Day Fifteen
Early in the morning, before I even had a chance to wake up and beat Enio at cards, the guards came for me. They didn’t bother explaining anything, grabbed me by the arms, and dragged me off somewhere. I thought the worst, prayed to all the gods, and mentally said goodbye to everyone! They said nothing to me, didn’t answer my questions, just hauled me to the exit, shoved my stuff at me, and kicked me out onto the street! As it turned out later—they forgave my sins, I’m not such a bandit after all. They could have figured that out sooner!
Upon returning to “Carnelian,” a second piece of good news awaited me—well, aside from everyone’s joy at my return. That nasty bitch Kelianndra managed to get sunburned in my absence! Ha, serves her right! Not sorry one bit. She’ll know better than to warm her long ears eavesdropping on other people’s conversations.
But we did get a new recruit, Vortex. Another Lunarian, but at least this one wasn’t rowdy. She sat in the corner, hugging some portrait... I don’t really want to know what was drawn on it.
While I was in the dungeon, Guyon had managed to dig himself into “Carnelian,” and I decided it would be wise to move in permanently. I went to “The Hearth,” picked up the junk we had left there, like dirty socks and such, tidied up the room, and turned in the keys. Faemira didn’t refund the money for the rest of the month, too bad, she could have been accommodating! Oh well. The place was too good to hold a grudge.
After all the stress I’d been through, I decided I needed to get away for a couple of days, so I headed to the transport station to see what options I had. Oh, I almost got lost there! So noisy, and trains everywhere! It sets a special romantic mood, makes you want to just sit and ride, and ride...
A charming worker named Bella recommended I go to Yansi. Well, she knows best! It seemed like a good option to me, as good as any. Certainly no worse than that Sigismort place they’re sending the rest of the team to for training.
On the way, I noticed an air dock and decided to check if I could fly to Yansi in a hot air balloon. Alas, no. But I’m glad I went in! I rarely get to see hot air balloons up close, and they are so beautiful and majestic!
The tickets were sold by a handsome little man named Lotr Lost! Such a pleasant old fellow! I hear he likes interesting stories.
Such thoughts put me in a philosophical mood. How good that the city has a philosopher’s guild! So big and imposing, wow! You’d expect learned men and women to sit there, debating the progress of society.
But in reality, it’s not so pompous. Thanks, I think, to Li Jun! A most charming young man, very handsome and fond of chatting about any topic, willing to listen to any point of view, even the most unusual!
And the topic of conversation was quite original. Li Jun was locked in a debate with my buddy Salmon from the Fisher’s Guild, arguing about what’s better—tits or ass? I never expected to hear that in such an establishment! But who benefits from it? I do! Because I had something to say, and I said it! The female audience was delighted!
Afterwards, I decided to wander around the business district a bit more. The adventurer’s guild was very interesting! A huge board with quests, my eyes were darting everywhere, so many things to do! A very useful and cozy place.
The guild leader Lucina stood off to the side, ready to help and advise on quests! I think it’s really cool. Though, I thought our acquaintance Lynette would be there, but she was nowhere in sight. Probably off adventuring.
The worker’s guild is actually very similar to the adventurer’s guild, but not as lively. Everything is stricter and drier, and people are more serious.
And the guild master Zhelidrag was eyeing me rather unfriendly. Hey, they let me out! Lighten up, man!
But the hunter’s guild is completely different. Not so noisy, cozy like home. Yes, Guyon was right, the stuffed bear is impressive. But the quest board was quite small. And harpies... Brr, dangerous creatures, wouldn’t want to mess with them.
But their leader Pheasant is very cute! Ah, what could be more wonderful than a handsome young man who knows how to fight wild beasts and monsters? Only my Guyon, of course! I went to him after my walk, happy to have been released. Freedom!
Day Sixteen
In the morning, I was stuck with the rest of Carnelian at a briefing. They were heading off to their training, but our trains were around the same time, so I decided to offer some moral support. Ha-ha, good luck with the training, while I was counting on a full vacation! But Aiko’s briefing would have been useful even to me, so I took separate notes on it (see back pages).
The train ride was breezy! The views out the window were magnificent! I could have watched and watched. And a beautiful melody just played in my head on its own...
Yansi is a very sweet and cozy little town! A real paradise for tourists who want to relax and enjoy exotic culture.
