NOVEL NEXT Chapter 176 Planning
"We'll leave first thing in the morning, Mira. Would that bakery still be open when we get back? I'll need a lot of bread for the journey," Xavier asked.
"Yes, but would bread be enough for the journey, how many days would it take?" Mira asked.
"I have no idea, the map I got from the god...*cough* the map I have doesn't specify the distance, just the location and water in-between" Xavier spoke.
"No matter the distance, it can't take more than a day or two" Star added.
"Do you need food for the journey, and before that do you eat normal food?" Xavier asked Star.
"I can go a week without eating, I don't need food" Star replied.
The three of them continued walking forward till they were close to the village, then Xavier stopped. He couldn't return to the village looking like a human, so he opened his inventory and brought out the knight mask.
His robe was a little torn, but the hood was still intact. He wore the mask and covered the hood, masking his body. He placed both hands inside the robe to cover them and turned towards Star.
Star, who was beside Xavier, had already transformed, turning into a fox beast just like Mari, but still kept her appearance. Xavier also brought out Mari's crystals and handed the bag to her.
"You still smell like a beast, how is that possible?" Mari asked.
"That's right, you said that last time. Is it because I've been in contact with a beast for a long time, because a female beastkin lives with us back home?" Xavier spoke.
"No, I don't think that's it," Mari spoke.
"It's that thing that covered you back when you faced the elemental, that black mist... It's a parasite that feeds on Mana and protects the host, so it'll keep feeding on their Mana. It's a magical creature. How did it even attach itself to you?" Star spoke.
"Ohh, I killed a knight it was with, I'm sure that when"
"I can burn it off you if you want. It might prove helpful to you now, but eventually, if it consumes enough Mana from you, it'll take over your body and be in control," Star spoke.
"Don't worry about it, let's go" Xavier replied as the three of them continued forward.
'Another thing to worry about, I just hope all my efforts aren't in vain, I hope Avalon is still standing...and I'm pretty sure the demon queen has a dragon too...I definitely can't let Star go'
'Her sheer size and strength alone are good in battle as crowd control and even in her human form, she's still stronger than me physically, and I also don't think I'm strong enough to challenge the demon queen'
The three of them walked through the village without anyone batting an eye. They arrived at Mari's apartment and stepped inside. After the door was closed, Xavier immediately took off the mask and sat in one of her chairs.
Xavier was beyond tired. He realized after sitting down that his legs were slightly shaking, and his body was sore. If he had lain down on a bed instead, he would have fallen asleep.
Star also sat on one of the chairs and was looking around, there was nothing in the living room.
"I'm going out to get something to eat. I can place an order for the bread on my way. How many do you need?" Mari asked.
'If it's a two-day journey I'll need to eat three times a day, and I can't possibly eat bread throughout the journey so I should account for more in case the journey takes too long'
"I think about 15 would do...also, is there a place that sells pouches used for holding water, it's called a water skin?" Xavier asked.
"Oh yes, I also have one...how many do you need? There's a shop that sells them"
"About ten of them would be okay," Xavier spoke as he brought out he coins he made from selling the tooth when he first came to the village and handed all of them to Mari.
"This is too much, I'll take what I need and leave the rest"
"Don't worry, I won't need it after tomorrow, so you can have it. Also, can you buy the meal you bought yesterday when coming?"
"No problem" Mari spoke as she pushed the door open and left the house.
Xavier stood up and began taking off his clothes as he walked towards the bathroom. He stepped inside, taking off the rest of his clothes, and then he dropped a cleansing crystal inside the bath and stepped in.
Xavier let out a sigh of relief as he stepped in. The water was at the perfect temperature. Xavier couldn't help but relax, his back close to the wall and his eyes closed.
He stayed in this position for a while before dipping his entire body inside the bath and pulling out. Xavier had a smile on his face as he looked up, and then his mind went somewhere, and slowly his smile faded away.
His mind went back to Sylve. The fact that the god of death had already devoured her soul, and she couldn't be reincarnated, was the worst part, but even if she was reincarnated, he wouldn't be alive to see her or know her.
For the short time he knew her, she truly was a wonderful person... Xavier wanted to finish with her but it was impossible, for someone like Dragonborn to be that powerful, meaning he needed even more power to defeat his enemies.
Xavier finally stepped out of the bath after a while. He cleaned his body and put on his underwear.
'I need new clothes' Xavier muttered in his head as he stepped back into the living room.
Star was already on the ground asleep. He was a little surprised, but he left her there and stepped inside the bedroom, as he was also feeling sleepy.