Chương 8

"Home!" I cheered as I rushed the final way up the steps to push open the door and look around.

"Papa!?"

"Hmm?" The sound of Papa's curious noise made me smile and I rushed forward. He was in his workshop looking around in confusion until he saw me, and then he broke into a smile.

"Dorah."

"Papa!" I cheerfully tackled him, hugging him tightly.

"I wonder who the favorite is?" Mama asked as she also entered the room, and Papa sent her a happy look.

"Pfft. Don't be silly, I don't have a favorite!" I said, then sent Mama the smuggest look of all time as I faux brought up my hand to cover my mouth.

"It's you, and by a lot." I whispered to Papa.

"Oh is that so?" Papa said, sounding quite happy, but Mama's jaw slowly dropped, her ears twitching as she obviously heard me, and then she snarled.

"You little brat!"

"Papa saaaave me!" I cried out and Papa just laughed as he hugged me tight, and when Mama got close to my surprise he pulled her into a hug as well. There was a surprised look on her face for a moment before she laughed as well and snuggled into Papa.

"I missed you." Papa said, and whether he meant me or Mama neither of us cared that much. —--"You should've seen her. She was terrible at first, worst archer I've ever seen."

"Mmmm!" I grumbled as Mama told Papa about our trip.

"But she picked it up so fast. She was amazing."

"That's good." Papa said, smiling happily as we sat beside each other at the dining room table. Mama was making food, which was a relief, after weeks of grilled meat and whatever vegetables we could scrounge up.

"I need to work on my sword skills more." I told Papa and he just gave me a wide eyed look as he processed what I'd said.

"Is that so?"

"Mhmm. I want to get a sword and shield!"

"Bows are better my dear."

"No. Sword and shield." I told Mama and she sent me another look like she thought I was being a cute kid. Grrrr! I wasn't going to be some cringe Stealth Archer! Paladin's lead from the front and help people. Stealth Archers are just cringe!

"Did you have fun?" Papa asked, and I stopped.

"Yeah it was fun. I liked hunting, and learning how to skin animals was gross, but I did collect a bunch of pelts."

"And made me carry most of them."

"Nooo! You said you would so I wouldn't slow down! It would've been good training! Don't lie to Papa!"

"Train when you aren't marching home." Mama said, winking at me as she did. Which I could only nod at.

"Pelts?"

"Yeah, I figured I'd make something out of them… Belts maybe? So I could enchant them for more practice."

"Ah, well, if you want to practice… Bracers would be easy… Right?" Papa asked, looking at Mama and she shrugged.

"It should be doable with a bit of stitching."

"I can already do arm enchantments with the Whisper Bands. So I figured belts… Maybe a Cape?" Capes were cool.

"Whisper Bands?" Papa said, suddenly surprising me.

"Yeah?" I pulled up my sleeve showing my current enchanted Whisper Band. It was just Minor Spirit, but it was still useful.

"Oh, that enchantment, that makes sense… No, wait where did you learn this?"

"Magistrix El'Tela, taught me. We ran across each other as I was exploring, she was working on her garden."

"I see…" Papa whispered quietly, looking far away, which for him was saying something.

"Aran?"

"No, it's fine Felomin. It's fine. Just didn't expect her to pay any attention to Dorah."

"What's wrong?"

"What did El'Tela, say to you, Dorah?" Mama asked, and Papa sent her a look like he didn't want Mama to ask this. I just shrugged.

"I was exploring, and we got to talking a little. I told her I wanted to explore the whole world, and she thought that was cool. I mentioned I was looking for stuff to enchant, and she taught me how to make the Whisper Bands out of long grass."

"I see." Mama whispered and I looked between them, eyes narrowing.

"Okay what is going on, you are both being squirrely… And I hate squirrels."

"Pfft." Mama looked away hiding a laugh, but I just kept my eyes narrowed at her.

"Do you trust me Dorah?" Papa asked, suddenly and I instantly nodded. Course I did.

"Then trust us that it was just a surprise. Magistrix are… Difficult people. I'm happy it was a nice memory for you. So let's leave it at that for now. Okay?"

