A Soul Rewoven

Chapter 3.5 - Mai's Side story

Copper, Silver, and Gold

Trudging with anger and frustration in her step, the young woman known among students of Arcanum Academics as Mai the Beast was consumed by her emotions. She just had a heated argument with Shan at the tavern. Everything felt wrong in this place, the village of Copia or whatever it was called. It reeked, and its people were nothing more than ignorant peasants who subjected her to their prying, judgmental stares. Mai made sure to conceal her face once more under the deep hood of her cloak, disregarding the noon sun scorching the village with its unforgiving embrace. Her thoughts raced like a thunderstorm, fists clenched, she reveled in her frustration.
As she walked through the village, the people around her grew increasingly obnoxious and annoying. Inadvertently, Mai began searching for a quiet, secluded place. Wandering through the streets, she soon reached a less frequented and nearly empty side of the village. Before long, she stood before the building. It was no ordinary house, though. The aged sign displayed the recognizable symbol of an adventurers' guild, and although the place looked old, weathered, and run down, she could hear quiet voices from inside. This was the place she needed just now. With a faint smile, she opened the door and stepped in, escaping the sunny outside. The interior was dimly lit, filled with the faint scent of old wood, alcohol, and tobacco. She saw three patrons sitting around, all of them old retired adventurers. They looked at the young newcomer with curiosity, and all the speaking stopped. Decisive steps led Mai to the bar where another old, rough-looking, slightly overweight man was tending. She took a seat on one of the barstools, arms crossed on the bar, waiting patiently for the bartender to approach her. Soon enough, the man came to her, but not before he exchanged amused glances with other patrons.
"Sorry to disappoint, but we serve adventurers only, and we don't take job offers here," he said, polishing the insides of ceramic cups.
"Then there should not be any problems. Do you have some fruit juice in stock, perhaps?" Mai asked with a playful smile, earning a chuckle from the patrons.
"I said I cannot serve you," the bartender repeated himself calmly after a slight pause while inspecting the perfectly clean cup he was scrubbing. Then he continued with its polishing.
"Why is that? I am an adventurer, you see."
"Hmm..." The man thought for a moment before looking directly at Mai. "It's true that I haven't seen you here before, kid. Show me your identification if that's true."
"Sure thing." Mai reached into her armor, retrieving a slightly crooked and bent copper plate the size of her palm. With a metallic scrape, she sent the thing closer to the man. The bartender took the plate skeptically into his hands. He looked it over disinterested at first, but when he saw two golden marks bearing the seal of the adventurers' guild on the plate, he took a closer look, now putting it further for his old eyes to inspect it properly.
"You didn't take this from some dead adventurer somewhere, did you, kid?" He skeptically gave it back but now took an interested look at Mai's gear and clothes.
"It sure looks like I did," Mai smiled at the man, only now taking her hood down. "Do you have some juice or not?"
After some thought, the man shrugged and was about to leave for the back as he answered. "You're lucky that I have grandkids, missy. I have some fruits lying about."
The bartender's actions interested the other patrons, and as he left, one of the men asked Mai: "So you are an adventurer after all?"
Mai turned on the stool to face the man speaking from one of the tables. He was a well-built older gentleman with a pipe in his hand. Her elbows leaned on the bar, waiting for the bartender to return with her juice. "When I feel like it."
"Mind if I ask your stars?" he asked with old man's excitement apparent in his voice. "All of us were coppers. Caelan here was the best of us, with five stars." He pointed at another patron sitting at a different table, holding the handle of a tankard.
"Was?" Caelan grumbled at his friend.
"Two golds," Mai answered with a smile, watching all the old men drop their jaws.
"My ears are not what they once were. Did you just say two golds?" the old man who she was talking to stood up and moved closer to the bar, sitting next to her. He looked to be in his sixties but still carried himself proudly.
"Yeah, is that so hard to believe?" Mai turned to face the man.
"Here, as fresh as they come." The bartender returned, placing a wet cup filled with green juice in front of Mai.
"You said it's for your grandkids," Mai looked at the bartender, "I thought you only serve adventurers."
"They are adventurers all right," the bartender smiled brightly at her question, "they just don't carry the copper with them just yet." He hinted at the copper plate Mai had hidden back into her armor just moments ago.
