm guessing others know? or are you brains and beauty?"

"No, I don't beleieve anyone else is aware and I would understand if you wouldn't like others to know."

"It would be nice if no one else found out about this."

He stopped flirting and relaxed in his seat. John didn't know what to make of her, she was a paladin so it was her job to kill him, and yet, she wouldn't.

"By the way, aren't you breaking the rules by not killing me?"

He said this as a wide grin was spreading across his face.

"No as a matter of fact I'm not. There are other werewolves residing in Lutetia as citizens. Of course most other paladins tend to view other races unfavorably but it is a law that the only time a paladin is allowed to attack is when a crime has been committed or the peace needs to be kept. You have done nothing to warent my going after you."

"Boooo, and here I thought that I had leeway to go out with ya."

John chuckled and scratched his head. He was smiling again and happy. John only had one desire, he didn't want his past to be known to this young woman that he had become so enamored with.

"No unfortunately you don't." Crista said this with a small chuckle. She had originally intended to come here, get the materials the academy asked for and tell John the truth about how they could never be, but she could not bring herself to say it. He seemed so happy, and his smile was warm and it made her smile.

"i've been holding ya hostage for too long, you should be going back now, after all you have a job to do."

In all honesty John didn't want her to go, he enjoyed her company and felt deeply for her.

"I can stay a while longer. I'll only have to leave when they call for me."

Crista didn't want to leave either. As dedicated as she was to her work, she honestly had moments when she wished she could escape it.

John's face lit up with a smile. he was happy that she would be staying, even if just a bit longer.

"I'f you're hungry I can heat something up for ya."

"Yes, that sounds nice"

Crista's lips curled into a soft smile.

John went to his pantry and got some soup, opening the cans he pour the contents into a pot and added some water. He set the pot on the stove to heat the soup.

"Sorry if soup isn't what ya were hopin' for, as a single man who works all day, I really have no time for anything else."

"I don't mind it." Crista sipped her tea again.

After a bit of time John set two bowls of soup down and smiled softly.

"I'f only a pretty young paladin would hurry up and love me back so I could learn ta make something better."

He smiled and handed a spoon to Christa.

"You never did give me yer first name."

"It's Crista."

Crista began to eat, making sure to avoid the flirting and the subject she had originally set out to discuss with him.

"What's wrong Crista, ya used to flat out reject me and now yer ignoring my comments, is this about the whole "paladins can't love" thing ya told me when we first met?"

"Yes, unfortunately."

Crista sipped her tea silently.

"Why is that then?"

John asked calmly, he ate his soup and between spoonfuls he looked up.

"Why can't a paladin love?"

Crista sighed slightly.

"We're forbidden to by our oaths. We dedicate our lives to the Monastic Order, fighting against those who oppose the law of Lutetia until the day we die in our armor. Forbidden from owning private property or marrying, we consider the entire Order our family, the Monastery and the city of Lutetia our home. We are committed to our people, our nation, our church ... every moment of our lives spent preparing to defend them ... and if need be, to die for them..."

"Then don't marry me, the oaths say that you can't marry, so, don't marry me."

John grinned and kept his stare on Christa.

Crista raised a brow.

"Well obviously."

She couldn't understand why he was still smiling.

"I didn't hear that ya can't date, just that ya can't marry. So on the revelation, there are loopholes in these oaths, I mean of course i'll be a faithful lover, but we shall not tie the knot."

John said cheerfully.

"But-but whats the point then? Even with such a loophole, any relationship with a paladin will only end in tragedy. I could die at any moment."

"Then let's make every second together count."

John said this with a genuinely happy smile.

Crista looked genuinely confused.

"I don't understand why I'm making such a big deal of this. I've only met you three times. I hardly know you."

"Because the flames of love are like a forge, burning suddenly and powerfully, once you feel it in your chest there is no going back!"

John said this standing and putting his foot on the table, his fist raised as he looked off into nothing.

".....Heh...hehehe...hahaha! Do you know how ridiculous you sound?"

Crista was smiling and laughing at John's behavior while her eyes became wet with tears.

Throwing his outstretched fist open in a dramatic flair, John grinned.

"But my heart burns with the flames of love, as does yours, admit it, you love me!"

"I don't know. Give me time. Give me time. I need to know you more."

John nodded and quit his tirade, he sat down. For all his bravado he could be quite calm and level-headed. He smiled and finished his soup.

"oh right the price of the materials, 500 gold pieces all and all."
 
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