chapter 38 : New Encounters

A few days had passed since the evening at Emma’s place. Aldric’s life had returned to its usual rhythm, made up of days at the depot, moving jobs, and trips on the metro. That Saturday afternoon, he met Emma at a café a few streets away from her agency. They had gotten into the habit of stopping there whenever they were in the neighborhood, often enough that Aldric now knew what drink she would order before she even looked at the menu.

Emma placed her phone on the table after replying to a message and took a sip of coffee.

“Is something wrong?”

“No. Why?”

“You’ve been looking at your phone for several minutes without using it.”

“You really notice everything.”

She smiled before taking another sip of her coffee. Aldric waited without pressing her. Emma eventually set down her cup.

“I was thinking about something.”

“I’m listening.”

“You know a lot more people now.”

“Yes.”

“There’s Patrick, Lucas, and Karim. You also know a few neighbors, some people from the depot, and even several shopkeepers in your neighborhood.”

“The woman at the bakery knows my name.”

“Exactly. You’re starting to have a real social life. But your personal circle is still fairly limited.”

“Limited in what way?”

“Outside of work, you mostly see me.”

“Is that a problem?”

“No. That’s not what I meant. I just have a few friends I’ve known for a long time, and I was thinking that... well, if you’re interested, obviously... you could meet them.”

“Why do you seem worried?”

“I’m not worried.”

Emma sighed.

“All right. Maybe a little.”

“Why?”

“Because I don’t know how it’s going to go.”

“Do you wish to introduce me to your allies?”

“My friends…”

“That is what I just said.”

She burst out laughing.

“Is the term incorrect?”

“No. Well, not exactly. It’s just that nobody talks about their friends as their allies.”

“Yet a friend is generally an ally.”

“Technically, yes.”

“Then the term is appropriate.”

Emma shook her head.

“I’m not going to debate this with you.”

Aldric took a sip of water.

“How long have you known them?”

“It depends. I’ve known Sarah since university. Chloé for several years. Julien and Maxime came along a little later, but I’ve known them for a long time too. We try to see each other regularly, even if work doesn’t always make it easy.”

If these people held an important place in Emma’s life, there was no particular reason for him to refuse to meet them.

“I accept.”

“Are you sure?”

“Should I have considered it for longer?”

“I thought you might have a few questions.”

“Where are we supposed to meet them?”

“Now that’s a normal question.”

“I take it you were expecting something else.”

“With you, always.”

She picked up her phone and checked the latest messages she had received.

“Chloé suggested we meet at a café tomorrow afternoon. I can tell her you’re coming.”

“Very well.”

Emma started typing before stopping.

“Although… maybe I should warn you about something.”

Aldric set down his glass.

“I’m listening.”

“Nothing serious. Relax. They’ll probably ask you a lot of questions.”

“Why?”

Emma looked at him for a few seconds.

“Aldric, you’re almost two meters tall, you walk around with a sword, you have a scar on your cheek, and sometimes you talk like you stepped straight out of a fantasy novel.”

“I did not step out of a novel.”

“I know.”

“Then why would they think that?”

“Never mind.”

“What information should I avoid revealing?”

“Sorry?”

“If certain answers are likely to cause difficulties, it would be preferable to determine in advance which subjects should be avoided.”

“You’re really preparing for this meeting like it’s a diplomatic negotiation.”

“Proper preparation reduces the risk of an incident.”

“There isn’t going to be an incident.”

“Then the preparation will have been effective.”

Emma ran a hand over her forehead.

“All right. Just try not to start by explaining that you killed a Demon King.”

Aldric frowned.

“Why?”

“Because I’d like them to wait at least ten minutes before deciding you’re completely insane.”

By now, he understood that most of the inhabitants of this world did not believe that magic, demons, or monsters truly existed. He had already discovered that telling people about his past produced three possible reactions: disbelief, amusement, or an attempt to find a more rational explanation.

“Should I lie?”

Emma shook her head.

“No.”

“That would simplify the situation, however.”

“I’m not asking you to lie. Maybe just… don’t tell them everything within the first five minutes.”

“I can do that.”

“Thank you.”

“Does making a good impression require a particular method? And are there any behaviors I should avoid?”

“Plenty, but if I start making a list, you’re going to memorize it.”

“Yes.”

“Exactly…”

The next day, they met in front of a café near the Luxembourg Gardens. Emma had arrived a few minutes before him and was waiting near the entrance when Aldric appeared at the end of the street. He wore a simple outfit consisting of dark trousers and a light-colored shirt, but his sword was still strapped to his back.

“You brought it…”

“Yes.”

“I should have specified that yesterday…”

“Specified what?”

“Nothing. Too late.”

“Would you like me to go back and leave it at home?”

