Critical Misclass - Ch. 31-33

CHAPTER 31 - Heat of the Night

As if Vanndrenvar wasn't already lacking in energy and excitement, we discovered on our walk back to St. Ager's Pub that the city apparently closed for business around sundown. There were even less streetlamps than I expected, as if they weren't really needed. Even our footsteps seemed too loud against the hushed backdrop of the city at night, and I found myself prepared to apologize when someone would inevitably complain about the racket we were making.

There were some exceptions, which I was thankful for, because it made me feel less like we were in some kind of post-apocalyptic scenario. Even then, these places only stood out in comparison to the rest of the city. We saw some restaurants, from which we could barely make out people having conversations at polite levels. We passed one inn, which didn't have much noise coming from it, but was notable in that we could see light coming through multiple windows.

Finally, there were the pubs, bars, and taverns. My assumption was that these drinking establishments would be livelier than any other place in the city, while still lacking the kind of commotion and vigor that one might expect from a place with a variety of drunken fantasy species. Unsurprisingly, it turned out that I was right. I'm guessing that the only reason why these places were allowed to remain in business is because they weren't located anywhere near residences.

St. Ager's was the same way. We could hear the noise from a good distance, but it was still not especially loud.

"Just doesn't make any sense." Ves's tail was swishing around in irritation. "If an inn halfway between here and Perrenbrook can put silencing enchantments on all their rooms, and this city seems to hate noise so much, why not enchant everything?"

Thia sighed. "It would seem that Vanndrenvar takes a certain pride in self-control. Or, mayhaps, in enforcing high standards."

We entered the pub to find it more crowded than expected, with most of the barstools and tables taken up by what appeared to be the dregs of society... by Vanndrenvar standards. I'd had teachers with more wrinkled clothing and disheveled hair than the people currently in the pub.

It also turned out that the heavy stone walls of Vanndrenvar did do a pretty decent job of dampening sound. Even though it still felt restrained, St. Ager's was easily the loudest place I'd been to on Fielende. As much as I was tempted to reenact a sci-fi cantina scene, the relative commotion of the pub gave me an idea. I tapped Ves on the shoulder and leaned in to whisper in her ear. She promptly recoiled.

"Gah! Not so close! I've got pretty good hearing, you know?"

"My bad. I just wanted to run something by you..." I shared my idea with Ves, while Thia looked curious about what we were discussing.

Ves grinned and held out a hand. "Good idea. Pay for my drinks?"

I smirked and fished out a couple of coins for her. We had all been sharing our money so far, so I was sure that Ves was just being cheeky. With her ears perked up, she practically skipped over to the bar and got Grumzzak's attention. I turned my attention to Thia, who had a look of suspicion, complete with a raised eyebrow. I took her hand in mine and gave it a gentle nudge.

"Hey, let's go drop our stuff off upstairs." I led the way, not wanting to look back and see if Thia saw through my transparent ruse to get her alone. I maneuvered us through the patrons to make our way behind the bar, gave Grumzzak a quick wave as we passed through the door, then jogged up the too-rickety-for-my-tastes staircase and into the spare room.

Just as planned, the noise from the pub's main room downstairs could be heard clear as day: perfect to drown out any sounds we might make in here. We had laid out our bedrolls earlier, knowing that there was a good chance that we would come back here exhausted from studying and walking. I slumped the pack of plenty off of my shoulders and onto the floor next to my bedroll, then turned around, only to find Thia standing right behind me.

I was crazy about the way she would get close and look up at me, and it was obvious that she was aware of that. "You know that there was no need to devise some reason for us to be alone." Her arms slid around my torso like a pair of snakes, ready to constrict.

"It's not exactly like that." I embraced her in return, feeling her deceptively-delicate frame in my arms. "I just wanted to make sure Ves knew what was going on. Back at Paddorn, I promised you that we would have time just for each other, but then, this morning..."

Thia giggled. "I admit that I was not expecting anything to happen at that... place," she said with more than a little scorn directed at the cold, bland, inn. "But I'm delighted that it did. It was thrilling." Her body shuddered with exhilaration. "I am earnestly awaiting the next opportunity for the three of us to collaborate like that again."

