A Moment's Rest

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“Are you sure you don’t want that dagger back after all, boss?” I asked Milton who sat at his desk, observing the weapon in question. “You seemed pretty set on getting your hands on it before this whole mess started.”

Several days had passed since our encounter with Alpha, and things had calmed down considerably for once. The undead attack that was expected to occur, along with the assassination attempt, never happened as it did in the previous loop. Our efforts had successfully averted a national tragedy.

And not only had I earned myself a nice payout of Dān from Milton for, sort of, honoring his request with this missive, I had also been allowed to keep the Ashen Fang as a bonus for my efforts against the fire golem.

“It’s quite alright, my artifact collection is plenty big enough already.” Milton handed me back the dagger, and took off his wide-brimmed hat, gently dusting it off. “Not to mention, named weapons like that one tend to have preferred partners. He and I don’t seem to be a good match, unfortunately.”

“Is that so…?” I noted his somewhat melancholic tone.

“How is the arm feeling by the way? You had quite the long night, the guild medic happened to inform me.”

“Ah, that, well…” I chuckled, a bit exasperated by the memory. ”I guess I’m alright now, probably.”

After the battle, the others rushed me back to Old Red’s Inn for some bed rest, and a warm meal. My arm, luckily, grew back after several agonizing hours, but I would never forget that feeling of pain and uncertainty I endured the rest of that night. Taking mental damage from such an injury was a risk, and Shion was uncharacteristically worried throughout the whole ordeal too.

She didn’t seem all that distraught when Zero got clobbered though, poor guy.

”I figured you were due for a reward of some kind, besides those measly bath coupons.” Milton put his hat back on. “I’d say you’ve more than earned it. Well done, once again.”

“Well, thanks for that.” I smiled a bit bashfully.

I didn’t mind the bath coupons at all though.

“For once it feels like I took a personal step forward instead of backward… We did let the bastard that started this get away though.”

“Right… Though I suppose it can’t be helped.”

There was something about having a doppelgänger running loose that gave me a nonstop sense of uneasiness. It sure didn’t seem like he was done with us in any case, certainly not Shion, the creep.

“I guess it’s on to the next thing now, huh?”

“Indeed. Miss Shion wanted to see you, if I remember correctly.”

“I’m sure it’s something about the moot.” I guessed. “To be honest, I’m still not sure why she insists that I should go. Not being shy, but “fate of the kingdom“ stuff still seems a bit above my station…”

“Pish posh, my humble aide! If you focus only on what you’ve yet to accomplish, you’ll never find yourself feeling up to snuff." Milton assured me. “Our actions the other day, including yours, saved a great many lives, dear boy. Take pride in that fact.”

“I suppose you have a point…”

“I, for one, am ecstatic to be able to add the Hero of the Northern District to our security detail on the way to Ember! Mistral Forest can oftentimes be dangerous to pass through this time of year, you know.”

“Geez, now you’re overdoing it, boss.”

As a nickname though, it sure beats “Liar of Beggar’s Alley”, even if the Guildmaster cooked it up on the spot to flatter me further. Although, his footnote about Mistral Forest had some level of truth behind it. Beyond the safe walls of Redrook was a labyrinth of dangers galore. In addition to monsters, the threat of people was of equal cause for concern in this world.

“Think it’s about time I should get going.” I decided we’d reached a nice stopping point in our little check-in. I was sure Milton had better things to do than to chat it up with me. “Thanks again, boss. Let me know if anything needs doing before we shove off for Ember.”

“We should be covered foreseeably, but I won’t hesitate to let you know otherwise.” Milton gave a light wave as I left. “Take care of yourself, Ren. I will see you in a few days‘ time.”

. . .

As I walked out of Milton’s office, Gerard gave me a polite nod and smile from the guild counter. Not everyone in town had improved their treatment of me, far from it, but I was starting to be regarded especially warmly around the Adventurer’s Guild following our harrowing battle.

Seeing that it was the only place I tended to hang out in my free time, that was a welcome development. As if to drive home that point…

“Umm, Master Itsuka!”

I heard a voice call out to me just as I was getting ready to walk out the door to the outside. It was the voice of the barmaid at Old Red’s Inn, a blonde whom I had met more than a few times now.

““Ren” is fine, what’s up?”