“No. They’re going to see it eventually anyway.”

“That is also my opinion.”

They went inside. The café was quiet for a Sunday afternoon. Several people were working on their laptops near the windows while others talked around small tables. Emma looked toward the back of the room. A young woman raised her hand.

“Emma!”

She stood up before they even reached the table. Her brown hair was tied back, and she wore a light jacket over a T-shirt. She pulled Emma into a hug.

“It’s been way too long.”

Emma smiled.

“We saw each other two weeks ago, Chloé.”

“Exactly. Way too long.”

Chloé stepped back before looking at Aldric. Her gaze dropped to the sword, then rose again.

“So, you’re Aldric.”

He inclined his head.

She held out her hand.

“Chloé.”

Aldric shook it.

“Pleasure to meet you.”

Chloé looked at Emma.

“He really is tall.”

Emma sighed.

“What? It’s the first thing you notice.”

Another woman sitting at the table smiled. She had shoulder-length brown hair.

“At least let him sit down before you start,” she said.

Chloé turned toward her.

“I haven’t even asked him anything yet.”

“Exactly.”

Emma gestured toward the young woman.

“Sarah.”

Sarah held out her hand.

“Nice to meet you.”

“Likewise.”

Her gaze lingered on Aldric’s scar before returning to his eyes. Emma then indicated the man sitting across from her.

“Maxime.”

Maxime stood to shake his hand. He appeared to be in his thirties, wore glasses, and had a cup of coffee and a closed book in front of him.

“Nice to meet you.”

“Likewise.”

Maxime briefly glanced at the sword.

“I assume we’ll get an explanation for that at some point.”

Emma smiled.

“Probably.”

The last man was still near the counter. He returned with two drinks just as Aldric was sitting down.

“Sorry, there was…”

He stopped. His gaze had just landed on Aldric’s sword. Julien set the two cups on the table.

“Wait. Is that real?”

“Yes. Her name is Dawnbringer.”

“Like, actually real?”

“I do not understand the difference between those two formulations.”

Chloé burst out laughing.

Julien crouched down to get a better look at the scabbard without touching it.

“Carbon steel?”

“No.”

“Stainless steel?”

“No.”

“Then what?”

Aldric hesitated. Explaining Dawnbringer’s exact composition would require mentioning several materials that probably did not exist in this world.

“Several metals.”

Julien looked at Emma.

“You didn’t tell me he did medieval reenactment.”

“I am not reenacting anything.”

“Oh. Full-time roleplay?”

Emma covered her mouth to hide her smile. Aldric looked at her.

“Why are you laughing?”

“I’ll explain later.”

Julien finally sat down.

“Sorry. I’m Julien.”

“Aldric.”

“I know. Emma’s told us about you.”

Aldric turned his head toward her.

“Not that much.”

“Enough,” Sarah said.

“Thank you, Sarah…”

Chloé pulled a chair closer.

“All right, now that everyone’s here, let’s order.”

Chloé asked what everyone wanted before getting up to place the order, declining Maxime’s offer to go with her. Sarah resumed her conversation with Emma while Julien continued to cast glances at Dawnbringer.

Maxime, meanwhile, looked at Aldric.

“Emma told me you work as a mover.”

“Affirmative.”

“For long?”

“A few months.”

“And before that?”

He remembered Emma’s advice. Don’t start with the Demon King.

“I had another profession.”

“Very mysterious…”

“I am not trying to be.”

Emma cut in.

“He’s trying to make a good impression.”

“You advised me not to reveal everything…”

Sarah looked at Emma.

“What exactly did you tell him before coming here?”

“Not much.”

“That is false,” Aldric replied.

“Thank you, Aldric…”

Chloé returned with the drinks at that moment and handed out the cups before sitting down.

“So, what did I miss?”

“Aldric is hiding his past,” Julien said.

“I am not hiding it.”

“Perfect. What did you do before?”

“I was a knight.”

A silence fell around the table.

“Even in character?”

Aldric frowned.

“I do not understand the question.”

Chloé burst out laughing.

“Is he always like this?” Sarah asked Emma.

“Always…”

“Impressive.”

“Why do you think I am playing a character?”

Julien gestured toward the sword.

“Let’s just say there are a few clues.”

“My sword is not part of a costume.”

“So you’re actually a knight?”

“Yes.”

“Okay. I love this.”

“What order were you a knight of?” Maxime asked.

“I no longer belonged to any particular order when I was given command of the royal army.”

“Wait, you actually commanded an entire army?”

“Yes.”

“And how old were you?” Chloé asked.

“Twenty-two when I was given full command.”

Julien turned toward Maxime.

“See? The lore is well thought out.”

“What lore?”

Sarah burst out laughing.

