Day has passed, bandits eventually woke up, they started yelling and begging to let them go so Giselle “put them to sleep” once again, night was more or less peaceful and as dawn was coming soon and we were about to reach our destination, Aloizy started feeling sick.

“For all angels and devils… my stomach…” he groaned “…it feels as if… as if…” “Your insides were on fire?” I asked “YES! And… and!” “…and as if they are being turned inside out?” “Yes! And what is worse I feel as after…” “…eating too much spicy food?” “H…How do you know?!” “I told you. What I gave you to drink before the battle was no medicine but poison. You are going on a ride, and you are not going to enjoy it.” “W…why am I only one who got sick? We all took this shit!” “I am wondering why… Marika?” “Um… was that poison made from plants?” “Yes, mostly.” “Then, we fairies, have natural immunity from poisonous plants. Some of our villages instead of fence use bushes of poison ivy… and this one doesn’t give you just rush. Yet we are completely fine!” “Gisele?” “Dragon’s blood I guess… we barely get sick, still I took your elixir as precaution… I do feel some revolution in my stomach, but I think I will handle it.” “Ol’ man?” “Ha! Kid! I was bitten and stung and scratched and infected and injected with far worse toxins than your petty potion. With time I gain immunity of my own!” “Gerwazy?” “… I have no idea? Maybe because of vodka…” “Vodka wouldn’t do anything. Were you bitten by Hydra?” “Ah, as you are saying ‘bout this… indeed I am pretty sure it did scratched me…” “Then those two toxin are fighting each another, in other words, if not me, you would be dead by now… I am not telling you that you should be grateful, but you better be grateful.” “Ay! Thanks mate!” “So!? I will suffer alone?! Wait! And why are YOU fine!?”

I had hypothesis of my own. One – my newest class. It gave me resistance for sicknesses, but does poison and venom count as sickness? Or maybe that because of hydra I ate? My body has extremely boosted metabolism right now to increase the speed of digesting and absorbing, maybe it also helped me to purify my body from toxin?

“Dunno. World is full of surprises.”

So only one is hurt? Tsh. I hoped I could tease them more. Shame.

“Anyway kids, we will reach our destination in hour or two. I think I don’t have to tell it to you, but I shall do it anyway! As adventurers we belong to no kingdom and we respond to no one. If they wanted to force you doing so, you can politely tell them to fuck each other in nearby bush. Still, try not spreading havoc… or too much havoc. Oh, and behave yourself in their guild.” “How long we would stay there?” “Either day or two, but if you would have such desire we could elongate it to week or two, if you would like stealing some of their quests.” Guild master snickered “Won’t they be angry? I am not really sure if that’s polite…” I simply didn’t know how it worked. “Oh, as adventurer you can take quests from every branch. Every. Not only on this continent. We are all one organization. From time to time we send squads of our own adventurers to different branches either as aid… or to annoy them and take better paid requests from each another. Fear not, it’s common thing to do. Would they be angry? Ha! I hoped they will!... In the end I am pretty sure that they would get that hydra requests as those villages were in their jurisdiction. Just wait to see their faces… Zari, mind you coming closer to me?”

I did as he asked.

“When are you going to have those beautiful eyes of yours back?” Old man whispered. “One, I am not sure if I would ever get them. Tis’ but a hypothetical contemplation if it getting Hydra body parts would help me. But even then, pointing exact time is more than just a…” “Zari. When?”

…

“20hours 31 minutes and 15…14…13…”

Jericho turned his whole body to me.

“Now, you are mocking me, are ya?” I only denied with head. “… monster. A real fucking monster. Just what are you?! Don’t! That rhetorical! Anyway. Get this.” He tossed me some fabric “Cover your eye sockets. We like each another here, but better to stay low. Think about some nice excuse of wearing it.”

I summoned again ravens.

“Is improving my connection with my familiars by letting them guide me good enough?” I asked “It’s terrible! But will do.”

The sun appeared on horizon.

“Oh, you can already see a city in the distance! It’s beautiful! This view gets me every time I look upon it…” Gisele said with truly affected tone

Screw you Gis!

“Lemme see! Lemme see! I have never been here!” Marika started walking over each of us getting better view “WOAH! It’s so pretty! It looks great basked in raising sun! It’s like… shinning gem!”

SCREW YOU TOO MARIKA!

“As beautiful as first time I saw it…” of course Gerwazy couldn’t stay quiet about this.

JUST BURN IN HELL!