She seemed to be on shift pretty often when I visited lately, but I wondered why she would approach me so suddenly. My first thought went to an unpaid tab, but that couldn’t be right either. I never skip out.

“A-alright, Master Ren it is then… I…” After a moment of contemplation, she suddenly leaned forward, her chest bouncing a bit. She was holding something in her hands that resembled a layered wooden box. “I made this lunch!”

“Ah—okay?”

“For you, I mean!”

I froze, unsure how to react.

A bento? Is this a prank?? I’m not the kind of guy cute girls make free lunch for out of the blue.

”And this is for…?”

“You haven’t eaten yet today, have you? I had some extras after making my own lunch, and I just thought that you might want some… or something like that…” Her voice trailed off into a mumble.

Has hell frozen over!?

I didn’t remember her being this bashful before. Our previous interactions were always very customer service-oriented, and by the book. I got the impression this was a first for us both.

“It’s fine, really, I’m not that hungry or any—”

I heard my stomach growl loudly. I’m pretty sure everyone else in the tavern heard it too.

“Just take it, ya ninny!” Jett, the bar’s old drunk, weighed in. I hadn't noticed him sitting in the corner deep into his cups. “You’ll make the booze taste sour by being so wishy washy all the damn time.”

“Shut it, you old bast—Ahh, I mean, sure…” I hesitantly took the lunch box, managing to keep my cool and avoid lashing out at Jett. My face warmed up a bit though. “Thanks.”

Damn it, that was pretty lame, wasn’t it?

I could spot some of the other barmaids peeking from around the corner, giggling girlishly instead of attending to their duties. I then understood what was going on, probably. Though it could’ve just been due to Milton spinning heroic yarns about me again, maybe they had the wrong idea after all.

“Thank goodness. N-now if you’ll excuse me, Master Ren.” The barmaid began to leave, darting in the direction of her barmaid companions.

“Wait, uhh, what’s your name, by the way?” I asked, to her surprise. “I hadn’t bothered to ask all those times before, sorry about that.”

“Lissette.” She smiled sweetly, continuing on her way.

“Lissette, huh?” I muttered to myself, nodding.

As I glanced up, I noticed all the male patrons in the establishment were shooting me some pretty scary looks after that scene. It was easy to guess who they fancied most amongst the hired help.

C’mon fellas, give me a break here…

I sighed. And there came and went my warm and welcoming reception at the Adventurer’s Guild hall…

16.2

I walked through Redrook’s Central District, holding onto the lunch box I had been given by Lissette. On a normal day, I would’ve dug in right then and there as she forked it over, but I had promised Shion I would meet with her and Zero as soon as I was free. And besides…

“What’s this thing full of anyway?” The lunch box was positively solid, I doubted they were just “extras” as Lissette seemed to imply. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say there was a whole feast in there and enough fixings to feed three of me. “Maybe I’ll share some with the others.”

My bespectacled companion had wanted to meet somewhere specific today to discuss our upcoming trip to Ember and what to expect on the way. If I understood correctly, there was also something Shion wanted to give me.

I stepped up to a certain run-down shop that read: Mother Grabel’s Apothecary and Magic Emporium.

“This looks like the place…” I gently pushed up the wooden doors with my free hand. “Pardon the—!”

I was hit with a whiff of something that made my stomach turn.

“Ugh, what is that awful stench!?” I exclaimed. “It smells like something died in here!”

It stunk of burnt hair and fungus, and I had to rank it well within my top five worst smells ever, along with my grandma’s natto and a few places in Beggar’s Alley that took the other three spots.

“Oh, Ren-kun, there you are!” Shion, standing at the counter nonchalantly, noticed me as I walked in covering my nose. “I was just waiting to buy a few items. Mother Grabel should be out any moment though, she’s brewing a potion in the back. An especially pungent brew…”

“No kidding.”

“Hey, Partner!” Zero called out to me in a nasally voice.

He was elsewhere in the shop checking out some wares on a shelf. He had a clothespin pinching his nose shut, and as funny as it appeared, I could hardly blame him for doing so.

“Yo, Zero.” I nodded.

“Glad to see you’re doing well, I was beginning to worry you’d had a nervous break or something.” Zero rubbed the back of his neck. “I hadn’t seen you at all since that night. Ooh, and what’s that??”

