The silence In the room was bit awkward.
* “Sooo? Mind telling me how this whip became your possession?”
In moments like this one I wonder why I didn’t pick Rogue’s class? If I was some kind of thief I would certainly have some kind of [Speech] based skill. Story telling? Lying? Half-truth telling?! AIRA! I NEED YOUR HELP, AND I NEED IT NOW!
* “…That’s… pretty weird story, you see, when I was exploring a dungeon…”
And here I made up some completely unconvincing story of who I found an object in the chest, after bringing it up for appraisal into the city I found out that it was heavily cursed, so I kept it with myself, for as a mage I could more or less resist its influence, then, with help of Daralon, I destroyed the enchantment attached to weapon and kept it, as I really didn’t know what to do with it…
* “That’s…” Gisele started. My heart started pounding. There was simply no way that anyone would belie… “… so reliable of you! Most adventurers would simply abandon such item! And who knows what would happened if somebody else would found it?!... well, it was reliable until you had that silly idea of using it ON ME!”
* “Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maximus culpa…”
* “W…What? No, not important… also… may I have a favor?”
* “Hey! We are comrades! If we would work together nothing would stop us from seizing means of production, bringing down bourgeoisie and spread prosperity and equality upon this glorious… For about it, you won’t get it anyway. Just ask away, and I will try my best to…”
* “Mind… stop mocking me? It’s bit… embarrassing… and drives me mad.”
* “…I am afraid you are asking for too much! Giving up on mocking you is like… giving up part of myse…” I dodged a punch “ A-HA! Not this tim…”… which was followed by another one.
* “Also… these jokes out of context… would you kindly…?”
* “It shall be considered…” I groaned massaging my belly.
Dragoness only smile, turned around and walked toward door
* “Gis! Wait… maybe… it’s getting dark, maybe you would stay with me for the night?”
* “There is no need for it… we are already in guild, our own beds are waiting for us…”
* “I won’t allow a lone, bit drunk woman to walk through the city on her own!”
* “Zari! I have room just floor over yours…”
* “Exactly! You never know what can await for you… around a corner… these sneaky, evil corners, you can never trust them!”
* “…You are acting weird lately… I should go, you must be tired. As always I am thinking only about myself, forgetting that you are too proud to admit you need rest too… see you tomorrow…”
And she shut the door. I only fell on bed behind me and groaned
* “Gis… Why are you so fucking stupid… Read between lines, damn it! Whatever. Tomorrow I will try once again…perhaps in bit more direct way.”
I did fall asleep.
Next morning I woke up as usually, bit before the dawn. Got up, washed my face, sacrificed a virgin, dressed myself up… you know, your average daily routine, and prepared myself to leave the guild.
* “Sup Mike! I missed ya!” I yelled from the stairs after seeing who was sitting behind a counter “… night-morning shift again? Man! What did you do? Ask them to give you some better work-hours!”
* “Hello mister Zariel!” He smiled in his trained, yet no fake way “… actually I asked about it myself. This way I can go study at my afternoon classes, sleep at evenings and earn coins to pay for academy and living! It is not bad at all!”
* “It’s Zari! No mister! And please, my full name sounds…”
* “As name of disease, I know, I know, sorry, will try to remember. Anyway, I got something for you… I can pay you up for your quests from Agrah… and letter… maybe I will start with lett…”
* “No. Moneys first. I am not going to leave them under Jericho jurisdiction for a second more… tell me, he left at least 10 coppers?”
