Chương 17: Chapter 16: A Business Arrangement of Soup

I made sure everyone had a cup of tea and a generous portion of my humble soup, each with lots of veggies and meat for them. I offered to put some of the stock bones in the soup because my Wolf wanted them, but nobody else took me up on that part, so I added them to my own bowl. Things were a little stilted at first. Nobody took that first sip, and I figured it was because they were worried about who the cook had been. After all, I was a stranger to them, and I'd even sort-of been their enemy.

They had no real reason to trust me, Fel's assessment of my honesty notwithstanding. I didn't give the social tension a chance to ferment into something strange, and sipped my soup. Flavors exploded in my mouth and I made a happy little squeek as I tucked in proper, for a moment forgetting that I wasn't alone! The seared Venison really changed the game, and my Wolf and I reveled in the food. I remembered myself, and paused, blushing at the assembled company who had still not tucked in.

There was a shared moment between them, before Torch picked up his spoon with a shrug at his friends. He dipped a spoon, making sure he got a piece of the tender venison, some potato, and some of the ramp and the broth, and sniffed the boquet! I found myself staring, my heart racing in my chest!

"Oh. Oh yeah." Torch said, and ate with the gusto of a working man. Roxala was next, and she took a bold bite of the meat first. Then, a sip of the broth. Her dark green skin warmed and she actually dispensed with the spoon, picking up her bowl directly.

"Mmm." she agreed. Fel had seen me cook it, but he was the last to take a sip.

"What's wrong? Scared to eat common fare?" Torch said, and Fel rolled his eyes.

"Of course I'm not. It's still too hot." he said, but picked up his spoon after glancing at me. He must have seen how eager I was for him to sample my soup, how I'd paused to see the adventurers trying it.

"A little undignified, but... it does smell amazing." he said, and blew on his spoonful before sampling it.

"Oh. Oh my, that is... divine." Fel said, and tucked in as well. A warmth filled my belly and I resumed eating, myself, interspersing sips of the tea and bites of the goodies in my stew with bites of the bones my teeth had no trouble at all crunching through. Eventually I stopped separating the two and just started enjoying the crunch as part of the veggies, once I realized that. We ate in companionable quiet for a little bit after that, before I popped the question and addressed the elephant in the room.

"So why ARE you guys here?" I asked, and Gelidia shot me a look with daggers in it.

"Emily, it is rude to discuss business and serious concerns over dinner! It's simply not done!" Gelidia hissed, and Fel chuckled at that as he sipped his tea after a bite. He nodded in the ghost's direction mutely, his mouth occupied. I shut my mouth with a clop and held up a hand.

"Sorry, I didn't know." Roxala either wasn't of the same social class, or she didn't care, but she shrugged and answered me easily. I felt like she was coming to like me, her expression softer than it had been as she answered.

"There's a new dungeon out here." she said bluntly.

"Our Wizards in the guild detected one out this way, so we took a job to go find out for certain. And we find you two, and this dead town." she said, then sipped her own mug of tea.

"We figure it's probably true, yeah." Torch said.

"The presence of a lot of monsters in the area suggests as much." Fel sighed.

"Well... no sense in holding out now. Yes. We are reasonably certain at this point." Fel admitted, and shrugged.

"There is something called a Leyline Convergence - where several leylines-" the wizard noticed my blank expression, and explained "- that is, massive rivers of magic that flow, unseen, through the world - come together at a source. Dungeons are centers of energy, and all life draws energy, raw mana, in one way or another to survive. This is how that power is expressed into our world." he said.

"A few weeks ago, the leylines shifted and new flows sprung... from this region. As it happens... from this town." I looked to Gelidia and found her... not slouched, that girl had a poise to her that bordered on regal, but there was a sadness to her, I felt certain. I reached across the intervening space, and just gently took her hand. She looked up at me, and I squeezed her cool fingers in mine, quite gently.

I could see Fel move his hand, could see it even if he'd done it under the table, and knew he'd had a peek, and his expression softened to a gentle sadness.

