Inside the warrior’s guild building, Reinhardt and Priscilla were discussing the best way to proceed onwards with the investigation to look for her father.

“I have been told by some adventurers that managed to go as deep as floor four…”

She was explaining as the cook Hector brought some pancakes doused in a generous amount of honey accompanied by a dollop of cream on top of it, a rather intense meal for a snack in the afternoon.

“Hm? Where did the rest of your friends go?” Hector asked seemingly unaware of the importance of their conversation. “I even prepared an extra pancake for the little girl.”

“They’ll be back soon. We appreciate the gesture.”

Reinhardt assured him which made the man nod and smile before heading behind the counter to clean dishes.

“Again sir Reinhardt, terribly sorry about what happened, I-”

“No need to apologize.” A haughty female voice came from behind the paladin which prompted Priscilla to look up only to see Elaine walking towards their table with Rionara right beside her. “I should’ve figured Rein wouldn’t say no to someone in need of help.” She sat down beside him while Rionara took her same spot beside the spell fencer and with a long exasperated sigh she declared. “You have my blade as long as you have Rein’s-”

“That is great news Miss Elaine I-”

Before Priscilla could finish her sentence she raised her hand which prompted her to stop.

“-however, should this mission of yours prove too dangerous, I will make sure all of us get out of there alive first and foremost.” Her piercing dark green eyes glanced over at Reinhardt’s. “We earned our freedom after years of suffering, I won’t have us forsake what is ours for another.”

“Elaine…”

Despite him wanting to speak up, Priscilla cleared her throat and looked at her with a smile.

“I completely understand your point Miss Elaine and I wouldn’t have it any other way.” She fidgeted with her thumbs around one another. “You see, trust isn’t something won overnight, all of you could have left me to die in that dungeon but you didn’t. You still risked yourselves for someone you barely know and for that I’m eternally grateful. However, now that time is of essence I must have those that I trust around me if I want to venture deeper into the dungeon without being eaten alive in the first few minutes.”

“Not to sour the moment but, how can we trust you?” Elaine inquired. “Aside from sharing a common cause back in the dungeon, I don’t see anything that would allow me to trust my back to you.”

“I can only give you my word, my name and coin.” Priscilla glared her dead in the eyes. “I’m no longer a noble in Akrapocalis, but I swear on the honor I have left, I won’t betray any of you.”

Rionara looked expectantly at Elaine who kept staring at the young woman in front of her and after a few seconds that felt like minutes, she said.

“Then we’ll need to thoroughly prepare ourselves.” She picked up the fork and stabbed the pancake that was sitting in front of her. “Food, some clothes, medical supplies, potions, tents… the list goes on and on.”

“Does that mean-?”

“I’ll help you as long as you have Rein’s trust.”

Rionara smiled to herself as she began to pick apart her share of pancakes. Following right after that Priscilla raised her fork and shouted to Hector who was cleaning the dishes behind the counter.

“Hector! Bring me some elven lemon! Four full mugs of it!”

“Elven lemon?”

Rionara muttered under her breath, not knowing what it was.

That instantly picked his interest as he quickly pulled four metal tankards from below his cabinet and reached for a dark glass bottle the size of his forearm.

“You’d have to forgive me.” He said while pouring the beverages. “I only have tankards here because I never thought about buying some drinking ware. That being said, you don’t really mind do you?”

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

“Ah fill one halfway through, that’s for Rio.”

“You got it.”

After filling the tankards as requested, he nimbly carried all four to the table and placed each one in front of the respective person. Priscilla had a wide smile on her face.

“By far my favorite drink, it goes well with basically anything.” Despite having a noble lineage albeit briefly, she downed half of the tankard in one go, throwing all etiquette out of the window. “Ah…!”

Elaine was a bit surprised but nevertheless she grabbed on the handle and placed the vessel against her lips. At first the citric scent was a bit off putting for her but she built enough courage to take a small sip.

That was enough to trigger a chain of reactions throughout her body that could only be described as ecstatic. The acidic scent accompanied by a hint of bitter taste was suddenly overwhelmed by a gentle sweet aroma that seemed to calm all of her senses, as she drank the wine, it became visible just how much she was enjoying it from the twitching of her ears alone.

