"Parcival, do you want to see the stones and flowers I brought back from the forest and valley?"
"Seriously!?" Parcival's eyes lit up, his posture immediately straightening like a child who just heard the amusement park would be open all week. "Rey, please tell me you're not joking!"
I chuckled softly, pleased to see his usual innocent excitement every time I returned with something new to spark his curiosity.
"Of course I'm serious."
Then I turned to Elfea, who had gone back to eating non-stop at the dining table. After finishing, she crossed her arms, her expression clearly indifferent—though I was sure her ears had been on alert the whole time.
"Elfea, could you get my backpack from the room?" I said calmly.
Her face immediately changed. "Why do you always make me do stuff like this, Rey?" she pouted like a sulky child.
I only glanced at her briefly before softening my voice. "Elfea…"
I deliberately made my tone as gentle as possible, almost like coaxing a cat that didn't want to leave its warm bed.
She sighed deeply in resignation, then stood up sluggishly and turned away. "Fine, fine… I'll get it…"
That's just how Elfea is—always protesting, but in the end, she still does it. Her tsundere nature had been her signature trait since the day I met her. Maybe that's exactly what makes her charming.
"Hang on a bit, Parcival," I said, patting his shoulder.
"No problem! I'll wait here, very, very patiently!" he replied with so much enthusiasm that he looked like he might start bouncing in place.
Before long, we heard the sound of footsteps descending the wooden stairs from the second floor. Elfea returned, carrying my old dark brown leather backpack—worn in several spots, but still my loyal companion on every expedition.
"Here's your backpack," she said, handing it over quickly. Her face still showed a hint of annoyance. "Next time, make Parcival do it."
"Me!?" Parcival panicked. "I can't do that, Rey! Besides… you're his personal assistant!"
Elfea's eyes widened. "Excuse me!? Who said I'm his personal assistant!?"
I couldn't help but laugh softly. "You two…"
I sat back down in my chair. Morning sunlight streamed through the large glass window of the inn, spreading warm light across the room and casting soft shadows among the small potted plants.
"All right," I said as I carefully opened the backpack, "I'll show you, Parcival."
Parcival immediately leaned in, his eyes nearly glued to the table. Lusi, who had been quiet all this time, now rose from her chair and stepped closer, her movements light and full of curiosity. And Elfea—though determined to look uninterested—also took a seat at the edge of the table, subtly leaning forward, her eyes stealing glances at my bag.
I began pulling out the contents.
The first item was a crystal-like stone, bright green and nearly transparent, as if it held the morning light inside. Its surface was smooth, but when touched, it pulsed softly—like it had a heartbeat.
Parcival gasped. "Is it… alive?" he whispered, barely audible.
I smiled faintly. "I'm not sure yet. This stone appeared after I defeated Wargwood and Scorvath in the Alvarian Forest and Orland Valley."
Next, I pulled out another stone, light brown like aged wood, yet heavy and solid like metal. Natural lines on its surface formed a mysterious spiral pattern, calming to the eyes.
And finally, a bluish-green flower with soft petals and faintly glowing golden speckles. A fresh scent filled the air the moment it emerged from the bag. It had an elegant shape, and I knew for sure—this flower only bloomed in the heart of Alvarian Forest.
"Elfea," I turned to her, "do you recognize this flower?"
She shook her head slowly. Her eyes gazed at it as if staring at an old memory that had suddenly returned.
"You guys… are amazing…" Parcival let out a long breath. "I want to go on adventures like that too, Rey. When can I come along?"
I looked at him and smiled broadly.
"If you can beat Elfea in a monster duel, then maybe I'll consider it."
"WHAT!?" Parcival and Elfea turned to me in perfect unison, both equally shocked.
"I never agreed to be part of any condition!" Elfea protested.
I laughed and raised my hands as if surrendering. "Okay, okay. I was just joking."
Elfea huffed and turned away, but a small smile began to tug at the corner of her lips.
"You should sell these stones, Rey!" Parcival said excitedly. "The Materials Shop might be interested. The kingdom's soldiers have been struggling with monsters lately. They probably need magic materials."
"I agree," said Lusi as she gently touched the flower still on the table. "This flower seems medicinal. Try the Herbal Shop too, Rey. Maybe someone there will recognize it."
I nodded. "Thank you, everyone. Actually… that was my plan from the start."
"I wonder how much they're worth?" Parcival looked up at the ceiling as if calculating something. "If they're rare, they might be really expensive. Maybe enough to buy a whole crate of bread and two sacks of butter!"
"Elfea," I turned to her, "let's head out."
Her eyes sparkled. "Finally!"
"But we'll go to the Materials Shop first, then the Herbal Shop. Deal?"
"Deal!"
I carefully packed everything back into my backpack. Then I stood and looked to Parcival and Lusi.
"We're off, then."
"Good luck, Rey!" Parcival called out, reaching his hand toward me. "Let us know how much they're worth!"
I shook his hand. "Of course."
"Good luck to you too, Elfea!" Lusi added.
"Thank you, Lusi. It was nice meeting you," Elfea replied with a genuine smile, then gave Lusi a brief, warm hug. As if they'd known each other forever, even though they'd just met.
I stepped toward the door with Elfea. The morning light welcomed us outside—warm, bright, and carrying the promise that today would mark the beginning of something important.
"Ready, Elfea?" I asked.
She turned to me with spirit. "Always ready, partner."
And together we walked on, heading toward the capital… and perhaps, toward a fate waiting just beyond the unassuming shopfronts along the royal road.
We had barely set foot on the cobbled street when Elfea turned to me with a mischievous grin.
"Rey."
"Hm?"
"If that flower is really rare, then you have to bake me a cake when we get back to the village. A lot of cake."
I frowned. "Wait, how much cake are we talking about here, Elfea? I might die from baking that much!"
"Because you made me go up and down the stairs just to get that heavy backpack!" she crossed her arms, her tone overly dramatic, but I could hear the laughter she was trying to suppress.
I chuckled. "Fine, if it turns out to be super rare… I'll grant your wish, Elfea. But if it's ordinary and cheap, then you help me harvest wheat and cook."
Elfea pretended to think for a moment, then nodded decisively. "Deal."
We laughed together. The morning breeze carried the scent of firewood and freshly baked bread from nearby stalls. The city was coming alive, but there was a lightness in our steps—as if the world was quietly conspiring to give us a good start today.
And without realizing it, those simple steps toward two shops… would take us farther than we had ever imagined.