Chương 43: Fiona

June eventually emerged from the crowd, looking like she had just successfully completed a high-stakes diplomatic mission to retrieve a commoner. Trailing behind our resident princess was a woman who looked like she had accidentally wandered out of a woodland fairytale and tripped into the middle of this dusty city square. She looked to be in her early twenties, making her the elder statesman of our little misfit group, though she was surprisingly tiny.

She was even shorter than June, which I did not think was legally allowed for anyone who was not a gnome. She had this massive, unruly mane of chestnut curls that cascaded all the way down to her hips like a living waterfall of hair, and her skin was so pale it practically shimmered under the sun. When she turned those vivid green eyes toward us, I did not see the judgmental fire I usually got from June.

Instead, she had this incredibly gentle, calm vibe that made me feel like I should be apologizing for being too loud just by standing there. As they got closer, I did a quick inventory of her equipment, and my jaw nearly hit the cobblestones. She was rocking a full set of Tier 0 gear, but unlike my "bag of loose change" aesthetic, hers was a masterclass in nature-themed coordination.

On her head sat a rustic wooden crown made of sun-bleached twigs, complete with little protrusions that looked exactly like the nubby antlers of a young deer. To make the whole thing even more ridiculous, a bright blue butterfly was actually hitched a ride on one of the twigs as if she were a walking flower bed.

Her main armor was a deep green, loose-fitting tunic with a hood that looked like it was made of overlapping leaves, and as she walked, a scent of fresh mint and wildflowers hit me so hard I forgot for a second that we were standing in a city that usually smells like old cabbages.

Her leggings were a mottled, bark-brown leather with patches of what looked like actual wood stitched onto the thighs, and she had little bundles of dried herbs tucked into loops along her legs that puffed out a bit of dust with every step. But it was the accessories that really made me feel like a budget adventurer.

She had a single, polished root spiraling down her hand that glowed with a soft golden light, and her gloves were a mix of fur and rough fabric with dried pods sewn into the wrists that rattled like a rainstick every time she moved her hands. Even her boots looked like they were grown rather than made, fashioned from dark grey hide with real green moss growing right out of the seams.

To top it all off, she had a ring made of a literal green vine with a tiny flower bud on top that seemed to pulse with light, and white snail shells hanging from her ears. The thing that really twisted the knife in my gut was the sheer, unadulterated coordination of it all. It was beyond annoying.

She was clearly rocking Tier 0 gear, the same bottom of the barrel starter trash that the rest of us were currently sporting, yet her entire set actually looked like it was meant to be worn by the same person at the same time. Everything about her outfit just made sense. The textures flowed, the colors didn't fight each other for dominance, and the overall vibe screamed legitimate, professional adventurer. Compare that to our little group.

Dimitri looked like a walking hardware store accident, and I looked like I had been blindfolded and told to pick an outfit out of a burning dumpster. It was completely and utterly unfair. While we were out here looking like a cry for help, she was strolling through the plaza looking like the poster child for a nature documentary. I couldn't help but wonder where on earth she had managed to find a matching set of gear that didn't look like a practical joke played by the developers.

June finally closed the gap between us, leading the walking forest toward our mismatched duo with the smug air of a cat bringing home a particularly impressive trophy. She stopped a few feet away, striking a pose that suggested she expected us to start clapping.

"Gentlemen, do try to compose yourselves and at least attempt to look presentable," she commanded, her posh British accent sounding even more regal now that she had a captive audience.

"I should like to introduce you to Fiona. She is our new healer, and I expect you both to treat her with the modicum of respect her association with me implies." [Player: Level 2] I shifted my weight, feeling my gunner trinkets rattle a half second too late, and offered the newcomer a casual, slightly awkward two-finger salute.

"Yo," I said, giving her a lopsided grin that I hoped disguised my intense gear envy. Fiona shifted her weight, the moss on her boots practically sighing against the stone, as she looked at June with a face full of pure, concentrated hesitation. She then turned those big green eyes toward Dimitri and me, looking like a deer that had just realized the headlights it was staring at were actually two guys with very questionable life choices.

"Aych, hullo thaur, a'm Fiona," she started, and suddenly the air was filled with a thick, rolling Highland fog of words.

"A'm a healer, ye ken? Wid ye please forgive a lass if ye canna mak' sense o' ma bletherin'? A' truly hope this disna change yer min's aboot havin' me alang fer the journey." I stood there for a beat, blinking. I was reasonably sure she was speaking English, or at least a dialect of it that hadn't been fully patched into reality yet. It sounded like a bagpipe trying to recite poetry while falling down a well. It was musical, sure, but I hadn't caught a single syllable that actually meant anything to my brain.

