Sacred Blessings

Explanation : Relaxation

Our story picks up shortly after the small discussion in the gate room. Now Hunter and Tana are sitting in front of the counter at the guild, at the end, where they serve food and drinks to the adventurers. Meradith is serving them mugs of water. Liliana was sitting up on the corner of the bar, just around the end of the corner, looking over her shoulder while speaking with Hunter. There are a few other adventurers in the hall as well, including Gut, who noticed them coming from the gate room.

"So, Hunter, tell me. How did you make it down to floor 15?", asks Liliana, "And I see you have a new friend as well."

"Yeah, you could say that.", remarks Hunter, "This is Tana, my familiar."

"Tana, this is Meridith and Liliana. She's the guildmaster.", he remarks, pointing at Liliana.

"She's your familiar?", exclaims Liliana, "I knew you were a special kid but this is something else."

"Yeah, we met in the room before the boss room on level 25.", says Hunter, "She was quite strong. I almost couldn't stop her without hurting her too badly. The reason I didn't want to hurt her was because she was the first dungeon creature I found who could speak."

"I see. WAIT YOU MET ON LEVEL 24?!?!", exclaimed Liliana so loudly that anyone who was paying any mind to them surely heard, "But how on earth did you end up that far down? I'm almost surprised to see you again if what you say is true..."

Hunter continued to explain how the whole ordeal had unfolded. Meanwhile, Gut, who had been watching them all since they entered from the backroom, began to approach them. Tana, who noticed Gut moving closer, was now very close to Hunter because she could sense that he wasn't very fond of Hunter. Hunter could tell that Tana was feeling a bit of anxiety and, as to comfort her, he grasped her hand that had been holding onto his sash.

"So, I see you made it back kid. We were just about to send a search party in after you.", said Gutt, "Mare almost lost her head when you didn't return after the first day."

"Yes, we just returned from the Underground City's Guild as you can see.", says Hunter, "Oh yes, Meradith, the guild master, Liliana asked that you come and talk to her sometimes. She said not to be a stranger."

"Oh my, hah so Liliana was the one to send you back, I see.", Meradith says as she is almost laughing and rubbing the back of her head, "I hope she was polite to you two, she can be over the top sometimes. She's quite a spectacle sometimes."

They continued to talk for a while, not saying much, asking generic questions about Hunter's Expedition and how his experience was on the lower floors. Afterward, Hunter and Lana say goodbye to Meradith and Gutt, and they return to the home in which Hunter hasn't seen for almost a week. Everything seemed to be as he had left it, nothing lying out of place, the grass along the path had grown considerably since his departure for the dungeon. Hunter walked up the path to his home, and rummaged through his pockets along the way to the door. As he arrived at the door, he managed to find the key which was tied to a small leather strap. The key was oblong in shape and had 6 teeth, 3 on either side. When Hunter put the key in the door, you could hear the old tumbler clicking open and shut around the teeth as it slid into the lock. Hunter gave it a slight jiggle once it was all the way in and gave it a sharp but light turn and the door was unlocked. Hunter returned the key to his pocket and jigged open the front door. Inside, the dust had settled on some things around the house. Hunter, being blind, wasn't great at cleaning, to begin with.

"We are home, Tana. Open the window, if you need. There are candles in the pantry if there isn't enough daylight left", says Hunter, "When you are finished, tell me what you would like to eat."

"Some meat would be awesome!", exclaims Tana, "But anything will do, master."

Tana's tail was waiving back and forth swaying with excitement at the thought of "surface" meat for dinner. Hunter was puzzled at the thought of what to make for dinner. While Tana opened the windows and lit candles, Hunter readied the dishes. He decided to make curry for dinner, which he figured Tana had never eaten before because she had lived her life in the dungeon. Hunter got the carrots, onions, potatoes, and pork ready to dice. The rice will be prepared later, and will be cooked in the rice cooker. For now, he began cutting, peeling, and dicing the vegetables accordingly. After that, he poured all the vegetables into a pot, added water, and set it to boil. In the meantime, Hunter prepared the meat as well as seasoning and searing it before adding it to the pot as well. He added the spices and began to wash the rice and transferred it to the rice cooker.

"Tana, how are things coming along on your end?", asks Hunter while he is stirring the pot, "Shouldn't be long now."

"I am almost finished.", says Tana as she is placing silverware, "Finishing setting the table now."

"Good deal.", says Hunter, "Bring some plates this way. The food will be done shortly."

"Here they are!", says Tana eagerly holding the plates near Hunter, "They are just near you. Hold out your hand and I'll give it to you."

Dinner was served, Hunter, who had prepared dinner, was stacking the dishes and setting them on the side. Tana slid away from the table, scooping up the dishes and taking them to the sink to quickly wash them. While she was accomplishing that, Hunter began cleaning his gear and putting it away in the closet nearest the door. After that was finished, he began making a fire in the fireplace, a small one just enough to keep the little home warm. The fire would also be used in the morning to make some coffee. Tana had finished the dishes by the time he had stoked the fire efficiently. She began to make preparations for bed, placing the pillows accordingly so as to put herself near the wall. After she finished that, she also got ready for bed. She removed her gear and cleaned it before stowing it in the same closet as Hunter's. Hunter, who was now sitting on the rug near the fire, signaled for her to come sit near him. She does so eagerly, laying her head in his lap as her legs collided with the rug. Hunter giggled a little as he looked down at her happily laying in his lap.

"Tana, we have some work to do tomorrow. First things first I think we should go make some cash.", says Hunter, "You need some gear and we need some food. Winter will be coming soon it seems."

"Sounds good master!", says Tana, "Though, I don't need much in the way of gear. You needn't worry about me.."

"Nonsense, it would make me look terrible if you didn't have decent clothing for winter.", exclaims Hunter, "We won't get much, just the essentials. Now c'mon off to bed."

Hunter motions for Tana to get in first. He then went and turned off the lamps around the house, starting with the furthest one. He then turned the one off near the bed as he got there. He pulled the covers back and got in. They both tossed and turned for a bit before they finally ended up in the position they fell asleep in. Tana was lying on top of Hunter as if he were a body pillow. They drift off to sleep, soundly at home.