Chapter 11: An Upset Mother

Chapter 11: An Upset Mother

After the incident at the gates, Raven and his party led Aerin into the city. Traveling by the same carriage hauling the herbs, they made their way through the streets while getting acquainted with Aerin's mother, Brenna.

"I expected the Hero to be more menacing," she said while lifting her round glasses.

Her keen violet eyes had already judged the girls with a glance. Now as she turned them to the guys, it seemed like it was their turn.

"Uhm..." With half an eyebrow raised, Amedith's discomfort was on full display. "I'm still the strongest warrior in the kingdom, even if my appearance isn't that menacing."

Glaring at him still, the woman folded her hand over her traditional gown. Decorated with colorful designs, rings, and a golden clip to hold her hair bun, she looked like an inquisitor instead of an herbalist herself.

"I almost mistook you for a girl, so I suppose it does matter," holding not even a word, she let her thoughts out as clearly as possible. "If anything, the dark elf looks more fitting, or perhaps the mage you have here."

Shifting her attention to Raven, she stared at him for a moment before clicking her tongue and looking away. Catching onto that gesture, a confused frown took over Raven's head. Even since he'd gotten on the carriage, Benna appeared to be ignoring him. At first, he paid it no mind, but hearing her clicking her tongue with clear disgust, he knew something was wrong.

'The only thing I can think of...' The slightest thought landed Raven an answer. After all, the only reason she could be mad at him was because she knew about what happened between him and her daughter. Either way, Raven decided to ignore the matter for now.

As for the Hero who'd been insulted once again today, he was sulking in the corner with his red cape wrapped around him. Feeling more than a bit downed, Amedith decided to get off early from the carriage the moment they were close to the Boartooth Inn. Leaving him and Aria behind, Raven took the mother and daughter to the merchant they were trying to sell all the herbs to.

Having business of his own at the herbalist, Raven led Aerin inside while Brenna kept watch on the goods outside the herbalist shop called 'The LifeClover'. Stepping in through the open door, the two were assaulted with a flood of dust blowing in their face. Brushing it off Raven moved forward as for Aerin, she was left a few steps behind coughing.

"Illuminus," casting a spell, Raven conjured a ball of light that emerged through the palm of his hand.

Letting it float freely, he had it follow him around the dusty shop as he looked at locked shelves stocked with reeking herbs and potions. What caught his eyes the most, however, were bottles full of toxins–which were thankfully the only bottles not spewing out any fumes.

"How come I've never seen you here before? The shop too, feels like it appeared out of nowhere and I've lived in this town for the entirety of my life," the question raised the witch's eyes to match Raven's.

Squinting a little, she muttered an answer.

"And I haven't seen you either, does that mean you never existed before I laid eyes on you?" Her reply only roused Raven's suspicion some more, but instead of blowing Aerin's client he decided to ask his query.

"Say, if I wanted to defeat a bunch of minotaurs what would I need?" Still hoping to slaughter the minotaur, he wanted to gather information instead of plunging his party back into danger as the Hero did.

"Hmm, why do you ask, young man?" The witch hummed, her eyes growing a curious look.

Thinking back to his death, Raven wandered his thoughts to her words. Searching through memory for nothing but his hate in his last moments. After all, the axe hadn't caused his death instantly–the minotaur had toiled and tore his body like a plaything before finally crushing his head under their hooves. Although that memory stayed with him, not even his party members were made aware of it.

"I wish to burn every single one of them to the ground," with blazing eyes, he peered down at the witch. His body oozed out darkness brimming with an aura of rage.

Watching the young man's vigor, the devious witch's lips curved into a smirk.

"Fine, I'll tell you but I want their bodies as a reward," her offer was tempting even if doing so would defeat the purpose of the quest.

"Very well then, tell me how," blinded by rage, he didn't care for the loot.

All he wanted in that moment was to watch those minotaurs squirm as they bathed in agony. As for the witch herbalist, she had but one thought.

'This could be the start of something...divine.' And with a smirk, she let out the secret.