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Ash’s mother finished lighting some candles to illuminate the inside of the house. Dusk was just beginning to fall outside.
“I know that you’re all feeling upset right now.” She set down some bowls on the table. “Here. Have some turnip soup. It’s your favorite.”
“Turnip soup is no one’s favorite, mom!” Ash shot back.
“I know. I just wanted to make you feel better.” She replied.
Around the table Ash’s mother was setting out bowls, Mr Smithe was quietly refilling his cup, Ash was spooning his soup, Luke was trying to keep his posture straight, and Ave was slouched backwards over her chair.
Luke broke the ice. “So… uh. What now?”
Ave flopped a hand onto the table. “I don’t know.” She groused to the ceiling. “Go back to the Capital I guess. I’m probably fired. Or maybe not. Who knows? Most people forget where I work so maybe they haven’t noticed I’m gone.” She leaned forward and bonelessly collapsed onto the table, her face smooshed against the planks of wood. “I could probably slide right back into my job and pretend like nothing ever happened.” She let out an extended *Siiigh*.
“Sorry about that.” Luke apologized. “I wish I could have been more help.”
*Shrug* “It’s fine. Somebody else will save the kingdom. Probably… I just wish I had an easy way to get back to the Capital.”
“I might be able to assist you with that.” said Luke.
Luke rolled up his shirt and unbuckled his belt. Using one hand to hold his shirt he jammed the other hand down his pants.
“Hold on.” He grunted.
After a few seconds of concentrated searching he pulled a cloth sack out from behind his waistband. He set the sack on the table. There was a gentle rustling sound from inside. Luke turned the sack on its side and clattering of small gemstones bounced into the candlelight of the house.
“Are those… paid crystals?” Ash pointed to the gemstones.
“Is it your first time seeing them?” Ave snarked.
“Yes. I’m poor, not ignorant.” Came Ash’s re-snark.
“One does not exclude the other.” Followed Ave’s snark combo.
Mr Smithe stretched an arm out and grabbed one of the pebble sized stones in his hands. He held the translucent blue stone up to one eye and examined it. “Clear quality, distinct color, no imperfections, these must have maximum mana potential. Using these to perform extra summons would almost certainly get you top tiered results.” He counted the stones. “Five red, five blue, seven green, eleven orange, this is a small fortune. Where did you get all of these?”
Luke smirked. “As the Royal Summoner I had access to a considerable amount of resources. I may have taken a few when I was leaving the castle.”
“You stole these?” asked Ash.
“I know! I’m a criminal.” Luke collapsed face first onto the table. His exclamation was followed by several seconds of miserable moans.
Ash rolled his eyes.
Ave looked at the gems. “Why didn’t you bring them up before now?”
“I didn’t think it was important.” Luke replied.
“AaHhhnnn!…. I’m too sad to be angry.” She deflated.
Mr Smithe pondered to himself. “These gems are worth a lot. Every now and then I have to buy some for the shop when I need to summon without waiting for my mana to refresh. If you needed to, you could sell them to a Guild.”
Luke looked up from the table. “I had more, but I used them to pay for the carriage rides to get here.”
“How many more did you have?” The blacksmith asked.
“I don’t know. Maybe twice as many.” Luke shrugged.
“That many! And you spent half of them to pay the carriage drivers?”
“Is that a lot?”
“Luke my boy, do you… not know about money?”
Luke tried to pull his bangs in front of his eyes. “This is why I’m the wrong person to save a kingdom. I don’t even know what things cost anymore.”
The older man patted him on the shoulder. “Come now. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Today has been a day of education for all of us.”
“Shouldn’t you go home. Or at least find a shirt.” Ash shot across the table.
“I think that I might have left one here during a previous visit.” Mr Smithe replied.
“By the dark eye.” Ash rubbed his forehead. “I didn’t need to know that.”
Ash’s mother sat down at the table. “So what now? Sell the gems and retire to the countryside?”
Mr Smithe followed. “Or we could find an older house that’s on the market, fix it up, then flip it. I think there’s a mansion in town that’s been vacant for a few years.”
*Luke Groans*
“It would be nice to be back in the city.” Ms Sifter mused. “Somewhere with running water again.”
“Maybe a bathtub big enough for two.” Mr Smithe raised an eyebrow.
“Oh stop it you.” She chuckled.
“Nobody is retiring anywhere.” Ash grumbled. “We’re going to keep our heads down until the guards leave and hope that all of this demon nonsense blows over.”
“What about me?” Luke asked.
“I don’t know. We’ll cut your hair. Tell everyone that you’re my cousin. It’s been a few years so most people in town won’t recognize you. After the swords are gone we can smooth things over with the Mayor.”
“I guess that could work.” Luke murmured.
“Things will be fine. It’s not like anyone knows you’re here.”
*Knock*Knock*
There was a quick knocking on the door. Everyone inside turned and waited in silence.
A voice shouted from beyond the door. “Hello is there anyone inside?”
Luke whispered.
Ash hushed a reply.
The voice shouted again. “This is the Royal Guards! We are in the middle of an investigation and demand that you open up.”
Mr Smithe whispered to the others.
Ave crouched behind the table.
“We followed a trail of dead moths to this location.” Came the voice from the other side of the door. “Now open up immediately in the name of the King!”
Mr Smithe turned to Ash.