Chương 40: Last Minute Eventualities

Ch. 40 - Last Minute Eventualities Kelar took one look at Wyatt as he walked down the stairs, Kit at his heels, and hurriedly tossed a hangover cure at him. Everyone from the night before was sitting around a long table in the common area, eating heartily from dishes that seemed to be made up of beef, potato, and other root vegetables.

"Here, drink that down, lad. Someone should have sent one with you last night with how much we were all drinking." Wyatt fumbled with the tossed potion, almost dropping it before securing it against his stomach. His head throbbed anew with the sudden motion, but he mustered up a weak smile for the [Vanguard].

"Thanks, it's alright though." Kelar eyed him with some reservation, shaking his head. He gave Lera an admonishing look.

"Look after him better, will you." Before Lera could answer, Celia snickered.

"Oh, I'm sure she did." Theo sighed. He reached out and gently cuffed the green Protean on the back of the head without looking.

"Don't be crass." Celia rubbed at the back of her head, looking at Theo reproachfully. Then she grinned impishly.

"Oh, I'm sure Lera was cra—okay, sorry, sorry! I'll stop!" Celia slid along the bench, scrambling over Theo's lap in order to avoid Lera. Kelar just shook his head as Wyatt popped the stopper out of the potion and started chugging it down.

"Proteans are way too chipper in the morning." Celia, safely on the far side of the table, grinned cheerfully.

"Life is meant to be fun, captain!" Kelar just grunted in reply. He gestured at an empty spot on the bench.

"Sit yourself down, Wyatt. Lera said you'd be down not long after her, so we ordered breakfast for you." Wyatt slid onto the seat, already feeling much better as the potion took effect.

"Thanks for that. Uh, would you like me to get the table something? I'm not sure what they have here that's non-alcoholic, but …" Kelar waved that aside.

"Don't worry about it, one extra plate of food isn't much. And besides, I know roughly how much you would have spent standing your rounds for the table last night." Wyatt was quietly relieved at Kelar's generosity. He'd checked his bag of holding earlier, and he'd spent far too much. Almost four gold! He still had a lot left of course, but he knew that most of what remained was going to go to Thrais and his team. Theo smiled at Wyatt, correctly reading his relief at not having to spend any more.

"Don't worry, Wyatt. We really shouldn't have let a rookie like you pay for so much. We'll be paying for you a while yet until we make up for it. We all appreciate it though." Celia nodded enthusiastically.

"We really did! Some more than others of course, am I right? Ouch! Dammit, Lera!"

"Act your age, Celia. Kel, any word from Senni and Prym?" Kelar shook his head at Lera's question.

"No, not yet. Worst case, they will meet us at the portal. They both know when we want to get going." From Kelar's words, Wyatt gleaned that Senni and Prym were the two members of Veiled Legacy that he hadn't met yet. It was hard to concentrate though, especially now that his head wasn't throbbing. He kept seeing Lera in his mind, laying in bed next to him. Walking across the room to get dressed … And now she was heading straight back into the dungeon today?

Wyatt wasn't sure exactly what he wanted, but he'd been hoping to spend more time with her. Kit nudged Wyatt on the leg, making him snap out of his musings.

'Don't overthink it too much.' Wyatt bent down, lowering his voice so that he could talk to the fox while everyones attention was elsewhere.

"… you mean Lera?" Kit huffed out a sigh, and gave Wyatt a complicated look.

'Yes, Lera.' Thrais leant across the table and offered Kit a bowl filled with cuts of meat. He smiled warmly down at the silver fox, who regarded the offering with pleased surprise.

"I thought your lady might want a nice breakfast as well, so I took the liberty." Kit gave the Elf a slow nod, then delicately picked up a sliver of beef, eating it down with every sign of enjoyment. She glanced at Wyatt.' Learn from this Elf.'" Hey, I give you food." Kit nudged the bowl with one paw.' On the ground. I want my own dishes.' Wyatt hesitated, then nodded.

"Fair point. I'll pick you up something before we head back in." Kit nodded in satisfaction, her mouth full. Thrais had watched the one-sided exchange with benign amusement.

"You two certainly have a strong bond. I swear I could almost hear her talking back to you." Kit didn't look up from her meal, but she sighed inaudibly.' … Elves.' Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. Wyatt smiled crookedly at the Elf.