I slowly turned my head to look at June, who was standing there looking as if she were trying to pretend she was in a completely different city.

"Listen, I'm no doctor," I said, leaning toward her while my gunner trinkets let out a confused jingle, "but I think there is something seriously wrong with your friend's vocal cords. It's like she's speaking in a secret code that only sheep and very specific types of rocks can understand." June didn't even look at me. She just adjusted her sleeve with a sharp, regal tug, her nose pointed so high she was probably checking for rain.

"I must correct you on one very vital point, Arthur," she remarked, her posh British accent dripping with a chilly, high-society disdain.

"She is most certainly not my friend." Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. I let out a low whistle and gave June a look of mock horror.

"Wow, okay. Remind me never to get on your bad side," I replied, shaking my head at the sheer coldness of it all.

"Throwing a companion under the bus just because of a little bit of linguistic inconvenience? That is a whole new level of messed up, even for you." June gave a dismissive flick of her wrist, her expression remaining as cool and untouchable as a marble statue. She looked at me with the kind of pitying gaze one might reserve for a particularly slow puppy that had just tripped over its own paws.

"I have done no such thing, Arthur," she countered, her posh British accent sounding like it had been sharpened on a whetstone.

"I am merely adhering to the absolute truth of the matter. Fiona is a professional acquaintance from a former arrangement. Friend is a term of profound weight and significance. Unlike the common masses, I refuse to debase such a word by flinging it about until it has lost every ounce of its inherent meaning." I blinked, processing the logic for a second before letting out a weary sigh. My brain tried to find a flaw in that royal decree, but I came up empty.

"I really hate that you actually made a lot of sense just now," I admitted, rubbing the bridge of my nose while my gunner trinkets clattered in agreement.

"It's annoyingly logical for someone who thinks they are the center of the solar system." ••••• —[Author's Note] — For those who are curious, this is Fiona's gear set. ••••• MAIN WEAPON: Name: Gnarled Birch Branch Type: Quarterstaff Tier: 0 Level Requirement: 0 Stats: None Quality: Standard Special Effect: Nature's Pulse – While held, the staff emits a faint, rhythmic vibration that allows the wielder to feel the heartbeat of nearby flora.

Description: This simple staff is crafted from a single, unrefined length of silver birch wood. The bark remains mostly intact, feeling papery and cool to the touch, with distinctive black "eyes" peering out from the white surface. The wood is naturally twisted, forming a slight corkscrew shape that culminates in a fork at the top. Wedged firmly within that fork is a smooth, river-washed stone held in place by a tangle of living ivy that miraculously stays green without soil.

••••• SECONDARY WEAPON: Name: Sproutling's Grip Type: Enchanted Root (Hand) Tier: 0 Level Requirement: 0 Stats: None Quality: Standard Special Effect: Verdant Warmth – The root remains perpetually warm, preventing the wielder's hand from ever feeling the bite of frost or numbing cold. Description: This "garment" is less a piece of clothing and more a symbiotic companion.

It consists of a single, flexible willow root that spirals snugly from the wrist down to the knuckles, leaving the palm and fingers free for tactile casting. The wood is a deep, healthy mahogany hue, polished smooth by use, and features tiny, budding leaf-nodes that twitch slightly when near fresh water. A thin, glowing vein of amber sap runs through the center of the root, casting a soft, golden luminescence across the back of the hand.

••••• HEADGEAR: Name: Circlet of the Forest Floor Type: Headgear Tier: 0 Level Requirement: 0 Stats: None Quality: Standard Special Effect: Wild Whisper – The crown acts as a natural lightning rod for harmless woodland spirits; colorful butterflies or dragonflies will occasionally land on the antlers while the wearer is standing still. Description: This rustic headpiece is fashioned from two supple, sun-bleached twigs of rowan wood, bent and lashed together with sturdy twine made of dried grass.

Rising from the sides are two small, asymmetrical protrusions resembling the "button" antlers of a young fawn. A delicate fringe of dried moss and a few stray, iridescent crow feathers hang from the back, swaying with the wearer's movement. At the center of the brow sits a single, preserved acorn cap, serving as a modest focal point for the natural crown.

••••• ARMOR: Name: Mantle of the Whispering Glade Type: Armor Tier: 0 Level Requirement: 0 Stats: None Quality: Standard Special Effect: Meadow Scent – The fabric naturally cleanses itself and emits a faint aroma of crushed mint and wildflowers, masking the wearer's scent from aggressive predators. Description: This simple, loose-fitting tunic is woven from coarse, unbleached hemp and nettle fibers, giving it a sturdy, earthy texture.

