H'aanit didn't really care too much for the cathedral. She came to accompany Ophilia, after all. And this, Linde knew. The cat purrs and gives a catty smile as she curls against H'aanit's leg.
"... Whatten doth thou smirkest about?" The huntress looks down at the leopard with unamusement, "Thou hath no mind on the matter."
"Rrowr!" Linde snarls.
"Thou knowest not whatten thou spaketh of," H'aanit huffs.
Linde rolls her eyes.
From the corner of her perceptive gaze, H'aanit sees some curious faces peeping at them from behind a pillar. While they are hiding, they cannot beat her trained eyes. It's two small children, a boy and a girl. They gaze at the huntress and Linde curiously.
"..." H'aanit isn't one to bother with children. So, she ignores them. She hears them whispering a little.
"...no, you go...!"
"Shh, you go...!"
Linde's tail wags lazily as she yawns.
"U-uhm!"
H'aanit looks again. The little girl has stepped forward bravely. Her little hands ball up her skirts as she looks to H'aanit with her head held high, "T-That is a large cat!"
The huntress glances to Linde, who looks to her as well in puzzlement. It takes a few seconds before she nods at the child, "Aye."
"... Uh..." The little girl fidgets, "Oh, uh, my name's Lysa!"
H'aanit tilts her head slightly as the girl looks to her expectantly, "... I see. I be'en H'aanit."
"Ha-u-nit?" Lysa rolls the name off her tongue a few times, "Sounds kind of funny... and, um, what's the cat's name?"
"Linde," H'aanit responds bluntly.
"Ohh, that's pretty!" Lysa gives a shy smile and then looks almost longingly at the cat. After a few seconds of awkward silence, she looks to H'aanit, "Can I touch it, Miss Haneet?"
"... I supposeth," H'aanit rolls her eyes as Linde gives her a teasing smirk, "She doth not biten wantonly."
"Yay!" Lysa gushes a little as she eagerly walks up to the big cat to slowly pet the head. Linde allows the child to approach and do so.
H'aanit looks now to the boy still hiding behind the pillar, "... Doest thou wanten the same?"
"U-uh..." The boy shies away a little.
"Oh, it's so soft, Daniel!" Lysa exclaims, hand patting along Linde's back.
The boy looks like he really wants to join the petting fest.
"... Comen," H'aanit sighs lightly, "Tis up to Linde, after all."
Slowly, the boy named Daniel steps out from his hiding place and steps up near Lysa. He stiffly reaches out a hand towards Linde's head. The leopard slowly brings her wet snout to touch his fingertips. Daniel giggles a little.
"O-oh, it's wet! Like a dog's!"
"Touch the fur, the fur!" Lysa exclaims.
Linde isn't entirely amused being a petting zoo exhibit. After a minute or so of the kids being handsy on her fur, she stands suddenly and prowls a little away.
"Heehee, she's so big...!" Lysa giggles.
H'aanit nods quietly, "Where aren thine parents?"
"Oh, papa's busy a lot. He works here!" Lysa says with some pride, "And I help!"
"S-so do I!" Daniel exclaims, "I help blow out the candles sometimes!"
H'aanit nods. It wasn't that she is uninterested... Okay, maybe she is. This sort of place is just grandiosity and excess for a huntress like her. It's just another building, really, save for whatever importance it had to the people worshipping. Rituals that are overly complicated are lost on her.
Maybe she's finally understanding what Primrose told her back in Quarrycrest...
"You walk the world of humans, dear H'aanit... I understand it is tempting sometimes to shut people out... but you would be better off learning how to deal with them."
Dealing with humans and their quirks and idiosyncrasies... The huntress had little idea how to even start.
"Rowr..." Linde growls lowly as the kids approach her again. She reluctantly lets them continue to pet her while giving H'aanit a look. The huntress stifles a laugh and walks over to the kids with a soft smile.
"... Heren, I shalle showen thee her softest spot..."
Linde rolls her eyes.
…
Primrose idly sits by the pier area overlooking the cove by the main beach of gold sand. The gulls are quite annoying, constantly squawking.
"Ahem..." Simeon stands nearby, facing the sea and clearing his throat, "O'great blue mother of life, with thine deep mysteries and fathomless girth! The shanties sung are mere letters to your illustrious... erm..."
"... Heritage? Saga?" Primrose suggests idly with an amused smile.
"No, I was thinking something more... flourishing. Ah, but it escapes me," Simeon sighs and goes to sit next to her, "I still have a ways to go in my writing."
"Now don't say that. You're a better writer than most men on this continent. Take Olberic for example," Primrose points with a mischievous smile at the warrior standing by the sandy cove.
"Well, he is a man of the blade more than the quill..." Simeon starts and then looks to Primrose, "Do you dislike him?"
"... Nay, not really. I mean, I don't like him either... Not in that way, of course. He is a companion and a valued component of muscle for us," Primrose leans her chin on her hand as she watches Olberic talking to some other people on the beach, "He's a simple man... I suppose that is endearing. He is easy to tease."
"Ahaha, is that your favored pastime now, my flower?" Simeon chuckles, "I should like to learn how you feel about your other companions sometime."
"There's not much to tell," Primrose lies flawlessly, "We all met by circumstance and are loosely traveling out of selfish interest. That's about all."
