Lyria: So what now Claudio? I know you are protected from a contract but isn't poisoning the guild master a little too far?
Lyria questioned me after we exited Vuram's office quietly, I can tell that she was getting sick of my shenanigans already.
Claudio: I didn't expect him to go to sleep honestly, I just wanted to cheer him up before asking for more supplies.
Lyria snapped her head towards me and asked:
Lyria: More supplies? I believe the lounge was well stocked, no?
Claudio: No, it's missing one of the most important supply, an antimicrobial agent.
Lyria: an antimci-aw what?
Claudio: something to clean the wounds.
Lyria: But there is plenty of clean water in the cupboards?
Claudio: *Sigh* Lyria, do you know how many great warriors died a shameful death because of a simple scratch?
Lyria was silent, confused by my question, the language barrier is honestly exhausting. I won't waste my precious remedies and quality equipment on these bastards. I will have to improvise and use the hand that was dealt to me, I will pass by the merchants' guild to withdraw some groshen so I can make antisceptic at home, i need some isopropyl alcohol and whatever I could lay my hands on at the market.
Lyria: Sorry if I offended you Claudio, it's just that my whole life as a servant we were never taught or heard about your methods.
Claudio: No offence taken Lyria, I'll teach you a thing or two, and I'd like that same favor in return.
Lyria was confused by his response; she understood that he wants a favor from her? Well it was going to happen eventually so she replied with "Of course", 'at least the cripple was aesthetically pleasing unlike the ogre', she thought.
***
After arriving at crowded Merchants' guild, I withdrew 25 silver coins, I figured this would be more than enough for my shopping expenses; the rest will go to Viviane as we agreed earlier that day. Long story short, I went to the market and bought isopropyl alcohol and lavender oil, they were used for different things entirely so I got them at fairly reasonable price.
Well, it was Lyria who bought them since merchants overprice the fuck out of me, there was some impurities in the lavender oil so I bought a straining bag from the local tavern for a couple of irons. I was left with over 18 silver coins now, looks like I withdrew more than I needed and I had enough antiseptic ingredients to last me for 10 days.
Lyria: Mr. Claudio are you going to make perfume?
Claudio: No Mrs. Lyria, I am going to make a DIY disinfectant at home.
Lyria ignored the rest of my sentence and I assumed that she was smiling like that because I called her Mrs. Lyria, I was actually curious about her background but I didn't want her to start asking about mine, so I threw an innocent question:
Claudio: So… you don't look like the citizens here, you are a foreigner I assume?
Lyria was getting nostalgic and started recalling her past and she answered me:
Lyria: Yes, my grandfather was a fallen noble from the kingdom of Wrestania. Being called "Mrs." again brought me back some good memories, thank you Claudio.
Well that's a first, the whole time Lyria was cold as stone and kept to herself, it feels weird to show anything but impassiveness, I replied with some sarcasm:
Claudio: It's Mr. Claudio.
Lyria's mood was ruined and she returned to her past self now, feels much better. Before we arrived at the sanctuary, I asked her another innocent question:
Claudio: Lyria, Hypothetically speaking, how long can 4 pounds of silver and two pounds of sugar is going to allow me stay at the sanctuary?
Lyria: Hippopotamus? Sorry Claudio but you keep saying some weird words every now in then.
Claudio: My word was nowhere near that long woman are you serious, anyways it means humor my question.
Lyria pondered for a bit, did some calculations in her head, and answered:
Lyria: Approximately four weeks I believe? Why did you ask that out of the blue?
Claudio: like I said, the question is for the sake of wasting time, it isn't meant to be taken seriously.
Lyria: Well that is a waste of time.
Claudio: Well that's what I said, not like I… Oh it's Viviane and Sasha.
Viviane was waving at me enthusiastically at me while Sasha looked like she was still sulking from our previous exchange. She was wearing a nice looking grey oversized dress, looks like they were done with their shopping spree.
Claudio: Long time no see Viviane and Sasha, this is my personal maid Lyria.
Viviane: Long time no see? But we just saw each other a couple of hours ag…
Viviane and Sasha both broke character and were gawking with their eyes wide open when Lyria dropped the bags and revealed herself. After almost a minute of silence I spoke:
Claudio: Well that was the joke… anyways Lyria please drop the supplies in the apartment I will catch up with you in a little bit.
Lyria bowed her head and proceeded to enter the sanctuary, Viviane and Sasha's eyes were following Lyria the whole time, I snapped my fingers at them and got their attention:
Claudio: So, what do I owe the pleasure of meeting you, anything interesting to report?
