Chương 23: Flush with Gold and Oppurtunity

Ch. 23 - Flush with Gold and Oppurtunity

"… you don't have an Adventurer Tag?" [Receptionist] Hazel's brow furrowed, looking at Wyatt as though she thought she'd misheard him.

"That's right."

"Do you mean you've lost it?" Wyatt gave her a wry smile, wondering if this was going to mean he wouldn't get the bounty for the Goblins. It would make sense that a bounty placed by the Adventurers Guild would only be available for Adventurers.

"Well actually, I —" Wyatt's voice was choked off as Lera stepped up next to him, hooking an arm around his neck, and pulling her into him. She jostled him playfully, not seeming to mind that his face was pressed up against the side of her chest.

"Are you done yet, rookie? I can't wait on you forever, you know." Try as he might, Wyatt couldn't pull away from Lera's grip. She was holding him casually, but it belied the strength of her arm. Her skin was cool against his cheek, and his voice was slightly muffled as he tried to speak up.

"Lera, I was just —" Lera imperceptibly tightened her grip, cutting him off. Hazel was watching the interaction in front of her desk with some confusion, but she inclined her head respectfully towards Lera.

"Adventurer Delu'Amarr — greetings." Lera beamed at the [Receptionist].

"Hey! You got my last name right! Hardly anyone does." Hazel gave the blue Protean a small smile.

"You are a Silver Ranked Adventurer in the guild. I should be ashamed to show my face if I did not remember your name." Lera barked out a delighted laugh. She leant forward, resting one elbow on the countertop, smiling at the [Receptionist]. She still had an arm around Wyatt's neck, but it didn't seem to impede her in any way.

"I like you. What's your name, lovely?" Hazel's cheeks went slightly pink, but she kept a professional expression on her face.

"[Receptionist] Hazel, Adventurer Lera." Lera's smile widened.

"Just Hazel, or is there more to it?"

"Hazel Altwood." Lera straightened up, no longer leaning on the counter.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Hazel Altwood! You must have joined the staff here in the time I was gone, I'm sure I would have remembered you otherwise." Hazel nodded cautiously, her eyes darted from Lera's face down to Wyatt's.

"That's right, Adventurer Lera. I've been with the guild almost three years now."

"Yes, that fits. Actually … Altwood, Altwood … do I know that name from somewhere?" The flush on Hazel's cheeks deepened, but this time it wasn't purely out of embarrassment.

"I'd prefer to just be addressed by [Receptionist] Hazel, Adventurer Delu'Amarr. If that's alright with you."

"Oh, did I put my foot in it? Sorry, I do that sometimes. Of course that's alright, [Receptionist] Hazel. Anyway, are you nearly finished with my rookie here?" Hazel hesitated." Your rookie — how exactly are you affiliated with this young man?" Lera shrugged with one shoulder.

"I'm just looking out for him. Making sure he doesn't get into too much trouble, you know?" A hint of a smile appeared in the corner of Hazel's mouth. She coughed, covering it as she pointed to Wyatt.

"In that case, perhaps you should let him breathe?"

"Oh? Oh! Sorry about that, Wyatt!" Lera hurriedly let go of Wyatt, pulling him up straight and patting him on the back as he coughed. Wyatt glared at the Protean, but it seemed to bounce right off her sunny disposition. She turned back to the [Receptionist].

"So can I take him? He owes me a spar." Hazel shuffled the parchment on her desk. She cleared her throat, looking like she wasn't entirely sure how to broach the subject.

"Actually, Adventurer Lera, I need Wyatt's tag in order to finalise this report. And to distribute the funds from the bounty on the Goblins. But … he was just telling me that he doesn't have one?" Lera affected a sigh, and poked at Wyatt.

"You should have led with that, rookie. Always give the Guild staff every bit of information they need. Don't make them ask!" Wyatt jumped, rubbing at his arm. She really was stronger than she realised. Wyatt wasn't sure what angle Lera was playing, but she was all but winking at him. Hazel tilted her head as she looked at the two of them.

"So he does have one?" Lera shook her head, giving the [Secretary] a rueful smile.

"I really must apologise — twice in two days is a little much, I know."

"Adventurer Lera? What do you mean?" Lera put a hand on her hip, grinning shamefacedly.

"The lost tag of course! I had to get mine reissued yesterday — and now you have to deal with Wyatt's! He is, of course, extremely apologetic." Wyatt blinked in surprise, but he didn't have time to react much beyond that. Lera grabbed the back of his head, gently encouraging him to bow forwards. He looked at her sidelong, hissing.

"What are you doing?" Lera didn't bother to trying to whisper back.