I leaned in to kiss her, and she met my lips as if she were trying to reach mine first. It would have been all-too easy for me to give into my urges and ignite the sort of passion that Thia and I had experienced in our previous dalliances, but I wanted this time to be special.

"I can't wait for that, either." Never before had I understated something so tremendously. "But tonight, it's just us, and we can finally take our time."

Thia released me, not breaking her intense eye contact. She bit her lower lip, making me weak in the knees, and slowly, deliberately, pulled off her dress. Her underwear wasn't as erotic or fancy as the black lingerie she wore for me a few days ago, but Thia would look sexy wearing a garbage bag.

Following her example, I removed my armor. By the time I had finished, Thia had also let down her hair, and was actively helping me undress, eager to take off the shirt and shorts I had been wearing underneath. We embraced again, kissing deeply, our tongues dancing together. As soon as we separated, I removed her bra, admiring her little nipples. Then I pulled down her panties, kissing her thighs in the process. I stroked the black scales that ran up the front of her legs, feeling how they went from thick and firm near the bottom to thin and smooth around her upper thighs.

Thia sighed blissfully, running a hand through my hair. While I was already down here, I couldn't resist a taste of her delicious nectar. I kissed my way over to her pussy, and was greeted by a single trickle, which I greedily lapped up. I needed more. My tongue delved between the folds of Thia's bare pussy, and she gripped my hair in response.

"Oh... Jeremy, I... I love how you do that... lick it all up..."

As arousing as it was to hear her say that, it was also weird hearing it amidst all of the noises coming from the pub. With my eyes closed - or my face between Thia's legs - it almost felt like we were doing this in public. Although... while I'm no exhibitionist, I would have a hell of a time declining an opportunity to taste Thia.

Thia guided my head up slightly. I knew what she was getting at, and my tongue found her clit so I could tease and lick it.

"Yes, Jeremy, yes, please!"

I could barely hear Thia's high-pitched whimpers amidst the discord coming from below us, but her body tensing and the flood that she gifted me was more than obvious. My cock was so hard that it was aching, but I had to clean up the mess I had helped Thia make.

Her grip loosened, and she took a shaky step backwards. I rose to my feet and she took my head in her hands, pulling me down for a kiss that could have woke me from a coma. The kiss broke, but a gossamer strand of her nectar still connected our lips. Noticing this, Thia ran her tongue over her gorgeous lips, then - her tongue still extended - rose on her tiptoes to lick all around my mouth.

She drove me absolutely wild.

But it was even more than that; looking at her beautiful face, her blue eyes, golden hair, warm brown skin... The way that she was looking back at me.... It made my heart race.

Her gaze began to drift south, and her hand soon followed. The feeling of her soft touch on my rigid shaft was nothing short of incredible. I knew I could just stand there and say nothing, and she would have my cock in her mouth within seconds. But that's not what I wanted right now.

"Thia, I-- I want-- ugh." I took a deep breath as she just gave me the sweetest smile, all while gently stroking my cock. None of that helped me get the words straight in my head. Even in the split-seconds when I could ignore the phenomenal sensations she was so gleefully providing, all I could think about was how much I cared for her, but I couldn't come up with the right way to tell her what I was really longing for in that moment.

"I'd like to have sex with you. Not like we did the other day." Thia's hand stopped, then slowly released my shaft. My face felt hot. Thia was such a warm, charming, woman, yet whenever we had a moment to spare, it was like her libido went into overdrive. This was not necessarily a problem! I just wanted to know if that's what our relationship would be like, or if we were actually able to share the kind of intimacy that Ves and I had when we had sex. "What I mean is: I'd like to... make love to you."

I had never said something like that out loud, and I felt a little ridiculous. But Thia - sweet, wonderful, Thia - felt differently. Tears were forming in the corners of her big eyes, and her lip was quivering. She sniffled, then pulled me in for another kiss, and I held her tight. When our lips separated, she nodded, giggled, and wiped a tear.

"I desire the same, Jeremy. Would you please make love to me?"

Before I could answer, she pulled away, and moved to lay down on my bedroll. In a moment of surprising vulnerability, Thia covered her breasts with one arm, and placed a hand over her mound.

