30. Exotic Traveling Companions

An Elf, Dwarf, Renard and Fey were sharing a single campsite discussing their future plans.

Ranger had kept quiet throughout the entire planning of the next step while Tony kept glancing in her direction. Mizu had kept throwing idea after idea at the group ranging from catapulting in whilst it was night to Marlet flying over and distracting the residents whilst the rest snuck in.

All these plans were naturally rejected by the group but the Renard was determined to provide some kind of support. "Enough" Ranger said with a tired sigh, "this ragtag group of rejects isn't going anywhere near the city especially with feathers over there acting like a hen." Marlet only stuck out her tongue at the Elf but continued in making her improvised egg carrier with the clothes they had after Tony had killed some bandits.

Marlet had frozen at the last second before delivering the killing blow, choosing to simply incapacitate them. This received a scolding from Tony about leaving enemies at their backs but Mizu quickly saw why.

Marlet had never taken sentient life.

Sure killing monsters had taken getting used to but that was still doable, Marlet saw them more as wild animals. A hunter killing game and taking all the resources available to them is not murder, she didn't take pleasure from killing monsters but she also understood the importance of it and thus she saw it as nothing more than a job. A blacksmith made weapons, an alchemist made potions and an adventurer killed monsters.

Taking the life of a sentient being however was a little much for Marlet regardless of their actions or choices. Marlet still held on the notions of her old world where crime was taken to a court and evidence of wrongdoing presented, from there punishment would be decided for the guilty party.

Non of that here, Tony had no remorse dispatching the bandits on his own and lately Ranger had even come back with 'Kronos familia uniform', small blood smears could still be found at the edges. When asked why she did it Ranger simply stated, "I knew them, they were disgusting. That's why."

Coming out of her thoughts Marlet made sure her egg was securely fastened to her body and kept warm before approaching the group to discuss further plans. "We definitely need resources if we're to move away from here. New swords, better camp equipment and new utensils so that we arnt just surviving but actually camping." Marlet voiced her opinion and the other could only agree. Looking at the Elf next to her Marlet asked a question that had been bothering her a little, "when was the last time you were in Zolongham?" This made a few of them stop and look at Ranger as she had a thoughtful look on her face before facing everyone. "30 Winter Solstices ago, maybe a little more?"

The rest of the group could only look at the Elf after she had partially revealed her age, meaning she was definitely older than that. "I can't enter the city though because of this." Ranger almost spat while lightly touching the tip of her dagger to her cheek.

Tony and Mizu kept quiet as they didn't know what to do but Marlet had a contemplative look on her face. Eventually she just sighed and spoke her mind, "if I can remove that mark, can you get us what we need?" Ranger snapped her head at the girl and clenched her fists tight. "I would owe you 2 depts if you can do as you say."

Her voice was steady and face unreadable but they could all see the hope in her eyes, it was a small glimmer but it was definitely there. "Come with me then." Was the only thing Marlet said before turning around and walking deeper into the woods, Ranger not even hesitating to follow. Mizu and Tony could only sigh at her actions as it was clear she didn't want to reveal this card to them, it hurt Mizu more than Tony but she understood it nonetheless.

After walking for a few minutes they got to a small clearing and Marlet sat down cross legged in the center. Ranger, not knowing what to do copied her movements and sat across from her. They sat in silence for a minute before Marlet spoke:

"What I am about to do for you may cost me a little but I trust as an Elf that you will honour your word and not betray the trust I will place in you right now."

Ranger could only nod in agreement.

"Good, drink this." Marlet handed her a forearm sized bottle with a blue liquid inside it. "It's my last one, so if anything happens after this that requires a potion like this know that I chose to use it on you now instead of saving it for myself or for later." Ranger gawked at the bottle in front of her, she recognised it obviously. Only an idiot wouldn't know a high healing potion in front of them. Many questions swirled through her mind, mostly coming back to 'where did she even get this from?' But Ranger kept quiet, thinking that asking a question like that might make the girl retract her offer.

Ranger slowly touched the mark on her skin and sighed, "healing potions only work for new wounds. This has already healed and the potion would be a waste if I used it now." Marlet only nodded at the Elf's words as she also knew that. What she did next though would be very unpleasant for both of them.

She took a dagger out of her belt and put it between them and looked away.

