Cinnamon Bun Chapter Three Hundred and Eighty - The Wedding Trackers

Chapter Three Hundred and Eighty - The Wedding Trackers

We regrouped in the parlour on the floor above, where the older mbers of the Exploration Guild were gathered around, drinking and reminiscing and doing whatever it was old folk did when they were put together in a room and left to their own devices.

So, what does that leave us with? Caprica asked.

It leaves you with a potential location, Willowbud said. An unspecified wedding, presumably sowhere on the continent.

Har har, Amaryllis said, clearly unamused. That wedding could be anywhere. Were not exactly tied into the social networks of most countries, so if its going to take place in the Trenten Flats or the Harpy Mountains, then we wont know for a good long while.

Ah, we have a titable, Awen said.

We glanced at her.

The weapons need to arrive, right? So we know that Rainnewts plan probably involved waiting for them to get there. When were they going to be shipped?

It looked like the Baron was hard at work nagging the manufacturers to move faster, Caprica said. Good point, Awen, that does give us a small window. We know this wedding probably isnt tomorrow. The further out it is, the further away the wedding will be, to account for the weapons necessary travel ti.

Not that helpful, Calamity said. Uh, no offence ant, Awen. Good idea and all, just we still dont know the when.

We could ask the crew of the ships the baron hired. Thatll give us a more accurate picture, Amaryllis said. Unless those guys have already left town. Or if they were planning on transferring the goods to another ship along the way. It might still give us a rough heading. Not every port ships to every location, so we can probably assu the most convenient routes are the ones Vonowl was planning on using. That barely narrows it down.

Willowbud shrugged. Well continue to question the baron.

Bah, bring him to the forge, Ill roast that chicken for a few hours and then well see if he talks, Tharval said.

Willowbud patted the dwarf on the head, which seed to really insult him. No Tharval, we wont torture the idiot noble, no matter how tempting. When our adversaries sink, we swim.

I listened to the conversation going on around , the back and forth and the friendly bickering, and I just soaked it all in. It was tense, but not bad.

While my friends talked, I debated over Social Butterfly.

The skill seed really nice to have. It was what I aspired to be, in a way. A person who could make friends easily. Maybe I didnt want to rely too much on a skill for that, but it didnt seem too dishonest to have a bit of help. After all, my other skills also helped make friends.

Cleaning helped by making it so that I wasnt stinky when I t new people, for example, and that was important for socialising and I wouldnt consider it a cheat.

Losing so of my other skills for Social Butterfly would hurt a little though. Matchmakings... matchmaking part wasnt super interesting to , but the way it helped with small fire spells was nice. Tea making was a great buffing skill, even if I probably didnt use it to its full potential.

Really, the big loss was Dancing. It was, strangely enough, one of my main combat skills. It allowed to have a more sure footing and to dance around opponents and predict their moves. It was super useful!

Then again, I had Way of the Mystic Bun now, which did sothing similar.

It would also free up so class skill slots. Dancing was a Cinnamon Bun Bun class skill, Tea Making was a Wonderlander skill, and both Matchmaking and Politeness were generals. With one new skill Id open up three slots for new, shinier skills.

And then there was the winged elephant in the room.

Would Social Butterfly eventually give butterfly wings?

I looked at Caprica, who had big, fluttery faerie wings on her back. They were pretty, a translucent, pale-blue film stretched over spar-like veins. They reminded a little of stained glass. Careful and delicate and obviously very magical. Caprica might have been a rather tiny woman, but she still had to weigh too much for those wings to give her lift.

Maybe?

High school physics class was a while ago. Still, I rembered that thing about bee wings not being able to lift them up, even though they clearly did anyway. Maybe this was sothing like that? Or maybe it was just magic.

In any case, I wouldnt mind being a bun with wings!

Broccoli? Awen asked.

Hmm? Oh, sorry, I was distracted by sothing. Whats up? I asked.

Ah, we were going to go get so food, Awen said. and Calamity. She waved a little piece of paper around. Did you want sothing?

Oh? Ill go with you! I said. Need to get my daily skips in any way, and I could use a walk.

Sure! Awen said with a genuine little smile. I wouldnt mind having you along.

I bounced out of my seat and followed Awen to the door, where Calamity was waiting while spinning his hat around on one finger. Nya coming along too? he asked. Less to carry then!

I laughed. I mostly want to move a bit.

Thats fair. I dont mind a pinch of planning, but so of our friends back there like talking more than they like moving, I think. Amaryllis and Caprica both.

Theyre not so bad, I said.

He shrugged. Ive known worse. Just Im more of a doer, nya know?

Mhm!

Was I a doer?

Do you wish to rge Dancing, Tea Making, Matchmaking, and Politeness to unlock the

Social Butterfly skill?

"Yeah," I said to Mister nu. I was a doer, and that ant taking concrete steps toward being the best friend I could be. Mister nu popped away with a soap-bubble plop and I felt myself shift slightly with my next step. My balance felt oh-so subtly different, as if the bounce in my step had changed in quality.