"Helping you out of course! It's a real hassle for them when they have to reissue an Adventurer Tag, so you have to show that you appreciate it." Wyatt waited only a beat before he bowed his head to the [Receptionist] again, a little deeper this time.

"Ah, yes of course. I'm really sorry for … losing it?" By his feet, Kit huffed out a sigh. Lera was very persuasive, breezily shoving her way through any bureaucratic hurdles that came up. Wyatt wasn't sure if it was just the Protean's personality, or the difference due to her rank that did it. Either way, he was sure he wouldn't have been able to get it done without her. Wyatt suspected that Hazel knew that something was up, but she didn't seem that interested in making a big deal of it.

Unfortunately, the registration fee for his shiny new Bronze Rank Adventurer Tag wiped out all his funds and then some, but Lera cheerfully fronted the difference, saying that he could pay her back from the bounty. She pointed out that Wyatt was lucky; replacing her Silver Tag had apparently cost her nearly five gold. The only real stumbling block had been when Wyatt had to put down his class for the guild's files.

Hazel hadn't come across the [Survivalist] class before, and had ended up registering him down as a hybrid generalist instead of a straight combat class. The [Receptionist] had strongly urged Wyatt to consider partying up with a group before attempting any more forays into the dungeon alone. After that had been sorted, Wyatt received the bounty for the seven Goblins. That alone already made him feel rich, with Hazel counting it out in a small heap of silver coins rather than gold.

Lera pointed out that unless he was looking to make a big purchase, it didn't make sense to have gold coins if they were just going to be broken back into silver the first time he paid for something. Wyatt had thought they were done, except Lera then cheerfully pointed out that there was a bounty on Orcs as well. And since the guild had already accepted and skill-checked Wyatt's report as fact, then there was no need for him to actually provide a physical trophy.

That netted Wyatt twenty silver per Orc, four gold in total. So, after he'd paid back Lera, Wyatt found himself with just under six gold. This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Once that had been sorted, Wyatt hadn't had time to think about what to do next. Lera practically dragged him outside to the training area. There, before he'd really processed it, she handed him a practice spear, and told him to show her what he had. Which had been …

eye-opening. Wyatt held up a hand as he panted, crouched over with his hands on his knees, silently asking for respite. Lera checked the next swing of her sword, her head tilted as if in confusion. The Protean seemed as fresh as she had when they first started, completely unaffected by their time out in the sun swinging weapons around. Lera pursed her lips.

"You know, it's not a good habit to ask for quarter from an opponent, even in training." Wyatt wheezed, trying to straighten up. The last blow from Lera had struck him on the shoulder, and his muscles were screaming in protest at him. He'd seen the strike coming, had calculated how fast Lera had been swinging, and had moved the haft of his spear into place to block it.

However, Lera's practice blade had twisted, snaking through the air in a curve that had completely evaded Wyatt's weapon, and had hit him just below the shoulder blade as he overextended. Kit had watched their sparring for only a few minutes before taking herself off to the grass hill on one side of the practice grounds. There she'd curled up underneath a tree, only raising her head occasionally to check if Wyatt was okay. Wyatt nodded, standing up with a small groan.

"I know, but this isn't supposed to be serious, right?" Lera folded her arms as she regarded Wyatt. She looked vaguely troubled.

"It's not, but you should still do your best. It's just that … how should I put this. I expected more." Wyatt winced at the brutal honesty in her voice.

"Yeah well, I told you that you were stronger than me." The Protean shook her head apologetically.

"I didn't mean it like that. I meant that — oh, stop that. Come here."

"What?" Wyatt had been gingerly rubbing at his back where she'd struck him. It was really starting to ache. He had a number of welts over his body where he'd been unable to stop her strikes, but his back was definitely the worst of them. Lera hadn't been rough with him exactly, but she hadn't been pulling her punches either. Now the Protean had taken hold of his arm, and was gently but firmly leading him off the training grounds to the grassed slope.

"There. Now sit, rookie." Lera didn't wait for Wyatt to do so himself, instead she pushed him backwards so that he toppled over into a seated position on the hill. She then moved around behind him and flopped down herself, her legs on either side of him. Lera put one hand on his back, leaning him forwards slightly, and then put a cool hand on his injured shoulder. Wyatt squirmed in surprise, shifting awkwardly when Lera held him in place by tightening her legs.

"Wait, what are you —" Lera squeezed him with her knees.

"Hush." The Protean took hold of Wyatt's wrist, and extended his arm out straight. Then she began to carefully massage around his injured shoulder, probing and exploring. Wyatt flinched in pain at first, but the sensation swiftly changed, causing him to sigh in relief. Wyatt hung his head forward, feeling tension leaving him.

