A Quick Tour
You ask Wisteria about Nostrus and their engagement. She jerks visibly at the question, her eyes darting left and right. “You are a very blunt person, Muhchacraken. This could be considered to be a rather personal question,” she complains. “Why is my relationship with Count Algonquin of interest to you anyway?”
“It’s just strange. A shady noble like him with a blossoming knight like you, if you know what I mean.” You are vaguely aware that it is a pretty horrid line, but the words have slipped through your mouth before your mind could hold it back.
“I-I do not know what you mean. Not a single ounce of your words make sense to me,” flushes Wisteria. Despite her displeasure, however, Wisteria answers your question all the same. “If you must know, it is an arranged betrothal, and hardly some secret to be kept.”
“Duke Brescia?” You hazard a guess. Wisteria’s expression tells you that it has paid off: you are right. She merely shakes her head and informs you politely – but sternly – that this line of conversation does not interest her in the least. Instead, she launches into a full-blown guide mode, explaining every street and building that you pass by, rattling off names and details in what seems to you to be an attempt to distract herself from having to talk to you too much about personal stuff.
In quick succession, you are shown the palace (again), a bustling market (full of overpriced items), a local barracks (full of sweaty men), the Adventurer’s Guild (full of boisterous braggarts) the city’s library (full of dusty and boring historical tomes), the adjacent tower housing the Royal Caster Society (full of smug sorcerers), and various interesting spots commemorating some hero or another who had bravely gave their lives in battle. There had been many heroes through the kingdom’s long history, it seems. Only a select few passed peacefully, with the rest being of the sort honored for their tragic sacrifices.
“That is the nature of the game,” you mutter.
“Pardon me?” Wisteria pauses, in the midst of telling you a story about some whip-wielding champion that had courageously fought back an invasion of vampires, turned into one himself, and then walked into the sunlight to end his own life.
“I said, what a shame.” You laugh. “There seems to be a lot of threats from non-human species. Are they still a problem?”
“They haven’t been, not for a couple hundred years now. After the Human Alliance defeated the demi-humans in the last Great War, they have kept to themselves,” says Wisteria. She adds carefully, “Of course, we do have contact with one of their countries, Luna, but… it isn’t much.”
“Have you ever fought one before?” you ask.
“I have fought wild goblins and lizardmen on occasion, yes,” she replies. “At times you have straggling raiders straying in through the Sea of Sand to the south, or across the mountains from the west. There is also a slime infestation upstream of Amscray that we have never been able to eradicate. We regularly send our rookies to train there. Luckily… or perhaps unluckily, depending on how you look at it, I have never had the opportunity to cross swords with one of the more powerful races, like the beastmen or the demons.”
“Hm… what about angels?”
Wisteria looks surprised. “Angels? Those fairytale monsters? Well… I suppose if they actually existed still, I would not even attempt to face one. That would be foolish; a feat worthy of those able to stand in the realm of heroes. I have a long way to go before even glimpsing that domain.”
“You are too hard on yourself, Wist,” you say, affecting a kindly voice. “Your swordsmanship is superb.”
“I do not possess even a fraction of the Knight-Commander’s skills,” says Wisteria humbly, a tinge of red appearing at the edges of her pale ears. “Besides, you yourself are surprisingly skilled with a blade, Muhchacraken.” She appears to be about to ask you something but falls silent, looking away awkwardly. The conversation does not appear to be going where she wants it to go. With a deep breath, she begins talking again, changing the topic. “So, there are not many more places I can think of that would be of interest to you. Shall we call it a day?”
Rin and Aria are still nearby: you last spotted them underneath a large parasol that obscured their heads. Perhaps you should call it a day before they do anything to ruin it. On the other hand…
***
A. You ask to go to the highest point in the city. It would provide you with a great vantage point of the city itself and the surrounding lands, and best of all, you have also heard that high places can help get the heart beating fast, increasing the chances that a spark of romance will ignite.
B. You ask to be led to the best riverside location in the city. It will offer you an insight into the volume of trade travelling the rivers, as well as a perfect spot to stop, take a break, and admire the sights. Best of all, you have also heard that women generally consider riverine tours to be romantic.
C. You ask to be brought to the seedy side of the city. The brothels! The gambling dens! The slave pens! The tour that she has led you on has been remarkably sanitized: you are sure Yuiria has its shadier side, and you would like to see it with your own eyes.
D. You get out while the going is good, call it a day, attempt to extract a promise from Wisteria to have another day out together, intercept Rin and Aria before they get up to any mischief, and return to the tavern. You have seen enough of the city for the moment.
