A deadly sellsword at the behest of an enigmatic, shadowy employer, with an equally strange and distinct appearance... It was such a grand encounter, and Grigor could hardly stand to waste it... But his mind failed him. He couldn't think of any more questions, nor reasons to keep the man held at swordpoint. Which was a shame, because he really felt like he'd earned it. 

'Sheeze, 'sthis guy gonna just stand there all day?'

Grigor pointed the sword nearer to him, and his lip curled angrily.

"Ey, ey! What?!" The man flashed his empty palms, displaying his helplessness in this situation. 'What the freak!?'

"You-" Grigor let his rage take hold- and now he had to think fast, lest he look foolish.

. . .

Aha!

"That summon, the invisible creature that had assailed me earlier! What is its nature? How are you able to command both a powerful summon AND potent pyromancies?" 

Wand's brow furled in confusion, for just a fleeting moment. "Oh, you're talkin' about Bolt, eh? He ain't a summon, jus' my dog. Well, I don't really like to think of 'im as 'mine.' We're partners, more like."

His thoughts... Confirmed this?

"That cannot be true. It must be of powerful magic. No beast in the world is capable of such things." The creature wasn't just invisible, it was completely imperceptible. It had no feeling, made no sound, and the world itself seemed not to recognize it. Until, of course, it sank teeth into his leg.

Grigor shuddered at the thought of this, but it occurred to him that the beast might even be obscure to S's senses.

'Ah, he's frickin' adorable.' Wand's mind cooed.

When Grigor left his own thoughts, he saw that the man beneath his blade was smiling tenderly, his gaze shifted off to his left. Grigor momentarily turned, and saw, through Wand's mind... The fluffy little creature happily rolling around in the grass, its tongue dangling out of its mouth...

The sight of it angered him endlessly. 

"Aye, yeah, you were able to see 'im, weren't you?" Wand casually remarked, the fearful pitch in his voice disappearing. This angered Grigror further. "Looks like you still can... Cutest little thing, ain't he?" 

He's abhorrent.

"Yeah, I don't get it, but you're the first guy I've met that's able to see 'im. Other than me, 'course." Wand continued. "Most people don't notice even when he's touchin' 'em. 'Till he's got his little fangs in 'em, heh. Say, how're you able to-" 

"You are not permitted to ask, cretin!" Grigor spat. "And that's no dog, it's clearly magical and followed your commands in battle to the letter. What is it, what is its nature?!"

Wand suddenly remembered that he was pinned to the ground at swordpoint. "E-Ey, like I said, he's just my buddy, he does what I tell 'im- I don't cast him or nothin', alright? He just comes along with me... Used to tell 'im to not follow me, actually, turns out that's about the only thing he wont do." 

'Ain't lyin!'

Tch! This bastard..!

... He's clearly delusional. That must be it, that'd explain it... Except for his other magic.

"And what about your pyromancy? That flame of yours was no small feat, how are you able to use both abilities at once?" Grigor questioned.

"Ah, that's more proof he ain't a summon, ain't it? If I were really competent enough to do both at once, there's no reason I'd just be some dirty merc, eh?" Wand quickly reasoned. 

'Although, I ain't much of a pyromancer.' His thoughts sang a different tune. 'That bolt's the only thing I can do. But he don't gotta know that.'

Hm. Now that made some sense, Grigor supposed...

But still, what a load of horseshCRAP! Grigor's magic was almost completely snuffed when he got his other ability, why's this no-name criminal trash allowed multiple abilities!? AUGH!

Grigor huffed. "... I've heard enough." Grigor relaxed his arms slightly, but made it very clear that the cutting edge was still at the ready. 

"Ah, y-ya letting me go?" Wand stammered, still a bit fearful. "Uh, just in case you're aboutta ask, it's my policy to not carry more then 15 coin at any given moment." 'Aside from the 30 I keep in my boots, but he don't need to know about that.'

"I'm not some common thief, you worm!" Grigor spat threateningly, inwardly thinking that boot money sounded disgusting.

"A-aye, I see that, m-my bad."

"... Begone with you. Off to your pitiful life of sin and vice." Grigor scoffed. "If we hear that you've harmed anyone else, or if you near us again, know this: S and I will track you down, and we will surely kill you." 

Wand's eyes widened larger than ever before. "W-Wait, did you just say- Y'mean th-the sand kid? I-Is he part of your thing- Is he over there???" 

Grigor nodded.

"C-Crap! If I'd known that, I'd've never accepted the money!" 'Nah, I totally would've, but I'd've just run away with it.' 

"No matter. BEGONE WITH YOU!" Grigor spat for the last time, maybe just a little jealous about the reaction S's name got.

"A-Aye, cya never." Wand cautiously and peacefully crawled back... And once he was away from the cutting edge, he stood up and scurried off, back from whence he came... And the little dog followed.

Once he was far enough away, Grigor's knees gave way for a moment, and his breath became laborious and heavy. He clutched at his wounds, and turned.

Wordlessly, he limped toward camp, hoping that they'd found the girl by now...