"You really don't have to do this, you know." Lera sounded faintly amused.

"I know." They were both quiet for a moment as she worked on him. It felt so nice that Wyatt was starting to feel drowsy, her fingers were strong, her touch cool even through his shirt. It almost surprised him when she spoke again.

"Before, what I meant was that you didn't show me the skill that I thought you'd have. Even with a group, even with luck, to take down two Orcs …" Wyatt thought about it.

"I guess I just didn't want to hurt you." Lera's fingers stilled for a moment, then she chuckled.

"That wasn't going to happen in any case, Wyatt." Wyatt flushed, glad that the Protean couldn't see his face.

"I didn't mean it like that! I just meant …" Wyatt thought, trying to think of how best to explain himself.

"… I wasn't trying to hurt you." Lera tapped a finger reprovingly on his shoulder.

"That's not a compliment, Wyatt. You should take training and sparring seriously." Wyatt sighed in frustration. He knew he wasn't explaining himself well.

"I wasn't trying to be chivalrous or anything, Lera. I meant that, when I train, I've always found it hard to … commit? To take it as seriously as I know other people can. But it's different when it matters. When it's important, everything seems different to me. Easier." Lera thought this over for a moment.

"Can you tell me more?"

"Well, it's like with the Orcs. I didn't have time to think or worry — I knew I had to act. Everything just snapped into clarity for me, like I was hyper-focused. It was something that my Gramps tried to teach me, but it didn't always take. But when I was fighting the Orcs, when I saw what was happening to Raek and the others, everything just … clicked." Lera started to massage his shoulder again, her fingers digging in deep and slow.

"And it's not like that when you practice or spar?" Wyatt shook his head.

"No. I remember the drills and the moves. But I always feel kind of stilted."

"Mmm. I think I understand you better now. You sound like someone who thinks too much. Who plans out every move before you actually do it. That kind of thing slows you down, no matter how fast your thoughts run. Who knows, you might get a skill one day to compensate for that, but until then it is a disadvantage. At least until your adrenaline starts flowing." Wyatt thought about what Lera had said.

"That does kind of sound like me."

"Thought as much. A [Trainer] could probably beat the habit out of you." Wyatt grimaced.

"That sounds pleasant." Lera laughed softly.

"Oh, absolutely. I might be able to manage it myself, but I'd have to get pretty rough with you. Get your subconscious to flick into a focused state quicker … but that's not really the kind of thing I enjoy doing."

"But if I can fight when I need to …?" Lera patted Wyatt on the back brusquely.

"Yes. It's fine when it works. Until it doesn't. But there — I'm done with your back. That should stop you from stiffening up too much. You could add a few drops of healing potion to it to make sure, but only a few drops." Wyatt gripped his shoulder, rotating his arm a few times. It did feel a lot better.

"Why only a few drops?"

"Your muscles gain strength by healing damage, Wyatt. That's why you feel sore after training. Too much healing potion will undo any of the benefits if you don't recover naturally." Wyatt hadn't thought about that. He wondered if there were any other ramifications for using something like a healing potion.

"Thanks, I'll keep that in mind. Do you mind if we move out of the sun? Kit looks pretty comfortable over there under that tree."

"Hmm? Are you hot? Sorry, I always forget what it's like for you people. Here." Lera casually pulled Wyatt back so that he was reclining against her chest. She wrapped her arms around him in a loose embrace, and rested her chin on his shoulder. Wyatt stiffened in surprise, unable to turn his head because hers was in the way. Her breath was tickling his neck.

"Uh … Lera?"

"Yes?"

"What are you doing?" Wyatt felt the Protean shrug.

"Cooling you down."

"Cooling me dow—" Wyatt stopped in mid sentence. He just realised that he was feeling a lot cooler. It was like all the heat was being sucked right out of his body. Wyatt had noticed that she didn't seem to run as hot as a regular person, but he hadn't realised it was to this extent. It was exceedingly pleasant, but he'd be enjoying it more if he wasn't also extremely aware of her body. Over on the training grounds, some Adventurers had stopped sparring, and were pointing over towards them. Grinning and laughing.

"Lera?" The Protean seemed completely at ease, to the point that Wyatt got the strong impression that she didn't think there was anything untoward or noteworthy about what she was doing. Still, there was a faint tinge of amusement in her voice that said she was aware of how she was affecting him.

"Yes, Wyatt Eckhart?"

"… do you mind if I ask you, what are you exactly? Shit, sorry — that came out wrong It's just that I don't really know anything about Protean's, or why your skin feels so cool to the touch." Lera laughed gently, her chin bouncing on Wyatt's shoulder.