"She has no trouble letting me know her will, that's for sure. So, is everything still fine on your end? I guess Veiled Legacy is heading to the third floor today." Thrais nodded his head easily.

"We are ready to go as well—you'll understand if we don't wish to linger without paid work."

"I can be ready to go today." Thrais poured himself a glass from a pitcher of water on the table.

"You'll have to clear a pass for us at the Adventurers Guild, but that shouldn't take too long. Once you do that, and I get my team together, we should be able to head in around midday. Can we get to the site before nightfall if we leave by then?" Wyatt considered that. Everything was being organised fast, but it wasn't as though he minded. He had purchased most of what he'd wanted yesterday before he and Kit had come to the Clipped Wing Inn.

"It might be pretty close to evening, but it should be possible if we hurry. I've always been pretty relaxed when I explore the dungeon." Thrais smiled warmly.

"That's great. Do you know what you need to organise at the guild? The staff there are helpful, but bureaucracy always takes time." Lera slid onto the bench next to Wyatt.

"I can't take you, Wyatt, I'm sorry. But I can tell you what you'll need to organise. Don't worry, it's not that complicated." Kelar looked over as well.

"Yes, we can't linger, I'm afraid. I want to be through the portal by midday—and with that damn line who knows how long it will take." Wyatt gave the two of them a crooked smile.

"It's fine—really. I wouldn't expect you to put yourselves out because of me." Lera grinned, jostling him playfully with her shoulder.

"It's not a bother. Trust me. I'm just glad that we have enough time to relax properly before we head out. You as well, Wyatt. There's still a while before you have to head to the guild."

"There is?" Kelar frowned slightly, but he didn't seem annoyed in any way. If anything, he was giving Lera an indulgent look.

"Don't go overboard. There are still a few items we need to procure before setting out." Lera waved her hand flippantly.

"Yeah I know, don't worry. I'm not talking about anything major. Just a bath." Wyatt blinked.

"A bath?" Lera gave Wyatt a slow smile, jostling him again.

"Yes, a bath. A nice, luxurious soak where I can enjoy myself before we find ourselves smashing smelly undead corpses for who knows how long. I've already reserved the biggest bath they have, and it should be filled with water by now." Celia stared at Lera for a moment, then leant forward, thudding her head on the table in frustration.

"Argh, why didn't I think of that!" Lera rested her chin on her hand, giving her fellow Protean a slow smile.

"Probably because you were too busy trying to be funny." Celia looked at her hopefully.

"Can I—can I come too?" Lera laughed easily.

"Sure, it's large enough for more than one person. In fact, it's an open invitation to anyone who wants a nice long soak." Kelar and Theo glanced at each other, then at the two grinning Proteans. Thrais just looked amused. Kelar looked studiously up at the ceiling.

"… thank you, but I still have to organise a few things before we set out. Ah, Theo?" The [Rogue] shook his head slowly.

"No … I don't think so." Celia pouted at them, affecting a hurt look, and Lera gave Wyatt a wink.

"What about you?" Wyatt coughed into his fist, silently cursing his reddening face. He was aware of the eyes of everyone at the table on him, and while he was privately tempted, he felt like it was perhaps a step too far.

"Ah, I think I might pass as well, Lera. Thanks, but—" Lera grinned, slightly apologetically.

"Relax, Wyatt, I'm just teasing you! I did promise though, so I reserved a smaller bath just for you. Just make sure you don't stay in there too long or you won't have time to get to the guild. Also humans tend to wrinkle, which is cute in a way, but hardly attractive." Wyatt stood in the Adventurers Guild hall, noting how different it had appeared from the last time. It was empty, with only a handful of Adventurers sitting in the common area. The training grounds outside were likewise emptied.

It was strange to see it as Wyatt strode through the grounds of the guild, energised after his morning. The bathhouse at the Clipped Wing had been more sumptuous than the one he'd visited at the last inn. Instead of partitioned areas, this had its own self-contained room, with a tiled floor reminiscent of an Earth bathroom.

It hadn't been a simple tub either, instead there had been a recessed pool in the floor, a huge bathing area large enough that Wyatt hadn't been able to touch both sides at once even if he stretched out. The water had been lightly scented, and the steam rising off the surface had filled the room in a relaxing haze. Wyatt had felt refreshed and ready to face anything after his time in the bath, and he'd made sure to thank Lera for it when he'd got out.

