Netori: Stealing The Hero's Party!

Chapter 11: An Upset Mother

After the incident at the gates, Raven and his party led Aerin into the city. Traveling by the same carriage hauling the herbs, they made their way through the streets while getting acquainted with Aerin's mother, Brenna.

"I expected the Hero to be more menacing," she said while lifting her round glasses.

Her keen violet eyes had already judged the girls with a glance. Now as she turned them to the guys, it seemed like it was their turn.

"Uhm..." With half an eyebrow raised, Amedith's discomfort was on full display. "I'm still the strongest warrior in the kingdom, even if my appearance isn't that menacing."

Glaring at him still, the woman folded her hand over her traditional gown. Decorated with colorful designs, rings, and a golden clip to hold her hair bun, she looked like an inquisitor instead of an herbalist herself.

"I almost mistook you for a girl, so I suppose it does matter," holding not even a word, she let her thoughts out as clearly as possible. "If anything, the dark elf looks more fitting, or perhaps the mage you have here."

Shifting her attention to Raven, she stared at him for a moment before clicking her tongue and looking away. Catching onto that gesture, a confused frown took over Raven's head. Even since he'd gotten on the carriage, Benna appeared to be ignoring him. At first, he paid it no mind, but hearing her clicking her tongue with clear disgust, he knew something was wrong.

'The only thing I can think of...' The slightest thought landed Raven an answer. After all, the only reason she could be mad at him was because she knew about what happened between him and her daughter. Either way, Raven decided to ignore the matter for now.

As for the Hero who'd been insulted once again today, he was sulking in the corner with his red cape wrapped around him. Feeling more than a bit downed, Amedith decided to get off early from the carriage the moment they were close to the Boartooth Inn. Leaving him and Aria behind, Raven took the mother and daughter to the merchant they were trying to sell all the herbs to.

Having business of his own at the herbalist, Raven led Aerin inside while Brenna kept watch on the goods outside the herbalist shop called 'The LifeClover'. Stepping in through the open door, the two were assaulted with a flood of dust blowing in their face. Brushing it off Raven moved forward as for Aerin, she was left a few steps behind coughing.

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"Illuminus," casting a spell, Raven conjured a ball of light that emerged through the palm of his hand.

Letting it float freely, he had it follow him around the dusty shop as he looked at locked shelves stocked with reeking herbs and potions. What caught his eyes the most, however, were bottles full of toxins–which were thankfully the only bottles not spewing out any fumes.

"Are you sure this is the right spot?" He asked, slowly turning to look at Aerin.

But before the girl could respond, the webbed chandelier above them lit up out of nowhere. Glancing upwards, the two watched as it moved two and fro. Its light barely illuminated much but the warmth oozing through it was enough to make them sweat in just a few seconds.

"Who goes there?" A raspy voice called out from the shadows.

Following it with his gaze, Raven flung the ball of light in the direction the voice had come from. Illuminating the path further as it went, the ball stopped at the corner with the shopkeeper's desk. Overrun with dirt, spiders, and webs, the corner revealed a tall witch hat moving behind the counter.

"What do you want?" The voice asked, its tone getting raspier by the second.

"I-I'm here to drop some herbs that were ordered!" Aerin blurted out, her every word tinged with fear.

Small wrinkled fingers crept up the counter as a pair of emerald eyes peeked out from behind. Shifting between Aerin and Raven, the herbalist finally decided to reveal herself completely. Picking up her cane lying under the desk, she slowly made her way around and approached the first two people to arrive in her shop in a while.

Only as tall as Raven's feet, the elven witch herbalist strode closer with her every step aided by her crystal-tipped staff. Getting closer to him, Raven noticed dust collected in her violet hair as well as the deep black cloak that she dragged behind her.

'She looks like a small granny, but her clothes seem too big for her.' It was almost as if she had shrunk with time but never bothered to change her clothes since being twice as tall in her primes.

"The herbs, eh?" Stopping before Raven, she clasped both of her hands around the staff and looked at Aerin. "If you could bring them in sweetie that would be divine. My old bones can't handle carrying those boxes, I mean just look around even dusting this place has gotten too much for me."

Frozen with a mix of doubt and fear, it took a moment for Aerin to register what had been asked of her. Jolting herself out of her thoughts, she shook her head and replied.

"I will bring the boxes, please wait!" Frantically bowing, Aerin rushed outside to get the boxes.

Left alone with the witch in the meantime, Raven decided to ask her some questions before getting to what he wanted by coming to the herbalist.

"How come I've never seen you here before? The shop too, feels like it appeared out of nowhere and I've lived in this town for the entirety of my life," the question raised the witch's eyes to match Raven's.

Squinting a little, she muttered an answer.

"And I haven't seen you either, does that mean you never existed before I laid eyes on you?" Her reply only roused Raven's suspicion some more, but instead of blowing Aerin's client he decided to ask his query.

"Say, if I wanted to defeat a bunch of minotaurs what would I need?" Still hoping to slaughter the minotaur, he wanted to gather information instead of plunging his party back into danger as the Hero did.

"Hmm, why do you ask, young man?" The witch hummed, her eyes growing a curious look.

Thinking back to his death, Raven wandered his thoughts to her words. Searching through memory for nothing but his hate in his last moments. After all, the axe hadn't caused his death instantly–the minotaur had toiled and tore his body like a plaything before finally crushing his head under their hooves. Although that memory stayed with him, not even his party members were made aware of it.

"I wish to burn every single one of them to the ground," with blazing eyes, he peered down at the witch. His body oozed out darkness brimming with an aura of rage.

Watching the young man's vigor, the devious witch's lips curved into a smirk.

"Fine, I'll tell you but I want their bodies as a reward," her offer was tempting even if doing so would defeat the purpose of the quest.

"Very well then, tell me how," blinded by rage, he didn't care for the loot.

All he wanted in that moment was to watch those minotaurs squirm as they bathed in agony. As for the witch herbalist, she had but one thought.

'This could be the start of something...divine.' And with a smirk, she let out the secret.