He pointed at the massive lunch box I was carrying.

“I was just getting a bit of rest, is all, and this was a gift from a friend at the inn.” I explained. “I planned on sharing it with the two of you when we were done here, but only after my sense of smell returns...”

“Humu humu, and is this friend that blonde hottie that works the bar counter perchance?” Zero suggested.

Shion’s smile faded, her interest suddenly piqued.

“Maybe… Wait, how the hell did you know that??” I put my free hand on my hip.

“Adventurer’s intuition, you could say.” Zero lied. “But actually, I heard one of her galpals spilling the beans last night while I was out having a drink or two. Good for you though, partner, your fan club just gained a new member.”

“Well, if you ask me, Ren-kun’s fan club has a perfectly sufficient number of members already.” Shion turned her nose up.

“Aww, would you look at that?” Zero chuckled with no regard for the safety of his shins. “Shion-tan is getting all pouty-wOUTCH!”

Of all the kicks Shion had administered to Zero’s lower leg, he probably earned that one to be honest.

“Hmph.” Shion crossed her arms.

I flashed an exasperated smile.

“What’s all that racket out here? Are you those Alchemist Guild surveyors again? Thought I told you to scram, dareth I say!” An elderly woman finally came hobbling out, her voice gravelly, and her hunched weight held up by her wooden cane. “If you break it, you buy it, hooligans!”

“The Alchemist’s Guild doesn’t operate in Redrook anymore, Mother Grabel. It’s me, Shion, and those friends I mentioned yesterday.” Shion said, a bit louder than usual.

“Whaaat, you’re here to buy a book??”

“Well, yes, but that’s not what I—“

“—Ah, Shion darling!” Mother Grabel cut in, her tone softening up. “You should’ve said it was you, I was about to give you a thump on the noggin’ thinking you were one of them derelicts from the Fisherman’s Guild, always shorting me on my carp oil, dareth I say.”

Fishermen? I thought it was alchemists she had a bone to pick with? Also, why does she speak like she’s from the Edo period?

The old crone wore tattered layers of violet and black velvet that probably once resembled a dress. She was so wrinkly that her eyes were practically shut, and her wispy gray hair fell down to about elbow length.

“Don’t mind her, guys, Mother Grabel is blind as a bat and deaf as a doorknob, but she knows her stuff when it comes to magic.” Shion smiled. “Although, her mind has been slipping a little lately. She's run her shop here in Redrook since before this was Redrook, as it turns out.”

The capital used to be in a different place on the Northeast coast until a huge civil war took place, and leveled it. It was long before the time of otherworlders. They call the ruins of the former Redrook “Old Red” now, and the current Redrook was built around an existing merchant’s village.

Or, that’s what the history books told me. Visiting the library was about the only thing I could afford to do for fun since I got here since it was free. The inn is also named as a nod to the old capital.

“Whaaat, you’re here to buy a book?” Mother Grabel cupped her hands to her ears. “I know, I heard you the first time, sweetie. I’ll be right back, dareth I say.”

We all exchanged unconvinced glances. And just like that Mother Grabel hobbled to the back of the store, and returned with an eerie black tome of some kind. It had a leather cover, and a bleeding red eye symbol etched into the surface.

“That’s the one!” Shion exclaimed, accepting the book from Mother Grabel. “The Tome of Darkness, Volume One. An entry level foray into the world of dark magic, and summoning.”

“Sounds a bit sus.” I noted.

“I hear you, but it’s really not as scary as it sounds.” Shion said. “This is a grimoire for magicians with dark magic affinity that will teach you some basic and intermediate spells to protect yourself with. It’s part of a series of books that cover all the basic affinities. Consider this my gift to you for all your hard work thus far.”

“For me, really?” Shion nodded, handing me the book as I immediately started skimming the first couple pages. My eyes widened. “Hey, I can totally read this! How is that even possible??”

“The book automatically translates into layman’s terms, depending on the reader and their language.” Shion explained. “Do be careful though, grimoires are different from your average book. Once you’ve read it to completion, whether or not you understand it fully, the tome will disintegrate.”

“You break it, you buy it, hooligans!”

Mother Grabel’s words echoed in my head.

“Oh… that so?” I stopped skimming.

“Mother Grabel, you wouldn’t happen to have the Tome of Light, Volume One in stock as well, would you?”