"Be gentle with me," she breathed. It was all I could do to stop myself from leaping onto her. I knelt down, and helped her spread her legs. "But not too gentle."

I got into position, then leaned down to kiss her again. It was different this time: softer, more tender. Thia moaned into my mouth, but it was less a moan of lust than it was of longing. I could have continued to make out with her all night, but we both wanted more. Guiding my member towards her waiting sex, I pushed into her, groaning as I felt her heat.

That wasn't hyperbole: her pussy was almost uncomfortably hot. She had felt noticeably warm when we had sex at the Paddorn Inn, but this was something else entirely. Now this really feels like I'm having sex with a dragongirl...

With each thrust, I became more comfortable with the heat - but as Thia moaned and held onto me, the temperature rose. Even her skin was starting to feel warmer. Sweat was dripping into my eyes. "You... you're not going to breathe fire, right?" I tried to say it playfully, but I was also genuinely curious if there was more to this than I already knew.

Thia was panting, but managed to get some words out. "If... I ever were... it would be now..."

With that, I took the rising heat as the compliment it clearly was, and grabbed her tight ass to help me thrust. Thia moaned. I pulled out just long enough to position her legs over my shoulders to enter her at a slightly different angle, but more importantly, so I could more easily slap her ass. That wasn't in my original plan for lovemaking, but Thia's cry of pure ecstasy confirmed that I had made the right choice.

"Jeremy, I-- I'm almost--"

As if she needed to tell me: she felt hotter than ever, almost to the point of real discomfort. If I had ever found myself in a situation anything like this on Earth, I would know well enough to stop before I could get seriously hurt, but since I (and both of my girlfriends) could use healing magic? That's a different story. Gotta... find a spell... for heat resistance...

Thia grabbed me harder, and threw her head back with a loud moan. With that cue, I stopped holding back and, within a few pumps, released my ejaculate into her searing sheathe. My little soldiers died doing what they loved.

I pulled out as quickly as I could without seeming disrespectful, and collapsed next to Thia. She was panting and sweating, although not as much as me. I flinched as her hand, still warm, lightly touched my cock. One faint glow later, and I was feeling as good as new... give or take some aches from Thia's healing spell.

"Thank you." I wiped the sweat off my forehead. "That was... new."

"I grew up around so many other aevrana, and sometimes forget what is and isn't common knowledge. Especially when it comes to men from other worlds." She touched the side of my face tenderly, her hand feeling cooler by the minute. "Was it uncomfortable for you?"

I chuckled. "It got pretty intense by the end, but it seems like it's nothing I can't handle." I turned to give her a soft kiss. "Not long after we first met, you mentioned something about how aevrana feel stronger passion than others, right? Is that what this was?"

Thia shifted onto her side to better look at me, and I got a wonderful view of her perky breasts. "Yes! As much as I love to be well and truly fucked... It is different than feeling true emotional passion."

"Thia..."

"I have always wanted to make love. Thank you, Jeremy, for introducing me to these feelings."

"Thank you, too. I--"

It suddenly hit me that it was quiet. Too quiet. Having the same revelation, Thia clapped a hand to her mouth and I instinctively held my breath.

Nothing happened for a moment. Then, clear as a bell, we heard an unfamiliar, gravely, voice from downstairs.

"So, are they done?"

The next sound we heard was Ves bursting into laughter.

CHAPTER 32 - Post-Performance

Thia and I reluctantly entered the taproom as the intoxicated crowd cheered as though we were minor celebrities. It always helped me to lean into moments like these, rather than try and explain myself and inevitably increase the humiliation, so I put on a big smile and waved at our accidental audience. For her part, Thia remained calm and dignified, her arm wrapped around mine.

Most of the patrons, either satisfied with their attempt to embarrass us - or who just didn't care much in the first place - went back to their drinking and conversations. A handful of others nearby were still having their fun, slapping me on the back, praising Thia for her performance, asking us when the next show would be, and so on. I nodded and smiled and Thia kept her chin up as we worked our way through the ever-so-hilarious drunks.

Ves was leaning back against the bar, mug in hand, with her cat-like grin. We sat on either side of her, and I asked what she was drinking.

"Ale." She struggled to even say that one word without laughing out loud. I didn't care at all if she did (especially because she already had), but enjoyed watching her try to hold it in.