* “No need to worry…” he chuckled “… Mister Jeremy is far more… subtle… as he mess with guild finances. Sometimes we need over half a year to find out that something actually… vanished. Anyway, as you wish, here you go…”
You have finished [Hydra extermination] quest The lord of swamp has fallen, villagers and merchants may feel safe. For now. As no one know who and why enraged the beastRewards:-00g90s00c
-2500exp
You have finished [Bandits messing around] questLately some fools were encouraged by activity of monster and started attacking merchants. Solider, as they are focusing on reinforcing fort, can't help. Someone has to do something!Rewards:-00g25s00c
-500exp
You have finished [Death waiting in the sand] quest[Sand Dweller]s activity is being a little suspicious. They are far more aggressive and coming closer to the city. Mind helping?Side questYou have slain [Sand Dweller - Giant]Rewards:-00g50s00c
-1000exp
Bonus
-00g25s00c
-750exp
You have finished [Date with the Death] questSomething is kidnapping women of Agrah at night! It needs investigation!Side questYou found and punished the true culprit!Rewards:-00g75s00c
-1000exp
Bonus
-00g75s00c
-1000exp
EXP! EXP MADE IT WORTH! Hu-hum! Bit more than 3000 more, and once again – level up! Oh, that made me all fired up… waaaait…
* “90 silver for killing a hydra? I am asking merely because of all task we did, that one was hardest so…”
* “Please, bear in mind that one: you weren’t contracted to kill this particular creature, two: reward was split among you, Marika, Twins and Nyx. Formally… Jericho also took his part for he said: [I did most job done anyway, so just mark part of their salary as equipment replenishing fee], or something like that.”
* “That old fart… I am not going to argue though, without him situation would be far less favorable for us.”
* “Still, earning over 3 gold coins within a single trip? Mr… I mean, Zari… that’s a fortune! I have no idea what I would do with such a fortune! I mean… I would invest, probably, maybe start my own company?”
While saying all this, he handed me a letter. In richly decorated envelope with crest of Blackwood family on it… I opened it, read it, put it back and then I burned it with flame of candle standing on verge of counter
* “W…What was it?!”
* “Nothing important.”
* “A..are you sure? If that was some bad news…”
* “Bad news? It was a terrible message! We are not going to talk about that, Mike…” he wanted to add something “… I am heading out to the city and I doubt I would be back before evening, so if anyone would ask… “
* “Saw nothing, know nothing?”
* “And this is why you are the best! See ya!”
After saying my goodbyes I head out in direction of slums. Because of my eyes I couldn’t do as much as I wanted in the factory. Girls must be dying from loneliness! Fret not loves, you shall suffer no longer!
Like a shadow I walked past check points guarded by syndicate thugs, as I walked through labyrinth of corridors till I got in front of gates. Guard was at least shocked seeing me, but after nodding his head he opened the door to the factory.
Workers were doing their job, near the wall boxes filled with red liquid were pilling.
* “Hey, you!” I called to one of man. He stopped what he was doing and came closer “… How many vials contain one box?”
* “Ten, sir.”
* “How many boxes?”
* “I… I am not sure sir, we count them as shift is over so…”
* “Average. How many can you make daily?”
* “We can fill almost three boxes per day. We send them away at the end of the week.”
* “So around 15… thank you for your time. Sorry for interrupting you.” I patted him in shoulder.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
Using stair I quickly got on floor to labor room, and stopped for a moment before entering. I heard chatting and giggles.
… Giggles… and chatting… On my watch? NEVER!
I entered the room.
* “Pardon me, I must have lost my way, I was pretty sure I was heading toward elixir factory, yet accidentally I ended entering fucking tea party!”
Everyone raised from their sitting, few chairs were knocked in process.
* “WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON!? I have just talked with workers! 15 vials per day!? By whole bunch of workers leaded my team of alchemist?! FOR FUCK SAKE! I CAN MAKE MORE IN A BLOODY LUNCH BREAK!”
* “T…the workers are doing their job clumsily, they tend to knock the equipment… or mix ingredients… so we lots of time is wasted on checking the quality of potions… what we were doing right now…”
* “Oh, really? I am glad to know that combined work of FIVE alchemists is required to check results from ONE pot?! And of course that these brutes on lower level will mess their job! This is why you are here! You see problem – you are picking your beautiful pinchable asses from chairs, get it down and SHOW THEM what they are doing wrong!”
I got to the table
* “… do we have vodka? I could certainly use vodka…” Clarice vanished for a moment behind the door and came back with a bottle of alcohol
* “Is whisky ok?”
* “Will do… how did fifteen years old kid laid her hands on whisky?”
* “… we are in slums, so…”
* “Sunshine, I don’t want to know the answer… Do I have to teach you human recourse managing too? May Aira have mercy upon my soul… please, tell me that at least you were improving your cooking skills? And by cooking I don’t mean dinner… mind showing me?”
