As he had traveled to Claymore's Peak countless times before, Sir Ruloc swiftly settled us into the town's inn before gathering us to chat with the local hunters.
We then accompanied the hunters to the hunting site—the forest nesting at the base of Claymore's Peak—before discussing about hunting conditions.
Then, after thorough preparation for tomorrow, we returned to the inn and shared a hearty meal.
"Do you want to visit the town's botanist with us?" Fin asked me afterwards when we were free. "She's a friend of Mr. Sparrow's, and she has an excellent collection you can browse. O-of course, that's if you're interested…"
"Okay—" I barely responded before Shire interrupted me.
"Why would she be interested in [plants]?" he interjected, putting a hand on my shoulder. "Obviously she's checking out the wares with me and Winston! Ain't that right, Air?"
I glanced at Winston who shot me a hopeful look.
During our meal, we [had] discussed about visiting the blacksmith, and I [had] taken interest—but now that I was given two choices…
"You…! You dare call her…!" Fin flared at Shire.
"Weren't you listening when Sir Ruloc said it's for discretion's sake?" Shire grinned. "Besides, [Air] already agreed we could call her that, didn't you, [Air]?"
"…I did—" I barely said before Shire burst out with, "SEE? [Air] allowed it, so take that branch out your ass and—"
I pinched Shire's hand that was on my shoulder while someone's fist swatted the back of Shire's head.
"Watch your language!" Sir Ruloc growled behind Shire. "And especially mind your manners towards young Fin, you brat!"
"…Sorry…" Shire mewed meekly, rubbing his head.
"Um…I'm sorry, too…" Fin murmured somewhat guiltily.
After Sir Ruloc made Shire and Fin reconcile by shaking hands, I made the decision to join Fin and Mr. Sparrow to visit the local botanist.
During our walk there, Fin apologized, telling me he was embarrassed for letting me witness the quarrel from earlier.
I reassured him he didn't need to apologize for fights between friends.
"But I'm not friends with that asshole—" Fin began before Mr. Sparrow swiftly covered Fin's mouth.
"That's right, a fight between [friends], that's what it was," Mr. Sparrow smiled at me before dragging Fin ahead to privately berate him.
There was a scuffling sound behind me, and I was reminded that Winston had joined us as well.
I fell back, matching his pace, and assessed his sullen expression.
"Didn't you want to go with Shire?" I asked.
He twiddled his thumbs before uttering, "…No. I just wanted to go with you."
"Don't regret it, then!" I exclaimed, grabbing his hand and running off before he knew what was happening. "I'm not going to listen if you say you're bored later on!"
I glanced back with a grin, relieved when I saw that he was grinning himself.
"Heh! I'll race you to the end!" he chuckled, letting go of my hand to sprint ahead where Fin and Mr. Sparrow were.
I laughed and raced after him.
║║║║║║║║║║
The botanist was a rugged woman who—upon opening the front door—frowned suspiciously at me and Winston but smiled when she saw Mr. Sparrow and Fin behind us.
Ushering us into her cluttered dwelling, the botanist made us tea while conversing with Mr. Sparrow.
While they were catching up, Fin led me and Winston to an adjacent room, the collection room Fin had mentioned.
This room was large and less disordered, containing a wide showcase of plants, herbs, and more, their names, usages, and details displayed beside each respectively.
Exploring the room further, I found on display maps regarding Claymore's Peak and the nearby mountains, as well as a rough drawing of the Midlands.
The papers scattered on the ground below showed various medicinal plants found across each mountain and the different creatures one might encounter while seeking those plants.
"Airee, look!" Winston called.
I walked over to him and peered down at the display of rough gems and ores he was looking at.
"This one is the color of your eyes!" he exclaimed, pointing to an ore containing specks of yellow and gold.
"This one looks like yours," I said, pointing to a gemstone swirled with hues of blue, azure, and white.
"That one reminds me of Sir Ruloc!" he added, pointing to a piece of ruby.
It indeed inspired images of Sir Ruloc, and I chuckled.
"And this one—" I began before pausing, a peculiar ore suddenly catching my attention.
It was a dark ore—void of shine—and consisted of black and purple patches of veins.
