Nadia left the bath with a profound smile. A personal bathroom with how water was a quality-of-life improvement she’d become so very fond. Truthfully, it wasn’t that hot, barely above room temperature, but it was a personal space and infinitely better compared to frigid river of home. She knocked at Varisa’s door. “I’m ready when you are, mistress.”

The response came in a heartbeat, “It’s Varisa. I didn’t I ask for any weird titles and I have a name, Va-ri-sa.”

“I’d never disrespect you...”

Her vis-à-vis cut her short. “And yet you do. I can see nothing more disrespectful than giving me unwanted titles even though I’m begging like this.”

“Yes, mis… Varisa.”

“Good, if you’re unhappy with the way I do thing, too bad for you because; my place, my rules.” Her face turned impish. “I couldn’t help remarking that you training was cut short today, much unlike your bath. I hope for your sake that our neighbor didn’t hear your childish splashing.”

“I wasn’t splashing around!” Despite her strong denial, she had a nagging feeling she might have enjoyed herself a tad too much at the very beginning.

“Since we’ve got some time before our meeting with Agner, why don’t we get a look at this famous restaurant? You’re in?”

“Agner? Do you mean, the sir Enchanter who made the weapons you brought home?” Enchanted weapons and armor had been the stuff of legends, at least until Varisa brought multiple set back.

“Did I hear respect? For a weak central’s man?” Then when Nadia displayed the right tone of red, she added. “He’s a nice and welcoming man, if a bit jumpy.”

The jumpy part got Nadia worried, she’d rather not do or say something offensive to the distinguished personage. “Are you sure I need to go with you? I can wait outside if needed.”

There was nothing distinguished about Agner, he was a fearful man who only ever met with his normal client after a lot or arm bending by his brother. The only reason Varisa met him in the first place was because she was with his 'Uncle Oto’.

“Nonsense. He’s open minded and easy to get along with. He tested my proficiencies, lent me some books and gave me pointer. He even promised he’d give me an apprenticeship!”

Despite his social anxiety, the enchanter was passionate about his work. Enough to become obnoxiously talkative with those sharing his interest.

“More importantly; restaurant!” Food was good in the kingdom, and she’d heard nothing but good things about this eatery. Nadia followed with a sigh.

The commons had only a two items selection per meal, the noble’s quarter was strictly a buffet and the restaurant offered both buffet and menu.

Varisa selected some few dishes she knew and some attractive desserts. “Are you really sure you want me to choose for you?” Her tastes weren’t quite the same as her friend.

“You know the local cuisine... And everything smells good anyway.” She knew only of broiled meat and stew, and everything here was on a whole different level of sophistication.

They ate in silence, until every plate was cleaned off.

“How can food be this good?” In the rim, the danger of monster made expediency far more important than taste.

“It’d better be. The prices are absolutely insane.” Because the school hosted children of high-profile merchants and not so high-profile noble, they had to provide the best environment. This was best exemplified the excellence of the chiefs.

“Is… Is it not too much?” Nadia was in awe, what’d happen if she became addicted to the lavish meals.

“Count on me, I’ll make sure you don’t get fat.” An easy misunderstanding.

Nevertheless, it sounded more as much a threat as it did a friendly promise. “Thank… you?”

Varisa laughed impishly. “Don’t worry, dear. It won’t be anything too crazy.” She moved to a nearby table and poured herself a small glass of a greenish concoction, gargle her mouth and spat into a cuspidor.

Nadia sniffed the thing suspiciously. “Strange, doesn’t even come close to describing this smell.” She took a sip, sadly the taste was even worse than the smell and all she could do was refrain herself of chocking on the burningly refreshing and unpalatable liquid. “What with this deranged custom?!”

Somehow, this offended Varisa personally. “It isn’t that bad... It cleanses the mouth, refresh the breath and prevent tooth decay.” It wasn’t good, but she like the minty aftertaste... and unlike their tribe’s traditions; it had purpose.

Two well-equipped soldiers flying the royal color watched them go through the gate silently. “They don’t kid with security, two Warriors at the door, some patrolling the wall and that crazy woman.”

“The main road is pretty long. Do you mind if we cut through the recreational quarter?”

