Vanguard entered the village of Talron's Point around the time the sun was setting. She'd walked uninfused as much as possible to strengthen her muscles. Infusing Aether didn't allow the natural process of wear and tear to take place, so she trained her body without it as much as possible. She'd brought the head of the Chitter broodmother but no other trophies.

To make up for lost time, she'd sprint for short periods infusing her whole body, then walk again while her reserves built up. In this way she built up residual Aether in her body that would ultimately become permanent. It was a balancing act, but it kept things interesting.

She'd flip back and forth with her aura sight to check for threats as well, but didn't see anything more dangerous than a boar that was more interested in mushrooms than her. She gave it wide berth. The aura sight made it hard to see the rough terrain, so she didn't keep it on long.

Her first stop was the mayor's house, to let him know the threat was resolved. The mayor's wife informed her that he could be found at the tavern. That was her next stop anyway. Covered in blood, dirt, and the mud that was a combination of both, she marched up to the bar.

There was the mayor, chatting with the tavern owner. Their conversation abruptly stopped as she slapped the burlap sack on the counter.

"Eh, what's this then?" asked the mayor.

"Your pest problem is resolved. Damn big squirrels in these parts," Vanguard replied.

The mayor cautiously peeled open the bag and peeked inside. "Bloody hell!"

Vanguard took a tuber out of her satchel, "They were all hopped up on rageroot. This time next season they'd be more than a nuisance. They'd be a calamity."

The mayor began to sweat. "You... have our thanks forever, brave knight."

Not bothering to correct him that she wasn't a knight, she simply replied, "I'd like a packmule and a month's provisions. Your village can spare that."

The mayor sagged and said, "Very well. This has been a good season, so I'll see what folks can spare."

The bartender chirped up, "I'll give you a bottle of my finest for the head. Would make a fine decoration, and the story will build your legend."

"Make that two bottles, and I taste it first," Vanguard replied evenly.

"Deal!"

He went to the back of the tavern and came back with two bottles, both dusty. Taking the cork out of one, he poured a measure into a clay mug he retrieved from under the bar. He topped the liquor up with malt syrup, gave it a stir, and passed it to her.

Vanguard lifted the visor and took a decent sip. It burned like Aether water, but the malt balanced it out. It was suffused with multiple layers of earthy woodiness. She infused her tongue with Aether to better taste it.

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"Barley roasted over pecan wood, distilled expertly and aged in pecan barrels. You could get a crown for this in Layowich," Vanguard said, genuinely impressed.

"Yes, but I'd have to not drink it first," the bartender replied with a wink.

Judging by the dust on the bottles, Vanguard didn't think he had that particular problem, but shrugged it off. "I'm going to go get cleaned up," she said, to the mayor's obvious relief. She left the sack but grabbed the bottles. She had a room across the way at the inn. She stopped by the washing area and asked the maid there to fill up a tub with soapy water for her armor.

She dropped by the room to deposit her booze and crystal satchel, and stripped out of her armor and bodysuit. She'd left her pack here the previous day, and she dug out her regular clothes - a linen tunic and leather pants. She stopped, infusing her nose. It smelled like lavender in the room. Following the scent, she found a bath ready with lavender petals. It was luxuriously warm, and there was soap and a towel nearby. They must keep a cauldron warm this time of night, and hustled to bring buckets to her room at the first sign of her at the gates.

She brought the open bottle over and, after a swig of it, got to the serious business of getting clean. By the time she was, the water was much darker than when she started. She wanted to lounge in the warmth, but decided she didn't want to stay in the dirty tub. She dressed.

There was a mirror next to the tub as well. She looked at it as she combed through her short black hair. She normally kept it in a topknot, to fit under her helmet. Her cyan eyes peered back, subtly tinted with the Aether she'd infused them with many times. Her muscular build was well defined under her clothes.

She only had the one pair of boots, so she resolved to clean those as well as her armor. She put her armor and dirty clothes in a wicker basket provided for the purpose.

She came back out to the washing area to find the innkeeper, along with the maid she'd talked to earlier.

Before Vanguard could speak, the innkeeper leveled a finger at her and sternly said, "Now Ethan has told me what you did for our village. I'll not hear anything of your cleaning your own gear, and not of you paying for lodging or food neither. Lilly's cleaned many an pot, and she'll have no trouble with your armor. As for those boots..." She whistled, and a small boy scrambled out of the stables with brush and bucket. Her boots were polished in no time.

Vanguard thanked them, and was shooed inside to get some food. It was roast lamb with small golden potatoes and greens. Though humble, the meal was exactly what she needed. She washed down the meal with the innkeeper's own ale recipe.

Apparently there was a friendly competition between her and the tavernkeeper next door. The tavernkeeper made his beer with smoked malt, similar to how the malt liquor had been made. He used a firm hand with the bittering hops to balance the malt sweetness. It was a brew with legs that would kick you.

By contrast, the innkeepers ale was lighter, not even roasted, and more floral in hop flavor than bitter. Vanguard preferred the bold flavor of the tavernkeep's, but couldn't deny that how well the innkeepers complemented the meal.

Thinking about retiring, she was stopped as a man entered the common room and waved at her. He smiled awkwardly.

"Hullo. I'm Bertram Wheelright. Ethan, uh the tavernkeeper, said as promised, all your drinks are on him. Assuming you're not already full up on whiskey. The village caught wind of what you did for us and, well, there's a celebration."

Vanguard considered. She'd had a long day, but gotten a good haul, and she hadn't taken a scratch. Perhaps some celebrating was in order.

She came out to find the village changed. Torches had been set out, and a bonfire was being prepared. A group of men were rolling a large wooden barrel out of the back of the tavern.

A child ran up and said brightly, "I heard you killed a hundred Chitters! Can I see your sword?"

Vanguard felt a bit awkward around children. "It's back at the inn. And it wasn't a hundred, just a couple dozen."

Unperturbed, the child said, "Wow! Tell me about the big one!" Several other children scampered up. "Tell us!" they chorused.

Ethan, a mug in each hand, rescued her. He thrust one of the mugs at her and showed the children with his newly freed hand.

"Go on, get. I'm sure she'd rather tell all of us about it at once than tell everyone a hundred times."

Vanguard gratefully lifted the mug to her lips. The ale was as good as she remembered it. Then she realized she was about to be put in a public speaking position. She started to sweat.

Seeing her expression, Ethan chuckled. "It won't be as bad as facing a big brooding Chitter, I promise. Just drink up and it'll go easier."

Vanguard was beginning to feel the whiskey she'd consumed, so she just shrugged and drank more. It wasn't long before she was feeling more relaxed.

It also wasn't long before she was in an arm wrestling contest with a big bear of a man who she thought was a lumberjack. She couldn't hold him with raw strength, until she channeled Aether into her arm. His arm slammed down audibly on the wooden table. The man got red in the face and the noise of the crowd lowered. Then he let out a huge guffaw.

"Damned if you didn't do me like that squirrel bitch, eh?"

After that they all wanted the story. Draining her mug again, Vanguard told them. She tried to keep it succinct, but they kept dragging details out of her. They plied her with drinks until her cheeks were as rosy as the man's had been. Eventually the celebration died down and everyone stumbled off to bed.

It had been a good day.