"Oh, come now! The Primrose I know is not so half-hearted," Simeon smiles and brushes her brown bangs, "You were worried for that scholar, for one, weren't you?"
Primrose says nothing.
Suddenly, the two of them see Olberic begin to take off his armor and weapons, laying them on the sand. A small child seems to be pointing frantically at the water. Looking where they point, one can see a small shape adrift in the waves. It yips. It seems to be some puppy.
"Oh gods..." Primrose stands.
Olberic, in his shirt and pants only, charges into the water like a raging bull. His large form runs up against the waves like a rock, breaking them. However, he notably gets much slower as he treads into the deeper waters, as his footing in the sand is loose and the waves reach above his chest.
"Be careful, sir Olberic!" Simeon shouts out.
"Get back here, Olberic! Do you even know how to swim?" Primrose watches for impending disaster.
Sure enough, Olberic slips beneath the waters. He surfaces, sputtering, and continues trying to brave the waters towards the small canine. The poor thing clings to his head when he finally manages to reach it. By then, his feet had left the beach entirely. He gasps a bit, desperately trying to keep his head above water as the waves push this way and that. To Primrose's dismay, he looks like he's moving further from the beach.
"Uhm..." Simeon looks a bit nervously to her, "Should we...?"
"Oh no, look out, mister!" The kid on the beach calls out worriedly.
A small wave washes over Olberic's head and the warrior goes under with the dog. A few seconds pass and the puppy manages to surface, although now a great deal further from safety. Its yips grow weaker. There is no sign of Olberic beneath the water surface.
"Tsk...!"
Before Simeon can ask again, Primrose runs and dives off the pier into the deeper water. He flusters and hurries to take off his outer clothing and shoes before jumping in after her.
Primrose is by no means a stellar swimmer. However, her vision certainly helps when it comes to navigating underwater, and her lithe body is able to maneuver well enough. In the distance, she sees the large shadowy shape of Olberic sinking beneath the waves, leaving a trail of silvery bubbles.
She quickly casts a glance to make sure she is far enough from the shore before sending out a lash of her dark magic to pull both the warrior and the puppy closer to her. Her maneuver pays off and she seamlessly loops them both towards her. The puppy by now seems to have stopped struggling.
The dancer quickly surfaces with the puppy in her arms and Olberic still tethered by a dark chain. The poor dog is half-dead, leaning on her shoulder and whimpering. She wills her magic to heft Olberic to the surface as well and his salt-and-pepper head bobs among the waves before long. Simeon comes swimming over, albeit not the best swimmer either.
"P-Prim!" He sputters a little.
"Simeon! Get back to shore...!" She sighs, "I'm alright... But I don't want to have to carry three back all on my own..."
Simeon gives a weak smile as he turns around at her command. Slowly, they make their way back to the beach area. The dancer is thoroughly exhausted when she reaches the sand beneath her feet and has to resist kissing the sand once she finally climbs out of the waves. Olberic washes up after her as if he were driftwood. The boy at the beach runs up to her.
"Milo!" The kid yells. Primrose assumes it is the name of the dumb puppy that almost got washed out to sea. She half drops the puppy into the boy's outstretched arms and moves to pull Olberic away from the waves. Simeon helps since the waterlogged warrior is a complete dead weight.
"Uff..." Simeon plops on the sand once they've dragged the large man a sufficient distance from the water. By now, a few people have gathered to stare at the spectacle.
"Huff... Olberic. Hey, Olberic!" Primrose kneels by Olberic's head and lightly slaps the warrior's cheek, hoping to rouse him, "Wake up!"
The warrior is unresponsive. His skin looks a bit unhealthy in pallor. A thin trickle of water runs from the corner of his mouth and pools onto the wet sand under his hulking figure.
"Tsk..." The dancer leans down, listening for breath.
"D-did he swallow water?" Simeon asks with urgency. He looks to the other people on the beach, "Is there a doctor here?!"
Primrose seals her lips over Olberic's and holds his nose as she gives him two breaths. She sees his chest rise a little. Then, spasm ripples through his large chest. She pulls off quick enough so that she doesn't get a face full of water he expels.
"Ugh! Koff! Kugh!" He coughs and heaves, gasping deeply for air as he spits out seawater.
Primrose sighs and turns him onto his side so he can vomit out without worry of re-inhaling. The onlookers nearby make several exclamations and some even clap or cheer.
"What a troublesome man you are..." Primrose wipes some excess water dripping down her face.
"Prim, that was … amazing! You saved him!" Simeon exclaims.
"Oh," She blinks, having almost forgotten Simeon was there in the heat of the moment, "Um, it was … nothing."
"Ugggh..." Olberic groans, coughing the last bit of it, "Oh gods, what happened..."
"You almost drowned, you fool," Primrose scoffs and looks to the child cradling his puppy, "You had best keep that pup out of the water from now on."
The boy nods, tearfully cradling his recovering dog in his arms. The puppy seems to be regaining some vitality after nearly drowning as well. Olberic makes a slight effort to rise from the sand but flops back down, complaining of dizziness.
"We better hope that Alfyn is nearby..." Primrose covers her light scowl with a hand at the generally inconvenient situation. Still, she cannot deny that she is... relieved that they resolved this whole thing with minimal casualty.
"That was amazing, miss!" A grizzled old man with teeth missing gives a kooky grin, "Ye saved 'em both!"