I looked over at Thia, who nodded, then leaned over the bar to find Grumzzak. The goblin was cleaning some mugs. "Two ales, please." He nodded and I sat back, where Ves was waiting for me.

Her head kept turning between me and Thia, as if she were unsure who's reaction she was more interested in seeing. "So... anything interesting happen tonight?"

Thia gave her the faintest of smiles, but zero eye contact. "Thank you, Vestele. It was precisely what I needed."

Ves was about to reply, most likely with another snarky comment, based on her expression, but Grumzzak hefted himself up on his platform behind the bar with a grunt.

"Don't wants'ta be th' bearer o' bad news, but seems like th' ceiling here's not too, er, dense, and folks may've heard ya."

Thia gave him a deadpan stare. "Is that so."

"Yer the first people t'go up there besides me, and I never had a need ter go in there when th' pub's open. No idea it wuz so easy to hear things." He plunked down mugs of ale for me and Thia. "S'what I gets for building th' upper floor m'self."

In retrospect, it had been strange that the upper floor was made of wood, when everything else in Vanndrenvar seemed to be made of stone. Soundproofing aside, Grumzzak had done a pretty good job.

"Anyways... Miz Ves says yer didn't find too much at the library. Sorry 'bout that. What're yer gonna do next?"

I took a long swig of the decent-enough drink. "As far as our research goes... I don't know yet. And we also were hoping to learn more about our classes while we were here, too, but the way that people have been treating us when they see that we're adventurers..."

Ves lowered her mug. "And the way the librarian reacted when she saw magic."

Thia's eyes widened. "The complete lack of an Adventurer's Network is also quite odd."

"I'm just glad that you both find this as weird as me." I propped my chin on my hand, elbow resting on the bar. "It tells me that it's mostly unique to this city and not the whole world. Wait... this place isn't so bad. The pub, I mean. Maybe someone here knows something useful."

Ves's ears perked up. "Hey, yeah. Grumz! Is there anyone who could help us, or are they only like this when they're drinking?"

"Eh... this neighborhood's not so bad as th' others, s'far as I know. Still a lot o' pressure t'keep yer head down an' all that, but now'd be the best time t'chat with folks, I suppose."

Thia practically jumped off of her stool. "Could you please direct us to someone who may be fairly knowledgeable about the city?"

The goblin thought about this for a moment, then pointed towards the far opposite end of the taproom. "Iluriar, th' elf back there. Think he's been livin' here for four hun'red years o' so."

It was easy enough to spot the elven man through the crowd, thanks to my Rogue senses. He was at a small table with a halfling that was passed out, face down. I immediately recognized them as the dismal-looking pair who were already at the pub when we arrived that morning.

"Have they been here all day?"

Grumzzak shook his head. "Nah, Iluriar left fer work. He's a teacher, matter o' fact. Th' other guy's been here all day, though. Gotta kick'em out fer th' night soon."

A teacher? Sounds promising. Thia wisely thought to ask Grumzzak for another mug to give to the elf as a means of ingratiating ourselves to him, and we made our way through the room. I got the occasional slap on the back, and more than a few winks, from various patrons along the way.

Thia cleared her throat and held out the mug. "Pardon me... Mr. Iluriar?"

The elf slowly turned to look at Thia. He had dark hair that reached his shoulders, with only the occasional fleck of gray. His skin was smooth and blemish-free, but he had the eyes of a much older man, hinting at his true age. The expression on his face was that of someone who had given up, resigned to their fate.

"It's only 'mister' to my students." His words were soft and deliberate. "And you are clearly not my students."

Ves crossed her arms. "What does that mean?"

The elf's eyes met Ves's. "I only teach primary school."

"Oh."

My first thought was about how he was drinking both before and after a day of teaching kids, but then I noticed that he neither looked or sounded drunk - maybe tipsy, at best. Natural elven resistance, maybe?

Thia leaned down a bit, making it more obvious she was offering the mug to the dour elf. "Apologies, sir. We were merely hoping we could partake in some of your knowledge this evening. All we have to offer are drinks, but I pray that will be sufficient."

"An aevrana..." Iluriar accepted the mug from Thia. "It isn't often I see those of your ancestry in Vanndrenvar."

