Without wasting any time, they both exited the side room and proceeded to the main hall through the kitchen where they saw Gerolt wearing an apron over his bare chest while he was in the process of cutting a large piece of smoked meat with a cleaver.
"Oh, fencer Lass." He spoke upon noticing Priscilla come out of the room. "Lucina wanted to see you."
"Lucina?"
"Something about the guild probably. She's waiting in the hall." He then leaned backwards while glancing into the room she just left and raised an eyebrow. "Where's your acquaintance?"
"Oh, she already left."
"Huh… didn't even notice her leaving. Anyway, it seemed like she was in a hurry to talk to you."
Priscilla gave a short nod and ushered Rionara to keep up with her once she closed the door.
"I'll head there, thank you, Gerolt."
"Aye."
Stepping through the doorframe to the main hall Rionara noticed a familiar young woman wearing casual clothes that consisted of a simple raw cotton shirt, dark green trousers and thick leather shoes meant for farm work. Her short silver hair stood out amongst the farmers and other workers that were steadily filling the main hall to get breakfast.
"Miss Priscilla, Miss Rionara." Sitting by a table near the wall was Lucina. Supposedly on a break by the rather simplistic attire. She waved her hand with a faint smile on her face. "Good morning."
Priscilla approached her before settling the wooden tray on the table to greet her.
"Good morning, Miss Lucina. What are you doing here?"
"Today is my day off. I thought I'd catch you two if I stayed here but apparently you wake up even earlier than I do even on the Day of Radiance."
Rionara approached the receptionist and bowed politely.
"Good morning, Miss."
Upon seeing her up close with new clothes—Lucina's smile widened as she instinctively patted her on the head.
"You look so adorable with those new clothes!" She then turned at Priscilla with seemingly stars in her eyes. "Did you custom order these?!"
The knight smiled awkwardly while leaning backwards ever so slightly as she was caught off guard by the receptionist's sudden enthusiasm.
"N-no, not really. Your acquaintance had spare clothes for children and she happened to like these."
"Haha, I knew it. When it comes to clothes, Jean won't disappoint. But I have to say…" Her gaze then turned at Rionara once again, who—once noticing it, decided to look away in embarrassment. "She looks just like a little adventurer… you aren't considering bringing her with you into the dungeon, right?"
Priscilla vehemently shook her hand in front of her body as she took the seat across Lucina.
"Goddess no. I-"
Before the knight could offer an explanation, Rionara stepped forward and raised her head to face Lucina, who turned at her with widened eyes of surprise.
"I-I… I wanted these because they don't stand out…"
She smiled warmly while gently patting her on the head again.
"You're a great kid Rio."
Rionara smiled quietly before taking her seat beside the knight—who was in the middle of grabbing a piece of smoked meat and piece bread. She did the same by taking a modest bite out of the smoked meat and bread loaf.
Priscilla started to talk all the while grabbing another serving from the tray after she had gulped down the previous one.
"So, Miss Lucina, did you need something from me? I doubt you'd want to spend your day off with an adventurer."
"Oh, that's right." She reached for her pocket and pulled out an envelope. "Captain Rhys wanted me to give you this."
The knight raised an eyebrow as she put the bread on the table and grabbed the envelope with her right hand.
"A letter?" She put the smoked meat between her teeth and started to open it. "What is this about?"
"A promissory note. Captain Rhys gave it to me the night before. I thought I could hand it to you at the evening but with that brawl that happened yesterday-"
Her eyes veered off the note with a raised eyebrow towards the receptionist.
"A what?"
"Promissory note. You weren't paid for the claimed bounty. You can redeem this letter at either the barracks or the guild to get the reward or you can also save it for later, coins are heavy so it's not a bad idea to have someone else hold it for you."
"Huh… interesting…" She took a cursory glance at it and nodded to herself. "This doesn't exist back in Arcadia…"
"Pardon?"
