Chương 80: (B2.16)

16) Leona Vinton"Another few trips like this and the carriage will need a new mana crystal," Theodore grumbled.

"Gaspar certainly doesn't feel the budget strain, does he?" Leona steadied herself as the carriage slowed to a stop. It had been an intense trip, the magical conveyance carrying the two mages across a distance that would take weeks of walking in less than a day. The flying carriage was well-appointed with cushions and comforts, but its speed and altitude still left many feeling queasy after long trips within it. She knew Theodore felt some of that, but he didn't show it.

Leona herself wasn't as susceptible to it, but it had been a while since she traveled at that speed, and even her stomach needed a moment to settle. She used the time to open the carriage door and step out, almost instinctively making a thin cushion of space between herself and the muddy ground so she didn't actually step into the filthy road. A second shield protected both herself and the carriage from the light rain that spattered downward.

Leona had started out lowborn, and didn't actually mind dirty shoes or boots at all… but why get the muck on her feet only to scrape it off minutes later? Why let herself get soaked when preventing it was, for her discipline, a minor thought? Leona did not want to get yelled at, so she extended her protection from the mud and rain to Theodore as the older man eased out of the carriage.

He grumbled to himself again, then sent the horseless vehicle off to the side of the inn, parking it where they could retrieve it quickly.

"Doesn't look like much of a village, but the inn is decent," Theodore murmured begrudgingly.

"Mana level is… significantly higher than normal, but that's to be expected. Less than I'd thought it would be, given Gaspar's predictions." The inn did indeed look reasonable. A stone foundation with wooden walls and two stories, it was the largest dwelling in the tiny village. A large attachment to the side was noticeably newer, still missing minor finishings and wear that the rest of the building possessed. It was solidly built, as were most of the houses around it…

likely a side effect of the lumbering village having plenty of raw material to work with. Shifting her vision into her variant of Mana Sight, Leona paused and stiffened.

"Sir," she said with a strained tone of respect to the elder.

"You should examine the building itself. This is a lot more than just an inn." Theodore lifted an eyebrow, turning his head to stare through the haze of the rain toward the building. He also went still, his gaze wandering over the old inn with sudden appreciation.

"Now that really is interesting," he agreed. Leona continued looking for a long moment, her enhanced vision following the curving flows of mana.

"A ward of some kind… and a complex multi-function one," she whispered. The curls and twists of the structure were flowing and organic, the sort of complex web of a ward that only the most skilled Archmage could hope to construct. Or, much more likely, some kind of Ability that had a very specific purpose.

"Most likely, the local mana being used to fuel this is one reason why it isn't an extreme background level like Gaspar predicted," Theodore mused, taking a few steps toward the inn.

"A long term enchantment of this size would definitely have a much more profound effect on lowering the local mana levels than even the most absurdly magic-oriented adventurers passing through for the dungeon." While Leona nodded, she had some doubts that this single ward would account for so much of the difference. It was large, complex, and impressive… but largely static. Theodore was her senior, however.

She didn't want to argue with him unless she was sure of her position, and she hadn't even expected this much when she arrived. Where there was one surprise, she should expect more. Theodore's own thoughts had come to a conclusion, and the elder mage strode over to the door and laid his hand upon it.

"Quite a lot of power is invested in this. If we tried to break through, it would resist," he noted, considering the ward. Leona briefly worried he'd try to break the ward out of sheer curiosity, but to her relief he settled on the far more mundane approach of… knocking on the door. Leona caught up to the other mage just as the door swung open to reveal a slightly heavyset middle-aged woman, smiling their way.

"Goodness, come in out of the rain! We didn't expect another party for a few more days!" The woman immediately took their cloaks, then looked puzzled as she held them. Theodore smirked, but before he could say anything, another voice broke in.

"Grand Mages, here? Don't bother putting them near the fire to dry, Lauren. They're already dry." The voice came from a redheaded waitress sliding a pair of drinks over to a merchant and bodyguard, the only other patrons of the inn. Theodore was already scowling that the young girl had stolen his thunder in an introduction, but Leona was more interested in how she'd known.

It wasn't strange for someone from the capital to know the exact ranks on a mage's insignia, but someone from a more rural area was unlikely to know more than the fact that they were mages. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

"I'm surprised that there aren't more adventurers here, given the presence of the dungeon," Leona said quickly, before her companion could burst out his annoyance. Theodore gave her an angry glare, but seeing the concern on her face over the oddity of the situation made the elder mage pause and reassess the situation. She could tell he quickly noted the incongruity as well, by the way his creased brow relaxed and his eyes focused. Lauren waved away the concern.

"Oh we've gotten a few, but the last group just left. Bea says we'll be getting a lot more very soon, that's why we prepared!" The waitress finished with the table and was almost instantly up close again.

