Morning had come and they were not eager to get up and continue this journey. The Beds at the inn were nice and comfortable the ground they had slept on not so much. They felt stiff from the hard ground and the previous night’s fight so this is what old people felt like daily. Even though they did not want to get up they did each one went and took care of their business broke down the camp and set out for the next leg of the trip.

Merely an hour in they ran into a problem. There was a tree blocking their way. Two men were sitting on said tree “Hello there! We are here collecting tolls for road repairs if you would be so kind as to leave your valuables we would appreciate it.” Brigands really? I guess it had started this would be another encounter. Though it looked like it would be much easier than the previous one.

Manuel came forward took out his sword and shield and got into his fighting stance. The rest of the group followed his example. Erin knocked an arrow ready to fight. Josh with his wand summoned a fireball ready to light them up. Erin stood behind and to the left of Manuel’s with his twin daggers at the ready. Bobby began to cast a spell of protection.

They were ready and they knew they had this the two on the tree looked malnourished and young as if this had been something that they had thought about that morning. As if they had skipped their chores and decided they would play at brigands instead of doing actual work.

Miss Tebesa came forward and around the group she made a calming gesture with her hands. She went up to the pair and said something then showed them something. The color on their faces drained as if they were scared more so after seeing whatever she had shown them. They quickly got off the tree and bowed uttering apologies and left in quite a hurry.

She turned and shrugged “Must have been a misunderstanding.” Then to the groups surprise she picked up the down tree blocking their way and moved it to the side. She said nothing after this merely getting her cart ready.

So what in the world had just happened? They had been ready to take on the brigands and now they did not have to. This person they were escorting had just done something to deflate the situation. Who was she really? They looked at each other in confusion but it was alright they did not have to fight or hurt anyone not that they even wanted to.

They continued after the confusing encounter. The rest of the day went without a hitch again stopping for some quick rest along the way. They had picked up a small road going south along mid-day as the day moved on to late afternoon they came upon a house. It was weathered but well maintained smoke rose from the chimney. Behind the house could be seen small fields of some sort since it was summer the fields lay empty. Also penned in were some animals that looked like goats and sheep.

Tebesa set her cart down of to the side and went up to the door and knocked. A few minutes later a woman opened the door and as she saw the visitor broke into a huge smile. She hugged her or tried as she was so much smaller than Tebesa.

“Hello. What are you doing here? Not that I am not glad to see you.” The older woman looked at Tebesa’s companions “You have an escort I see. Come in I was just preparing dinner I will add more since we have visitors.”

“Thank you Suse but let me put the cart up for the night. Same place as usual?” The other woman nodded.

They were led in the table was small indicating a small group lived here. The place was sparsely furnished but kept clean. Before heading in they cleaned themselves off from dirt and dust and put their packs down just inside the door. Tebesa came in a few minutes later she put her pack down as well and went to her friend and handed over a small pouch and a jar.

“Wow Tebesa you shouldn’t have.” She smelled the bag and closed her eyes “Smells wonderful. Your early though I was not expecting you for a few months.” She put both the pouch and jar away again thanking her friend.

“I had an opportunity and we have adventurers in town.” With this she looked at the group with her and presented them to the other woman.

“Adventurers you say we have not seen any new adventurers for a long time. What was it like eighteen summers ago?” Tessa nodded at this.

“Since they were here I made my run early. Soon as I heard they were in town I put in the request. And lucky me they took my offer.”

“If you want to clean up we have a well out back. Let us old women catch up.”

The boys went out to clean up as they were grimy dusty and the sweaty. They went to the indicated location around the house and saw the well. It took them a minute to figure out how to run it there was a small spigot but no hot or cold water handles to turn it on. Instead there was a lever behind it that one had to pump for the water to come out and a bucket to collect the water.

They had been used to indoor plumbing in this world there may have been indoor plumbing but not in any place they had been so far. They missed being able to have hot water without the need of heating it up themselves. But the water from the well was clean and tasted wonderfully it was clear and crisp and blessedly cool.

They returned to the house knocking on the on door before entering. The two women sat the small chair Tebesa sat on straining to contain the larger woman “Brigands you say. What did they look like?” Tebesa described the two they had met on the road “Those idiots. Brigands indeed they are both useless and about as dangerous as a one-legged gnome. Next time I see their mother I will let her know what they been up to.”

“Local youth then. That explains it they did not seem very good at what they were trying to do.”

“Hern will be sad he missed you. He and the boys are out and won’t be back until tomorrow evening.”

