When I looked at Thalia before, I generally found myself seeing her more as a silkworm than a spider in terms of an animal relation. However, seeing just how cocooned and hog-tied Liora was beside my chair at the inn, I was starting to reconsider that she was more spider-like than I thought.
"Ok, fine, fair, whatever, but at least let me eat food!"
Liora said as she tried to roll to be sitting somewhat upright. Her entire body was wrapped in threads, only her head being uncovered from the neck down. I doubt she could even look down to see just how wrapped up she was. It was a bit awkward to eat like this, but food was food, and everyone wasn't going to let Liora's predicament stop them from eating.
Lunch was basic, cooked pork with potatoes and greens, but still filling and warm. Liora was freed to eat after Selene pleaded with Thalia and she scarfed down her meal. As she did we all looked to each other as Jax said.
"Ok, we need to do a few things before we do too much else. Someone needs to turn in the quest paperwork, make a reservation at the inn, and we need to meet up to discuss travel plans and stuff."
We all nodded as Thalia turned to Jax.
"How about we divide up, Jax you can take Beatrice to show her how quest turn ins work, Aiden and Selene can grab our inn rooms for the night, and I can go with Liora."
Liora spit up her drink a bit as she looked over to Thalia who was giving her a ridgid, and hostile smile as she began to make gestures of her hand in front of her neck trying to say no.
"I think that works, sorry Liora, you brought this upon yourself."
Liora gave me a tearful look as her fingers dragged along the floorboards, thalia walking with Liora being dragged by a string around her ankle.
"I ALREADY SAID SORRY!!!"
She said in a sobbing voice as she was dragged out, the rest of us sending a silent prayer for her survival, as praying for her safe return would be a slim chance at best.
Jax and Beatrice headed for the door as I flagged down the waiter to pay for our meal. I turned back to Selene who seemed to be staring over at a nearby corner of the restaurant as I found myself glancing that way. There wasn't too much of note, just a simple copper water tank not unlike the one that was at my home in Hopestone for the bath.
"D-Doesn't that look a lot like the one at your house?"
Selene asked, pointing her finger to the tank. I shrugged as I finished my cup of water and pulled out the 60 gold for our meals as we began to head for the door.
"Well they are a pretty well known brand, I'm not surprised places use my parents' water tanks and elements."
Selene nodded as we continued down the road. The repetitive sounds of our footfalls invited thought as I thought back to the necromancer dungeon. I had thought I was strong at the time, and in some respects I am. I can keep pace with Jax, and even out perform him slightly in damage, but the cost for that is actively cooking myself alive. Even still I had thought I could at least hold my own against Jax for even just 10 seconds, but I had to be saved by the third second after rushing in. It was humbling, infuriating, and several other things all at once in a way that made me want to grind my teeth. I had a solution, but it came with its own problems. I could practice and learn more of the accel spearmanship techniques, but there was something holding me back.
The potion Selene needed as a cure wasn't a run of the mill potion. It required specialized tools, and 8 different ingredients. To even have a chance at brewing it correctly I would need to have my skill in alchemy at C rank at the minimum, but in my rush to get stronger, I had been practically ignoring that fact.
So while Selene was unaware of it, a throbbing guilt was sitting in my chest as I was split in wanting to become a better alchemist to help her, the entire reason she traveled 3 continents and has been traveling with us so far, and getting stronger so I can face Ymer and his group at the tournament.
You need to be stronger, you can cure Selene when you're not actively in danger, plus Jax showed you just how fragile you are right now. We need power.
One side of my brain argued while the other said.
2 Months, Selene has been traveling with you almost 2 months in the hope that you can help her and so far the only thing you have to show for it is a suppressant, there has been no progress on a cure at all. At this point we are using her more than she is our patient.
"A-Aiden, your walking past the door"
I looked up, jarred from my thoughts as I had walked past the large inn that was apparently called the Motel Mclean. As I quickly came back and we both walked in, Selene looked over at me and asked
"A-Aiden, are you doing ok?"
I looked back to Selene, she had a worried look on her face as I saw that she was using her skill to hide her arm, something that would constantly drain her already lessened energy due to her condition, adding a small twist of guilt in my gut.
"Hey Selene…. I'm, I'm sorry I haven't been able to make more progress on that cure, you came with us to get it, and we have been running around all over, and I want to help you and make sure your in top form for the tournament, but I don't want to be dead weight at the tournament, and."
Selene cut me off by putting a finger to my mouth in a shushing motion.
"I-I know Hallowcreek, I was there after all. Besides, you have made more progress in 3 months than even experts back home did in 5 years."
I wanted to say more, to ask if she didn't feel used, but before I could Selene turned to the desk. Behind the counter a halfblood alligator man was cleaning a set of spectacles with a rag and looking over what seemed to be paperwork. His scales were dull and scratched with age as he looked up and gave a wissened smile.
"Welcome, are you looking for one room or 2?"
"T-two please, and can they be 3 man rooms?"
"Of course, and what name should I put these rooms under?"
"H=Hollowcreek."
The old half-blood stopped as he had turned around to grab a key and turned back.
"Ah, you must be the others with the twins upstairs, I will let them know you're here."
He held out a hand as a small gust of wind seemed to float up and blink at the man.
"Tell the guests in room 341 that their entourage has arrived."
The little ball of wind flew away as I said.
"Uh, no, my last name is Hallowcreek, I'm not associated with Hallowcreek Aquatech."
"Oh, I am so sorry, let me see if I can call back-"
He was cut off by the sound of boots descending the stairs as a higher voice like that of a child no older than 10 came from the stairs to our left. There were a pair of kids, both wearing casual clothes that showed wealth as they descended. However what truly stuck out was their appearances. The two looked similar, to the left was a girl in a navy dress, a set of circular glasses sat on her face as under the crook of her arm sat a thick book. To the right was a boy, he didn't have the glasses his sister wore, instead he seemed more disheveled, mid yawn as he scratched the back of his wild, unkept hair. The pair practically were opposites as the most striking thing was their familiarity. Maybe it was the haircolor that was a same Sandy Blonde my Dad had, or the circular style of glasses my mom insisted worked that the girl wore.
I ended up standing there stunned as the boy said, turning the corner.
"Finally, I was wondering who mom would send to come fetch-. Dad?"
I felt a twinge of annoyance shoot through me as I thought loudly with indignation
DAD!? How old do I look you little shit!
I expected Will to comment, but he seemed to be laughing to hard to breath