"That would be me. My sister is in charge of the dungeon, so I hear a lot about the upcoming plans. She's not available tonight, but she'll be here for several days starting tomorrow. I have a day off, soon." The rapid greeting made Theodore frown slightly, rubbing his beard.

"You don't seem too worried about us even though you know what we are. Aren't you wondering why we are here?" Bea simply gestured to an empty table.

"No, not really. Please have a seat. I can guess you're here about the dungeon, but I'm here for hospitality, while my sister handles all those matters with the dungeon. As long as you're comfortable and don't cause any trouble, my job here is done!" Theodore eased into one seat at the table.

"This is… less professional than the site of a new dungeon deserves, but the staff are certainly unflappable," he admitted grudgingly.

"Not the first time I've met a protective innkeeper or sibling though. It would be beneath me to cause trouble here, but I wonder what they think they could do?"

"Quite a lot," Leona muttered, some of her respect for her elder plummeting as she realized he hadn't fully analyzed the room.

"Look around. Really look around. The ward around this place isn't just protective from the outside, it acts as a selective suppression and enhancement field for everyone in here. The effect is minor, but it's tied to that girl Bea… and she's drawing in much more mana than she needs for maintaining the ward." Theodore looked again, but his frown was deepening already.

"She also looks very familiar. Given the name of the dungeon, I believe she may be a relative of the Greylans. I can't believe Gabe is causing trouble even now…" At first Leona didn't quite get what he'd said, but she quickly made the connection. Greylan. Gabe. Theodore was certainly old enough to have known the man.

"Given the timing, it's more likely someone else. Do you think we should ask the girl about the dungeon? It might help us approach her sister about the negotiations."

"If you're wanting to buy it, she's not selling," Bea's voice said loudly. The redheaded waitress grabbed a chair and slid into place at the table across from the two mages, as if she belonged there.

"I'm curious why we have two Grand Mages here though. Since this sounds like trouble, it's where I need to step in. Why are you here? We're about to be swamped with adventurers, so my sister won't want to see you without a very good reason." Theodore's lip turned down into a grimace, but before he could speak up, Leona jumped in so she could prevent the inevitable clash of egos.

"We have some concerns about the mana in the area and how it may affect the dungeon," she quickly summarized.

"Exactly what measures we take are up to negotiation, depending upon your sister's awareness of the issues and any activities taken to address them. We would, of course, be open to some sort of exchange if our involvement causes possible loss of revenue from the dungeon or causes other complications." While Leona spoke, Bea placed one elbow on the table and cupped her chin in her hand. She gave all the signs of listening, but Leona had the oddest gut feeling that they weren't surprising her at all.

Bea's accent was faint, but it was more eastern than anything else, hinting that her origins weren't anywhere near here… and were likely closer to the Academy than to Merriweather. We really should have brought a trained negotiator, Leona thought to herself. Bea waited until Leona finished talking before she responded, at least. The elbow on the table had come across as rude, but she hadn't interrupted.

"You're worried about the constant mana surges and how that is making the dungeon grow faster than expected, and want to set up an outpost here to study it so you can figure out what is causing it, if it is spreading, and if it is a danger to Thallis." Leona arched an eyebrow, while Theodore's lip twitched.

"So you understand the problem and how vital it is for us to look into this," she replied, adding a bit of pressure to her tone.

"Moreover, she clearly understood from the very beginning and is playing with us, Miss Vinton," Theodore growled.

"We know you are much more than a simple tavern girl, you can drop the act. We are two Grand Mages, and whatever little game you are playing, we only play because we wish to do so. You know as well as I do that we can simply go around your sister if need be." Bea's smiling expression turned into a sour frown, and she stood up from her seat with a glare at Theodore.

"No, you're the one that doesn't understand," she countered.

"I work at this inn. I took a Tender Class because I love this place. My first Perk choice was Presentable, and my priorities are, from lowest to highest: Keep the customers happy, keep the inn in good shape, and…" Bea leaned in.

"Keep my customers and the village safe. I know you can see my ward, and I know you can tell I'm using some of this excess mana for myself. This is my village, and if you want to force anything you will go through me first. Perhaps you can do that… but it will not be pleasant." Her expression softening, she turned back to Leona.

"I will tell my sister to talk to you, but you should expect some restrictions. She's very good at what she does, I'm sure she'll find a compromise that at least gives you some of what you want." As the redhead turned and strode away to fetch more ale, Leona sunk her head into her hands.

"Stop with the threats, sir. We don't know the situation," she muttered. Her companion gave her a look of disgust, but after a moment he frowned and took a breath.

"I hate to admit it, but you are right. I see now why Gaspar insisted you come with us. Nothing about this ward or the village makes sense. They aren't prepared for a rush of adventurers, and I don't understand why the owner isn't here. Something about this is very off."

"Yes," Leona agreed, taking another look at the ward formed by a thoroughly unknown Ability.

"Something."