Chapter 42: 45. Coincidences are Funny Part 4

“Shaula…” Dzan calls out to Shaula without being able to speak his mind. He can’t draw any solid conclusions from just a head covering. Come to think of it, he doesn't have a clear idea of what her voice sounds like. She hasn’t spoken that often tonight. What would it sound like compared to that masked woman?

Shaula, having waited for him to say something, asks what’s up.

“Hm? What?”

“...”

“You alright?”

Retelling that story has jogged some memories loose. Her voice does sound sort of similar to that masked woman, at least on the surface. How should he approach this though? Should he ask her to say something more? What about some phrases that the masked woman had said in the alleyway?

But, wouldn’t that be too suspicious? The table will know exactly what he’s thinking. If he’s wrong, it’ll be embarrassing…

What kind of coincidence would that be though? To learn that two people he tried to pickpocket are Angelidis’ friends? Especially two who looked as high status as those two masked people? What would they be doing in this dump? Hanging out with his friends?

It’s laughable!

“...No, it’s nothing, Shaula, don’t worry about–”

But, as Dzan’s about to put away his suspicions, he looks over at Ajax. He pauses in confusion. Ajax is looking back at him with curious eyes.

Dzan notices Ajax’s eyes. Dark brown irises. His left eye has a red fleck. Dzan’s vision isn’t as good as Ajax or Shaula’s. It is above average though. He had regarded the masked man’s eyes as well, right before the man walked away. Remembering people and their characteristics has let Dzan escape some difficult spots.

He can tell. Ajax and that masked man both have the same eyes. Down to the red fleck.

Dzan looks back at Shaula. Her eyes as well are light brown, just like the masked woman. It’s hard for him to tell whether it’s exactly the same eyes though. He didn’t pay attention to her eyes when that woman challenged him to a fight.

“Uh. Huh? Wh–”

Dzan sits down and takes a large swig of his drink. His mind slowly sorts these bits of information together.

“It’s… It’s you two? Wait, what? What? Y-You two!?” Ajax freezes. Shaula leans back in her chair in dejection. She knew this would happen. The rest of the table quiets down, unsure what Dzan’s outburst is about.

“Huh? What’s wrong?”

“J-Jelli, Ajax and Shaula… I-I can’t… no, but… Yeah, I’m pretty sure. Certain. No other explanation.”

“Huh? Certain? What about Ajax and Shaula?”

“Those two… were the masked people who robbed me!”

Even though they’re wearing different clothes, even though she has a different head covering on… That would have fooled him if they were just walking down the street. But, she and Ajax have been sitting with him for a while now.

Of course, he was going to figure them out at some point at this table.

They must have known that as well, maybe that’s why they tried to leave at the beginning…

Ajax is watching everyone at the table turn their eyes towards him and Shaula. He was really starting to like this group as well. He doesn’t want to stop hanging out with them over this weird circumstance.

He holds his breath. Shaula feels like they should just give up and leave. No need to stick around and make a scene. Malia is the first one to open her mouth.

“...Wait, you told us that those two were two heads taller than you? Ajax and Shaula are… about your height, aren’t they, Dzan?”

“W-Well, I don’t think–”

“Hey, yeah! You described them both as hulking bodybuilder types… That was Ajax to you? The guy’s a twig. No offense, Ajax, you’re still very cute and nice. Shaula? Sure, she’s built, but not like that?” Ajax feels a bit hurt by Olah’s comments, but she is sticking up for him.

Shaula appreciates Olah’s compliment, she did work hard for her body after all. She sighs. She decides to just wait for the chips to fall where they may.

“I-I’m not a twig, look!” Ajax flexes his right bicep, but it isn’t particularly impressive. Meixi feels bad for him, although she still muffles her laughter. She’s not the only person though.

The group bursts out in laughter. All except for Ajax, Shaula and Dzan. Ajax and Shaula are a bit uncertain of what to do next. Dzan meanwhile feels only embarrassment. Shaula even sees his ears folding down like those of a guilty puppy. She smiles slightly.

