We finish our conversation with Mr. Jaxten and left the Guild Master's office.
My memories, or more like the memories of Verei and/or Veda has become less hazy when regarding the topic of monsters, especially with the goblin's line. The fast evolution and varied range of creatures they evolve into being completely dependent on their living conditions.
'Even their red blood is something I only saw when they lived near humans.'
'Was that even true? There would need to be versions of hobgoblins that don't need humans to survive, a place where humans don't live anywhere near that they would be able to...'
My head was hurting from the sudden activity, but oddly enough, it hurt far less for Verei than Veda.
'Wasn't it originally a one-for-one?'
'Is this an unforeseen effect of the poison?'
Jikani sighed loud enough to break me out of my thoughts. "Thankfully, we won't be that affected by this as much as everyone else considering Floris is capable of casting Corrosive Cure, but it's still affecting everyone else."
Jikani's talking about the new requirements implemented back in the announcement when we came here. Though a temporary rule until a cure against the poison is created, the rule requiring a healer in the party is disastrous for everyone who's trying to make a living here.
I look through the people inside the guild hall. Out of the few hundred people I have seen come and go, the number of people I see who look to have weak muscles, signifying their reliance on magic, is at most a fifth of them.
And even that is a hard sell as all casters have set compatibility. At most, I could see five of these people being a healer capable of casting corrosive cure.
Most adventurers will end up leaving Farnom, but even those that don't leave will either be restricted to the D-rank Marcal Forest and the C-rank Mines opposite the valley. Or, at worse, become contracted bodyguards for the road between.
"Well, at least the letter... Likely... made it to the kingdom by now to send some Knights over soon!"
I almost slipped into Veda's knowledge of what had just happened because I was so focused on getting the new dress on. But it seems like the others didn't catch that.
"Even if the Knights arrive," began Floris. "The chances of them sending enough people capable of using cure magic is unlikely. We'll even have to wait for their response and for the arrival of the Knights leading to another four to five days before we can send the second letter about these recent events..."
When I looked confused, Floris took this moment to explain. "It isn't good etiquette to send a second letter before receiving a response to the first. You are more likely to get an ear full before nobles think of sending aid."
"But that wastes a lot of..."
"Time that can be used to save lives?" Jikani says. "Yes, we know. But rules get in the way of a lot in Siltria. Its because of how often that happens that adventurers are needed. They do something a Knight can't or won't do within the time frame set by the client."
Sapheir adds, "There are plenty of things we still can't do either, legal stuff that gives Knights and Mercenaries bands a purpose. But adventurers do enough to be needed."
The system that Siltria uses, the flaw with laws that hold people back. A fundamental problem that is hard to fix because it's the center of the Kingdom's foundation.
So many ups and downs, twists and turns. It reminds me of the road Veda took to arrive at the Capital.
Jikani walks up to me. "But now that we have time, we should get you some armor! Your offensive capabilities are great but that first time we saw you truly wounded was almost the end of your life!"
She may be right, even if it's coming from someone that's only managed to get a scratch on me in the training matches. "I was contemplating getting some before we ended up fighting the Variant Hobgoblins, and am also considering getting non-rusted weapons after what happened to the sword. But nothing too thick that it hinders my ability to move."
Sapheir hypes himself up, "Alright! Though not as good as gear from the capital, this is still a village made by adventurers for adventurers so we should definitely be able to find something to fit!"
With mention of a store, I'm reminded of price and money. "Oh yeah, did we complete the request and receive the reward?"
Sapheir stopped daydreaming of seeing shiny new weapons at the blacksmith as he's reminded of his blunder, quickly fishing into his bag to pull out a pouch. "S-sorry, I was entrusted to give your share but, I forgot the moment we saw you finally woke up!"
I got the pouch and opened it to see a bunch of silver and gold coins with a scale symbol on them. "No worries. But... I will have to trouble you about learning the currency. I haven't dealt with coins at all living in the forest."
The three of them all freeze in unison as it sinks in how little my knowledge of the outside world truly went. Fighting, hunting, and the essentials to living like a human are all I remember, the exception being tidbits of information on the subject of monsters and nature.
--------
After Mr. Morian teaches me how to put the dress in the case, I leave with Emeri, now carrying my brand-new dress in the plated bag that could last through storms.
I decided to keep the hair tie on for now thanks to my new-found fashion sense. I'll take it off after an hour or two so as to not wear it out, but it feels nice not having to brush away my hair every time a strong breeze comes through.
Next stop is the Armorsmith to get the commissioned chainmail. He said it would be finished around this time so, hopefully, it'll be quick. But just as I was thinking that my stomach decided to growl a little loudly while I was talking with Emeri about the dress.
Emeri's eyes begin to squint, "Veda... Did you eat anything before the bath?"
Her intense gaze made me turn away, "I uh... didn't get the chance to..."
I forgot to grab something for Veda because I was caught off guard by Emeri at the bath only to end up at a meeting. Doesn't help that my other half HAD eaten, tricking this stomach to remain empty for another hour.
'Come to think of it, Verei hasn't gotten a bath yet.'
Emeri grabs my shoulders from behind and proceeds to push me in a different direction from the smithing shop. "W-wait Emeri!"
As we arrive at our new destination, she stops pushing me and instead, pulls me into what looks like a diner before sitting me down with a loud, "Sit!"
