Aurelia flies down to the sky. Luckily, her wings were not a decoration or just to be cool
The morning has already arrived, and we are ready to break up camp.
During the day, I can see we are on a snowy field with mountains to the north and woods surrounding us. But I have no idea where we are. Aurelia went up to scout from the sky.
"I can fly too..." Karina says.
"Not further than 3 meters."
"Then hurry up and get me levels!" She crosses her arms. "So unthankful."
So far, she has not done much...
"Oi!" Aurelia greets when she lands.
She falls like a meteorite and raises a ton of dirt, creating a cloud.
"Scouting completed, boss!"
"Couldn't you land softly?! *Cough!*" I try to vent some of the clouds out of my face with my hand.
"I would not make a scene," Karina says, unbothered by the cloud.
She already is...
"I already scouted our surroundings! We have a town!" Aurelia points at herself with her thumb.
She is not answering the question.
"I can take you there."
"Let's go. Maybe there is a bank and a temple to remove the curse in those pants."
"Are you sure you shouldn't deal with that curse in your fashion sense?" Karina says.
"What is wrong with my fashion sense?"
I look down at my clothes... I did not check them when I put them on.
I am not a fashion designer or someone who knows about it. But I hate it.
The shirt is white, the pants are a dirty pink color, and the boots are literal combat boots. Nothing matches and it looks like a complete mess, like I threw myself in clothes and saw what stuck.
Not too different from my way of choosing clothes on Earth.
"God dammit, and a tailor," I mention.
"Well, if you don't like those pants, why not remove them?"
Aurelia gets close to me and tries to pull them down. "Let's allow that cute butt breath!"
I don't attempt anything.
"I said... out!" She screams, attempting harder.
"Hey, not that-Ugh!" She manages to throw me to the ground.
In one second, I find myself with my face against the ground.
"Hey, if you're going to present yourself to me at least do it without pants!" She yells, still attempting to pull them out. "These pants are broken!"
"They are cursed, stop! You are actually hurting me!"
I hate my life...
*********************************************************************************
While walking to the town that Aurelia mentioned, the memories of last night continue playing through my mind.
Through my mind, many explanations of what happened. Why did Orianna betray me? Is something I did in the game I cannot remember? Or do they have a bigger agenda?
The other element that is making me tense is what was that curse?
[Curse of Ignorance Time Left: Inf]
[XP Gain is blocked.]
There is no explanation for how to remove it. I got it when I was stabbed.
And I don't remember seeing a system notification indicating damage. I got stabbed directly and thrown to the ground.
...
If only I were more careful.
Kathrina would be safe.
"Calm your breathing," Aurelia says and places her hand on my shoulder.
Not easy to do. But the touch manages to ground me.
*********************************************************************
"Here we are!" Aurelia indicates, pointing to the town we are approaching.
We walked for several hours. The sun moved, and it must be around midday already.
The town is not as big as the capital. I am trying to recognize it.
I can see a tower in the middle, a small castle on a hill. A temple was visible.
I look around, trying to find any landmarks.
Towns were always close to a river, even when the town was not built on it. I can see one that goes into a big lake. In the middle, an island with a destroyed castle.
"Lakemar," I remember the name of the town.
We are still in the kingdom's territory, but we are way north, right at the limit. Several days of travel to the capital.
"Is that how this human town is called? I bet I can take it over." Aurelia says.
"Don't do anything stupid," I ask her. "I have enough problems with this curse."
"Hey! Master! Maybe you can find some runes made of gems? I deserve a decoration, don't you think?" Karina spoke, placing herself in front of me with an innocent smile.
I know that smile is just to make me agree.
But runes and decorations? That is a good idea. They are a good way to improve an item with enchantments and modifiers. Most of the items I had before getting robbed had several chosen runes, mostly to not have to search for equipment with specific resistances.
The guards outside the town don't stop us. It is different from what happened in the capital. So we just walk by and-
"Look at that Vulpin!" One of the guards says.
"Did someone steal from her? Why is she dressed like that?"
They start to laugh.
I grunt and walk faster.
"Hey! Did you say something about my boss?" Aurelia turns towards them.
"A-A dragonkin?!" They just noticed her.
"I was told to stay calm," she summons her scythe, "but if you are going to talk bad about her looks, I will-H-hey!"
I grab her by the tail and pull her into town.
"Don't cause trouble!"
"H-hey, d-don't pull that! Is s-sensible!" She says as I get inside with her.
I stop her from causing problems. I don't need more situations giving me more headaches than the ones I have right now.
I ask an old man where the bank is, and he tells me where to go.
"Bank? How much money are we talking about?" Aurelia asks.
"I have a couple of million."
That answer catches both girls by surprise.
"Whaaaat?!" Both screams.
"We are fixing the mess you have for clothing!" Aurelia says.
"I am getting new decorations!" Yells Karina.
I am just trying to get back on my feet...
As we move, people look at us. Mostly at Aurelia. A Vulpin is rare in these parts. A Dragonkin is even rarer. Kids point at her, and she gives them a creepy smile that makes them run away.
I hit her in the head.
"Ouch! That hurt!"
"Stop that!"
We reach the bank that is near the park. When I enter, a Felin, a catgirl with pink hair, approaches us.
"Welcome to Lakemar's Royal Bank branch! How can I be of service?"
"Hi... eehhh..." How does this work in real life? "I need to withdraw..."
"Of course!" She nods and smiles, and a screen appears in front of her, similar to the system. "Let me check your account and tell me how much-"
She pauses the moment I am about to tell her the amount. I plan to take a few hundred thousand to buy some stuff.
"Excuse me, but your account access has been blocked."
...
"WHAT?!" I scream.