Chapter 46 — Victorious Return

"Sucks a bit that I need to go around to all the families that I interviewed about their pets and tell them what happened, but you were amazing, Ria! I can't believe we actually solved that mystery and completed our first mission!" Leon enthused.

"Yeah, it does feel pretty good," Ria admitted and a smug grin slipped out. "I wonder what we should do for our next mission. Herb gathering? Materials acquisition? Monster subjugation? With the locator scroll, finding what we're after should be easy."

"Woof!"

Ria patted her familiar on his flank. "Yup, you're good at finding things too, Ranger."

"I'm okay with herb gathering, I guess, but I'd like more training before intentionally fighting monsters," Leon hedged.

"How about plant monsters then?" Ria teased.

Leon gave her a look and complained, "What is wrong with you?!"

Laughing at Leon's reaction, she danced ahead and twirled around to wink at her partner.

"I still don't get how you can move around like that in armor without getting tired," Leon muttered.

On their way back to the Adventurers Guild, they stopped at the alchemist shop and talked to Kylie again. Seeing the quality certifications from the Enchanters Guild, Kylie was quite happy to try selling the healing and stamina scrolls. The stamina scrolls were surprisingly valuable and when Ria asked about it, Kylie gave her the same secret smile as when she asked about the stamina potions.

With some back and forth, they agreed on pricing for recharging the scrolls. Starting at 1 silver coin for the medium quality scrolls, down to 1 copper coin for the low-quality ones. The high price for recharging the medium-quality scrolls was because it took most of Ria's full energy reserves, and unless she drew stored energy from her staff or other focus tools, she could only recharge one or two of those per day, depending on how quickly her energy recovered.

Kylie also recommended that Ria make them safer so the scrolls could be sold to homes with pets and children.

Leon wanted to buy more energy-restoration potions, but chickened out when he considered his dwindling funds.

After they left, Ria comforted Leon by telling him that she would make him some potions if they found the needed herbs. Witch-style, with a bubbling cauldron of green goo and purple fumes, of course. That earned an eye-roll from Leon, but he seemed more enthusiastic about herb hunting.

She would have to make him a set of stamina and healing scrolls for putting under his bed. If his energy control improved, eventually he would be able to recharge them himself.

The teens were back in front of the guild and gave Ria and Leon wary glances as the pair approached. They must’ve run out of leaves because no haze of smoke hung in the air around them this time as they played dice while looking bored.

Daggen had a bandage tied to his neck where he walked into Jarrel’s sword. Ria had stopped near him and was staring enough that he challenged her, “What? You want something? Your old man ain’t here today, and he was probably bluffing about you being all-that just so we wouldn’t mess with you.”

Ria felt her heart beating as her fear response stirred. What was she thinking confronting him so directly? No, it wasn’t a matter of thinking. It was a matter of establishing her place in the social hierarchy, and she had to do that herself.

“That’s right. I doubt I’m physically capable enough to defeat experienced adventurers even if I have started training with Tina,” Ria stated flatly, agreeing.

Daggen gave her a confused look. “The hell? You come up to me like you wanna start sumthin’ and then straight up admit you’re bluffing? What’s your game?”

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“I was thinking that we got off to an unfortunate start last time. I’m Ria, he’s Leon, and this is Ranger, my familiar,” Ria tried. Maybe they weren’t as bad as their first impression.

“Woof.”

“…familiar? That means you’re either a spoiled rich girl, or a witch,” Daggen said as he stood up from where he was crouching.

“That’s right,” Ria agreed again.

“Leon… I thought I recognized you,” said bat boy. “You’re the baker’s son, right?”

“Yeah.” Leon nodded. His voice was much firmer than she expected, and his body language was much better than last time.

“So, what’s the baker’s son doing following this rich girl around and playing at being an adventurer?” the intimidating booby-girl asked with a sneer.

Leon looked away with reddening cheeks. Aw, come on, Leon. You were doing so well, too.

Ria spoke up, “I just moved into the butchershop a few days ago, and I had fun hanging out with Leon when he was showing me around town, so I asked him to join the guild with me.”

Booby-girl laughed. “No need to try so hard. I think I get it. Anyway, I’m Jess. The tall guy is Ulden, the guy with the bow is Parren, and the fearless one with the badge of courage is my little bro, Daggen. We’re all F-rank.”