Seeing how she was appreciating the beverage made Rionara want to try some as well. She reached for the tankard on the table that was roughly three times the size of her hands which made her struggle to curl her fingers around it.

She took a modest sip and as soon as she felt the milky sour texture hit her tongue she suddenly stopped, holding the tankard between her hands over her lap as if in some sort of a trance. Noticing this, Reinhardt asked her after he put his flagon on the table.

“Is something wrong, Rio?”

“I…” She glanced down, a few streaks of tears came down from both of her eyes, she only noticed it when small droplets hit the side of her hands. “Huh…? Why am I…?”

Noticing his reaction, Priscilla glanced at the girl on her side and saw that she was crying despite not looking sad or pained.

“Wait Rio, why are you crying?”

“I don’t know… it just- tears started to come out.”

“Are you happy?”

“I don’t… I don’t know…” She closed her eyes trying to make sense of the emotions swelling up inside her chest. “This just feels… familiar, as if I have known this feeling for a very long time, I-”

Priscilla gently patted her head which prompted the girl to look at her.

“No need to rush for an answer Rio.” She had a warm smile on her face, which made some of the tension in Rio’s shoulders vanish. “Take your time to sort out your feelings. If you need to talk to someone I’m all ears.”

Reinhardt smiled as he grabbed his tankard again while thinking.

‘This is quite sweet.’

“Ahh…”

Glancing through the corner of his eye, Elaine had finished her tankard already. Her face was somewhat red which made him come into a realization, he had never seen her drink before.

‘Maybe she’s a light drinker.’

He quietly thought for himself as he let the joyful atmosphere set in as he finished the afternoon drink.

“That’ll be a gold and four silvers.”

After finishing their meals Hector came in to close their tab. Despite drinking a full tankard of elf lemon, Priscilla didn’t seem fazed by the alcoholic beverage.

“Here you go.” She pulled the exact amount plus five extra gold coins from her pouch, placing it on the wooden tray Hector brought on top of the table and just as he took the tray she asked. “Tell me, is there a magic shop anywhere in this city?”

“Haven’t you lived here for a while already Pris? I’m sure-”

“You know exactly why I’m asking you this.”

Reinhardt noticed the waiter’s behavior shift as his eyes darted around to check if there was anyone overhearing them.

“There is a guy in the slums. His name is Geralt, I know he’s in a tough spot at the moment but if you show him some coins he’ll be able to fund whatever magic item you need. Here.” He discreetly passed her a folded slip of paper. “Show him this and he’ll take you to the place he makes his stuff.”

‘Geralt?’ Reinhardt thought while scratching the side of his face. ‘Is that the same person he’s talking about?’

“Thank you Hector.”

“It is my pleasure, Lady Priscilla.” He swiftly took the extra coins and placed them in a different pocket from the rest of their order. “If you require any of my services I shall be here.”

He politely bowed before excusing himself. Priscilla stood up and adjusted the broadsword on her hip.

“Well, finding one person in the slums will be a difficult endeavor but it could be worse.” She turned to Reinhardt who was in the middle of helping Elaine stand up from her seat. “Sir Reinhardt, when do we meet tomorrow?”

“At dawn we should be ready.”

“I see. I bid you farewell until then.”

She politely bowed and turned around.

“Ah, but before you go.” His voice made her stop in her tracks and turned half of her body to look at him. “You mentioned you wanted to meet this man named Geralt right? We met him earlier today to fix our gear. If you want we can take you there.”

Her face seemed to brighten up a bit.

“You would?”

“Yes, it wouldn’t do well for me to leave you wandering aimlessly in the slums.”

“What about your companion though?”

“Elaine?” He lifted her against his chest while supporting her whole weight with his left forearm. “I can bring her with us.”

Priscilla giggled as she looked at him, a person in plate armor carrying a half conscious elf like a parrot on his arm.

“Ahem, very well.” She looked at Rionara who stood beside Reinhardt. “What about you, would you come with us?”

She nodded twice.

“Mhm.”

“Then-” Priscilla stepped to the side and extended her right hand, leaving enough room for him to walk. “Please lead the way.”