The other customers were curious about the commotion before seeing the Keeper of the Hunt, the new topic for conversation before I end up confirmed by someone as the one with the Keepers and Princess yesterday.
She sits in the chair across from me as she asks for a waiter who scrambles to get items ready because of our sudden arrival.
Emeri begins telling me about this restaurant, unable to hide her worry, "This shop deals in tea and pastries, plenty of options for breakfast, so eat."
That's when I remembered, she didn't get to visit me, unable to even check up on me herself and only able to take other people's word that I was going to be alright.
For all Emeri knew, I was someone who had an attack and was currently in the process of recovery only to go without eating anything for most of the day, counting the time I was unconscious.
Though she wasn't the one to bring me in like with Serci, she was the one who wanted to spend the most time with me. She was the most worried.
The best I could do right now is follow her lead. I give her a smile before saying, "Thank you... Big sis Emeri. I will try some."
Her grimaced look lightens quickly after those words. "Of course! And if you would like some recommendations..."
"Please do." I haven't heard the word 'pastry' before so I don't know the first thing about what I would like.
When the waitress arrives, she hands both of us a menu and asks about drinks. I ponder on what sounds good for a while as Emeri gives her recommendations.
--------
We enter a Blacksmith of Farnom to get Verei some armor. The first thing I ended up doing upon entry was compare and contrast it to the capital armorsmith shop.
For one, the temperature isn't shooting up ten degrees just because I entered, so the store must have its furnace somewhere else. The other difference is that it isn't only armor in this store, weapons decorate the walls to show off the variety of what they have while the armor is set up in lines throughout the place.
But the biggest difference would be that I only see leather and iron. The armorsmith had multiple steel suits on display of varying types but this place had less variety in terms of materials while having weapons all along the walls.
I notice the guy behind the counter stretch but remain in his chair. I don't know if we just woke him from a nap but he gives a light greeting regardless.
"Excuse me." I began. "I'm looking to get some armor. I want something tough that won't weigh me down."
The guy behind the counter sighs. "If you don't want it to weigh you down, metal is off the list. The most durable I can think of is the bear leather over there. Though leather that thick is more commonly used by bowmen."
He points to a chestnut brown, red-tinted armor that has more bulk when compared to other leathers. I walk over, feeling it up a bit to guess at its weight and durability but I'm not able to guess with just that.
"Do you mind if I try it on?"
The Blacksmith outstretches his hand, as if asking for something. After a moment of me standing there in confusion, he put it into words. "Proof of who you are first. I don't want you walking out on me with the gear still on."
Ah, I see, the guild card has information about you, useful for shop owners to keep an eye out for cheapskates trying to escape with their gear. And here I thought weapons would be enough of a deterrent to keep someone from stealing.
"Here you go." I pass the card and he analyzes everything on it, looking from it to me before handing it back. "Alright, I've got a used set you can try on. It should fit your... stature."
He grabs a chest piece, two gloves, and leg guards from under the counter to pass to me.
'Then what is the one on display for? To show off what it looks like in peak condition?'
I shake off the questions and proceed to put everything on.
The thick leather was easy to slip on and the straps keep it tight. It's lighter than metal but I'm conscious of the added weight put on me. I start moving around my hands and legs before walking about the store to get a better feel for the armor, to see how much this extra weight drags me down.
It's odd as I don't think Verei is used to wearing armor. He didn't have anything on him when I first woke in the crater either so what kind of warrior was he?
'I have high regenerative ability so I probably didn't care too much about getting hit.'
Either way, I can tell this would've absorbed the assassin variant's strike, even if it slowed me down a bit, this armor would've been worth it to keep.
I hear the blacksmith. "If you are done testing it out, I would like you to take it off before you start sweating."
"R-right, sorry. I'll buy a set of Bear Leather."
I take off the used set and put it back on the counter where he checks the gear before putting it back under. "10 Alcrime-g'Septims and 8 Alcrime-s'Septims."
Alcrime-Septims are the currency of the Siltria Kingdom. Alcrime is the god of law, Siltria's deity of worship while Septims are gold and silver coins. This does mean that in some countries, these coins are worthless but they can still be traded at border towns seeing as it's still silver and gold.
'Alright, 10 of his gold coins and 8 of the silver...'
As I set down the coins on the counter, he tells me to give him a second as he goes into the back of the store, coming back with a clean full set. "It's a pain to put a new set on display every time someone buys it." Was his answer.
Ah, so he's being lazy with the displays. I can tell the on-display items aren't blunt, bent, or damaged in any way but they aren't taken down unless it's the last of his stock. "Thanks, I'm also thinking about getting some new..."
That's when I think of something and after getting a response from my other's side, I look for Sapheir. "Hey Sapheir, can you grab my gear from the room?"
Sapheir snapped back to reality as he looked away from the swords he was examining on the wall. "Huh? O-oh sure!"
I don't think he understood what I was planning but he heads out regardless so I can start while he takes his time to get back. "I'm thinking about upgrading my weapons while I'm here. And was wondering if I could trade in the old rusted weapons for a discount on the newer ones."
When the Blacksmith heard that, an eyebrow raised. Guess he wasn't expecting someone very obviously new to bargaining to come up with this request. After a moment of silence, he shrugs, "I could but I have to see the weapons first. So, feel free to look around while you wait for the boy to return."
I nod, taking this moment to find a replacement for all the equipment I have before coming to a final decision around the money I have.