"Fine… But I can tell something is up!"

"That's fine." Papa said, and I just deflated at that. No point arguing with Papa, he'd just focus on something else, and ignore you.

"Food is ready." Mama said, breaking up the tension and so we ate as a family instead. It was good to be home. —-- Over the next week I settled back into the rhythm of just being home. Although whenever Mama got back from her Ranges, she'd stop and take me out back to practice archery and hunting skills. Thankfully, I never actually got worse at a skill, so Mama was pleased I was still practicing… Which I kinda wasn't, but that's fine.

I spent most of the time not at school or working at the Adventurers Guild tailoring. While Whisper Bands had very much stopped giving me XP, taking a rabbit fur and sewing it into different things had started giving me some levels again. My first Rabbit Cape was… Terrible, but that was fine. After talking to Papa we'd worked out the best enchantment to go with, and despite his offer to do it, he'd instead taught me the enchantment, and after a few attempts I got it.

"Cloak of Minor Agility, cause it's a rabbit cape!" I told Mama when she got back and I showed it off.

"It's wonderful!" Mama said, lying through her teeth as she resisted laughing at my mangled mess of a rabbit fur cape. I just scoffed at her.

"I know it looks terrible Mama. It's more about practice than function. Besides, agility enchantment is very useful."

"Yes, that's true." She said, still trying not to laugh. So I huffed and flicked my barely there cape back over my shoulder and stalked off with all the confidence I could hold as Mama laughed the moment I turned the corner. Humph! Oh well, I'd disenchant it once I had a better one, for now it was just another piece of adventure kit. Speaking of adventure kit, I really needed everything else. Looking myself over I could only frown. Tough pants made for running around and getting dirty.

Little boots, top that was fairly tight as was just sort of the style for High Elves. I wasn't wearing the long sleeve jacket, but…

"I look like a mini ranger." I whispered to myself in horror.

"Noooooo!" It was all light armor! I fell to my knees, hands against the floor. The horror! I need!... I need armor! Heavy armor! And Chonky clicky boots that could be heard from a mile away just to wash away the potential someone might think I'm a stealth archer type! This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

"What are you doing?"

"Having an existential crisis." I told Mama looking up and sitting up normally.

"Well… Are you okay?"

"Oh yeah, I'll be fine!" I chirped, throwing Mama a thumbs up.

"Okay now I'm concerned."

"It'll be okay! I'm going to become a smith and make myself heavy armor!" I told her, having come to the conclusion once I remembered I could just make armor.

"Ooookay?"

"Yep! It'll be great… Do we have a pickaxe somewhere?"

"No my Light, we don't have a pickaxe." Mama drawled out like she couldn't believe she just had to say that.

"Okay! I'll just have to buy one. I should be able to trade some enchanting powder… Do you think Mel'tenar will have one at the shop?"

"I… I don't think I want you buying a pickaxe. What are you even thinking Dorah? I'm lost."

"I'm gonna get a pickaxe and learn how to mine for ores! Then smelt them, and then smith them into armor! That way I can make cool armor, and know how to repair or make it in the field if I need to!"

"That's…" Mama just rubbed at her nose as if what I'd said was insane, instead of perfectly reasonable!

"Where are you even going to find ore to mine?"

"I'll explore until I find it!" I said hands on my hips and Mama sent me one of those 'my daughter is being cute looks,' but not really answering.

"I can do it!"

"There aren't any mines around here my Light. You'll need to go on a much longer trip to find some, so-""That's fine! I'll practice my hunting skills and I can even get more pelts while I travel each way! Mhmm! It's a perfect plan."

"You're too young."

"You just got done teaching me how to survive in the wilds." I pointed out.

"That's…Not the same thing. What if you get hurt."

"I can heal with magic?"

"What if you get stuck somewhere?"

"I can make lots of light and sound with magic!" I argued and Mama just crossed her arms.

"Alah'Dorah. I love you, and you did very well, but you aren't going out exploring or traveling on your own. You are too young."

