Chapter 24: Veldt
Rhen woke up in the afternoon. She saw Dameon beside her.
"Lie down. You need to rest." Dameon lied her down as she was getting up.
"Ugh, my head…what happened? Where are we?"
"You got stung by scorpion. We are in Elini's house." Dameon told her about the incident. "Forgive me, Rhen. This wouldn't have happened if I was there…"
"No need to apologize. It's not your fault."
"Ah I see you woke up in time." Elini entered with a tray. "How are you feeling now?"
"Fine. Just my head's spinning a little."
"Here take this. " Elini handed over a bottle. "It'll help you restore your energy."
"Thanks Elini."
"Your welcome. Come down when you feel better. Come sun priest, let's give her some time to recover." Elini and Dameon went out of the room.
Rhen drank the medicine. It was bitter at first but it turned sweet. She tried to remember about last night. Nothing but vague scenes came. She looked around the room. She was lying on a fancy bed which belonged to Elini, she guessed. There was two fancy windows in the room and a large mirror. She felt much better in a few minutes. So, she went downstairs. She saw Lars sitting on a chair and reading his Necromancer book quietly.
"Your up?" Lars looked up hearing footsteps. "How are you feeling now?"
"Never better, thanks."
"Rhen, can I ask you something?" he asked calmly.
"Yes?" she was a little surprised as she never saw him so calm.
"Why did you forgive me?"
This time it was much calmer. For an unknown reason Rhen felt it a little cold. "Um…Lars, are you okay?"
"I just asked you a question. It has nothing to do with my health." He said in the same calm tone.
"Because everyone deserves a second chance and I've seen you change and…"
"And?"
Rhen felt like punching herself for saying the last 'and'. "Well, and…I never wanted to break it but you know what you're my friend, in some manner best friend."
Lars didn't say anything nor did he give any expression. He stared at her and then came close. "Do you know what you are?" he whispered
"What?"
"You're a dim-witted idiot. Hahaha…" he started to laugh
"Lars! You…"
"Of course you are. You're so callous that you couldn't defend yourself from a mere scorpion." He went from there, laughing. Rhen stood there confused. But she found relief that Lars was acting as he does. She didn't feel comfortable with the calmer him. After going out of sight, Lars breathed a sigh of relief. At last the turmoil was gone. He could accept the fact of being best friends. They were together from the very beginning. She had shoved and helped him. They had seen each other in every state and known well than before.
Elini decided to give them a tour around Veldt. They went to the Museum.
"G'day, strangers. Welcome to the Veldt Museumof Natural History. We have the large number of Amazonian artifacts in the world." Said the curator named Rasha.
"Amazonian?" Rhen asked.
"Once long ago, this land was a jungle ruled by a group of women known as Amazonians. If you happen to come across any artifacts during your stay, please bring them by. There is said to be an artifact of great importance buried under the mountains.
"What is this artifact?"
"The belt of Hippolyte. It was passed down from Amazon queen to Amazon queen."
"Have anything strange occurred in the past times?" Rhen asked.
"A strange earthquake shook the earth recently and the cave leading to Stronghold Templewas blocked."
The party split up to explore the city. Elini gave the idea that they should explore it themselves. Rhen and Lars went to shops to get supplies. They entered a shop which seemed like a book shop.
"You there." They saw a woman coming towards Lars.
"Me?" Lars asked.
"Yes, you are a sorcerer, far from home."
"Hey! How did you know?"
"Only an Annihilator would know. It is one of our…tricks." She took a brief look at Lars. "Would you like to join us? We could use a hot-blooded young man in our ranks."
"How dare you say I'm hot-blooded! I don't get angry! Do I look angry!" he said it in a loud voice. Rhen was trying to suppress her laughter but a chuckle escaped.
"Hmm. Have you a wife, young man? Feisty husbands are always in demand."
"Ugh! I'm not getting married to anyone!" saying so they went out of the shop. As soon as they were out of the shop, Rhen burst out laughing. Lars was so furious that he couldn't say anything.
"Ha ha ha…you're so funny when you get angry. Hahahaha." Tears were coming out as she was laughing hard.
"What?!"
"You get angry when you say you're not. Hahaha…I thought you would be flattered that she asked you to be her husband as you felt offended when Elini…"
"Of course not! And it's not that funny! So you can stop!"
Rhen tried to stop laughing. But every now and then a chuckle had come out.
"Lars I can't understand something."
"What?"
"You're already enrolled in the Necromancer guild."
"So?"
"So, why are you even talking to them. I mean you can't join another guild and they didn't even recognize you."
"That's because I'm smart." He smirked. "In the academy, I had learnt that they were many guilds in which a sorcerer can join and practice the magic. However they can only join one and when they join one, other guilders don't even say a word to them."
"But how did you…"
"Let me finish. Every guild has its own symbol. Without that no one can be recognized."
Rhen still seemed confused.
"You don't know that the Necromancer had given me a cloak."
"Which you didn't wear and that's how they didn't know you." She finally understood. They went to an Arcane shop to buy the last supplies. It was messy due to the last earthquake. They walked carefully not to step on ant of the vials. They reached the counter but the shopkeeper seemed very busy.
"Drats! I need to replace this old kettle of mine. If only I could get my hands on one of the magic kettles that the fairies make." The alchemist was unaware of their presence. As she turned around with some bottles, she saw two strangers standing in front of the counter. "I forget myself. What can I get for you?"
They filled up their supplies and went back to Elini's house.