While not exactly dangerous, this area tended to be full of drunks on Seolsdays. Not that Nadia would know, or care.

They’d barely walked fifty paces when, a drunken man approached them. “Hey girlies, wanna…” His pickup line was brutally interrupted by a kick to the nether regions. As he rolled on the ground in pain, Nadia stared down the other men menacingly.

“You’re fre...fuc…bonkers! What’d’ya’do that for?” Protested another drunk.

She calmed down just as fast as she’d flared. Warrior awareness bordered on the extrasensory and the only think she perceived from them was confusion and fear.

“You’re a warrior…?!” Recognition sobered him enough perceive his mistake; those weren’t fancy furs and killer looks but barbarians in leather trappings with the look of killers.

“We’re sorry for the trouble ma’ams,” Spat the nearest man as fast as his tongue allowed, “this guy was clearly out of line.”

“Aren’t you quick to abandon your friend.” Pointed Varisa impishly.

He almost flared at the younger girl... Almost. “What friend? I don't even know that guy’s name, nor any of the others’ guy for that matter. We just ended up together at some point.”

They weren’t bad people, nor had any clue to what their supposed ‘friend’ had in mind.

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She acquiesced. “I see. Will you excuse us then?” And left without waiting for an answer.

Georg knew the man on the ground from work. Even on his best days, Dyrk was a brute, but he became especially bad whenever had a drink too many. “I knew he was a dumb piece of shit, but I didn’t think it was this much.” He smiled; what transpired was nothing short from karmic justice in his opinion.

“How is he?” Asked another nervously. He wanted nothing to do with the injury and the type of intention they typically raised from the authorities.

“He’s breathing and nothing seems busted… Apart from his balls.” They exploded in laughter at the masterful (for people as drunk as they were) witticism.

“Let’s leave him here, I didn’t see nothing, I wasn’t even here to begin with.” Pressed Georg.

With yet another nervous laugh. “Leave who.”

“I think we should go; this part of town is dangerous... Ball busting dangerous!” His poor bout of humor raised another bout of laugh.

“Look at the time, I need to get ready for work. Don’t you?” Implied Georg.

Wise words indeed. They went their separate way, without another look for their former drinking buddy.

********************************

Unlike the school, the enchanter’s mansion raised a reaction from Nadia, albeit the wrong kind. “All this for one person? This goes beyond wasteful; this is madness.”

“There are living quarters for servants and security. and a strong room for material.” She had to admit that considering the owner, the reception room and garden were unlikely to see any use. “Yeah, I’ll admit there’s a lot of wasted space.”

“Strong room?” This genuinely perplexed Nadia. “How can a room be strong?”

Architecture was hardly ever a semi-nomadic tribe’s strong point. “It means it’s built strongly enough to deter thieves and Warriors.”

“It’d have to be strongly built then.” Given the time and tools, she could destroy almost anything.

Thanks to the shortcut, they were slightly early, yet there was a servant waiting for them at the gate. “Mistress Varisa, it’s such a pleasure to see you again.” Spoke an elderly woman fondly, “If you’ll follow me, the master is eagerly to see you.”

“Eager?! Agner? And here I was worrying about him forgetting yet another appointment. What about this venture of yours? Still going strong?”

“Thank to you, it does. Let me thank you again for we’d never done it without you.”

Varisa wasn’t so certain seeing as Agner trusted the old lay. He’d most likely have gifted her the money from his personal fund if she only asked. In retrospect was probably the reason she didn’t ask. “You repaid the interest in full when you didn’t need to. I should be the one thanking you.”

“Who but you would have ever helped an old woman and her son start a new business? No one, that’s who.”

All that she ever did was emulate Baron von Estlugvael. “Don’t sell yourself short when all I did was provide funding. The idea and the talent to make it bloom were yours and your family’s.” According to the baron, the goal of a society was to help talent flourish (then reap the benefit). Sadly, self-interest and traditions often triumphed over common sense.

The housekeeper bowed one last time. “Thank you again, milady.”

For once, Agner couldn’t wait to meet his client (read brag about his accomplishments). He looked almost looked like a child with a neat trick to show off, an illusion reinforced by his childish joy and hairless face.

