“Is it truly a good idea for us all to go present shopping together?” Alistair asked as the carriage trundled along the cleared road towards Ravencross.

“It’s the first day it hasn’t been snowing in weeks, Alistair. If we don’t go now, who knows if we’ll be able to get gifts?” Liliana asked her brother, her fingers tapping a discordant tune against her thigh.

Truly shopping for presents had been Astrid’s idea, and Liliana was fairly certain it was because the woman’s patience had worn thin. Since Liliana’s failed attempt to find evidence in Imogen’s room, she’d been anxious, feeling as if an unknown deadline was fast approaching. She had not had another chance to make her way into Imogen’s room, however; the weather had grounded most travel in their manor, except for emergencies or teleportation. It had only just lightened up enough in the last couple of days, enabling this very shopping trip.

Liliana was almost desperate enough to attempt an expedition into the Frostfang mountains to find the ingredients for a truth potion herself at this point, if only to finally get the proof she needed. It was either that or hope she could find a way to bribe one of Imogen’s trusted maids enough to get the information she needed. Surely one of them knew where Imogen kept her financial records, or where she kept the key for that locked drawer in her desk. She’d even considered kidnapping a maid in her more desperate moments.

Maybe this trip will help me get my head on straight. The plans I’m coming up with get more and more ridiculous as the days go by. At the very least, I might be able to buy a lock-picking set from the adventurers’ shop. Liliana thought as she looked out the window to a view of a white-coated winter wonderland. Astrid hadn’t been wrong about her needing to pick up presents either.

She already had Alistair's birthday and solstice presents ready. She had sent a letter to the Fletcher’s through Jason, describing the game of Risk for them to make. It had already been delivered, and she had the Crystalline Charger for his birthday present. However, she did still need a solstice present for Emyr, even if his birthday fell on the same day. He at least deserved separate presents for the holiday and his birthday. She also needed to pickup some bauble or another for the duke and duchess. It would be a slight if she did not present them with something, no matter her souring feelings towards her father or her growing hatred for her stepmother.

Then there were presents for Astrid, Silas, and Jason. All three had stood by her, protecting, teaching and guiding her since she’d come into this world. They deserved some symbol of gratitude on her part, at the very least for all they’d done for her.

“Then won’t we all know what our presents will be?” Alistair asked and Liliana startled, drawn from her thoughts. She looked at her brother, giving a sly smile.

“Then we’ll all have to try harder to mask what we’re buying for one another,” Liliana informed him. “We can make a challenge of it.” She finished. Alistair straightened, his eyes glinting. He was never one to turn down a challenge.

“If we’re going to make a challenge of it, we’ll need rules,” Alistair said.

“What if at the end of the day we all write down what we think the others bought for us? And it has to be something we buy today while we’re out,” Emyr chimed in, and even he looked excited by the prospect of a challenge. Then again, this would be his specialty, information gathering. The reminder of Emyr’s particular talents made Liliana assess him again. She considered, briefly, confessing the truth to him and recruiting him to aid her in finding proof of the duchess’ transgressions.

No, there’s still no guarantee he would believe me without proof. Or that he wouldn’t feel honor bound to tell Alistair. Even if he did believe me, what right do I have to force the guilt on him of hiding such a secret from his closest friend? That would be cruel. Even for a villainess. Liliana banished the idea from her mind. Much like the truth potion, it was such a desperate idea and she would rather never find herself in a position where she had to choose it. She’d walk this path on her own, where only she needed to bear the guilt of smiling and growing closer to Alistair whilst hiding a truth that would destroy his world close to her chest.

“How could we be sure one of the others wouldn’t cheat and change their answer later?” Alistair asked, casting a suspicious gaze at Emyr.

“Jason could hold the guesses,” Liliana offered. The guard in question jolted from his half doze at being addressed so suddenly.

“Jason, can what now? What nefarious plot are you trying to include me in today?” Jason asked, turning wary eyes to the three young nobles.

