Chapter 49 — An Outing with Grandma Fana

Ria woke before dawn again, slightly disoriented until she realized that she was in her own bed. How she returned home was a mystery, but one she easily solved by asking Ranger.

Relieved that she didn’t have a gap in her memory about what happened last night, Ria stretched her arms and legs.

Ugh, she was still sore from the beating that Forsin had given her. Leon had done a number on her arm, as well. Bones apparently took longer to heal than muscles. She would need to make a set of healing and stamina barrier scrolls for her personal use if she was planning to train like this. Not having scrolls prepared ahead of time was really short-sighted even if she did need the money.

Sighing at the missed opportunity to store her excess morning energy, Ria gingerly got into the Inwardly Focused pose and started flowing her inner energy toward speeding her recovery and muscle growth. On the areas with more significant damage, she used actual healing magic.

The sounds of early dawn greeted her by the time she had finished recovering. At about a third of her energy used, the cost was still quite acceptable. Having used two energy restoration potions and two healing potions yesterday… that was expensive.

Though, if asked whether the results justified the expenditure, she would have to say they did. Her understanding and use of the forms Tina taught her had vastly improved, and she had a much clearer idea of the differences between D, C, and B ranks. Knowing the extent to which she needed to improve was valuable.

Leon’s growth was encouraging as well. Ria was beginning to raise her expectations for him. He whined and complained a lot but was surprisingly diligent. That he had taken responsibility for seeing her safely home was another plus to her opinion of him.

After taking care of her alcohol-enhanced outhouse needs, Ria studied her grimoire, practicing the different runes and control structures to better memorize them, drawing them with regular ink before trying to delicately form their shapes with energy. She would still need more practice before she could directly form completed wards without drawing them, but her progress toward the goal assigned to her by Lord Vorshan was encouraging.

Unless something else came up, her plan for the day was to take up Master Rigure on his offered scroll-making lessons. After that, she wanted to head to the Adventurers Guild and check out the library.

There was only one problem with her plans. She had promised Jarrel not to go anywhere alone, and she couldn’t really ask Emily or Leon to come along for something that boring. Even Ranger said he would rather spend the day playing and sunning in the backyard than have to sit outside Master Rigure’s house for hours.

Ria considered her options. Hiring one of Daggen’s gang to escort her might work, but having one of them loiter around in the wealthy section of the village during her lesson was surely a bad idea. Grandpa Orlan would be busy, and Oscar probably wouldn’t show up until later in the morning. That left asking Grandma Fana to accompany her.

Well… asking Grandma Fana wasn’t a terrible idea, but Ria was reluctant to selfishly take up so much of Jarrel’s mom’s time.

Setting that aside for the moment, Ria used up her remaining paper and parchment to make sellable wards until the smells of breakfast drifted up to her room. At which time, she left her work to finish drying and headed downstairs to join the family for breakfast.

Grandpa Orlan asked how her day with Leon went. He looked relieved when she happily told him that she and Leon successfully finished their first job for the Adventurers Guild and that they spent the rest of the day training so they could do another.

After she finished speaking, Grandma Fana told Ria to make sure she thanked Leon for bringing her home last night and chastised her for not being more aware of her surroundings. A girl her age falling asleep in such a place with rowdy undisciplined men all around was asking for trouble.

Wholeheartedly agreeing, Ria promised to be more careful. Of course, Ria was more upset at the embarrassment of falling asleep like a little girl who stayed up past her bedtime than because of the danger. Her safety wasn’t so much an issue. She doubted that Tina or Ranger would have let anything bad happen to her even if Leon hadn’t seen to her safety.

“Um, Grandma Fana? I want to attend an enchanting lesson with Master Rigure this morning, can you come with me? It’s fine if you don’t stay for the lesson,” Ria tried.

Grandma Fana evaluated her for a few seconds. “What time are you supposed to be there? And how long is the lesson?”

“The lessons are three hours long. I don’t have an appointment, so I’m not sure he will agree, but I have some other minor business with him anyway,” Ria answered.

Grandma Fana nodded. “Alright. I think spending time with my new granddaughter will be fun. I need to get some shopping done anyway. But if Master Rigure can’t do your lesson, you’ll have to promise to help me with my shopping.”

“Thank you, Grandma Fana!” Ria immediately agreed. She was able to solve that problem a lot easier than expected.

