“Okay, then let us go.” Truelip said while turning around towards the exit and started walking towards it. The others followed her soon after. Tiara was excited about what they’ll talk around while walking, but no one actually said anything while they were leaving the guild. Truelip was slightly ahead of them and was walking confidently while Elliot was anxiously looking at the ground.

Maybe I teased him too much…

Thought the cheerful girl to herself. After a few minutes of walking in silence, she started to get restless from the quiet. It was to quiet for her liking, but she didn’t know how exactly to start a conversation with these two so she felt very frustrated about it and after she spent minutes thinking of how to do it she couldn’t think of anything that would last more than a few sentences. Surprisingly Truelip was the one who actually decided to speak up first.

“The market we’re going to right now is on the way to my house so don’t worry about me showing you a long way around. Also, you can buy food from there every time you go and come back from the Guild.”

 “Oh okay then! But I don’t have any money…” she said in a sad tone as looked towards the ground.

“Don’t worry. I’ll leave you food when I can or give you money to buy yourself some. You’ll give it back when you can.”

“Okay…” Tiara didn’t like the thought of owning money, but she didn’t like begging or stealing even more so she swallowed her pride and promised herself to give back the money when she can.

“By the way…” Elliot suddenly spoke up. “How come The Adventurer’s Guild and the Mage’s Guilds AND the market are all on the path to your house…?” he looked at Truelip with curiosity and disbelief in his eyes.

“Well, it only makes sense to put them all on the main road of the city since they’d be able to get the most access then. Plus big and important places like those really do need that accessibility.”

“I guess that’s a good point…”

“Besides, the old me was probably smart enough to get a house right on the main road, in middle of all those important places. Though since I taught in most of them it makes sense why I would do something like that. The Warrior and Rogue Guilds are on the main road perpendicular to the one we’re currently on and my house sits right on the crossroad of them.”

“I see…”

“Wow, that’s awesome!” Tiara said excitedly. “Though with your physical build, you look a lot more like a rogue than a warrior or mage… especially because of those clothes!”

“Well yeah, as a sprite I’m proficient at magic and use it to buff my physical stats. I have a natural affinity for swordsmanship since I like to look at everything from as many angles as possible which is pretty useful since then with my added knowledge I will always know which weapon is best for the specific scenario and I can use my magic to conjure it at will. Lastly like you said my body shape and proportions are better for a rogue so I rely more on speed and dexterity rather than brute strength which is why my combat style is lots of spinning motions that land multiple hits and I also use the weight of my sword and my body along with my elbows and knees to stun my opponents.”

“I see…” said Elliot timidly.

“Wooooooooah! You really are like a jack of all trades!”

Truelip turned around to look at her with an empty expression before answering. “Yes, I am one.”

“Right!” Tiara responded just as enthusiastic as earlier.

“So then basically you’re good at everything…?” The boy asked.

“It’s more correct to say that I use my diverse arsenal to surprise enemies since in the middle of battle you usually don’t know what the other is capable of and when you see them being able to counter you perfectly is demoralising since they just so happened to stumble across someone who counters them. Of course, when facing multiple opponents I use a strategy effective against that instead. Sadly though while being able to counter them obviously I’m not as strong as someone the same level as me who has have specialised so that means that I either have to use the surprise factor along with constantly pressuring them so that they don’t get a chance to use it against me. If I get to train you then you’d see what I mean exactly”

“I guess… Then why didn’t you specialise instead…?”

Truelip this time looked at him for a few seconds before answering “I just focused on what I’m good at. With the buffs, I can go up against those who have focused stats for at least a while.”

“Then why don’t mages normally buff their stats to compensate?”

“Well even if they do that they lack the training to make use of it so it’s much better for them to just fight with spells or buff others since it’s a waste to cast it on themselves basically.”

“And you can make use of them since you already have the training from your past knowledge… So then you are broken…?”

“If mana was infinite, then yeah. I guess.”

“What do you mean…?”

