Work Text:
Not-so Clear-Cut
By Quidopher, for the 2024 Secret Santa Project!
Submitted Prompt:
"Instead of Elinalise, Roxy travels in her stead to tell Rudy that his mother has been found. The time when she finds him and the route they take to either Ranoa or the South is up to you.
Somewhere in the Northern Demon Continent…
“Paul…” Elinalise hung onto the edge of her words, the rest on the tip of her tongue.
“I don’t want to see his face either, Elinalise, but we gotta stick it to the little mage,” Talhand sighed in contempt.
“No, no, it’s okay,” Roxy Migurdia insisted. “I can take one of your places if need be.”
“You know the boy best out of all of us. Besides, urgh, not that I want to see Paul anytime soon, but I’d really rather not have to cross the sea,” Talhand grumbled.
The easy way, at least in Roxy’s head, was to just go to Milishion and inform Paul via letter. Of course, that’s what she thought, but they were awfully insistent. Something told her she ought not to pry since they probably had their reasons.
And so, they decided to split up. Roxy would travel with the Great Emperor
of the Demon World Kishirika Kishirisu and the Demon King Badigadi to the northern part of the Central Continent, to her admitted dismay. The bright side, of course, was that she would be able to meet Rudy again, but she wasn’t so sure how good of travel companions a lustful giant and a babbling drunkard midget lady could be.
“Take care of yourself, Elinalise.”
“You too, Roxy. Remember, if you ever find yourself in a tight situation, squeeze with your legs,” Elinalise said as if it were the most sound advice on this side of the Six-faced world.
Roxy pursed her lips. “You said that last time.”
“Still holds true, doesn’t it? Don’t complain about not finding a nice man if you’re going to listen to me, honey,” she said, stroking Roxy’s hair.
Roxy seized Elinalise’s wrist and huffed. “Very well, Elinalise, if I find such a person, I will ‘squeeze with my legs.’”
“Good. Now, be off. The boy’s not going to wait forever, you know?”
Roxy had a realization then. If she were to depart now, which she was, she’d meet up with Rudeus around his 14th birthday. At that age, it wouldn’t be surprising if he was interested in other women. She was infinitely relieved that she was going to go look for him, and not the succubus incarnate in front of her.
“Farewell, Elinalise. Oh, and you too, Talhand.”
“Good to know I’m the afterthought,” he grumbled.
Roxy smiled unabashedly and waved them off. Watching their reactions reminded her once again that she’d found friends in the two of them, despite how… odd they were.
***
It took Roxy just about a year to arrive in the Northern reaches of the Asura Kingdom. Badigadi had long since left Roxy to her own devices, and Kishirika hadn’t even made it off of the Demon Continent before she realized she was, quite literally, contractually bound to the land. Something along the lines of a treaty, but it honestly didn’t concern Roxy all that much to begin with.
And, along with the help of a few not-so-subtle rumors about a brown-haired noble magician who was looking for his mother, she finally managed to track the boy down.
“...”
Roxy tried to ignore the odd stares she was getting from the townsfolk for pacing up and down the stairs to the pub where she knew Rudeus was inside. Warm singing from a troubadour band spilled out from under the door, and it only made her more nervous. Not to mention the bitter cold; she was bundled up like a doll.
Rudeus was almost an adult man. She remembered her fourteenth birthday, and, even though it was so long ago to her, she knew just how she acted back then. But Rudeus wasn’t her. Wasn’t nearly as boring (or as rebellious, she hoped.) But what if… he’d changed? What if he was shining so brightly that he’d be ashamed to call a weak, flat-chested scroungling such as Roxy, his master?
She pumped a fist. No matter how worried she felt, she was only going to get colder the longer she stayed out in the snow. So, she put one foot in front of the other and reached for the handle.
And the door swung open before she could lay a finger on it. Warm air hit her face, and she stood frozen in front of the boy before her.
He dropped the bag he was holding and opened his mouth ever so slightly. Roxy was so overwhelmed that it didn’t even register that she was blushing bright red. He was a sight to behold.
“M-Master… it can’t be…” he stammered out. Roxy took a step back subconsciously, and Rudy took one forward. He took another and another until they both were both in arms reach.
“...Rudy… You’re tall…” she said.
