The Duskval heat was blistering. As they marched through the land, heading back to the road, and following it along back to Eagle Wing, Adam couldn’t help but feel like he was slowly dying.

The sun caused him, a Half Elf, to sweat profusely.

Adam noted just how difficult it was for him to sweat, other than fear and extreme effort, he barely felt the times beads of sweat would form and fall.

“Once we get to Eagle Wing…” Adam panted.

“I’m doing to dunk myself into a cold bath,” Dunes said.

“Yeah,” Adam said, smiling.

It didn’t help that he was also carrying a large wooden box full of Dragon parts, though the others were also carrying the same. Adam had the Dragon Heart too, which he had brought back for Lucy. It was the only thing which mattered to him.

It was also getting difficult to deal with the pups, as they couldn’t find a Wolf every day on their travels.

“How are they holding up?” Adam said, casting Tricks to keep the container for their milk cool.

“They’re fine,” Jaygak said. “We will need more milk soon.”

Adam nodded.

It was fortunate that Kitool and Jurot took their roles in finding Wolves for the pups seriously, as they spent hours in the evening dealing with that matter. They would go off when they made camp, and would return with a few marks across themselves, with Jurot holding up a Wolf in hand, who would then feed the Wolves under duress, were milked then milked into a skin, before being set free.

“I’m surprised,” Adam said. “I thought we’d be under attack several times on the journey.”

“There may be times where we are fortunate,” Jurot said.

Soon the walls of Eagle Wing invited them inside, with the journey from the Dragon’s Lair being fraught with boredom for the Half Elf.

‘I guess it’s alright since we didn’t die…’ Adam thought.

They made their way to the Adventurer’s Guild right away, where there was a young, handsome man who greeted them once they walked up to the counter.

“Good evening,” the young man said.

“Evening,” Adam said, nodding his head. “We, uh, need to speak a little privately.”

The young man nodded his head slowly. “If you would follow me.”

The Guild Worker led Adam and the rest of Fate’s Golden around back to a private room.

Adam nodded to Jurot, who had insisted in carrying that thing in a wooden box which he kept under his pack. He opened it up to reveal the head of a Blue Dragon.

The Guild Worker blinked as he stared at the Dragon head, before looking to Adam.

“I’ll have Jurot tell you about what we did,” Adam said, flashing a charming smile.

The Guild Worker listened intently to the tale, ears twitching as they stared at the Iyrman. “That is quite the tale,” the Guild Worker said, before glancing around to the rest of the party. “I will mark the quest’s completion.”

“Would you mind also changing some of our currency out?” Adam asked. “All this coin is heavy and hard to deal with.”

The Guild Worker nodded.

Quest Complete: Slay Blue Dragon

XP Gained: +400

XP: 5170 -> 5570

“Do you wish to Rank Up to Iron?”

Adam had wanted to Rank Up in Red Oak, but he realised he probably shouldn’t hold it off after defeating a Blue Dragon.

“Yes, please.”

Rank Up!

Rank: Copper -> Iron

XP Gained: +100

XP: 5570 -> 5670

The Guild Worker bowed their head, adding a note to his profile. “I will have the gold and Adventurer Tag prepared for you all in the morning.”

“Sounds good,” Adam said, yawning. “I need a bath.”

Adam sighed, resting in the cool water. “Oh yeah…” He rubbed himself with the soap of the Adventurer’s Guild, which didn’t feel great, not like the soap of his first life. ‘I should try and make my own soap, with a lovely lather and scent.’ Adam sank further into the bath, dreaming of his soap empire he was going to create, it allowing him to take over the world.

“I don’t think you’re so queer any more,” Dunes said, a towel wrapped around his head.

“That’s the point,” Adam said. “We’re all queer, Dunes.”

“Are we?”

Adam raised his brows towards the War Priest.

Dunes narrowed his eyes.

“You know, we have a lot of money in the Party Fund,” Adam said. “We should probably spend some of it on partying.”

“Partying?”

“Celebrating our victory,” Adam said.

“We shouldn’t squander it,” Jurot said.