As soon as he saw his patron, he ran screaming joyously. ““I did it! I’ve gone and did it! It was just like I’ve theorized, if we...” His face turned ashen at the sight of Nadia. Enchanter tended to avoided Warriors like the plague. He quickly moved to put Varisa between him and the intruder.

“Already?” Gasped Varisa. She'd expected it to take year. In fact, she’d hoped to join in with the research after graduation.

“Come! Come witness my revolution!” The enchanter’s excitement had already overcome his fear.

He opened a door to reveal a shiny leather suit of armor with an assorted furred cape carefully laid on a large table. “A Quaternal! Pardon me if I stress it out but before you, stands a high tier Quaternal of Kinetic diffusion, Self-Regeneration with Stress and Strain Strengthening.”

Agner delight and pride were entirely justified as it only fell short to legendary items from the age of myth such as the draconic armor or the thousand-pound bow. The first was discovered intact in clump of magmatic rock, and the second was just as strong as it sounded.

“You’re unfair. I have yet to step into the game, and you’ve already left me without a goal.” Joked Varisa. “Seriously though, how did you do it? Do you need more funds?”

Agner boasted his efficiency again. “I still have plenty; I’ve only spent a few hundred crowns. Same with the material, I still have over two-thirds.”

Nadia mind went blank. The whole herd Varisa bought for the village came to less than a hundred gold crowns.

“What’s left is to refine the process.”

“...Sorry, I can’t do more to help...”

“...admit, I haven’t truly mastered it...”

“...”

“Nadia?! Nadia? Come back to us.” Shouted Varisa to her ear.

“What? Mis...”

“The armor is yours,” Explained Agner from the furthest side of the room. “For the material, I used disaster tiger’s leather, reinforced with Stone ape bone plates. For enchantments, I used stone ape dermis for strength, the skin and ligaments of a giant eel for resistance and elasticity and finally an adult blood worm’s lymph for regeneration. The cape is pure Volcanic Goat’s fur imbued with its own subcutaneous slime for protection against heat and cold.”

This was way too much. “Mi… Milady. You should wear it. A treasure like this doesn’t belong with the like me!” Begged Nadia.

By comparison, Varisa garments were made of simple tanned shadow wolf skin or fur imbued with mid-tier regeneration and cold protection. Solid, comfortable but unlikely to protect her life.

“Too bad, it was custom-made for you. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I’m a few feet shorter." Items with mid or high tier regeneration were nigh impossible to adjust which considering their outrageous price was a major downside. With her target suitably mollified, she delivered the coup de grace. “Do you remember how Oto needed the smallest of service, Nadia dearest?”

The interested shacked her head.

“I haven’t told, yet? This is such a tiny thing it probably slipped my mind. You see, there's this pesky Dire wolf running amok in his domain. Eating cows, pigs, people... The usual. A real nuisance. I went and offered your service. To test your equipment, you know?”

In Nadia’s mindscape, massive herds of cows were throwing themselves into deep ravines, never to be seen again.

“You don’t mind, do you?”

Put like this, she had no choice but to surrender. “No, milady! I mean, yes... I don’t mind.” Ravealian can be confusing at time.

“Wonderful! Dire wolves are stronger and more resilient than normal shadows wolves but as solitary creatures they aren’t as big of a threat. You shouldn’t have a problem.”

“You think so?” She’d survived some tougher fight, but never on her own.

“If even my brother, you can.” From Varisa’s point of view, her brother exemplified everything that was wrong with Warriors; happy go lucky idiot with more muscle than brain.

“I’ll be at Oto’s, so there’s no need to worry about me.”

The baron had been her mistress’ friend and supporter from the very beginning. He made the two barbarians' entry into the very selective school… But he wasn’t alone, he had family and retainers... What if they did something untoward?

Nadia’s face was quite the amusing spectacle when in deep thought. “I hear his youngest son is incredibly cute. Interested?”

“Come on Milady, I’m not really…” Well, maybe a little, they guys back weren’t her type... But that wasn’t the problem. “I trust this baron of yours is a good and rightful man, but what of his family and retainers?”

“Why hadn’t I thought of that! His heir hates the very idea of me and might hired assassins or worse… Well, I suppose we’ll have to meet in secret like we always do.”

