51 Rose (1/2)
Li came back to the farm before sunset, in that goldilocks period where the afternoon light still shone strong, but the sun started to prepare its descent, hanging low in the sky under the cover of a shroud of clouds.
The herbalist stall by the main road, in front of the cottage, had a few adventurers in front now. They usually came in the mornings, before they went on their missions, and so it was rather odd to see even this small crowd of about five or six people there this late.
He saw as Vahid slammed his brick of a hand on the stall counter. \”Five [Restorations], missy!\”
\”What!?\” said Launcelot as he pointed an accusing finger from behind Vahid. \”Five? For a party of two? Such brazen greed!\”
Vahid laughed as Iona handed him five bottles. He dumped a pile of coin on the counter and with a proud smile, spoke, \”These were the last five, you dolt. Everyone that was wanting has their share for the hunt tomorrow, and a venom wyrm? You bet I'll be taking as many restorations as I can. Not my fault you were busy greeting the duchess.\”
\”Oh, come now, it is a part of my duties as the heir of Lakely.\” Launcelot sighed, his silver shoulder plates clinking up and down. He turned to his party behind him – two mages and a ranger, apt, considering he was a powerful frontliner and all he would need would be damage – and shook his head sadly.
Vahid took a look at Launcelot's party and then switched his gaze to his own party, which, in his case, consisted of just the mage that had carried him out of his drunken episode against Li. He held up the bottles of restoration, the green liquid within sloshing with an emerald sparkle. \”Amelie, you figure we can make do with two of these?\”
Amelie leaned her chin on her staff. Her witch's hat drooped down, shading over one of her violet eyes, but she didn't seem to mind. \”Like I've said, how many potions we need directly correlates with how suicidal you're feeling.\”
\”Hah! It is just like you to mistake my heroic charges as self-harm.\” Vahid called out to Launcelot. \”Little man, here, catch!\”
He tossed three of the restorations to Launcelot, and the noble caught them with a swift swipe, each flask nestled snugly in between his fingers. \”Are you certain about this?\”
Vahid beat his bare chest. \”The greater the danger, the harder I fight!\”
Launcelot also beat his chest, his gauntlet slamming against his breastplate. \”A worthy motto! My gracious thanks for the elixirs, Vahid.\”
\”If us adventurers don't take care of our own, who else is gonna' have our backs.\” Vahid grunted before he left, Amelie close behind.
When Li neared the adventurers, he gave them a wave.
Vahid swung his tree trunk of an arm up while Launcelot and his party gave small head bows.
\”If it isn't the genius and master of drink himself!\” said Vahid as he walked up to Li on the main road. He gave Li a friendly punch in the shoulder. \”Where were you today? The poor missy was minding the stall all on her own.\”
\”Just tending to business,\” said Li. \”And I doubt she had any trouble – she's as skilled as I am.\”
\”Superbly skilled, I must agree,\” commented Amelie. \”The way she prances about like a whirling dervish while she makes those elixirs – a work of art, I say.\”
\”When she's not trying to advertise, she does a great job.\” Li paused. \”Also, what's this about a hunt?\”
Launcelot came up this time. As Li observed, he noted that his other party members seemed to be quite passive, following only ever behind the man. \”A scout has spotted a venom wyrm nesting in the Winterwoods, and ferocious as they are, the guild has called an official hunt upon it. Though a hunt may not be as rewarding as fulfilling an individual contract, it still protects the safety of this beautiful city, and that is all that matters.\”
Li nodded. Venom Wyrms started off at around level forty, and with their boosted stats from being monsters, would prove to be difficult foes for the adventurers here whom struggled to reach the mid-thirties. In particular, without status cleaning elixirs, their toxic breath would easily destroy any mages without barriers or rangers who couldn't keep their distance.
\”Say,\” said Launcelot. \”Would you not mind aiding us in the morrow? Your ability to tame beasts will surely avoid much bloodshed.\”
\”Unfortunately, I'm a little busy.\” Li shook his head. Tomorrow would be near time to harvest. He couldn't miss it. Also, he didn't actually tame monsters, so he couldn't help them there.
\”Ah, it was wrong of me to ask a non-adventurer to risk himself in the first place.\” Launcelot bowed his head again. \”Forgive me.\”
Li smiled faintly. \”Forgiven. Now I have to attend to my farm, so if you'll excuse me.\”
--
As the adventurers saw Li head to the stall after giving the builders working on his berry garden roofs an appreciative nod, they talked among each other.
\”Quieter than usual,\” said Vahid. \”I miss the fiery spirit he bore at the tavern.\”
\”Where you got outdrank so badly? I have no clue how men like you can manage to have so much pride in losing,\” said Amelie as she rolled her eyes.
Vahid smiled. \”Losing to a worthy foe is no shame. It is the essence of manhood: to fall and always pick yourself back up, to always learn lessons for the future.\”
Amelie frowned. \”What lesson could you possibly learn from drinking yourself silly?\”
However, Launcelot countered. \”Wise words, Vahid, wise indeed. No defeat is shameful. No defeat is ever wasted.\” He glanced at Li's fleeting back. \”But I must say, he does seem graver. Perhaps something gnaws at his mind.\”
\”Whatever it is,\” said Amelie as she tapped her staff to the dirt impatiently. \”We aren't helping by loitering around his property for no good reason.\”
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Li stepped into the herbalist stall. It smelled strongly of smoke and burned magical herbs. If there was a way to describe it, it felt as if the smoke had taste. Inhaling the smell conjured up various flavors, but none pleasant – just varying degrees of bitters and sour.