Kaela stood in front of Jericho, eyes huge, mouth slightly agape like she had just seen a dragon.
She hadn't planned on staying long. Maybe throw a few sarcastic comments, test the guy out. See if the whole "holding his ground against Hilda" thing was just dumb luck.
But then... the gun.
"What. Was. THAT?" she whispered, pointing at the scorched patch of grass where Jericho had test-fired the Boomstick Mk. 1.
Jericho, still holding the weapon with one hand, frowned slightly.
"A prototype. Still working out the accuracy."
Kaela blinked rapidly. She circled around the blast mark like a ritual site.
"It shoots FIRE."
"Technically, it's a magic bullet... imbued with elemental fire," Jericho corrected dryly.
"It's like... a bow. But it doesn't need a string... Or arrows. And it EXPLODES." Her voice grew higher with every word.
Jericho frowned.
"... It's not a bow."
Kaela pointed at the Boomstick.
"It launches a thing, right? That's a bow with extra steps!"
"Can you consider a knife a sword?" Jericho was backing away slightly now.
"W-wait... I NEED IT," Kaela declared, eyes burning, stepping in closer like she was approaching a sacred relic.
Jericho held up both hands.
"Whoa, slow down. This one is not for sale. This is my special prototype. And the ammo is a pain to make, so no. I wasn't even planning to show it."
"Please! Just let me hold it for a bit..." Kaela leaned in dramatically, her voice teetering between desperation and obsession. "I just want to see it... I'll use it responsibly! I swear... This baby is calling for me..."
Jericho slowly raised an eyebrow, observing her.
"This baby has a father, and he disapproves of this engagement."
She groaned in frustration, practically bouncing on her toes.
"Come on! I am the best archer in the whole academy! I can make it look so cool in battle!" Her eyes were sparkling with intensity, her hands twitching like she wanted to snatch the weapon right out of his hands.
Jericho frowned deeper, taking a cautious half-step back. Her excitement was... concerning.
...She might actually cry. Is she shaking?
He hesitated; he wasn't ready to let such a wonderful weapon roam free in a world of archery, but then, something shifted in the back of his mind.
Kaela was one of Shin's main party members later in the game.
If he made her stronger now, she could carry part of the burden. Help realign things. And more importantly... she looked like she would pay.
Wait... maybe this is it. Maybe this is how I can fix this arc.
He took a deep breath, turned to the side with a practiced sigh, and delivered the line like it was a dramatic prophecy.
"Maybe... just maybe, I could sell it."
Kaela snapped upright so fast it was like she'd been zapped. She nearly tipped over a stool, eyes going wide.
"Really?!"
"But... I'm warning you... It won't be free," he added, with a low, slow voice and a suspicious gleam in his eyes.
Kaela froze, eyes wide, her hands clutching her jacket tight.
"W-what do you mean by that?" she asked, stepping back slightly.
Jericho turned to her slowly, expression blank.
"Money."
Kaela stared at him, visibly horrified.
"Wait—what?! You said it so creepy! I thought you were about to ask for something else!"
Jericho recoiled in genuine disgust.
"Ugh. Seriously? Get over yourself. I meant money. Gold. Coins. Your body isn't gonna fill my stomach or help me build my dream house. So no, thank you."
Kaela blinked in confusion, her chest covered with crossed arms.
"Fine, fine! No need to exaggerate. You're saying this as if you hadn't a story of harassing cute girls!"
Jericho eyed her from head to toe, then back to head, then shook his own.
"Woman, stop overestimating yourself."
Kaela's jaw dropped, her pride taking a brutal hit. She gawked at him like he'd personally insulted her ancestors.
"Anyway," he said, brushing past it. "This thing is one of a kind. A creation that could change the face of the world, and my biggest pride... It's going to cost you... Hm... Twenty gold coins."
Kaela recoiled, nearly stumbling back a step.
"Twenty gold?! Are you insane?! That's like... I'd be living off stale bread for a month!"
Jericho didn't even blink.
"Or," he said with that maddening calmness, "you rent it. Five gold per week."
Kaela's mouth hung open.
"... That's STILL robbery."
"You eat at the academy canteen," he said. "You're a huntress. You can survive."
She grumbled under her breath, eyes still glued to the Boomstick like it was a puppy begging to be adopted.
Jericho smirked, raised the gun with an exaggerated gesture, aimed it at a distant tree, and fired.
Fwoosh!