Viviane snapped back to me and Sasha went back to her previous self. Viviane completely ignored my question and said:
Viviane: I see that you cut your hair, why?
Claudio: Why? It kept getting over my eyes.
Sasha: Idiot, it looked better before.
Viviane: Yeah…
Claudio: It will grow back; this hairstyle is more popular where I come from. Anyways, how about we head inside? Lunch is on me.
I cut my hair to the best of my abilities, it's not like this was the first time, I believe I looked good with a short wolf cut and low faded sides.
Viviane: Nah we'll pass, we just came here to say hi.
Claudio: Okay… the dress looks good on you Sasha; it complements your hair.
Sasha replied coldly:
Sasha: Mhm, thanks.
They both looked irritated by me, especially Viviane, whatever, I will give them a reason to be pissed off now, they started it.
Claudio: Well, see ya.
I threw a pouch at Viviane's face and she caught it last second, I entered the sanctuary quickly without looking back, before I turned the corner I gave them most shit eating grin I could muster before disappearing. Last thing I saw was their faces seething with rage, even the guard was angry at the face I made.
***
I entered the apartment and Lyria was standing the whole time waiting for me, I told her to stop being so stiff around me given the whole conversations and banter we went through today. At first she was walking 8 feet behind me, it was getting annoying so I looked to the sides and whispered gibberish, she walked near me and asked "what was that?", I shrugged and said nothing. This happened five times before she got sick of my trolling and decided to stay by my side the whole time.
Lyria: it's just the protocol, Anyways why did you tell me to boil some water on the stove?
Claudio: Look at you using my words, remember earlier when I said that I would teach you a thing or two? Right now, you will learn the steps on how to make a decent disinfectant; it will save your life down the line.
I began with boiling the distilling rags, It was hard to explain to Lyria what bacteria was so I just told her that this is an important step. Next, after drying the rag, I poured half of the lavender oil, this step was easy to explain, I told her that we only needed the oil and not the weird chunks that came with it, the whole room smelt like lavender which was amazing at first but now it was kind of suffocating to inhale.
I pulled out multiple used iron bottles and boiled them to prepare them for packaging, Lyria was eying the process seemingly interested in what I was doing. Soon after that, I was done, I asked Lyria if she understood everything and she replied:
Lyria: I didn't know alchemy was this simple, even a cripple can make this concoction.
I didn't take any offense at her calling me a cripple, I was kind of getting used to it by now.
Claudio: Well said, who said we needed Mageia to survive?
I pulled up my sleeve and picked up a knife and planned on making a small cut to see if I got the lavender oil to alcohol ratio right, if my skin got irritated that means that I need to distill the disinfectant further, Lyria grabbed my hand and said:
Lyria: What the hells are you doing?!
Claudio: Uh… testing my concoction? Do you think I cut myself up as a hobby or something?
Lyria looked hesitant; she bit her lip and decided to reveal something to me.
Lyria: Test it on me then, I am injured.
Claudio: Hm? But you seem fine? It works on open wounds you know.
Lyria: I know, please excuse my actions.
Lyria proceeded to pull down her pants revealing her bleeding right upper thigh and foot, it looked painful, the cuts were semi-deep and randomly placed. Me being me, I saw this as nothing than a piece of meat that needs to be fixed, so there was no lust involved at all in this interaction which surprised Lyria by the look on her face.
Claudio: So what happened? And why didn't you tell me earlier?
Lyria: One of the new servants dropped a set of knives from the upper floors while I was serving a table before you arrived.
I wanted to laugh when I imagined her reaction but now was not the right time, she was being vulnerable in front of me and now was not the right time…*chuckles*
Lyria: What's wrong?
Claudio: Got choked up by the oil's scent sorry *fake cough*.
I went to my rucksack and was conflicted on whether I should use the Phantom Pain spray or not, Lyria had some awful luck but at the same time I want to see if the disinfectant concoction ratio that I read on a survival book years ago worked… whatever Lyria is a big warrior girl, she is not Sasha.
I brought a sewing kit and proceeded to wipe as much as the blood as I can, before I added the antiseptic I warned Lyria that it was going to sting but when I looked up to see her, she was staring at me with a moai statue face, whatever I warned her.
There was no reaction when I wiped her cuts, the same stone face… there was two 4 inch cut wound on her thigh and about an inch deep cut on her upper foot. I can't believe we walked the whole time and went to many shops without realizing that she was in pain, what in the hell was the kind of Spartan training that she went through to manage to mask the pain until now, good thing she told before her injuries got any worse.