“We’ve made a game of finding presents. We’ll all try to hide who we’re buying what for. At the end of the day, we will write down our guesses of who bought what for us and you’ll hold on to the papers until the day of the solstice. Then, when we each get our presents, you’ll reveal the winner!” Liliana explained quickly to the guard, who looked relieved and simultaneously exasperated at the prospect.

“You’ll need to be sure to keep the guesses well hidden as well, in case any of us has a mind to try to switch out our answers,” Alistair informed Jason, his tone grave as if he was speaking of a matter of extreme importance rather than a spur-of-the-moment game.

“Do I have a choice?” Jason asked wearily.

“No,” three voices chorused immediately. Jason sighed and shook his head.

“Fine, fine. I’ll protect your pieces of paper,” Jason said, grumbling quietly about not being paid enough for this.

“Will there be a prize for the winner?” Emyr asked.

“Well, what would be something we would all want?” Liliana asked. Gold wouldn't work. Emyr and Alistair had far larger allowances than she. Weapons wouldn’t work either, as all three of them used different ones. Same with armor of any type.

“The losers have to perform one wish each for the winner?” Alistair asked with a smirk. Liliana grimaced at the thought of having to fulfill one of her brother’s wishes. He’d probably request that she clean his armor or bark like a dog. Emyr, she couldn’t even guess. He’d likely use his wish to get out of an uncomfortable social situation.

“As long as it’s nothing out of the realm of possibility for the loser to accomplish,” Emyr added in. Alistair rolled his eyes, but nodded in agreement. Liliana reluctantly also agreed to the prize, as she couldn’t think of anything else all three of them would want.

She’d have to wait to gift Alistair Risk then. It was disqualified via the rules they’d agreed upon today. Or she could simply give her brother two presents on his birthday. Their agreement came at fortuitous timing, for they entered the gates of Ravencross shortly afterwards. The three nobles eagerly jumped out of the warmed carriage and into the cold, winter chill of Ravencross, all eagerly ready to start shopping and win their competition.

The roads of Ravencross were bustling, despite the cold. It reminded Liliana a bit of shopping malls in December on Earth. Everyone running around trying to get last-minute presents. The scent of wood-smoke and pine was heavy in the air. Liliana even smelled the familiar scent of cinnamon, a scent that seemed to transcend universes as a staple of the winter season. Ravencross had always looked like a traditional medieval city, something almost out of a renaissance faire, only truly authentic rather than a recreation. However, with the snow and scent of holidays heavy in the air, Liliana couldn’t help but think it looked like a scene from a snow globe.

“Should we split up or stay together?” Liliana asked, as they waited for the guards to dismount.

“We should split up, give us all the best chances to win,“ Alistair said immediately. Liliana nodded, matching her brother’s grin.

“Then may the best man or woman win,” Liliana said with a mock bow. She motioned for Jason to follow her and three more guards trailed after them as she split from their group.

“Where are we going first, my lady?” Jason asked when they were out of earshot of the boys.

“I’d like to go to the Adventurers’ shop first,” Liliana said with a smile. Already she could feel the stress of recent weeks leaking from her. The atmosphere of holiday cheer lifted her spirits and the friendly competition made her feel like she was a child again.

Again? I’m still a child. Not some old lady reminiscing about my glory days, Liliana chastised herself. Though she truly did feel less and less like a fourteen-year-old child, what she was supposed to be. She rarely even felt like a sixteen-year-old, the age she’d departed her last world. The longer she stayed in this world, the faster she felt like she aged mentally. As if she was speed running her childhood and barreling towards adulthood at a breakneck pace, complete with problems that would give anyone a headful of gray hair.

“And after that?” Jason asked as they walked through the streets, ambling towards the store. The day was still young and Liliana didn’t feel too much urgency to rush through the shopping. Her problems would still be waiting for her, no matter what time she returned home today. However, the moments she got to relax and escape the shadow of death that seemed to be hovering over her shoulder daily now were few and far between.