She never expected tonight to go like this. Dzan tries to salvage his reputation.

“H-Hey, stop laughing! Ok, I might have seen things d-differently… The sun was in my eyes, it was really bright out! Everything happened too fast!”

Of course, there is no recourse for being caught out like this in front of his friends. Dzan covers his face while Malia strokes his ears.

Some time passes as the group talks to Ajax and Shaula about their abilities. How Ajax was able to jump right over Dzan’s head. The kind of training the two of them got in a village out in the sticks. Their hand to hand combat style.

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Ajax basically hems and haws while making up lies. Shaula decides to have some more food and alcohol. The most effective excuse Ajax has is claiming that some things are just secret. This is how he gets out of having to explain their strength or combat style. 

Angelidis has been watching them carefully.

She wonders if they could actually be as fast as Spark. Dzan normally isn’t one to make wild exaggerations when Spark’s name is invoked. But, she decides to just keep watching them. The group seems to be having fun. Dzan seems to be reaping what he sowed.

However, his fox ears suddenly perk up. It looks like he has an idea.

“Shaula.”

“...”

“Shaula…”

“...What is it?”

“Let’s fight again! I… I don’t know how you got me that day, but I want… No, I demand a rematch!”

“No.”

“...Please?”

“No.”

“What if I–”

“No.”

“I’ll bet that I can–”

“No.”

“...” Dzan slumps down again as the group once again struggles to stifle their laughter. Angelidis, Sudirja and Olah are really tearing up at how hard they’re going. Meixi is drinking with an expression as if saying that she’s proud she noticed everything first. Even Sigvor is entertained by Dzan’s instant embarrassment.

“You know, why’d you have to chase me down anyways? I had a good thing going, my whole day was thrown off by your encounter!”

“Wh… You stole my money! Of course I chased you down!” Shaula wasn’t expecting this line of argument. Of course, she has a right to chase the person who stole her money down. This is the first time Shaula has displayed annoyance in front of the group.

“Oh yeah, Shaula? No fucking way that was your money! If it was really yours you wouldn’t have given even one silver coin to me, let alone five! That money’s obviously not yours in the first place! Who’d you lift it from?”

“I-I…” Shaula is struck speechless. It truly isn’t her money, Dzan is right about that. She made it all in one night too, and she has an incredible amount of it left. It feels dangerous knowing that someone can tell so easily that she lifted it. Angelidis notices her pause.

It’s none of their business where she got her money from.

“Hey, don’t get mad at Shaula, that’s my benefactor and friend you’re yelling at, you know?”

“Jelli–”

“No, you were just unlucky, Dzan. Don’t be a sore loser. It was just your bad day. You even made some money off targeting Ajax and Shaula, what’re you complaining for?”

“Hey, Jelli, wait, my Dzan is very sensitive. He’s just pouting because we’re laughing at him. Come on, dear, I’ve got you.” With those words, Malia pulls Dzan into her embrace and strokes his back.

He calms down while the group continues talking with each other. A few minutes later, he orders four mugs of alcohol. This time the beverage is like the beer that he had ordered while Ajax and Shaula were tracking him.

He slams back two of them, but Angelidis grabs the other two and slams them back herself. Dzan wanted them all for himself though…

[Ugh… Why didn’t you just kill me…]

Dzan speaks this under his breath. Shaula doesn’t pay attention but Ajax hears what he says. It doesn’t feel like a question meant for him and Shaula. He mumbles it so quietly. It reeks of something unsettling.

Ajax wonders if Dzan is actually ok. He had assumed earlier that he was just the clown of the group. Something close to the village idiot or court jester. But, now… something feels off about him.

However, before he can think any deeper about this, he notices Angelidis getting ready to talk. Those two drinks she just had gave her the courage to bring something up.

“Guys…”

“Hm, what’s up?” Sudirja asks what’s wrong while the group quiets down and looks towards Angelidis.

“I… I have a problem and I wanted your advice on it.”

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