THREE INGREDIENTS
The results was just as expected. Syton lost to Stalane. He came only 15 minutes late after Stalane arrived first.
"You remember our deal, right?" Stalane asked right after Syton finally reached their destination.
Syton collected his breath first before he waved his hands. "Yeah, yeah. Let me breathe first"
Stalane watched him gasp for air.
"Is this the house?" Syton asked while looking around.
Stalane shrugged. "I think so. This is what the map says"
Syton nodded as he walked towards the front door. He raised his hands to knock.
After 3 knocks, they received no answer from the other side of the door. Syton knocked again, but they still failed to receive any response.
"Is there no one home?" Syton asked.
As if on cue, both Syton and Stalane noticed a presence from behind them. Syton readied himself while Stalane remained calm.
She already felt her presence earlier than Syton and she knows that this lady hold no malicious intent towards them.
When Syton noticed how calm Stalane was, he also composed himself.
"What are you two doing in front of my house?" the lady asked.
Both Syton and Stalane understood that this lady was the one that they were looking for.
Syton smiled politely, "Nice to meet you, I'm Syton and this girl besides me is my slave"
Stalane was about to greet the lady when she realized what Syton just said. She glared at Syton but it looked like he doesn't even notice it.
"Are you perhaps the cousin of Kiara and Kian?" Syton continued.
"What slave?!" Stalane angrily asked Syton, the same time Syton asked the lady.
Syton looked towards Stalane then tilted his head, asking if she was saying anything since he doesn't heard her.
"You're dead to me later" Stalane mouthed at him. She tried her best not to hit him in front the lady so she just cursed at him.
She noticed how Syton playfully smiled as if he took it as a compliment.
The lady in question nodded to answer Syton's question. "I am. Why?"
"We are looking for a gem and they said that you might have the other gem" Stalane explained.
The lady's face lit up after hearing Stalane's explanation. She clapped her hands in glee.
"Great! I've been really needing a help for the medicine that I've been working on" The lady said.
Syton and Stalane looked at the lady feeling confused at what she was talking about.
The lady ignored them as she walked towards the door. She opened them using the key she have.
"Come in. Let me explain to you what my request would be all about" the lady invited them.
The lady guided both of them into the living room. She also introduced herself while preparing some snacks for them to eat.
"My name is Bell and I sell some potions and medicines. Nice to meet you, bravers"
"What kind of potions?" Syton curiously asked as he sat down on a couch.
"Different kinds of potions. If you see the potions that was being sold at the town, I'm one of the people who make them" Bell answered.
"That's amazing" Syton complimented.
Bell smiled as she puts down the tray full of snacks and two glass of water.
She sat down on the couch that was in front of the couch that Syton and Stalane was sitting on. Bell smiled as she crossed her legs.
"Well, my request is connected to the medicine that I'm currently working on. I want both of you to help me collect some materials needed for it so I could finish it"
"Huh?" Stalane asked.
"You see, making potions and medicines needs a lot of ingredients. Some of them are even rare. As a normal citizen, I can't afford to travel by myself just to get those ingredients. That is also why I mostly depend on the ingredients that the merchants offers to me"
Bell looked at Syton and Stalane who was looking at her with their confused eyes. She smiled at them then continued explaining.
"You mentioned earlier that you were after the gem that I have, right?"
"So, you have it?" Stalane asked.
Bell nodded.
"Of course. But before I give it to you, you must help me collect the 3 ingredients that I'm missing"
"What ingredients?"
"First is a herb that is only located near the Tree of a Realm"
"Tree of a Realm?" Syton asked as he have never heard of it before.
"Yes. It's a huge tree that is neither at the area of any town" Bell explained.
Syton nodded. Bell then continue telling the location of the next two ingredients.
"The next one is quite simple but you need a lot of patience. You need to catch a prince fish. However this is located completely the opposite direction of the Tree of a Realm. These kind of fish could only be caught in the Astro's Labyrinth."
Bell studied their reaction but both of them shows no complaints. It seems that both of haven't realized how dangerous the mentioned both places are yet.
"By the way, are you two a new braver?" Bell couldn't help but to asked as she was too worried on how both of them looked so calm and untroubled.
Both Stalane and Syton got startled by the sudden question.
"Well, somehow yes. Why do you ask?" Syton asked.
Bell sighed. That explains how they look so indifferent after she told them the places.
She shook her head and proceed to tell the next ingredient they need to get for her.
"No, it's nothing. The last one is a holy water that you need to buy from a priest. I think it'll be worth around 2000 gou" she said.
She didn't bother to warn Syton and Stalane how dangerous Tree of a Realm and Astro's Labyrinth. They're a braver and Bell knew how a braver get stronger after going through hardships.
They were just too unfortunate that she was badly needing those ingredients and both of them stumbled upon her during those times.
If they were to die, it's not Bell's fault. It's the braver fault for being too weak and meeting her.
She just needs to look for another person to get the ingredients for her if both of them failed to do so.
"2000 gou?!" Stalane shouted in surprise.
Syton can't help but to laugh at her reaction.
"You need to work hard to earn some gou, Stalane" Syton teased.
Stalane glared at him as she said, "What do you mean me?! You're also included!"
Syton shrugged. "Well, you are the poorest between the two of us"
Stalane rolled her eyes as she returned her attention to Bell.
"Do we have a time limit for this?" Stalane asked.
Bell nodded. "If you could give it to me before the month ends, much better. But it's also fine if it is late. You can do it at your own pace."
Syton thought about it as he also counted the days they have left for the subquest.
They still have 48 days.
"Noted" Syton said to Bell as he stood up.
"Let's go, Stalane. We'll be departing now toward the Tree of a Realm. We don't have much time" he continued.