Ranger stared at the dagger, the implications not lost on her. She grit her teeth and and took deep breathes, not moving a muscle. "I can't remove the mark for you" Marlet spoke in a quiet voice as she looked down, "but I can make sure the potion heals you properly after the mark is gone." The last part was said in a whisper. Ranger understood what she was talking about and was busy steeling her heart for a world of pain.

She nodded her head and grabbed the dagger, she closed her eyes for a second and took a deep breath. She had placed the sword that was at her hip into the ground to use as a makeshift mirror.

Marlet never met her eyes this entire time.

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Tony and Mizu could hear Ranger's screams coming from the forest and it sent chills down their backs, what was the innocent girl that couldn't even kill a simple bandit doing to probably the toughest Elf in the region? They didn't want to know what Marlet was doing to the Elf and preyed they never had to experience something of the sort.

It was only after an hour that they heard footsteps coming from the forest and seeing Marlet dragging Ranger on a makeshift stretcher made of sticks, vines and leaves that they somewhat relaxed until they looked at Ranger's face and saw that the mark was removed and a small smile graced her lips even as she slept. No one said anything, no one mentioned what was done and no one voiced their opinions, they all simply helped Marlet tuck Ranger into her bedroll and moved away to do their own things.

The only sound heard throughout the night was the insects singing their tunes and the fire crackling, asking for more fuel.

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The next day Ranger was awake and besides the quiet sobs everyone heard early in the morning she was back to being her usual self, cautious and stoic. In Tony's case it was those two as well as annoying but neither he nor the other two spoke about what happened, Marlet refused to share details and neither were brave enough to confront the Elf.

"The Gravel Sieve and I will enter Zolingham and get the supplies needed while you two remain out of sight on this road. Once we're done we take it Southeast and never return here." Ranger spoke in a no-nonsense tone, there was no debate and all agreed.

After the camp was packed up and everyone ready to move off Marlet pulled Ranger aside and handed her a letter, "I need you to get this to the delivery services. That's all, no need to pay or discuss anything. Just tell them to get it to the receiver. Please" Marlet had formulated a plan but it required a letter to reach Orario where no doubt an angry goddess was raising hell. Ranger nodded and walked off to continue going over her weapons.

Marlet and Mizu moved a little down the road where they remained out of sight but could see if there was movement on the road while Ranger and Tony was about to reach the city gates. Naturally they were stopped and questioned upon entry.

The guards eyed Ranger for a good few minutes thinking they recognised her from somewhere but without the mark on her cheek anymore they had no way to verify her identity and no reason to hold either of them back. They were obviously warned about breaking any laws and that outsiders were watched carefully.

Once inside, Ranger split away from Tony in order to finish the errands they agreed upon sooner. Tony would head to the market and buy what he could whilst Ranger would visit the more exotic stores and acquire some of the more specified resources.

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Tony had long since completed his own tasks and was now waiting at the gate for the Elf to arrive.

As he was getting impatient he heard a small thwack and then a thud on the back of the wagon. Turning around he saw a backpack as large as a supporters that wasn't there before and an Elf hiding behind their other rations with a finger pressed to her lips. Already suspecting what had happened Tony only sighed and started making his way towards the gate hoping that no one saw her hide in the wagon.

He casually walked out of the city, waving at the guards and giving the closest one a small bag of dried meat as a kind gesture. The guard greedily snatched the bag and tucked it under his breastplate, no doubt having no intentions of sharing and hurriedly waved them through.

Why would they check the people leaving their city? Once they were outside the walls, they weren't the guards problem anymore.

Tony could only heave a sigh of relief once they were a fair distance away until smoke started to rise behind them. Tony cracked the reins on the donkey pulling the cart and urged it to speed up. Just as Marlet and Mizu joined them on the cart without breaking the speed a horn could be heard being blown in the background. This only made Ranger laugh from the back as Tony kept trying to increase their speed.

"What did ya do lass!" Tony all but shouted, thick black smoke could be seen coming from the city and multiple horns were blown for presumably different reasons. "Oh nothing, just getting a little retribution." Ranger hummed out and heaved a sigh as though a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. Ranger then began to recount her tale since she entered Zolingham, how she got everything they needed and stashed it somewhere. She had then gotten Kronos drunk on his own wine and convinced him that in order for her to infiltrate another familia he had to remove his falna, which the drunk god did with a smile. Ranger had then set all the alcohol reserves alight and escaped on the wagon.

Marlet wanted to ask a few more questions but saw a few small dots leaving the city gates and heading in their direction.