“Marty’s Magical Oddities,” Liliana said immediately. She wanted to see if there were any staffs, wands or focuses she could get Emyr to help with his Fire magic. He’d picked up the affinity in Ariowood after her and Alistair’s urgings, but raising an affinity was slow work. Liliana hoped a focus would aid him in raising it faster. At the least, it would be useful in the future as he shifted more into a spell caster roll rather than a rogue.

“Is it possible to buy like a gift certificate for an affinity unlocking at the temple?” Liliana asked Jason as they walked. She was considering buying Alistair one to unlock an Earth affinity. She thought he might start to feel left behind if she and Emyr both had multiple affinities and he had only Light.

“I’m not sure, we can ask,” Jason said and Liliana frowned, disappointed that her walking help guide didn’t know something. Then again, she doubted most commoners had the money to get multiple affinities unlocked, let alone buying a certificate for someone else to unlock an affinity.

Liliana stepped into the Adventurers’ shop, sighing happily at the warm air, much welcome after walking in the winter’s cold. As she shook off the cold, she looked around at the mismatched assortment of goods. There was some rough categorization going on, though Liliana wasn’t entirely sure what it was.

“Welcome brave travelers!” a boisterous and deep voice called out moments before a truly ginormous man walked out from behind some overfilled shelves.

Liliana had to tilt her head back to meet his deep brown eyes, set into even richer skin. He had a brilliant, welcoming smile that set her at ease almost immediately. Liliana examined him for a moment, immediately placing him as a retired adventurer turned businessman. It had likely been some years since he saw a dungeon, based on the gray hair peppering his close cropped hair and short beard, but his muscular frame betrayed his previous profession. As did his many scars, and missing leg replaced with a wooden replica.

Gordon Warden

Age: 176

Level: 168

Rank: 5

Class: Iron Bulwark

He’s one of the oldest people I’ve met in this world. It’s still wild to me that people, humans, can live for so long just because of the System. Liliana thought as she took in the information before her. Seemed the man had been a tank class before he switched his career, a fitting roll given his size.

“What can I do to help your ladyship?” Gordon asked her and Liliana blinked away the identification box before her. Gordon had obviously also identified her, but he treated her with less deference than she was used to from those of a lower class. Perhaps that was what all adventurers were like in this world? She’d heard they were a rough bunch.

“Do you have any lock-picking sets?” Liliana asked bluntly. Such things weren’t odd to ask for in this world, as many times they were used in dungeons to get into chests or through obstacles placed there by the dungeon.

“We have several sets, right this way, you ladyship,” Gordon motioned with a hand and turned his considerable bulk to lead them to the section he indicated. Despite the almost overcrowded state of the store, the large man before her navigated it effortlessly and finally stopped before a wall holding shelves full of cloaks, daggers, small bulging bags and finally cases of lock picks.

“Do you know which set you need?” Gordon asked her and Liliana nodded.

She personally had little experience with such things, but she’d played thief classes in Realm of Hope before, and could use that experience to pick out a suitable set for her experience. She didn’t want to say she was looking for a beginner’s set, in case Emyr or Alistair bribed the guards at some point. It would be best if they thought this was a gift for Emyr.

Gordon nodded and retreated to let her shop in peace, and Liliana began picking up different sets, ignoring the ones in cases covered in intricate designs or expensive materials. One set seemed to be made of gold, which made even her sneer. Gold was a soft metal, and utterly useless for picking locks. She finally settled on a set of lock picks in an unassuming brown case containing a plethora of necessary tools. As someone who had no previous lock picking tools, she needed to start from scratch, rather than simply getting a specialized kit. She had no idea what specific tools she’d need for getting into Imogen’s desk, so she was better off being over prepared rather than under prepared.

Her selection done, Liliana made her way to the counter to pay. She hadn’t seen anything else in the store that she thought would make a good present for anyone, and she had several more stops to make today.