We woke up in an inn. 

Presumably, Troy and Sara had taken us here for the time being until we get better.

They left a note on the table that they would just be doing some work and will later comeback. They also wrote that the medicine would be their compensation for me for contributing on my tarnished reputation.

Well, I was just joking when I said that but hey, at least I got something from them for free so I'm not complaining.

Also left there are some medicines for mana exhaustion. Not like it will work on me though. There's also a medicine for headaches and detoxification medicine for hallucinogenic toxins. Ah... So that's why...

Maybe Kyle ate some mushrooms growing on the walls of my house so maybe that's the reason to why she went silent so suddenly then acted strange after that.

Of course, my dragon is resting on my belly. I only moved him to the side so he won't fall of from the bed. And Kyle here is sleeping on the bed adjacent to me. I could even see how red she is inside the bedding. Her breathe is obviously rough and warm.

So it seems that she had eaten a potent mushroom. It made her sick to this point even with medication. Or maybe her immune system is just garbage.

I didn't get that sick since I known before hand of how potent the mushroom from looking at its color.

Since I feel a little bit light headed, I took some medication for headaches and rested on my bed.

Looks like I just have to wait here for the time being until they can back.

Oh shoot! I almost forgot! My freaking reward from the duel!

Where's my reward!? 

It's not here!?

Did that Sam guy pulled a fast one on me or something? 

Even after I've expended that much mana on the stupid duel!? Are you kidding me!? 

The symptoms are a little bit visible now! Ugh!

Once they get back, I'll have them hand over my reward! 

(ಥ﹏ಥ)

Fiddling around the corners of the room, I noticed that the corners of the room, being it made of concrete, has molds and a visible stain of someone had pissed here.

Smell. Like that of a spoiled milk with a hint of pee. 

Isn't that something? For someone who knows that the inn has a bathroom, they still have the audacity to piss on the corner of the room is incredibly shameless. I bet it's a guy! No it's definitely a guy! Girls can't pee like this! 

Even though, this stain is like a few months old now and doesn't have any lingering smells, it's still a concern! I'll have to report this to the innkeeper!

And as soon as I started to march to the reception desk, the door was slammed open by two warriors, carrying a magician with them.

Ah...

What a sight this is. Feels like these two just kidnapped him.

Although the two warriors has an irritated face.

"Stop squirming! Oh Isaac you're finally awake. Looks like your opponent here is trying to escape."

"I did that for you guys! Also, don't you think that it's a little suspicious to how someone who only knows basic spells to be able to cast such a spell to that decree!? We were almost arrested because of him!"

As the squirming kidnapped magician tries to struggle to get free from the grip of Troy, he said his suspicions towards me in the duel.

"Huh?  Didn't you know that you can intensify the power of a spell by pumping more mana into it?"

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"Yeah, I know that much! I'm suspicious about how in the world could you get that much mana to do that, let alone to actually cast the spell to begin with!"

Oh... So he doesn't know that it's just a combination of various different fire and wind spells that just did. Having to be basic spells, it's mana cost is a lot less than actually casting the spell itself and with that, I can use a lot more mana to intensify the spell which I regretfully overdid. 

Although I do that think that I've collapsed from mana exhaustion but instead, severe headache because using basic spells to cast advance spells to that degree is extremely straining for the brain.

And so I told him that but looks like he doesn't want to accept my reason.

"Huh!? I thought you were just joking! Maybe you can do an intermediary spell using basic spells but I only believe that much! Due to how dark your hat is, I bet you know a few advance spell yourself! For you to not reveal that before the duel just so I can underestimate you, you really are a con man!"

"Ha..."

I do that want to continue this conversation any further since it'll just be a perpetual denial on his part. And even if I convinced him somehow, it's not really worth it anyway.

"Just give me my part of the deal, alright? After all, you did this to yourself and dragged me into it with your sense of justice or something."

"Yeah, just give it to him."

Is what the frustrated Sara had said and sighing afterwards.

"Also, would you keep it down. My idiotic partner here is resting from eating a mushroom."

"How did she even found a mushroom to eat? Let alone a hallucinogenic one at that?"

Troy asked out of curiosity. 

"Probably while she was sleep walking last night, and unconsciously eaten a mushroom growing in my house."

Oi, why are you two looking at me like I'm some unhygienic rat? It's not like I can just move to another house that easily you know and it's not my fault!

"I won't! I demand a rematch! Something like that is unacceptable!"

Huh? Isn't he pretty stupid? This Sam fellow doesn't know how to quit. If you just saw your opponent do some crazy stuff like engulfing the entire sky into flames, should he be not want to have a rematch? I definitely don't want to since it's just a waste of mana and I certainly don't want to use anymore spells for combat.