“Julien, you’re going to lose him.”

“But this is incredible.”

Maxime cut in.

“Why did they give you command of an army at twenty-two?”

“Several commanders had died during the previous campaigns. I had also won the Battle of Orvenir Valley with fewer casualties than expected.”

“How did you manage to keep the casualties below expectations?” Maxime asked.

“The enemy had a significant numerical advantage, but their cavalry had to pass through a narrow area between two hills to reach our flank. I repositioned some of the archers during the night and had the ground reinforced with concealed stakes. When their cavalry charged, they were unable to maintain their formation. We then…”

Emma placed a hand on his arm.

“Maybe not the entire battle…”

“Maxime asked.”

“Yeah, I’m interested.”

Julien nodded eagerly.

“Me too.”

Chloé looked at the two men.

“Are you really going to make him tell us about an entire battle while we’re having coffee?”

Sarah took a sip of her drink.

“I give it ten minutes before they start using napkins to draw the map.”

Julien looked at the stack of napkins.

“Good idea.”

Chloé lightly slapped his hand before he could take one.

The conversation shifted for a few minutes. Chloé talked about her job at the hospital and told them about the particularly long shift she had finished the day before. She spoke quickly, jumped from one subject to another without any transition, and seemed capable of including Aldric in the conversation as though he had been part of the group for months. When she asked whether he had ever been seriously injured, Emma tried to stop her, but Aldric replied that he had taken a spear to the abdomen several years earlier.

“Excuse me?”

“A spear.”

“In the abdomen? And you’re alive…”

“Clearly.”

Sarah burst out laughing.

“I like this one.”

Emma smiled.

“Now you understand.”

“Don’t you miss your old life?” Sarah asked.

“I miss certain people.”

“But not the war? You talk about it easily.”

“It was part of my life. That does not mean I wish to experience it again.”

“That makes sense.”

Julien cut in.

“I still have one important question.”

Chloé sighed.

“Of course.”

“Dragons.”

Emma burst out laughing. Aldric looked at Julien.

“What do you want to know?”

“Were there any?”

“Yes.”

Julien slapped the table.

“I knew it!”

Maxime rolled his eyes.

“How could you possibly have known?”

“There are always dragons.”

Aldric shook his head.

“No. Several regions no longer had any.”

“Of course you even have their geographical distribution worked out.”

“Their population depended primarily on the climate and the availability of prey.”

“Are you making all of this up as you go?” Maxime asked.

“No.”

“You created an entire world?”

“I did not create any world.”

Julien smiled.

“That’s exactly what someone who never breaks character would say.”

Aldric looked at Emma.

“This conversation is becoming difficult to follow.”

“I know.”

“Should I continue answering honestly?”

Emma smiled.

“Yes. I think it’s even funnier that way.”

Aldric did not entirely understand why, but he accepted.

Maxime did not seem any more convinced by his story, but Aldric noticed that he listened carefully to every answer. When he asked how such a large army obtained enough food during a campaign, Aldric explained the organization of supply convoys, the provisions they carried, the agreements made with villages, and the problems caused by muddy roads.

“You really know a lot about this… Did you study military history?”

“Mostly from experience.”

“I see…”

Chloé looked at Maxime.

“Are you starting to have doubts?”

“No.”

“You have exactly the face of someone who’s starting to have doubts.”

“I’m just wondering how far his preparation goes.”

Julien raised his glass.

“Very far, apparently.”

Sarah smiled.

“Personally, I’d rather not know.”

The meeting ended up lasting much longer than Emma had expected. They had originally planned to stay for about an hour and a half, but when Chloé checked the time, nearly three hours had passed. Their drinks had been finished for a long time, and Julien had indeed ended up using a napkin to ask Aldric to explain the layout of a fortress. Maxime had corrected a question about fortifications before launching into a discussion with Aldric about the differences between the methods he knew and those used in medieval Europe. Sarah and Chloé had eventually given up trying to follow the conversation.

They finally left the café together. Chloé said they would have to do this again, which Julien enthusiastically agreed with. Maxime nodded as well, adding that he still had several questions to ask.

Aldric looked at Emma.

“Does this mean the impression was satisfactory?”

“I think so.”

“Aldric! I have a question about sieges!”

“I’m listening.”

Maxime moved closer to them.

“Wait, if this is about trebuchets again, I want to hear it.”

Chloé rolled her eyes before continuing to walk.

Emma slowed down when she noticed that Sarah had stayed beside her. Together, they watched Aldric talking with the two men. Julien was already gesturing with his hands, trying to illustrate something.

“You didn’t tell me he was this interesting,” Sarah said.

Emma frowned slightly.

“You’re going to like him a lot.”

“I don’t doubt it.”