The deep forest-green fabric is intentionally frayed at the hem to blend into tall grass. Attached to the shoulders is a generous, oversized hood made of softer, layered linen that mimics the appearance of overlapping leaves. A few strands of dried sweetgrass are stitched into the seams, and a weathered wooden toggle shaped like a seed pod secures the neck, keeping the mantle snug against the wind.

••••• LEGGINGS: Name: Briar-Stitch Greaves Type: Leggings Tier: 0 Level Requirement: 0 Stats: None Quality: Standard Special Effect: Soft Step – The leggings dampen the sound of rustling leaves and snapping twigs, making movement through dense undergrowth slightly quieter. Description: These leggings are crafted from durable, flexible buckskin dyed a mottled bark-brown.

The outer thighs are reinforced with patches of cured cork-wood, stitched on with thick, emerald-colored embroidery thread that resembles climbing vines. Down the sides of each leg, small loops of braided twine hold dried stalks of lavender and sage, which release a calming puff of herbal dust with every stride. The ankles are secured by simple leather thongs, finished with small, polished wooden beads carved to look like drops of dew.

••••• GLOVES: Name: Gardener's Thicket Wraps Type: Gloves Tier: 0 Level Requirement: 0 Stats: None Quality: Standard Special Effect: Nurturer's Touch – Any wilted flower or small plant the wearer touches momentarily perks up and regains its vibrant color. Description: These fingerless gloves are made from interlocking strips of soft, tanned rabbit fur and rough burlap, providing a balance of warmth and grip.

The palms are reinforced with thin, flexible layers of dried pine bark, allowing the wearer to handle thorny brambles without discomfort. Around the wrists, a series of small, dried seed pods are sewn into the hem, creating a soft, rhythmic rattling sound—much like a rainstick—whenever the wielder performs a somatic gesture or shakes their hands.

••••• BOOTS: Name: Dew-Strider Moccasins Type: Boots Tier: 0 Level Requirement: 0 Stats: None Quality: Standard Special Effect: Earth-Bond – While walking on soil or grass, the boots leave behind tracks that sprout tiny, harmless mushrooms that vanish after a few moments. Description: These ankle-high boots are fashioned from thick, water-resistant bison hide, weathered to a soft charcoal grey.

The soles are unique, constructed from tightly bound layers of compressed peat and flexible willow slats, giving the wearer a bouncy, cushioned gait. Real, living moss grows in the crevices of the stitching, kept vibrant by the morning dew they naturally collect. Instead of traditional laces, the boots are fastened by wrapping long, supple vines around the shins, ending in decorative wooden aglets carved into the shape of tiny pinecones.

••••• RING: Name: Loop of the Living Seed Type: Ring Tier: 0 Level Requirement: 0 Stats: None Quality: Standard Special Effect: Photosynthetic Glow – During the day, the ring absorbs sunlight; at night, it emits a soft, lime-green radiance, providing just enough light for the user to see their own palm. Description: This simple band is not metal, but a single, living stem of honeysuckle that has been gently trained into a perfect circle.

The vine is still pliable and green, with tiny, silver-white hairs covering its surface. A small, dormant flower bud sits atop the ring where a gemstone would usually be placed, occasionally pulsing with a faint, rhythmic light. The band feels cool and slightly damp against the skin, as if it were still drawing nutrients from the air itself.

••••• NECKLACE: Name: Pendant of the Morning Mist Type: Necklace Tier: 0 Level Requirement: 0 Stats: None Quality: Standard Special Effect: Nature's Clarity – The necklace gently filters the air around the user's face, ensuring they always breathe crisp, refreshing oxygen as if standing in a cedar grove. Description: The cord is hand-braided from sun-dried swamp grass, feeling slightly coarse but remarkably sturdy.

Hanging from the center is a translucent shard of resin, naturally shaped like a teardrop, which has trapped a single, perfectly preserved Four-Leaf Clover inside. Small, hollowed-out bird bones and smoothed cherry-wood beads are spaced along the twine, clicking softly against one another whenever the user moves. The resin shard remains perpetually cool to the touch and catches the light with a faint, watery shimmer.

••••• EARRING: Name: Whisper-Shell Studs Type: Earring Tier: 0 Level Requirement: 0 Stats: None Quality: Standard Special Effect: Fauna's Echo – The earrings amplify the distant sounds of birdsong and rustling leaves, allowing the user to feel more attuned to the ambient life of the forest. Description: These earrings consist of two small, spiral snail shells that have been bleached to a pristine, chalky white by the sun. They are attached to the user by thin, hypoallergenic hooks made of polished hawthorn thorns.

Tiny, dried sprigs of baby's breath are tucked into the openings of the shells, held in place by a dab of hardened pine resin. When the wind blows, the shells produce a very faint, melodic hum that only the user can hear. •••••