“Too bad tell him I said hi.”

The boys felt much better now that they were cleaner and they sat exhausted from the long walk leaning against the wall. They had been offered chairs but they had declined as they felt awkward being part of the conversation. They sat there their heads nodding off as the two friends talked at the table they heard laughter.

The last thing they heard picked their interest “And how is your younger brother Rotgert…” but they were too tired they fell asleep where they sat.

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They were woken up and told the food was ready. They crowded around the small table and ate what had been prepared. The food was nowhere near as good as what they had at the inn but it was a decent meal. They dug in and before long they felt much better with full belies and rested from their earlier nap.

After the meal they felt sleep claiming them again it had been a long hard night and day and their bodies did not feel like they had enough rest. They set their sleeping bags inside the house at least they did not need to sleep outside though it might have been cooler outside. They fell asleep soon after laying their heads down.

The morning came and they felt well rested and eager to finish this half of their trip Tebesa had informed them that they should reach their destination around noon. They continued and passed other farms then people on carts being pulled by something that looked like a cross between a horse and some form of lizard. Instead of fur the animal had scaly skin and hooved feet. The person on the wagon nodding at the group on foot as they passed.

Other people coming out of their houses could be seen starting out their day and they waved at the passerby’s. Some had carts like that of Miss Tebesa and pulled them along some going slower others faster. And the larger wagons passing them by from time to time.

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The sun was near its highest point when they saw the village it was not as large as Starter Town but it was a decent size it was not protected by a wall either. Soon they had arrived at the place they had set out for; they had made it to the first half of the trip to everyone’s relief. There was a small guard post of sorts where people were in line to check in they got in line behind a man they thought that was very tall but very thin. He was wearing what one would describe as some sort of coveralls and a woven hat.

Their turn came to check in and Tebesa came up to the person checking people in she as usual towered over the guard. “Trader Tebesa my goodness it is good to see you. You are so early.” The guard came out of his little hut to look at her group. “Is it true? Are they?” He was looking closely at them with a face of wonder.

“Yes they are. That is why I am early. And they are not the only ones there is a large group of them in Starter Town.” The guard looked at her with incredulity.

“You don’t say. This is most wonderful news but at the same time a little worrisome.” Since the guard had not checked them in and others were waiting you could hear others in whispers say “Why is it taking so long?” and then “Adventurers.” All looking at the group some with wonder others with disbelief the younger ones the latter as they had not even been born or where mere babes since the last new adventurers had been seen. “Lies they can’t be.”

“Well let’s get you registered in and collect your fees.” Later they would find that any doing business in town needed to pay fees for doing said business. With this done they were waved through with the last thing they heard again “Adventurers. Who would have thought I live to see this day?”

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Miss Tebesa thanked them and that it would be a day or two for her to conclude her business in town. They were free to explore the area and do some sightseeing if they wanted to. They went to the inn after asking about it from some of the people they ran into while looking around. The inn was small and they were not given the option for separate rooms not that they would have taken it. They paid in advance for two days as the trader had said it would take up to that long.

After leaving their things they cleaned up took a few minutes to just sit and relax before going out to explore the area. They may even have an Adventurers Guild Chapter here if they were lucky. So they explored the place since it was small it did not take long for them to go from one end of the village to the other. There was not a lot to it but they did have some interesting things so they started to go into the shops they had seen in the village.

One shop to their surprised was a patisserie they had various sweets cookies cakes and candy. There were so many things to choose from tarts cookies caramels macaroons crumble bars the list went on and on. Every square inch of the place had sweets in it. What they had seen through a small display window was nothing to what awaited inside. And the list of candy it went on and on and on they were in heaven.

“Analyzing…. Analysis complete would you like to know the nutritional content of the items in the store?”

“Maria no just no let us enjoy this. Just tell us we can eat it.”

“While the sugar content of the items is high, and the nutritional value is low your species will not get any negative effects. Long term effects unknow at this time.”

Pepe ever the eating machine that he was had already grab candy and had been chewing it “Hey no free samples!” A small but very broad female had come out from the back she wore white and a hat on top of her head. Her hands looked enormous and you would think that there was no way she could create the delicate delectable items in the store.

Pepe stopped before putting another candy in his mouth “Sorry. But we want to buy them specially this. I don’t know what it is but I know I want more of it.”

“Oh your customers sorry sometimes I get people in here that just want free samples and don’t pay. I used to do free samples back when I opened but you know how it is.” She left them to their shopping going in the back and bringing out more trays with sweets that she beautifully arranged for show.