"Oh, my goodness, how fortunate you were nearby!"
The dancer sighs. This is a bit different than the attention she's used to. She stands, tired, and pats down some sand, though plenty sticks to her wet dress, "... Simeon, let's get the big lug back to the inn..."
"Ah, of course," Simeon nods with a smile. The two of them take Olberic, one arm each, and slowly make their way back to the inn. The warrior wheezes and coughs still as he has to lean on them both to steady his feet.
…
Therion and Tressa end up within the manor district by complete coincidence. It was simply the most logical course for a thieving hooligan and money-hungry merchant. Most of the town's commerce is centralized in shops within the manor district, which includes also the residential area, located at the top of the island closer to the cathedral. The rich strut about here, although it is not exclusive overtly. People from all walks of life still pass through to the center of worship, after all. This mix of pedestrians allows for Therion to find just the cover he needs.
"Ahh, good ol' Coastland markets!" Tressa says with glee as she sees the bustling between crowded shops for goods. While there is no open-air market in this district here like Rippletide's, Goldshore still has storefronts that are built similarly of wood and brick. They are cramped in even closer quarters in the area afforded, since it seems that there are limits to where commerce can be freely conducted. The lower area market is more commonplace, but she hadn't seen anything of worth down there.
"Yeah, the quality difference is no joke..." Tressa mumbles as she looks over some weapons and armor for sale, "All the good stuff is here, eh? What's the riffraff down near the beach then?"
"Aye, those be passing traders that open there. They don't got the rights to these exclusive sell sites here, ya see?" The seller gives her a gold-toothed smile, "People looking to unload something quick and shoddy can dump it there in the flea market. Here? We cater to the best!"
"Ohh, that's a cool model to keep the best for the payers, eh?" Tressa nods in understanding.
"Hmm."
Therion eyes some keepers of the peace here and there. It figures that even in a resort spot where there would be guards. Of course, the rich people have their bodyguards, but there are also some church workers here. They don't look to be the Knights Ardante or anything, but they are around. The thief scowls.
"Oh, my goodness, I can't believe the prices rose again for stillweed..."
"Everyone's trying anything they can get their hands on to combat this rash of fevers. I offered a thousand leaves for just a sprig, and they had none left!"
These people have too much money for their own good, Therion decided.
"I need a proper appointment with Vanessa, but she is just so booked with all the work she's doing..."
There are suddenly some gasps, and someone exclaims, "A child has collapsed!"
Tressa and Therion turn to see people crowding about a small boy collapsed on the cobbled road. He can't be much older than seven maybe. His mother figure looks frantic, screaming for a doctor. The boy seems to be having trouble breathing.
"Someone take him to the sick house!"
Some of the church workers step forward and help to move the boy out of the commerce area, probably to the cathedral hall maybe. Some people mumble and grumble while others immediately just resume their perusing of the market without a hitch.
"I daresay, that was young Timmy, was it not? How dreadful..."
"Yes... Ooh, the price of these diamonds my wife had been eyeing has dropped..."
Therion scoffs.
"Still, hadn't that boy gotten better from his fever a few days ago?"
"Could be a relapse..."
"Or something absolutely new and dreadful!" Someone says, all aflutter.
Therion rolls his eyes at how excitable these people are. Pequod wasn't kidding though about whatever malady is here. People are scrambling to get all the medicines or possible medicines they can. He wonders if Alfyn had already been dragged off by some desperate patients.
"Hope that kid's alright," Tressa says as she walks over with her arms folded, "Man, I wish I bought some medicinal herbs now..."
"To sell?" Therion sighs expectedly.
"Yep," Tressa says without hesitation, "I mean, it's what these people need, you know?"
"... right," He scoffs. The haves and have-nots... and thieves were made to equalize what money cannot.
…
Alfyn announces his arrival at the door as Ellen brings him to her house doorstep. She had led him to a seaworn district near the beach area. This place, while atop the wall that fords the sea sprays, would be the first line of housing destroyed in the case of a flood. The buildings here are also obviously a bit less posh than the main street area that faces the roads. One can tell there are probably multiple families squished into one of these establishments. Strings of different laundry hang about from the roofs. While the housing isn't awful, it certainly does have some thatched parts here and there.
But Alfyn is hardly one to care for these sorts of appearances. He follows Ellen in.
"Mooommy!" Ellen says loudly as she enters, "Lookie, I found a pocket berry by the beach! He made my boo-boo go away!"
Alfyn sees a middle-aged woman with reddish brown hair like Ellen's step out from a side room. Her hair is longer and pulled back from her face. She's dressed in a simple, worn, brown dress with a smudged apron tied about her waist. Her eyes show fatigue and lack of sleep.
"Hm? Ellen? Where did you find this scruffy-looking stranger?" The woman looks to Alfyn with suspicion as she pulls her daughter close, "You know better than this!"
"Eh, but he helped me!" Ellen tries to explain.
"Uh, sorry for the intruding...!" Alfyn grins, "I just heard from lil' Ellen here that her sis is sick. I'm an apothecary, see, so I thought-"
"Well, you can take your business elsewhere, thank you," The woman says curtly, looking at him with disapproval, "My daughter is already being attended to by a professional, if you must know. And she does so free of charge."
