Tale Twenty-Three, A Little Errand
Day had started to turn into night as the four members of the Octopath Travelers made their way to Leon's ship after Tressa had found the Eldrite gemstone in the Forgotten Grotto. However, that wasn't all she had taken away from the mysterious cavern. With her, she carried two other objects: one, the tip of a Venomtooth Tiger fang, and the other, the hide of said animal. Because of the additional items she had procured, the smile on her face shined all the brighter.
"Thank the gods for this pelt, H'aanit!" the merchant shouted happily. "We'll be able to turn this into some warm clothing in no time, right?"
The huntress could only smile at her apprentice's eagerness. "Aye, 'twill becomen a grand first trophy, Tressa. Thou willst becomen a full-fledged huntress and all shallst know it."
"To see these customs play out before my very eyes is a scholar's dream!" Cyrus exclaimed from behind the pair.
The huntresses turned towards him to see him jotting down notes in his journal. Of course, his jottings had to be about them. While the Octopath Travelers had grown more than accustomed to the scholar's behaviors, seeing his eyes disappear behind his journal as he furiously scribbled down every happening around him did grate on his friends from time to time.
Although, they had decided there was little they could do to stop him, in the case of Olberic - who had decided against joining the group in Tressa's quest today, for one obvious reason or another. He had likely returned to Victor Hollow's coliseum to participate in some duels to practice his magic.
So, in the place of the warrior came his own apprentice.
Alfyn, himself, was mumbling to no one in particular, "Hm… I gotta know what that Cap'n Leon wants with a Venomtooth Tiger fang. He gettin' into alchemy?"
Tressa shook her head, still sporting her happy-go-lucky smile.
"Nope! As far as I can tell, he wanted it as a favor for the Eldrite gem. Dunno what he's gonna use it for, but a merchant always keeps her eyes out for a good trade. Knowing what Leon has on his ship, it's gotta be something good!" The merchant turned towards H'aanit. "Then wanna start curing this hide?"
"If we hath time," the huntress answered.
H'aanit was right, the day had almost ended and they would be hard-pressed to do anything else after visiting the captain. Even so, as they approached the docks, they were dazzled by the display before them.
Floating at the end of the docks on a mixture of silvers, reds, oranges, and blues was Captain Leon's ship. The sun mingled with the bay's water and created a display of colors that clashed and coalesced in chaotic harmony, creating an explosion of natural beauty that would strike any artist. The docks leading out to the ship were busy with burly men and women walking to and fro, boarding ships, or loading cargo and preparing to set sail. As the Travelers stepped onto the wooden platform extending into Victor Hollow's bay, they noticed that purple had taken over the color of the sky and water as day turned into twilight turned into night.
Flames from torches and wicks of candles flickered to life everywhere around them, seemingly mirroring the stars that speckled the night sky with their fiery, white light. It was as if the clear heavens above reflected the land and sea below. Could the sky, then, be just as busy as the docks had become? It only added to the electrifying feeling that spread itself throughout the docks, and the Travelers couldn't help but become swept up in it like the many sailors and captains that called this port, for a brief time, home.
Relaxed and happy, the four Travelers made their way to the ship at the end of the dock. It isolated itself from the rest of the ships moored at Victor's Hollow and seemed quiet.
No one welcomed them with open arms or salutations. Yet the smiles of other sailors that populated the docks became infectious, erasing any worry that the Travelers had. Sailors carried bottles of alcohol and conversed happily with each other as they made their way to another moored ship or a tavern.
However, even as the Travelers finally came to the ship, it appeared to be completely empty. They were confused.
"'Ey, Tressa? I thought you said Cap'n Leon told us to meet him at his ship. Doesn't look like anyone's here," Alfyn verbally affirmed what his friends thought.
The merchant put her fists on her hips and furrowed her brow. "I swear he did…" Then, she cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted, "Hey, Captain Leon! Are you there!"
From the ship came the captain's familiar tenor voice. "Aye, Tressa! You and your friends can come aboard!"