"I have come to realize why my family never visited. May we...?" Thia motioned to an open seat at the table.

"Ah, yes, of course, please sit."

There were only two open seats around the small table, but a woman, who I guessed was an orc, at the table behind me clapped her hand on my shoulder and pushed her chair towards me. She had light green skin and small tusks, and looked like a bodybuilder.

"Take it. I owe you."

"Owe me?"

"You and your girl put my husband in the mood." With that, she sat on the lap of the man next to her... and it hit me that she might have actually been a half-orc. Her husband looked more like how I pictured a "full" orc, with much larger and more pronounced tusks, a flatter, upturned nose, and a wider, even more muscular, body.

I moved my chair as close to Iluriar's table as possible, between the passed-out halfling and Ves. Iluriar and Thia had been continuing their chat. "I have actually found myself in Karneissdran more than a few times before, so I sympathize with your dietary plight. The emphasis on meat in most of the dishes there... it is fortunate that elves do not require sustenance as often as other species."

Thia placed a hand on her stomach. "I-in any case, we wanted to ask you some questions about Vanndrenvar, if you would not mind."

I nudged the halfling's chair a couple of inches to the side so I could squeeze in better. "Grumzzak says you've lived here for about four hundred years - is that right?"

"Four hundred? Not quite."

"I hope I didn't offend--"

"Four hundred years... No, not until my birthday, next week."

"O-oh. Happy early birthday, then. The big four-double-oh!" Ves and Thia also chimed in with polite birthday greetings.

Iluriar's expression didn't change, or at least, it was subtle enough that I barely noticed it, but his tone grew somewhat warmer. "I welcome the opportunity to have a conversation with adults, rather than children, or..." He glanced at the halfling across from him. "How may I help you?"

We introduced ourselves, and gave him the gist of our story, minus... everything about my origin and my unique ability. When we had finished, he took a long sip from his mug, and processed everything for several seconds.

"I... feel that I am long overdue for a holiday. It has been far too long since I have last left Vanndrenvar, and your tale may have been the final push I required. It has been on my mind since I saw one of my former students... when she brought her grandson to school."

Ves recoiled. "Ugh, I can't imagine being stuck here for that long."

"I am told that one gets used to it, after a time. In regards to the manner in which adventurers are treated... You must understand that it has long been the tradition in Vanndrenvar to interpret the Goddess's words in a literal sense. When She first granted classes to Her people, She said that it was to defeat monsters and the unnatural, and to restore the past."

"But wait," I interrupted. "When the Goddess spoke to me, She didn't mention any of that." I chose not to mention how the Goddess had, however, said more to me than to other adventurers.

"Don't think that hasn't been the topic of many theological debates over the centuries. For many, however, the Goddess's original words regarding classes have been the foundation of what it means to be an adventurer. In those days, you see, the world was plagued by horrible creatures, and as odd as it may sound, even back then there were already many ruins and remnants of fallen civilizations. Thus did the first adventurers set out to defeat the creatures and delve into dungeons to reclaim relics."

I got the impression that this was not exactly new information to Ves and Thia, based on their faces. Most likely because she wasn't expecting Iluriar to get to any new information soon, Ves excused herself to refill everyone's mugs.

Iluriar continued. "While the world does see the occasional grave threat from time to time, we are all significantly safer nowadays. With less dire threats, magic and class skills that had once been solely used for adventuring were being utilized for more mundane purposes, and new uses were developed. And this is where Vanndrenvar diverts from many other societies."

Eager to demonstrate her listening skills, Thia jumped in. "You believe that these abilities should be used strictly for adventuring purposes."

Iluriar held up his index finger. "Ah, not everyone here, and not all to the same degree, but yes, that is the general consensus. At least, among those whose decisions matter. Then there are many who believe that adventurers profiting off of their discoveries, or using relics for themselves, goes against the Goddess's original intention."

Ves caught the last part of that as she returned and passed out everyone's mugs. "Well, that explains a lot."

I took a sip. "Yeah, it does. And I bet that's why we couldn't find anything beyond the basics of runes."