"Aww." I slumped, but I wanted armooor!

"Can we go on trips together?"

"That's… Possible, but I have my ranges, and getting your father into the wilds is… Dangerous."

"Yeah."

"But I'll see what I can do." She offered, and I grinned and gave her a big hug. I do think that her sigh of relief was also hoping I'd give up on my blacksmithing dreams for clanky armor, but that just wasn't going to happen either. It's just on hold for now. —--"It's a really nice cape Dorah." Kimi offered the next day. Some of the others had already made fun of me, but it wasn't like a bunch of grade schoolers could hurt my feelings.

"Thanks Kimi. It's not very good, but I did enchant it. Want to see?"

"Oh really? Yeah!" She offered wide eyed, and I grinned as I took it off and handed it over watching as she put it on, tied the little tie to keep it on, and then she blinked.

"Whoa! I feel weird."

"It's a cape of Lesser Agility. So you'll move a little quicker."

"That's awesome!" She whispered, and I grinned right back.

"Magic cape."

"Magic cape!" She agreed and soon we were both running around, her chasing after me, and even with the cape I was a bit faster than her, but she liked the game anyways.

"Can you enchant a cape for me Dorah?"

"Sure Kimi." I agreed as she was pouting about having to give the rabbit cape back. I was happy to make one for her. Especially since she hadn't made fun of me. —-- When I wasn't doing any of the other dozen tasks I took on in a day, I was still practicing my Ice Cube Spell, being able to push a few ice cubes into Papa's drink before handing it to him was really funny, as he wasn't usually expecting so much cold still in his drinks!

But for the most part I was gathering more Enchanting Reagents, working on what quest I'd get for the Guild, and just spending my days doing whatever popped up like normal. Of course just because I couldn't run off to find a mining spot to gather some ore didn't mean my idea had gone away.

"Gooood afternoon Mel'tenar!" I greeted walking into the closest thing our village had to a grocery store. Mel'tenar had supplies brought in from all over and you could even request things from him, which is why as I entered the man sighed.

"What can I do for you kid."

"Well, I'm looking for information this time."

"I'm not an info broker kid. I bring in groceries and random things from the capital mostly."

"I know! But that's why you're the one that can help. I'm looking for a book, or manual on smithing."

"Smithing?"

"Mhmm! We don't have a smith in town, but I want to learn."

"Kid, no smith is going to accept a long distance apprentice."

"I know, but I can learn on my own, but some advice, or things would help." Unfortunately, while I could start a skill, I still needed to be taught, or go through the process of learning things to actually do the complex stuff. I could sew, but my rabbit cape came out looking terrible because I'd never actually sewn a cape before. I was getting better, but still.

"That's not something I think I can help you with."

"C'mon Mel'tenar! At least try? I can sell you another of the Sun Flowers!"

"You got another one?"

"I'm growing them, and another is ready, yes." The expansion of my enchanting set up meant I now had multiple pots of Sun Flowers growing in the sunlight while gathering mana. He sighed, a bit looking down at me, from behind the little counter in his home. It wasn't even really a shop, just his home that he stored things in.

"I can ask around if someone would be willing to put together a manual for an apprentice, but that's not something just anyone would be willing to do. It'll cost more than one flower."

"Even when you sell the flower in the Capital?" I teased, I'd of course heard the rumor of his gushing at how much money he'd made for the massive Sun Flower.

"Even then! Yeah I know you heard. Yes, it sold well." He grumbled at me, and I just grinned.

"It's important to me Mel'tenar, please?"

"I'll see what I can do, just don't expect much. And you'll have to pay for it!"

"In flowers." I agreed, and held out my hand to shake, and he sighed and did the same.

"Better have some ready for me kid, it won't be cheap to get that sort of information out of a smith."

"It'll be worth it though!"

"If you say so. Why not just go to the Capital, find a master to apprentice under. Smith isn't exactly the most exciting job, but it's respectable. You're parents… Well, your mother would probably refuse."

"Cause I don't want to spend decades learning, I need to learn fast."