I decided to stay at the Kilan inn. And I didn’t regret it! Wonderful service, cozy rooms, excellent breakfasts—everything top-notch. And the décor is very authentic! Worth every penny.
The innkeeper Ye Shui is a very sweet and friendly person! Quite welcoming! She got me settled quickly and left me to rest!
Day Seventeen
In the morning, I got a bonus from the inn with breakfast—a wonderful, delicious fruit! It looked very strange, but I couldn’t resist and didn’t regret it, even considering what happened later! The fruit was very, very, oh so tasty! No regrets.
Then I decided to do some shopping! First on my path was Thang Long—a shop of authentic weaponry! My eyes were darting everywhere at the local beauties. Rarely have I seen so much beautiful exotic weaponry! And the crossbows there... I fell in love.
The vendor Ho Yin was a very distinguished and serious man! He knew his trade and clearly loved it!
After that, I went to Gouman! The souvenirs there! Such beauty! Silks, ceramics, paintings, and everything else! I didn’t want to leave!
And the vendor in national attire was very cute!
Last, but not least, was the sweet shop! What could be better than national treats?! I almost drooled, I wanted to try everything! And the smells there, mmm...
Unfortunately, I didn’t remember the vendor well; they always seemed to stand in the shade. I’m not even sure if it was a he or a she!
Day Eighteen
Early in the morning, I decided to go for a walk to the Constellation, to find out what it was. It turned out to be an orphanage! I wanted to visit the kids, maybe give them some sweets, but...
...but I doubled over in pain! I guess the fruit was off or something! Or an allergy acting up? Strange, almost a day later! But while I was lying there, some kids jumped me and started robbing me! Villains! They almost took my pants off! They took everything—all the treats, all my money, my favorite crossbow! The book Garrett lent me! They took advantage of my weakness! At least the travel money left in my sock let me buy a return ticket. Bastards, absolute bastards! I wonder, were they orphans from the home or some separate gang?! I should have reported them to the authorities, but I wasn’t in the mood! Those brats ruined my whole vacation!
But even in that state, I remembered those scoundrels! There were about six of them. A Glutton in a beret, a nerdy girl with pigtails, some type with a staff of unclear gender, a brat with a pistol (and where did they even get that?!), another type with a stick—a mage, or what?!—and a weirdo in a funny hat. Scum. If I meet them again, I’ll bury them, age be damned.
Day Nineteen
I made it back to Carnelian without much incident, and thank goodness for that. It turned out the rest of the team also had adventures in their Sigismort, and they had to rush back. Except for Guyon! They left him! I was ready to tear Aiko to pieces, but she assured me it wasn’t their doing! I didn’t care; I wouldn’t have let them leave my Guyon behind in any state! And then Aiko dropped the bombshell that we have some kind of showdown planned with pirates! Without Guyon!
And Vortex had disappeared somewhere too. Ran off, no doubt, a coward! Pff! Weakling. I’d like to see how she’d behave during an interrogation with Ironbutt.
Feeling upset, I went for a walk to avoid saying something I’d regret later. I ended up at the church. They say temples have a special atmosphere. Everything so solemn, beautiful, bright, spacious, with lots of stained glass and a statue of Arcelia.
I felt so insignificant, so dirty. Unworthy of this place. But the gods... I’ve always heard that Anuzish loves all her children. So that means us too? I don’t know what came over me, but I started praying like never before in my life. I prayed for Guyon, for him to return to me safe and sound. I promised the gods I would follow the right path... I’m trying to keep that promise, but sometimes it’s hard. The gods were my only hope at that moment.
Then I decided to wander around the city, but I don’t remember the impressions well... I just ran back and forth, trying to distract myself. My head is still a mess, and I don’t remember any bright moments. I remember I first went into the imperial archive—rows of shelves, the smell of old books and dust, paper as far as the eye can see.
The person working in the archive then was Na, a strange and unsuitable lady... I would have asked her how she ended up there, but I wasn’t in the mood.
I remember the guillotine... It was a sunny day, and that place just seemed wrong. But it would have looked even more wrong with me there, ha...
The executioner just stood nearby, thinking his own thoughts. Doesn’t seem to have much work. Good for him, I guess.
I stuck my head into Mysteria, just to look. It seemed like a rather respectable restaurant, smelled very tasty and high-quality, but I had no appetite.
And the hostess (I think her name was Lavender?) was giving me a bad look... What did I do to her? Well, I didn’t want to find out; she seemed like a rather closed-off lady.
