An hour had passed, and the dinner got ready. Arad sat on the couch beside Aella while Mira sat beside her mother, “It’s been a while since we had guests. Please eat your fill,” Lyla said with a smile.
“Thanks for the food,” Arad took his soup while Aella started with the salad. She can’t eat anything but plants.
“Have you ever thought about becoming a merchant?” Lyla looked at Arad with a smile, “With your skill and strength, you could overtake the city,” she said, alluding to his storage skill.
“I do prefer the adventurer life more. Nothing beats hunting in the wilderness,” Arad replied, remembering his hunt with mom as they took the bison.
“The merchant life is far safer. It will even give you time to relax,” Lyla pointed at him with her fork.
Arad shook his head, “Adventuring is easier to start. I can’t let my skills go unused.” Arad lifted his palm, creating a small flame. He then snuffed it out, closing his fist.
“I was looking to retire in a year or two,” Lyla smiled, “I will hand you shop if you marry Mira,”
PUFF! Mira choked on her soup, “Mom! What are you talking about?”
“Come on. We talked about it before.” Lyla smiled, “Even Aella there agreed,”
“I didn’t agree. I said it was for Arad to choose.” Aella stared at them. She then looked at Arad, “What do you say?”
Arad scratched his chin, “It’s not like I’m against or with the idea. I’m not quitting adventuring anytime soon. Even if I left the guild.” I’m a dragon, after all. I can’t stay in one place.
[You can live as a merchant. It wouldn’t be strange for a void dragon to take that role. Get wealthy by hunting at night and selling the items during the day. You can then afford to marry multiple women.]
^I would prefer to stay as an adventurer. I’m not looking for a comfortable life. I want an exciting one.^
“Heard him, Mira, do your best to tilt it to your favor!” Lyla smiled.
“Mom, please stop.” Mira sighed, looking at Arad with a wry smile, “Sorry for my mom,”
“No need to apologize. It doesn’t bother me at all,” Arad said with a smile. ^Lyla’s food is seriously delicious. The meals from the inn can’t even compare.^
“Say, Arad.” Mira looked at Arad, smiling, “You brought mother the wolf parts. Can you get me something? Of course, I will pay you for it.”
“That depends on what we are talking about,” Arad replied, resting his back on the couch.
“Magic salt, the flexibility one,” Mira pulled a small bag from underneath the table and put it in front of Arad.
[She planted it there beforehand? She was planning to ask this for a while,]
“The northern mine had been overrun with goblins. Go there and get me a few stones. Can I count on you?” Mira smiled. BAM! Lyla smacked her head, “Goblins are dangerous. Where do you think you’re sending him,”
Mira stared at her mom, “He took wolves. He sure can take a goblin or two.”
“Goblins? I should be able to take care of them. But why don’t you ask the guild?” Arad asked, trying to learn what is the catch.
“The lower-rank adventurers won’t take on a goblin-occupied cave, it’s too dangerous for them, and I don’t have the money to appeal to higher-rank adventurers,” Mira explained.
“Why do you even need to be the one to put the quest? Who owns the mine, and why they aren’t acting?” Aella asked.
Lyla stared at them, “It’s business. They are taking advantage of the situation to sell what they have in stock for an inflated price.”
“Won’t clearing the mine put me against them? I don’t want to start unnecessary trouble if possible.” Arad said. Having a rich noble chasing him around will be annoying, and it could expose his identity.
“Don’t worry about that. I doubt the noble would care. He can say the mine is still under repair and extend the shortage. And no need to clear the mine. Just go in, grab a few stones, and dash out. Leave them some goblins.” Mira smiled.
Arad nodded, “It’s not a mission about killing all the goblins and clearing the mine. It’s about getting you the magic stones.”
“That’s right. I will grind the stones to make magic salt.”
“You said you don’t have the money to appeal to high-rank adventurers. How could you pay me for the job?” Arad asked the important question.