"Huh? Oh, but I d-"
Before Alfyn can finish, a woman with dark purple hair steps out from the room behind the mother. Her hair is tied in a ponytail, with one side of long bangs covering the left side of her face somewhat. She wears a taupe outfit, replete with a short cape, thick boots and gloves, and the trademark satchel of an apothecary.
"... That will be all madam," The stranger nods to the mother, "She should be just fine."
"O-oh, thank you Vanessa!" The mother exclaims profusely.
"Not at all. It's the duty of an apothecary to cure," The stranger smiles sweetly before bowing a little and walking out, pushing past Alfyn, "Excuse me."
"Oop..." Alfyn steps aside and stares as the female apothecary walks away.
"Flynn!" He hears the mother say inside, "Oh, you're so much better already! Look at your color!"
He peers back inside to see Ellen and her mom hugging a girl who looks kind of like Ellen, but with a different hairstyle and dress. He smiles a little at the scene and makes himself scarce.
Scratching his head, he glances back down the way he saw that female apothecary leave to. She's already gone.
"Vanessa, huh? She looked like a swell apothecary..." Alfyn chuckles and folds his arms as he goes to walk back out to the main roads, "I got a lot more to learn!"
…
Much to Primrose and Simeon's relief, Alfyn doesn't take too long to come back to the inn after they drag Olberic in. They hastily explain what happened at the beach to the apothecary, as well as why Olberic looked to be turning the slightest shade of green.
"Egads!" Alfyn exclaims, looking over Olberic on the bed, "Ah, Ol'Berg, you up? Hey, answer me!"
"Oh dear, should we have kept him awake?" Simeon asks worriedly.
"W-well, Zeph's old man said it wasn't a good idea t' let someone just nap after they just drowned... Uh, something about water in the lungs and whatnot..." Alfyn tries to rouse the warrior, "Cuz uh, a person doesn't breathe as well when they're asleep and all..."
Primrose shrugs when Simeon looks to her. The knowledge apothecaries have can be as arcane and obscure as magic, frankly.
"Urgh..." Olberic coughs and opens one eye to look at the apothecary, "Alfyn...?"
"Heya, champ!" Alfyn grins, "Ya feeling alright?"
Olberic coughs some more and shakes his head a little, "Just a … sore throat, koff koff!"
"Ah, might be the salt water... Hold on, I'll fix something right up for it!" Alfyn chuckles, "Anything else? Pain in the chest? Difficulty breathing?"
"Nm... Now that you mention it..."
Primrose smiles softly at Alfyn doing what he does best. She gestures for herself and Simeon to make themselves scarce and they leave the room to enter the other one Tressa had rented. With the size of their traveling party, they will likely always be renting out at least two rooms wherever they may be staying.
The dancer sits down on the bed and pats the spot next to her. Simeon obediently sits beside her. Outside, they can hear it is a quieter neighborhood than that of Stonegard, for sure. As an idyllic beach town resort, Goldshore's noisiest time would be when children ran around... but there isn't even a lot of that.
"You were extremely capable back there, Primrose," Simeon croons slightly as he gently drags a hand through her hair, "I hadn't thought you so well-versed in the blue yonder."
"Well, things have changed over the years... Though it was very nice of you to come in after me," She leans in towards his chest, "Especially since you didn't seem to have the best water legs either."
"Ah, well, you know I'm not a very physical sort of gentlemen," Simeon chuckles, "But my limitations be damned. I will forge through the waves for you, my flower!"
Primrose laughs. It's not a forced one of pure amusement. She really does like his way of speaking that is almost just casually serenading her in eloquence. How long it had been since she had such company. For so long, all she had were the lewd comments of patrons. The trip so far with her companions had been a different kind of reprieve. Now, she can feel herself easing back into a nostalgic feeling she thought she had lost a long time ago... The feeling she considered guarded within the parts of her heart that she might have killed off. It's the same place in her mind where the little girl smiled and ran about the manor of light and happiness without care...
With Simeon... she felt at home.
"... You won't leave me again, will you, Simeon..." She murmurs almost with an almost uncharacteristic softness. There isn't a tremor or anything else to show that slight fear and insecurity hidden in her quiet question of a plea.
Simeon blinks softly and gently nods, "I will be here by your side... for as long as you will have me, my lady."
…
Ophilia smiles as father Donovan greets her from his bed. The older holy man seems a bit sickly in color, but his crinkled smile shows he is far from the lowest of spirits. The guiding nun bows and leaves so Ophilia can speak with him alone whilst she stands at the door.
"Oh, forgive me for showing up unannounced, your Excellency," Ophilia smiles sympathetically. She lightly takes his hand as he reaches for her at his bedside, "I... wish you the speediest of recovery."
"Oh, this is nothing. Just a bit of fatigue... You look so saddened, child!" Donovan exclaims.
Ophilia blinks. She shakes her head and sighs softly, "Forgive me... I... it's just that his Excellency, Archbishop Joseph... he is also ill... I suppose I was just... reminded of him, haha..."
"Oh... My condolences," Donovan nods, "Joseph is a headstrong man. He can get quite neglectful of his own health, eh. Hasn't changed. But he is also strong. Have heart. I'm sure he wishes for you to travel without worry."
"Thank you for your kind words..." Ophilia quickly refocuses to the topic at hand, "So, you know the purpose of my visit is the Kindling?"
