Blog Post

Blog Post 50: The Adventure Shop: Part 17

9/13/2023

“Dahlia!” She heard someone yell behind her as she felt a limb of the Mother Tree slowly wrap around her foot. Waiting for it to lift her, she crossed her arms as she rolled her eyes. 

Soon she was upside down, staring at an angry Xaxol and Marianna. “What are you thinking? You cannot keep trying to sneak out! The Mother Tree said you still need to recover! Do you think she wants to see you dead after just reviving you?” Marianna scolded Dahlia. Marianna leaned closer next to her face as the Mother Tree raised Dahlia higher, so her eyes could meet Marianna’s.

“The Mother Tree said we could chain you to me if you are having issues controlling the urge to run.” Xaxol smirked, like an older brother teasing a sister getting in trouble. 

“I don’t need to be chained to you. I need to go get the moonstone! I don’t understand why I have to recover when I am as recovered as much as I will be!” 

“Both of you be quiet. Xaxol, the Mother Tree said you could watch over her, but not chain her to you. She will not be able to train on a leash.” 

She turned to Dahlia. “You are not even ready to walk a mile, let alone go up against someone like the Woman in Yellow! You almost died! The Mother Tree was able to restore your body, but not your magic. The stone around your neck has enough to keep you alive. You are weak, still healing from what she had to do, and naive! Do you think you can even lift a hammer? Your body has been destroyed and just rebuilt, but not to what it was. What will you do now?” 

Dahlia waved her arms, causing her to slightly swing, as she shouted, ” I don’t know what to do anymore. I don’t feel like I even know my body anymore! Everything I do, even a slight bit of work, I am exhausted and feel like I never have enough energy! My body aches, and I am not sure if I will ever be able to get back to where I was. So I can’t give up. I have to go and just push through. I have to keep going. I can’t stop.” 

It had been a month since the others left, and only three days since Dahlia had been well enough to leave the Mother Tree. Dahlia felt disoriented and as if a wall was preventing her from processing what happened. To feel helpless once again. To lose even more. How could she do anything now?

The Mother Tree slowly lowered Dahlia to the ground, keeping the limb wrapped around her shoulders as if trying to comfort her. Dahlia let the Mother Tree place her on the ground as she looked up at her friends. “How can I keep going now? When I am so useless and I don’t know what to do?” Dahlia asked. 

It was a hard lesson. One she hated to admit she was, even this far in the adventure, not very good at. Asking for help. Being helpless and admitting she needed others. 

“It is okay to be recovering.” Marianna knelt in front of her. “That is why we are here. The Mother Tree healed you, but now is the time to get to work. There are recovery specialists here to help you. You may not get back to where you were, but they will help you start to get better if you are willing to put in the work.”

Dahlia thought about it, before asking, “What would I be doing?” 

“Strength training your muscles again at their pace. Working on endurance and stamina. And teaching you when it is alright to take a break. You don’t have to be okay, Dahlia.” 

Dahlia felt her chest get tight and tears come to her eyes as she admitted, “I almost died. There are so many people back home that are depending on me. I used to take care of everything. I was strong and I could make anything I needed and protect myself. Now…”

Dahlia sighed as her spirit felt lost. “I am having to rely on everyone for everything. Even thinking, apparently.” 

“Come with us.” Marianna offered her a hand as Xaxol smiled with a knowing look.

Curiosity filled Dahlia’s mind. A good reminder not all was lost. There was still a small spark inside her. 

Marianna brought Dahlia to a table. On one side of the table, there were snacks and on the other lay various tools and books.  “You cannot fight the way you did before, at least not at the moment. So while you are recovering, you should learn other skills. There are a few individuals recovering here that are willing to help you develop those skills in exchange for some of your knowledge,” Marianna offered as she waved her hands as a few individuals began to approach. 

As Dahlia reviewed them, she previously would have been noting them as most likely to rob you blind, sneaky, less than trustworthy. But the Mother Tree never let anyone in that would hurt the others in her care. So on some level, the individuals in front of her must not have been all bad. 

“Despite what you are obviously thinking. Your face gives you away. Don’t worry, we’ll work on that. We are not some dastardly crooks, but we are not noble or praiseworthy either. Though, I have no doubt some of those in your party are of the same disposition. We do not desire to harm you or your friends, but an exchange of knowledge will occur. We do not give away our tricks easily,” said one of the individuals. He was wearing all black and had a more slim build that one would equate with speed over strength. Blond hair peaked out of a black captain’s hat. The overall effect was of a captain who forgot where he left his ship and wandered too far inland in search of it. 

Dahlia looked at Marianna with a raised eyebrow as she eyed the other four. One was a broad shoulder woman with red curly hair tied behind her neck. One hand placed on a bag with who knew what inside and the other twisting a knife in her fingers. The next was a short, small woman with glasses and black hair with amber eyes. Eyes that seemed to analyze every part of Dahlia as she looked over her. The woman held a presence that could strike a person in one moment and be easily forgotten the next. Like a brilliant light held for only a moment before going back to the dark. 

The other two looked like a set. Wearing the monochromatic opposite of each other. One in various blues and the other in various oranges. They also looked opposite in how each would be perceived. The woman in various blues, seemed like scholars she had seen at the academia campuses when she would teleport to cities. Including the glasses resting from her nose and a book in her hand. Her twin was very strong looking, not broad but athletic. He wore all shades of orange and had nothing else. But he seemed to be reviewing notes, as he looked down at the pad in his hands, before looking her over again. 

“Trust me, okay?” Marianna said softly, before turning to the others and speaking more loudly. “This is Dahlia, she may be quiet and strangely distant at first, but when she is comfortable she won’t stop talking.” They all nodded to Dahlia as they waited for the introductions to continue. Now Dahlia felt awkward, analyzing them for so long before. Wondering if it was obvious that she was skeptical of them. 

