"I can't thank you enough for rescuing Maria," Gregor reminded Astra as he scratched his head, "but is this old map and information the only reward you seek? You did come all this way..."

  Athena chimed in Astra's mind.

  Notice: A chance for greater reward has presented itself. This may be an opportunity to further investigate the area.

  Astra agreed mentally, nodding before looking up at Gregor. "Actually," he said with a friendly smile, "there is one thing. Can you tell me if this coin is worth anything?"

  As he produced a gold coin from his pocket, Astra handed it to Gregor, who didn't seem to recognize it in the slightest. Having Maria fetch a scale and a weight, Gregor asked "Where did you get this from?" Astra was quick to answer, saying "I've had it for a long time, actually, and completely forgot where it came from." Not wanting to pry as Maria returned, Gregor placed the coin and weight on the scale. It balanced out rather easily, and while the coin wasn't worth anything in the area, it seemed that the gold itself held some value.

  "You may be able to trade it in at the Treasury Office in Franlief," Gregor suggested. "In truth, I was planning on having Maria head to Franlief to sell some of the extra crops and herbs we'd harvested. If you're interested, could you be her escort since you'll be headed that way yourself?"

  Astra accepted without hesitation. In truth, it was a prime opportunity to find out more about the world, and maybe even make some connections.

  Notice: By establishing Canare as your base of operations, you would have access to the villagers' collective assistance, and a potential place to return without attracting attention.

  "Right. Gregor?" Astra started, catching the village chief just before he returned to his duties, "What would you say to allowing me to make a home here? I can handle the construction and maintenance myself, and offer services such as security and hunting in exchange for residency."

  "Well, we could always use more hands, and the monsters have been a bit aggressive of late... Sure. We can discuss the finer points once you get back from Franlief."

  Gregor's agreement to allow Astra to become a resident of Canare gave Astra the reason he needed to carry out a plan Athena had cooked up. The next morning, Astra and Maria set out with a horse drawn wagon loaded with the surplus Gregor mentioned prior. The trip itself was almost 170 miles, making it a ten day journey just to get there and another ten days back. During which time, Astra and Maria became well acquainted.

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  While the road trip was interrupted by the occasional wolf or goblin, Astra had no problems fending them off.

  In fact, it was child's play for him.

  "Maria," Astra chuckled, "you're awfully fond of that cloak, aren't you?" While it was amusing to Astra, Maria's face flushed with a rosy pink as she nestled her cheek against the soft fur mantle of the very cloak that Astra had given her. The mornings had been somewhat cold, and while it didn't faze Astra, Maria wasn't so resilient. Thus, the cloak had served as a source of warmth and comfort for her, and a cherished gift on top of that.

  A somewhat sweet moment that had been abruptly interrupted.

  "What's wrong?" Maria asked, trying to keep the panic out of her voice.

  "I think we're being robbed" Astra sighed.

  ... And it was such a lovely day, too...

  The wagon had been stopped by what appeared to be a group of... knights? Guardsmen? Though their leering had given Astra the impression that they were anything but.

  "Gross, I can smell their degeneracy" Astra huffed.

  "What business do a couple girls have out here?" One of the knights called out from atop his horse, riding up next to the wagon, examining Astra and Maria.

  "We're on our way to Franlief, bossman" Astra responded with a groan, though he felt his nerves tingling from the glare he was getting.

  "Grossgrossgrossgrossgross, he's side-eyeing me like I'm the last sushi roll at a buffet..."

  It can be surmised that-

  "Absolutely not, Athena; you shut your trap RIGHT NOW! I don't wanna know what kind of FELONIES he wants to commit, I just wanna know how to get rid of him!"

  "You're dressed rather well for mere villagers," the knight leered, eliciting chuckles from his cohorts as he said "unless your father happens to be a nobleman, little girl."

  "That's the umpteenth time," Astra growled mentally, "what the hell, man?!" Though his thoughts were interrupted from a voice behind the wagon. "Sir, look," the knight called to his leader, "I found Somnus in their wagon!"

  "Somnus? What's that?" Astra asked internally.

  Answer: Somnus is an illicit and highly potent narcotic agent comprised of several dangerous herbs located in the Rakshika Greatwood. It is illegal on this continent as bid by the Summit of Kings.

  This information caused Astra to audibly growl, realizing their ploy. "So they're framing is for possession of illegal drugs. I guess pigs exist in this world, too."

  "It seems like you two were being naughty," the knight leered, "we'll have to take you to the guard house for questioning."

  Caution is advised. It can be surmised that these people intend to-

  "You people are disgusting."

  Astra growled even louder this time, surprising not only the knights, but also Maria. "You aren't the knights your shiny armor makes you look like. No. You've been acting like the disgusting swine you are since you pulled us over." As he spoke, Astra slipped a hand into his pocket, though felt himself jerked to one side as the leader grabbed the front of his shirt.

  "You better watch your tone, little girl," the leader growled in response, though as Astra brushed his hand aside, and bright light erupted from the prism in Astra's hand, forming what could only be described as a magician's staff.

  The staff itself had a long, black haft, with a silver half-ring at the head, further adorned by what appeared to be a dragon's wing sculpted out of the silver itself. In the half-ring hovered a jewel, a pale, eerie glow radiating from it, and within appeared to be a cosmos, the faintest of twinkling lights like distant stars amid the dim void.

  "Maria. Don't look away. I told Gregor that I would protect the village, and you deserve a demonstration."

  Maria nodded hesitantly. Until now, she had simply thought Astra to be a kindly friend of Canare Village, but she could feel it. She couldn't see it, but every fiber in her body was screaming at her to run away, even though her muscles had frozen in place.

  Notice: Astral Summoning would be an excessive show of force. The likelihood that the individual Maria would be afraid of you is sixty percent.

  "I think it'll be fine," Astra replied internally, "besides, I get the sense that a dragon attack would be too crazy to be believable anyways. And these bastards deserve to be roasted."