“Well, I said I have to end fights quickly. I don’t have infinite mana. Powerful mages have higher pools of mana so they can last longer or cast more powerful spells. That means that while I can counter everyone I am useless in prolonged fights.”

“Oh… Wouldn’t mana potions solve that tho…?”

“In long battles, the amount of mana gained from potions wouldn’t be significant enough and in a slightly prolonged battle Id probably be okay without them anyway.”

“Why’s that…?”

“Sigh…” Aside from sighting Truelip also verbally said it as well. “Because the opponent would also be tired and they’d make no difference while in the long battles they’d probably involve more people on both sides since like I said I ain't lasting long by myself. I’d be using mana quicker than I’d be gaining it.”

“That makes sense…”

“Yeah, after we walk further a bit more the shop should be to the right.”

After hearing that they looked in front of them to see that they had already reached their destination and were just about to enter. The conversation had distracted Elliot and Tiara so much that they had stopped paying attention completely.

“Okay…”

After a bit more walking and taking the right turn, they eventually came to a slightly open area of the market with many restaurants and food stands a garden with trees slightly elevated than the rest of the plaza. It had a small cobblestone base going straight up from the ground around its edges, with wooden planks on it serving as benches. Truelip looked at them and said: “You can go sit there while you wait for me. Do you want me to get you anything or would you rather come get what you want yourself?”

“Uuum, I’m not really that hungry…” Elliot said awkwardly as usual.

“Yash, I want steamed buns!” Tiara said almost jumping with joy and a fist in the air.

“Okay, I’ll get you some too then.” The blond said looking at Elliot

He, of course, got more awkwardly and tried to refuse “No, wait! I said I…” but it was too late as Truelip had already turned around to go get the food and ignored his plead Tiara jumping with excitement behind her.

“I thought you already ordered, why are you coming too?” The blond asked curious, tilting her head to the side.

“I can’t wait! I want them naow!”

“Okay, then I’ll order yours first.”

“Yaaay! Thank you!” Tiara closed in on Truelip and hugged her tightly, pressing her cheek against her.

“Yes yes, you’re welcome. But I can’t get it for you when you’re holding me like this.” The girl replied with her straight face again.

“Oh right, sorry!”

“You don’t need to apologise to me. Apologise to your empty tummy!” Truelip said with a slightly commanding voice with a hint of playfulness, pointing at the girl’s stomach.

“You’re right!” Tiara replied, her voice expressing that she understood her error as she then followed up by holding her tummy with one hand and gently rubbing it with the other as if she’s pregnant with an added sad and smiling expression.

“I’m sorry. Please forgive me.”

“Good. Then let’s go.”

 

Elliot was at first confused as to why Tiarra suddenly hugged Truelip while they were in the middle of walking to the stand. He at first thought she was thanking her for letting her stay, but after rubbing her belly as if expecting a child he got even more confused and just as much uncomfortable. They continued walking to the stand so he opted to not pay attention to them and looked at the ground.

He still couldn’t believe his situation. More than a week had passed already, but it felt so surreal as if he was in a dream. In reality, he hadn’t done anything in this world other than guard duty thus far. He hadn’t found any serious criminals, neither had he been on an unexpected adventure. He was happy for that as everyone around him looked way more powerful than him, even though he was told that most of the civilians don’t bother trying to level past 15 and try to live peacefully while the rest either become adventurers and venture out or try to scale the hierarchy of the city.

While he was busy being stuck in his thought noticed thin legs walking in his field of vision towards him and he started lifting his head up and as if on cue something warm gently touched his head. Truelip had placed his steam buns right on him, but hadn't let go of them accompanying them with a “Hold.” Of course, he slowly reached out his arms to hold the buns on his head while his mouth was agape from confusion.

Soon as he grabbed them Truelip leg go and moved her hand back to slowly open the bag filled with hers to start eating. Of course, moments later Tiara burst out laughing and then chocked a little on the ones she was eating, Truelip hitting her gently on the back to help her breath allowing her to swallow her mouthful before continuing to laugh even harder.

