Reina glanced at him and clapped him on the shoulder. “In there, I was thinking, maybe we start training as a team so we can get better against a strong enemy.” She craned her face up to the sky to feel the warmth in a cone of sunlight. “This is going to be especially true if we have others in the party.”

  “I agree, but let’s cross that bridge when we come to it.”

  Rook’s boots caught an overgrown root, sending him stumbling into Reina, then on his ass. Dude. Deja Vu. Rook sputtered a laugh, then shortly after, Reina followed in until they were both laughing, like drunken friends. Several moments later, they pulled themselves up and finished the last trek to the clearing.

  They continued towards the clearing and were met by the folk of East Goldwheat. Please be a welcoming party. Rook tensed, unsure if he could fight the people after the ghoul. Glancing over at Reina, his wary mindset faded. Her lips were pulled into a bright smile.

  At the head of the group was Edith, her face stoic. “I thought you were going to inform me of the updates.” She crossed her arms. “You could’ve died.”

  “Please, don’t insult me as a Sentinel examiner,” Jody said, crossing his arms. “I’d die before I let them get into real danger.”

  There was a moment of silence before a few of the farmers stepped forward.

  “Did you get rid of all the goblins?” A man asked, tightening his grip on a pitchfork he was holding.

  The group broke out into scattered and quick conversations.

  “Yes, we got rid of the goblins and a ghoul,” Reina said, setting her jaw.

  Edith softened and gave a sad, hopeful look. “Did you find anything?”

  “We looted everything,” Rook said, without realizing the loot was still in his inventory. Kicking himself, he glanced over at Reina. They both realized he couldn’t just Houdini the items from his inventory.

  “Well, let’s have it.” She held her hand out, then looked around him. “It’s in Reina’s pack, right?”

  The memory flashed in his vision. The burnt-down village, a child’s bloodstained doll. It wouldn’t, no, couldn’t happen because of me. He didn’t want to expose himself as a conjured.

  “There are some personal effects, things we’d rather not give out in the public space.”

  His silver-tongued bastard activated, and she softened and nodded in understanding.

  She turned towards the group of anxious villagers. “Alright everyone, nothing more to see here. The forest is cleared, and we are safe to go back to our duties.”

  The people thanked them, several giving Rook and Reina hugs, hearty handshakes, and forehead kisses. He was taken aback. Reina was covered in grime, and no doubt he was the same.

  The tavern owner came over, clapping both of them on the shoulder. “You both are filthy. I’ve got very little to my name, but what I can offer you is a cool bath in the lake, a change of clothes, and a meal before you go.” “Sentinel Jody, you’re no worse for wear. Would you like to join me for a drink?”

  “Aye,” he responded, with a smile.

  Rook glanced at Edith. There wasn’t much he wanted more than to get cleaned and eat, but that wasn’t in the quest details.

  “Please, I prefer you don’t sully my furniture with your grime.” She pivoted on a heel and walked to her house, Jody following close behind.

  They made their way towards the watering hole and were met by Tenya. The barkeep grabbed two sets of clothes and pointed them towards a hut seemingly built over the blue water of the lake, indicating that part of the hut was for washing armor and weapons.

  Opening the door for men, and stepping in he appreciated the simplicity of the building. There were pins, nailed into the wall to hang weapons and armor. Shelves and baskets of other miscellaneous gear. Placing the mace on the wall, he cursed as the weight of the mace brought it down to the floor with a crash.

  “Rook, can you hear me?” Reina asked, with a tone of concern.

  “I dropped the mace, no big deal. I’m fine, floor’s fine.”

  “Just put the mace in your inventory, it’s better than damaging the floor.”

  If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  Whatever. Grabbing his mace, he placed it into the inventory. After undressing, he blinked at the makeshift tub. Wood in construction, the tub was beneath the surface of the water, and no doubt cold as ice.

  The lake was indeed cold. Checking his status confirmed it, but didn’t tell him anything the shrinkage already told him. Separated by a retaining wall, built over the cool blue. He quickly washed with the liquid soap nearby and dunked his head a few times until the suds wore off. Grabbing the towel, he stared at himself for a second. Am I getting thinner? His arms, legs, and upper body were toning, and he was starting to look like a fit MMA fighter. Shrugging off his vain discovery, he got dressed and placed the rest of his gear into the remaining inventory boxes. Lucky for him, a set counted as one slot. He opened the door and stepped into the warm sunlight.

  “Well, you look refreshed,” Reina said, with a smirk.

  “Been waiting long?” Rook asked, drying his head with the towel.

  “No, just finished a few moments ago,” Reina answered.

  “Fair. Let’s get our gear washed and get some food.”

  Reina nodded, and they walked around the hut to a small area with two filled horse troughs: one with soapy water and the other with clear water. He pulled his mace out first from his inventory. Having a filthy weapon was the same as having an unserviceable weapon, dirty weapons malfunction and malfunctions get people hurt.

  The mace came into being in his hand. Spotless of grime. He glanced at Reina, who seemed just as confused. Stunned, he leaned down and smelled it. The stench of decay was gone; it just smelled like clean metal.

  “Did you wash it in the tub?” She asked, incredulously.

  “No. Hear me out, I think my inventory cleans the gear I put in,” he said, placing the sack of filthy clothes in his inventory. “Holy shit.” Moments later, he summoned the clothes in his hand, and they were pristine. “How in the fuck are we just now noticing this?” Rook kicked himself for not realizing it sooner.

