Adventuress Emergent

Part III: Visit

By early afternoon the sky had clouded to a somber gray that promised rain within the hour, rain that would turn the dirt roads to mud and bring out the smell of wet dog that the nobility swore permeated Downside. Sera dodged through the herd of folk tending to their errands, confident that Wendy was still behind her despite the hurried pace she'd somehow maintained since they left the castle. A quick glance back confirmed that she was following, though several paces behind.

Sera frowned. "Hurry up."

"He's not going anywhere," Wendy mumbled in response.

"Obviously," Sera replied. "But the sooner we finish, the sooner we get paid."

Wendy jogged a few paces to close the gap between them and fell into step with her friend. "Didn't realize you had the dragonfever."

"So funny."

"Seriously. What's going on with you?"

Sera shrugged as they emerged from the crowd and turned down another road. "Just excited to be working."

Wendy didn't answer immediately. For a moment, Sera thought the conversation was over.

"Did you have the fight again?"

Sera practically deflated, exhaling a long, slow groan of exasperation. "Yeah. Almost word for word."

"Yikes."

"Yeah." Sera paused as she weighed the merits of continuing the discussion. "I get her point, that's why I haven't applied to any of the Academies. But when I think about staying here, you know, forever..." She shrugged again. "Just doesn't feel right. I want to show them that it's viable."

"I think they know it's viable," Wendy said. "I mean, I don't know what the conversion is right now but I'm pretty sure even a Cadet makes more in a week than most people here. Plus you'd get training-"

"I have training," Sera interjected. With pride. And a little satisfaction.

"-education," Wendy continued carefully. "And access to that awesome magitech."

A faint, dreamy smile spread across Sera's lips. "Yeah."

Silence grew between them as each recalled the obvious, inevitable stipulation of such privileges yet refused to put it into words, the quiet but unbreakable promise that each Hero made when they accepted the badge. Sera's smile gradually fell away.

"They know it's viable," Wendy repeated. "I think they're just worried that maybe it's not worth it."

"Well...I don't know what to do about that."

"Sure you do."

Sera glanced at her. She wasn't seriously suggesting...

Wendy cracked a grin. She definitely was.

"Yeah, let me just," Sera laughed. "Mom said that too. I think that scares her more than the Alliance thing."

"What, no way." Wendy's voice was practically dripping sarcasm. "Getting chased down by people who are faster, stronger, smarter, and way, way, way better equipped than you? Sounds like a great time to me."

Now it was Sera's turn to dawn a wry smile. "Smarter? Gee, thanks."

"I said what I said."

Sera laughed again and shoved her playfully.

Wendy easily recovered and answered with a shove of her own. "Just don't do anything stupid. Don't get yourself into a corner, y'know?"

"Yeah. Thanks."