This is a daily reminder: You have 24 unallocated stat points
I groan at that. I get up and check my cores. Arcane still empty from helping mental fill, but mental almost topped off. I head down to check the board again. Clover still listed, seems ptra and mandrake have their own requests. If I see ‘em. I walk over to the receptionist again.
“Why hi, hun. Got a new question to ask?” She smiles.
I smile back, “Is there somewhere to buy some basic goods?”
“Weapons or armor, hun?”
I shake my head, “Looking for a belt and bags.”
“Don'tcha think you're going ‘bout this in the wrong order hun?”
I just smile at her. She sighs and continues.
“Ren tends to have those in stock. Past the fountain on your left.”
I head out to the sandwich cart after thanking her.
Rations secured to my hips with twine I head into a store that the receptionist told me about. Upon entering I see a lizard person with grey scales standing behind the counter. All the goods are behind him. Remembering my mistake with Belna I try not to assume anything.
? Drakenoid Merchant
“Hello, is this Rens' shop?”
“That's my name, hatchling, is there something I can assist you with?”
Their voice is low but I don't assume anything.
“Yes, can you tell me how much your belts and bags cost?”
Ren pulls out some belts and bags, looks at me then removes some of the belts. They start with the belts.
“This here costs one large copper and will last you a week.” It certainly didn't look like much, “This one is four large copper and I say three months.” It doesn't look any different from the first, “This one you'll outgrow and will be selling back to me, it's one small silver.” It looks like it has iron in it.
“Whats the last one made of?”
“Iron horned rabbit.”
“Are they hard to kill?”
Ren squints at me, “Not to my knowledge, their hairs and horn are hard as iron, but it slows them down. I hear adventurers like to drown them.”
Poor rabbit. “Where can I find them?”
“Past the east gate, you're a little small to be hunting.”
I just smile at Ren. “I'll go with the four large copper one for now. What about the bags? I could use a water skin too.”
Ren squints at me and grabs a small water skin. “The skin is another four large copper, what do you plan to use the bag for?”
“Herbs and such, maybe a rabbit.”
Ren squints at me again, then shrugs. “Eight large copper for this bag, it holds its shape inside so it shouldn't damage any herbs you collect, can't help ya if you stuff a rabbit in there with ‘em.”
I pull out the coin necessary from my boot, Ren just gives me a look that I remember from Belna. Bemused by the antics of a hatchling.
“Say I brought back an iron horned rabbit, how much could I get selling it?”
“If it's intact I give ya a small silver for it. Unless it's a hatchling then only two large copper.”
“Thanks, I'll see what I can do.”
-----
I went and checked the guild hall to see if there was any request for iron horned rabbits. The reward was the same as Ren had quoted me. I think if I find one, I'll hook up Ren first. If only to pay back for the idea.
I made it to the forest without incident. My aura spreads out again. I once again go looking for clover patches. When I find a good patch I decided to have my other attention maintain a mental construct to hang them from. I'll put them into the bag when I return, on top of any mandrakes and ptra I manage to find. I shattered the first mental construct but the second try held. I decided to head back after getting another six bundles, and two mandrakes, just one ptra though.
When I get to the edge of the forest I shuffle my belongings so they don't crush each other. In that time I see a grey furball in the field. It's the size of a medium sized dog, but looks like a lump.
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2 Iron Horned Rabbit
Thinking on Ren's comment, I pull out my water skin. I use my water rod to make a sizeable bubble of water. I then smack the bubble with my hand, it goes in and then through the bubble. None of the water is lost. I nod at this, putting my plan in action. I creep on the lump, but I don't get close enough till it turns towards me and charges. Why does it have a rhino horn on top of its nose, what happened to a forehead spike, this is all very wrong.
It crossed half the distance while I was panicking. And to be honest I was panicking for a bit. It's really slow. I walk a little away from it and it just keeps slowly hopping towards me. I shrug and put the water bubble over its head while keeping a distance. It thrashes a bit and gets air every once in a while, but it runs out of stamina and then air.
Gained 3 exp from Iron Horned Rabbit
I sigh, that was way too easy. I feel kinda bad about the whole situation. I go to pick it up and find an issue. Damn thing weighs a ton. I sigh and go bring my bag to the rabbit instead of the rabbit to the bag. After rearranging everything again I get the rabbit in the bag and slowly trudge back to the gate.
The guards greet me and seem concerned.
“Are you alright there girl, you seem to be overburdened.”
“Managed to kill an iron horned rabbit, didn't know they were so heavy.” I said this through many gasps.
They laugh at that, and wave me through. I just need to get to the fountain. There I can have some water. I wasn't going to drink what I had killed the rabbit with, yuck.