"Of course. We received the message a few days ago, actually... Forgive me for the lack of preparation. The state of the town has just been quite encumbered by the recent rash of fevers and illness, I'm afraid..." Donovan sighs, "It has placed quite an onus on the church to deal with the townsfolk and their spirits at this time of low morale..."
"Of course, I understand entirely. Our duty to the people cannot be neglected after all," Ophilia nods, "Uhm... would it be possible for me to just... light the altar? I believe that is the crux of the whole ceremony, yes? In light of the epidemic here, perhaps doing away with the bells and whistles is in order?"
Donovan stares at her and then lets out a small snort of amusement before laughing lightly, crinkling the skin around his eyes.
"Quite the eager beaver, eh?"
"W-well, I don't mean to overstep! It was just a suggestion... up to your supervision, of course!" Ophilia insists.
"Haha, I understand. You are an eager Flamebearer this Kindling. You are most definitely Joseph's daughter..."
His daughter? Ophilia doesn't take to the flattery easily... especially when it wasn't true in the slightest.
"I-I'm not His Excellency's-" She stops herself when Donovan raises an eyebrow at the start of her sentence and ends up muttering, "... Lianna is his daughter."
"... Well, so you say," Donovan sighs with something like disappointment, "... Ah, anyways, I'm afraid we cannot allocate resources to hold the Kindling until the needs of the local peoples have been met... This epidemic must be stopped. We cannot neglect those who rely on us in such times of need. I apologize for the inconvenience..."
"O-oh, no, not at all! I agree with your wisdom... I want to help as well... but our holy healing doesn't quite deal with this sort of thing, does it..." The cleric sighs.
"Indeed... News of the illness plaguing the area has reached the ear of many a swindler who comes posed as an apothecary... They are as much a scourge as the actual fevers," Donovan sighs, "Where are you staying, Ophilia? Allow us to house you in our quarter here. We have empty cots in the convent..."
"No, no, no, I can't possibly impose," Ophilia shakes her head, "I came with companions, and we have rented a room at the local inn... I will be fine. Please use the beds for the sick who need it."
"Ah, are you sure? The town can be a tad... unsafe at these times... are you in the manor district at least?"
Ophilia tilts her head, unsure, "I don't think so. Tressa just found one near the sea wall... I think?"
Donovan rubs his chin a little, "Well, I won't govern your entire stay here... But please do bear with us. I do wish we had better prepared everything for your visit."
"No, no, it's-"
"Papa!" A small girl peeps in through the door, "I got to pet a- oh, hi!"
"Huh? Oh, hi..." Ophilia waves timidly.
"Lysa? What is it?" Donovan sits up and lowers his legs to the floor.
"I got to pet a big kitty today!" The energetic child exclaims and pulls along a young boy her age, "Daniel did, too!"
Big kitty...? Ophilia only knew so many large cats in the area.
And, as she expects, Linde and H'aanit appear behind the children.
"Oh, H'aanit!"
H'aanit blinks and nods, "Aren we interrupteth?"
"Oh, a hunter...!" Donovan looks in surprise.
"Yeah, she's really nice!" Lysa says obliviously as she goes to hug her father, "Are you feeling better today, papa?"
"Oh, yes, of course. Getting better every day!" Donovan smiles.
Ophilia looks to them with a fond smile, clearly reminiscing about the Archbishop back home. He would also always tell them he was getting well, too... even though it was a lie. They learned this the hard way growing up and seeing his illness only progress.
She hoped otherwise for Lysa.
"Lysa, this is sister Ophilia," Donovan introduces them warmly, "She's the Flamebearer for the Kindling this vicennia."
"Ohh...! She's pretty, papa," Lysa whispers not so quietly to Donovan on the side.
"O-oh, thank you..." Ophilia flusters a little, not expecting that at all from the child. H'aanit's eye twitches just a little, but not to the cleric's notice.
"It's very nice to meet you, Lysa," Ophilia bows now, "You must be proud to have a father like His Excellency."
"Mm! Papa's the best priest in the church!" Lysa nods enthusiastically and looks to the boy who tagged along, "Right, Daniel?"
"M-mm!" The boy meekly agrees. It's clear Lysa is the one leading their little duo operation.
"Ah, we shan't keep you any longer then, your Excellency," Ophilia bows again, "I do know of an apothecary who may be able to help with the epidemic... I will ask if he can assist!"
"Oh, you needn't..."
Ophilia shakes her head, "The people are suffering and I know we aren't going to turn a deaf ear to their needs. You've been holding down the fort, Father Donovan, so please allow me to help!"
Donovan stares at the angelic cleric and lets out a small snort. Lysa smiles widely, "You're nice!"
"Thank you again for meeting with me!" Ophilia nods with a determined look. She goes to leave, "Ah, shall we return to the inn, H'aanit? I want Alfyn's opinion on this … he can definitely help..."
"..." H'aanit follows her quietly after giving a slight nod of farewell to the three in the church. Linde follows her with a light swish of her tail.
"... She's pretty and cool!" Lysa can be heard saying after they leave.
Ophilia suppresses a giggle as they walk back through the halls to the foyer area of the cathedral, "You made quite an impression, H'aanit."
"... I hadden not noticed," H'aanit mumbles.
"Rowr," Linde tilts her head and lightly pokes H'aanit's arm with her tail.
