BXBX NOVEL Chapter 138: Back on the road
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The system message appeared while he was thinking. "Really, my thoughts are connected to the system... it's getting more and more... ah, whatever, no use thinking about it." He concluded as he checked the other notifications. "Sealed the sound? Like, literally?" Strax questioned, but the system did not respond.
The answer was already in the message, after all.
Feeling it was time to start the day, Strax gently woke Monica. He softly ran his fingers along her arm and whispered, "Monica, it's morning. We need to get ready to leave."
She opened her eyes slowly, adjusting to the soft morning light coming through the window. "Good morning," she murmured, smiling at him as she stretched, the previous night... was etched in her mind.
"Good morning," Strax replied, returning the smile. "We have a long day ahead. It's better we get prepared."
Monica got out of bed, still feeling the softness and warmth of the sheets. She picked up her clothes, which were scattered around the room, and began dressing. Strax did the same, grabbing his own clothes and preparing for the day ahead.
As they got ready, Strax couldn't help but watch Monica. "Are you okay?" he asked, making sure she was comfortable after the night before.
"Yes, I'm fine," she replied, finishing buttoning her blouse. "It was an amazing night; we'll repeat it over and over again." She said with a mischievous smile, as if Strax had awakened a Succubus.
Strax and Monica went down the inn's stairs, their footsteps echoing softly down the hall. As they entered the tavern, they were greeted by the warmth of the room and the tempting aroma of fresh coffee and baked bread.
Beatrice and Samira were already sitting at a corner table, enjoying breakfast. Beatrice looked up upon seeing them enter and waved with a smile. "Good morning! Come, breakfast is delicious." Monica smiled back and approached the table, pulling out a chair. "Good morning, dear, good morning Samira, well, it really does look great."
Strax pulled out another chair and sat next to Monica. "Did you sleep well?" he asked, grabbing a slice of bread.
"Yes, very well," replied Samira, pouring herself more coffee. "And you? I thought you'd do something naughty and everyone would hear that maid screaming in pleasure, but you just slept?
How boring." Samira said, as if trying to provoke Monica, but she looked confused at Strax, who just smiled at her and murmured, "I used magic to seal the sound." He said, and she looked angrily at him, "Why didn't you say so earlier, you idiot..." "What? Would you have let loose earlier? That would have been boring, you know?" He said, making her blush slightly. "Idiot."
Monica blushed slightly but maintained her smile. "Yes, we rested well. Ready for today?"
The morning atmosphere was calm, and they enjoyed their breakfast. After eating and savoring their meal, the group—Strax, Monica, Beatrice, and Samira—stood up and left the tavern. The sunlight was already illuminating the small village, and the fresh morning air invigorated them as they walked towards the place where they had left the carriage.
They walked towards the carpenter's shop where they had left the carriage, and well... "Will this last until we return?" Monica asked, looking at the pouch of coins in Beatrice's hand, which was already starting to empty. "We still have quite a bit; we have ten gold coins and twenty silver coins, as well as twenty-five copper coins.
Calculating everything precisely, the lodging for the four of us in a luxurious room should cost one or two gold coins, right Samira?" Beatrice inquired, and Samira nodded.
"More precisely, an entire floor with four rooms, although it's not necessary, of course. If we run low on money when we get there, we still have the option of a master suite with a bed that fits all four of us." She confirmed. Monica, still worried, nodded. "If we're attacked, we can loot the bodies of the idiots who try something. It's simple," Strax said, drawing their attention.
"Come on, we know we'll be attacked again; we'll just profit from the dead, as they would from us." He said with a shrug, and the women looked at him incredulously at what he had said...
"He's not wrong, really. Just do what's necessary," Samira said, supporting him, and the girls proceeded. "Well, if we're going to risk our lives anyway. It doesn't matter." Beatrice said, already spotting the carriage.
As they approached, they saw Carlos leaning against the wall, watching the carpenter finish assembling the new wheel for the carriage.
The mares were already positioned, and Apocalipse was standing by, waiting for Strax, who, when he saw him, whinnied quickly, "Hiiihii!" And Strax just smiled, "Yes, here it is." Strax said, approaching and giving not one, but two carrots to her that he had gotten from the kitchen.
After greeting the mare, he turned to Carlos, "Is everything alright?" Strax asked, seeing Carlos carefully watching the carpenter's work. "Yes, he did an excellent job. We'll be ready to leave soon."
The carpenter stood up and wiped his hands on a cloth, looking at the group with a smile. "Everything is ready. It was a pleasure to help you. The wheel is as good as new; you can continue your journey without worries."
"Thank you, sir," Strax said, shaking the carpenter's hand. "How much do we owe for the repair?"
"Don't worry about it; the young man over there already paid," the carpenter replied, waving his hand. "Just travel safely and come back anytime." Strax heard this and looked at Carlos, "Cristine sent money this morning, and a letter for you." He said, pulling out from his pouch a letter that had no noble appearance, looking more like a crumpled piece of paper...
Well, she was an assassin, not a grand duchess or anything like that.