A few hours of waiting for Krenn to come to his senses later, Engilram grabs the last of his rations from his bag. "sorry, I didn't exactly predict to be fighting like that today. Never mind going on my first adventurer mission in decades. I didn't exactly prepare any extra food for my trip to the capital." Engilram said.
"that's alright. We prepare our own food. Well, Krenn eats his enemies from time to time, so there usually isn't food for him. He's a carnivore. And tree boy over there is a vegetarian. I'm the only one with a balance of meat, plants and crops." Thordis said.
"are you mocking me human!" Mizubi yells angrily.
"not at all. I'm just noting our differences in diet to our new friend. Being the only human male adventurer that isn't thinking that they own me. It's quite a relief. The misogyny in the guild, I swear. Sometimes I wish I was never a woman. Men never get treated as weak just because they are men. Men never get cat called or hit on in public by the opposite sex. Men never get harassed or raped in a dark alley for just walking out in the street alone. It's not right. So that's why I trained all my life to become an adventurer at eighteen. To help women of humanity who can't speak up. To help the women understand that they are strong. Sorry, I didn't mean to drop all of my feelings on you like that Mizubi. But hay, at least Engilram is a decent person." Thordis rants.
A hug between Thordis and Mizubi, followed by a momentary silence, had Engilram fess up to his perverted side. "look, I need to tell you something Thordis. And I'm only saying this so that we can be good friends. I have quite the perverted reputation. B-but please don't judge me yet. It's not because I am an actual pervert. I'm sort of a masochist. And the Sister of the church is highly violent when angry. So I provoke her... it's disgusting, I know. But once it was pointed out that I'm not only regarded as a pervert but also that I'm a racist towards the Nekojin. Not that I meant to. *sigh* I felt that, it was finally time to change who I am as a person."
"well, you have done nothing to me. And at least you're changing who you are. If you treat women the way you treat other men. We have no quarrel." Thordis replied.
"hay, I know how badass and powerful women are. Trust me, the Sister has almost killed me more times than I can remember. I have full respect for you and what you're trying to accomplish." Engilram said.
"I really wasn't expecting you to say badass, but I appreciate that, thank you." Thordis said.
Engilram nervously laughs, and Krenn finally wakes up from his trance. The four get up and walk the rest of the way to the capital city. At the entrance, Engilram said. "wow, so this is Elwinear. In all my life I never thought I would see a wall this high," he looks up "that has to be at least 50ft tall." He continues.
"you ok Engilram?" Mizubi said.
"yeah. Just a little disorientated." Engilram replied.
The party enters the walls of the capital and Engilram is in awe at the sheer number of shops full of food such as bakeries and cafes, fancy clothes and stalls from independent retailers and merchants.
Engilram spots an apothecary a few buildings down. "this is where we part ways guys. I got business to see to, as well as find a cheap tavern to rent." He says.
"ok, no worries. If you want to hang out, we are here for a few days. Right now we will be in the guild, claiming these wolf heads as a job well done." Thordis said.
"ok no problem. It was nice to meet and fight with you." Engilram said.
Engilram parts ways with the group and heads to a building called 'Rach N Steve's Apothecary'. He walks towards the door, grabs the handle and walks through. Suddenly, Engilram transforms into a pink dragon newt, with a sparkly tutu and pink tiara. He looks down, shocked and screaming at his sudden change of appearance.
Shortly after, Engilram hears a hysterical woman's laughter coming from the opposite side of the room. It was the culprit. She is 32, 5ft 4.5in tall, has a stocky build and long, blond, silky, wavy hair. She is wearing a white bib apron tied at the waist and pockets in the front over a baggy pink cotton dress and a white belt that complements her brown eyes.
"what the hell did you do to me?" Engilram yells.
"a-ah-ha that never gets old, every. Single. Time. It keeps getting funnier." She said.
"answer me!" Engilram yelled again.
"ha-h calm down. First I will introduce myself. My name is Rach Evil, and the door you just walked through has a transfiguration spell on it. All you need to do is walk back through and you'll turn back into yourself again. But while you're in our shop. You're staying like that. So whatcha here for?" Rach said.
After calming down, Engilram said. "ok, I understand. I gotta say, it's really weird to look like this. Anyway, I'm here to sell this alpha female wolf's head." Engilram puts down the large cloth he was using to cover the head and unwraps it.
"*gag* oh my god. *gag* it smells so bad." Rach dry heaves.
"yeah that smell would be partially my fault. I charred her entire body and insides with a spell, so its not the highest quality, but it should sell for 50 coppers. I believe it's useful in making high grade herbal mana and stamina potions, right?" Engilram said.
"*gag* yeah, you're right. Lemme get my husband. There is no way I'm touching that. Steve! Come here please! We have a wolf's head that this man wants to sell," Rach said.
A man walks in from a door behind the desk of the shop. His name, Steve Evil, he is 35, 5ft 7in tall. And he looks really withered and tired. Like he hasn't slept in eons. He has possibly hundreds of scars on his body, but he looks quite solid. He has long, straight blond hair and anchor facial hair. He is also wearing an apron like his wife but with a basic baggy tee and trousers underneath.
"*gag* can you take this into the back *gag* and turn it into some herbal mana potions please. Just don't trip with it, you know how clumsy you are." Rach said.
"no wonder you gagged. Smells like someone burnt it. Then took a dump on it," Steve said.
"h-ha just burned," Engilram said.
Steve re-wraps the wolf's head and walks back to the potion making room. Before closing the door, he says. "it should be done in twenty minutes,"
"*gulp* well, looks like we have twenty minutes to talk." Rach said, holding back her imaginary vomit. "tell me about yourself," she continued.
"my name is Engilram. I'm fifty-nine and I am a priest at a church a few days from here. Now how about you tell me how in the hell did you know I wanted mana potions." Engilram said.
"well, you're carrying a short staff silly, either that or a really useless walking stick." Rach jokes. "well do you need anything other than herbal mana potions?" she asks.
"yes, I need a low-grade magic mana potion, and two high-grade magic mana potions please. The fight with twelve of those things used up way too many of them." Engilram said.
"twelve of those massive wolves on your own?" Rach asked.
"oh no, I was with some adventurers, and they gave me this head as thanks, and there were only three this size." Engilram explains.
"well, we are selling the high-grade magic mana potions at 5 silvers each. And the low-grade at 50 coppers. So, subtracting from the 50 coppers we owe you, but then adding the labour fee of 10 coppers. Your total is 5 silver and 10 coppers please." Rach calculated. As she fetched the items, she walked swiftly with her elbows bent at her sides with her wrists limp, rocking back and forth as he walked.
Engilram reaches inside his bag and pulls out a purse. He pays the transaction and says, "that should be it,"
"thank you for your purchase!" the bubbly Rach said. "You can just sit down there."
Steve comes back in a few minutes later with a dozen bottled herbal potions. "ok here is the half of your share of the resources. Refined and bottled. Guessing she's already worked out the fee and total pay?" he says.
Engilram gets up from his seat, grabs the herbal potions and puts them into his bag. "thank you for this," he says.
"you're welcome honey!" Rach said.
"do you really need to do this to every customer?" Steve asked.
"of course! It's funny. h-ha," Rach replied.
A sigh from Steve signalises to Engilram to head out and leave them to it. As Engilram walked through the enchanted doorway and exits the shop, he transforms back into himself. Clothes and everything. His aged face. His abnormally muscular body covered by the black priest's robes. "I wonder if that violated church code?" Engilram sweats at the thought.