"No, nothing." Without explaining further, Priscilla folded the paper in half and pocket it inside the inner breast pocket of her jacket. "Thank you for bringing it to me."
"You are welcome. Now…"
She stood up from her chair and lifted her hand which prompted Karla to approach the table.
"Good morning, Lucina. You're up early."
"Quite so. I had some business to attend to but now I'm free."
"I see. Will you have the usual?"
"Yes! Please."
"Aye, coming right up." Karla turned around and shouted towards the kitchen. "The usual for Lucina!"
"The usual?" Priscilla muttered while munching on the piece of meat. "Do you eat here often?"
"Yes, it's what I look for on my day off."
"Hmm… interesting."
They remained quiet for the time being with Lucina looking around the hall as she waited for her order. The sound of knives clattering against wooden plates and chit-chat amongst the other customers made Priscilla feel a bit homesick as it made her remember her days amongst the squires in Arcadia. It was a memory she looked back upon fondly.
'Who would've thought I'd become a royal knight…'
She subconsciously smiled to herself. However her thoughts were cut short the moment she heard Rionara start coughing beside her, making her ask.
"Are you okay?"
"Y-yeah, I just choked a bit."
"Here." She grabbed the tankard of water and gave it to her. "Drink some."
"T-thank you, Pris."
Her small hands could barely make the entire circumference of the wooden cup which made the knight's heart flutter.
'How cute…'
Loud footsteps grew closer from behind Priscilla which made her look over her shoulder. Her eyes widened in awe as she noticed Gerolt carrying a tray twice the size of the one she had on the table.
"Here's your order!" The man almost slammed the entire thing on the table as it was extremely heavy. "Enjoy your food."
Lucina smiled as she replied with excitement clear in her eyes.
"I most certainly will. Thank you, Gerolt."
Priscilla had a calm expression on her face as she looked at the tray meant for Lucina. Her faint smile slowly turned into shock. Before the receptionist wasn't a normal breakfast, it was a feast.
One plate had six glazed chicken drums, another had three steaks the width of her thumb, one smaller plate had a portion of shredded lettuce with bacon on top of it with steamed cabbage, a large bowl of soup, another of porridge, two roasted corns on cobs sitting on the side alongside five loaves of bread and three tankards full to the brim with beer to top it all off.
"Holy f-" Priscilla had to hold herself from swearing as she saw the staggering amounts of food in front of her. "Is… is this all to you, alone?"
Lucina was putting a napkin in the collar of her shirt as her eyes looked up to the knight with a raised eyebrow.
"Yeah? A little day-off indulgence is part of why I work in the guild."
From the next table a farmer called out.
"Hah! She's new eh—Lass, that is Lucina's breakfast."
His friend nodded while laughing.
"Legendary breakfast. I'd say she's part demon."
The farmer looked back with a wide grin.
"Demon? Dragon, more like!"
"Hey, it's rude to call a lady a dragon." Lucina replied while pouting. "I don't have time to eat proper meals so I have to make up on my day off."
Rionara on the other hand was staring with her heart fluttering near her throat at the sight of so much food—more than she'd ever imagined in her life. As if sensing her gaze, Lucina lifted the plate of drumsticks with a grin and dumped them atop the steaks before picking one of each food and putting it on the empty platter. She then slid the platter in front of Rionara.
"Here, you should eat some more as well."
"Ah, no I…"
She averted her gaze—flustered. Priscilla on the other hand was about to reach for her coin pouch.
"I can pay for-"
"No, please." Lucina smiled and motioned to the food. "I insist."
With such kindness, Priscilla ended up folding as she leaned back on her chair and looked at Rionara with a faint smile on her face.
"Rio. You should eat." The young woman looked at her. "Make sure no food goes to waste."
The knight could see stars in her eyes as her uncertain expression soon changed into a smile as she turned to Lucina and bowed her head.
"Thank you!"
"You're welcome."
