Chapter - 57
Seraphina's gaze was icy as Jacob came down the stairs and went towards her after his meeting with Althea. She fixed Jacob with a steely look, causing beads of sweat to form on his forehead. "You," Seraphina said, her tone sharp, "You owe me a dinner, mister. A private dinner."
Jacob, feeling the weight of her stare, quickly raised his hands in surrender. He wasn't sure exactly what had happened, but he had a strong hunch that Elara had said something to get under Seraphina's skin. The sly smirk on Elara's face left little doubt. "Alright, alright. I promise. I'll make it up to you," he said, hoping to ease the tension.
With Seraphina's mood lightened, Jacob filled her and Elara in on his conversation with Althea and the mission she had assigned. He explained that they would be investigating the temple in the Arcjund Valley and that Seraphina would accompany them to use her light magic.
"When do we have to leave?" Seraphina asked, her curiosity piqued.
"By tomorrow afternoon at the latest," Jacob replied.
Seraphina nodded. "Then I have much to prepare. I need to pray to Goddess Elyndra and seek her blessing for our mission. I also need to check my equipment and ensure it's in top condition."
With that, Seraphina quickly gathered her things from the front desk and bid Jacob goodbye. Jacob and Elara, now free to manage their own preparations, headed to Aeliana's Leatherworks. The shop was lined with various types of armor and accessories. Aeliana, the master craftswoman, greeted them.
"Hello! What can I do for you today?" Aeliana asked, wiping her hands on a cloth.
"I need to change my armor," Jacob said. "I'm looking for something sturdier than leather alone. I'd like to incorporate some light chainmail."
Aeliana's eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. "Ah, going for more protection, are we? I have just the thing. Let me show you."
She led Jacob to a section of the shop where various pieces of armor were displayed. After some discussion, Jacob chose a set of light chainmail armor that provided both flexibility and added defense. Aeliana expertly adjusted the fit, ensuring it was comfortable and practical for combat.
"How does this feel?" she asked, adjusting the straps and buckles.
"Perfect," Jacob said, testing the movement. "This should work well."
Next, Jacob mentioned that he wanted to change Elara's armor as well. Aeliana nodded understandingly and pulled out a set of improved light leather armor for her, designed to offer better protection while still allowing for mobility. The armor was crafted from a high-quality leather, reinforced with flexible padding and stylishly adorned with intricate designs.
"I think this would suit you well," Aeliana said to Elara, showing the armor. "It's both functional and elegant." Jacob agreed, purchasing the armor for Elara, who was grateful for the gift.
As Jacob and Elara made their way back home, they entered to find Angela and Lily in the lounge. Angela sat in a cozy chair with a book in her hands, her voice soft as she read aloud to Lily, who had her head resting on her mother's lap, eyes closed, fully immersed in the story. At the sound of the door, both Angela and Lily looked up, their faces brightening as they saw Jacob and Elara step in.
"Welcome back," Angela greeted them, her warm smile inviting. "How did the day go?"
Elara excused herself to freshen up, leaving Jacob to take a seat beside Angela and Lily. He leaned back, feeling the ease of home settle around him. "Not too eventful," he replied. "Just a lot of time making sure our armor and weapons were in order."
Angela looked at him intently. "So… another mission?"
Jacob nodded, "Yes, we're heading out tomorrow. This one will take us to the Archund Valley. Something odd's been happening out there, and we're supposed to investigate. Hopefully, we'll be back soon and without any trouble," he assured her with a small, confident smile.
Angela listened, but Jacob noticed the slight furrow of concern in her brow. Elara then returned and joined them, sitting close by. They continued to chat for a bit, with Angela asking a few questions about the mission.
Just then, Lily perked up, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Oh! I forgot to tell you both," she said, glancing between Jacob and Elara. "Something hilarious happened at the inn today with Thorne."
Jacob raised an eyebrow, already grinning. "Go on, let's hear it."
Lily sat up, clearly delighted to share the story. "So, a group of travelers stopped by the inn earlier. They were ordering a ton of food, and Thorne, being Thorne, wanted to show off." She chuckled. "He insisted he could carry all their plates in one go to the table. Of course, Angela tried to warn him, but he wouldn't listen."
Jacob couldn't help but smile; Thorne had a habit of showing off and with Angela and Lily by his side nowadays, he did so whenever he got the chance.
"And?" Elara said, encouraging Lily to finish her story.
"Well, Thorne managed to balance almost everything perfectly—until the very last step. He lost his footing, and the plates went flying everywhere! Food splattered all over him, and he just stood there, looking like a statue while everyone stared," Lily said.
Angela, laughing at the memory, added, "He didn't come out of the kitchen for the rest of the day."