Lowlife, Scoundrel, Bandit Queen

Chapter 192 192 - One thing after the other

I brush, at first with the rough brushes and then with the finer ones before I switch to polishing with cloth, using even some of the oil Beldragor got for the occasion. I'm just glad it's not a scented one. It's just intended to seal the surface of his scales as he puts it without going rancid or anything of the likes. It seems to work too, as his scales maintain their shine much better with it as far as I can tell. Very few scales come loose either, but I gather them in the bucket as usual for the dragon to deal with them later.

While Beldragor is clearly the main beneficiary, I benefit as well. Said benefit manifests in a surprise notification whispered into the back of my mind in the voice of Fox.

[*Ding!* Your skill Massage has leveled up to level 4!]

This one counts towards the progress of my masked mediator class, bringing it one step closer to its next level up. My strength attribute improves a little as well, but there are no other indirect benefits this time around. Never mind though. I'll take what I get. This already is a pretty sweet surprise.

And well, I take a little pride in my work too, eyeing the dragon, his tail swishing about happily, while I put the tools away again. I nod to myself. He does look shiny!

"Well, you look real good now. Even more fabulous than usual. Best of luck for that meeting with your sister and even if she nags, just remember that she means well and enjoy the circus show while you are at it."

He let's out a content sigh while sending a mock scowl my way.

"You almost sound like her when you are like that."

That's enough to make me laugh. And being compared to a very successful dragon? Well, there are worse things that could happen to me. I flash him another grin and take a moment to stretch, making my back crack a little as I do.

"Well, Beldragor, enjoy your day. I have some more things to do. I hope the ladies over at the Flea and Flotsam managed to stitch or patch up my things."

The young dragon takes a moment to see me out, waving away any worries along the way.

"They are good. Unless what you brought them was only tatters and rags you should be fine. And judging by the scar you showed me it wasn't that bad, right?"

I chuckle again as I step outside and wink at him as I provide a jest in parting.

"Yeah, just a nice clean hole right through my things and me. Not too bad everything considered."

"Yes, could have been worse. Could have been two."

Oh, what cheeky overgrown lizard! Before I can say anything else he slips back into his shop, closing the door. He just had to get in the final word. Is that it? Well, it's a small price to pay to see him in a good mood. I shrug and turn to walk to my next destination.

The upstream waterfront is a little more lively now as a riverboat has come in. It seems there are still bricks for the supposed granary construction being burned just out of town. That boat is carrying more of those anyway, which are now being unloaded.

Among the laborers hauling bricks I spot Matylda, my dwarven acquaintance. She doesn't look too happy, but then again, why would anyone hauling heavy loads of bricks be? If she noticed me she doesn't let on to it. I refrain from greeting her too as a result. She might be here to figure out what is happening with all these bricks on behalf of the guild after all. It wouldn't be terribly helpful if I were to casually blow her cover.

Thus, I keep going and a little later I enter the Flea and Flotsam. I just hope I'm not too early. It seems my worries are unfounded though.

The shopkeeper's daughter is currently busy sorting through one of the shelves. The moment she notices me she greets me. She is quick to address the reason why I'm here too.

"Welcome back! We have your things in the back. Patched up and all ready for you! That magic light really was a big help! It's so much easier to work with that kind of lighting than with candle lanterns!"

"I'm glad I could be of assistance."

Even as I speak I follow her back into the room where she and her mother do any actual mending. The mother is, in fact, sitting there, now by natural light thanks to one of the windows, mending another shirt. I greet her with a nod, not to disturb her any more than necessary. She is working with needles after all.

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I shrug my pack off my shoulders and allow the girl to help me into the leather west with the integrated bodice. It sports two nice patches now, almost of the same color and sewn into place with great care. There are patches on the inside too. I can feel them. It'll take a little getting used to, but that's alright. My old blouse on the other hand I fold neatly. It goes into my pack. I'll wear my new one for a while now.

It's good to finally have something I can change into though. Maybe I should look into getting a more complete change of clothes though. Possibly even more than one, even if that will weigh me down a little? Or should I look into renting a room long term instead of just for each individual night first? Having a real place to stay, one with a wardrobe, would make getting more clothes much more practicable. And to be honest, I should have more clothes. That would allow me to better improvise disguises too. Yes, that really should be one of my short term rather than long term goals.

I let out a long sigh, once I'm done, with my pack back on my back. It was a little weird going about without the leather vest. It may not be much as far as armor is concerned, but I have certainly gotten used to it. I bow to the two ladies of the house.

"Thank you for helping me out on such short notice. I have really gotten attached to these things."