Like they had any choice! As one body they got to their workstations and begun working. I got irritated when they messed the order of process or did something either to quickly or late.
* “FOR MERCY OF ALL CREATION! Why did you took it off fire?! It has to boil! BOIL! You know how boiling looks like?! Such bubbles should appear EVERYWHERE in the pot! No! Rivergrass after Moon’s Bell! MANDRAGORE’S ROOT?! You want to kills us all!?”
Oh, I needed that. To know that you can yell all you want and face no consequences at all…
I checked the quality of potions… despite each time they made a mistake the quality of potion slightly dropped, these were still usable. I wouldn’t put my own name on it, but hey! If you are dying these could save your life!... still…
* “I expected nothing, yet I am still disappointed…”I just couldn’t stop myself!
* “I…I… I think we did fine!” Hooo?
* “Fine? No. It is in very best possible way average. And you should already be fine, or even decent! That is not fine, and certainly not decent! I thought that if you failed this hard is ruling factory, it means that you mastered the arcana of potion brewing! Bur fear not girls, I am back! And I shall bring it back to prosperity!... WHAT WAS THAT GROAN SUPPOSED TO MEAN?! A?!”
* “Oh, ya could be a b-iiit nicer to them!” voice behind me yelled in awfully high pitched girly tone.
I completely didn’t feel her presence. It was reflex – I draw traveling knife from behind my belt and turning back I threw it in direction of intruder.
… which she caught between her fingers
* “Nice reflex ya got! Calm down! Calm down! I am fri-iiiend of yours!” She chuckled. GOSH! What an annoying laugh she has!
* “Sure, if you were my enemy you would certainly told me about that.”
* “No, if I was your enemy I would sliced your throat as you weren’t lookin’!”
… she was wearing a cloak, which didn’t cover her body in slightest possible way! It was tied beneath her neck on one button, making everything below visible. And by everything I mean… everything. Beneath the cloak she was wearing barely anything! Shirt and pants that could pretty much be called underwear, belt… and that pretty much. She must be teasing everyone with her cleavage.
“Fine enough. The hell you want?”
* “Aww, that’s how you treat lady? Also, my eyes are higher sugar…” she purred
* “Eyes? You want somebody to look you in the eyes as you flash your tits around? Once again. What. Do you. Want?”
* “Tsh. Killjoy. Brother Rogue send me! He said: [Ay, say hello to Zariel, he is quite important so don’t tease him, hur-dur – I didn’t pay attention, and then he mumbled s, and then ask him to complete your order… HEY?! Are you even listening to me?!]… or something like that… Who cares?!”
She was talking gesticulating like made all this time.
* “Tell me… by any chance, aren’t you related with Daralon?”
* “Ah! Daaari! How sweet of you comparing the two of us! He worked quite few times… but nay – not related… so… can ya make a potion for sweet little me? Pwetty pweeease?”
* “Just… what do you need?”
* “Sleeping poison, paralyzing poison, killing poison… OH! OH! Can you make the one that make you bleed to death!? I used such once! IT WAS SO AWESOME! Dude was bleeding from every hole! EVERY! I checked myself!... oh would like some healing potion and antidote just in case… NYA! I forgot! I totally forgot! That’s for you!”
She handed me another envelope. Great, another letter.
Zariel,
I heard that you have your eyes back. Good, yet I am afraid I already have to ask you to get back to work. The woman that gives you letter, Ay – or Aielle, if you prefer –is from assassin guild and Syndicate gave her pretty important task to finish. Time is priority, normally I wouldn’t order you around, but this time WE HAVE TO act quickly. Do it Zari, for sake of our partnership. Especially as you would also benefit if Ay would succeed her mission. We have hard time gathering information from Holy Kingdom, somebody from the church is taking down our informants. That somebody has meeting with Ay’s blade.
We count on you.
Best regards,
Friend
I rolled piece of paper into ball and dropped it into fire below pot. I slowly inhaled and exhaled.
