70 - Book 2: Chapter 7: Kitchen Lizard

70 - Book 2: Chapter 7: Kitchen Lizard

The first thing Vex did was, of course, explain his concerns about what he'd seen. "Do we know what that means?" was Misa's immediate question, and Vex just shook his head mutely.

"I've never seen mana behaving like this," he said, his tail swishing about nervously. He looked up at Derivan for comfort, almost automatically, and without seeming to think about it the armor reached out to take his hand and squeeze it Vex froze at that little action, feeling his heart beating faster.

He didn't say anything, afraid it would spoil the moment; he was still nervous, even then, but it was... a slightly better kind of nervousness? He found it hard to gather his thoughts.

"Perhaps I can investigate the problems with the mana, together with Vex," Derivan said; he didn't seem to notice the small existential crisis Vex was in the middle of having. "I believe I may be able to coax more out of the mana. And even if I cannot, there is a pattern in the behavior of the mana we may be able to trace... There are people and places that it seems to prefer. If nothing else, that is something we can investigate perhaps it is trying to tell us something."

There was a small silence. Misa looked at the remnants of the barrier that Derivan had cast; fragments of mana still remained, quite unlike the normal usage of a spell provided by the system. She shook her head after a moment.

"I don't really know much about this mana stuff," Misa admitted. "I gotta take your word for it. But I'm pretty sure this isn't about fucking goblin raids, so that's our biggest lead right now."

"I'm not sure we'll get much more done tonight, though," Sev said, glancing out of the window. Vex followed his gaze, trying his best to focus on the conversation, and not on Derivan's hand still placed casually over his own. The sun was already setting, and the town of Fendal was cast in the dim, orange hues of the sunset; many of the townsfolk were heading back to their homes, and the stalls they'd seen earlier were beginning to close up.

Even the mana seemed less active and more sleepy.

"We should get some rest," Sev continued. He wore a slight frown, though, and his leg bounced as though in agitation. "I don't want to stay here longer than necessary, but it looks like whatever's going on here isn't all that simple, so we're going to have to take the time to figure it out... I'll keep the Guildmaster updated."

"Something up?" Misa asked, raising a brow slightly. "I mean, I know we're in a hurry, but you're a little anxious."

"It's mostly Aurum," Sev said with a sigh. "He doesn't say much these days, but he's always very worried. His angels are scouting the celestial planes to try to find out if a new god is being targeted, but we don't have any news so far. I think the lack of news is getting to him."

"I'm pretty fucking worried about that," Misa muttered, then shook her head. "Let's just get dinner ready and then get some rest. We've got a lot to do tomorrow. Whose turn is it to make dinner?"

"Vex's, I think," Sev said, glancing at the lizardkin.

"What?" Vex said, blinking. He'd lost track of the conversation. Misa snickered.

"You two are going to need to sort that out eventually," she said.

"What do you mean?" Derivan asked curiously, and Misa just shook her head.

"They're hopeless," she said conversationally to Sev, and the cleric just grinned. "I said it's your turn to prepare dinner, Vex. But I can do it if you'd rather stare at Derivan for a bit longer."

"I'm that wasn't what I was doing!" Vex protested, flushing.

And he'd learned to enjoy it, too. There was something calming about it the process was easier once he knew what to do, and [Dagger Proficiency] actually helped him when it came to cutting meats and vegetables. Who would've thought!

Well, Misa had. But that wasn't the point.

He glanced up and over at Misa and Derivan just to see what they were doing while he was grilling rabbit meat, and saw that they'd found some sort of board game in one of the cupboards and that Misa was spiritedly arguing with him about the rules of that game. Sev was watching them, too, faint amusement painted on his face.

"It's nice to actually have a room to ourselves again," Vex commented as he plated up the rabbit.

"You have no idea how much I've been holding back my complaints about sleeping in the caravan," Sev said, grinning back at him. "Trust me, I'm very glad we have a room. Even if there's some weird shit going on. Heck, I don't care if this room is haunted."

"...is this room haunted?" Vex asked, suddenly worried.

"I'm pretty sure it isn't. But you never know!"

"Sev," Vex said with a sigh, but he wore a faint smile. "Alright. Let's have dinner, at least."

The dishes were plated up and served, with everyone except Derivan eating but he participated in conversation right alongside the rest of them. Vex resolved to figure out that one skill that allowed Derivan to share in another person's taste. He wanted the armor to be able to try his food, dammit.

It was a good night for the four of them.

The next morning was... considerably more chaotic. Vex woke up in the early hours of the morning, as he usually did, and while he was going through the notes he'd made, he realized that something had changed since he'd woken up. There were sounds now, sounds of people talking and laughing amongst themselves, like there was a full tavern of people below.

That shouldn't have been strange, of course. But Vex was relatively sure that he hadn't heard anything when he'd woken up, and he hadn't heard any doors opening, either. The lobby had been completely empty when they arrived...

He frowned, and went to Derivan. The armor never slept, after all.

"I had not noticed it before you mentioned it," Derivan said, a hint of concern seeping into his voice. "But I believe you are right. I heard no sounds of people entering. Perhaps we should investigate."

It was early enough in the morning that Sev and Misa were still fast asleep; Vex sent a quick message to them through the system, to keep them apprised of what they were doing, and he and Derivan went down the stairs together. They stopped at the foot of the stairs, briefly stunned.

The inn was full. The lobby functioned as a tavern, and it was full of people of all kinds, from other lizardkin to orcs and even an elemental or two; every one of them were laughing and talking with one another like it wasn't four in the morning, and Vex couldn't help but wonder briefly if he was dreaming.

At least, until he saw the mana. He froze. The mana was thicker and denser here than he'd ever seen in Fendal and it was dancing and twirling here, like it was partying right alongside all the people in the inn.

"Are you seeing this too?" Vex asked, just to make sure. Derivan nodded, and Vex stared.

Strange.