Chapter 18 Into The Bath

Arad stood and exited the room after finishing his talk with the man. Nina and Aella were waiting for him outside, "Is everything fine?" Nina asked, staring at him.

"First, I stink. You stink as well." He pointed at Aella, "Where is the closest bath?" He asked.

Nina looked taken aback by his words, "A bath? You should find one behind the plaza."

"Thank you," Arad turned to leave, but she grabbed his hand.

"Please wait a moment. Your reward for the toad quest." She pulled out a small leather purse, "Alcott reported six giant toads dead and several bandits. This money is the toads' reward."

The small purse had one silver coin and twenty-five copper coins.

"By the way, can I take a smile quest?" Arad asked, and Nina nodded, "There has been one released just now. Are you sure you want to go on a quest again?"

Arad nodded, "Actually," from his bag, he pulled ten slime cores. "I already got them earlier." He handed her the cores with a smile.

Nina stared at them for a while, "Fine, here is your payment. Fifty copper coins."

He then stared at her, "Can Aella take the quest as well?" He asked with a wide grin.

"She can take it once a day like you," Nina replied, and Arad handed her another ten slime cores. "This is for her quest."

"You can't take a quest for her."

"Aella, what do you say?"

"I will take the quest,"

Nina sighed, grabbing her head, "Fine, here you go." She counted the slime cores and handed the money to Aella, "I will let you know. Usually, things like this are unaccepted."

Arad smiled, "I know. All I care about now is money."

"Money isn't the answer to everything." Nina said, and Arad stared at her, "But it's the answer to most things." He smiled, "Strength and money. I need an abundance of them."

Nina sighed, "Do what you like, but don't get yourself killed." she then looked at Aella, "And don't get her hurt."

Arad nodded. He still needed a way to convince Aella to be his mate. [Take it slow and don't be mean.]

"Do you know how much the bathing cost?" Arad asked while looking at the door.

"If I remember correctly, it's fifty copper coins per person," Nina replied.

Arad scratched his chin, "All of the slime money?"

He and Aella walked outside the guild, and Alcott approached Nina, "Interesting, isn't it?" He said.

"Interesting in what? You haven't reported about the dragon you rushed for earlier." Nina said, glaring at Alcott.

Dragons are dangerous. The last thing a city want is a problem with one due to the stupid actions of an adventurer.

"I freed the wyrmling. You don't have to worry about that." Alcott replied with a smile.

"I find it hard to believe. You usually take it to the nest, which takes days. How did you just let it go?" Nina glared at him.

"It was a violent one. I can't help it." Alcott smiled, "It was better to let the wyrmling do its things alone."

Nina sighed, "You're the expert, just make sure you don't cause us trouble."

Alcott laughed, "Well then, I'm going to the bath. See you later!" He smiled, leaving the guild while waving his hand.

***

Aella and Arad walked toward the bath, "Are you angry?" She asked, staring at his face.

"I would be lying to say I'm not angry, but that doesn't mean I'm going to eat you over it." Arad replied, "Do not reveal it to anyone,"

"Sorry, it won't happen again. But you didn't tell me before that you were a dragon." She walked ahead of him.

"I'm not blaming you for it. That's a reason." Arad sighed, "But aren't you a level 12? Couldn't you escape the toad's stomach on your own?"

Aella looked to the side, her face bright red while her hands trembled, "You're right. I should be able to escape alone."

Arad stopped, "Why didn't you escape?"

She stared at him with a scared face, "I couldn't use my magic," She replied, "Each time I try using a spell, I see their faces."

[I do not like where this is going.]

"Faces?"

"The elves who died at my hand, can I tell you a story?" She stared into his eyes.

"You don't seem comfortable talking about it, so just get to the point." Arad started walking with her.

"I'm an elvish Arcane archer. I can use a bow and wind magic." She looked at the sky.

"In short, I tried casting a spell far higher than I can handle and ended up teleported here from the elvish continent."

"Was it an accident? Is that why you can't cast magic?"

"I appeared in the middle of the war between humans and elves. But a storm emerged with me that diverted the elves' arrow back at them. I caused the elves to lose the war."

[I assume a lot of elves died by the arrows she diverged. But why didn't they persecute her?]

"I need you to cast magic," Arad said, looking at her face.

"I tried, but I couldn't do it." She looked at her hand, "When I remember the dead elves, I lose concentration, and my spells fail."

Arad scratched his head. This situation is a bit difficult.

***

[Aella's trauma: Help Aella cast a 0-tier spell.]

***

[The lower the spell, the less concentration it needs. Aella should be able to cast 0-tier with a bit of willpower.]

^I will look into that tomorrow or tonight. For now, we reached the bath.^

Arad stared ahead of him. The large building radiated a bit of heat from its wide open door. Strangely enough, the place seemed quiet.

Upon entering, Arad saw an old woman standing behind the counter, "Two people please," He approached her.

The old woman smiled, pointing toward the doors behind her, "Get in, the women to the right and men to the left. You will pay after your bath." She smiled.

"Thank you," Arad thanked her, but Aella caught his hand.

"Do we have a change of clothes?" She whispered, and Arad froze, "No, we don't."

Just a moment later, Alcott entered from the door, "Arad, you still here?" He said with a smile.

"Alcott?" Aella stared back at him, "What are you doing here?" she asked.

"The same as you. I came here for a bath. Why haven't you entered yet."

Arad scratched his chin, "Well, about that..." He told Alcott about how they forgot to get some clothes.

After listening seriously for a moment, Alcott laughed, "How did that happen?"

"I just forgot to buy some," Arad sighed. He needed a rest to get his life together.

[You lack management skills.]

^You're expecting too much from a newly hatched baby,^ He screamed internally.

Alcott stared at the old woman managing the bath, "Mom, I have some old clothes, right?"

The old woman nodded, "I have some old clothes as well," She nodded.

"She's your mom?" Aella gasped, staring at them.

"Yeah, she own the bath." Alcott smiled.

"Go in the bath. I will bring you the clothes before you finish." The old woman said, entering into the side room.