Kaia was still standing in the wreckage of her room when the door slammed open with a force that made her flinch.
The innkeeper, now looking even more annoyed than before (if that was even possible), stormed in like a thundercloud with a broom. Her eyes narrowed at the mess, and her hands were on her hips in an all-too-familiar stance that said, "You've done it now, kid."
Kaia was really starting to regret this whole "one night in a bed" thing.
"Do you have any idea what you've done?" the innkeeper barked, her voice practically vibrating with frustration. "This room looks like a magic storm ran through it! The bed's broken, half the furniture's gone, there are holes in the walls, and don't even get me started on the carpet! This is unacceptable!"
Kaia winced. "Okay, I'll admit that things got a little... out of hand." She gave the innkeeper an apologetic smile, but she wasn't entirely sure if it would help. "You wouldn't believe the night I had. Bandits. Swamp monsters. A bunch of time magic. It's all very complicated."
"Bandits?!" the innkeeper shouted, as though that were the final straw. "You're telling me you invited trouble into this inn, and now it looks like a battle happened inside?"
"I didn't invite anyone!" Kaia snapped. "They snuck in. I had to fight them! I'm not an expert at this... yet."
The innkeeper looked like she was trying very hard not to scream. "Do you realize how much this is going to cost you?!"
Kaia swallowed hard. She was starting to feel like the universe was collectively punishing her for being slightly too overconfident.
"Listen," she said quickly, "I can fix this, okay? Just give me a minute." She reached into her bag and pulled out her newly-earned Jewels.
The innkeeper narrowed her eyes as Kaia carefully counted out 3,000 Jewels everything she'd gotten from the bandits, plus a little extra she'd been saving up. The innkeeper's expression softened only slightly as Kaia handed over the money.
"3,000 Jewels," the innkeeper said, sighing in exasperation as she accepted the payment. "This is going to cover repairs, but it's not going to fix your reputation around here. You'll be lucky if anyone in Dallira ever lets you stay at an inn again."
Kaia gave her an awkward grin. "I'll make sure to leave the swamp monsters at home next time."
With that, the innkeeper's face softened just enough to reveal the slightest hint of amusement. "Just no more destruction, alright? For your own sake."
Kaia nodded quickly. "Understood. No more destruction."
As she turned to leave the room, the innkeeper added, "You'd better hope no one finds out you're the one responsible for all this mess. You'll have more bandits to deal with than you can deal with."
Kaia gulped. "Noted."
Kaia watched as the innkeeper grabbed both bandits still unconscious and slung them over her shoulder like it was no big deal. The woman was a force of nature, and Kaia couldn't help but wonder what she was planning on doing with the two bumbling thieves.
The innkeeper gave Kaia a single, icy glance before she turned and exited the room with the bandits in tow, as though nothing out of the ordinary had just happened.
Kaia blinked after her, speechless. "...Okay. Don't mess with that woman."
[Note: Avoid poking the bear. She's stronger than you think.]
Kaia nodded absently. "I got that, Styme. Loud and clear."
She took a long look around the room. It was now devoid of two bandits, one bed, and about half of the furniture. The carpet was burnt, the walls were marked with scorch marks, and the door was hanging loosely on its hinges.
She sighed.
"I really need to stop doing that."
It wasn't long before Kaia, having successfully paid her dues to the innkeeper, made her way back to her bed, which was now nothing more than a broken heap of fabric and wood. She slumped back down, already feeling the weight of the day catch up with her. Despite the chaos, she was strangely content. The mission was complete. She'd earned Jewels. She'd fought bandits. And—after all—she survived.
Her stomach growled. "I should probably eat something before I pass out."
The next morning, Kaia woke up with a slight headache but an overwhelming sense of surprise.
The sun was streaming through the window, and the village was quiet again. The damage to her room had been somewhat repaired nothing too major, but enough for her to not feel like she had completely wrecked the place.
She stretched and yawned. The room smelled faintly of cleaning magic, and the bed while still not in its pristine condition felt surprisingly comfortable.
"Not bad," she muttered, rubbing her eyes. "Could use more pillows, though."
[Do you need another quest? Because we can totally arrange that.]
Kaia groaned, sitting up and massaging her temples. "Not today, Styme. I need a real break."
She sat up and looked around the room, scanning it carefully. Despite the earlier disaster, it was good to be in a safe, warm place for once. As much as Kaia loved the adrenaline rush of adventuring, there were days when even she craved peace and normalcy. Or at least a bit of time to catch her breath.
Her eyes landed on the Gear Voucher the system had given her the night before. She reached for it and examined the glowing ticket.
Gear Voucher
Redeemable in any major city.
Good for one enchanted item of moderate quality.
Kaia squinted. "Moderate quality, huh? Well, let's see what I can get with this."
After breakfast and a quick, but much-needed shower, Kaia was ready to tackle the world outside. She pulled on a new set of clothes (thankfully, the inn provided some decent traveler's gear in exchange for her Jewels), but she wasn't exactly feeling like a seasoned adventurer. She still looked like she'd been dragged through a swamp, albeit less swampy than before.
It was time to fix that.
Her reflection in the mirror caught her eye. She could finally see herself properly. The mess in her hair had been tamed somewhat and she had a new sense of purpose. A new attitude.
"Alright," she said, grinning at her reflection. "Time to become the mage I was meant to be."
Kaia walked out into the bustling streets of Dallira. The village was small, but it still had its charm. People were greeting each other, haggling for goods, and generally getting on with their day. But Kaia wasn't here to blend in. She had a mission.
[Mission: Looking Awesome.]
She stopped at the first decent-looking shop she could find. The shopkeeper an older woman with a sharp eye , eyed her with a discerning gaze, like she was about to judge Kaia's entire life choices based on the look of her boots.
"Can I help you?" the shopkeeper asked.
Kaia lifted her chin confidently. "I need a new look."
By the time Kaia finished shopping, she had a brand-new outfit that screamed adventurer chic with just enough flair to keep it magical. A high-collared black coat with neon blue trim, silver buckles, and a long, tattered cape that billowed dramatically behind her. She also had new combat boots with arcane sigils etched into the soles and fingerless gloves that pulsed with magic.
Her hair? Wildly asymmetrical, just like she liked it midnight blue locks streaked with silver. She finished it off with a dragon fang earring and a glowing mechanical bracer on her wrist still unsure of what it did, but it looked cool.
Kaia looked in the mirror.
"Yeah," she said with a grin. "I look cool."
With her new look and fresh resolve, Kaia was ready. Ready for the journey ahead. She wasn't going to be just another face in the crowd.
She was going to be someone.
She adjusted her coat, checking the contents of her bag one last time.
"Onward, Magnolia."