"It's alright, I'm not offended. I can tell if someone is truly uncomfortable around me, and I never got that sense from you, even at the start. Here, let me show you." Lera took an arm away from where she was holding Wyatt's chest, and lifted it up in front of his face. It looked like a perfectly sculpted replica of a human hand, perfect in every detail except the colour. Wyatt could even see the tendons moving underneath her skin as she flexed and rotated her wrist.

Then, as he watched, her skin suddenly changed, going translucent, until he was able to see right through her hand and to the sky beyond it. It wasn't like glass though; Wyatt could tell that her hand was still there, just that it now appeared as though he was looking through a viscous liquid. Lera moved her hand slowly back and forth in front of Wyatt's face.

"There, you see? That's what we are." Wyatt stared, fascinated to the point that he completely forgot about how they were sitting.

"How does that even work? Do you still need to eat, or drink?" Lera chuckled.

"Yes, all that and more. We are mostly the same as anyone else usually. It was how we were made. I have to really concentrate to do this." As she spoke, Lera's hand returned to normal. She wriggled her fingers.

"There, you see?" They were both silent for a few moments, just sitting comfortably together. Wyatt was the one who broke the quiet.

"Lera? Why are you doing so much for me, really? It can't be that you're just helping out a 'rookie'. You made Hazel think that I'd just lost my adventurer tag. Not that I —""— never had one to begin with? Yes, that was obvious."

"And you're not curious? You don't want to ask me how I was in the dungeon?" Lera hummed softly to herself, swaying slightly.

"Do you want me to? If you want to speak to me of it, that's fine. Otherwise I won't pry." Wyatt was silent, thinking that over. Then he just had to ask.

"But … why?"

"An Adventurer … an Adventurer racks up debts. If they survive, of course. Things that they owe or are owed. Some debts need not even be voiced, might even be one sided. Or driven by regret. But you pay them back when you can."

"Is that really alright though?" Lera laughed gently, then reached up and ruffled at Wyatt's hair.

"What have I really done for you, Wyatt Eckhart, all told? Given you some of my time? Some advice, some small assistance? I'm not so important a person that my time is that valuable. Lighten up!"

"Even so, I feel like I owe you. Is there anything I can do?" Lera shook her head, sounding very relaxed.

"No, it's fine. But if you insist, you can buy me something to eat with all your newfound gold. An Adventurers first bounty is worth celebrating. And I'm partial to fruit."

"You are? Well, would you like to try one of these?" Wyatt gently extricated himself from Lera, getting to his feet. She remained sitting on the slope, reclining back relaxedly, looking up at him curiously as he went through his bag of holding. The Protean's nose wrinkled as Wyatt pulled out the fuzzy and wizened fruit from the dungeon. She continued to look skeptical, right up until Wyatt cut it open, exposing the rich gold interior.

"What is that? I've never seen it before!"

"It's a fruit I found. Don't worry, I checked it with a skill before eating it. Kit loves them." Indeed, as soon as she'd scented the fruit, Kit had come hurrying over. Demanding one for herself. Lera took a tentative bite of hers while Wyatt was getting another one for the silver fox. The Protean's eyes widened in shock.

"Wyatt — this is amazing." He grinned at her.

"It's good, isn't it." Lera shook her head emphatically, her mouth already busy as she tore into the fruit. She swallowed, wiping the juice off her chin.

"No, Its not good — I said it's amazing! It's so sweet, with a refreshing tang to it …" Lera had a hand to her cheek, her eyes closed as she rapturously chewed. She accepted a second fruit from Wyatt without a second's hesitation. Wyatt's lips twitched as he watched her dig into the second fruit. He wouldn't have thought it possible, but she seemed to enjoy it even more than Kit.

"You really like it, huh?"

"Like it? I love it! Protean's love fruit, but it's so hard to get anything fresh around here. And I've never seen anything like this. Where did you get it?"

"I found it in the dungeon." Lera paused in chewing long enough to shove at him, her voice muffled as she ate.

"Get out!"

"It's true."

"… how many are there?" Wyatt shrugged. He cut one open himself, giving the second half to Kit as she'd finished her first.

"Lots. We picked a lot before we left."

"How many?"

"Uh, let me think. We had fifty-six to begin with. After these four, that leaves fifty-two." Lera stared at him silently. Then she sprang to her feet, swallowing the last of her fruit, and started to drag Wyatt by the hand away from the training ground.

"Lera, what are you —" Lera pulled him harder, trying to get him to speed up.

"I know a merchant. This is too good to sit on. Wait until the other Proteans try this …" Wyatt sped up; it was that or be dragged.

"Do you mean Lycet?" Lera shook her head.

"No, not him! This is a trader that specialises in fruit and produce. All us Protean's buy from him!"