Parren had looked like he was thinking about something the whole time and added, “There has been a rumor going around lately about a witch moving into the village.”

“You mean… she really is a witch?” Daggen asked, looking back and forth between Ria and his hooded friend.

Daggen’s moment of worry emboldened Ria, and she smirked, causing Daggen to flinch back a step.

“Even if that’s true. There’s no way the guardsmen would let a powerful witch stay inside the town,” Parren pointed out.

Daggen nodded, regaining a bit of confidence. “Yeah, even if you are a witch, that sword guy still cut me. You owe us an apology or somethin’. What’re you gonna do about it?”

“Take your bandage off and stay still,” Ria told him.

“Wha-?”

“You want me to do something about it, right?” Ria reminded him and stepped forward.

“W-what’re y-you gonna do?” Daggen whispered, turning a bit pale.

“Guess I have to remove the bandage myself.” Ria stepped closer with an evil smirk. “Hold still. Or I might miss.”

Using her internal energy to boost her speed like she did in the spar with Tina, Ria drew her magic dagger, quickly closing the remaining distance, slicing the fabric holding the bandage in place, and sheathing her dagger.

“T-the hell?!” Daggen squeaked almost falling backwards in panic.

“Holy shit, that was fast,” Ulden gasped in surprise.

“You crazy witch, don’t think-,” Jess started to warn, but…

The tied fabric suddenly fell away, and everyone froze.

Ria reached for the bandage that was still stuck to the wound. She knew that was the craziest stunt she had ever pulled, and she could feel her heart pounding in her ears, but from this point she could only press forward.

“Hold still, so I can look at the wound,” Ria said, and Daggen hissed in pain as she peeled away the cloth to reveal a mean-looking cut that had become swollen around where the skin had been stitched together. “Do you want me to remove the stitches or leave them in?”

“W-what do you mean?” Daggen stammered.

“Leave ’em in it is,” Ria decided for him and placed her fingers on the wound. Seizing control of the energy around the wound and adding some of her own, she worked the healing magic.

“Sis, w-what’s she doing? It itches something fierce,” Daggen asked, looking wildly at Jess.

Jess and Ulden came around to watch her work. It was intimidating to be surrounded like that, but Ria held her ground and focused on the task.

“Looks like she’s healing your cut, Dags,” Jess relayed.

“R-really?” For all Daggen’s bravado on their first encounter, he seemed… not used to having a girl close… or touching him. Was he actually inexperienced with girls and just putting up a front? Hmm… seemed likely the more she thought about it.

“So, why’re you all hanging out here anyway?” Ria asked, feigning nonchalance.

“Waiting for delivery missions,” answered Parren. “They’re easy pay and don’t involve trudging through the mud or getting gored.”

“We don’t just do delivery missions, but we’re not into risking our lives if the pay’s shit, ya know?” Jess clarified.

“I’m surprised you didn’t take the missing pet mission,” Ria observed.

“Not that we weren’t interested at first. But that’s a lot of running around talking to people, and they were all in the area controlled by Gebs and his boys. Let’s just say Gebs and us don’t exactly get along,” Jess grudgingly admitted.

Ria chuckled evilly. “Gebs, huh. His gang tried to rob me my first day here. Leon, Ranger, and I left them face-down in the filth.”

“Woof!”

“Wha-? No way,” Ulden blurted out.

“That really true, bakery boy?” Jess demanded.

Leon nodded. “For Gebs, Jerome, and Bester anyway. Oliver and Dellin ran away.”

Nice follow up, Leon!

“Would have liked to have seen that,” Parren said approvingly. Ria imagined that a slight smile was showing under his hood.

“Well, that should be good enough,” Ria decided, running her finger over the slight scar and loops of embedded thread. “Don’t walk into any more swords, okay, Dags?”

Turning her back on the group, she and Ranger re-joined up with Leon and entered the guild.

“That went surprisingly well,” Ria breathed out in relief, and as the thumping of her heart receded, she felt a surge of pride at her clear victory.

Leon sighed and shook his head in disbelief. “You are, without a doubt, the craziest girl I know.”

“Haha, don’t sweat the small stuff.” Ria playfully waved the matter away with her hand, and Leon rolled his eyes.