"... Ah, yes. Cyrus and Therese hath said they willen remain in this area longer. We maye return erstwhile afore they," H'aanit sighs.
"Oh, they're quite taken to the cathedral, aren't they?" Ophilia laughs, "Alright. The day is still young! I want to see if I can get Alfyn's input about what's going on here..."
"Hmm."
Linde looks up at H'aanit trying to be indifferent. The cat makes a low noise to get Ophilia's attention and then gestures with her head towards the huntress. H'aanit looks down with a scowl at Linde.
"What aren thou..."
"Is something wrong, H'aanit?" Ophilia tilts her head.
"Nay..."
The huntress trails off when Ophilia goes to gently caress her cheek suddenly. The cleric wasn't normally one to make such gestures. The huntress feels her own face warm. It is … a strange feeling.
"You aren't getting sick, are you?" Ophilia says with clear worry, "We all need to be wary in this place if there is illness going around..."
"...I am... alright," H'aanit says a bit softly as she looks into those blue eyes with her own green ones, "Thou needest not worry."
"Still, better safe than sorry!" Ophilia withdraws her hands and looks out the cathedral entrance towards the rest of Goldshore under the afternoon sun, "I don't want to see people suffering when we can help them... and I definitely don't want..."
The cleric trails off when she looks back to the huntress. At that moment, the two of them seem to be stunned. Then, it dawns on Ophilia what she did. Her face immediately reddens into a tomato hue.
"O-oh gods, forgive me! I-I hadn't meant to, without y-your permission! Ah, I'm so sorry, I don't usually do that...!" Ophilia flusters, "I just wanted to make sure you weren't too warm and, uh..."
"It is fine," H'aanit lets out a soft laugh, almost like a scoff. Her lips involuntarily are smiling. She's not known to be moved to laughter easily... but Ophilia just has this effect on her. And the cleric loved that free and light laughter.
"Thou cannen touch me if thou wishes," The huntress says simply.
Well, that just sends Ophilia over the moon. Linde is snickering, covering her face with a paw.
"Uhm, uhhhh..." The cleric is impossibly red, "T-that's..."
"Now thou looketh warm," H'aanit says seriously as she goes to feel Ophilia's forehead. She leans down so their foreheads touch, "... Aye, thou feeleth warmer..."
"I-Is that so..." Ophilia squeaks, "T-thank you, I, uh, will get that checked..."
The cleric meekly raises her gaze to meet that of the huntress now. She forces her dry tongue to move some more.
"H-have you been... influenced by Cyrus, perchance..." The cleric mumbles.
"...? No... Whattest doth thou mean?" H'aanit blinks.
"Y-you... just saying something like that..." Ophilia stammers, "It's … very much like him..."
But the cleric had known this somewhat. H'aanit is less chatty than Cyrus, for sure. However, she is also one to always speak her mind. It was a similar sort of bluntness that Cyrus had... except his was just a lack of tact and sensibility sometimes.
"... I hath not said thou weren beautiful," H'aanit says softly, "Lysa hath... but I doth wish I hadden done so."
"Ah... T-thank you..." Ophilia can't stop blushing at this rate, "Y-you're beautiful, too..."
"Doth that maken me like Cyrus?" The huntress pulls off and frowns a little.
"Oh, no, no, it's nothing...! I... hearing it from you makes me really happy..." Ophilia chuckles nervously, "I-I guess I... got warm because of that..."
"Ah. That doth maken sense..." The huntress chuckles now too, more openly.
"Well, uh, oh, right, let's get going back then!" Ophilia remembers what she was doing in the first place leaving the cathedral. As she walks back to the inn with H'aanit, her step feels strangely light.
…
"Hmm..." Tressa looks over the general shop wares with an appraising eye. The stuff isn't of bad quality. She had been impressed somewhat at first... But the variety could use some work. Nothing is speaking to the merchant. Whatever's here also doesn't seem to have a good resell potential... There is a clear difference here between Goldshore items and a place like Rippletide. For sure, the passing merchants had stuff that wasn't the best grade... but the stuff that was high-quality here is a bit stale and generic on second glance.
Tressa can guess that most merchants probably skipped Goldshore and went straight for Grandport. At least, the seasoned ones, anyway.
"Bah, not really a good haul here, after all..." The merchant sighs, leaning over some low stone walls fencing in the upper layers of the manor district, "And it's gonna be late soon. Dang it."
Down below, she sees Therion walk by some other people. She can guess he's working his unseen sleight of hand tricks. And the rich people here are none the wiser.
"Man, no wonder this place isn't a hub for trade, hmf..."
The merchant lazily glances to see some peddlers with stuff like herbs. They seem to cycle in for a later time than early sellers. They shout loudly about the medicinal properties of their things. People seem to be interested in these over other things.
Oh, yeah, that was why Alf want to come in the first place. Pequod said people were getting sick or something...
"Maybe I've been looking in the wrong place...!" Tressa stretches and climbs down the stairs to the hubbub.
"Apothecaries are always in need of this baby! The root of a ginger plant! Very good for warding off a cold and sore throat! Goes great with honey!"
"These succulents come straight from the Sunlands! They reduce skin blemishes and clean up a woman real nicely!"
There do seem to be some people here with those trademark satchels like Alfyn's. They appear to be talking with some of the locals. Tressa can pick up talk here and there about prices for treatments. Medicine is not an industry she knows a ton about, but she can't discount that there is gouging going on here...
