Scourge Thirty-Three - Occurrences

Scourge Thirty-Three - Occurrences

Scourge Thirty-Three - Occurrences

After a good nights rest and after an afternoon spent laughing and chatting and being a bit silly, I wake up to find that Im that last one out of bed for once. My friends are in the little lounge area, sipping at morning tea and working hard to keep Felix away from all of the biscuits.

Hey, I say before sitting across from them on the last free seat. I stifle a yawn, blink a few times, then grab at the kettle thats still steaming lightly. So, whatre we going to get up to today?

Something more productive than yesterday? Esme asks.

Yesterday was plenty productive, I say I got new clothes, Bianca has new boots, and Felix has her spear-thing.

Felix nods and grabs the plate of biscuits while Esmes distracted. She grins down at her bounty, then glances my way. She very carefully takes a biscuit and puts it next to my mug of tea, slowly, as if shes a little hesitant about it.

I smile as I take the offering and dip it in my tea.

I suppose, Esme says. But we cant just sit on our laurels and go around and shop all day.

What about sitting in this nice warm inn and reading all day? I ask.

Esmes face twists this way and that as she wrestles with temptation. N-no! We cant do that either. Were here for work, and Semper would be disappointed in me if I failed to accomplish my goals.

I shrug. Alright. I dont mind heading out either. We might want to go out on foot though, at least for a little bit. Then we can travel by monster-back. Convoys and carts were fun for a bit, but I think Ill take the risk of getting lost if it means not having to deal with people for a while.

Were not people? Felix asks.

Thats not what I meant, I say. Im just saying, dealing with strangers can be tiring, and Esme is right--

As usual, Esme quips, interrupting me for a moment.

And Esmes a little bit right, I continue. We are on something of a mission, for mom and Semper. We should get to it. Well have time for more relaxing and fun later. Besides, I bet the shopping in the capital is even better, right Bianca?

Certainly, she says. A lot of the wealthiest families in the Republic live in or around the capital. It makes sense to imagine that the city will try to cater to them, and that means a high-class of shop. As for relaxation, my family does have an estate in the capital. It should be fully staffed. My father stays there at times, when he needs to exert some pressure on other families, or when he wants to keep a hand on the nations pulse.

I grin. Perfect! In a few days well be relaxing in the lap of luxury.

A few days? Bianca asks. The capital is further from here than we are from Vizeda.

Ive got a map, Esme says. She bends down to the side and fiddles through her satchel until she picks out a scroll. Felix moves things aside on the table so that she has room to set it down.

The usual path, Bianca says, follows this road towards the east, then north.

Well so do I, Esme says.

I look away so that no one can see my face reddening. Bianca, of course, notices right away. Maybe we can all just head out together, I say, putting an end to the argument. Itll be more fun that way anyway.

Fine, Felix says. So are you going to get ready, or are you heading out in a night shift?

We all get up and--after polishing off our tea and the last of the biscuits--head back to our rooms. It takes a bit, but soon enough all four of us are ready to head out again.

I asked the innkeeper to prepare a lunch basket for us, Esme says. We can have a picnic outside of the city while you gather the monsters you need.

Great idea! I say. Uh, where do we go first?

There are some shops closer to the walls that supply the caravans heading in and out of town, Bianca says. I think that might be a good first stop? Theyll have equipment for all the mercenaries escorting caravans around the area.

That makes perfect sense, I say. Lead the way?

Bianca nods and does just that.

The part of the city we head to isnt as luxurious and nice as the area around our inn. The shops and houses are a bit simpler, but theyre no less clean and well-maintained. The entire city feels new, and theres a sort of buzzing energy to it that makes it easy to move about and imagine things growing and expanding.

Its an interesting contrast to Vizeda, which felt a lot more... stifled and tight.

It takes a bit of wandering around, but we do end up finding a shop that sells what we need, and then we run into an old friend. Teo?

Girls, Teo says. Hes got a heavy pack on his back, clearly loaded with all sorts of stuff. Didn't think Id be running into you four again.

Yeah, were just looking for some gear, I say. What about you?

Likewise, he says. Then he glances around the street before coming closer. You four dont intend to leave the city, do you?

We do, I say.

He nods. Might be best if you didnt. That ambush we ran into? It wasnt the only one. People are seeing undead all over the place. The guard is keeping it quiet, but theres something big going on. An entire group of Templars is gathering to the south to take care of things, but I cant imagine it wont be a mess.

I thank him for the information, but were not heading southward at all.

As we talk a bit more though, I cant help but worry just a little bit.

Something really strange is going on in the Republic, and I really hope its not going to cause us any trouble.

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