I don't even look up as Matylda joins me up here on the rooftop. She stops on the other side of the chimney I'm currently using for cover. She isn't too shabby a rooftop runner either, but I have had no trouble hearing her approach anyway, which earns me another partial increase for my [Perception]. There is that at least.

For a little while we watch the two guards in silence, as they go about their usual routine, intimidating and extorting merchants and at times even random passers by. If there is one thing these morons do not show in the slightest, even after our little run in, it is restraint.

I shake my head, even though Matylda can't really see it. My voice is barely above a whisper as I speak up.

“They have a hard time learning their lessons. Its either that or they are so set in their ways that changing them doesn't even occur to them. Either way, in the long run this probably won't end well for them.”

Matylda lets out a deep breath on the other side of the chimney.

“Maybe. At best the lord will crack down on them. Maybe the night watch or the lord's knights will run some of them off and they'll resort to banditry out in the wild instead, until they are brought to justice by some adventurers. Could be that it gets a lot worse first though. The lord isn't a bad man, but he is old. At worst we will have an actual uprising of some sort, which in turn will mean that blood will be spilled in the streets. It might be the end of the city as we know it, if things get really bad.”

Silence settles upon us again. That is a pretty bleak picture she just painted. I don't like it. Not one bit. Before I can comment on it though she continues.

“Unless someone does something about it. Ha! Not that I want to get directly involved in a mess like that. It's already bad enough if I have to suffer the consequences on the fringe as I am now. Never mind though …”

She pauses briefly to reach around the chimney in between us and press a coin into my palm.

“Here. I owe you for saving my bacon back there. Makes me wonder why I even put up with some of the others, considering how useless they can be. Anyway, that's just to repay you for the fruit. Like I already said, I owe you.”

I drop the penny, by now I can easily tell by the shape and the weight, into my purse. Without thinking too much on it I decide to ask her some questions, since she mentioned owing me. The first one is pretty simple too. It has my curiosity piqued though.

“That fruit, it's quite peculiar. What is it called anyway?”

She tilts her head slightly as she finally peeks around the chimney to look at me, as if she is wondering if I'm serious.

I shrug.

“What? I really have no clue. I just saw other people eating it … and I don't want to waste any of my Mana to identify it right now.”

She laughs and moves around the chimney to join me on the other side, now that the guards are well out of sight.

“I know it as Sour Sunlight. It's really popular among sailors. Keeps scurvy at bay and grows on most of the temperate and tropical islands off the coast. Any place really that doesn't get too much frost during the colder season. It's actual name is Grinner Peel though. You can probably guess why.”

I can feel my [Gather Information] skill improve a little as she talks. The feeling has me wonder if I could possibly turn a profit from what I just learned. The stand selling the fruit is the only one where I have seen it so far. I haven't come across the fruit anywhere else yet. Probably because it is more a novelty around here?

“I wonder how a Sour Sunlight Pie might taste.”

Matylda perks up at that.

“Oh! Yes! Those are amazing! We'd usually have those to celebrate birthdays! Before my family moved here anyway. Sadly you hardly ever find the fruit on the market around here though.”

Her excitement puts a smile on my face too. Maybe I'll be able to surprise her one of these days. I'll just have to find out her birthday, preferably without asking her directly. And of course I'll have to find a baker who can bake a pie like that.

There is another idea tickling my mind as well though. I might not know any bakers yet, but I know some distillers who might be able to make something of this peculiar fruit.

It's too bad that I don't have the funds available to kick start a project like that by myself. Not right now anyway. I'll either have to talk the farmers into investing into the project themselves or I'll have to acquire the necessary funds somehow. Which means that I'll have to get my hands on more than just a few pennies. It's not just the fruit I need to buy. Distilling spirits takes more than that after all.

I let out a sigh and stretch, all thoughts of staying hidden forgotten for now, enjoying the sun in the process. Finally I address the other, more interesting topic.

“You remember Justyna? I think I saw her again recently.”

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

“Oh?”

“Yes, atop the keep. Together with the young lord I think. Stargazing. Maybe.”

Matylda lets out a sound that is half laugh and half cough.

“Wha … oh, wait, they weren't alone. Or were they?”

I look over at her, before I answer.

“No, they weren't. Another woman was with them. A little older than Justyna or us. At least that is my best guess. A maid I think.”

Now Matylda's eyes widen and she almost slips and falls as she waves her arms about wildly. Finally she catches herself again. She remains slightly agitated though.

“Woah! You better watch yourself around that one.”

