Lucina,
One final rapid letter being sent. A last update before I let my fingers rest from writing. We were hailed as heroes by some religious group, I did not pay much attention to what they said. Either way, they seemed to be wealthy and granted us a feast, rooms, and arranged for a meeting with the Priestess I believe. My excitement knows no bounds I assure you.
The food was cooked well, the spicier foods were delectably seasoned to balance taste and the burn. Calia got drunk at a speed that I think even Usidore would be astonished from. While I have no tastes to judge alcohol; it should be stated that I know she is not a lightweight. Razza ate half of a cooked squid in one bite, not much remains to be said about him. Well… that is to say for himself. He acquired an egg sometime in the Stone Thief and it hatched once we escaped. What looks like a mutant baby dragon; breathing fire and overall being rather cute. On the topic of the feast again: Lucian looked as out of place as he did in the Fey Court and relied on Kiri as before. As should be expected of the Dame she mingled excellently well.
That night was possibly the most luxurious rest I have ever had. Mental exhaustion, physical exhaustion, and dare I say? Spiritual exhaustion. My dreams were… pleasant. The occuring reliving of them upon waking? Those pillows let you go through the dream again while awake, such added time of reflection turned joy to a somber mood. Perhaps it is best we do not recall our dreams as vividly upon waking.
Their connections managed to grant all of us an invitation to the spa within the Cathedral. After a quick visit to the market, where I asked Calia about assisting me in shopping for fresh heavy armour. She has a better eye for this than absolutely anyone else in the party past perhaps myself. I don’t think anyone else has considered wearing heavier gear. We moved on to the spa anyway, Lucian made his bow more capable I believe and bought a new quiver. Something along those lines.
If I felt comfortable bringing my journal into the spa I would have. I felt every ache in my body dissipate in those waters, especially with the amount of filth that we crawled through inside the Stone Thief. It took all of five seconds upon reaching the proper spas for Calia to dive into one of them on some innocent bystander. Between this, her incessant drinking, shoving in the marketplace… she is without a doubt aware of her privilege and is beyond happy to enjoy using it. She would make a fine guard in a city with that taste, far too few investigations upon their misdemeanour.
Were I in a sharing mood, I would tell you of the memories that came from reminiscing upon such thoughts. Instead I will share the small talk we made. The small talk of dreams. Calia relayed her time in a play, glowing brightly as a star. Kiri said she should try it again, and I of course mocked her in jest. Then the Dame asked the nature of my dream. I can still remember the swelling of pride in my heart as I was taught the ritual spell of protection. A door transformed into a fake wall. They never found my old family in that hideout… in that one. I could feel the silence thicken; not a word was said about it. Perhaps for the best. The Dame shared her own dream, it was what you would expect from her. I made a foolish comment about how it’s good she enjoys opera. She said that she would grant me a proper performance one day. I think I would enjoy that, especially now that it seems I have become her understudy. If I am to be singing with her… it can’t be that bad.
Feeling refreshed, I send this letter. My next one shall not be for a few days, though I did not wish to leave you thinking that we had any danger left on the road back to Santa Cora.
Judging as always, Leanne.