"Oi, don't change the subject," the man who had just sat down at the bar spoke, "I just can't believe that you are gold, and two golds on top of that. What would an adventurer of that renown even do here?"
"I don't know," Mai deflected the question with a shrug, "why is that hard to believe anyway? I've met plenty of four or five golds; it's not that rare."
"Then you are either from Augustalis, or you are just making this up," the man laughed. "Have you ever met someone really famous then? Like Seraphina the Dragonslayer or Drusus Thunderclaw?"
"Seraphina? I'm sorry, I don't know her," Mai blushed slightly as the name was alien to her, "but Drusus, I know."
"Did you meet him?"
"I did, in passing only, though," Mai tried to remember more about that man, "I know of him mostly from what Shan told me. He was a member of Arcanum, wasn't he, Drusus, I mean."
"I heard so," the old adventurer nodded his head.
"I heard that his power is in his weapons; he is an enchanter after all. He wouldn't amount to much without them," Trying to recollect as much as she knew, Mai said what Shan had told her about the famous mage.
"That's a bit harsh, isn't it?" the man chuckled. "And ballsy."
"I could probably face him without his gear," Mai suggested, lost in thought. She understood well the strength that could be imbued into an item through a potent enchantment. It would be similar to fight without relying on her magical markings.
"You sure believe in yourself," the old adventurer laughed, "do you perhaps have any stories to share?"
"Only if you trade me one for one," Mai smiled back at the old man. "But I don't have much time, have to go soon."
After that, all of them sat down at the table, barkeep included. Everyone shared their names, and storytime began. The man who approached Mai, called Thorn, was the leader of the group named Thornwood Explorers. Caelan and the bartender, named Grimm, had been part of the party for years. The last patron was named Alden and hailed from the far side of the Empire. As an adventurer, he had traveled throughout the Empire and its surroundings before finding his peace in this place after years of wielding a sword.
Just minutes after they sat down, two young rascals joined in, a boy and a girl around the age of seven, and Grimm went to tend to his grandkids. Meanwhile, Mai learned interesting bits about the place. This very building was once a much more frequented spot for adventurers, thanks to its proximity to the Nymrath forest and its unexplored promises of adventure and wealth. Over time, it became too dangerous for the returns, and only occasionally did adventurers come from Arvena with lucrative and specific jobs. After some time, this place became a spot for adventurers to restock and catch their breath on their journeys. The guild itself wanted to close it for good, but Grimm fought them and managed to keep it running.
When it was Mai's turn to share one of her stories, the door to the room swung open again. A tall, well-built man, clad in plate armor with an ornate rose-red tabard and matching cape, entered. His expensive sword was sheathed at his side, and a shield rested on his back. Despite his tired and dirty appearance—armor soaked in mud, slightly rusted, and a torn cape and tabard—the man's steps were firm and decisive.
Grimm noticed the newcomer and sprang into action, rushing toward the armor-clad man. "Master Rhoderic, are you all right? Where is Elysia and the rest of ..."
As the name "Elysia" left Grimm's lips, Rhoderic grabbed him, pulling the old man close with a steely grip. His eyes burned with rage as he gritted through his teeth, "She's dead. Everyone is dead." Releasing Grimm, he ordered, "Now get me something to eat and drink," and moved toward one of the tables.
While Grimm hurried to the kitchen to prepare something for the tired adventurer, the other patrons, along with Mai, remained at their table.
"Who is that man? What happened?" Mai asked them, genuinely curious. Losing party members was a harsh reality, a risk of the job, but Rhoderic's callous demeanor struck her as particularly distasteful.
"We saw him a few days ago," Thorn replied quietly. "He arrived from Arvena with a request to gather magical flora and crystals from Nymrath. There were three others with him."
"I think Grimm said that Rhoderic is ranked at four silvers," Alden added, leaning slightly forward.
"He should be fairly capable," Mai mused, her eyes fixed on Rhoderic from her seat.
"Their party was called Crimson Blood, a terrible name, if you ask me," Thorn continued. "It looked like he was leading them. He and Elysia were asking Grimm about the forest."
