Episode 28: The return of the princesses and prince

After 2 days of traveling, the team finally exited the forest. The surroundings, though familiar, were changing with the transition from one season to the next. The familiar forest entrance they used to know was now of a pale brown color, and the tall grass had gone from golden to mute. The sky, once gray and cold, was now blue with dense clouds on the horizon. It felt like they were traveling to a new place even though it was the one they’ve always known

Taro: the tawn, we here!

Shizuka: We made it!

Nagye: that was really o-our first adventure, I really did become an adventurer like you guys

Sidra: just in time to see the clouds of the raneh season

Ari: our journey is not done yet, lets report to the guild first, then we’ll go to sister Sunny

Nagye: r-right, I have the potion ready

Sidra: having you in this journey has been such a blessing, you even took the time to make the potion for us

Nagye: I-if there’s anything I can do, f-for my friends, I’ll try my best

the group of adventurers entered the guild office looking different than how they left, somehow stronger

guild secretary: what do we have here?, who could these brave adventurers be?, welcome back, prince and princesses from far away

Taro: tank you mazter, we, back

Ari: we brought bags full of the Naro plant, and also, we fought a monster that I don’t think we have any record of

guild secretary: oh? you brought the entire Naro plant population with you!, you’re all my best foragers now ha-ha!, and, a monster we’ve never seen before?, now that’s a bold claim

Ari: here’s proof of the encounter, it was part of long roots which it used to grab us, I was a tree monster

guild secretary: a tree monster? now that is indeed something I haven’t heard about, I need all the details

Sidra: Ari, may I ask of you and Shizuka to brief him?, we must go to sister Sunny promptly to deliver the potion

Shizuka: wait, sister Sunny is like a grandma to me, I want to see her too

guild secretary: I believe Ari, but for the guild report to be official, I need the testimony of at least 2 people, it’s the protocol, you know how it is

Nagye: I-I’ll stay with Ari, you guys take the potion, the priests probably know how to use it

Shizuka: thank you, Nagye

Taro, Sidra, and Shizuka rushed to the church, the staff murmured in relief to see them back, safe and sound

Sidra: we have returned with the medicine; I beg of you to allow us to see sister Sunny

bald priest: blessed be the sight, you all had us worried, I’m glad to see you return in one piece, I’m sure sister Sunny will be glad to see you again, but first we must boil the Naro root

Shizuka: no need, we already brought the full potion, take a look

bald priest: this is… it is indeed the purple potion from the manuals, did the talented shy girl make it?

Sidra: that is correct

bald lets waste no more time then

The bald priest gave careful spoons to a sleeping sister Sunny, her black spots had grown, which worried the returning adventurers, but were reassured that the potion would save her. They waited impatiently in the church, waiting for sister Sunny to wake up, until they were summoned back to her room. Shizuka, Sidra, and Taro saw sister Sunny with her eyes awake, despite her black spots and weakness, she could smile at them, and called them to come closer. Her voice was strained and breathy, but audible

sister Sunny: you really—went to the forest—- to save me, my dear children…

those words broke the three of them immediately, their words had to travel through the knot in their throats

Sidra: we have returned, we will not let you be defeated by this lowly enemy

Shizuka: sister Sunny! I'm so happy… to see you again!

Taro: (I can’t say anything, I’m about to cry, I don’t even know what I could say)

sister Sunny: Taro— my child—- you worried—so much—- for my sake, —-I’m so sorry…

those words finished breaking Taro down, he could not stop the tears any longer

Taro: it, it ok sister Sunny, it, ok

sister Sunny: to think—- my children would—- save me—- I may not be your real mother—- yet I’m so proud— of all of you

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Taro and Shizuka remembered all the things sister Sunny had done for them

she was the first person they ever saw when they first woke up in this new world

she healed them, nursed them back up, cared for them, taught them many things despite the language barrier, despite how busy she was, she always had time and energy to keep an eye on them and even play along with Shizuka’s antics

they always saw her like a strong, dependable, and gentle old lady, with more energy and strength than they would have expected

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having seen her health decline was shocking, but seeing her smile once again brought them all immense relief and the tears washed away their worry

bald priest: I cannot thank you enough for what you have done, you are all no doubt part of this church, I’m sure the goddess has seen your bravery and trusts you with her highest blessings. we will keep treating sister Sunny until she gets better, you may rest now, the festival is coming very soon, you need to be in your best energies to fully enjoy it

Sidra: goddess gracious, I had forgotten about the festival, we didn’t even get to help with the preparations

Shizuka: we did spend almost 7 days in the forest, good thing we hurried, we got here just in time

just as they headed for the guild office, they found Ari and Nagye outside the church

Ari: How was it? did it work?

Sidra: wonderfully so, she has awakened now, her health will only improve from now. Nagye’s potion was masterfully crafted, the high priest was surprised with its quality

Nagye: I-I’m glad I could help. I guess le-learning how to make potions wasn’t a waste of time

Shizuka: Nagyeee! thank you so much, you were such a lifesaver during the whole journey, I don’t wanna go on an adventure without you anymore!

Nagye: c-close, you’re t-too close

Shizuka: ah sorry, if you don’t like hugs, I’ll stop, it’s the least I can do

Nagye: I d-don’t dislike them, I-I’m just not used to t-them

Shizuka: then you’ll get a lot of practice with me hehehe

Taro: Ari, tank you, for help me, I never forget, in my chest (if not for your concern, this would have not been possible)

Ari: h-huh? what are you saying?, I didn’t really do anything special, I just—

Shizuka: praise her more Taro, she’s just acting modest hehe

Taro: you, very good leader, and, very good friend

Ari: n-now you’re just hyping me up, you’re learning bad habits from that old man at the guild

Taro: (seeing her flustered is quite entertaining I must say, I think I understand now why Shizuka teases her so much) you, very tough, princess, “ha-ha!”

Ari: s-stop!, if you’re just teasing me, I’ll feel bad, I won’t forgive you

Shizuka: hehehe, what a cute princess we got here, what's your name cutie? hehehehe

Ari: n-not you too Shizuka! you guys just want to m-make me cry!, I can't trust the words of perverts like you, perverts are banned from speaking!

they teased Ari until they got their fill and Ari left when she could not hide the red of her face, supposedly angry, but secretly bubbly, fluttery, lightheaded even

Sidra went back into the church to catch up with what had happened the past days, and Shizuka, Nagye and Taro hanged out, reflecting on all that they have experienced in their first adventure together. Time flew, and before the sun was about to set, they were already tired and sleepy from their irregular nights in the forest, so they each headed back to their homes

Taro took off his adventurer cape and hat, put his bag in a corner of his room, and laid himself down on the bed he forgot to miss

Taro: (I really did it again, my second adventure, I cried so much these past days, more than a year’s worth… I may not be a hero, but I managed to save someone dear to me, I think I would choose this over fighting the Horde any day. to travel with my friends, live so many fun things, see the world…)

he reflected proudly on how well his second adventure had gone until he fell asleep