Chapter Seventy-Two - The Adventurer Look

Chapter Seventy-Two - The Adventurer Look

Chapter Seventy-Two - The Adventurer Look

Hmm, I said.

Hrm, Amaryllis agreed.

Awen balled her fists in the material of her skirt. Awa, is something wrong?

I nodded, but instead of answering her, I looked around the shop we had found our way over to. It was filled with clothes of all sorts, most of it on mannequins, but a lot of it hooked onto wooden walls with slats to keep the clothes in place.

This wasnt a shop like the one Amaryllis had brought me to. It felt a little cheaper, and while some of the clothes on display were nice, some lacked... refinement? I couldnt quite pin why, but it was obvious that the quality here was just a pinch lower than what was available in Port Royal. And this was supposed to be the best shop for delving and exploration clothes.

Im not sure, I said.

Frankly, nor am I, Amaryllis agreed.

Awen, who was still wearing the same pretty dress she had come in with, shifted nervously from foot to foot. Sure about what?

How to make you look like a proper adventurer, I said. See, looking good while out on an adventure is really important.

It is? Awen asked.

I nodded. Does your uncle spend a lot of time taking care of his magnificent mustache?

Awa, I guess he does?

Well there you have it, I said. So, we need to make you look awesome.

I, I dont know if I can do that, Awen said.

I snorted. Course you can! Amaryllis and I will fix you right up! First, we need to figure out what sort of outfit were aiming for, though. Youre a mechanic right? We could lean into that. Go for something with lots of pockets.

I like that idea, Amaryllis said. Some pants. They have decent ones around here somewhere.

Pants? Awen said. Ive never worn pants before.Th.ê most uptodate novels are published on n(0)velbj)n(.)co/m

Really? I asked. I like skirts better myself, but even Im wearing shorts underneath. See? I grabbed the hem of my skirts, which were fairly thick on account of the padding, and lifted them to reveal the shorts beneath.

Awaaaaa, was all Awen said. She stared for a long few seconds before her face went very red and she slapped both hands over her eyes. Ill wear the pants, she squeaked.

I dropped my skirts and looked at Amaryllis, but she was just shaking her head.

We can wear whatever, really, I said. This is for you, so you should pick out things that you like. Were just here to, uh, mentor you along. Were your Obi Wan. But... without the... that was a bad example.

Youre being stupid again. More so than usual, Amaryllis said.

I stuck my tongue out at her and walked over to Awen to help her out.

What followed was a flurry of activity as Awen hesitated over every option Amaryllis and I pointed out, and only set aside a few things for her to try on. Fortunately, the shopkeeper didnt seem to mind our oohing and ahhing over their stuff.

That, Awen said.

I paused while looking at a little rack covered in belts and, after following her gaze, found that Awen was staring at a long coat on a hanger way off in the back of the room. It reminded me of a trench coat, with a few buckles around the waist and a flaring bottom. It was done in what looked like a fairly breathe-y material that was almost exactly the same blue as my own outfit.

You like it? I asked.

Awa, I mean... yes? she said. If its not too much?

Of course it isnt, not if you like it!

We had to pause at one intersection to let a flock of sheep pass by, led by a bored shepherd who seemed practiced at ignoring the jabs and insults of the other people blocked on the road.

There was even a stench to the air, one that had Awen pressing the sleeve of her new coat over her mouth and nose.

This place is filthy, Amaryllis said.

The people here must get very sick, I added as I watched a group of human kids run after a wooden loop. They were all barefoot and covered in mud from head to toe.

Awen nodded. We have lots of problems with illnesses. We hire a lot of healers, but the moment one sickness is put down another rises up, and the greater part of the population is made up of caravaneers and vagrants. They bring new ones all the time.

I shivered and let loose a small burst of cleaning magic around myself. I hoped it worked on bacteria and the like.

The number of houses thinned out as we reached the northern outskirts and were replaced by lots with tents and wagons and carriages parked by pens that held big horses.

The roads turned from cobbles to packed dirt, and then back to cobbles again as we reached the very end of the city.

Greenshades didnt have an outer wall. Instead, the city just... ended. It was a little jarring to go from a stinky road where you needed to avoid droppings on every other step to a wide open countryside with... a bit less poop on the roads.

Im... out? Awen asked.

I grinned. I guess you are, I said. Amaryllis, do you know the region at all?

Not very well, no, Amaryllis admitted. But were aiming for Rosenbell, which is to the North West. She pointed off in that direction, towards a road that moved through a bunch of orchards.

Awa, Awen said. Um, if you go straight that way, well need to cross part of the desert.

So, we should go another way? I asked.

Awen clasped her hands together. If, if you want, yes? Its safer to go straight North, then turn west once youre a bit past the desert, otherwise, um, the sand and the heat can be pretty bad.

Ah yes, sand, it gets everywhere, I said, then pouted because no one in this world was going to get my awesome references. Whelp, off we go!

J-just like that? Awen asked.

Yup! I said as I began walking North. Amaryllis snorted and was by my side a moment later, and I heard Awens boots thumping behind me as she ran to keep up.

Oh, okay. Awa, if... if Im not very good at adventuring, can, can you help me? Again? I know Im asking for a lot, but I swear, Ill work hard, and Ill improve.

Dont be silly, I said. As long as you try your best and are a good friend, then having you along will just make the adventure ever more fun.

Awen nodded so hard her hair was whipping back and forth behind her. Yes! I promise, Ill do my best. I'm going to be just like you, Broccoli.

I sure hope not, Amaryllis said. The world has enough of one Broccoli.

Whats that supposed to mean? I said.

It means your eternal optimism and naivety are lowering the worlds average intelligence, Amaryllis snarked back.

Yeah, but Im increasing the worlds average friendliness, so Im making it a better place, I said. All youre doing is making it even snobbier.

Amaryllis squawked. Im not snobbish!

The most snobbiest, I said.

The harpy bumped her shoulder against mine, and trilled happily before she let loose a long string of insults about me, my intelligence, and every choice I had ever made. Awen stared wide-eyed, but I think she clued in on the fact that neither of us were really angry at each other, because she wore a happy little smile as she watched us bicker back and forth.

Soon, wed get her to join in on it too.

It was a fun start to what would no doubt be a grand adventure!

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