Now my brows furrow. This sounds like something juicy. I just have to press the issue.

“For real?”

My companion on the rooftop is quick to answer, vigorously nodding her head as she does.

“Yes! For real! If you saw her you can take it for granted that she noticed you too. No matter how well you think you were hidden. If the rumor mill is to be believed she studied at the Towers of Midnight in Dawnport. If the rumors are true she probably is the most deadly woman, no mortal, out here on the frontier. In all likelihood she is might, magic and murder incarnate. Seriously! Don't get on her bad side!”

The words come from the deepest depths of her heart, ringing true with honesty like nothing else I have come to hear ever since I was reincarnated in this world.

I can only nod dumbly, as Matylda pours out her heart in front of me. Somehow the mention of that woman alone has her shaken to the core. And while I'm not deaf to her words I can't help it but wonder about the possibilities anyway.

“It almost sounds like we could learn a whole lot from her though.”

The young dwarf blinks in disbelief at first, then she scratches the back of her head and shrugs.

“Sure. Except, I think it's near impossible. The alumni of the Towers of Midnight are a very exclusive bunch. If you aren't a scion of a powerful noble family or a chosen of some god or goddess or maybe an exceptionally talented individual in general they won't even consider extending an invitation to you to join their academy.”

She sighs and slumps a little. Her voice takes on a forlorn wistful tone.

“The best someone like you or me could hope for is to be in a position like Justyna, where we could maybe pick up a trick or two by just hanging around and paying close attention.”

While she seems discouraged, I'm not. Maybe because I can feel my [Gather Information] skill improve another little bit. I pat her back to cheer her back up.

“Don't let it get you down. You can still be exceptional. I'm sure of it. It might just take a little more effort without an academy's worth of exceptional teachers breathing down your neck.”

She shudders a little at the suggestion towards the end, but perks up anyway.

“Yeah. That's right. I'd much rather do my own thing!”

I smile. At the same time I'm not quite ready yet to drop the subject. I try not to sound too serious though while my smile turns into a vicious grin.

“Has anyone just walked up to her and asked yet?”

Matylda's almost chokes on her next breath and it looks like her eyes might pop out of their sockets as she stares at me.

I have a hard time not breaking out into loud and unrestrained laughter.

Finally Matylda gets a grip again and jabs her elbow into my side.

“Oh, you! For the love of all good gods and goddesses, promise me you won't do anything rash.”

I sigh and raise a hand to my heart in a solemn pose.

“I promise I won't be rash about it, if I ever decide to try and get in contact …”

Even as I speak a thought occurs to me and I'm quick to pose the question while I'm at it.

“... do you think that Justyna might be able to get me in contact? I mean, I could at least ask, right?”

Now that question makes my companion blink in surprise. She gets a thoughtful look as she rubs her chin and taps her cheek while thinking on it.

“That actually sounds somewhat sensible. I still wouldn't dare, but you do you. Just don't press the issue if you get turned down. Powerful people tend to dislike being pressured. Hell, I dislike being pressured. Anyway, you got any plans for the rest of the day?”

I shrug as I get up to get going. It won't do to hang around in one spot for too long after all.

“I was hoping to find Wiktor when I came across your situation. I was hoping to get in a little more sword training while the sun is still up.”

I lower my voice without actually whispering.

“And later on I might go and explore some attics inside the wall.”

Matylda keeps up with me, as I take off in the direction of the mill. At first on the rooftops and once we have put a little distance in between us and the market, back down on the streets. Not, that it's too hard to keep up with me since I slow down to a casual stroll pretty soon. I don't want to draw unnecessary attention after all.

“Looking for something special? Or just out of curiosity in general?”

I look over at her as we are about to leave the district outside the wall on the road along the river leading to the mill and the farms beyond it.

“Curiosity mostly. And of course to practice my skills. And maybe I'll stumble across something or other I can turn into coin.”

A little frown finds its way on my face ever so briefly.

“I certainly wouldn't mind a few more coins in my purse.”

Matylda lets out an amused chortle. It's a good natured laugh.

“Just don't pick up more than you can get away with.”

Now it's my turn to laugh. Am I bad influence on her? Maybe. Do I have regrets? Not in the slightest!

That is the exact moment when my [Danger Sense] decides to act up. First the hair at the back of my neck stand on end. And as if that was not enough to put me on high alert, a divine whisper follows on top.

[*Ding!* Your skill Danger Sense has leveled up to level 6!]

If it were any other skill I might even be able to appreciate the notification.