Ranger had indeed chosen to stay behind, and after a bath and some time spent dressing up for the outing, Ria soon found herself walking along with Grandma Fana, the pleasant morning air blowing across her shoulders through the black lace shawl.

For her outfit, she had chosen the blue summer dress and a light-blue floppy hat. All that was missing was a lace parasol to complete the rich girl look. That, and maybe silk gloves for her hands…

Her leather gloves and tool pouch didn’t match her outfit and were hidden away in the brown satchel in case she needed them. Her magic dagger was worn in plain sight thanks to its stylish black belt and sheath.

Grandma Fana was also dressed up nicely, with a shawl and hat of her own accenting her wine-colored dress.

“Leon did a good job helping you pick out that dress, but that dagger of yours ruins the carefree appearance with the hat, you know?” Grandma Fana critiqued.

Ria tilted her head to the side slightly. “But it matches the shawl?”

“Ah, suppose that’s true…,” Grandma Fana admitted. “Hmm, we should make you a pink, or maybe, a white shawl. Maybe a lily theme would be nice?”

“I wonder if clouds might be more casual than lilies?” Ria suggested, then thinking about her helmet’s bird theme, a bit of inspiration came. “Or, how about birds, doves or the like?”

“Yes, I could see that. Clouds in the outer lace with doves and lilies in the interior would be nice,” Grandma Fana decided. “I’ll pick up some good-quality yarn while I’m out.”

That did sound nice. She would leave the design to the older woman. Idly, Ria wondered if a fairy design with multiple colors blending together would be pretty.

“Oh, hello Fana. It’s a nice morning to be out,” an older woman greeted them from her fruit and vegetable display outside an otherwise normal-looking house.

Wow. Fruits other than apples and berries had been hard to come by in Shadewood, but this woman had citrus fruits and other things she didn’t recognize.

“Yes it is, isn’t it, Liery,” Grandma Fana returned the greeting.

“And who is the pretty young lady that you are escorting?” Liery asked pleasantly.

Grandma Fana chuckled. “This is my newest granddaughter, Ria. She’s staying with us now.”

“Nice to meet you, Miss Liery,” Ria greeted with a curtsy.

Liery raised an eyebrow. “My! Isn’t she proper and polite. You must be proud.”

“Aye, that I am,” Grandma Fana agreed.

While the older women preened, Ria turned her attention to the fruit for sale. A star-shaped fruit with a ridiculous price had piqued her interest. Water, earth, and light energy were harmoniously balanced inside each one of the strange fruit that were on display.

“Miss Liery, about this fruit?” Ria asked curiously.

“The starfruit, is it?” Liery smiled. “My sister grows them. They come from a magic tree growing beside a crystal-clear spring not far from her farmhouse. The price is high, but the taste is exquisite. Are you interested?”

“Hmm… okay. I’ll buy two,” Ria agreed and handed over 5 copper coins. “Is your sister’s farm far from here?”

Liery shook her head. “About a day’s wagon ride to the west. These days, she is quite worried about barbarians and monsters. Hopefully the guardsmen will do something about it soon.”

“Jarrel left to investigate the situation out that way. Perhaps he will be able to help?” Ria offered as she selected the two starfruit with the most magic energy, placing one in Grandma Fana’s basket and the other in her satchel.

Liery looked relieved. “Oh? That is good news. I had heard rumor of Jarrel being back. Let us pray for his success.”

Grandma Fana nodded. “Yes. Let’s pray to Hemse for the safety and prosperity of both our families.”

When they moved away from Liery’s house, Grandma Fana asked Ria if she was really fine with buying such expensive fruit.

“It’s an investment,” Ria answered with a wink. “They might be a good ingredient for making energy replenishing potions. I’d like to try growing them in the backyard. Would that be okay?”

“Ah, I should have expected as much,” Grandma Fana muttered with a laugh. “You may plant things as you wish as long as it doesn’t get in the way of the laundry or meat processing.”

“Thank you!” Ria cheered and gave Grandma Fana a hug.

“So, I’m guessing it’s fine to prepare a dessert with the one you gave me, as long as I save the seeds?”

Ria nodded with a big grin. “Yes. That’s exactly it.”

The two of them chuckled.

