465 Completing Axels Ques (1/2)

Today, Zero left the palace in full disguise with Bob. Thomas was dragged away by Dorgon to check out the Crafting Suit and Zero decided to visit the exotic trader. He had the Desert Poppy flowers and seeds that Axel requested for but he also had to apologise for the sand walkers.

Even though a season had come and gone, Axel still didn't seem to have changed much. As expected of a spriggan, Zero had no difficulty finding his shop that looked very much like a mess. Axel didn't seem to have many customers because other than the growing clutter, Zero didn't see anything else getting sold. The sand walkers Axel sold him were missing but everything else was still there as Zero recalled.

”Welcome!” Axel greeted cheerfully. He didn't recognise Zero in his new appearance and Zero heaved a sigh of relief. Finally, someone who reacted normally to his new appearance.

”I'm here to turn in the quest for Desert Poppy seeds,” Zero said and Axel blinked.

It took the spriggan a long while to connect the dots and Zero removed his mask with a smile. ”It's a long story,” he told the spluttering spriggan who looked so lost at Zero's new appearance.

”I must be forgetting my hospitality!” Axel laughed nervously and ushered Zero inside for tea.

Zero watched as the confused exotic trader fumbled around to look for some cups. His teapot was severely underutilised and collecting dust so Axel had to wash it before they could brew any tea. Zero wasn't in a hurry and took the time to look around the shop while waiting. There were several interesting things around and Zero wondered if Axel knew anything about the Red Phoenix Pearl.

Settling down eventually, the spriggan offered some tea and Zero sipped on the strange herbal mix slowly. Axel looked weary and Zero wondered if it was the stress making him appear more exhausted than the last time he saw the exotic trader.

”You seem exhausted,” Zero commented off-handedly and Axel sighed.

”Indeed, I am,” he nodded. ”I never thought that anyone would be able to find the Desert Poppy seeds and after you left, nobody knew your whereabouts. We all feared the worst and I've been riddled with guilt ever since giving you that quest.”

Zero could understand. It was daunting not being able to find the flower at first and if it wasn't for stumbling across the Cacti-folks that Zero and Truen chanced upon, they might never have found the secret to getting the desert poppy. Perhaps, this was something called fate.

Zero groaned and buried his face in his hands. He didn't want to talk about his adventures anymore. For the last two days in the palace, he had to repeat his story to the royal bard and Princess Dorothy who wanted details. Zero omitted many things such as the Raju the djinn they met in Gnaway and the existence of the nova cannon. The royal bard made incredibly embarrassing songs about his adventures and now, even dwarven children could be heard singing his tales in the streets.

”Please don't ask anymore,” Zero begged and Axel laughed.

He pulled out some desert poppy seeds and passed them to Axel for verification. Axel was delighted to receive a handful. With these, he could easily complete the ritual with spares. The spriggan signed the quest form and Zero tucked the contract away in his inventory to turn it in later.

”Will you conduct the returning spell ritual now?” he asked.

Axel blinked and shook his head. ”Not so soon. I need to settle some administrative matters before I can properly leave Rocket Mountain. It has been a good home to me for many years but it's finally time for me to return to where I belong.”

Hesitating, Zero wondered if he could ask more about the other tree. Truen told him that the elves of Altear had killed the spriggan guarding the Weeping Willow tree that could see the future and he was curious about it.

”Would you mind indulging my curiosity?” he asked and Axel nodded.

”Be my guest! I have nothing but time right now. Business hasn't been very well ever since the malnutrition issue was resolved.”

Zero looked slightly guilty and Axel was quick to correct himself. ”It's no fault of yours! It's good that people are happier now. Princess Dorothy became a fine woman too and it's all thanks to you even if you suffered a mishap. Fae King Vivian has decided to take on a new bride at last and the dwarves have never been happier. Really, it's all thanks to you!”