Challenge #02048-E224: Small Miracle in a Bathhouse
I will follow you to the ends of the Earth with only mild complaining -- TheDragonsFlame
[AN: Callback to this because I like the concept]
So many miracles happened in Wraithvine's wake. But then, one could expect that sort of thing from an actual wizard. For a start, Wraithvine could make a gesture and everyone would not see her as a Kobold any more. They would see a Halfling, or a Gnome, or a Dwarf, or an Elven or Human child. It was so good that it even fooled Thief when she saw a mirror in a shop.
Wraithvine insisted on trying names on for size. As a ragged patch who looked like a child, they tried 'Waif', which was close enough to a description that it fit Thief. As a Gnome, she became Dawn. As a Dwarf, Agate. And finally, when she looked like a Halfling, she was called Tinglerang. But that didn't stop Thief from looking at her true reflection and still thinking of herself as Thief.
But baths? Thief could really get to enjoy baths. Baths, soft beds, and quality ale. These were the things that were the most miraculous to Thief. That and not being shot at for walking down the street. Thief... felt happy. And that was a big deal for her. And still, this functionally immortal wizard wanted to give Thief her fondest and sincerely humble dreams.
Figuring out how to express her gratitude out loud was something she'd been working on. Between adventures trying to gain the gold to get to Thief's goal, between gathering spell components and potions so that they could survive the next random encounter, dungeon crawl, or dangerous beast hunt. And, as Thief was quickly discovering, the bath was the best place to think.
Thief peeked over the side of her metal tub to where Wraithvine was immersed up to the neck in theirs. The wizard's body shape and gender were a mystery that Thief didn't care to solve. "Wraithvine?" she said.
"Mmrrrrp?" Wraithvine coughed a little and said, "Yes?"
She could say this. She'd been working on it for weeks. "I will follow you to the ends of the Earth with only mild complaining."
A wry smile. A chuckle. "Thank you. I'm fond of you, too." The Elf shifted position in the milky water. "How do you feel about... Chrysanthemum?"
"That's a fancy name. It seems... too glittery."
"You should try it on in the next town. See if it feels right. And for the record, it's a rather frilly flower. You can shorten it to Chrys. Or Mum. Nobody's ever shortened it to Anthe."
Thief the Nobody thought about all the things nobody did. Nobody cared about a thief. Nobody owed gratitude to a Kobold. Nobody thought to name an orphan thief. And nobody had ever grown to love an androgynous Elf Wizard with an interesting approach to life. "Next town... I think Lady Anthe might be a good person to be."
And nobody could think that an orphan Kobold from the gutters could play a Lady of any kind.
Good thing that they weren't nobodies.
[Image (c) Can Stock Photo / Veneratio]
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