The Witch's Relay

Chapter 29: Breakfast and Chat

Waking up I see Heather standing over by the window with her back turned.

"So nothing happened on your end I suppose?" I ask. My dreams this time were nothing out of the normal randomness.

"Nope. No signs of anyone else's mana interfering. It makes sense that they would withdraw after one attack. And since you stayed up for a while, that mage is probably busy with something else, or fast asleep recovering."

"Yea.. Makes sense.." My voice trails off. I am happy for the rest I was just able to get in, but I still wish that we could get some confirmation.

"Hey Kade." Heather stares back out the window and seems to look somewhere distant.

"Hm?" I figuratively perk up my ears.

"How do you see us?"

"Huh? Like our relationship?" This seems a little out of the blue.

"No, stupid. Compared to the world, what are we?.."

"I'm not sure I follow."

She inhales. "Are we really the good guys?"

"Aren't we?" I question, still slightly confused. "We never went after anyone, and the world will hunt us to the ends of the earth despite that." I pause to think a bit more. "And even if we aren't the good guys, what have we really done to make us the bad guys? Even if the world says we are the bad guys, what does it really matter? People change like the flip of a coin. Once upon a time mages were at the head of high society, now we are at the bottom of the low. So just based on that, fitting in the mold of what a "good guy" is, is really just uncreative and unremarkable." I look at her, pleased with my answer.

She smiles and lets out a little chuckle. "Uncreative and unremarkable? Heh, I guess that about sums that up." She then switches topic and says; "Tomorrow I want to check out your new casting abilities, but today we should spend time gathering information and becoming more aware of our surroundings. If this new mage is hostile, then we need to know."

"You seem very sure there is a new mage despite us not having proof yet."

"I have a gut feeling."

...

We climb down the stairs, and in the main hall is Vanessa cleaning up after some people's late breakfasts and chatting to.. Linda? Why is she here at this hour?

"Good-morning Heather! Good-morning Kade!" Vanessa exclaims and waves.

"Oh, good-morning you two!" Linda addresses us after Vanessa's exclamation alerted her of our presence.

"Good-morning." Both Heather and I say in unison.

"Aren't you supposed to be at the guild at this hour?" I ask Linda.

"I took a personal day. Last night is still on my mind a bit, so I'm taking a little rest just to be on the safe side. Besides, the guild owes me at least that much after all these years." She grins.

"But you are feeling alright aren't you?" Vanessa tries to confirm with Linda worriedly.

"Yes of course. Me fainting was completely out of the blue, but now I'm all good."

"That's nice to hear." I inject, getting a nod from Vanessa.

"Am I right to assume breakfast is over by now?" Heather asks.

"That would be correct." Vanessa laughs, shifting her attention. "Both the eggs and fried pork are all gone, but I can get you some bread and cheese? Maybe a drink to go with that?"

"That sounds great, but no drinks thank you. Just water."

"I'll be right back then!" She rushes off, impressively agile.

A moment later she returns with two plates and enough food for the two of us. "Would you like me to put it on your tab?"

"That sounds good." I answer.

"So it seems like the guild is going about recruitments for the dungeon exploration pretty vigorously. Both Vanessa and I have already received letters of summons. So you should expect yours pretty soon, it does take slightly longer though since you don't have a permanent residence here."

"Ok. I'll be ready for that then." Heather says.

"Wait, so you two are summoned? Don't you just work as a clerk? And you're an adventurer Vanessa!?" As it turns out, apparently I'm the weakest person in the room!?

Vanessa laughs. "Yes, when I'm not helping out here, I'm actually a pretty active adventurer. The guild has been know to summon me every so often for tougher jobs."

"And me as well. While it is true I do mostly just work as a clerk, I do take on some urgent quests if we can't get anyone else to do them. It's just a part of my job."

"What weapons do you use?" Heather asks. "If we're gonna work together soon, we might as well get to know each other a little better."

"I agree. I usually use long stabbing knives, but I've been known to keep a few of the throwing variety as well."

"I use a bow. I don't like being at the brunt of the fight, so I tend to take a step back to do support." Vanessa answers with a contemplating look. "And what do you use Heather Miss?"

"I like to keep things simple." She chuckles at Vanessa's use of the honorific "miss" after her name. "So I just use a sword. I find them to be the most straightforward."

"Can't really argue with that." Linda smiles.

"Is there any way I can get to be a part of the expedition?" I ask. If anyone knows it's Linda.

For a moment Heather's eyes go wide and her jaw drops slightly before clenching her teeth, but then she quickly realizes and puts her face back to unfazed. Linda seems to notice but ignores.

"You are a D-almost-C-rank adventurer?" Linda asks me.

"Yes. I'm a D-rank, but technically ready to take the C-rankup test."

"Hmm.." She hums. "If you are able to officially become a C-rank before the gates open, you should be able to volunteer, but only as a supporter most likely. So you might be assigned a higher rank adventurer to carry their gear in order to let them fight better. You won't be assigned a fighting role."

"Ok.." That sounds about right I guess. They shouldn't let just anybody in there. "I might do that then."

The other three keep chatting adventurer talk for quite a while, but while deep in my own thoughts, I finish my meal in silence.