Shapeless Hero

40 - Transactions

"Where did you find them?", I ask the arctic fox-kin.

She grins. "Secret."

"Forfeiting the bonus reward for bringing new intel then?"

"Forfeiting?" She scoffs. "You already had a name for those metal pieces, so there's no chance that I get that extra coin, is there?" A short sigh escapes her. "And here I thought, I had something worthy of a first finder's bonus..."

I furrow my brows. She risked her life exploring dungeons and scavenging parts from lethal security contraptions. Meanwhile, I just happen to come from another world, the knowledge gained from the safety of a computer desk. I can't give her the full bonus without good reasoning, though. The guild's checks and balances are ruthless. That said...

"You might be the first one, actually.", I tell her.

"Huh?" Her tail stops moving. "But didn't you already identify everything I brought?"

"Yes, I myself might know what all this is." I lean closer, before I continue in a whisper. "But the adventurer's guild probably doesn't."

She shifts her eyes side to side, then puts on a sheepish smile. "And we both are the only ones, who speak this language here, right?"

I nod. " I haven't said anything and you haven't heard anything. Deal?"

"Deal!"

After a few minutes of double-checking with Rev, I bring good news to the fox-kin. This information is truly new to the guild and the cartridges are a first. The paperwork finished, she's now in possession of a heavy coin pouch.

Like many other adventurers and their extraordinary finds, she wants to keep one of the cartridges as a memento. Telling others tales with a tangible trophy in hand will certainly seem more convincing.

"A small warning about those.", I start, before handing over the cartridge.

She perks her eyebrows up.

Her attention confirmed, I continue: "Do not ever puncture the small, round middle part of the flat end. Ever." My gaze turns stern. "Doing so might activate the charge, pulverizing your arms in the process."

Once she nods, I put the last cartridge in her stretched out hands. Truth to be told, I don't know the exact effect, but the propellant in the shell has some concerning magical attributes.

She carefully packs it away. "Thank you, Miss...?"

"Fylka."

"Thank you, Miss Fylka. I mean it. It was nice to talk to somebody again."

"You're... welcome?" I'm confused at first, but her genuine smile makes me understand, how grateful she is (and how sharp her canines are). Perhaps I'm the only one in Ryelope, she's able to talk to without a heavy language barrier. And our mutual secret might further lessen her feeling of isolation in such a foreign environment. Perhaps, that is.

"See you later!", she shouts back. I watch her vanish up the stairs. That tail looks really fluffy.

I pick up the transaction protocol for the cartridges. The fox-kin wrote down "Liszka" as her name, pronounced somewhat like "leash-cah". I wonder... does this world have it's own version of kapusta with a side buttered bread? If so, do they sell it here?

#

Kella lowers the silken pouch into Klint's hands. "Here ya go."

He looks at Kella, uncertainty in his eyes. "What is this? Do you want me to wash it?"