What with this terrible jokester? Where did the woman she so admired go? Lamented Nadia. “Can’t you be serious for a beat?!”

Her flustered anger only added to the prankster’s delight. She turned to Agner. “I’m sorry to tell, but I’d like to present the fur to Oto.” She waved her own cape. “He’s always liked mine, and I wish to thank him for his support.” Monster belonged to whoever fell them, rather than whoever the bounty giver was. Add to that that it took at least three normal shadow wolves’ pelts to create a single cape and it was clear why her crude attire could be source a of envy even to a rich and influent lord.

“The Baron has done a lot for me, too. I’ll imbue it for free... Well, I’ll probably need to use the funds and parts you’ve provided me with but...” Agner couldn’t be trusted with money, his fortune was managed by his brother and the only money he could use freely were his research funds and allowance.

Varisa suddenly clapped her hands, as though suddenly remembering something but the impish smile was a dead giveaway. “I almost forgot! Do you have the other items?”

“Right, I forgot too. It’s in the other room.” His badly hidden smile didn’t help, if there were bad acting classes, they’d be either the star pupils. Heck, they’d be the teachers.

Agner came back painfully dragging behind him a large leather bag, much like the one Nadia carried on their way to the capital.

“A magic bag?! It’s enormous!” Exclaimed the warrior, with dreadful prescience.

“Open it.” They pressed with grinning anticipation.

Inside the bag were a hunting knife, a dagger, a short sword, a buckler, a targe and even a Pavis with its assorted short spear. The last two couldn’t have possibly fit the bag.

First a priceless armor, then a priceless bag, and now multiple enchanted weapons. Her heart finally couldn’t take it anymore; she fainted.

Agner ran to the corridor panicked. “Someone, call the apothecary! No, a healer, go fetch a healer.”

Varisa whispered something. Surprise her friend was fun, but she’d overdone it. She took the young woman pulse. “Her breath and heart are steady. She’ll be fine; we hinterlander are tough as nail.” Although, no so tough she could carry her friend, and all equipment all by her lonesome. “Do you mind lending us a room until she wakes up?”

********************************

A young servant introduced the two women to the inside a magnificent hunting lodge. One would have a hard time figuring its intended purpose seeing as it was more beautifully decorated than most mansion, whether on the inside or the outside. Nadia wished she could have explored, but sadly, time was short.

Varisa picked up a sealed envelope from a nicely crafted short table by the entrance, inside were a letter and finely detailed map. She read the letter, then looked at map with a frown. She handed it to her friend. “Can you read it?”

“Sorry, I cannot.” As detailed as it was, the names were written in foreign characters.

“It’s Ravealian, ancient Ravealian in fact. I can read Spirit characters well enough, but the orthograph is just plein weird. Give me some time” There were a multitude of ruins and dead languages to remind central’s turbulent past.

She spent beats looking back and forth between the two documents until. “I got it, we’re here and the beast is there, down south. It made its nest into a large artificial clearing.”

The huntress heaved a sigh of relief. She had feared she’d be given only have the general direction. Tracking is hard, and wolves’ territories are as large as they’re fast.

“What’s this? Did you think I’d takes up upon this job without confirming at least this much?” Sneered Varisa, overplaying the perceived insult. “Do you take me for this much of a fool?”

The huntress teared up. “But… I didn’t... This wasn’t what I meant…”

“Just kidding! I would have preferred if you also took take care of the tracking, though.”

“I’m not confident in my tracking abilities.” Although well trained in combat, she had very little experience with monster hunting.

“You’re fine, better than my idiot of a brother at least.”

Nadia swore internally. “You are right, my lady, if the best hunter of my generation can do it; I should have no problem.”

“There’s only good old Varisa here, no ladies! Also, he’s not that great. Things brighter than my brother lives under rocks.”

“Milady is right. My lady is indeed the only one here.” I was childish but it worked at working up her up.

  “I have a name, you know?” Bellowed Varisa.

  “Yes, milady, and what a wonderful name it is!”

“I’m not talking to you, anymore.” Pouted the categorically not a lady.

“This pains your humble servant greatly, milady.”

The younger woman stuck her tongue out and closed the door flamboyantly.

As for the huntress, she started her journey with a victorious grin.