A little surprised to hear the voice, Tressa shrugged and accepted his invitation. She walked up the gangplank onto the ship. Her friends followed behind her.
They boarded the ship and saw Captain Leon sitting in a chair by the center mast with several bottles filled with an unknown liquid next to him.
"Welcome aboard, Tressa. I extend the same pleasure to your friends, too," the blond man greeted as he stood. He bowed briefly. "Please, I have procured you and your friends some chairs to sit on. Join me, won't you?"
"Nice to see you, Captain Leon! Of course, I'm glad we were able to catch you. But where's everyone?"
The Travelers each took a seat, with Tressa sitting just to the right of the captain and Linde lying by H'aanit's feet.
"I gave the sailors under me the night off before we depart tomorrow. I believe some shore leave will do them some good. Besides, we know many of the other ships moored here, so I figured that some of my sailors would like to see their fellows," Leon explained easily. "I'm glad you and your friends could join me though, please, have a drink."
Without waiting for a response, the captain procured four wooden mugs and handed them out to each Traveler.
He even set a bowl in front of Linde and asked H'aanit, "Would your snow leopard like to partake, as well?"
The huntress smiled politely at the man's generosity. "I and Linde thank thou, but nay. She does not partaken in drink. Water wouldst be fine."
"I understand. Then here, Linde, a little water to quench your thirst."
Leon went to an upright barrel and dipped Linde's bowl into it, filling it with precious water. He set it down again in front of the snow leopard. Grateful for the attention and manners the man had shown her, Linde bowed her head briefly in thanks before lapping up some of the water with her tongue.
H'aanit smiled softly. "Thou treat her like any other woman."
"It's only the right thing to do. Whether a guest be human or otherwise, they deserve equal respect aboard my ship. But come, it's your turn to partake in a drink."
Leon took one of the bottles of the mysterious liquid - alcohol, the Travelers now guessed - and poured a small bit of it into each of the Travelers' mugs before pouring some into his own. Everyone waited until each person had a drink.
Then, Leon rose his mug in the air. "A toast to a fine evening in a fine port with fine companions. Cheers."
His words came out smoothly and full of happiness, two emotions that Tressa began to suspect were part of the captain's normal attitude.
The Travelers followed suit and took a sip of their drinks. The taste hit the back of their tongue hard but left a savory aftertaste that bid them drink more of the alcohol.
"My, my, this is an interesting flavor. It is both sour and spicy before becoming sweet, almost like it is stinging our tongues. What is this?" Cyrus summarized and questioned quickly.
Leon smiled. "A brew of my own making, but inspired by my travels across the seas. Before I tell you, I must let you know it's perfectly safe to drink, just be wary about drinking too much of this elsewhere. It can be prepared poorly.
"But this drink is the reason I asked you to bring me a Venomtooth Tiger fang. This, my friends, is Venomtooth Tiger wine, made from rice wine and a fang from said animal. Again, don't worry, the wine rids the venom of its potency, only leaving behind a unique taste that rivals many whiskeys."
"I've heard of this stuff!" Alfyn exclaimed excitedly. "It's like the spiked kombucha I make."
"What'd'ya mean, Alfyn?" Tressa asked.
"It's good for you, almost like alcoholic medicine."
The merchant smiled. "Then I better drink all I can to get healthy and strong!" With a big gulp, she finished her drink with a satisfied sigh before asking, "Can I get a refill, Cap'n Leon?"
The captain stared at her in wonderment, blinking twice before breaking out in laughter.
"Why, of course, you can, Tressa."
With that Leon filled Tressa's mug partway, once more.
"By the gods, think we're gonna have to carry her back to the inn, again," Alfyn mourned.
"It would not be the first time that Tressa has become inebriated, I will admit," Cyrus joined.
They both took a drink of their own wine.
Having good friends and drink, the Travelers lapsed into easy conversation with Leon. He told them tales of his journeys across the oceans and his interactions with locals from foreign lands far away. In turn, the Travelers shared their own stories - both from their travels across Orsterra together and before they started their journeys. Any warmth the Travelers could find in a tavern, they most certainly had found here about Leon's ship this night, even as the cold sea breeze blew in on them from the night-covered sea.