While walking to Emerald Avenue, I got a fever from the stress. Good thing I ran into Raphael along the way, bummed some money off him for a cooling potion, and immediately ran into Leaf. I vaguely registered the black-and-green interior and the pharmacy smell... I got a better look at the place later; it’s really quite nice, not like other pharmacies. But that wasn’t the time.
The vendor Nake gave me a weird look but sold me the cooling potion anyway, and thanks for that. I only noticed later that he’s a Sherian. At first, I thought he was a foreigner from Heles... Anyway, right after leaving the shop, I downed the whole cooling potion in one go. It seemed to help...
Then I stuck my head into Discordia, but that was more out of desperation. I know zilch about magic, just looked at the spell selection and left. Let our egghead mages deal with that.
No wonder the owner Arabella was giving me a suspicious stare. What kind of mage am I...
I went into Rumor. More pulp, but at least it’s educational. Probably. They sold various magazines about our empire there.
Only the saleswoman Crea is a nasty shrew. I hadn’t done anything, just walked in, and she was already laying into me. “Thief of members,” seriously? Did she come up with that herself, or did someone tell her? Never heard anything dumber in my life.
I left Rumor and, annoyed, ducked into Phantom. Yeah... A colorful little shop. I guess in the right mood I’d have gawked at the voodoo dolls and all that, but I wasn’t in the mood.
The saleswoman was kind of strange. She just stood there and said nothing, like she was hypnotized. Remembering it now seems odd, but at the time I took it as normal.
I went into Beauty, thinking my appetite might return. A cute little café, and the desserts looked very appetizing, but I had no appetite. Which was probably for the best—I had no money either...
The waitress Leona looked very frivolous. Strange, I thought it was a family café... Though that’s none of my business, I suppose.
While running around, I bumped into a strange priestess, whom I recognized as Ayano from Guyon’s description. I wanted to call out to her; maybe she could have helped... But I changed my mind. She looked busy, running around with some cards... And what help could she have been to me.
Towards evening, I went into Hellfire. Bad idea—the forge was very noisy. And hot. Good thing the cooling potion hadn’t worn off yet.
The blacksmith Cragg, a very imposing, brutal man, asked what I needed, but... I didn’t need anything. Except Guyon. And he probably couldn’t have gotten him... The real one... Whole... Though now I’m thinking, maybe some parts of Guyon are metal, hmm...
I didn’t want to go home, but I had to. I went back feeling upset, but a surprise was waiting for me right at the door. Guyon managed to return! Battered, but alive, alive! He’s so clever, my man ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ Praise all the gods, praise Mother Anuzish! That’s when I firmly decided I would change my ways. It was the least I could do for Anuzish.
Day Twenty
In the morning, we paid Raphael back for the cooling potion, and on the way to the ship, we found exactly the amount we had paid lying on the road. Strange things happen in life! And the ship itself, the Lightning, was very pretty, despite being small! You can tell it’s seen a lot, but it’s very neat and well-maintained!
Captain Hector Lamaris was something else! A true sea wolf, handsome, smart, stern but fair! Ah, it’s a shame what happened to him... But he was a real man!
We were given three more people to help with the pirates. First, they pardoned Zoritsa! How glad I was to see her! But... But the joy was premature, alas. Gods, I hope her soul rests in peace... I’m so ashamed before her.
Then there was Nora. Some kind of guardswoman, I think; I’d seen her before. But she’d lost all her fighting spirit, even left the guard, and looked frankly depressed. Probably because of the fuss over this Victor... I’d look depressed too.
And some spy, Mellen I think. I didn’t really remember her; she just stood to the side, making indecent gestures at me. Oh, and later at Carnelian... Well, I’m getting ahead of myself. Anyway, nothing remarkable.
We were given gifts (and cool ones, by the way! Wow, what lingerie I snagged for myself...) and we set sail. With nothing to do, I offered to help the sailors... Bad idea. But now I know why ship decks are so clean. And I got a good muscle workout. I even had enough energy to show Guyon how the new lingerie set fit on me! He had learned a couple of new positions while spending time with my friend... By the way, very interesting positions! I approved!
Characters/locations = 53, events = 14, can be counted at full rate, I didn’t bother with details and filler. They’re still there, but I attached them to other paragraphs to make counting easier.
🏹🎪+⛓️♿=💕