"... I am sorry, Lady Windbinder. It must be distressing to you, but... your ancestral keep is the locus. I am certain of it." he said softly. Tears welled in the spirit's eyes, and she hung her head as I held her hand, rubbing the back of it with my thumb. In that moment, I made up my mind. I didn't want to go diving into some dangerous keep full of monsters. I'd promised that I would though. I'd promised Gelidia I'd found out what happened to her family.

"... I have business in the dungeon, then." I said. The three adventurers stopped what they were doing and snapped their gazes to me. The room went silent.

"I promised, when we met. I promised Gelidia that I would find out what happened to her family." I said, and I could hear the steel in my voice. I found myself looking directly at Roxala, glaring into her face on pure instinct. She'd been the strongest of the group, and she'd been the one giving the orders. She stared back at me, frowning, and held her mug of tea in both hands as she thought. Her jaw muscles jumped a bit, and she shook her head.

"I don't think that's a good idea." she said at last, that old scowl returning a little.

"First, we don't know you well. We only just met. A dungeon run is dangerous - before I'd even consider taking you with, I'd want to know I could rely on you." she said. I let her continue - she clearly had an agenda. Besides, it was rude to interrupt.

"mmmmmh... second. Don't take this the wrong way, you've been a kind host... and you make a mean stew... but you're an unknown to us, and one with a monster core besides. You might not even be fully aware what you're capable of, either, and that's dangerous to everyone - especially yourself. I couldn't in good conscience let you go it alone either - it's too dangerous for a greenhorn, you'd just get killed." she said, and I could see why she lead the group. My hackles settled, and I sat back. She was right.

I frowned over it for a few moments, and took her assessment to heart.

"... I see your point." I said. I didn't like it, that was clear, but... I could see what she meant. She clearly hadn't expected that, and neither had the others. They relaxed a little. Gelidia just quietly squeezed my hand, and I held on tight.

"... That said. You're not a head-strong idiot. If you were, that'd be a real problem, but both of the reasons I wouldn't take you, those are fixable problems." the Armiger went on, with a quirk of a smile on her hard features. I'd clearly earned some more credit in her eyes.

"Here is my proposal." she said, and leaned forward, putting her elbows on the table.

"First issue is trust. Today has gone a long way towards that, but the real dragon we need to contend with is Goldtail." she said.

"We need to know we can trust you. The only way we can do that, I think, is to spend a night in your company." she said, and both Fel and Torch, wide-eyed, looked at her.

"I mean it." she overrode their protests before they even began. Gelidia offered no objections. She just looked at me. I never let go of her hand, just linked fingers with her as we listened to Roxala together. It felt perfectly natural, her cool hand in mine. She gripped tight, and listened.

"If we went in together... we don't know how long the dungeon is. Sometimes they take days to run through." Roxala said to her friends.

"If she changes every night, we'd have to deal with Goldtail at some point. Step one, we find out if she'd be a danger to us." One by one, Torch and Fel nodded to that, though they looked a teensy bit unsure. They looked up to Roxala for direction - and trusted her, clearly. I grinned a little, and squeezed Gelidia again gently, nodding.

"A sleepover, then! I need to hunt tonight, for sure, but you guys could-" I glanced at Gelidia for affirmation. She nodded.

"-You could stay the night in the inn here with me. There are a couple rooms upstairs that aren't in shambles, or you could camp out in here - that's fine, either way. The town guard won't attack as long as-""As long as I say you are welcome here. I find this proposal acceptable so far." Gelidia affirmed.

"I still need to have a word with the Captain tonight in any case. I will make sure they know." This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. Roxala nodded at that.

"Easy enough. That's our first step on the path. Let's handle that one tonight, then talk about the next bit tomorrow, once we are certain the first is well and truly behind us." the Armiger said, and knocked once on the table. Then, she went on with"There is, however, a more practical concern that we should get sorted out now rather than later." she said.

"Supplies. We aren't hurting as such, if we were to assume the dungeon would take three days. It will take us two days journey to return to Rucksburg from here. We have a week of supplies, if we're being optimistic. If you can offer repast during our stay here with you, as you have tonight, that would take the burden off our own supplies." the massive orcish woman said, shrugging.