The Protean had just laughed, saying that he could make it up to her later. She'd asked Wyatt for a quick copy of his map, promising him that she would stop by after Veiled Legacy had finished exploring the new area on the third floor. Celia had been less effusively affectionate with him as well. Wyatt had wondered if she'd just been focused on her team's upcoming adventure, or if Lera had said something to her. The green-skinned Protean did seem to glance at Lera a lot, as though checking her behaviour.

Lera had just been quietly amused by it all, giving Wyatt a warm hug before wishing him luck at the guild. Wyatt didn't need to wait in line to see a receptionist once he entered the hall, so he headed straight towards the one he recognised. Hazel had spotted Wyatt as he'd entered, and seemed almost relieved to see him.

"Adventurer Eckhart, how does the day find you?" Wyatt rubbed at the back of his head as he smiled at the [Receptionist].

"Not bad. I see that you're the opposite of busy?" Hazel sighed.

"Yes, it's as you see. There's not all that much to do, all things considered. How can I help you today? Do you have a bounty, or anything to report?" Wyatt shook his head.

"No, nothing like that. I'm heading back to the first floor today, but I need to apply for a temporary pass for a crew of workers." Hazel blinked in surprise, and automatically started to reach for some forms.

"I can certainly help you with that, do you have the names of the workers?" Wyatt told her the names of Thrais and his crew, and Hazel's eyes widened, recognising them. She sounded slightly suspicious.

"That is quite a skilled team of artisans, not just 'workers'. And this is for the first floor? What exactly do you need them to do?" Lera had drilled into Wyatt that he didn't actually need to give the guild specifics, and to be as vague as possible. It wasn't exactly uncommon to get a temporary pass for non-adventurers, but it was usually in response to larger discovery.

"Yes, the first floor. It's more of a whim—the safe removal of parts of a ruined building. Apparently it's unique enough to be a leveling opportunity?" The [Receptionist] relaxed somewhat.

"Ah, I see. Still, Thrais is quite renowned. Even for levels, I'm surprised you can afford him." Wyatt shrugged.

"Yeah, I know. It's more of the nature of a favour being called in." Realisation dawned in Hazel's eyes.

"Ah, Adventurer Delu'Amarr. She took you to the training grounds when last you were here. Well, it's an easy enough application. It's one gold for the pass—sorry about that, but the price is fixed. And it is good for two weeks. Any longer than that, and there will be a fine." Wyatt nodded easily.

"That's okay. Thrais said it should take less than that." Hazel nodded as well, absently, as she was starting to fill out forms. Wyatt watched her for a few moments, then looked around at the empty guild.

"I guess everyone is headed to the third floor? I know Veiled Legacy is heading in today, although they were worried they had missed the rush." Hazel glanced up.

"Veiled Legacy? Ah, of course you would know them. Adventurer Delu'Amarr's team. At least I won't have to worry much about them."

"How do you mean?" The [Receptionist] sighed.

"It's always a concern at the start of a discovery like this. Teams don't report back, pushing ahead more than they probably should … we don't find out if they are fine or if something has happened to them until much later. But a professional team like Veiled Legacy won't take risks."

"Is it really that dangerous?" Hazel hesitated.

"Probably not with so many high level teams heading in. We can't stop any Adventurer from going of course, but we do strongly advise that only high Iron rank or above try the crypt." That surprised Wyatt, particularly with all the scrutiny at the portal.

"You don't stop low-level Adventurers from going to the higher floors?"

"No. Trying to restrict it is more trouble than it's worth. Most Adventurers take our advice, and don't get in over their heads, but there's always a few …" Hazel finished with the forms, and slid the passes across the desk to Wyatt. Then she paused, narrowing her eyes at him.

"… you aren't planning on going to the third floor yourself, are you?"

"Me? No way." Hazel eyed him for a long moment.

"Hmmm. See that you don't. Alright, here are your permits. You shouldn't have any trouble with the guards, not as long as you stick to the first floor."

"Thanks, I really appreciate it." Hazel shrugged.

"It's what we are here for. Stay safe, Adventurer."