Chapter 31

  Today was not the day that I would stop marveling about the magic of this world. The two-story building was exactly what you would expect from a small little inn in a mountain town. The wooden floors, polished and shining, reflected the crackling fire from the stone fireplace. There was a large opening with four round tables, each with enough seats for eight people, atop which a flower vase rested, full of blooming wildflowers. Further in, a door with a sign above labeled ‘bathing area’. Across the other half of the floor, past the large staircase that led up to the second floor, was a proper bar setup, behind which batwing doors led into a full service kitchen. All of which, given the magic of the world, felt less optimal and more for show. Though, I figured, it still meant they could, if they so wanted, do everything by hand without just using crystals to materialize pre-cooked meals.

  I paused as Guy walked behind the counter. Now that I thought about, maybe they did use the kitchen to cook and prepare everything, and then stored the extras in crystals? Was that an option? In that case, if you made a meal for a single person, but made it large enough to feed four… you would have three portions leftover to turn into crystals that could be used, or sold, later. Efficiency to a level that would make any chef jealous.

  It was also extremely economical and meant nothing went to waste. Though, given how the world worked… and everything that came from the world seemed to just transfer back into it… including that apple core Guy threw on the ground earlier, I got the feeling ‘wasting’ materials wasn’t really a Mutopia issue.

  “Have a seat,” Guy motioned to the row of tall bar stools as he grabbed a bottle from a shelf. He snagged a glass from under the counter, followed by the telltale sound of ice being scooped up. The glass, complete with ice, was placed in front of me, at which point, he offered me the bottle, like one of those fancy wine people. “Since you are new to our world, allow me to introduce you to the best treat for the end of a long day of Pep Step aided travel.” He spun the bottle, a blue crystal container within which an off-white-colored liquid swirled. Presentation wise… it left you wanting.

  “What is it?” I asked, my eyes not pulling up any information on it. Strange. Was it because it wasn’t in its crystal form? Or because I’d not physically interacted with it yet? Or was it the magic of the inn itself? Either way, not having the magic of my gauntlet tell me what was in the bottle, made me a tad bit uneasy. If that was how everything within here operated, I’d be a little more on edge.

  No, that wasn’t true. Mostly. I felt pretty certain I could trust Guy. But then again… my left hand tightened, gripping a bit of the cloth of my pants, above my tattoo.

  “It’s like a Refresher, but for humans,” he said with a smile as he undid the lid. The liquid, watery, and clearer than milk, but still too white to be water, splashed against the ice. As it poured, the drink frothed slightly, bubbling and building a foam that reminded me of root beer. “I’m not sure of its origin, but we call it Tamer’s Treat.” He then reached under the counter, procured another cup full of ice, and poured himself some before capping the bottle and returning it to its perch.

  “Cheers,” he held the liquid up, and that motion, as he went to drink it himself, helped my left hand unclench. I grabbed the pleasantly cool cup and lifted the questionably colored beverage to my lips. I’d been to enough parties to not judge a drink by its color or texture… or maybe I’d been to enough to know I probably should, but I’d been desensitized enough to go with it anyways.

  The liquid had a very faint vanilla flavor to it, though it was surprisingly simple and uncomplex. It almost seemed like I was taking a cool sip of water, the froth coating my upper lip as I lowered the glass and swallowed.

  “That was under—” I started, before a shiver ran through my body. It started in my stomach, and then rushed out to all my extremities. A sudden, refreshing coolness, like I’d just shoved my mouth full of peppermints, but somehow captured that feeling and applied it to my entire body. Then, warmth. Like I’d just taken a dip in icy-hot, but without any agony or pain. Just, comforting warmth. My muscles immediately relaxed, my sore, tender feet stopped complaining, and the cramp that had started in my thighs and calves immediately subsided.

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  Before I knew it, I was taking another long sip. Holy fuck, the flavor was even stronger the second time, and I was licking the froth off my lip happily a moment later.

  “Oh, never mind,” I said, not even setting my drink back down. I was going to finish this drink so damn quick. “This is the best thing I’ve ever drank.”

  “It is really good,” Guy said, taking another sip, “and I remember the first time I ever got to try it. Only Traveling Guys have access to it through the Mun Centers, which is another reason why our Inns are pretty popular. Can only be stored in an Inn crystal too, meaning we can’t sell it or give it out.” He grinned. “Aren’t you glad I ran into you this morning?”

  I took another drink, my feet happily swinging too and fro as I stopped myself from bouncing with pleasure at the drink. Seriously, best thing every.

  “I must admit,” I said, noticing my drink was nearly gone already, “it hasn’t been all that bad.”

  He raised an eyebrow, and took another drink. “All that bad?” he feigned insult, “I am hurt.”

  “Your hair style,” I said with a small laugh, “just, where I’m from, it’s not the greatest.”

  “Well, we’ve already discussed your world is much less civilized than Mutopia,” he said with a huff, “now then,” he set his empty glass down, “to discuss currency in my world.”

  He pointed towards the wooden counter, “if you would kindly produce all the Mun Crystals you’ve been collecting, of Mun you do not wish to keep, of course, I will quickly tell you how much you have on you, and of course, provide you with a rundown of what else you can use Mun Crystals for.” He grinned knowingly as I finished my drink, “considering I have a feeling your education with regards to them is quite lacking.”

  Drink now finished, and already wanting another, but figuring since he’d put the bottle away, and wasn’t pouring himself another, that it would be taboo to ask, I instead did what he’d instructed.

  “Here’s what I got,” I said, as I began pulling handfuls of crystals from my pouch. To say I’d been applying borderline hoarder tendencies, might be an understatement. But I really didn’t want to risk wasting or missing out on something by just letting the crystals sink back into the ground… well, at least, not every single one.

  Guy’s eyes widened as I kept producing the crystals. “Oh, my,” he said, after I’d produced my sixth or seventh handful, “you’ve really been busy, haven’t you?”

  I shrugged, “what can I say, traveling by yourself is slightly boring, and,” a sheepish smile, “I was trying to level up my Muns so I could battle the Keeper as soon as I reached Silver Springs.”

  “Apparently,” Guy said, his eyes quickly looking at the crystals, though he wasn’t touching any of them. Still, by the way his eyes were moving, he seemed to be reading something. He noted my attention, and smiled, though he barely looked away.

  “The bar acts as an automatic ledger of sorts. It allows me to scan everything you’re putting down, without the cumbersome task of having to grab each and every one. It also lets me make a quick list, to sort out rarities and values, so I can offer you the most competitive rate for your Mun Crystals.” He grinned again, “as I’ve said time and time before, Traveling Guys are very professional.”

  “Well then,” I pulled another handful of crystals out, “I’ve got like… twice as much still to pull out. So, uh,” I looked past him, at the drinks, “any chance you can get me another drink, as I empty my storage pouch?”

  “Twice as many?” He said with a laugh, shaking his head side to side as he turned to grab the crystal bottle, “seriously, you continue to amuse me Taylor.”

  “Happy to be of entertainment,” I reply, though his comment made my lips thin for a moment. Again, I didn’t like my ignorance being the butt end of a joke.

  “I can already tell you,” he said as he filled my glass back up, “you are really going to enjoy this next part.”

  I lifted the glass to my lips with my right hand, while my left continued to empty more crystals onto counter, “I can’t wait.” Well, that was only partially true. I totally could wait, if it meant I got to keep sipping this delicious drink. Though, I probably should slow down, since I had no idea how costly it was. Guy wouldn’t let me drink myself into debt… would he?