"In addition to this, you know this town better than any of us, and offer us a chance to stay in a place of safety - again, provided this first night does not go sideways - I think it is worth hiring you as a provisional local guide at a standard guild rate." she said. Fel, halfway to lifting his tea to his mouth, said "I'm not sure money would do much good out here... there's nowhere to spend it for one thing" Felorikaan chuckled. Torch grunted.

"How about goods? I got a couple skills that'd help. Leatherworking and Scrimshaw, both at rank D. I also have some clothes I think'd fit you, miss, and an extra pair of boots I could spare." he offered, throwing his metaphorical hat into the ring. Felorikaan said "I could transcribe a few helpful books for you - herb and creature lore, I think, would be of particular use. In addition, I feel I owe you for your invaluable first-hand perspectives on your Lycanthrope core." he frowned a little.

"Some basic supplies are not... sufficient payment, I feel. I will cogitate on this matter - before we leave, I will compensate you fairly."

"Was it worth THAT much?" I asked, blinking. Gelidia nodded at me.

"Yes, Emily. It was. It's probably the first time this has been documented. There are libraries of skills and skill lore, of synergies and merge skills and skill evolutions. Many skills are well known and understood - but Monster cores cannot often easily be studied." she explained.

"Most never even get the core high enough to be noteworthy before they have it cured." Fel said, shrugging. I offered folks second helpings. Roxala and Torch were happy to accept, but Fel shook his head, saying "I am quite full! That was delicious. I'm afraid my constitution is a touch more delicate than those of my friends." he said, and gave a good natured chuckle as they ribbed him for it. Torch though, that guy had an appetite, and so did Roxala - they kept up with me into thirds!

Once we were all well-satisfied, it was about six. It wasn't time for me to change yet, but... it wasn't that far off. The time had simply melted away, and I had SO MANY QUESTIONS! I found the group to be pleasant company, and they had a lot to talk about with their adventures! They'd been all over the continent, which turned out to be named Kalailas.

Ruckstack was west a couple days journey through the Western Woods, which were apparently dangerous - haunted, full of monsters, and a hotbed of mana the world was trying to break back down into safe forms. And here was Lambstock, right near the center of those haunted woods! Just far enough away from anyone else that it was not a part of the Republic of Deplia, the only nation left on this continent. Armiger, as it turned out, was a Combat-tagged class focused on using shields as a kind of supreme defensive wall.

It was a tank - first and foremost, as I understood it, though that was not how Roxala put it. She did call it one of the 'big three' of the combat classes the republic of Deplia had in its military. Scout was another animal entirely - it was a combat class, but it bordered with crafting and life skills as well, a sort of wilderness survival-focused class all about self-reliance and hitting where it hurt.

Torch was specialized with the long blade and the crossbow, and it represented the second of the 'big three' combat classes. Water Sage was an elemental sage class. Earth, Fire, Water, and Wind were the members of the Order of Guiding Light - a school of mages that studied magic in its elemental forms, working together to bring society out of darker times long ago. Wizard, as it turned out, was a job description.

"Oh! Many wizards use magic - but not all!" he laughed "A wizard is a wise one - someone who collects knowledge and becomes an expert on a particular subject. My speciality is in Monster and Dungeon lore, as those two are closely entwined together. There ARE wizards of arcane lore, and they are among the greatest of my Order in the arcane arts, but there are Wizards who know much of, for example, baking or... shoemaking!" but I wasn't entirely sure I believed that! Could you be a Shoe Wizard? A Bread wizard?

Torch and Roxala enjoyed a chuckle at that, but they nodded at me.

"There are Wizards of military strategy as well, or legendary masters of swordsplay - a Wizard shares their knowledge, passes it on to others as a Master, you see!" Torch explained, and it made sense.

"It's a title the Guilds hand out to notable members." That was so cool!

"So what is a Title?" I asked.

"I mean, the world awarded me the title Hound of Lambstock?" I asked, and Fel nodded.

"The world didn't give that to you - I did. That's a rank title. Its effects are practical - you can come and go, even if I seal the town's wards. and the town's guard will never attack you, as you technically rank as a minor noble here." Gelidia explained. I blinked at her dumbly, and she lifted her chin.

