Chapter 25: Triumphant Return

The Soldiers cheered our arrival and even Balthazar got fist bumped on our way through the checkpoints, though that was probably because he was the one displaying our grisly trophy, the severed head of the Carnifect demon. Once more we passed through the little mountaintop village and though I dearly wanted to stop at the Hophouse, Croftop's only bar/brewery I knew we had to give our local Lady the news first. If only so she could stop worrying about her two daughters for the time being.

The gate was flung open when we reached the estate and Selene was right there, I stood by awkwardly as she hugged both daughters in turn before having us all come inside, we were given time to wash up. Balthazar was furnished with a pouch of fine, aromatic tobacco for his pipe and a pouch for chewing. I shaved my face and a servant patched up my coat. I was worried it might ruin the magic but the servant gently explained that it would not. When I asked if I was sure she stopped being gentle, told me that every child knows a magic item doesn't lose its magic from simple repairs and insinuated that my mother must have been a particularly clumsy woman when I had been a baby.

It was good to see the servants emboldened enough to speak like that to a guest without fear of reprisal. It meant that they were treated better than a Starbucks employee at least.

I wondered what the limits of repair would be, decided it was a question for Victoria, preferably when Luna wasn't within earshot. Though if Luna wasn't in earshot I'd probably have other things to ask. I handed over my very tattered, singed, shrapnel-filled coat and had my bath, washing away the grime and copious amounts of my own blood.

Sometime later the three women came to meet Balthazar and I in the same dining room I had been equipped with my gear. Selene had a piece of parchment and a scroll tube with her while Luna had a pouch of clinking coins and Victoria had a short stack of three books.

"For you Balthazar, I understand you were rather instrumental to defeating the Butcher and his creations." The coins and parchment were handed over, Balthazar scanned the words in less than 5 seconds, scrunched up his face like he was thinking intently and then almost immediately nodded. "Absolutely Lady Delacroft, it would be my honour to serve as your Court Mage until such time as you no longer have need of my services." I tried not to think about how he'd fled when Luna needed him, he'd found his spine when it counted against the Butcher after all. Besides, his arcane mana had been of no use to him in that dungeon, his elemental powers didn't seem much more than cantrips, not compared to the devasting arcane attacks he possessed anyway.

Next Selene turned to me, handing over the scroll tube, it was made of lacquered wood and when I unscrewed the top I found the deed to a property within Croftop's walls. "It used to be a granary. However the Millers built themselves a new granary last fall and the old one is now empty. You're welcome to take the land around it to grow reagents, as long as you don't spread noxious weeds to the Miller's lnand or narcotic herbs that is. I've taken the liberty of furnishing the building with the various tools and resources I'm told are necessary to your craft. What we had available that is."

Even when she was rewarding me I felt that iciness, it was like she disapproved of me even while showing nothing but approval. I bowed in gratitude because I didn't know what else to do and thankfully no one made fun of my form. I was a man unused to bowing and they could take that however they wanted to.

"Once more I thank you for all that you have done for us Jack and If you decide to hire someone to tend to a herb garden or prepare reagents then feel free to go through me, I'll set you up with someone dependable and knowledgeable."

It was a lot, people sure were hospitable when they had a lot to give and when you'd just saved them and their families.

"Now, will both of you join us for a family dinner?"

Victoria smiled hopefully at her mothers request while Luna took a not so subtle step out of her Mothers field of view and desperately mouthed no while shaking her head vigorously.

I smiled instead, Luna facepalming as I did so. "I'd be delighted to share dinner with you and your family Lady Delacroft."

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Victoria beamed and handed me the books she'd selected for me. "Bring them back whenever you're done, I'd love to hear what you think of them."

Dinner was horribly awkward at first, just about every story relating to me ended with me getting the shit kicked out of me and it was confronting to my new self-image of the hero. Both Balthazar and the sisters made it sound very impressive though, apparently not many men were willing to brave the fearsome fish of Croft River due to their natural predisposition for devouring male genitals. I acted like I'd known all about that little detail before being blasted into the river completely by accident and then getting nearly bled out by the little bastards until the conversation switched to my marvellous ability to purge Shadelock poison.