The shot veered left, blasting a puff of smoke near the riverbank. Birds squawked and fled.
He nodded sagely.
"Perfect. Psychological warfare. Meant to do that."
Kaela stared at him blankly.
"That was... amazing... but that price..."
Jericho shrugged.
"Did I mention the bullet could burn? Worth every coin, right?"
She slapped a hand to her forehead.
"You are the worst salesman I've ever met."
"Yet here you are," he said smugly. "Still buying it."
She groaned.
"Fine. Give it."
He handed it over. She took it like it was a sacred relic, cradling it with reverence.
"Sacred God... My baby... I'm going to name you Boom Baby."
Jericho snorted.
"Sure, whatever."
She was halfway into a dazed grin when Jericho added
"By the way, bullets are sold separately."
She blinked, then groaned.
"Oh, come on!!!"
"Yeah. They're special magic shots. Not easy to make. So it's extra. One gold per ten."
Kaela looked like her soul briefly left her body.
"But... if you get the premium pack, that's seven gold per week, and you get fifteen bullets."
She screamed in despair, but in the end, Jericho got his gold and Kaela got her Boom Baby.
Later, Kaela stormed back into the academy courtyard, walking fast as she muttered curses under her breath.
Her pouch felt lighter than it ever had, seven gold coins gone. Gone. For a glorified wooden stick that goes boom.
She clutched the weapon tightly in both hands, hugging it close to her chest like a precious heirloom.
"This is fine," she said aloud to no one. "It shoots fire. It's revolutionary. It's worth it. Totally worth it. Not like I need food every day anyway..."
She gave a side glance to her Boom Baby, lovingly caressing the polished grip.
"Just need to ration the bullets. Ten isn't much. Maybe I can get Jericho to lower the price? Smile more? Compliment his hair? Ask about his tragic forest life? Become... useful to him?"
Her eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
"No. Not like that. Maybe friendship."
She turned the corner of the hallway, her thoughts spinning with plans and schemes, when she bumped shoulder-first into someone.
"Ah—watch it!" she snapped, before blinking and realizing. "Oh. Lena."
Lena looked at her, brows furrowed.
"Kaela, where were you? I was looking everywhere. I wanted to talk to you before you go to see... Jericho. But you just disappeared."
Kaela blinked in surprise.
"Oh. Yeah. That guy... Well, I'm back now."
Lena stepped closer, wary.
"Did he do something to you? I was worried. You know how he is, right? He could've tricked you, or worse..."
Kaela tilted her head, then frowned deeply.
"No? I mean... he was weird, yeah. Quiet, smug, greedy as hell... but not dangerous. Not in that way."
Lena still looked skeptical.
"You're sure? He didn't try anything strange? He didn't corner you or—"
Kaela scoffed, clearly annoyed.
"Please. Don't overestimate me, apparently. He acted like I wasn't even interesting. Can you believe it? I mean, look at me... He just threw a price at me like I was some peddler. Do you know how humiliating that is?"
Lena blinked.
"So... you're saying he didn't..."
Kaela groaned.
"Lena, I'm in debt. Seven gold down the drain. All he saw in me was coin. I thought he would be after my body, not my purse... He's greedy and kind of a jerk."
Lena glanced down, her gaze catching on the gun Kaela cradled protectively.
"Oh... And... What is that?"
Kaela's arms locked around it tighter.
"This? This is Boom Baby."
Lena's confusion deepened.
"Boom... what? Kaela, are you okay? Did he bribe you?"
Kaela frowned, hugging the gun tighter.
"No! What? No. He charged me. A lot. I'm broke. Like, insultingly broke. Stop bragging just because someone found you tasty enough to harass you."
Lena stepped forward and reached for the gun.
"Then why are you defending him? Kaela, you can give it back. He—"
Smack.
Kaela slapped Lena's hand away, eyes wide in reflexive panic.
"Don't touch it! I paid too much for this thing!"
Silence fell.
Kaela blinked, suddenly aware of the moment. Her lips parted slightly.
"Lena... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to... I just... I need it."
Lena stared at her, quiet disappointment shadowing her expression. She stepped back, eyes low, and turned.
"I see... I understand now. He gave you a weapon and now you've forgot. Like the others. I thought you had better judgment," she said, walking away.
Kaela looked down at the Boom Baby in her arms, then back at Lena's retreating figure. She scowled and pouted, whispering to herself.
"It wasn't a mistake. I needed it. This thing will make a difference. You'll see. Everyone will see."