Mira smiled, “I might not have the money. But I can offer something else.”
Arad thought about it, “Pay me with something other than money?”
“I can use those stones to enchant Aella’s bow. Right now, it’s hard and requires a lot of strength, but with the flexibility salt, I can make it easier to draw without lowering its power.” Mira explained.
“Easier to draw mean she will get tired less. And longer fighting time.” Arad thought.
Aella smiled, “I might even be able to fire faster or aim better since it will be easier to hold the shot,” She started getting excited. “I might even be able to use stronger bows!” She started thinking of using a higher poundage bow with the salt.
Mira giggled, “I can’t work with any material stronger than steel with my current skills. But I can enchant your bow and make a weaker variant that Arad might be able to use.” She extended her hand to Arad, “It’s a work for work. Bring me the stone, and I will upgrade your bows.”
“Deal, how much do you need?”
“A bucket should be enough, but I won’t complain if you got more.” Mira smiled.
Lyla smiled, “I would pay you for the extra stones you bring her, but the regular price.”
Arad looked back at Lyla, “How much it’s worth?” .
“Flexibility stones are relatively cheap at three silver coins for the kilogram, but with the current inflation, I found them getting sold for up to one gold coin per kilogram,” Lyla explained.
“Over thirty times the price? No wonder they want to keep the shortage.” Arad gasped.
“One full bucket should be around five kilograms, so that is fifteen silver coins per one.” Lyla stared at Arad with a smile, “You can carry a lot, can’t you?”
[She wants you to use your stomach and bring as much as you can get your hands on. But I bet she only expects a few buckets.]
^I will try and mine as much as I can. But I will only hand them a reasonable amount, around ten buckets.^ Arad thought, and a smile crossed his face.
“What’s the matter?” Mira asked, looking at him with a puzzled face.
“Are there any other mines like that around here?” Arad asked.
“There are multiple ones. Some have elemental stones, and the other effect stones like the flexibility, durability, and the like.” Mira said, “But, the flexibility mine is the only one overtaken by the goblins.”
[Since the mines are close to each other, they could be all connected through one massive cave system. We might be able to dig our way to a treasure.] Mom stated.
“Thank you for the information. Can you write me down the location of all mine?” Arad looked at her with his eyes sparkling.
“You aren’t thinking of robbing them, are you?” Mira sighed.
“No, no, I just wanted to pay them a visit later. Learn more about how they work,” Arad replied.
Lyla smiled, “That grin and those eyes. Did you hatch a big plan or something?”
Arad shook his head, “It’s nothing, don’t worry about it.” He laughed it off. ^Damn, she is sharp.^
“Well, it doesn’t matter.” Lyla stood, lifting the empty plates. “Let’s clean up. The tea should be almost ready.” She smiled, and Mira stood to help her clean. Aella did the same while Arad carried the table to the corner.
Arad looked around and then stared at Lyla, “It’s late. We should probably go,”
“No way! I just said the tea is ready. You’re spending the night here.” Lyla quickly rushed to the door, locking it with a wooden beam.
Arad smiled, “Fine, but do you have a place for us to sleep in?” No matter How Arad looked around. There were only a few rooms available.
“Of course, there is a place. You just relax. I will think of that.” Lyla smiled, checking on the tea if it was ready.
A while later, the tea was ready, and they sat to drink.
“It’s nice to relax every once in a while,” Arad said, remembering the stressful few last nights. Merida and Merlin have gotten him exhausted.
“You’re right,” Lyla replied.
Aella giggled, “The last few nights were hectic,” They started talking about what happened on their last trip to Oakedge. Of course, they emitted everything about the dragon and wolves.
It was time to sleep. Mira led Arad and Aella to her room, “You will sleep here tonight. I will spend the night with my mother.” She said with a smile.
“Yeah, good night,” Aella replied with a smile as she sat beside Arad.
Mira approached the door, grabbed the handle, and turned it. CRACK! CRACK! It was locked.