…
It was oddly familiar…
I reached out to touch it, my finger grazing one of the sharp edges jutting out—
"WAIT!" Fin exclaimed from seemingly out of nowhere, startling me as he pulled me back by my shoulders. "That one might cut you if you're careless!"
"Ah…too late…" I breathed, coming to my senses as blood dripped down my finger.
"Crap," Fin blurted before scrambling off to get bandages. He soon returned with them—and with the botanist and Mr. Sparrow in tow.
"You're not the first it's nicked, and you won't be the last," the botanist remarked as Fin cleaned and bandaged my finger. "Hopefully, you've learned not to touch things so recklessly?"
"Y-yes, ma'am," I responded, her stern glower making me sweat.
Winston looked on with guilt, not even protesting when we were both sent back to the inn early.
"…I…I'm sorry, Airee…" Winston stammered, stopping during our walk back. "…Because…of me…"
"No, the botanist was right. What I did was reckless, and it was completely my fault," I reassured him. "Besides, it just scratched me. It won't stop me from hunting tomorrow."
"…Still…I was the one to call you over…" he paused with anguish. "…I don't ever want you to get hurt 'cause of me…"
…We trained together so we were bound to wound each other. But that's not what he needed to hear right now…
"…You're kind, Winston," I said, patting his back. "I don't want to hurt you either, so that makes things even."
"How does that—" Winston protested, but I stopped him by pinching his cheek.
"You're not responsible this time. That. Means. We're. Even," I stated. "Got it?"
…
"Hn…Fwine," he finally agreed, and I released him.
He still looked conflicted when we arrived at the inn, but his mood gradually improved by the time all of us settled in for the night.
Thus approached the anticipated tomorrow…
║║║║║║║║║║
Contrary to what was expected, hunting was cancelled that morning due to unforeseen circumstances.
Adding to that disappointment, Shire, Winston, and I were then sent over to the intimidating botanist to help the researchers.
"These are what you need to gather," the botanist said, handing me, Winston, and Shire each a drawing consisting of a table of plants and herbs with their characteristics. "I'm not expecting much but do what you can."
"Don't worry, Irraine, I'll guide them well!" Fin grinned, addressing the botanist while we were each handed a compartmentalized basket.
"Thank you, Fin," Irraine said, smiling warmly before frowning at the rest of us. "Now, be off!"
"She's as crabby as I remember," Shire complained as we four walked towards the forest. "If only hunting hadn't been called off this morning, then we wouldn't be stuck doing this."
"I don't mind," Winston chirped. "We still have the rest of this week to hunt. And the next week after that. Until then, we'll help you, Fin!"
"That's right!" I promptly agreed, revitalized by Winston's positivity. "And helping you is also thanks for inviting us yesterday!"
"Ugh, you're all becoming alike," Shire grunted as Fin beamed at us.
"I'm glad I'm not alone this time," Fin smiled, looking the happiest he had ever been on this trip. "We'll start at the usual spot and go from there!"
║║║║║║║║║║
The usual spot was a small clearing in the eastern part of the forest where the ground and undergrowth wept with dewy green.
Fin meticulously made sure we could all distinguish and extract each plant and herb before he allowed us to spread out in the vicinity. "Stay close and have fun!" he said before we went our separate ways.
Eyes to the forest floor, I dutifully gathered what I could, occasionally using my hunting dagger to extract a plant by its root before moving on to the next patch of greenery.
Before long, hours passed, and—with sweat dripping down my neck and back—I had to stop and rest.
"…Winston?" I called out, suddenly realizing I had strayed into a desolate, open meadow. "…Shire? Fin??"
I stood and looked around, fearing I might truly be an idiot for getting lost despite being instructed to stay nearby.
[…]
"I'll just re-trace my steps," I calmly reassured myself, exhaling with relief when I spotted my imprints in the grass leading back to the forest.
"Excuse me…?" an unfamiliar voice called just as I was retreating into the trees.
I reached for my dagger and whirled around.
A cloaked, young man stood across me, his midnight-black hair fluttering in the wind as his green eyes stared delicately at me.
His mouth opened, and words tumbled out of it, however…
My ears weren't listening, something else instead demanding my full senses and attention.
There.
Floating beside the young man…
An otherworldly being of golden irises and slitted pupils, with an antler jutting starkly out of its temple while its hair and skin rippled a deep violet underneath the setting sun…
[Yuri.]