"Elemental magic and Purification, I assume you didn't know about that until now? Karl could have done with some purification, it would have been too late for his arm but it would have saved him some serious pain."

I shook my head. "I didn't know I'm afraid, I thought it was just a basic spell and only tried it out of desperation, I'd heard much about this venom and truly didn't think a mere rosemary infusion would be enough to defeat it."

Selene coughed, startling me. "Rosemary? That is all you needed?"

I nodded slowly, a little worried by the intensity in her eyes, she kept staring at me even as she addressed the mage. "Balthazar, do you know what it takes to purge a body of such a dose?"

The old mage nodded, bald head shiny in the candlelit dining hall. "A cleric would charge 10 gold pieces, to keep said cleric on retainer would cost 20 gold pieces per day. That's easily 40 times the daily wage of a town guard or servant. If you can cure someone for less than a silver. Well, shit"

I expected Selene to shoot him a glare for cursing, but it didn't seem to bother her at all. "Yes, that's right. We hide behind our walls, travelling only by day because of those creatures. I know I can't hire you as our resident poison sponge but can you craft a supply of those candles in a manner that renders them useable by the average person. We'll be willing to pay handsomely for it."

I shook my head. "No, I don't have that ability, the candles i make are magical but they aren't useable by anyone except for me I don't think. They require an additional investment of mana after they've already been imbued. I can look into it though, perhaps it is a casting technique I can learn when I become more experience. I'll keep an eye out for the opportunity."

Dinner went back to awkwardness then, everyone here knew someone who the Shadelocks had killed or crippled and it cast a dour mood.

After dinner Victoria led me to my new place, Luna and the others stayed behind, giving us some time to talk. "Sorry about mum, we're used to her and I think Balthazar has seen worse. Seems a bit much for you though."

I had to agree with that, I'd dealt with all kinds of pricks who thought they were superior to me before. Selene didn't seem that way though, it felt like she respected me, it felt like she was to some degree humble and she obviously cared for her people. She was just very imposing. "It was worth it, got to spend a bit more time with her beautiful and well-read daughter."

Victoria sighed, platinum hair seeming almost translucent in the bright moonlight that lit our path to the granary-turned-home. "I think that came out wrong, most people would have said the beautiful daughter, clearly referring to Luna and then added; Oh the well-read one was lovely too I suppose." She grinned at me and there was only slight pain in that look and the self-deprecating humour, she was overlooked because of her social awkwardness and the amount of obscure knowledge she collected. But like her sister had said, she knew she was beautiful. "Those people are fools, assholes too and probably only hypothetical to boot. I certainly don't believe anyone could doubt your beauty".

Victoria scoffed, not blushing as brightly as our first few conversations, she was still a little flushed in the cheeks though, it was an enchanting sight.

I wondered what she was thinking of me, did she think I was some conman trying to target the less worldly of the sisters, hoping to score myself an inheritance. Or could she tell I genuinely had an interest in the seemingly endless stories and trivia we'd exchanged. My mind went into a spiral of worry, hoping I hadn't fucked things up somehow, anxiously overthinking everything right up until the moment her lips met mine.

Victoria's lips were a pale pink that stood out nonetheless like the brightest of roses due to her creamy complexion, her kiss tasted faintly of green tea and berries while her hair smelled clean with a faint hint of something like night jasmine. She kissed me with intent, confident and sweet and I kissed her back without thinking. For several long, incredible moments there was no awkwardness between the two of us clumsy and anxious individuals. Just confidence, contentment and the floaty, happy sensation of mutual attraction finding some release.

Then she broke the kiss, eyes still staring into mine, deep pools of need and desire, reluctantly my hand slipped free of her silky blonde hair and she turned her back on me rather than meet my eyes anymore. I let her go, watching her most of the way up the path to her family home.

I turned back to the door to my new home. "Guess I can show myself around."