All 5 of us took turns getting cleaned up and bathed. I wished I could have cleaned up before meeting the king and his family but I guess the urgency of our delivery of the royal teens was far more important. While I bathed, I also soaked both pairs of pants and shirts in a bucket of soapy water. They did not have washers and dryers on Vando. Go figure! I dried myself and my clothes with my Flame Vision. Honestly, even as it ticked up to level 2, it felt more like heat vision than actual flame. For my current need, flame vision was more than adequate. I exited the bathroom with clean body and relatively clean clothes. I decided that I would use some of my newly acquired coins to get some new clothing in the city. While a wool tunic may have been great in the forest, I would prefer a lighter material for lounging. I was the last person from the bathroom. I felt lighter and free from obligations. Having a new life came with incredible perks! I approached the dining room and kitchen. It was warmly lit with mana lights. It was already getting dark outside and I could see Poppy and Bliss working hard in food preparation. Can Bliss cook? I was surprised to see vines lifting slaps of meat off the stovetop and other vines washing the pots and pans. What an incredible use of skills! Poppy was chopping vegetables and putting together a salad while Pepper was lining up plates on the dining table. Lilly and Midnight were in the living room in a discussion. They beckoned me over to them when they saw me approach.
"Airey, where in Vando do you actually come from?" Lilly was staring intently at me as if such concentration would unpeel my shell. Midnight was smirking behind her. He wasn't going to help me get out of this interrogation. Definitely not. I had to consider how much information would be safe to share with the 4 beastkin. The past days we spent together in the carriage had been a good opportunity to learn about each other's good qualities. During those days, I shared my cooked fish and foraged food. Apparently, the red cucumbers were a crowd favorite. Lilly begged me to help them find the location for the red cucumbers. I didn't mind but I explained that it was much further into the forest. When I revealed that it was within Dryad protected territory, the beastkin had blanched. Apparently, dryads can be quite territorial. If I had not befriended Bliss when I did, I may have had a hard time exiting the mountain.
I considered what I wanted to share with Lilly and the other beastkin. They had proven to be loyal companions. Midnight had already asked to stay with me on my travels. The other three did not seem to be leaving me anytime soon either. Perhaps I could share a bit?
"May I ask why you're asking that?" I asked the rabbitkin.
"Well, uh, you're just not a local. You didn't understand the food, you'd never been in a carriage, and you have skills that none of us have ever seen. Are you, uh, a Hero?"
Lilly's large rabbitkin eyes stared at me inquiringly. The other three beastkin froze in place, waiting for my answer. It became obvious to me that all of them wanted to know my answer. This one response would determine if I would put my trust in these four. Could I consider them my friends? Was I presumptuous to think I could trust people in Vando after knowing them only a few days? The genuine sincerity that they exhibited was already working away at my social barriers. I knew it wouldn't be long before I trusted these four with my secrets. I decided to take it step by step.
"What are the qualifications of a Hero? Can you tell me that?"
Lilly's eyes squinted a bit as she thought of her answer. I assumed that she wanted me to give a clear yes or no answer, but how could I claim either? I am a "World Traveler" according to the system. Does traveling from another world and gaining unknown skills make me a hero? Do I need to save a world or nation to be called a "Hero"? I managed to save a handful of people from a single villain traveling on an abandoned mountain road. I acted heroically for a few minutes, but I could not say that I was a "Hero". It is definitely not one of the titles that I gained.
"Um, I'm not really sure. I heard many stories regarding heroes. They arrived from another world, and they saved us from fiends. They are known as heroes because of their accomplishments in this world. It might also be in their status, but I'm not sure. It's been centuries since a hero was seen. But, uh, you seem like you might not be from this world. I promise we will keep it a secret if you want, but we want to help you. Lately, goblins and trolls have increased their scale of attacks on villages and towns. Soon, they will try to even raid cities. I believe you were sent here for a reason."
Pepper then stepped into the conversation. "I've heard there were some heroes that did not do much fighting. They saved us using their ingenuity. Much of the technology used in these cities has been developed by heroes in centuries past. The greenhouse buildings were fully made by a hero named Lachish over 400 years ago. Some of the blacksmithing methods have been passed on by heroes from nearly 1000 years ago. Some heroes acted more subtly while others wanted the glory. Whatever you choose to do, tell us about it. We will not betray you. We will all follow you."
I felt a warmth in my face. It seems that I have found good companions to trust. I relaxed my shoulders and sat down on a large, cushioned chair.
"Alright then, allow me to share to you what I know. I don't think I am a hero. But I am a World Traveler. I arrived on Vando only 8 days ago. I was given a power that has given me an advantage in my new life here. Later, I will feel more comfortable talking about my powers. For now, I am grateful that you are willing to be my companions. I have a couple of goals. Right now, I have so much to learn. I want to know more about mana channels, blacksmithing, construction, and even cooking. I have a skill called Fast Learning that will allow me to accelerate my learning in any interest I take. After I've learned a bit, I wish to adventure. I want to see the world. I want to meet members of all the races. And if we encounter injustices in our travels, I want to help the victims too. I'm still only at level 7 even after all the battling we encountered. Do you really want to join me on my journey, even when I may not really be a Hero?"
"YES!" all four shouted in near unison.
"Okay. Then please be my first friends of Vando."