“Halt! Who you are and what brings you to Agrah!?” O-ho city guard that treats seriously his job. “We are adventurers from Argoina. Inspection.” “Did you announce your visit?” “Shut your trap you idiot!” older guard yelled at his colleague “I am sorry mister Jericho! Forgive him, please, he’s a new guy! Come on in! Something needs to be reported?” “Just that we are traveling with few bandits. We are going to step by your jail to…” “If I may, mister Jericho, you can leave them here. We shall escort them in no time. You are about to stop in guild? Then we shall sent payment there.” “That would help us greatly. Thanks Jonah.” “Pleasure is mine!”

As soon as we get rid of ballast we moved forth. The air was so very different. Dry and much warmer. It wasn’t best place for druid. My magic sense was screaming in irritation.

“Zari something wrong?” Marika titled her head “Yeah. I hate this place. How do you handle this… disgusting… place?” “I know what you mean! It’s pretty easy! I am focusing on YOUR aura!” saying so she buried her face in my coat “Sooo fresh!”

Great. So I will have to suffer.

“Key maggots! Out of the carriage! We have reached our destination!”

We started jumping down on the streets partly covered in sand. We must have caused small commotion, for few people looked from the guild and ran back, probably to inform supervisors. We didn’t have to wait long for someone to greet us.

“Jericho! You old, fat rat! Still breathing?” It must have said someone in his 40-ties and fat. Very fat. “Ha! I will live longer than you, your children, and children of your children you fat pig! Bah! I am even surprised that you still managed to walk this way from your office to the door! How can those small legs of yours hold this huge, fat ass!?” “Shut it, asshole! The fuck do you want here?”

Jericho twisted his face in displeased grimace.

“Mostly office stuff. I need your reports to send them further to the king.” But then his whole aura shined like seconds sun “…And to take your best quests! Just because!” “Ha! You may try! We are about to send a full party to eliminate…” “…Hydra?” Jericho asked “How do you know?” “Ho-ho-ho! I wonder… how do I know?” He asked poking huge bag he held in his hand. “Jericho, No!” Fat man yelled “Jericho, Yes!” Old man followed turning bag upside down, making beast’s heads roll on the ground “…Sorry for damaging them so much, it turned to be… bit more personal..” “I will fucking kill you, JERICHO!” “Oh, but take it easy! Don’t push yourself! Your heart won’t stand those ten more steps you would have to take!... Look, I don’t mind humiliating you as whole city is watching, but maybe you would let us in?” “Tsh. Come on in, bastard. Oh, I noticed you took some youngling under your wings. Poor bastard…”

We entered the guild. Whatever they did here, it was much cooler. Praised whoever did it.

“Everyone! Say hello to assholes from capital!” “Ha! Gisele! Ya lil’ shit! You owe me few drinks!” Cheerful voice could be heard from inn section “Akrah! You still live in this little delusion of your, that you can beat me in drinking?” Giselle laughed happily “…come on everyone! Gotta introduce you!”

Me Marika and Rus followed without hesitation. There were few adventurers here, less than ten.

“Ha? Ya have fresh meat with yourself?” “Ay! That’s Marika, fairy. Veteran of guild. B rank. Those two are rookies. Rus-mage. G rank as she started in this week, and gentleman with raven on his shoulder is also a mage – Zariel. In guild for two month. Rank C.” “… Rank D in two month? Kid, you have a tempo!” “I am pretty sure I said C. No, Akrah, I made no mistake.” “… did he paid off Jeremy’s debt?” “He is that good. He climbed to 50th floor of [Tower] by himself… with his eyes covered.” “Bullshit!”

Ya forgot to mention that I save you in process… Nah. That would sound far too ridiculous. Better not to mention it.

“Pleasure is mine… Miss...?” I said bowing my head a little and asking her to introduce herself. I knew her name. Still courtesy and stuff. “Miss?! MISS?! That kid called me miss?! Is he some kind of noble…” “No. And he hates them. I think that it because you are old!” that woman and Gisele needs to be good friends to mock each other in such manner. “Nya! How dare you! I am barely 28!” “And still with no mate?” “Ha! I have dozens of admirers!” “And still no mate for life. Your poor elders, what would they said?” “A..anyway! Name’s Akrah. From tribe of nighwalkers. Panther-kin.” “Zariel. From… nowhere. Pleasure is mine.” “He is.. not rude. Not boosting about himself from very beginning. Not trying to impress anyone? Simply nice? Hmp. Weird one. With such attitude you will achieve anything!” “It would be better if I would behave as idiotic jerk? Pardon me. But I prefer actions over words. Talking impress no one.” “Ar! Here’s the claw of his! Maybe he is not completely useless! Anyway, we are about to march to kill a hydra, this time you won’t take my spoils…” “Ho-ho-ho… Hydra you say?” Gisele has far more in common with Jericho that she would like to admit. “Gisele… no!” “Gisele, yes!” “YOU LITTLE SHIT!”

