Arlie stretched zily as she slipped out of bed, a yawn leaving her lips. Honestly she hadn’t slept as well as she would have liked. Her dreams had been rather... troubled, each one more disturbing than the st.

  Looking out her window, she noted that most of the vilgers had already started their day. The sun had been up for a bit, and many got started at the crack of dawn. Usually, she was one of them, but she hadn’t felt like it with such poor sleep. Now it was past time she started her day. Sighing, she turned from the window and opened her wardrobe, a selection of clean mage robes was presented to her, along with folded panties and a few of her chest wraps. She also had some more casual clothing, but she wore that less often.

  Selecting a brown robe with light blue trim and silver stripes down each side, she began to get dressed. Pulling on a pin light blue pair of panties, which she secured with a ribbon, she then moved to wrapping her chest with a matching wrap. Once she was sure her boobs were secure and wouldn’t bounce too much, she donned the robe and pulled on a pair of dark socks. Finally she pulled on her boots and looked in her wardrobe mirror, she was almost presentable.

  Grabbing a brush, she went to work on her hair, there was no way she was going to go into public with bedhair this bad. As usual, however, her hair was most uncooperative preferring to do whatever it wanted instead. Eventually she managed to get into some sort of order thankfully, and she secured it with a ribbon, one that went well with her robe. Arlie smiled, now she looked good for her visit to the Santra family house, then her belly rumbled.

  With her body reminding her that she hadn’t eaten anything since st night, she hurried off to the kitchen. Checking her pantry, she had a few ingredients remaining but she’d have to visit the market sooner or ter. Opening her meat box, she checked on the meat she still had from the st hunt, the enchantments had thankfully kept it in good shape.

  It was about gone too, so she took her st cut and id it on her cutting board. Dicing it up, she set it aside, grabbed a few veggies which she also diced up before getting started on a broth. Before long the kitchen filled with the smell of cooking as a pot sat over her fire.

  While her stew cooked, she got started on making something to go with it. Pulling out some flour and the st few eggs she had in her pantry, she got started on some dough. When she had it at the right consistency, she lit the fire for her oven and shaped it into a loaf, before slipping it into the oven. Just then there was a banging on her door, “Miss Contrey!?”

  “Coming!” she shouted back, taking a moment to stir her stew so it wouldn’t burn and then lifting it up a notch. That way the fire wouldn’t be heating it as fast, giving her more time.

  Heading back into her main room, she passed her table and opened the front door. A familiar man stood in the doorway, he was older in years, his beard beginning to gray, but he was still rather healthy. When she noticed he wasn’t smiling, she frowned, “Something I can help you with Mr. Drato?”

  “Is Thron here?”

  “Um, no, haven’t seen him since yesterday...”

  The man groaned, “Gods damn that boy! Where the fuck is he!?”

  She gestured for him to come in, “Please come in, sit. I was just cooking my meal for the day, would you like some?”

  He sighed, “Sure, that doesn’t sound like a bad idea.”

  A few fingerspans ter they were seated at her table. Fresh bread y on a pte, the pot in the center and a bowl was in front of each of them. She took her own, and started, “Okay, so let’s start from the beginning. I take it Thron is missing? When did you see him st?”

  “Yesterday, the boy didn’t come home st night. I was hoping he was with you, you know he’s been smitten with you for years now.”

  She grimaced, “... I know.”

  “Oh, don’t give me that look. He can be a bit of an idiot at times, but I know he is a sweet boy at heart.”

  She looked away, then after a moment let out a breath, “So um, what was he talking about st time you saw him?”

  “Well you of course.”

  She blushed, “Another foolish pn to win my heart? What was it this time? He’s tried just about everything I can think of already and I keep telling him I’m not that interested.”

  “Honestly? He rather lost me at proving he had a hero’s heart. Something about...”

  Arlie froze, her mind fshing to another conversation she had just a couple of days ago. “He didn’t!”

  Mr Drato gave her a look, but she was already halfway out the door, “Do me a favor and put that stew in my pantry!”

  He called after her, but she was already rushing down the street. Several figures called out to her, but she only gave them hurried greetings as she made her way to the gate.

  One of the guards on duty, noticed her approach, “Morning Miss Contrey, going out?”

  “Maybe, I have a couple of questions, did Thron come through here yesterday?”

  “Sure did, he was talking a storm about the bandits up the road.”

  She sighed, “Of course he did, and did anyone see him come back?”

  “One moment, let me check.”

  Slumping heavily onto a bench off the side of the vil road, she waited. It wasn’t that long before another guard this time with fancy silver markings on his armor and a nice red beard came over. He smiled, “Morning Arlie. I hear you were asking after Thron?”

  “Hey Eric, do you know if he came back?”

  “I didn’t see him and none of my boys recall seeing him.”

  “I see,” she gnced at her feet, “Guess I’ll have to go find him.”

  “Sure, just let me round up a few of my boys. I was meaning to deal with that bandit camp myself.”

  “Alright, that gives me time to stop by the Santra house. I have something to deliver.”

  “Ah right, Mrs Santra is expecting again. I heard you were making her morning sickness potions.”

  “I finished them st night, should be good for a month and by then the worst of it should have passed.”

  “Alright then, I meet you here in a hand span?”

  “Sounds good!”

  After stopping by her house, and another quick chat with Mr Drato, she headed on to the Santra house. It wasn’t that different from many of the other houses in the vilge, built out of stone and timber with a cy tile roof.

