Chapter 9:
Let’s Go Gather Ingredients!
I’VE GAINED WEIGHT…
I didn’t want to admit it, but I had a little bit of pudge just below my belly button.
“Miss Daisy, have you…put on some weight?” Miina asked hesitantly.
“Your cheeks look a little plump yourself, Miina,” I said, not about to let that comment go unanswered. I reached over and poked her face with my finger, just to make my point.
“Well, I haven’t changed that much,” Marcus said with a shrug. It was no wonder, since he handled all the errands. Running around town all day probably gave him plenty of exercise. “We’ve been developing new recipes nonstop lately and taste-testing every attempt. You two just ate too much, that’s all.” He glanced between me and Miina.
“Haven’t you ever heard of tact?!” Miina and I smacked him across the face in perfect unison.
Just then, Mark and Letia arrived with Lynn in tow. Lynn’s divine beast guardian Leon, currently in his lion cub form, trotted quietly alongside her. He bounded over to Leaf and reached out with his nose to greet him.
“Long time no see, Daisy! Wait, have you gotten a little chubbier since I last saw you?” Mark blurted out the instant he saw me.
I jumped up and smacked him too.
“You can’t say that to a lady the moment you see her!” Lynn looked at Mark like he was a complete idiot. Beside her, Letia nodded. Honestly, it served him right.
“That’s just mean,” Mark grumbled with a pout. “I only came because we finally have time to go gathering, so I thought I’d invite you.”
Ooh, an ingredient excursion!
“Yes, I want to go! I really want to collect Sage’s herb and healing moss!” I leaned forward, clenching my fists with excitement. The thought of going on an adventure made my heart race.
“Oh yeah, you mentioned you wanted those before,” Lynn said. “Did you find out where they grow?”
Ah, right. I’d already told them about the ingredients I needed for the advanced mana potions when the four of us were talking earlier! After that, I’d looked up their habitats in the materials encyclopedia given to me by the queen.
“They’re supposed to grow around the Sage’s Tower and inside the Mossy Healing Cavern,” I said.
Letia nodded and took out a map for me to look at. “In that case, we’ll head northwest to the mountains first; that’s where the Sage’s Tower is. From there, we could follow the ridgeline east to get to the cavern.” She bent down so I could see the map better and traced the route with her finger.
“We might find some good ore if we’re traveling along the mountains too,” Lynn said, as ready to go as I was.
“All right,” said Letia. “If it’s going to be the four of us, do you have any gear you can wear, Daisy?”
“I still have the Mage’s robe I had made when I was eight. I ordered it a little big then, so it should still fit me. And I can ride on Leaf if I wear some proper pants underneath.”
The moment I’d said it, Leaf finished greeting Leon and came trotting over to me. He shifted into his massive Fenrir form with a soft whoosh. Leon transformed too, becoming a full-grown male lion with a thick, regal mane.
“Great,” Mark said. “Letia and I have our usual equipment, so we’re ready anytime. Can you leave tomorrow?” I turned back to where Miina and Marcus were standing.
“We’ll watch the shop for you!” they said.
“Thanks! I’m counting on you to take care of everything while I’m away!” I said.
Just like that, I had my first real chance to go gather ingredients since I’d left home.
I’m so excited!
The next day, I put on my old robe and a pair of thin riding pants and slung my satchel over my shoulder. The satchel was one of my treasures: It had been enchanted by a Mage with space-time magic to hold far more than its size while keeping everything fresh. It was even specially treated so that you didn’t feel the weight of its contents at all. Because of that, I’d stuffed it full of potion bottles.
Soon, everyone was ready. Letia and Mark were on horseback while Lynn and I rode our divine beasts. Both animals wore comfortable riding saddles for us.
We met in front of my workshop, which was right by the northwest gate of the capital and the perfect spot to head straight out of the city. But then I saw something that left me speechless.
I was used to seeing Mark and Letia in their adventuring gear, but Lynn was also wearing leather armor and had a gigantic hammer strapped across her back.
“Lynn, is that your weapon?” I asked in disbelief.
She was as small as I was—could she even swing something that big?
“I’m a dwarf, remember?” she said. “I’ve got plenty of strength. Dwarves have a long history as warriors.”
I watched in stunned silence as she reached behind her back and lifted that huge hammer with one hand, then gave it a casual swing.
“What?” she said, winking.
What am I supposed to say to that?!
Dwarves were amazing. How was that physically possible?!
“Miina, Marcus! We’re heading out!” I called.
“Have a safe trip!” Marcus and Miina saw us off, waving as we left the workshop behind.
At the gate, Mark and Letia presented their adventurers’ guild cards while Lynn and I handed over our commerce guild cards. We were let through the gates immediately.
“Wow!” I said.
A wide road surrounded by vast green meadow stretched off into the distance. The sky was an endless blue with not a cloud in sight. A fresh breeze rustled the grass at our feet. It had been two years since the last time I left the capital gates, back when I first gathered ingredients with Father. I stretched my arms out to the sky, savoring the feeling of freedom.
“Lady Daisy, please hold the reins properly. It’s dangerous to let go,” Leaf scolded me immediately. I’d gotten too carried away.
“He’s right! We’re moving out now, so make sure you’re holding on!” Mark called back over his shoulder.
And so, we set our course northwest toward the Sage’s Tower.
Our kingdom’s capital sat near the northern center of the realm, and to the north lay towering mountains whose peaks were capped with snow all year round. Those mountains provided the many minerals that supported our economy, including the mica and zinc I’d used to create my new face powder. Untouched forests sprawled at the base of the mountains, serving as home to all kinds of monsters.
We rode along the road that cut through the grasslands with the mountains rising behind us. The top of the Sage’s Tower glimmered in the distance, peeking out from the trees up ahead. That was our first destination.
“We’ll follow the road for a while, but when we get near the forest, keep an eye out. Monsters are more likely to be lurking,” Mark said, taking the lead.
“Speak of the devil!” No sooner were the words out of his mouth than the bushes on both sides of the road began to rustle, and a pack of wolflike monsters burst into view. We pulled our horses and divine beasts to a stop and braced ourselves.
“Direwolves,” said Mark. “They’re not that strong alone, but they always attack in packs! Stay alert!”
“Ice Storm!” I tried to stop them in their tracks right from the start with an ice spell, like Father had taught me. Half the pack’s legs froze solid, rooting them to the ground.
“Great job! Letia, Lynn, let’s go!” Mark shouted, and the three of them charged into the wolves that the ice had missed.