L [o/i] ve is a journey

How To Kill A Dragon Slime | Preparation for an Expetition

„So," she recounted, „Now, after we are done getting your armor and weapons and everything you need with you, we split up and buy what we need for the journey. It's not really far from here, but I think, we might be there for a week or so. I told the inn keeper we are gone for a while, so they don't reclaim our room and sell our stuff. I paid in advance anyway."

Lunaris used his book to write: „They better not!"

„Yah, they better not! That was a lot of money for not sleeping in the bed anymore! But, anyway, now we split and get everything we need for sleeping outdoors. Here is your part of the list. If there is anything you also need or think could be great, just take it. I think, it's enough money in there."

Of course there was enough money in there, after she went out on her own every now and then before she fell ill, to restock that insane amount of money she spent on her new companion. But it wasn't the first time she went reckless with her funds. Every now and then, she „wasted" some sums on new equipment or other expensive things. She even dabbled in the business as a merchant ones, until she was „educated" on paying import and export taxes.

Never had she eaten so much pebble fruits in one go, just to hit the „personal use" limit.

Lunaris nodded, not knowing she had been sneaking away after midnight to hunt everything that tried to hunt her as a snack, and then sold the parts and pieces to the guild. And after that, she sold the rest of the animals to the kitchens.

„Let's meet in two hours then, at the small gate!" she said, smiling, and Lunaris nodded stronger, then seperated their ways.

Except the things she put on that list, he knew what he needed,: spices. He was going to get a lot of spices, one large pot and pan. Some additional foods that would go with every meal. This contained grains, to make bread or porridge of. Dates, and dried fruits would also be nice to add. And, if he could figure out a way to carry it without breaking it by accident, some sirup would be nice. Maybe even some dried fish or anything that was already preserved.

Also, the assortment of medicinal herbs he needed were also part of the list.

Nerivie had teached herself to gather water from the air during the morning, when the fog started to rise. It wasn't much, but filled a lot of canteens until the sun stood too high for the water to gather in droplets.

He looked with a proud smile on his new, shiny staff. It was for beginners, and since he did not learnt yet how to summon it, it was of the light weighted kind. He could tuck it in a belt at his backpack or back, and easily reach it if he was in need of it.

The staff had two functions: to help him direct his spell or magic torwards the target, thus, making it more easy for him to focus, and to amplify the strength of the spell.

Additionally, on long days walking or passing through rather inaccessible terrain, it doubled as a walking stick, or if needed, even as a light weapon. But the merchant had made it absolutly clear to avoid the usage of it like that, as it was just too light and would not handle extreme usage very well without breaking.

He stared at the golden crystal that was settled into the wood, and that was kept additionally in place by golden decorative swirls and leaves which seemed to grow into the wood and vanish at one point. It was balanced, and easy to handle.

He also got more sturdy boots, shinguards from very durable leather, and a light leather armor, that would protect him from general stabs and punches. The leather, fingerless gloves had small amplification crystals on the back, to additionally boost the power of his spells.

Yes, he was happy that he was able to go along with her. Carrying a bag with food and making sure she won't starve anymore when outside was the very least he could do.

Over the past months, his physique had reached a good amount, so much so he had grown a bit concious about it. Not, that he was fat, but he felt like he would become to be fat if he'd kept up the eating and only studying. So, he was glad she suggested a week long trip outside the city for a change, to see if he could gather some experience watching her fight a monster or two.

But the ruins she told him about sounded interesting, and the thought they would be the first people that stepped in there for maybe centuries was daring, and enthralling.

He stopped looking at some herbs at a market stall. The aroma was deep, and nothing he ever smelt. Weirdly he remembered the juicy, roasted meat roll of his home, that was filled with apple slices, a specific kind of kale and spiked with rosmarin and marinated a day dark sauce with a bit of beer, that contained a lot more spices.

Everything then was blessed with a hunch of honey and mustard, just enough to form a slight crust. They had potato dumplings filled with bread and all kinds of vegetables to it, and he remembered fondly that thick sweet custard pudding with caramelized sirup on top of it. Could he take a piece of a desert scorpion and make something similiar?

Probably not, with that heat the meat was going to rot really quick. Also, the consistency was more like a shrimp, without the fishy taste.

I could still try to come up with my own receipe. Always take what you know and then move forward. We will have hotpots for a while anyway. It would also be great for soup. He thought and carefully gestured to the lady he would like the herbs, and a lot of other things.

After „talking" to her for a while, he had noted a few receipes down, and eagerly gave away that sweet custard with caramel receipe to her. When he departed, she threw a bag of dried fruits and a kernel mill at him, telling Lunaris, that this pretty thing might be old, but still eager toturn everything into dust when used properly. He took it, thanked her with a happy smile and walked off, waving to her once.

„Such a cute young man!" the vender said bashful, „He might be mute, but I like his passion for cooking!"

„You could've given him a better mill, thou." Her husband grumbled.

„Fiddlesticks! My mother's mill still does a great job! And whom I was supposed to give it, anyway? We don't have children! This way, it actually gets around to see places, and maybe goes down another family line, like my grandmother and mother wanted to."