Ria was introduced to a few more women before they reached Master Rigure’s house. Between those women and the housewives that were still in the butchershop when she and Grandma Fana were heading out, Ria was fairly certain that the chance of her remembering all the names introduced this morning was rather remote, sad to say.

Two of the women had daughters near Ria’s age, and she was optimistic about making new friends. The mothers were a little concerned about Ria being allowed to practice witchcraft and wear scandalous outfits, but Grandma Fana assured them that Ria knew better than to cause trouble for others. A sentiment that Ria was happy to agree with. She was way too busy with her own things, and causing trouble for others would only waste her limited time.

Talking to the women wasn’t entirely a hassle, Ria took the opportunity to advertise her guild-certified scrolls currently for sale at the alchemist’s store and how she was willing to take requests. Spreading that information through the housewife network would likely provide a significant boost to her sales.

After a knock at the door, Shanna greeted them pleasantly and promptly took Ria and Grandma Fana into the waiting room.

“It’s good that you are around nobles and the wealthy so much already, Ria. These are invaluable experiences that will help you adapt to life at the academy,” Grandma Fana told her.

“Yes, I was thinking the same thing.” Ria nodded enthusiastically. “I was able to interact with nobles occasionally when my mother made dresses for them, but that was always as a servant or employee and never as a peer.”

While they were waiting, Ria told Grandma Fana stories about the different nobles that her mom had made dresses for and what the dresses looked like. The time passed quickly, and soon Master Rigure arrived to see them.

“Good morning, Ria,” Master Rigure greeted with a pleasant smile and turned to Grandma Fana. “Welcome, Fana, did you need recharging for your cooling stones?”

Grandma Fana shook her head. "Thank you for your help with that in the past, but Ria was kind enough to take care of recharging the cooling stones for us this time."

"Ah, I've lost a customer," Master Rigure realized and made a conflicted smile. "Though for Ria to be able to buy more tools and supplies from me is certainly not a loss. It is curious to see both of you come to my house together. Did you meet by chance?"

Ria spoke up, "Grandma Fana is currently taking care of me in Jarrel’s absence, and I… my current workshop resides on the third floor of her’s and Grandpa Orlan’s Butchershop.”

“That would be your bedroom workshop, I presume,” Master Rigure teased with a chuckle, and Ria turned red with embarrassment. “Fana, I must thank you for taking in this promising youngster. The Enchanters Guild is lucky to have gained such a talented new member as her.”

Grandma Fana returned the chuckle with one of her own. “I’m glad to have her. It’s not everyday that one of my children brings home a cute granddaughter for me to dote on.”

“Indeed, that is surely so,” Master Rigure nodded his agreement, and the two shared an understanding look between old people as he took his seat opposite them. “To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?”

Grandma Fana motioned for Ria to go ahead.

Ria nodded and explained, “I have more scrolls that I’d like certified. I’d like to purchase more parchment and receive the introductory scroll making lesson, please. I’m also interested in the books we discussed earlier, if the price is affordable enough.”

“Haha, you certainly don’t do things in half measures. My schedule is free enough today that I should be able to handle all of that. Would you like to begin right away?” Master Rigure asked.

“Yes, please.”

Master Rigure turned to Grandma Fana next. “With that settled, are there any services that I can provide you, Fana?”

“I’m just here to spend time with Ria while she does her errands. Would it be fine if I come back to pick her up when her lesson is over?” Grandma Fana asked.

“Of course. That Ria won’t be walking the streets alone is certainly reassuring. Shanna will take care of you when you return as well. She often entertains parents when I am giving their children magic lessons, so any wait will be comfortable,” Master Rigure agreed smoothly.

“I thank you for taking care of Ria’s education and for your service to Vorshan’s Hills,” Grandma Fana replied formally as she rose to leave.

Master Rigure bowed his head politely.

After Grandma Fana left, Ria and Master Rigure got down to business. The appraisal of the scrolls was a simple matter since they were designs he was already familiar with. For the sake of convenience, Ria sold all of them to the guild. She didn’t bother with buying paper this time, and instead only purchased low-quality and medium-quality parchment.

Even for testing new designs, parchment provided far superior results due to the cleaner and more accurate lines produced.

“Ready to see the workshop? Or did you want to try the library first?” Master Rigure asked.

“The workshop. I’ll have a better idea of what books I need after completing the lesson,” Ria explained.

Master Rigure nodded. “Makes sense. Okay, follow me.”