"Vanessa, thank you again so much, dear!"
A purple-haired apothecary seems to be a center of attention in this market. Tressa takes a good look at her.
"It's not really a big deal," Vanessa smiles sweetly at the woman who's fawning over her, "I merely work to ensure we raise awareness on health and promote a better life."
"Oh, she's such an angel," Some rich nobleman near Tressa says on the side to his friend, "Of all the out-of-town apothecaries, she's the only one that works for free."
Free? Tressa does a double take.
"For free?" His friend whispers back, almost holding back a laugh, "You're joking. What kind of sap does that?"
"Right? But it's a blessing that not all apothecaries are just vultures... Of course, if it were me, I would do a fair share of gouging... after all, this has to be worth my time, too!" The nobleman laughs.
Tressa frowns on the side at them and then looks back to Vanessa talking to some prospective clients. Well, since she seemed to work for free, she gets most of the customers, needless to say. And that's not lost on some of the other apothecaries in the area looking for business.
"Tsk... Whatever, there's got to be something wrong with her batches," Tressa overhears a grumbling apothecary walk away emptyhanded with his friend, "Bad herbs or something, I'll bet. Can't even give those away save to these desperate folks."
The two of them walk away laughing at their own joke.
"..."
"Hmf."
Tressa glances to see that Therion is standing right by her. The thief had slipped right next to her as she was listening and looking around.
"D'ah!" Tressa jumps a bit, "You- you should respect my personal space!"
"Interesting stuff, huh?" Therion ignores her fluster and nonchalantly glances away like he didn't hear her at all.
"... This place is definitely looking for some good herbs and doctors... but with a free worker, that's gonna be hard to compete hmm..." Tressa folds her arms. Her inner scales sense isn't pulling her anywhere. Maybe this place is just gold in name... there doesn't seem to be stellar opportunities like in Quarrycrest by a long shot.
"... you giving up?" Therion glances to Tressa as she goes to leave for the inn.
"Can't really compete in an area I dunno with a free worker," Tressa points a thumb at Vanessa, "Plus, the other stuff was subpar, even for thrifting."
Therion says nothing, merely feeling his purse having grown a size or two with his pickings. The rich here seem used to an idyllic lifestyle and are none the wiser. The thought of stealing from them comes with no guilt. He follows Tressa a few paces behind.
"Uggh..." Tressa looks out towards the sea as she walks back to the inn via the main street, "Man, I miss Quarrycrest at this rate! I mean, come on! You could make a really nice bustling pier here!"
Therion rolls his eye as she rambles on her own little rant about underutilized aspects of Goldshore. It's a tourist town, not a trade center. But a merchant likes to put out opportunity wherever they can anyway, whether or not anyone else cares.
The merchant pauses before the stone wall bordering the beach and old dock area. She leans forward with her hands on her chin, propped up by her elbows. She blows a tuft of hair out of her face.
"Gee whiz, no signs of precious treasures here either..."
"Treasure?"
An old man that was staring out at the sea seems to be looking at her now. Tressa flinches initially, seeing how disheveled he looked.
"Uhh... yeah! Treasure!" Tressa decides to seize the opportunity, "You know of any, gramps?"
"Hmm... I been watchin' the sea a good while here... some years back, a ship sank juuust out there..." He points out towards the horizon where the sun is crawling towards, "Maybe if ya were a mermaid, ya could find it all."
"... Yeah, no, do I look like a mermaid?" Tressa sighs. This man had been under the sun too long...
"Well, how about them grottoes? I hear swarthy pirates hide their treasures in those... caves, sea caverns..." The old man rubs his whiskered chin with a content smile, "There's one near here... the Caves of Azure..."
"Azure?" Tressa raises an eyebrow now in interest, "What's there?"
"Blue. Azure. Don't you kids know what that means?" The octogenarian chuckles, revealing his yellow teeth, "Glows? It's all pretty in there... supposed t'be something left by them buccaneers and whatnot... treasure."
"Blue... azure..." Tressa folds her arms and thinks a second, closing her eyes, "Well, thanks for the tip old man..."
She looks up and sees he's gone, seemingly vanished. A chill runs down her spine.
"Uhh, Therion?" She turns around quickly to see the thief there.
"What."
"Did you just see that old man here?" She points at the empty space.
"Are you seeing things?" Therion rolls his eye, "You've got too much money in the brain."
"Hey, shaddap! There was an old man here! He said something about the caves of Azure near here... and something valuable inside!" Tressa insists in a low voice between the two of them, "What if it's like sapphires or something? He said it might have been left by pirates..."
"If there was a lode of sapphires nearby, people would be talking already..." Therion scratches his head. Sapphire... that was the one stone that the Ravuses did have. So, this is pointless for him.
"... still, a lead's a lead," Tressa looks to the time of day, "I'll take a trek there tomorrow and see what I find!"
"Try not to get yourself killed," The thief yawns.
"What? Worried about me?" Tressa gives him a cheeky grin.
Therion rolls his eye and walks back to the inn. On the way, they bump into the returning cleric and huntress with Linde. Therion raises an eyebrow. The cleric and huntress are holding hands.