  “Let me try, take my boots.”

  Reina’s boots came out fresh as the day they bought them.

  “Put all the dirty gear on the ground. Rook’s cleaning service just opened up for business.” He spent the next ten minutes cleaning gear.

  “Do you want your weapons cleaned?”

  “No, that’s one thing I’ll do myself, thank you very much.”

  “Then I’ll put everything into my inventory so we don’t draw suspicion.”

  They returned to the tavern, and the moment the door opened, cheers erupted from the full house. Rook gave a cheesy smile and held a thank you.

  “Over here, you two,” Tenya said, gesturing them towards two empty seats at the end of the bar.

  To Rook’s pleasant surprise, two steaming plates of food and mugs of foaming ale were set out shortly after. They savored the meat, bread, and stewed vegetables. Rook drank three mugs of ale, taking large gulps for everyone toasting to their victory.

  “How’d you do it? Goblins can be crafty, but rumors were that you killed a ghoul as well.” The same pitchfork farmer laughed. “Bet you swung that mace you’re carrying around, right into the head while Reina got the scraps.”

  Reina looked into her mug of ale, watching the golden liquid swirling around. Not going to get down on yourself, my friend, not after saving me.

  “Teamwork,” Rook said, flatly. “Truth is, she saved my life in that cave, probably more than once.”

  Rook cleared his throat. Better to let the rest of the tavern hear for when the rumors would start. He would do this justice, not skate by life, sweet-talking anymore. He wanted to ensure she got her due credit.

  “We entered the woods this morning.” The tavern conversation tapered off into silence. “Four goblins, two with crossbows and two swords. After a quick plan, we killed the lot of ‘em and, following the path, we were led to the forest cave opening. Using one of the goblin torches, we lit our way in and found a Silver-ranked ghoul.”

  The tavern shifted into silent conversation.

  “I was down, hurt, and bleeding. Reina held it back while I recovered, allowing me to help her kill it.”

  “So that’s how it is?” Tenya asked. “A toast to our adventurers, Rook and Reina, brave beyond words.”

  They exited into the cool evening air after eating and drinking their fill, the sun just beginning its descent.

  “People are the same everywhere,” Reina began. “They think a woman like me isn’t strong enough when competing with a man.”

  “You’re at an unfair advantage, but think of it this way. We were privy to Phane’s battle. Seeing a woman warrior like the Lieutenant fighting so fiercely has to count for something.” Rook was assaulted by flashbacks to his Kuk Sool Won days. “At a tournament in Washington, a lifetime ago. I saw a girl no more than thirteen years old, knocking boys her age out. Saw a young woman knocking out men much bigger than her with speedy head kicks.” Rook playfully shoved his friend. “I’m still learning this place, but women being weaker than men, especially when people can turn people into sheep, is a dated concept.”

  “I think our party’s going to last a long time,” Reina said, giving him an appreciative smile.

  The front of the Matriarch’s longhouse came into view, and the smell of lavender carried into the night air. He opened his inventory and stared at the contents from the ghoul. To find out that your spouse died is bad enough, but to do so through old belongings. Rook rubbed at the back of his head and sighed.

  “I’m not sure I’m ready either,” Reina said, blowing out a puff of air.

  After stepping on the porch, Rook took a breath and knocked on the door. Moments later, Edith opened it with a weary smile. At least she’s letting the psyomancy go for now.

  “Come in and wipe your feet, will you?” Edith asked, sitting on the couch.

  Jody raised a mug to them as they grabbed their usual spots, Rook by the counter and Reina next to Edith. Rook summoned the equipment, not caring if she was seen. Edith’s face went slack, her eyes wide with wonder.

  Jody sputtered a laugh. “Lad, if you could do that all along, it would’ve made things easier. I had my suspicions you were a Conjured.” He took a pull of his mug. “This all but confirms it.”

  Rook nodded, not wanting to ruin the somber moment where he had to give Edith her late husband’s effects. He handed her the sword, ring, and note. Then, once again, I sat on the counter, giving the woman some space.

  “That fool,” Edith said, a tear running down her face. “I told him to wait, but the stubborn man.” More tears ran down her face.

  Quest Complete Cattle, Cattle, Cattle

  Rewards

  500 experience

  Ollar reputation boosted.

  Armor random.

  You have reached Level 14

  192 experience of 850 until level 15

  The random armor popped into his inventory, and he made a mental note to see it later. Rook grabbed a cloth from her sink and handed it to the woman, grateful that the woman wiped at the tears. Folding the note, she placed it on her fireplace mantle, the ring on top, and the sword on two rungs jutting from the chimney. I’m glad we could offer closure. She grabbed a book and sat back down next to Reina. The Matriarch handed Reina a leatherbound book the size of a dictionary. Prints marred the dusty exterior, and Rook could tell that it’d been left somewhere for a long time.

  “This was Sara’s,” Edith said, squeezing Reina’s shoulder. “I saved it for a long time, hoping to give it to your father one day.”

  Reina pulled the woman into an embrace and then hurriedly opened the cover. Inside was a portrait of a much younger Roran. The councilman didn’t resemble the kindly mushroom farmer; instead, he appeared serious and exuded an air of confidence. Reina chuckled at the picture and flipped it over. Behind the portrait was a group picture, drawn with an incredible amount of detail.