“Master Roxy!” he exclaimed, a childlike joy filling the boy’s eyes. He stepped forward and embraced her tightly, (audibly taking a few sniffs?) smiling as he went.
“Haven’t I told you… not to call me that?” she murmured, smiling knowing Rudy couldn’t see it.
…
I filled Rudy in with all that he needed to know about the situation at hand. He was relieved most of all to see that his mother was in good health.
“I’ve been having… a bit of a tough time out here, so I’m glad my time hasn’t been wasted, Master. I couldn’t have had this information if it wasn’t for you,” he said, with his ear-to-ear smile. It was the exact same one he’d have when he complimented me when we still lived in Buena Village. It felt nice to be on the receiving end of one of those again.
Regardless of that fact, Rudy still seemed pretty riled up at the prospect of going to rescue his mother. I assured him that he and I didn’t have to worry unless we were contacted, since Paul would have his own team of adventurers there to help, but I didn’t feel like I entirely convinced him. He seemed content to settle down a little, though.
I shifted in my seat. “Then, are you staying anywhere?”
Rudy chuckled, though it was honestly closer to a giggle. “Of course I am, Master. I’ve been stuck out there in the freezing cold for a few nights and I’d rather do anything than repeat that.”
“Pfft…” I struggled to hold in my laughter at the look of utter dismay Rudy put on display after remembering it.
“Hey! Don’t laugh! I had to stay in a cave for two nights!” he cried. I only patted his head in response, not laughing whatsoever. I wouldn’t dare. Hehe.
“Let’s go already, Master,” he grumbled, dragging me along with him. We sat down on the stairs outside and took in the air. I looked over at Rudy to find him doing the same. My eyes retreated to my lap, but I could feel his warm eyes still over me.
“Master Roxy,” he stood up, fiddling with his rattail, “I have something to discuss with you… but I’d rather speak to you in private.”
I felt my heart pump especially hard at that last word. I had no idea what to expect, but at the same time, I was expecting a significant amount more than I knew I should. I stood up with him.
“L-Lead the way, Rudy.”
“Want a cup of… er, water? It’s all I have right now, I’m sorry,” Rudy said.
“I don’t mind, Rudy. Water sounds nice, anyway,” I said, settling onto a chair next to the fireplace in his inn room. It was pretty cozy, even if it was small. I guess Rudy was all by himself until now, after all.
“So… what is it?” I said, still a bit anxious.
“Hold on a moment, Master.” He took off his robe and hung it over a coat rack near the door. I eyed how his muscles peeked out through his shirt slightly and rubbed my hands onto my thighs. He rummaged into one of his drawers and pulled out a folded letter. I was pulled out of my prior headspace, now replaced with curiosity.
“What’s that?” I chirped.
“Look it over. It’s an invitation to become a special student at the Ranoa University of Magic.”
He said those words, and my mind exploded. When I attended, there weren’t even two attending. Special Students were the cream of the crop, only scouted because the principal, my old master, knew that they would bring honor to the school after graduation.
“A Special Student?!” I exclaimed. “You have to take it! I could take a job as a teacher, or…”
Rudy’s eyes widened. Great… I’d said too much. I stammered out an apology, but his eyes glimmered just as I was shying away.
“You’ll be my teacher again? Really?” he seemed just as eager as I remember him being.
“No promises… but, maybe…”
“Say no more!” he grinned. “Let me show you around the city. I’m sure you’ve been here for a minute, but I’m sure that you haven’t met my good friends.”
“Huh? Ah… okay!” I said, finding myself dragged along. I couldn’t find a single thing to complain about.
Rudy had made a name for himself not just amongst the townsfolk but the adventurers, too. If that wasn’t already obvious seeing as he was already being scouted by Old Jenius himself, anyway. But anyway, practically everyone in the city knew the guy. People would shout his name in the streets and smile at him about this favor or that helping hand. But apparently, he had a really good friend who had stuck with him since he started looking for Zenith. We were going to meet him last since his adventuring job would only let up around sunset.
And so, the time came. We approached the same tavern where I found Rudy.
“Don’t judge him by his cover, Master Roxy. He already knows about you, of course, so I promise that he won’t be harsh to you,” he assured, trotting along like a puppy.
“H-He does? …How?” I stammered out.
“I told him! I wouldn’t be here without you, you know?” he said completely unabashedly. Before I could respond, he opened the doors.
