"You go find something with yam for both of us while I get shot and powder, and we'll meet up at the inn?"

"Yeah, sounds good. Thank you. We'll have enough for a better gun, or more of them, soon at this rate! Or more armor, maybe."

Bys smiles and waves as she heads down the street.

Thorn goes and buys powder and shot. It runs her two silver, three copper. Then it's back to the inn.

Abyssia is sitting in the front room of the inn with two bowls of a thick, creamy soup. "I hope you like it, seemed interesting. Sweet cream yam soup. With other veggies mixed in."

"Sounds interesting, I'll give it a shot." She passes over Bys' share of the ammo. "And here's your shot."

She puts it in her backpack.

"I'm a little torn as to how I should develop myself. Guns are only so effective, right, and ammunition is expensive and heavy, especially on long dives. I'm not going to give up my harpoon, but it's going to grow... Outmatched really. Unless my - friends can stuff some of their magic into it, which I'm not sure about. So while I sort of want to keep getting more armor, I also want to get more guns, and I also want a third option that doesn't involve those two but I'm no good at wizardry and no sorcery talent."

"Hmm. Are there any other kinds of combat magic other than wizardry and sorcery? Maybe something based on faith and moral upstandingness?"

"...Not that I know of? Something like that would be good. I know there's a lot of strange kinds of magic out there, but I only know a few specific kinds in any kind of detail, if that makes sense. Another reason to move to a city. We can raid a library about it."

"That might exist, I've heard of something like it before. Let's definitely go to the city though."

"Sure. We could start heading somewhere tomorrow, even. If 'a city' is all we're targeting by, I think there's a place called Helsburg a couple weeks' walking to the south."

"Sounds like a plan. I think we're done with this dungeon, and we have enough money that I'm comfortable travelling on it, especially if I take a little time to repair some things the rest of today."

"Means no more gear upgrades, but a change in location does more for our opportunities than a helmet would, yeah."

She eats soup.

"...So. Do you want to go up to my room when we're done eating?"

"... That sounds good, yeah." She can't quite meet Bys' gaze. A light blush has risen to her cheeks.

...She blinks, then nearly grins, and leans forward and whispers, "Wondering what I've got today?"

Blush nod!

"Heeee. Well keep wondering~ You'll find out soon."

She smiles. 

And goes back to eating, definitely a bit warmer than she was before.

(Too bad she doesn't have... A peach or orange she could split just right and then lick. Oh well.)

"I hadn't actually thought about the implications of your repair spell for misfires, you know. But it's very handy."

"It is. The intent is to make it so my gear lasts forever without having to be enchanted. I'll probably go in for Sturdy on any enchanted gear I get though. And of course I'd want your equipment to be as resilient as you are."

"High level gear is something else. An adventurer's boot can be worth more than her house."

"Damn, really? I'm not really surprised, just... One hopes, you know."

"Hm? Hopes that your spell will stay useful?"

"Hopes an adventurer could get by without massive magical assistance. I know it's not going to happen, just... I firmly believe guts and wits should win." 

"Guts and wits sure help. But... Did you see Demon's Mark on the map? The crater lake? A Demon Lord did that by accident. They were intending to summon an army of the damned."

She whistles. "Yeah, hard to contend with power like that without backup."