We decide not to keep the mayor waiting for too long, but spend a couple more minutes resting first. By now the air has grown from its early morning chill into quite the warm afternoon, filled with the bustle of lively chatter of townspeople rebuilding and returning to their lives. The cheery laughter and occasional screams of children playing in the grassy commons just behind us fills the air, sometimes harshly so. Kids screaming at just the right pitch to be maximally irritating to the ear is just one of life`s universal constants.

　　After soaking in the freshness of the air melded with Sammy`s subtle fragrance of blueberry-scented soap a bit longer, the two of us get up and chase down the guard who, despite searching himself into an exasperated panic, never noticed that the two of us had been sitting mere paces away for some time. Maybe he was never given a description of who to look for? A case of prosopagnosia? Not a great trait for a guard, but it doesn`t really matter.

　　Sammy walks a couple paces behind me as we approach - I wish our positions were reversed, but she`ll gain confidence in time.

　　"Are you two the ones who needed to meet with the Mayor?" he asks.

　　"We are," I say. "Ashley Lancaster and Samantha Relford, here to report to Mayor Rozziari on a successful mission."

　　"Wonderful. Please, this way."

　　Sammy still seems tense, walking behind this male guard, though she isn`t quite on guard as earlier. She was so jumpy earlier that I was worried she was going to unload every point of magic she had in a single burst. Thank heavens she didn`t; we weren`t surviving those fights without her. I turn back and smile, and her face lights up for a moment, though she looks back down soon after.

　　We arrive back in the administrative building to little fanfare and are escorted back to the Mayor`s office with hardly any of the other workers taking notice. Several people are engaged in tense conversations about damages and insurance payouts and any number of complications, while the Mayor is sitting in his office, eyebrows furrowed, poring over complex legal forms I want no part of. Though his expression changes from frustration to relief and his eyes show a hint of excitement as he spots the two of us walk in.

　　"Greetings again to the both of you," he says.

　　I shake his hand though Samatha sheepishly steps back, hiding behind me.

　　"Please, forgive her," I say. "Though the day is only half over, it`s been a long road of tribulations for us the past couple of days, and we`re still somewhat worn out from our earlier battles."

　　"You needn`t apologize. You two are the town`s saviors. Not just once, but twice."

　　I interject. "Before you start a cliche diatribe about how can we ever repay you,` I will remind you that I`ve already laid out the precise terms of our arrangement." Maybe a bit rude, but I`m tired and he looks busy - skipping the formalities benefits us both.

　　The mayor turns to the side and whispers something into his secretary`s ear, and I get a moment to take a good look at him. He wears a simple brown tunic, though one embellished with numerous insignia. One of them is a seal for the town of Rigatoni, which does, amusingly enough, look much like its eponymous pasta shape - a cute detail. Others seem to depict some of the guilds present in town, while others I can`t discern. He`s probably around forty-five, a few wrinkles, especially on his forehead, with short, salt-and-pepper hair, slicked back a bit much for my taste. Not that there`s such a thing as a man I have a taste for, but this man`s hair is positively gaudy by anyone`s standards - a hair-don`t if ever I saw one!

　　"My assistant will be back with the money shortly. 14,000 dols for the two of you, with the remaining 4,000 to cover the costs of finding and recovering the other three adventurers. Or their bodies, as the case may be."

　　"Thank you," I say. That`s still 4,000 dols more than you get in the game, and it seems in poor taste to push for anything more. "With that said, might I inquire as to the other half of our request?"

　　"Of course, Miss." He trails off, probably forgetting my name. "I have prepared a letter of introduction for you. Simply present it to the guildmaster and I`m sure they can sort out the details. Now then, I apologize for my curt demeanor, especially all the work you two have done for our fair town, but I must return to administrative matters. May the goddess`s fortune happen upon you both."Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

　　With a nod, the two of us take our leave and head toward the northern edge of town. The aroma of various foodstuffs fills the air and sends my stomach into a frenzy. I`m reminded that breakfast was several hours ago and with all the ruckus, neither of us ate lunch. Part of me wants to hurry on to the guildhall and get started toward the next steps of my master plan, though, the second roar of my stomach and Sammy`s insistent pleading working in tandem win me over. Not that it was that difficult.

　　We end up in a small establishment, and after a brief wait to be seated during the lunchtime rush, I end up ordering saut閑d veal cutlets while Sammy gets a house salad with goat cheese, tomatoes, and a couple other toppings I`m not sure even exist on Earth. Thankfully, the wait is pretty quick before we get our food, and it`s not long before I go full vacuum cleaner on my meal.