Spells, if used with the intent to kill, usually has a bit higher mana cost than a spell just used for the fun of it and that's one of the reason why I don't want to cast spells in combat in particular. Even if I didn't use that advance spell for combat, it still cost a pretty hefty amount that I rather not do it again. Truthfully, I overdid it a bit too much.

"C'mon! Enough with this! Isaac won, just accept your lose, alright? Or we'll be forced to kick you in our party."

Troy scolded Sam as he glared at me, demanding for a rematch. Although, I have a little concern about what he just said...

"Wait, why is it that he has been given a second chance but I didn't? It's a bit unfair, you know?"

"Unlike you, he's useful."

"Isn't that a bit blunt? Reminds me of a certain someone..."

While I was saying that, looks like Troy is squeezing him to give in.

How torturous Troy! 

"Alright! Alright, I'll give it to him so stop squeezing me like a bear!"

"That's better."

Finally...!

After being brought down by Troy, he reached for his satchel and and took out two pendants. Mana pendants I should say. With this, one can increase their mana pool but I don't really need it. Plus, it's not compatible with me so poo. But at least I can sell it.

Isn't he missing something though...?

"Where's the ticket?"

"You're looking for that too? That ticket may cover 2 people and can have you travel to anywhere near this Kingdom but it's only worth 2 silver at best and it's not a ticket for premium carriages."

"It's nice to have it. Plus I can sell it for an extra change too."

"Aren't you cheap?"

"Geez. We're practically broke right now. Just give it to me and be done with this."

After insisting him that I want the ticket, he gave it to me, finally. This guy really is a pain to have a deal with.

"Oh by the way, where's your hat? Shouldn't magicians have a hat?"

"That...? I left mine in my home. Even if our knowledge regarding magic is connected to our hats doesn't mean that we can't remove them, right? I removed mine because I don't want to let anyone know of how much spell I know."

Look who's talking...

I just let out a sigh, although he's confused to why I did that.

And with a clap, Sara said something normal yet melancholic for some reason.

"Now that's done, we'll be taking our leave."

So said Sara. So they're leaving this quickly?

"What about the rent on this place? Are you just giving this room to us? You know I have a ahouse, right?"

"Yeah but considering what you've just said, I don't think that it's safe for you and especially your comrade over there. And the rent is only a silver coin per half a day so you'll have to get out of here before sunset tomorrow."

"Aren't you using it?"

"No. We have something to take care off."

"Is that so?"

Even if they're the reason to why I have a tarnished reputation and no, it's definitely not me to blame but them, they sure are nice to me. Or maybe that's just how people are? I don't know that. I never have anyone do this to me in the past. Nor do I have any friends to be with when I was a child so I don't really experience this much hospitality.

Also, my past jobs' working conditions is poor so that didn't help at all.

Well, whatever...

For now, lets sell these pendants and buy us some food.

~(˘▾˘~)

Oh my...! My dragon sure eats a lot! 

We really should have just taken a quest and have him feed on the meat of the animals and monsters that we killed...

Our gold's worth of silver coins plus our left over coins which amounted to 109 silver coins had just now turned to 77 silver coins already.

Freaking dragon ate two orders of cheap steak and his tummy is still growling.

At this rate, we'll be broke again...

After returning back to our inn, I found Kyle still sleeping. 

I had left her some water, the medication which are crafted using herbs and a note saying to take a regular dose and sleep again. Aren't I nice?

After examining the contents of the medicine, it looks like she woke up at one point and took some then slept again.

Feeling her forehead, it seems to have gone down a little.

That's good...

Well anyway.

The room contains two bed, a table, a chair and a window on the side. Maybe a too late of a description but whatever.

Ah, maybe the veiw would be nice from here. We are in the second floor of the inn after all.

I took the chair and positioned myself near the window. My dragon, wanting me to feed him more, climbed up to my shoulders and tried to reach for the steak that I've bought for Kyle. 

"You can't eat this...! This is for Kyle. Don't be selfish. Tomorrow, you can eat again."

Ah... He looked bummed when I said that...

Sorry my child but we need to conserve money for now. Frogive this time... Hu hu~

After that, he just snucked closely to me. Being a fire dragon, his internal temperature is pretty high so it's very relaxing to have him as a hugging pillow. Although I would like it if he's a little fatter...

Well, it doesn't matter. At least he's still here keeping me company.

Cold breeze swept in the window and a sudden uproar down on the streets.

Might be interesting. And so I listened.

From they're words, they seem to be  talking about a meteor shower or something. 

Looking at them, some people are pointing towards a certain direction. Looking at the direction,  there it is. 

My word, there's actually a meteor shower. 

For it to be better, the night sky is filled with wonderful stars glistening in the night. The moon is nowhere to be seen as it is a new moon.

And like this, I've stayed for who knows how long until I fell asleep. Hugging my faithful dragon a si did so.

For the stars that I saw are the ones that I always look at every night to help me sleep when I was a child.