After I got my drink, I was back at Ren's shop. They look at me with Belna's bemused look and start to protest after I start taking everything out of my bag and placing it onto the floor.
“Hatchling, don't be making a mess of my shop.”
“Sorry it's too heavy for me to get onto the counter, if you want to come over here and get your rabbit that would be helpful.”
They're surprised that I have a rabbit, but they quickly recover and fetch it. I'm happy to see them struggle with the weight as well. I might have a low strength stat but I'm not the only one.
“You actually manage to get one. Well here your silver kid, you make a good adventurer. Ever think of signing up?”
“O I already am one, I go by Scratches.”
Ren's shoulders droop and they put the rabbit back in the bag. They then stick their palm out for their coin. I put it back into their palm.
“I don't understand, what's wrong?”
“I have an iron horned rabbit request at the guild, if I accept any rabbits from you, both of us get in trouble. I see you are young, hatchling and it's on me for not first using [Identify] on ya, but there a proper process to these things. I look forward to the guild contacting me about this fine specimen.”
Ren helps me put everything back into my bag. They then gave me one large copper and six smalls. I give them a questioning look.
“Adventurers get a ten percent discount."
I give them an O face, then thank them for their honesty. I trudge out, my back further annoyed at me. By the time I am back at the guild hall I am thoroughly exhausted. The receptionist has a smile that just grows in mirth as I trudge to her.
“You seem to be struggling there, hun.”
I'd answer her with something curt or maybe witty, but breathing is all I am focused on right now.
You have gained [Strong Lungs] Apprentice 9
Strength raised to 49
I get to the reception counter and fall on my side. In the time it takes me to catch my breath, the receptionist is peering over the counter and down at me.
“You alright there, hun?”
I nod, and disentangle myself from my bag. I start removing the herbs and place them on the counter. I take a moment to summon my strength and lift the rabbit onto the counter.
You have gained [Strength Training] Intermediate 7
Strength raised to 50
50 Strength Minor Boon
Able to double the strength of one type of Strength skill
I have been ignoring these boons for a while. But I know exactly what to put in this one. My breathing steadies as [Strong Lungs] gain twice as much from strength.
“Sorry about that, the rabbit was heavy.”
“Iron horn rabbits generally are hun, it's all the iron.”
“You know, I haven't had a chance to ask your name, if you don't mind telling me?”
She surprised by the question, but smiles, “I go by Antiquarian.”
“Doesn't sound like an adventurer's name.”
She shrugs, “So I see six clover bundles, two mandrakes, a ptra and an iron horned rabbit. Not hiding anything else in your bag hun?”
I shake my head, she continues.
“Three sixty for clover, one forty for the mandrakes, eighty for the ptra and one hundred for rabbit. Six eighty total minus the ten percent of the guild is”
I roll my eyes, “Six small silver, a large copper and two smalls is my take.”
She smiles at me and boops my nose, “And four guild contribution points.”
She gives me my pay and I wander to the bar. I am starving from all that hauling. While I wait for my meal, Preys wanders over.
“Quite the haul today, how you manage to bag an iron rabbit, doll.”
“Got lucky.”
She looks me over, “I say, they are rather impervious. So how ya do it?”
I look at her, then shrug. “Ren told me adventurers tend to drown them. So I did.”
“You don't look like you could hold a rabbit under water long enough, much less an iron one.”
Rude, but ya if I had to do it physically I would have been gored. I just shrugged.
“You know doll, the alchemist are going to file a complaint if you keep over harvesting clover.”
“That would be assuming I was.”
“How else would you be bringing in that much clover?”
I just shrug again.
“Hey, I'm just trying to help you out, doll.”
“Thank you for that, I hope I haven't annoyed you too much to rescind your invitation, I just have something to take care of in four days.”
I give her a sunny smile. She shrugs and heads back to her party. My food arrives and I eat my mystery meat with stewed carrots. I listen to Preys party again.
“Tried to warn her but the doll goin’ to get yelled at soon.” Preys.
“Ya, I remember the scoldin’ I got for wipin’ out a few patches.” The boy.
“I think she is actually going into the forest.” The soft spoken girl.
“What makes you say that?” The boy again.
“She brought mandrake and ptra back, they don't grow anywhere but in the forest.”
“That's just nuts, goblins should of eaten her by now.” Preys doesn't sound like she believes.
“Not like she bringin’ in ears.”
Nor do I ever plan to, I have enough of those memories from Sam and Frank. My stomach is full, but I force more in. I keep at it till I get another skill up. Then I waddle back upstairs. I do my scan of my room again to see if anything is off. Then I run through my various mental exercises until my mental mana core is empty. I convert down to fifty of my arcane reserves into more mental just to squeeze in more practice. Only four days left.