"Indeed." The elven man's demeanor had improved as he spoke - he was definitely fond of teaching. "You will not find any runes utilized for mundane purposes in Vanndrenvar. Nor will you find anyone with the knowledge of classes that you require, much less anyone willing to share said knowledge."

Iluriar's words hung in the air while we considered our options. The pub had been gradually thinning out, and I was glad my back was to the orcish couple, as I could hear aggressive displays of affection from them as they exited the building.

A sputtering cough drew our attention to the halfling that had been sleeping at the table. He mumbled something, and slowly lifted his head with great effort.

Iluriar rose and circled the table to help the halfling sit up straight. "What did you say, my friend?"

"The--" The halfling coughed again, then grabbed my mug and finished it off. "Ugh... The Elder."

I got up to allow Iluriar to sit next to his companion, and took the elf's original seat between Thia and Ves. Thia moved her seat closer to mine, took my hand, and rested her head on my shoulder. Ves immediately adjusted her spot as well, wrapping her arm around mine. I asked Iluriar if the halfling was okay.

"He will be, in time. Poor Rynod's wife left him, you see."

Both of my girlfriends released me and sat up straight, not wanting to make the guy feel worse. I had an idea. "Well, I can't help his heart, but I could try to cure a potential hangover. If neither of you mind a little magic."

Rynod had his face in his hands, but Iluriar nodded. "That would be kind of you."

"I got this!" Ves was closer, so she got up and touched Rynod's back. One faint glow later, she returned to her seat. "No promises, but hopefully he won't feel as gross in the morning."

Thia focused on the drunken halfling. "Sir... what were you saying about an 'elder'?"

Rynod groaned, not lifting his head. "Something 'bout classes..."

Iluriar stared at his friend, waiting for him to say anything else, then shrugged. "I... Well, I apologize on his behalf. He must be rambling. In any case, I--" His eyes widened for a split-second. "A memory is returning to me. Over half a century ago, I heard a rumor from a colleague of mine - a professor at the university. Supposedly, there was a researcher who committed a number of infractions by insisting on pursuing topics that had been deemed prohibited."

I leaned forward, in rapt attention. "And adventurer classes were one of those topics?"

"I cannot say for certain. However, my colleague did mention that, among others, as a possibility. Regardless, as I heard it, the chancellor quietly had the researcher banned from the university. Ironically, had the chancellor publicly announced this, it is likely that I never would have learned of it."

"Does anyone know what happened to the researcher after that?"

"If so, that information did not reach my ears. Perhaps, since Rynod was the one to bring this up, he may know more."

We all looked at the halfling, his head still in his hands, and he let out a snore.

Iluriar stood and gently woke his friend. "He'll sleep at my home tonight, and in the morning, we will return to continue this discussion. It was a pleasure meeting all of you."

The three of us said our goodbyes and I shook Iluriar's hand before he left, escorting Rynod. Feeling somewhat hopeful and looking for an excuse to celebrate, I suggested that our party have a few more drinks before going to sleep.

"You know I'd love that..." Ves sighed. "But without a Network here, we can't get our stipend, so our funds are limited. We lucked out big time, getting to stay here for free."

Thia rose and gave Ves a hug from behind. "We are fortunate to have you with us. I am embarrassed to admit that the thought never occurred to me... especially considering we will need enough for our journey back to Perrenbrook."

Ves and Thia finished up the drinks they already had, and we went upstairs and got as comfortable as possible with our bedrolls side-by-side. Despite worrying about Rynod's information not leading anywhere, being a big spoon and a little spoon with two wonderful women simultaneously helped me to fall asleep within minutes.

u>CHAPTER 33 - Illicit Info

Ves and I were awoken, earlier than expected, by Thia - apparently her internal clock was a lot better than ours. She figured it would be best to go downstairs and wait for Iluriar and Rynod rather than risk missing them, in case they had other places to go. Once again, the cleaning spell proved to be the MVP of our quest, making us feel like we had bathed and washed our clothes in the blink of an eye... although I was missing the feeling of a hot shower.

Grumzzak wasn't in the taproom, and there were no lights lit or windows open. Ves actually had the idea to help clean up the place while we waited, as thanks for the room. The goblin had wiped some tables and cleaned up the larger spills on the floor, but the place needed a more thorough cleaning.