This place was heaven the sweet smells coming from all the things in there it was an aroma that complemented well the arrangement maximized the aroma of each item. There was the smell of chocolate or what may have passed for chocolate in this world and tartness from some and the smell of berries of different kinds as well as other fruits.

They picked their favorites or at least what their eyes told them they would enjoy along with the smells. The wonderful smells made their mouth water and they were eager to try these delightful desserts. They went up to pay for what they had picked the lady telling them the total Bobby as the keeper of the purse paying her. With this done she looked at them before deciding to talk “You’re the adventurers aren’t you? I know everyone around here and you are not my usual customers and it is early for traders to come by. So that can only mean one thing.” They nodded at her question.

“I have some request out if you could help that would be wonderful. Pass by the Guild and ask about it please.” She nodded to them and they made their way out. She had put the cakes in a box of sorts with designs with very pretty swirls of red and an elaborate letter that looked like an S on the side.

They stood there for a minute each picking a piece of what they had bought the items were so delightful and sweet that they just stood there while the sugary confection melted in their mouths. “Yummy.” All said simultaneously.

Pepe had also gotten a large bag of whatever the candy he had been caught eating was. “This stuff is like Tres Leches y caramel candy.” The only reason the others knew what these things were was because their family regularly would send them candy from the south and Pepe and Manuel had shared with them.

“Mentiroso I don’t believe you. Dame.”

“No mio.” They started to bicker back and forth with Pepe finally giving in and letting his cousin have some.

“Si es cierto wow just like you said.” Manuel giving his cousin a thumbs up.

They made their way to the store in town. Going in the store was not a big place but had some special items on display. There was a humanoid creature that was stocking shelves he turned around and they could have sworn it was the same guy as the store in Starter Town.

“Welcome. Welcome, can I interest you in something. We have this nifty multi-tool that we give away with every purchase as well as this great hat.” The voice was not the same though but they could swear he was related to the guy in Starter Town. And he peddled the multi-tool like if it was a big deal.

“Do we know you?” Bobby said with the other nodding.

“I don’t think so. I have not seen you here before.” There was something fishy about this but they did not know what it was. “So anything catches your eye?” They shook their heads and that they would let him know. “Here at your service.” The store owner went back to restocking some shelves.

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“That was so weird they have to be brothers or cousins or something. No way they are not related.” Josh shook his head as they walked it took a few minutes to get to the Guild.

They entered the building like the others not very big. There was only what looked like a German Shepard in a sweater vest similar in design to what Miss Hoysver wore. They did not see anyone else inside so they were not sure who to talk to. They went up to the desk and the dog opened its mouth “Yes? How can I help you?” The voice very soft but refined.

“Um…” Erin looked down at the person well it had to be person right it talked? “We are looking for quest seems like you have some on your board.” There were papers and request stuck on the board behind the desk.

“Guild members I see. Yes of course we have quest. Been a while out of practice.” He got up on his hind legs it was strange to see him walk like that. It got behind the desk and looked at them checking the guild emblem the A with the dash on it. He picked up a pair of spectacles and put it at the end of his snout “Lower level I see yes we have a few you could do. The usuals fetch quest some deliver quest a creature quest and an exploration quest that are a little bit higher.” He reached behind him and laid the quest on the desk in front of them.

“Oh look there’s the one for the Patisserie we need to do that one. It’s a delivery quest we can probably split up and get it done quick.” Pepe always thinking about food. But they nodded they really enjoyed the sweets.

They would take two fetch quests and some delivery ones as well and decided on the exploration quest over the creature quest. The quest they had not picked got put back on the board. “Excellent choices let me check you into our system party name?” They told him the guild manager moved over to a stone and muttered a few words. There was what looked like a printer it was a printer of a magical sort with a pen that started to move and print out information on paper. “Looks like all is in order your registration came through with no problems. Your quests have been recorded please return upon completion for your rewards.”

They left with their quest tokens ready to do whatever they needed. The Patisserie delivery quest required them to go to one of the farm’s close to town to deliver sweets and a cake for a birthday party. It was more a solo quest but it was a large order so two of them ended up going. The other three took care of other deliveries in town.

The fetch quest in similar nature were mundane and they got those knocked out quickly. The rewards for the quest were a coupon for twenty percent off all purchase from the Patisserie for three months and a subscription to Sweets a monthly scroll with articles and recipes by the owner of the Patisserie. The others were monetary rewards and they even got a multitool out of doing a quest for the store owner which they still had no clue how it functioned.

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