Act I

  Within a spacious room, filled with bottles of glass and potter work lined within shelves.

  A room that smelled of herbs, salt and other things that most people wouldn’t know, but a tall young man did.

  “That’s volcanic sulfur. . . Why isn’t it contained?”

  I said as I looked at a crystal-like stone placed on a pedestal.

  A pungent stream of smoke was slowly flowing downwards from the stone.

  It’s unprocessed, I’ve never seen one that hasn’t been turned to dust, purified and bottled.

  “You’re familiar with Draconid gold?”

  The voice wasn’t deep, it was actually pretty cute.

  It made me look around, to see a . . .

  “Draconid!”

  Without thought I clutched my left hand.

  Only to grab nothing as I’ve already unsummoned Little Light.

  I didn’t have any weapons. . .

  With grim lips I was ready to wrestle the monster down but then I paused.

  “AHH! A Giant! Run away~”

  The winged Draconid yelled back out, her tone was. . .

  Less serious than my own yell, as she casually placed her tray of herbs on the merchant’s desk.

  “Do you hear yourself giant? How rude is it to act like that?”

  The pink draconid smiled at me, showing me her pointed teeth.

  There were no fangs. . . Is she not a Draconid?

  Oh no. . . did I just do a racism? Please don’t tell me I just compared a human to a gorilla. . .

  “Hm hm hm~ It’s fine big boy, I’m not offended, most new Sellswords act like you the first time they meet me.”

  It took me a moment to take in her words.

  But after I did? I bowed my head to her as I kneeled with one knee.

  “My apologies dear alchemist, I’m still naive to what the world has to offer.”

  Which I truly am, even with all the things I know because of Earth and the long time I spent reading in that temple.

  I still don’t know much about anything, honestly I should be grateful that I was allowed inside the town.

  Really expected to get mobbed and then lynched the moment I noticed there weren’t any other humans here.

  “Hm~ hm~ hm~ You're a cute boy, alright Miss Amorette, have you the fangs I asked for?”

  The blonde haired Amorette nodded, placing the six fangs we collected from our earlier hunt.

  “Good~ Your troop still owe me three more, but let’s make it four more and I’ll give you the rest of your pay now.”

  Stolen novel; please report.

  I watched the interaction seeing Amorette’s eyes widened as the alchemist smiled.

  “Hm~ hm~ Don’t be too surprised Miss Amorette, with a giant in your troop I don’t have much to worry about you failing anymore.”

  The pink lizard girl said, before taking a pouch from below her desk and poured it out.

  Clink* It was four silver royals, each of them showing a distinct leaf and that of a feather.

  “We accept the change, and if nothing bad happens will end the deal tomorrow Dear Alchemist Juana”

  Amorette pulled herself together quickly, as she accepted the new deal taking the handful of silver coins.

  “So do you two have other business with me or. . .”

  The pink Draconid didn’t finish her words, as she looked at both of us.

  “Actually I do, I want to ask what draconid blood could be used for.”

  The question made her scaled eye brows raise, before something I did not understand came to her caramel eyes.

  "A lot of things, but it depends on how you extract the blood and how fresh it is.”

  I nodded as I had the same thoughts when I got the request from Flare to collect some.

  “Tell me who asked you to collect Draconid blood?”

  I’m not sure why, but she was a lot more serious than a few moments earlier.

  I was tempted to lie for a moment, but then I remember that I didn’t need to.

  “A spirit merchant I have a pact with, is it used for something evil?”

  With those words the Alchemist smiled again, the serious pressure I felt from her gone.

  She didn’t scream danger but I do feel some from her, just not that much.

  “Yes~ it could be used for evil, but if it's a merchant buying the blood. He's probably gonna sell the blood to a Hemophage with a distinct taste.”

  I nodded then I paused as I realized something.

  Are Hemophages their version of vampires? . . .

  I let the thought lingered as I looked at the pink lizard woman.

  Atleast they buy their blood and not just massacre villages like in the stories on earth.

  “I’m not sure what he needs it for, so can I buy something from you to keep it fresh?”

  The question made the alchemist look thoughtful.

  “If you join my guild giant~ I can let you meet a spirit that can extract and store blood for you.”

  I didn’t answer immediately looking at Amorette, she was silent, her sleepy eyes meeting mine.

  “It’s your choice Lazir, It’s not like you can only be a member of one guild.”

  Before I could say anything the alchemist Juana spoke.

  “She’s right you know~ I don’t really care if you're part of another guild, I just want you to pay your guild dues. . . and from what I know most other guilds are like that.”

  I nodded, as I studied the short pink lizard woman.

  It's weird that I've jerked off to art that looks almost like her. . .

  But seeing one in real life, it’s odd how realistic she is.

  “So how do I join?”

  I asked before the quiet became uncomfortable.

  Act II

  Within Cottontail Inn, run by rabbits.

  A young man was looking inside a glass bottle with a black thin earthworm inside.

  “Are you planning to be a healer Lazir?”

  A heavily furred man with rabbit ears and nose asked as he served me a bowl of stew.

  “That’s a blood-worm spirit, only healers and alchemists use them.”

  I didn’t say anything as the man spoke.

  My thoughts were still inside my stew bowl.

  How did they avoid getting any hair on the food or drink?

  If I wasn’t afraid of being known as a xenophobe I would have asked.

  I guess I won’t be asking anytime soon, I thought before unsummoning the lesser spirit of blood.

  “It’s for a commission and maybe I’ll try being the town Healer if sellswording doesn’t work.”

  I said, making the cook nod before leaving me be and going back to the kitchen.

  I was alone now, so I looked around to see that there weren’t that many people here.

  The first table I saw filled was that of two older women speaking to each other with a bottle of fruit wine in between them.

  The second table was a group of veteran looking sellswords.

  They were still wearing their chainmail as they played dice using a cup, I wonder what game they were playing.

  The third table was two rather young sellswords, having a deep conversation between themselves.

  They both had carrot bread and beer infront of them, yet they did not touch their food nor drink.

  I was thinking of which group to strike a conversation with. . .

  The answer became clear as the young man wearing an old ill-fitting grey iron cuirass stood up and left.

  Leaving the young woman dressed like a witch alone, her eyes looked tired as she scanned the room.

  In that moment our eyes met, it made me smile and wink at her.

  She didn’t react to that little attempt of mine. . .

  After a few minutes of looking around, she closed her eyes and then started with her bread and drink.

  “Sigh. . . I guess even in this world, I can’t just enchant girls with a look.”

  Of course you can’t, this world’s magical but not that magical.

  I smiled at the thought as I ordered a bottle of wine, cheese and honey bread.

  Better be ready before I approach that cute little witch.