"I'm... a noble?" I asked! Did that mean I'd have to wear stupid clothes and go to court and stuff? I didn't know how I felt about that! Gelidia nodded and a wicked spark of mischief danced in her eyes.

"Yep. Good Girl." she intoned, and I made several stupid noises while I tried to defend my dignity and status as a... as not a... I wasn't a dog! That only made the group of them descend into a laugh at my expense as my cheeks heated and I hid my face in my hands!

"You're all horrible!" I managed to say, muffled, as I covered my face and got up to do the cleaning up. Some notifications awaited my notice, and I let them play out. Your [LIFE] Cookery skill has improved, and is eligible for rank up! Rank D is a free rank. [LIFE] Cookery, Rank D: 0% The ability to make good food. Food you make goes a little farther, and tastes a bit better! Cookery getting to be one of my strongest Peasant skills so far! Everything seemed to level so slowly though. Ding Ding Ding!

Your [LIFE] Peasant Core has reached level 4! +1 Peasant Skill Point! Health +10, Stamina +15 Unlike peasant! Just doing life things - like sharing a meal or sweeping a bridge - seemed to help with Peasant as a class. I hadn't even spent any skill points yet! Your [LIFE] Inspect skill has improved, and is eligible for rank up! Rank D is a free rank. Nice! [LIFE] Inspect, Rank D: 0%, The ability to learn details about a creature, object, or Action. You can learn more simply by watching the world around you.

I could learn about an action someone was taking with inspect now? And... watching the world around me? I watched the group at the table for a few moments until something started to click in my head and I could see the three adventurers... as a group. They had ties together. I could also see that Gelidia and I had ties as well as a group. Neat! Could I identify like, a social group? Was that what this was?

I could also see that there was a connection between Roxala and I, and even as I watched, their names appeared near them, along with inspect information I'd normally get. It was strange, but... unobtrusive, more simple knowledge than actual... words or auras as such. It just... brought the information to the fore in my mind, made it more obvious. Subtle, but I felt sure it would be useful! Last but not least, it wasn't a notification, just... a feeling. My Lycanthropic Transformation had gained experience.

Like, fifteen percent over the course of... what? And why? I couldn't figure it, but... maybe it had something to do with my wolf and I working together so well, being on good terms? Me accepting her urges? I had no way to be certain. I hadn't done any actual transforming, had I? When the dishes were done, I checked on the soap. Hours had passed, and it had hardened considerably. It wasn't done hardening, but... it'd probably be done tomorrow afternoon. And it smelled great! It was honest to goodness soap!

I'd get it out of the sheet and cut it into bars tomorrow, for sure, and let it cure. While I'd been working, the group and Gelidia had chattered away, content after their meal and enjoying the evening and comfy air in the kitchen now that the stoves were off.

"Alright." I said at last.

"I'm gonna transform soonish. I can feel it coming." I said, and Gelidia nodded at me.

"We mustn't watch that." she said, rising.

"It is... most distressing." she said, and I nodded at her. Torch grunted in affirmation as well - he knew well what it looked like, and he'd stood it when I'd lost my temper at him after! He had no desire to see it again. Ever. The others seemed to agree, and deferred to those who had seen it before and decided to stay put while I did this.

"I'll just go for a little walk. I'll be back in a bit~" I said, and... well, it was either do it now, or strip later. With my back to the group and while I stood in the doorway, I began to strip down. Fel and Torch tore their eyes away, like gentlemen, shocked that I'd do such a thing, but Roxala did not - I could clearly see her surprised expression in my mind's eye, and.. the curve of a little smile of admiration as I squirmed my skirt down and off my hips, revealing my backside to her.

I could also see my wing-shade Gelidia slap her upside the head, for which I was grateful. Without another word, I set off out of the tavern, and out the gates. I kept going some distance, leaving the comfort my new friends behind as I walked towards the great tree, as naked as the day I was born. I pulled myself up steadily, and made my way to a crook of a branch that would overlook the town that was now my home, and give me a fantastic view of the surrounding environs as the sun sank below the horizon...

and I surrendered at last to what was coming. What a beautiful night to have a curse...