* “Very well, you can leave. I should be done in couple of hours…”
* “A-a, you ain’t getting rid of me that easily! Bur fret not! Ain’t going to disturb ya! Feel free to do whatever ya want! I will be silently watching your from corner…”
Whatever… still, this laboratory is giving me this sense of… peace… serenity almost. Let’s do it
* “My ladies, come gather round and see how potion are meant to be made… but before that… I will need: Aloe, Arnica, Bay leafs, Dandelion, Wolfs bane, Moongrass, Rivergrass, Aurora’s root… weird... my herbs aren’t on the table yet… Tell me, Clarice, do you know such word as [Mobbing]?”
* “Umm.. no, I am afraid no…”
* “Splendid, in that case…” I smacked her ass with my palm “… bring it girl! Quickly! Go-go-go-go-go-go!”
I ended couple of hours later, exhausted, but damn – truly satisfied! One knows no true joy unless he finished doing something he loves doing! And I love potion making! The sounds of herb boiling in the pot! the smell of liquid slowly changing its properties! The colors! The… pardon me, I got carried away. Again. It was already after the noon when I left the factory. I wanted to get back to the guild, ate something and revisit library. But, right in front of the guild a carriage with Blackwood crest was standing ready to ride. I took steep back, another, yet another, turned around and…
* “Oh! Mister Zariel, I was looking for you, mind coming with me?”
Damn it! I turned again toward the voice
* “Archibald! Nice to see you! I am sorry, but I was just going for a quick meal and…”
* “That’s more than wonderful, for mister Blackwood is inviting you for a dinner.”
… Fuck. I tired politely refusing, I really did, after mentioning that I need to visit a library, I was offered that errand boy would get me required book, after saying that I already have meeting with my friend to eat, I was told that it would be no problem at all to bring him/her along. All that while repeating how my presence is required… What else could I do? You haven’t seen Archibald’s eyes! He looked like a sad puppy! Would you say no to sad puppy? Exactly!
* “… that dinner… better be good.” I said already in carriage, just to break an awkward silence
* “I have been personally inspecting quality of dishes that are about to be served, you may like to taste pork medallions with…”
Ah, that what I was talking about! I wanted to get rid of silence, and Archi provided what I desired. Top-notch butler. Maybe I could train Sebastian into.. now, forget about that. I am pretty sure that after even mentioning it, it wouldn’t be him who would receive the training.
The door was opened before me as I was leaded into smaller dining hall – the one I already managed to visit, with really good memories. Both hosts were sitting behind the table waiting for me.
* “Ah! Zariel! Glad you made it here! I hope we didn’t disturb you in doing anything important?” Ex-soldier started
* “Actually…” I wanted to politely point out that it wasn’t exactly as he imagined it to be
* “Perfect, with this we can get to the point…” Cecilia Blackwood only rolled her eyes after hearing not-diplomatic speech of hers husband. She looked at me with apologies in eyes, yet I only waved my hand asking her to pay it no attention. “… as you can see, my wife is cured… despite being still weak, she can walk by her own… and she already started working… if you mind convincing her to rest some more…”
* “Darling, this is not the case of our invitation…”
* “Yet your husband is right, please – do not overdo it, your body still need to recover. Otherwise you are risking exhaustion and thus – fainting. By laying for months in bed your muscles grew weak, you have to give them some time to get back to their shape.”
Old Blackwood only bowed his head in gratitude toward me
* “Yet, my wife is right. This is not the case, Zariel, we owe you. We really do… And don’t even dare to say something like: [I was already paid]. Still, while my wife was… out of the business, family’s position was weakened. We have to come back to the business – show them that after this attack our family is stronger than ever. So we are planning to arrange a feast with ball. Tomorrow.”
* “Do as you please. I am not such a good politic to advise you what to do in that matter…”
* “No. No, no, no. Pardon me, but I am afraid that my husband didn’t say it clearly enough. I am alive, and I am alive only thanks to you… you are a honor guest and we wish you… no, pardon my rudeness, we demand you to come. Oh, there will be one more honor guest. A king himself. We may send someone to help you to pick a suit.”
* “No. Objection. I refuse! Sorry, but me and formal feasts… No. It won’t happen.”