Naturally, the cleaning spell did most of the work in no time at all. There were some stains and at least one moldy growth that were unaffected by the magic, leaving us wondering if we just weren't talented enough, or if they had been there so long that they were considered a normal part of the pub. I used some old fashioned elbow grease to scrape off the mold and scrub the stains, which wasn't enough on its own, but the spell was able to take care of the rest.

Grumzzak was stunned by how clean his pub could look, and excitedly prepared us a big, egg-heavy, breakfast - on the house. The grin on Ves's face suggested that this might have been her plan all along.

We were nearly finished eating when Iluriar and Rynod entered. I hadn't noticed it last night, since his face had been obscured more often than not, but the halfling had a large scar going down from just below his left eye, almost all the way to his chin. He didn't seem as completely miserable as he had the day before, but was definitely not in a good mood. He wore an old brown cap, which was tilted to partially cover his right eye, as if to draw attention towards the scar on the other side. All this, in conjunction with his sour expression, had me wondering for a bit if he was trustworthy.

I approached them and held out my hand to greet Rynod, since we never had a proper introduction. With squinting eyes, he looked at my hand, then up at my face, but didn't so much as lift his own arm.

"Listen. Seems I said somethin' I shouldn't have while in my cups. A real amateur move on my part. But - apparently - you lot are the reason why I don't feel like shit this morning. More importantly, the burnin' in my stomach is gone, and that's been givin' me no end of trouble lately. So, as I see it: I owe you."

"We appreciate it. Anything you can tell us would be great."

Thia stepped forward and placed a hand on her chest. "You are too kind, sir, and I pray that you soon feel better in every manner of speaking."

Rynod perked up a little upon taking in the aevrana's beauty. He shot me a look that read Why the hell am I talking to you, directed his attention fully towards Thia, and quickly removed his cap.

"Er, my apologies, miss. For embarrassing myself last night. Truth is, I'm in a hell of my own makin'. My wife, see, she never had a high opinion of my extralegal activities, but could look the other way from time to time."

"She must have been a positive influence on you, sir."

Although I may as well have been invisible by this point, I ushered everyone over to a table. Fortunately, being the only people in the pub, we could sit at a larger table with no need to add chairs or squeeze in.

Rynod continued his conversation with Thia. "Goddess, but that's the truth. She always wanted me to get out of the life, but never pushed it. Problem is, she had no idea just how deep I'm involved." He rubbed the bridge of his nose, taking a deep breath. "Bah... May as well do what good I can by returning a favor."

"Mr. Rynod, sir, that would mean so much to us!" I don't know how intentional it was - the way she had manipulated the students told me it was likely very intentional - but Thia had turned up the charm. Her whole demeanor was so sweet that you just wanted to help her however you could.

Rynod cleared his throat. "All that stuff Ilur said about the banished researcher? I never heard any of that before. What I do know comes from some of my associates. Items of a certain nature are sometimes delivered to a cabin near the edge of the woods, north of the Residential District, to someone only referred to as 'the Elder'. Some gray-haired academic. And these deliveries include things from outside of Vanndrenvar. Items such as writings on classes - that is, adventurer classes."

I scratched my chin. "That's interesting, but can we be sure that it's the same person?"

"Look: I've never done one of those deliveries, so I can't say for sure, but what I can say is that academic papers an' books aren't exactly things that normally get smuggled. "

"It's better than nothing," Ves shrugged. "And if it's been about fifty years, then 'Elder' sounds appropriate."

"I agree. This information is quite helpful." Thia smiled gently at Rynod, who continued to be taken aback by the petite blonde showing him such politeness. "Would you be able to provide us with any further details regarding the Elder's location?"

"R-right, of course." Rynod gave us what details he had, which weren't as specific as I would have liked. Even if Fielende had satellite navigation, the Elder lived in an isolated cabin. Regardless, it was a lead, and it gave us the inspiration we needed.

We thanked Iluriar and Rynod, but they wouldn't hear it. The halfling crossed his arms, looking deadly serious. "We're even. I don't like to leave loose ends - it's bad for business."

Iluriar, conversely, had an almost-serene smile on his face, although his eyes still had a hint of sadness. "Best of luck. I hope we have the opportunity to converse again, one evening."