"It's a job that takes decades to learn." He pointed out, but then shook his head.

"You're headstrong, but young, maybe it'll be good to bite off more than you can chew."

"I can chew a lot!" I argued back and then blinked at how childish it made me sound.

"Sure."

"What about the pickaxe?"

"I ordered it. Not exactly common stuff out here, it'll take a while."

"Thanks Mel'tenar! You're way cooler than everyone says!"

"Thanks Kid-Wait, what does everyone say. What does cooler mean? Hey kid!" I of course left the man stewing in my backhanded insult and skipped away. Hehe! He was a guy with a serious ego, so it was fun to poke holes in it every once in a while. He was reliable though. I'd get my pickaxe, and go on an adventure soon! Well once Mama took me, or I grew enough. Unfortunately, I wasn't really growing much. Ugh. Stupid elfling body!

—-- The jingle of the levelup sounding in my ears made me grin widely as the mess of ice cubes all over the back yard was finally at an end! [Generate Icecube Lv 10 Spell Mastered] [Mastery Benefit +5 Intellect]"Yes!" I cheered rolling backwards, only to yelp, as I laid back on an icecube.

"Okay, celebrate somewhere not covered in traps." I whispered, looking at the hundreds of ice cubes all over the back yard. I groaned a bit as I rose up, using so much mana and then drinking lemonade, then using it again always left me a bit achey. But hey! Five more Intellect! I wonder if I had enough mana to level up Holy Light again? Or at the very least, Unlock, and Lock. Those spells were a bit of a mana hog, but they were so useful! Even in D&D Lock, and Knock were top tier wizard utility spells.

Never know when you're being chased by an orc and you need to lock a door you just slammed shut behind you to earn yourself a bit of space. Heading inside I was humming since another spell mastery was an amazing thing, and I heard Papa rummaging around in his workshop. Mama was out on a range unfortunately, so it was just us. I headed up to my room. I could set up the guild, but there wasn't much going on today, and it just felt like an exploration day, instead of an adventure day. The two were different after all.

So I suited up, even if it made me look like a ranger… I grabbed my sword and shield, well, wooden sword, and shield anyways, and then I grabbed a few bits and bobs, making sure I was fully equipped!

"Papa!" I called out as I knocked on his workshop waiting for him to respond and only entering once he did.

"Yes Dorah?"

"I'm gonna go explore! I'll be back before it gets dark."

"Oh yes, that's good. Be safe."

"I will!" I called out and ran out the back door. The sun was bright, the wind was mild, and the whole world was out there for me to explore! Then I sighed, and turned around. Only a few moments, to finagle everything, and I slipped on my Quiver and Bow around my shield and sword.

"Stupid bow. Stupid animals run so fast. I'll get magic someday, won't need a bow." I grumbled as I headed out, and then as if I was already in the deep wilds, I crouched down, and slipped into a stalking stance. If I found some more animals to skin I could make more capes, and I had promised Kimi. Even if it was cringe Stealth Archer gameplay. Through the bushes, across the fields, and among the trees I wandered. I wouldn't go too far.

Otherwise Mama would find out, but I could ran out for an hour or so and then head back, and that would bring me home in time for the sun to set. Plus this totally wasn't what Mama said I wasn't allowed to do, this was just normal kid explorations, and not day trips to find ore! So it was allowed! And all the while I was adding things into my mental map of the world. It might only be short trips from my home, but for a little elfling that was good enough, and more importantly. This is what I wanted to do.

Azeroth was my backyard, all of it, I just needed to step outside and explore the whole thing!

"Ow!" I hissed, reaching up to rub my head as I looked up.

"Squirrels." I hissed, already dropping my sword and shield to grab my bow, but it chittered at me and ducked into a hole meaning I couldn't make the shot.

"You'll pay for that!" I yelled at the stupid squirrel as I reset my gear, and grabbed my sword and shield again.

"Need to work on my stealth so I can sneak up on the damn squirrels." I cursed, then jolted looking around to make sure no one had heard me curse. Gotta watch the potty mouth. Mama was NOT okay with it.