* “Too bad. Everyone is dying to meet somebody who outperformed palace healers and alchemists guild. Even more as we could already mentioned that you will come…”
* “WHY DID YOU DO THAT?!”
* “You were out of the city, and list of guest is very important! We had to plan where to place guests around the table… And we thought that you would be happy to come…”
* “I wouldn’t mind coming to the small party! BUT NOBLE FEAST?! I hate nobles in first place! No offense – you are cool.”
* “So… you won’t do this honor to us?”
She was really sad. This time, it wasn’t politic. She was simply… worried.
* “You aren’t telling me something.”
* “We… wanted to say that as very next thing. We would really love to see you in our house, you truly are a friend of this house…”
* “But….”
* “But we are afraid that…” Cecilia hesitated
* “That someone who poisoned Cecil previously may try something again. But trust us, this is not the main reason why…”
* “It’s ok… Really. I get it.It must have been awkward for you to mention it. In that case, I will come.”
* “Really?”
* “Hey! I bothered saving your wife! You think that I would simply allow someone to come now and kill her?! That would be offensive!”
* “Zariel… you really are a great friend.”
* “Mr. Zariel, there is something more you have to know, and I am afraid that you are not aware of this…”
* “Just say it!”
* “You see…”
It over. This is the end. I am done. My doom has approached. Death has raised it cold hand. Maybe it is not too late?! Maybe I can still run away from kingdom, change my name… Noo, they will eventually track me down… In that case… I need help… AND I NEED IT FAST!
* “Hey, Rus! You are a noble. Right?”
* “Y…yes…”
* “Great! You see, I need a help…” I described my problem to her
* “I… I am sorry big brother… but I can’t help you. I simply can’t…”
* “But…”
* “Please, big brother. Don’t even mention about it. It is impossible…”
… Crap… CRAP! CRAAAP! Angels or Devils, please! Hear my plea! Wait! MARIKA! I can use her! MWAHAHAHA…
* “…Sorry Zari, I would love too, it sound like fun, but Mrogul goes on quest tomorrow and he need magician to accompany him. Once again… sorry…”
… Hello Darkness, my old friend, I’ve come to talk with you again,
Because a vision softly creeping, Left its seeds while I was sleeping,
And the visions… or maybe… No, It is not going to work… where was I? Ah!
And the visions that was planted in my brain still remains
Within the sound… of silence…
I was sitting on the stairs leading on the floor of the guild, resting my chin on clasped hands
* “Hey youngling! Why such grim expression! Life is wonderful! And you are young! Cheer up a little!” It was Jericho that approached me.
I described my situation and asked him for help
Now the two of us were sitting on same stairs with chins resting on clasped hands.
Gisele was walking by.
I have opened my mouth as if I wanted to say something to Jericho, he looked at me excited, but as only gasp of resignation escaped my lips same grim expression returned on our faces.
* “Something wrong boys? Maybe I can somehow help?”
We looked upon each other with hope.
* “Yes! Zari! Gisele may help you!”
* “M..Maybe… no. Forget about this. I won’t drag her in this mess…”
* “Hey! What’s going on!?” Gisele was truly confused
* “No, just… leave. I am beyond salvation.”
* “Hey! We are comrades! You said that yourself! Just ask and I will do everything to help you out!”
* “Y…You would really do anything?”
* “Sure!”
* “N..No. I can’t. It will be painful for you…”
* “I am not made of sugar sweetie! And what kind of friend is leaving his companion in need?!”
* “Gisele…” I raised from the stairs and hugged her tightly “…Thank you. You are the best.”
* “Ha tell me something I don’t know yet!”
* “Very well, I will start preparing myself… see you tomorrow!”
And I ran away leaving Gisele and Jericho alone
* “I am proud of you girl. Such a sacrifice! I raised you well.”
* “Stop it, old man! Really, dealing with some beast isn’t tha…”
* “Hm? Oh, you are not going to fight.”
* “he? How is that so? I am best adventurer of this guild, what else he could want from me?”
* “You are also a woman. Zari was invited on ball, you know, feast, dancing, speeches… and he lineally couldn’t refuse. And he need someone who would come along with him…”
* “Wait… You are not telling me that…”
* “Should I help you pick the dress?”