  She walked up the steps, careful of the wonky step, and knocked twice on the old door. Almost instantly the door swung open, “Aunty Santra! How are we this fine morning?”

  “Morning Arlie, do come in,” responded Mrs Santra as she gestured her in. Arlie followed her in and noted the twins were both in. The two of them were busy maintaining their bows, and polishing their hunting leathers(leather hunting gear). She paused to take them in, they were just so... adorable. The pair of them were almost identical standing just over a hundred fifty centimeters tall with long red hair. They had both secured their hair with matching green ribbons which went well with the pale green dresses they were wearing. The clothing was rather light and did little to hide their lovely figures, they were slim with bodies shaped by years of hunting. Most people would have a hard time telling them apart but she’d grown up with them, they were practically sisters. They both had lovely faces but there were subtle differences, Rose’s face was just a tad rounder, her nose just a hair rger, her lips just a tad less full, and she had a cute little dimple. Lily on the other hand, had this adorable little birthmark just below her left eye.

  Rose looked up, “Morning Arlie, here with Mom’s potions?”

  She nodded, “Finished them st night. I was kinda hoping I could stay and catch up, but it seems Thron got himself into trouble again.”

  “When doesn’t he? What’d he do this time?”

  “Sounds like he went after the bandits alone.”

  Lily sighed as she restrung her bow, and began testing it, “Of course he did, want us to come help?”

  “Eric was getting a few of his boys together and I was pnning to join them. Some extra company however would be welcome.”

  Auntie Santra chuckled, “Be careful girls, and listen to Eric.”

  Rose tossed her dress aside, revealing her lithe figure to the world. Arlie couldn’t help looking at her smooth skin, the mounds of her small breasts, and the lovely shape of her hips. The girl was just so cute.

  Rose looked her way and giggled before grabbing her hunting leathers and underclothing. Putting each piece on with slow deliberate care, Arlie gulped. Nearby Auntie Santra giggled, “Well I’ll leave you girls to have fun.”

  Arlie watched her go with the satchel of potions now in hand. Then turned her full focus back on the twins, Lily had joined her sister in getting dressed. Part of her knew they were putting a bit of a show on, but she enjoyed it nonetheless. In moments they were both dressed, the hunting leathers included long leather gloves, and sturdy boots. The main outfit was a leather vest with a nice skirt, under which each girl was wearing long tights.

  The outfit was meant more to repel branches and thorns than to protect from any kind of weaponry, still she thought the twins looked downright sexy in their hunting leathers. They strapped on a brace of knives, secured a quiver to their hips, strung and tested their bows real quick, and then vanished to get some supplies.

  Moments ter the twins were ready. Rose spoke first, “Ready to hunt some bandits?”

  “Got enough arrows?”

  Lily counted, “Full quiver each, all with steel tips.”

  “Oh? Nice,” commented Arlie.”

  As they headed out the door, “Horon made them, part of his apprenticeship. Good work honestly, can’t tell the difference from his dad’s.”

  “Well I always thought he’d be the better bcksmith. Shame about his hammer.”

  The two giggled, as the three of them chatted happily on their way to the gate. It was always fun when they were together.

  Eric was waiting for them with a full squad of the town guard in full armor. “Morning girls, you three are just in time. Got everything you need?”

  Arlie took the lead, “We do, I even brought some potions just in case we might need them.”

  “Good thinking girl, but I’m sure we will need your other skills more.”

  “Oh?”

  “Bandits are holed up in an old fort down the road. With you around, it won’t be too hard to kick in the door and flush ‘em out.”

  “I do know a couple of siege spells. Sure, if you cover me while I am chanting. I can break the gate down.”

  One of the guards looked kinda new, he frowned, “I haven’t really worked with the missy before. Mind letting me know what kind of spells she can use?”

  “I can do that myself, I’m a qualified High Mage, I have high affinities for Lightning and Fire, with a lesser affinity for Earth. I also carry the family blessing for Shadow. I know all the standard Lightning and Fire spells, but I tend to favor spells like Lightning Strike and the more powerful Lightning Burst. As for the siege spells we need, I know the spell Sor Burst, a powerful fire aligned spell that brings down a bolt of fire from the heavens.”

  “That sounds pretty impressive, but forgive me for asking but what does High Mage even mean?”

  “Mages are ranked by their ability. At the very lowest, you have Apprentice mages, these are the boys and girls just learning magic, and at the very top you have the Master Archmages, the cream of the crop. Anyway, when a mage graduates from being an Apprentice, they become a Low Mage, all you need for that is to master a single spell. Mid mages however are where you start getting the real mages, they should understand the basics of magical theory, have a strong understanding of at least one element, and have mastery of at least three spells. High Mages however, well to qualify as one you need to be able to cast Advanced Spells. Sor Burst for example is an Advanced Spell.”

  “Thanks for crifying that for me, Missy. I’m Larry, just got here from Arcs and can’t say I’ve worked with many mages before.”

  “Arlie, and it’s alright. Gd you asked the question, some of the previous guards needed correcting.”

  Eric ughed, “Correcting she says,” he ughed some more, then gestured to the gate, “Come on boys, those bandits won’t clear themselves.”

  The group fell into formation. Arlie and the twins were in the middle. Larry and two buddies took up the rear, and Eric led the group out into the woods.