“Afraid not, hun. My latest shipment of grimoires from the Magus Union is on back order due to the war with the empire.” Mother Grabel shook her head. “Why do you ask, dareth I say?”

“They’re both for my friend here. He has two magic affinities, if you would believe it.”

“Two? And you’re certain??” The old woman was shocked. “I haven’t met another double elemental since the late King Dante, dareth I say… I see why you speak of this boy so highly.”

“Indeed.”

As fun as it was to get praised by everybody all of a sudden, I wondered if it was truly earned or not. After all, I was digging fish carcasses and apple cores from the garbage only a few days ago. It wouldn’t be so easy for me to accept kindness and praise from others.

“I don’t know much about all that magic stuff, but even I think it’s pretty impressive, partner.” Zero said. “You’ll have to study twice as hard as everybody else though, so I don’t envy you there.”

“Eh?”

“What Zero means is that with two magic affinities, you’ll have to devote time to each one in order to gain a mastery of them.” Shion explained. “You saw a hint of what Alpha was capable of with competency in both darkness and light, but he’s not at full power yet. We’ll all want to be at our strongest as he challenges us again and again.”

Shion’s tone grew annoyed. She must have known just as well as I did that Alpha would be back soon with a vengeance.

“Ain’t that another reason why we’re going to Ember?” Zero suggested. “So you can get all charged up?”

“Correct. I’ve been due for another replenishment of my power, but much in the way that blood recipients can only receive from the appropriate donors, mana works the same.” Shion said. “Only the same elemental affinities can transfer from one to the other, and my affinity is the rarest of all, time and space. Only other Time Keepers—such as my master—can supplement my mana, since I can no longer create it on my own.”

“That sounds rough…” I muttered, feeling a bit of pity for Shion.

“Don’t let it bother you, Ren-kun, it was my own choice.” Shion nodded. “We should get going, in any case, I think we’re due for a lunch break.”

“Now you’re speaking my language!” Zero exclaimed.

“Mother Grabel, how much do I owe you for the grimoire?”

“Oh, that, if you factor in the increased import tax from the Eastern Independent Nations, volume demand, plus the rarity of the disappearing ink…” The old lady did some mental math for a few moments. “That’ll be twenty thousand Dān, in silvers, dareth I say.”

HUH!?

Zero and I both panned our gazes from Shion to Mother Grabel, and back, expecting Shion to kindly refuse.

“Why, yes….. yes, of course………” Shion, tearing up a bit, placed a bank check from her purse on the counter with trembling fingers.

“Shion, hold up a minute, we could always—“ I began, sweat forming on my brow.

“No, no, it’s quite alright…..” She sniffled. “Let’s get going now, hurry before I change my mind. And much obliged, Mother Grabel.”

“Take care of yourself, darling! And say hi to your master for me in Ember, dareth I say!” The old lady called out as we left.

. . .

“Thanks again, and sorry about the cost…” I said awkwardly as we meandered to our picnicking spot.

“Shion just couldn’t bear to be outdone by the barmaid.” Zero whispered with a smirk.

“Ahem—as long as you take your studies seriously, it will have been worth it, and, well…” Shion skipped out in front of Zero and I, and turned around, walking backwards. “You’re going to be a student at the Institute soon, so I figured you needed a proper grimoire like the others, certainly so since your normal ability is passive.”

“Wait… Huh???” I stopped in place. “What did you just say?”

“Oh. I didn’t tell you, did I, Ren-kun? When we visit my master, we’re going to get his and the rest of the Council of Five’s blessing to admit you as a late enrollee at the Institute for Practical Magic.” Shion smiled. “So, I hope you’re ready.”

“…”

Whether I’m ready or not. As if that’s a question.

I was suddenly filled with anticipation.

“I’ve been ready since the moment I arrived.”

From there, we quickly made a few other stops where I was able to pick up some proper clothing with the money Milton gave me, along with a sheathe for the Ashen Fang. We were also able to indulge in a nice meal of assorted loaves, tea, and sandwich ingredients, thanks to Lissette.

At last, we were prepared for our trip.

A moot to decide the next ruler of Zen, a personal meeting with the famed Headmaster of the Institute, and a whirlwind of other events that would find us on the near horizon.

The second chapter in my new life here had finally begun.