Rather than exit the walled section of the city through the western gate, where we had entered the day before, we chose to take the northern gate. It was ultimately a bit further, since we would still have to head west to get past the Residential District and reach the woods, but we figured it would be best to avoid the rude guards we met on our way in. We didn't want to let any of them become too familiar with our faces. Just in case.

There wasn't a whole lot outside of the northern gate, especially compared to the western side of the city. There was another spartan-looking inn, some stores, and a handful of homes. Maybe the northern road isn't traveled as much?

Claiming that she needed a break from the city, Ves suggested that we move along the border until we reached the woods. It meant walking that much farther, but it wasn't a huge difference, and it made her feel better. Thia and I were happy to accommodate her. It ended up being a great idea: just being able to see grass, trees, and distant mountains was a welcome respite from Vanndrenvar. The sounds of nature were also a big step up from the sound of... well, not a lot.

Once we reached the woods, it was like a weight had been lifted, and a sense of relief flowed through me. Most of my admittedly-short time in Fielende had been spent surrounded by trees, and while at least one awful thing had happened in that time, the many wonderful memories were all I could think about. I shared one of these memories with my party, and as we made our way towards the cabin, we laughed, teased, and made plans for the future.

Rynod's directions, despite being based on landmarks and the occasional secret carving on trees, ended up being easier to follow than we expected. Having enhanced perception absolutely helped, to be fair - at certain points, we were able to spot trails and other unintentional signs made by the smugglers over repeated visits. Wonder how many Rogues are working in Vanndrenvar's underworld... and if they have to hide their abilities.

As the day went on, we talked less and less. While part of it was just enjoying the company and our surroundings, I was sensing some concern from Thia, but especially Ves. I had my own concerns, as well, and figured that there was more than a little overlap.

It was well into the afternoon when we finally saw the cabin in the distance. I was sure that it would be camouflaged; overgrown with plants, maybe, if not concealed by magic, but it was just... there. I realized that it wasn't likely that anyone would just stumble upon the place.

"This has to be it. Are we ready?"

Both women were clearly nervous, but only Thia was actively trying to hide it. Ves took my hand, but didn't look me in the eyes.

"I feel stupid even saying this, but... is- is there even a chance that the Elder might be that old bastard? Red Gauze."

"It's okay, I had the same thought--"

"We couldn't see his hair, right? Didn't Rynod say that the Elder had gray hair?"

Thia placed a hand on Ves's shoulder, comfortingly. "That would match many elderly people."

I shook my head. "No, I never saw his hair. Either time I saw him."

Ves took a few deep, but fast, breaths. "Because of the gauze. Right. I know. I told you it was stupid--"

Thia and I spoke at once.

"It's not stupid, and it's good to be cautious..."

"Vestele, we are all concerned about that man."

Ves shrugged us off and took a step back. "Okay, okay, I know. It's just been, you know, stuck in my head all day. I didn't want to say anything, but now, now we're here, and I just got all-- yeah."

We hugged her, making a calico sandwich. I could feel her breathing slow down, and soon, she managed to free her arms and wrap them around us awkwardly. I kissed the top of her head, just behind one of her ears.

I suggested that we move back a little, and take a short break before approaching the cabin. Just in case things went south, I figured that it would be best to have enough energy. Grumzzak had kindly provided us with some rations, which mostly consisted of dried fruit and nuts, but he also made sure to pack some hard-boiled eggs for Thia. We didn't linger long, but it was enough to help us calm down and feel prepared.

As we got closer to the cabin, I saw some small garden plots with a variety of colorful flowers, as well as at least a couple of wooden birdfeeders on nearby trees. Ves and I looked at each other at the same time, sharing the same thought: I doubt Red Gauze lives here. People have surprised me, though, so I couldn't dismiss the idea entirely.

The front door was unadorned, and even lacked a name or any kind of identifier. Taking the lead, I went up to the door and knocked a few times. Every second of waiting felt like an eternity, and my heart was thumping in my chest.

I barely made out faint footsteps on the other side of the door, and a moment later, the door slowly opened a few inches.

There, in the doorway, was an astonishingly beautiful woman.

Thank you for reading and for the feedback! All of your comments and messages mean a lot to me.