They watched for shooting stars, regaled each other with tales of constellations (mostly from Cyrus), and drank until they felt satisfied.
For Tressa, that meant crossing her limit.
The merchant had just fallen out of her chair and laid on the ground. Not a minute later, she started snoring, showing she was sleeping off the extent of her intoxication.
Her friends shared a chuckle at her expense.
"My, she is an interesting one, and I'm glad to see she has found friends just as interesting," Leon commented after finishing his last drink. "You all have stories to tell. Teller was quite right about all of you."
"So, you have met the mysterious bard that seems to know our stories before we can even live them?" Cyrus asked.
"He hath a mystical nature about him," H'aanit added. "Master hath told me many times about his predictions."
"And yet I still felt as if it were too good to be true. Alas, it would seem I have only more questions to ask the man next we meet. Do tell, Captain Leon. What has the man told you about our group?"
Leon shook his head softly. "Nothing that you don't know about yourselves, I assure you. He was clear in telling me only the details of yourselves and your journey, thus far. Otherwise, I didn't care to ask and he didn't care to tell. Part of our own agreement where he doesn't speak of my own stories that have yet happened.
"He may be a boisterous and attention-seeking man, but don't be worried, his professionalism and secret-keeping aren't to be taken lightly. He won't speak of any of your deeds until you yourselves have accomplished or failed in them," Leon reassured. "Plus, I don't believe he would tell me whether or not our friend here would find the treasure she seeks."
The captain nodded towards the passed-out Tressa, who had managed to find an empty bottle and curl up with it.
"She's young, but I think she's found what she seeks."
"You mean that gemstone we found today?" Alfyn asked curiously.
Leon stared at the merchant for a few seconds longer before turning to the apothecary and stating, "No, I don't think I do."
Before anyone could ask what Leon meant, they heard a ruckus coming from the dock.
Everyone, save Tressa, gathered near the gangplank and saw several rowdy sailors walking up the dock towards Leon's ship. They carried different trinkets, drinks, and dishes in their hands. Some had arms around their fellow sailors. It wasn't long before they noticed their captain.
"Cap'n!" they all cheered joyously.
Leon, for his part, smiled at his crew and waved at them, beckoning them to return to the ship. They did so with glee and marched aboard the gangplank one-by-one in a uniform line, much like a marching band performing for those in the street. Their cheers created a raucous, but lively music that could only make those involved, in any aspect, smile.
At this time, Alfyn thought it would be best to scoop Tressa up into his arms and give Leon the Venomtooth Tiger fang before they were overwhelmed by the boarding sailors.
"Thank you for this," Leon spoke up over the noise. "It will make a fine batch!"
In return for the fang, he handed the Travelers two more bottles of Venomtooth Tiger fang wine. Cyrus took them appreciatively.
"Thank you for your hospitality, Captain Leon," the scholar replied.
Leon waved his hand in front of him. "Think nothing of it, my friends. You'll always be welcomed aboard. Now, make sure this one gets to bed."
As he mentioned her, Leon pointed at Tressa, who was already snuggling into Alfyn's arms. Once more, the group shared a laugh.
After all the sailors had boarded the ship, the Travelers took this as their own chance to depart. They waved goodbye and bid the captain and his crew safe travels. Then, they left the docks, returning to the rest of the Travelers, eager to hear how their day had gone. However, with how late it had become, and how inky the midnight sky had turned, it'd be a miracle if the other half of the Octopath Travelers hadn't already found their way to the world of dreams, much like a certain treasure-seeking merchant.
As I finish this part of the tale, I must ask each of you:
What do you truly treasure?
Have you found such a treasure?
Or have you found such a treasure and haven't realized it, yet?
I shall leave all of you to ponder on these questions, as I continue weaving the varied stories of a treasured group of travelers-turned-friends...