…
The group all reconvenes for the night in the inn within their two allotted rooms. By then, Olberic stopped looking so green after almost drowning. The story of his plight makes everyone chuckle or gasp a bit.
"Oh my, how horrible!" Ophilia gasps.
"Tis quite alright..." Olberic sighs, rubbing a hand on his face in shame, "I... overestimated myself terribly."
"Whaddya mean? Didn't you go to rescue some kid's cat?" Alfyn folds his arms, "That's plenty admirable, Ol'Berg!"
"Nay, nay, I... I have never been good in the water..." Olberic mumbles in confession, "Since I was a boy, I had always sunk like a stone..."
Primrose lightly covers her mouth as she giggles, "Well, no harm no foul... I hope the rest of you all had less exciting days."
"Ah, there is an illness going around... due to the Church's focus on relief, I'm afraid I cannot perform the Kindling yet... So, I wish to help with the effort!" Ophilia looks with determination to Alfyn, "Alfyn, did you learn anything about the illness?"
"Oh, yeah, yeah!" Alfyn nods, "Looks like it's pretty bad... Lil' kids ain't got any immunity to it and it's a high fever, too. But! There was this apothecary going around that helps for free! Her name was Vanessa or something."
"Oh, that lady? We heard about her in the manor district!" Tressa pipes up, "Talk about hot topic... Everyone was looking to get her help. She must be pretty good."
"Well, she sure helped Ellen's family out! Her mom was really happy hehe..." Alfyn scratches his head, "I'd like to compare shop with her. Learn from other apothecaries, ya know? Ya said she was in the manor district, right?"
"Yeah, but I doubt she's still there at this hour," Tressa looks out at the early evening, "Say, we should grab some grub. Nothing too costly. I didn't make much of anything in this town."
"I think I saw the pub's food... they seemed decent," Alfyn shrugs.
"What's 'decent' in your book, Alf?" Tressa squints, "No offense, but you look like you could make do even eating dirt."
"Tressa!" Ophilia exclaims.
"Tis not recommended," H'aanit says bluntly. Linde and Therion both keep quiet.
"I did actually eat dirt once as a kid on a dare... but it had worms in it," Alfyn grins.
"How did you spend your day, scholar?" Simeon looks at Cyrus while the others discuss diner options.
"Well, me and Therese entirely lost ourselves within the cathedral!" Cyrus exclaims, "Tis really as much a wonder as the books say. Did you know that it took almost fifteen years to construct in full? In fact, due to the lengthy amount of time needed, they had to resort to holding early masses within the unfinished bones of the-"
"It was really nice! The nuns and abbess were so accommodating!" Therese interjects.
"Alright, alright!" Tressa quiets the room, "To the pub it is! But you all need to chip in this time, alright. No more free meals from me while business is so slow!"
"O-of course," Ophilia mentally thinks about how much the Pontiff had afforded her for this journey.
"No worries, I shall pay for mine and Therese's meals," Cyrus nods.
"I insist on paying for yours and Primrose's share tonight," Olberic looks to Simeon and the dancer, "I owe you both my life."
"Thou both hath him from the sea pulled?" H'aanit looks to the dancer and playwright with surprise, "... Thou aren much stronger than I hath erst surmised."
"Don't think too much of it," Primrose sighs.
The large group hits the pub as it gets dark, and the streetlamps are being lit. It is a decently sized pub, with a good number of tables. This place is run by the bartender and two waitresses. There are some other goers here, mainly some rowdy seamen or travelers from out of town. It's not so crowded that they don't get two tables large enough to seat them all.
"Cheap things, remember," Tressa advises with a serious face.
"Potato cream stew sounds good right about now..." Alfyn looks at something that someone else is eating.
"Looks good, huh?" A waitress comes over with a big smile, "Only 3 leaves a bowl! And hot and staying, made just this morning!"
"How much is the bread and water?" Tressa asks snappishly.
"One leaf for the bread and we'll also throw in some wine for dipping!"
"Ten orders of that, thanks," Tressa orders for all of them. The waitress goes with their order.
"Well, sustenance is sustenance," Simeon shrugs, "We shan't complain if we can get our bellies filled, eh?"
"Aw..." Alfyn folds his arms behind his head, looking at the other table's orders.
"Since we're in the Coastlands, shouldn't we partake in some of the seafood?" Therese asks a bit timidly, "I mean, because it is well known..."
"If we go back to Rippletide, we can have my mom's stew for free!" Tressa boasts, "And that's better than anything you can buy here!"
"Haha, well, I do admit it was quite a treat," Cyrus chuckles.
"Doth thou haven spare bones for Linde," H'aanit asks the waitress as she returns with a plate piled high with kaiser rolls and tankards of cheap wine. The large cat peeps up at the lady with a catty smile.
"I'll see what I can do, honey."
"Alright... cheers all!" Alfyn raises his wine, and they all share a hearty cheers, "To health!"
"Aye, tis more important than ever," Olberic smiles.
Therion scoffs and dips his bread in the wine, snarfing it down simply.
As they eat, the door to the pub swings open. Tressa recognizes the two apothecaries muttering to each other from earlier. Following close by their heels is a little girl. They regard her with dismissiveness.
"Leave us alone kid. Come when you have the coin..."
"Please! My sister needs help!" The girl says desperately with tears in her eyes.
Alfyn turns at the sound of that familiar voice, "... Ellen?"