The low conversation was still audible in the room, catching Rhoderic's attention. He approached them, his heavy footsteps echoing in the hush of the tavern. Towering over their table, his tired face twisted with animosity.
"What is this? Three dying old bastards and a kid, gossiping about my misfortune?" he growled. "Would you just shut up and mind your own business!" His outburst ended with a shout, and he slammed his armored hand on the table, spilling drinks and leaving a visible dent in the wood.
"We mean no disrespect..." Thorn began, attempting to defuse the situation, but Rhoderic's eyes locked onto Mai's. Defiant, she met his gaze, her lips curved into a slight smile, provoking him further.
"Oh, we have a fool here," Rhoderic sneered, his rage transforming into a devilish grin. "Do I have to spell it out for you?" Leaning closer to her, his attempt to intimidate fell short.
"Here's your beer, it's cold, it'll cool you down," Grimm interjected, appearing with a drink and a plate. "And this is today's bread. Enjoy them in peace." He set the items on Rhoderic's table before backing away. "And, of course, it's on the house," the tavernkeeper offered with a softer tone.
"And get my money too," Rhoderic said, eyeing Grimm while keeping his focus on Mai. "But first, I need to teach this runt her place."
"I wouldn't do that," Grimm cautioned, hesitating.
"You shut up, old man, and get me my money!"
"About that," Grimm said, clearly reluctant to speak, not wanting to further enrage Rhoderic.
Mai anticipated the situation and, fond of the tavern's elderly owner, she stood up, drawing all of Rhoderic's attention back to her. "Isn't it common courtesy to present your results before asking for money?" she asked calmly, her arms crossed, standing fearlessly in front of him.
"What do you care?!" Rhoderic growled.
"It just seems like you're a total loser, coming here and demanding respect and money. And for what? Are you just a poser or what?" She taunted him with a calm voice.
"Mai, what are you doing?" Thorn asked her quietly.
"Just asking some questions," she responded without breaking eye contact with Rhoderic. "Were you bullied as a kid?" she inquired, her lips curving into a slight smile.
"That's enough!" In a fit of rage, Rhoderic reached out for Mai, grabbing her cape. She pulled away and slipped out of the cape, revealing more of her skin. Intricate, multicolored magical sigils covered her arms, neck, and upper chest, visible. Despite her petite frame, she displayed considerable muscle.
"Don't touch me, you brute," she said, her voice low, as she prepared to defend herself. Barely visible shimmer ran over all of the sigils on her body as she clenched her fists.
"Or what?" he challenged, failing to grasp the situation as he reached for her again.
"Or I will break your bones," snatching his arm by the wrist, her grip unnaturally tight. Rhoderic struggled but couldn't overpower her.
"What is this?!" A surprised howl escaped him.
Mai didn't respond. Channeling magic through her sigils, she tightened her grip, causing Rhoderic's gauntlet to bend. With a pained scream, he dropped to his knees, desperately trying to free his hand. Terror filled his eyes as he looked up at Mai.
She had been wanting to test the new sigil she had created a few weeks prior, one etched on her left hand. With Shan's assistance, she had designed a magical circuit to manipulate magnetism. This seemed like the perfect moment to try its power. Frustrated that she didn't want to cause serious harm, she slightly reduced the sigil's strength. Then, with a swift punch to Rhoderic's chest, she released the pulse. Though not a powerful blow, it took even Mai by surprise. She maintained her grip, and Rhoderic was flung to the side. The pulse proved much stronger than she had anticipated, causing nearby chairs to slide and topple. The tavern door burst open, and cutlery and metal cups clattered to the floor. Mai, astonished by the power of her magic, looked down at Rhoderic lying unconscious on the ground at her feet, his hand contorted unnaturally. Only then did she release her grip on his wrist. Her smile revealed a mix of delight and surprise.
"I apologize; I didn't mean to overdo it to this extent. I thought he would be stronger," she lied, smiling as she glanced at the astonished and slightly horrified old men around her. "Do you have a healer in town? It would be wise to get one." She rifled through her coin purse. "Here, for the juice and the busted door. My apologies for the chaos." Placing a silver coin on the table, she headed for the door, intending to find Shan and report her success with the new glyph.