“This is Bartholomew, but he prefers Bart. A Siren who is an excellent thief and strategist. And a former pirate captain, but he can tell you more about that,” Marianna said as she seemed to glaze over the last part as Dahlia’s curiosity made her want to ask what happened that made him lose that title.

“And next we have Carnelian. She is a mix of Giant and Dwarf, creating the strong woman before you. She has an eye for great stones and is quite the chemist. And next to her is Mistral, a Gnome and thief. Very clever and a brillant grifter.”

Dahlia was trying to remember each name with each person and appreciated Marianna making a point to place a distinct trait to each one. It would help later on with whatever Marianna had planned for all of them. 

“The final two are Psyche and Brawn. They are twins and literally complete each other. They are Gemini, which means they have the opposite traits, but when combined they are at their full strength. Both physically and mentally. One is not necessarily lacking in the others gifting, but they are not as capable as their counterpart. For example, Brawn is smart, but Psyche is an unrefuted genius.” Dahlia nodded as she grew curious about the Gemini and wondered what that meant when they were stronger together. 

“I am a wizard and human. But at the moment, I don’t really have magic. Not that I don’t appreciate that you all are here, but what is the goal of all of this?” Dahlia asked as she offered her own heritage. Afterall, it was only fair. 

“Your friend, Marinanna, has asked us to trade our skills for yours. This means we will train you in all of our skills. In exchange, we require your knowledge. How you create some of the equipment you have. Formulas. And we will give you our knowledge of mind, body, and spirit,” Bart offered as he walked over to the table, and took a danish, that sat waiting for someone to finally notice.

Dahlia thought of the offer and all that she could potentially trade them. And what she might save as an absolute last resort, like her special brew. “Alright. When do we start?” she asked as the five looked at each other.

She looked over at the snack table where Xaxol had made himself at home with a plate filled with treats. As the silence continued, Dahlia began to realize clearly not all of the plan had been thought through. As she waited for an answer, she wondered what Aster was doing.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Aster transformed into an old man as he went into the town. In order to not look suspicious, they had been sending only one individual in each town they first entered to gauge the reception of adventurers in the towns. 

Some town’s loved the travelers and would welcome them with open arms and as a new source of income for their commerce. Others would regard the adventurers with guarded expressions, disdain, and mistrust. In order to best ensure what they would receive, even in the form of supplies they could buy, it was best to start out with one. 

Aster walked in the town as the day was drawing to late afternoon. It was hot and inclined one to be less friendly when all that was desired was a cool drink and a nap. Not the best time to see if the town was accepting of outsiders, but all of his fellow adventurers wanted a bed for the night instead of the ground. So it was as good of a time as any. 

“Oh, you poor thing, you must be exhausted. Have you been traveling long?” A woman addressed him, grabbing his arm and immediately pulling him to the local tavern and inn. 

“Quite a while. Looking for a place to stay the night,” he said, not mentioning the others that would be with him. At least not yet. 

“Well, you can tell your friends to come along. I know the routine all too well. You poor adventurers get such poor receptions when you do so much for all of us. Discovering new materials, ensuring creatures to not overtake our towns, and keeping the trade going for the rest of us. Without you folk, I would not have a business!” She talked on as Aster wondered if she owned an inn and a business, or out of necessity, to socialize. 

“You seem to know us well. I thank you for your generosity.” 

“I do not mind at all. If you bring your friends, I will throw in a room and dinner tonight for each of them. To give you a deal. Breakfast tomorrow would be extra, but we can talk about that in the morning.”  

She winked as she went behind the bar counter. She placed a large book on the table with a thud. Opening it, she looked at her notes and then at Aster. “How many are you thinking you need? I only have three rooms, but you can fit four people in each. I’m not much of a stickler for that. As long as you give me your dinner and breakfast business.” She winked again, and Aster realized for as much as she liked to talk, she was a shrewd business woman. Aster thought it through in his head. They could probably fit into two rooms, but it would be more comfortable in three. 

“How about three rooms, dinner, breakfast, and drinks? What is the best price you have?”

“I like how you think,” she said as poured him an ale and placed it in front of him. “Are you looking to buy anything while you are in town?”

“Depends on what you have,” he answered.

“Well, then let’s say three rooms, dinner tonight, breakfast tomorrow, drinks, and a tour around town to my favorite vendors for our visiting adventurers?”

“Have you said a price yet?”

“Huh, have I not? Well, why don’t you bring your friends out of the heat while I run the numbers, and we come to an agreement once everyone has a drink in their hand?” She raised an eyebrow to see if he’d take her suggestion. “First one is on the house for you and your friends.” She smiled as Aster knew he liked her. Not because she was merely shrewd, but she knew how to sell what she had to offer. And this was a warm welcome he would not deny his friends. 

“Alright. You run the numbers and plan the shopping trip with your vendors. I will call my friends,” he noted as he reached for the small paper note pad he kept with him. 

He wrote down a message and folded it into a small bird. “Now, my little friend, go let them know it is time to take a rest from the journey.” As the bird flew away he said under his breath, “At least for the night.” 

As he sat waiting, he drank his ale and thought of Dahlia. She would have loved this woman and simultaneously been annoyed by her. Dahlia would have tried to learn anything she could from her. 

His heart grew heavy, and he wondered if she was awake yet. If she was going to be okay. It had been so long and no word had come. The only thing he could do was continue to hunt the woman in yellow and take back what had been stolen. Until Dahlia was able to join him he would not stop looking. As the sun began to set, he wondered if she was able to see the colors he was seeing. Imagining them sharing this, he let it give him hope. As if the sky kept them connected. No matter how far apart they had become.