　　Sammy looks at me with a sense of dread and anticipation as I wolf down bite after savory, delicious bite. I`m not sure if it`s quite as good as her mother`s cooking, but both are far and away better than anything I`ve ever had on Earth. As Sammy was explaining while waiting to order, the rugged, mountainous terrain around Rigatoni, coupled with the temperate climate, produce lands ideal for the raising of goats and sheep. And stopping to taste my lunch, I have every reason to believe her.

　　She eats at a more leisurely pace, one appropriate for civilized people. One which does not fill the other patrons with a mix of morbid curiosity and existential horror at how one woman could eat so quickly or so much.

　　"Are& are you okay, Ash?"

　　I finally restrain the ravenous pangs roaring from within me long enough to notice the onlookers at the tables next to me, and shrink into my chair, taking a small sip of water as my face turns red with shame and embarrassment alike. It`s been& what& six months since the last time I`ve eaten out. No, Ash, resist the urge to make such an innuendo!

　　"I`m okay, Sammy. Just absolutely famished." I take a deep breath and another sip of water. "And I`m sorry, for making such a scene."

　　Sammy giggles and I`m left confused, wondering what I said that was so funny. Don`t tell me that she gained some sort of telepathy spell that`s not in the game. If she& ugh, I think I wanna die! Again!

　　"You`re pretty funny, Ash. I`m just a little surprised, is all. You said that you were a traveler, but the way you eat, some of the things you say and do. They make you seem like you`re experiencing all of these things for the first time."

　　She sighs; her voice takes on a more wistful tone. "And yet, for every time you do something silly, you`ll then come up with some brilliant observation, some insight that always proves true. It feels like you`ve been here before, but at the same time, you haven`t. Like you know what`s going to happen, like you`ve seen the future. I think that`s why I know that traveling with you was the right call. I didn`t know it at the time, but I think some part of me knew that I was supposed to go on this adventure. That we were supposed to travel together this way, preordained by some force greater than either of us. Maybe even the hand of the goddess herself."

　　I shudder - Sammy`s way more astute than I gave her credit for; not quite right, but not far off either. Though, if the goddess of this world intentionally had me killed off to reincarnate me here, I`m going to have some serious questions for her when next we meet. The very thought feels like such a violation, divine coercion, and yet, if I`m the only one who can save this world, I should want to. The moral quandaries are too much, and I set them aside as I struggle to respond to Sammy`s comments.

　　"I told you that I`m from somewhere really far away, right?"

　　Sammy nods.

　　"Something brought me here, though I still don`t know exactly what, or why. I don`t know when, or even if I`ll ever be able to go back home, so far away it is. All that I do know is that I want to make the most of the time I have here, traveling with you. And use these insights I have to try to make the road ahead as smooth as I can. For the both of us."

　　Sammy blushes. "That`s kinda romantic, when you say things like that."

　　My cheeks are now redder than they were while the entire restaurant had eyes on me, and though I try to utter words of protestation, only muttered syllables escape my lips, and Sammy`s laughter leaves me dumbfounded. I can only sigh, shake my head, and accept defeat. 49 strength, a weapon with 70 attack, both of those be damned; in this situation, I am as powerful as the mewling kitten staring down a roaring lion. I bow my head, hoping that Sammy might spare the last shreds of my dignity with whatever follow-up she has planned. But she only reaches out and caresses my hand, smiling.

　　"I don`t know much about all those things you sometimes talk about, Ash. Where you`re from, what that place is like, or even where it is. Your words are so& strange, like there`s a big secret you don`t feel comfortable telling me. But that`s okay. I just want you to know that I really have enjoyed traveling with you thus far. And I hope we can continue to do so for a long time, until we finally find a way to get you home."

　　I can only smile and nod, her words so full of sincerity and compassion, her soul truly too good for this Calamity-stricken world. "Thank you, Sammy. I`d like that a lot."

　　Now fully satisfied, and ready to leave before my embarrassment has a third chance to crescendo, I pull out 500 dol, unsure as to the precise tipping customs or lack thereof in this land, and lay it on the table, feeling reasonably confident that this is sufficient to cover all charges. Sammy and I glance at one another, our eyes meeting, and our mutual gaze remaining transfixed upon one another for several seconds before I break our shared glance and beckon her off. The guild hall awaits, and with it, our next opportunity for a big burst of strength. Strength that we need to learn to control. And strength that will serve us well in the challenges still ahead. The first star shard is not far - our first concrete step toward ending the world`s great Calamity.