Priscilla smiled as she stood up, prompting Rionara to look at her with inquisitive eyes and ask.
"Where are you going?"
"To the barracks."
"Ah, going to redeem your reward, are you?" Lucina spoke after gulping down another bite of the bread she had on hand. "Captain Rhys should be at his office processing the paperwork about the Black Assassin."
"Thank you." She briefly turned to Rionara with a warm smile. "I'll be back soon."
"Mhm, take care, Pris."
Without wasting any time, the spell fencer stood up and made her way out of the inn. The morning street life was quite peaceful, there weren't many people and the ones that were walking around that area were farmers heading to get some food at the inn or workers hauling goods to the more commercial area of the central square which was incidentally the way she was heading.
Individuals carrying wooden crates, sacks and carts filled her view as she kept a brisk pace to keep up with the influx of people. Footsteps and chatter grew louder as she approached the central square. Once again, adventurers and dungeon explorers were lining up at the guild with the scent of soot, gunpowder and oil filling the air. Merchants lined up around the guild with tools and supplies like smoked meats, pemmican, makeshift gourd canteens, flint and steel, tinder pouches, lanterns and all manner of tools for mining.
Looking around, she wasn't sure where the barracks were, but considering the influx of people coming from the west entrance and south residential area, she could roughly guess it was to the north.
'Maybe closer to the noble's district…?'
It made sense in her mind. After all, keeping those that keeps the city running safe seemed like the priority for a commercial city such as Arivaul.
"Alright…"
She was going to make her way to the north of the city when a familiar gruff voice came from her right.
"Ay, Lass!" Upon turning her head she noticed it was Geralt. He wore the same stained brown apron and was carrying his usual cross-pein hammer. "Where ya headin'?
"I'm looking for the city barracks, why?"
"Atta girl!" He raised his hammer with an unfiltered smile on his face. "Ye crossed blades with 'em Black Assassin an' lived to tell the tale. Outstanding if I do say so meself."
That made her flinch back with a raised eyebrow.
"Huh? How'd you know?"
"Eh? Ye the talk of town. Even 'em criers are talking about ye exploits."
"Huuuh?!"
Her surprise was soon drowned out by the faint clinging of a bell in the distance with the muffled announcement becoming clearer with each passing second.
"Hear ye! Hear ye!" The same town's crier from the day she had entered the city was at it again, but this time in a more cheerful, if not exaggerated, tone of voice. "Infamous Black Assassin taken out of the streets! Copper adventurer Priscilla Avellion brings justice to Arivaul! Hear ye! Hear ye!"
Priscilla could feel an intense heat of shame boil from her gut up towards her face. There was just something out of place about hearing her name in the mouth of a town's crier.
Geralt didn't seem all that bothered as he nodded to himself as he made his way towards his shop. He turned around and pointed the hammer at her and shook it twice.
"Be proud o' yeself Lass. Ye did good to this city. Next time ye need repairs on ye blade, bring it to good ol' Geralt. I'll 'ave it fixed in no time."
"Huh… thank you, Geralt. I'll… I'll keep that in mind."
Her mind was spinning.
'Someone must have ordered for the bounty to become public… but why…? Wasn't the guild avoiding publicly publishing bounties in the first place…?'
That bothered her but she decided to focus on her mission first. With disciplined steps, she set forth towards the north district.
Once she made her way out of the central square, the streets became gradually more patrolled by guards. They walked in trios close to each other with their halberds at hand—a sight for sore eyes, if they were present in or around the slums, but that was just wishful thinking on her part.
"Excuse me." Priscilla said as she stopped one of the guards leading the trio. "Where are the barracks located?"
The young middle guard looked to both of his colleagues before turning to her with a raised eyebrow and a scoff—an attitude unbefitting of a town's protector.
"Who wants to know?"
The knight narrowed her eyes as she said with full confidence in her voice.
"Copper adventurer, Priscilla Avellion."