“Yeah, but there’s over two thousand gold in it,” Adam said.

Jurot furrowed his brows. “Over two thousand?”

“Yep,” Adam said. “A lot of it is in gems too.” Adam revealed the four gems, each worth a hundred gold. “There’s another thousand and a half or so in gems.”

“How did we save up so much money?” Kitool asked.

“We haven’t really spent it on much,” Adam said. “You guys paid for your Jagite weapons, and this is used for the gate fees and the night stays in the inns, which we really don’t spend so much time in.”

“Two thousand gold,” Dunes said. “I need a few items for the new spells I have access to.”

“Do you know how much it would cost?” Adam asked.

“I’ll figure it out,” Dunes said, beginning to count on his fingers, going through the spells he knew.

“What about you guys? Do you need anything?” Adam asked, throwing a look to the rest of the party.

The Iyrmen shook their heads.

“What about you?”

“Me?” Jonn asked.

“You’re a Guardian, you probably have a couple of spells you need some money for.”

“I do, but I didn’t realise I had access to the funds.”

“You’ve put in money, and you’re a part of the party, for now,” Adam said, nodding his head slowly. “You did do quite a bit last time too.”

“There are a few spells which require coin, though they are niche.”

“Even if they’re niche, it’s nice to know you can run at full power.”

“Some of my spells overlap with Dunes.”

“Two is better than one, I always say.”

“Then I’ll need roughly a hundred gold, though some of my spells may require multiple castings.”

“I’ll give you enough for three castings of your consumable spells, you too, Dunes.” Adam nodded.

“Then I will need two hundred gold,” Jonn said.

“Two hundred?” Adam raised his brows.

“Four hundred gold,” Dunes said.

Adam shook his head. “Excuse me? You what?”

“Two spells which require twenty five gold pieces each, twenty five for another two that aren’t consumables, and a spell, Continual Flame, which requires gem dust worth fifty gold each casting.”

“Continual Flame?” Adam asked. “Is that the spell which allows something to be alight with flame, but doesn’t actually burn? Last forever, right?”

“That’s the one.”

“Oh. That is a useful spell.”

Dunes nodded. “Quite. Can last forever.”

“Unless you dispel it, right?”

“Yes.”

“We should keep a Continual Flame with us at all times, maybe two.” Adam leaned back. “We need to keep some of the Party Fund for when you’re strong enough to cast Revivify.”

“Another nine hundred gold,” Dunes said.

“So we have enough for them all, but not enough for them all and plate mail for each of you.”

“Plate mail?” Dunes asked.

“Yeah, for the pair of you,” he said, nodding his head to him and Jaygak. “That way you’re kitted out with what you need and we don’t really have to worry about anything else. That’s the major stuff we need to buy.”

“The Party Fund is for plate mail too?” Jaygak asked.

“Yep.”

“Oh,” she said. “I didn’t know that.”

“What’s the in between armour? Half plate?”

“Technically, but splint mail is probably more useful to us.”

“Splint,” Adam said, nodding his head. “How much is that?”

“About two hundred, depending on the smith,” Dunes said, and Jaygak nodded.

“What about you?” Adam asked, staring at Jonn.

“This armour is more than good enough for me,” Jonn said. “I prefer something a little lighter than plate and splint.”

“Fair enough.”

Adam placed down the single gem worth ten gold coins down. “Let’s use this as our celebration coin so we don’t go too wild.”

“Ten gold is more than enough to have a good time,” Dunes said, smiling wide.

Adam threw him a look, but Dunes was looking to another time.

“By the way, is there a way I can put away all my gold?” Adam asked. “I have so much money, and it’s a little awkward carrying all this money around.”

“You can ask the Guild.”

“Oh, I can?”

“Yes,” Jurot said. “They have banking service.”

“Why didn’t I know about that?”

Jurot gave him a look.

“Oh, right.” Adam smiled. “Do they also hold items for us? I don’t want to carry around all this Dragon stuff.”

“They will hold anything you require,” Jurot said. “The Guild holds whatever you need.”

“How useful.”

“Well?” Dunes said. “Aren’t we going to celebrate?”