You can say whatever you want, but apparently adventurers are everywhere exactly the same.

It was loudly. Jeremy vanished with fat-man on the floor to take care of paper work, all this time in inn section constant quarrel were taking place. Before afternoon few more adventurers returned from their missions.

“Sup guys! Your favorite champion is back!” Someone yelled from the door “Not him again…” “No, please! Can’t he just die?” Oh come on!” same voice yelled “Shed tears of joy! I have returned, and… oh my, oh my… HE-LLO my beautiful! I haven’t seen you around here, tourist? Maybe here to put some request? Oh, you surly could use help of some young adventurer that climbs in hierarchy like mad? Hm? Did I mention that in five moths I reached D rank? Impressed? Should be!”

Ha! What an idiot! Well, I will watch this spectacle for a moment just to h… wait, was he talking to Gisele?...

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Oh boy, and here I ho killing again!

No seriously, its irritates me more than should… why? WHY?! ONLY I CAN MAKE GISELE FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE! I stepped bit closer to those two

“Gis, about our previous conversation…” I started just to disturb their conversation “Away, peasant! Can’t you see that lady and me are busy?!” “Let me guess, a noble?” “Ha! So you noticed that I am better than you by those few words I said? Truly, your place is under my feet!” “Oh, yes, I could tell that much that you are a noble. I can tell much more. Pampered, got his place in guild via donation of family, told that is better than anyone and deserve anything. YET! Meaning nothing, being weaker than goblin, hated by everyone, lacking common sense and having extremely rare ability to make danger of people he shouldn’t.” “Yup. That all him.” Panther-girl said from behind me “And who do you think you are to question ME?!” “Guys! Stop it!” Gisele finally spoken “I am sure we all can be good friends! Come on! Shake your hands!”

You must be fucking kidding me!

“As you say, lady of my heart! Rejoice peasant, I am willing to shake your disgusting and dirty hand.”

… that put me in awful position. If I refuse I will just make fool out of myself… So I stretched my hand to him

“HA! You really though that I was going to do so! Away, peasant! Just bow and leave!”

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Are you sure you want to cast [Fever] on [Chistopher Mortworh]?Are you sure you want to cast [Exhaustion] on [Chistopher Mortworh]?Are you sure you want to cast [Nausea] on [Chistopher Mortworh]?Are you sure you want to cast [Insomnia] on [Chistopher Mortworh]?Are you sure you want to cast [Rash] on [Chistopher Mortworh]?Are you sure you want to cast [Weakness] on [Chistopher Mortworh]?

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes and YES. Did I miss a curse? Don’t think so, oh wait, I also could cast Haste… it’s boosting physical attributes but lower intelligence… nah, I will keep that one.

“To think that someone like you could even… could even…. Could ev… pardon me, I need to take a minute for myself, must be something I ate…”

Marika sensed flow of mana and chuckled

“Hm? He left? Well, I didn’t like him anyway, but Jeremy told us to get along with everyone here… anyway, I hate doing nothing, wanna take some quest, Zari?” “You have no idea how long I waited for you to ask, you know I have problems with reading…” “Should have asked silly! Do you have any perforation for quest?” “Difficult. The one that cost a lot. Like A LOT!” “Zari… are you… irritated?” “No. must be your imagination” “You are! You are mad!” “I am not!” “Just, what is your reason… could it be…” “I AM FINE!” “…That he felt sick and you couldn’t mock him!?”

… Gis, you are an idiot. Let’s sacrifice a minute to thank Aira that she made you an airhead. That’s why I lo… like you.

“Yeah, right. You have completely seen through me.” “Really?!” “Yeah. You read from my mind like from open book. I never believed this day would come!” “Ha! I knew tha… wait, you are mocking me again, are you!?” “I would never… maybe?” “You little!” She started chasing me all over inn section.

After Gisele punched me few times in an arm we took a quest and left. Only thanks to my wonderful senses I could hear Marika saying to someone

“Aren’t they just cute?”