Building a Harem in a Noble House

Chapter 110: Trust Your Gut

He never got to finish. Meredith was a blur. Rave flashed across her face as lunged at the Goblin Raider.

First, a Thunderous Smite, her blade crashing against his shield, staggering him. Radiant energy scorched his arm. Second, a Guiding Bolt strike to the knee, white light buckling his leg. Third, a Divine Smite empowering her blade, running him through. His body slumped, club clattering to the floor.

"Come," Meredith spoke, voice a low growl. She flicked her blade, blood flying off her claymore and coating the ground. "We press forward."

The Goblin Raider’s body hit the ground with a dull, wet thud. The green glow of the fungi clung to the edges of his fallen form, making the steam rising off him look almost alive. Meredith stepped back, chest rising and falling with controlled breaths, the edge of her claymore still faintly lit from the power she’d recently imbued it with.

She didn’t look shaken, but she did look pensive–angry–and it didn’t take a scientist to understand why. As if she could read my mind, she turned to me, eyes narrow and brow furrowed.

"If you have words, speak them plainly. I would rather not be left to ponder your thoughts on my own time, Lloyd May."

I exhaled, slow and steady, as I took a few steps closer to Meredith. She was clearly angry at herself for getting tricked again, and I didn’t want to rub salt in the wound, but it was important we had this conversation now. Training was the place you were supposed to make mistakes and all that, right?

"You already know what I’m going to say," I started, stepping close enough for us to be side by side.

Meredith narrowed her eyes. "Speak plainly."

"How do you feel about that fight? I’ll give you my opinion after you give me yours." I said., placing a comforting hand on her arm.

She’d been tense, but she relaxed slightly under my touch. Meredith sighed, sheathing her claymore as she spoke. "I... allowed words to sway my guard... again. I considered the possibility of mercy when action was required. That was my failing, and I will not make such a naive error in the future. Of this, you can be certain."

"It isn’t a failing," I corrected. "It’s just incomplete. Part of being a Paladin isn’t just fighting and meditating public disputes. It also requires you to be something of a detective as well. I’m pretty certain that’s part of the curriculum at the Order, though they’re unnecessarily vague about that part."

Her eyes flickered with curiosity. "Listen, Understand, Judge."

"Yeah, that. It sounds nice, but it’s too vague to be usable. Look: you listened to that Raider’s words, understood that he was evidently in some sort of danger, and decided that moving forward to help him was the ideal scenario. Based on your studies, your conclusion was the best one."

Meredith followed beside me, armor humming softly with residual aura. "I see. so you believe that my ability to discern could use work?"

"Not necessarily. You’re just fine on that front, Meredith. There’s nothing wrong with listening, but that whole mantra they teach only had you relying on two of the five senses."

"So I should...touch my enemies...?"

"N-no! Look, I’m just saying that you should consider context. Trust what you see, but consider if what you’re seeing is consistent with what you know."

"I understand. And this is the framework you used when deciding that the Goblin Raider was duplicitous?"

I nodded, stepping over to the Raider’s corpse, pointing at it with my blade. "His shield stayed up the entire time. He didn’t grieve for the goblins we killed. He didn’t acknowledge anything he supposedly lost. He didn’t try to bargain or lower the tension. He didn’t even give us a plan of attack against this ’sorceress’ he claimed was the real enemy. No details. No risk. Just a story. Sure, his words were frantic, but it made no sense. If he truly wanted our help and truly felt like he was in danger, he would’ve come running out of that cave the instant the door opened, arms free, begging us to help him. Or, better yet, he would’ve tried to escape. Instead, he stayed still, trying to convince us to go further into the cave with him."

She was quiet for several steps.

"I... did not think to observe those things," she admitted at last, her voice softer. "I have been taught to listen deeply, to weigh words heavily. Yet my other senses, the ones that should warn me, I have allowed to wither."

"They haven’t withered," I said. "You’ve just been leaning on one crutch harder than the others. You’re strong as hell, Meredith. But you’re stronger when you use all of what you’ve got."

She stopped walking, and I turned to look at her. The green glow lit her silver armor from below, making her look almost ethereal, like a statue of some ancient knight pulled from a mural somewhere. Meredith bowed her head, a faint smile tugging at her lips.

"A valuable lesson, Lloyd May" she murmured. "Thank you, Lloyd. For correcting me, and for grounding me when I let frustration take hold. Your kindness will not be forgotten."

I shrugged. "Don’t mention it, Meredith. I’m not here to let you stay pissed off at yourself forever."

She laughed softly. "I shall strive to do better. Not merely with my blade, but with my perception. If I am to stand beside you, I must learn to see as you do."

"You’ll get there," I said. "Just remember: don’t let words overpower what everything else is telling you. So, in short: trust your gut."

She nodded firmly. "Very well. From this point forward, I shall move with all senses utilized. No longer will I allow mere words to sway my heart." She chuckled. "Not until they have been vetted by my gut, at least."

I chuckled back, clapping her on her armored back. "Atta girl."