It took a moment for Elliot to realise that he was literally staring at them as if they’re aliens while he was holding a paper bag on his head. He picked it up and put it slowly on his thighs as his cheeks went a slight red and sucked in his lips from embarrassment. Truelip just ate her buns staring at Elliot, ignoring both of their reactions. After a few seconds, she moved towards him and sat next to him.

Of course, that only made him more nervous, but she just stared at the ground like he did a few moments ago while continuing to eat her buns which made him relax due to her ignoring him which finally let him notice that the laughing had calmed down a bit as a Tiara trying to suppress her giggling sat to the other side of him.

That didn’t help either as he instantly shifted his head to look forward as he didn’t want to make them feel like he was staring at either one of them and after a few moments of intense focused staring in front of him and countless though passing through his head, the information of the warm sensation finally reached him and he looked down at the still unopened bag.

Calming down yet again since he can finally just eat at peace with them and he didn’t have to worry about any weird comments he opened his bag and joined them in their lunch. As he was eating he, of course, couldn't help but think about the situation that just happened and about what he could have done instead, but despite all that he couldn’t shake of the empty feeling that Truelip had left him when she had just ignored him completely while she was eating, not even looking at him.

That instantly reminded him of how he’s was currently doing the same and has moved since he started eating which made another hole in his heart.

Could she also be worried about what I’d think and that’s why she didn’t look at me…? What if she also got heartbroken that I seemingly ignore her…? No, I still looked at her though so she… probably didn’t think that…

He couldn’t shake off the feeling that he had ignored her and couldn't stop feeling bad about it and thus the rest of his lunch was spent staring at a single spot on the ground lost in thought about his inability to communicate properly.

After they had finished eating Truelip got up declaring a “Let’s go.” Soon followed by the other two also getting up and resuming their path. After they got out of the crowded and rowdy market area Truelip finally started up a conversation again.

“So as I was saying earlier if I teach you it’d be best if Elliot joined the Warrior’s Guild and Tiara the Mage’s Guilds after which you can probably sign up for an advanced course in the Adventurer’s Guild.”

“What’s the difference?” Elliot's curiosity poking out yet again.

“Well first only teach you what you need to know at a common level, but if you want more specialised builds like someone who uses both magic and fights you would need to attend the advanced lessons where after you pass the initial courses the teachers start teaching each student individually to help them flesh out their build.

In essence, they first teach everyone the common things they need to know and help them with deciding what path they want to take while the second part is helping them improve in the fighting style they have chosen for themselves. That’s where I shine as I am diverse in every fighting style I get paid more since I help every student out equally. Of course, if they choose a specific teacher who specialises in what they do instead, then they teach them and it’s probably better that way too.”

“That makes sense…” Elliot expressed his thought.

“I see…” Tiara just nodded as she was listening carefully, uncharacteristically so for her, though it made sense considering unlike all previous information this directly concerned her and her future. They spent a few minutes of walking in silence since Truelip decided to let them think over what she just said as well as how they should proceed going forward.

“Here we are.” She spoke up suddenly as the other two lifted their heads to look at the house on the corner of the two biggest streets they had seen in this city yet. The house itself was three stories like the buildings around this area and Elliot couldn’t help but comment.

“Wait, t-this is your house?!”

“Yeah, why?”

“What do you mean why, why do you even need this big of a house?!”

“I don’t know. Guests?”

“Seriously?! How did you even get the money for this??”

“I mean it’s not hard. I don’t really need food or sleep since I’m a sprite. I only really eat for the flavour and any positive effects the food might bring so it’s not hard to amass gold quickly.”

Alliot was speechless at that point. He at first was gonna complain that she didn’t give him any money to help out, but decided not to as he didn’t want to sound like a beggar.

It’s not like she can give money to everyone…

Is what he told himself to make himself feel better about it. Tiara, on the other hand, was simply staring with amazement and an open mouth. It wasn’t a big house, but it definitely looked impressive.

“This is where you'll be staying temporarily.”