“Oy!” a shout came from the back of the tavern a few moments after the first rays of light from the fireplace inside hit Rudy. He lit up and walked over. I fiddled with my scarf as I followed him, shifting uncomfortably under the gaze of a dozen eyes I was sure were on me.
“Wait… Quagmire’s got a woman?” the man spoke, dropping his cup onto the table.
I startled. “Wait–”
“You’re shitting me!”
“Congrats!”
“No way!”
“To Quagmire Rudeus getting a woman!”
“To Quagmire Rudeus!”
“““To Quagmire!””” A dozen voices cheered, and the troubadour hit a high note and started strumming a lively tune. I was so overwhelmed the only thing I could do was to look over at Rudy.
…His expression surprised me. He was… stern.
“Hold it!” He raised an arm. The troubadour stopped too, for some godforsaken reason.
“This isn’t my woman. This is Roxy Migurdia! My Master and teacher!” he proclaimed.
The adventurers all looked at each other and blinked. In the next instant, one raised their cup proudly above their shoulder.
“To Roxy Migurdia!”
“Yeah! Our Quagmire’s teacher!”
“Master!” Rudy cut in.
“To Quagmire’s Master!”
“““To Roxy Migurdia!!””” A dozen voices cheered, somehow louder than before. The troubadour started singing a song about a woman who sounded awfully similar to me, and before I knew it, I was being ushered into a seat next to Rudeus.
“Euuhh… Rudy, you shouldn’t call me your Master, jeez…” I said, fiddling with my twin tail.
Rudy only scoffed. “I couldn’t call you anything else.”
He really hasn’t changed a bit, huh? That made me a bit happy, knowing I wasn’t disappointing my one disciple.
“The name’s Soldat, Miss Roxy. A pleasure to meet ya,” he stuck out his hand. I hesitantly shook it, finding his hand warm. Sure, the guy looked a bit scary, but he seemed to trust Rudy.
“It’s nice to meet you too…” I said, peering over at Rudy smiling assuredly.
“Anyways!” he exclaimed. “Quagmire over here’s been singing your praises ever since we got to know each other. But personally, I have my own measures of quality. Let’s see how much Roxy Migurdia can drink!”
The guys all cheered, and Rudy facepalmed at them.
“Eh?!” Despite how innocent Rudy looked, I forgot that he probably had gotten hammered a few times with these guys. I wasn’t against it, but there was no way I’d get drunk if my student were around. Unless, of course, we were both drunk… then at least there was a chance that he wouldn’t remember any of it.
But, no way. I was the responsible adult here. As if I’d get so careless…
…
I could hardly listen to poor Rudy. I was down… what, maybe 6 cups…?
“And then… she slapped me across the face!” Tears streaked his face. I pet his head like I remember doing and tried ignoring the alcohol on my breath. It was quite weird to sit through my student’s vent about his issues, but honestly, nothing told me not to.
Besides, all of the other guys had left to drink at another table. Except that Soldat guy.
“Y’see, Miss Roxy…” he began, suddenly a lot more formal now that he was down in the dumps, “...he’s got a little bit of an issue… with girls… yanno…”
“Realllly…?” My words slurred together. It was disgraceful, but at this point, who was keeping track?
“Yes, yes…” Rudy piped up. “Even Eris left me! I was sick for months…”
“Oh… Rudy, you’ll find your match!” I assured him. “There’s a lot of cute girls… at the University…”
“Hm?” he said, eyes half open. “Any as cute as you?”
My face flushed. “Don’t be stupid, you… you…”
Oh god. I think… I think I reached my limit. Oh, yep, definitely. I was going down with the ship. Don’t let me go out like this, you…
I didn’t quite plop to the ground, but instead, my head collapsed onto the table.
“Oh… Quagmire…! Quagmire! Miss Roxy’s down… might want help her out… or something.”
***
The next morning, we decided we weren’t quite yet ready to head off toward Ranoa. It was even colder up where the University was. And, besides that obvious fact, Rudy desperately wanted me to teach him some of my newer spells. The City of Sharia didn’t like people using big destructive magic—what city would?—inside of it, so we would only get this chance.
So, as late as we’d have to be, I’d try going back to my roots. Maybe things turned out just as they were meant to be. Rudy as my student, again.