The mother just smiles and bods before returning her attention to the stitching she is doing right now. Her daughter on the other hand sees me off, all the way to the door. As I step outside she calls out to me once more.

"Please come again!"

I smile and nod.

"Will do!"

Then, with one last wave I'm really off. Where should I turn to now though? It might still be a little too early to visit Marla and her parents about fitting the innermost layer of the armor I commissioned from them. Sure I want that done sooner rather than later, but pressuring them too much wouldn't do either. It'll be done when it's done. And looking over their shoulders all the while won't do me any good either.

Should I visit the tavern at the downstream waterfront? I'm sure Jerzy, or whoever else might be on the job there, will have some more questions regarding that wyvern. Do I want to answer any questions right now though? No, I'm not in a particular hurry to show my face there right now. I'll drop by there for sure, but that can still wait until later.

As I keep walking, crossing the district at street level slowly, I finally make up my mind. My Mana reserves are still rather low. A little more meditation won't hurt. It won't fix that problem on the spot either, but it will buy me a little breathing room. And maybe I should visit my two favorite witches afterwards? I only got to read parts of that spellcircle used to abduct the wyvern, but maybe they can provide some insight anyway? Oh yes, that sounds good too!

With my mind made up I leave the street I have been following to step into a narrow alleyway instead. It's narrow enough to practice one of my favorite stunts. I speed up and with a series of jumps from one wall to the other and back and forth again I reach the ledge of the roof, where then pull myself up the last little bit. My [Jumping] skill and my [Climbing] skill both improve a little by the time I stand up on the rooftop.

From there I move to a familiar rooftop, with a comfy and hidden spot in between the actual roof and one of the chimneys. There I'm out of easy view and I can relax a little too without being afraid of falling or having any other accident even in my rather detached meditative state. Even better, I can soak up some sun!

I lean back, close my eyes and steady my breathing which in turn allows me to slowly calm my thoughts as well. After a while I finally slip into the desired meditative state where I can almost smell the Mana on every breath I take. Of course this state is fragile, but I manage to maintain it long enough to earn the desired notification.

[*Ding!* Through Meditation your Mana increased by 6!]

The expected notification is immediately followed by another, which I maybe should have expected too. I totally forgot about it though. Well, it's a pleasant surprise at least.

[*Ding!* Your skill Meditation has leveled up to level 6!]

Since this one is a class skill it directly pushes my hedge witch class a little closer to the threshold of the next level up. More importantly though, this is an uncommon skill, which means my spirit attribute improves as well. Not by much, but it does. This in turn earns me some growth for both my magic power and my Mana reserves too. Oh, how I like surprises like this one!

Should I try to meditate some more? In the end I decide against it. Judging by the position of the sun it should be well past noon now. Time to see how my brigandine armor is coming along. I just hope the fitting doesn't take too long. Standing still while the innermost layer of the garment gets cinched all around with needles doesn't sound like my idea of fun. I'll only endure it as it's necessary. Armor always should be custom fitted after all. Never mind that I could do it the other way around. I'm still a little too short on Mana right now for antics like that.

This time around I don't enter the shop through the back entrance. I don't make an attempt to be sneaky either, not beyond making sure that I blend in well with the crowd which by now has become second nature.

The shop is open, but the front room at first seems abandoned. The door to the workshop in the back is open though. All three family members seem to be busy there. That impression is quickly proven right as I move to the door to take a peek. I knock at the door frame too, to announce my presence since all three seem to be really engrossed in their work.

The innermost cloth layer seems to be done if I had to guess. Well it's ready for fitting anyway, the way it's currently draped over a wooden mannequin. Ilona, Marla's mother, is currently applying patterns to leather with chalk, while her daughter and her husband are busy sawing one of the scales in half. They are both sweating profusely.

Marla is the one to take note of me first, as she is actually in a position to look my way. She wipes away some sweat.

"Be with you for the fitting in a moment. We just need to finish this first."

Her father looks over his shoulder and nods in greeting before he adds some words of explanation.

"Can't use the full sized scales for the belly. The armor would become too stiff in that area otherwise."

Ilona is the last to speak up.

"Why don't you sit down in the front room? We'll do the fitting there since we'll need a little room to move around you."

I nod. That seems reasonable enough. And besides I take this opportunity to set my pack down next to the chair where I wait for them. I don't have to wait long either. Mother and daughter together bring the mannequin with the garment still draped over it. It's Ilona who speaks up again.

"You should take off the vest with the bodice. We'll integrate a light front tied bodice. That way the armor should fit better." Oh, well, it seems I'll change a few more times today. I quickly comply though, so the duo can get to work. I don't want to keep them waiting after all.