Lyria was still on the floor with the stone look on her face, I nudged her shoulder and told her that we were finished, she snapped back to her usual self, got up, then did the signature otherworldly deep bow and said:
Lyria: Thank you for your kindness Claudio.
Claudio: Mhm, welcome, tell me immediately if anything is bothering you next time.
Lyria was still doing the bow, I told her to stop and dress up. She did as I instructed and began wiping the blood off the floor, after she was done I asked her if she felt irritation on her skin because of the antiseptic and she told me no.
After another 15 minutes of awkward silence, I told her to rest and that I would call her if I needed her, she handed me a piece of stone and said:
Lyria: Channel your Mageia in the stone and I will be notified when…
I looked at her with a surprised face and said:
Claudio: Wow Lyria… just wow.
Her face was flushed red when she realized her brutal mistake and quickly left the room, as she was leaving I yelled sarcastically:
Claudio: Do you want me to save you from a dragon with as well???
***
It was now late evening, around 10 pm if my biological clock worked correctly, I was studying and reading the books that I borrowed from the library the whole time, it was boring at first but man the history I was reading was straight out of fiction. I noted down every word that I needed Lyria to help me with on my notepad, anyways here is a short version of everything that I've read.
I couldn't read the whole books in one day given my limited language so, I will continue everything tomorrow.
First things first, lets start with Herathia, I was bamboozled when I found out that those bastards probably influenced most of our modern world, everything makes sense now!, Earth realm Herathians were always a step ahead of us since the beginning. When we fought with swords they fought with guns, when we fought with guns they fought with nuclear weapons.
If not for the deflection of some of their scientists in the early 20th century we would've never been on the map in the first place, these bastards were petty. Anyhow, another question was bothering me when I read about their history, why couldn't they use Mageia on earth? They had to rely on their technology and wits throughout history and suddenly they open up a colossal gate in the middle of the city? Looks like this is another question that I will ask that useless book.
Next, I wanted to know about the kingdoms that occupy this gigantic continent, there's 3 major kingdoms and 2 minor ones, which is insane given the size of these lands.
Volquis is the largest kingdom in the continent, followed by the kingdom of Wrestania, and lastly, the kingdom of Horokros. Horokros is the transcontinental human kingdom where Beast folk can become nobles, If you count the other kingdom that they rule in the opposite continent they would be easily the largest.
The minor kingdoms that are located west of the bordering kingdoms are the elven and dwarven kingdoms, sure they are small compared to the colossal empires but they make up for it with their strong warriors, Artificers, mages, and chemist, I dropped the book when I found out who rules the elven kingdoms, he was Malik!!! He arrived 2100 years ago from the failed invasion and was hailed as a hero in his homelands! He was last seen publicly 56 years ago when he visited a woman by went by the title of Witch of Benevolence in the kingdom of Wrestania.
I really hope I don't run into him again in my life.
Lyria opened the door hastily and asked:
Lyria: Claudio what's wrong?! Are you okay?
I was in my boxers when the door busted open at a blinding speed, good thing I was under the blanket.
Claudio: Can you knock before you enter? I am fine thank you.
Lyria: I see, sorry.
Claudio: I was joking, how are your injuries?
Lyria: The anti-progeria agent is not irritating my skin if that was your question.
Claudio: It's called antimicro… you know what never mind.
I closed the book and rolled to the side and said:
Claudio: I am going to sleep now, wake me up at first light please.
Lyria: But… you don't need anything?
Claudio: Like what?
Lyria: aren't you hungry? You haven't ate anything since we met.
I got up confused; I did not feel hungry at all! In fact, I didn't even have breakfast, what is going on? Something is definitely wrong with me and I suspect Mageia. I need to pick a book and read about cripples tomorrow.
Claudio: Thanks for reminding me Lyria, can you fix me some food and bring it here please?
Lyria: Sure thing, I will be back shortly.
After 10 minutes of waiting, Lyria came back with a plate filled with some delicious expensive looking food, they went all out in the kitchen, shame I can't taste anything all the way.
I sat on a table and Lyria began plating everything in front of me, she backed up and stood on my right like a statue, I asked her:
Claudio: What are you doing? Eat with me.
Lyria: I can't, it would bring shame to you.
Claudio: Ah I see, the food is poisoned then.
Lyria: What?! No! We would nev… oh you are joking.
Claudio: Come on, sit and feast with thee!
Lyria: Let me guess, you read that from the book besides your bed?
Claudio: Just sit down woman, the food is getting cold.
Lyria managed to troll me back and when she succeeded, she pulled back the chair and ate dinner with me.