Where do you wish your new skill to be placed? Cinnamon Bun Bun, Wonderlander, General Skills?

Oh, that was sothing to consider, wasnt it?

Wonderlander, I muttered. I was planning on getting this skill up a few levels, so that only made sense!

New Skill added!

Skills consolidated!

Skill Points refunded!

Oh! I had to check on the difference that made for my skills!

Na Broccoli Bunch Race Bun (Riftwalker) First Class Cinnamon Bun Bun First Class Level

14

Second Class Wonderlander Second Class Level

5

Age

16

Health

155

Stamina

175

Mana

155

Resilience

70

Flexibility

85

Magic

30

Skills Rank Cinnamon Bun Bun Skills Cleaning S - 08% Way of the Mystic Bun C - 100% Gardening D - 40% Adorable D - 100% Wonderlander Skills Mad Millinery D - 100% Proportion Distortion C - 29% Social Butterfly F - 00% General Skills Insight C - 100% Makeshift Weapon Proficiency C - 77% Archeology D - 100% Friendmaking C - 92% Hugging Proficiency C - 100% Captaining D - 100% Cinnamon Bun Bun Skill Points

2

Wonderlander Skill Points

5

General Skill Points

3

First Class Skill Slots

1

Second Class Skill Slots

General Skill Slots

3

That was a lot of room for new skills, and I got back that one skill point from Wonderlander that I could now use on my brand new skill! Well, once I got it up a smidge. But that wouldnt be too hard, I figured. I was nothing if not social, so Id have plenty of opportunities to grind that out. I excitedly checked out my new skill.

Social Butterfly

Rank F - 0%

The ability to flit from conversation to conversation and make the best of any social situation.

Oh, that sounded like just the perfect skill!

Now all I needed to do was to start doing cool stuff so that Id eventually unlock cool skills too!

So, I said as I started to aim to practice. What did everyone order?

Ah, mostly Tharval suggested that we try this one place nearby, Awen said. Its a dwarven pub? Um, he ordered steaks.

I want so of that steak too, Calamity said. He licked his lips and I could almost see the drool there. These dwarves know how to eat.

Willowbud also suggested this elven place. Its a saladhouse, Awen said. I thought youd like that better.

Oh, yes, I would, I agreed. Steak was nice, but it wasnt worth the tummy ache. I had to start testing other foods. I couldnt live off of just pastries, pastas, veggies, and fruit.

Well, I suppose I could, but variety was the spice of life, and eating tons of yummy things made a happy bun. I was always at my happiest when surrounded by friends and with my tummy so full I could barely walk.

That was hard to achieve with salad.

On arriving at the Exploration Guilds lobby, we were greeted by the sa receptionist elf as usual. He nodded to us cordially. Heading out? he asked.

Just to grab so food, I said. I guess were all a little hungry.

If you wish, we have people we can send out for that. The more experienced mbers can be a little demanding at tis, so we keep a few very young mbers around to foist off all the undesirable tasks onto.

Ah, no, its okay, I said. But thanks!

No problem, he said. If youre ever looking for suggestions on where to eat, then just ask, Im usually well-connected.

I paused. You are? I asked. Hey... you wouldnt happen to know of any weddings going on soon?

Weddings? A number of them, yes. Did you an of Exploration Guild mbers?

I shook my head. It wouldnt be soone in the Storm Tower. No, I ant more... soone important outside of this country, maybe? Like in the Harpy Mountains, or in the Trenten flats? Like a king getting married or sothing, maybe?

The receptionist's eyebrows perked up. Well, let see. Theres an eligible princess in Pyrowalk who has beco famous for refusing suitors. I suppose she might have found soone agreeable. But thats far to the east. Theres a rich noble daughter missing from Mattergrove thats sparked so controversy. And theres a duke in the Trenten flats due to be married.

Oh, that one, I said.

He nodded. The wedding is in nine months, I think.

Oh... maybe not that one, I deflated.

The only other wedding Ive heard of recently is the big one in Port Royal.

I perked up. Port Royal? In Deepmarsh? Id been there! Twice, even. It was where Id joined the Exploration guild and t Amaryllis.

Thats the one, yes. The grenoil city, though it has turned into sothing of a city state recently. The Deepmarsh governnt still tax people and run anities, but theres a dragon ruling over the city as well. Several of them, in fact. Its one of them who is getting married, from what Ive heard.

I felt an electric shock zap through , and a look to Awen showed her as wide-eyed and surprised as I was.

Spinning around, I launched forwards, ignoring the elevator to bounce up the stairs a flight at a ti.

Hey! Wait! Calamity called as he ran after Awen and I. Whats going on?

At the top, I burst into the room with the rest of my friends, the door cracking open next to . Guys! I said.

Are they outta steak? Tharval asked.

I took a deep breath. Booksies getting married!

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