“Another money sink,” Alburet muttered, but still liking the way the devs had set it up for people to camp in the wilds if they wanted to.
“Okay Pablo, all of this if you don't mind,” Alburet said as they placed it all on the counter.
Pablo's grin widened, “Now that is a good haul. Let’s see what it comes out to. With the rope and sundries, it will come out to a little short of three gold.”
Alburet placed three gold into Pablo's hand, “Sold and keep the change. Stacia, help me pack all of this away please.”
Shaking his head slightly, Pablo put the gold away, “You are generous.”
“As a two-souled adventurer I can always get more coin easily enough,” Alburet replied as they packed the stuff into his bag. “Besides, I don't know how many of the other two-souled come by here.”
“I had a Lunari buy some things from me just the other day. Other than her you’re the only other two-souled I've seen.”
“Since the rest of my kind hasn't started visiting you yet it behooves me to be an ambassador, as it were. More will stop buy in the future but many of them won't be as generous, so I do what I can to make up for it now.”
Laughing, Pablo shook his head, “I won't turn down free coin. I wish you a pleasant day.”
Saying their goodbyes, the couple left the shop. “Ya are always so generous, master,” Stacia murmured as they headed for the portal guild.
“As I told Pablo, the coin is easy enough to come by, so why not spread a little extra happiness around? I wonder when Karen and Fluff will be on so we can do this thing. We also should put more coin on our travel accounts.”
At the portal guild, they found the lobby mostly empty. Only a handful of people were lounging in the waiting area, probably waiting for their friends to show up. Alburet led Stacia over to the desk where Kim was sitting.
“Hey Kim, how’s business?” Alburet asked with a genuine smile.
Kim looked up from the book she was reading, a smile coming to her as well. “Hello, Alburet. Business is good, I think. I don't handle the accounts so I can't say for certain, all I do is add coin for people.”
“Well, then you are the person we need to see. I want to add thirty gold to my portal account, and thirty gold to Stacia’s account as well.”
Nodding, Kim replied, “Hold your portal stone above that clear spot in front of you. While you do that, hand me the coin please.”
As soon as he handed the coin across to Kim the stone he was holding over the clear quartz sheet glowed. “There you are, thirty gold added to your account,” Kim said.
“That is so quick and easy, nice,” Alburet stepped aside as he handed Stacia thirty gold. “You’re up, Kitten.”
Stacia repeat the process, stepping back as she put her stone away, “Thank ya, Miss Kim.”
Shaking her head, Kim let out a small laugh, “No need for the Miss. You always seem to be with Alburet these days. Is he a good person to be around?”
Stacia's smile become broad as she took Alburet's arm. “Aye, the best. I be blessed to be part of his life.”
“Even though he’s a two-souled? Most of them don't seem to be the best of people.” Kim asked the question simply, obviously not meaning any offense.
“Aye, he is nay like most of them. He has always treated everyone the same regardless, be they normal folk like us or other two-souled. His friends be much the same as well.”
“As I thought then. I hope your hunting today is pleasant and profitable.” Kim gave them another smile.
“Question, how is Rolland doing? Now that we aren't being escorted to the runes I haven't seen him,” Alburet asked.
“Oh yeah, most of them are busy powering the runes behind the scenes now. I'll let him know you asked after him if you want.”
“Please do, he helped me out of a situation awhile back plus he was always pleasant to speak to.” Alburet put two gold on the counter, “Have a good day reading your book.” With a parting smile he led Stacia towards the stairs.
“Master,” Stacia began as they moved away, “are we going ahead of the others?”
“I figure we can use the rune and if they don't show soon we can see about the single wandering gnolls Karen mentioned.” No sooner had he finished speaking when the guild icon lit up. Chuckling, he tapped it to see the message.
Fluffbalclass="underline"
I'm headed to the portal guild now, if anyone is ready to go.
As he pulled out his stone to reply another message appeared.
Karen:
Just about to reach the guild myself, so I'll wait for you in the lobby, Fluff. Now where is our lazy bones leader?
Stacia:
You didn't call him lazy last night, Karen. Besides, we’re headed up the stairs. We will wait for you at the rune room.
Karen:
Fine, be that way. I'll bring Fluff up with me. See you two in a bit.
Not seeing a need to reply now, Alburet put his Guildstone away. “Well, it seems the band is going to be back together soon. Let's find the right portal room and wait for them.”
Finding the room marked, Gnoll Encampments, they waited for a few minutes. Fluff and Karen came down the hall towards them, chatting as they did.
“Morning, ladies,” Alburet hailed them. “You ready for more of a challenge today?”
Karen bounced down the hall, “Hell yeah. Little worried about Tiny holding up with the big groups, but we should be fine, right?”
Fluffball nodded as she reached them, “I think I am ready.”
Something seemed a little off about Fluff so Alburet asked her gently, “You okay?”
Shaking her head as though clearing it of some lingering thoughts, she gave him a small smile, “Yes, sorry. My talk with Lilith last night wasn't what I expected and it’s had me thinking ever since. She asked me to come speak with her again tonight once we’re done hunting.”
“Ma' be able to be helpin' ya, then?”
“Yes, Stacia. I didn't expect what she did but it is helping me, I think. After tonight hopefully I will have a better idea of how and why.”
“Glad to hear it,” Alburet said before motioning towards the door, “shall we go?”
They all stepped into the room and onto the rune on the floor there. They found themselves at the gates of a fort slightly larger than the one in the orc lands. The four guards at the gates nodded to them in greeting.
“The two-souled finally made it out here again, it’s been awhile,” one of them muttered.
“We might not be able to handle the monsters here yet, but we are here to give it a try,” Karen replied to the mutterer. “Does the sergeant on duty have the quests for this area?”
The mutterer stood up straight, “Yes, ma'am.”
“Thank you,” Karen replied as the group walked into the fort.
This fort had four buildings in the courtyard. At the smithy, a female elf was hammering a sword into shape. Another building had a sign declaring it a provisions store. Next was a place called the Gnoll's Head, which looked like a small inn. Last was a stable, where a one-armed man was grooming a horse.
Alburet whistled in appreciation, “Looks like they start getting a little more self-sufficient. The inn will make it possible to stay out of the city longer when you reach high level areas.”
“That was the idea,” Fluff added. “Though, if this was reality you would think the inverse would really be true. The further out you went the smaller the defensive locations and fewer frills.”
“Yeah, like forward base camps going towards enemy territory,” Karen mused. “Alpha World being what it is, though, means it makes more sense this way.”
“We sold everything we needed to before leaving town. You two got free bag space?” Alburet asked.
They both assured him they did. With that out of the way, the party trooped into the main fort building. The first big room held a single desk with a sergeant behind it. The blonde haired human female looked up at them as they approached. Alburet noted the touch of grey to her hair as well as the numerous small scars on her hands and face.