As someone who almost never traveled before, driving across the kingdom was very interesting. The landscape around Hopestone was covered in rolling hills, patches of forest, practically circling the large mountain I lived on, but as we drove, even if I looked back to where the mountain I lived on is I can barely see even a part of it.
The place that had once been so massive now felt so small. The hills has gone from occasional, to forested, to spiraling into the ground, and more. However despite this there was a bit of excitement running trough me. Kaelen, Selene, and Jax kept talking practically to the point of annoyance about the beauty of Rosepebble.
"The streets are lined with rock colored roses, and smells like a field of flowers."
Kaelen has said wistfully as we rounded a turn.
"D-Don't forget about the kids who paint them to be all kinds of colors, the streets are practically massive murals."
Selene said nodding along with Kaelen.
"Plus, there is a massive horse racing stadium, and the bets are almost always wins!"
Jax said, however instead of nodding along we all took a moment to look at him before a silent agreement to not loan Jax money while we were here was made.
As we drove, I could see in the distance that the occasional large hills of Balwuk gave way to the constant, rolling hills of Alucan. The road is winding and twisting to make use of the smaller hills, like a snake of packed dirt going through the hills. As we drove along, the city of Rosepebble getting closer and closer I saw what looked to be a group of caravans, ranging from pulled wagons, all the way up to vehicles much larger than our own.
They seemed to be waiting, not continuing down the path. I slowed down coming to a stop as we looked to each other in confusion.
"What's the hold up, at this rate we won't make it there by night."
Kaelen asked jumping down from the trailer.
"No idea, everyone's just stopped,"
Liora said gesturing with her thumb. Stepping out I made my way forward and saw a crowd of people seemed to be sitting and talking, ahead of them on the road a herd of massive fuzzy creatures sat.
They were around as large as an oversized ox, each with massive curled wings on their back, their body's were covered in a fuzzy layer, and a set of antennae sat on their heads, while most hid them, some that laid on their sides showed their 6 insect like legs below them. I walked forward, tapping the shoulder of a Full Blood meerkat who was talking to a dwarven man while standing on the fender of another vehicle.
"Hey guys, what's going on, why is everyone stopped?"
They turned back to look at me as the dwarven man asked.
"You from around here?"
I shook my head as the dwarven man sighed and pointed to the herd of large moth creatures.
"Its a herd of Oxwings, they migrate this time of year. While it may be superstitious, people from around here don't bother them, apparently if you disturb them, they will return to mess with your fields, but if you let them pass, they leave behind Oxwing dust that can be used to realize ones unresolved dreams."
"W-What does unresolved dreams look like?"
Selene asked as the others walked up. The Meerkat woman shrugged and turned back to us.
"It differs from person to person, some see their parents who died to get a last conversation, others see an enemy they must destroy. The dust is a good commodity as many buy it for their mental health."
"So its a dust that tells you why you are stressed out or tired mentally?"
Kaelen asked with a hand on his chin as if he was trying to imagine its use. The Meerkat woman nodded.
"We know its going to delay people for another day, but if we disturb them now, they won't leave any Oxwing dust behind, so cost wise its worth it to just wait. Alchemists will pay top dollar for it."
My ears perked up at that as I crossed my arms.
"Why, is it part of a potion or something?"
The dwarven man turned to me with a cheeky grin as he said.
"Not just some potion, its part of Rose Kiss, the strongest aphrodisiac in the Eastern kingdoms."
I stepped back, with a bit of a horrified look, as I thought back to what I had been taught about aphrodisiacs, and how they would be used by nobles for… stamina, and to make themselves irresistible to the opposite sex.
"Looks like you have heard of it, some say if you don't dilute Rose Kiss to a less than tenth concentrate you will be chased through the street by the opposite sex. The creator of the potion even has a moto The only potion to cause 3 weddings, 2 duels, and 1 international incident in a single evening"
I had a horrified look on my face as I turned back to the others. However instead of the horror I expected to be on their faces, they gave me a confused look.
"W-What's an aphrodisiac?"
Selene asked cocking her head. My face flushed as I coughed and avoided looking at anyone as I mumbled.
"I-Its better known as a love potion."
That got the desired reaction as they all gave me what I assume was a mirror of my original horror as they looked to the Oxwings with a look of horror, except for Jax who had a look of curiosity before Liora smacked the back of his head and he got a horrified expression.
The Dwarven man threw back his head and laughed and said.
"Don't worry, most can't brew potions like this, hell you need to have the actual alchemist class to even attempt to."
The others turned to me with horrified looks except for Jax who had a pleading expression before Thalia smacked the back of his head and he got a horrified expression on his face.
"I, why are you looking at me!?"
I asked flustered and outraged that they would assume I would do such a thing. The Meerkat woman turned to me with a grin and asked.
"Your an alchemist? Tell you what as payment for you all waiting out the Oxwings, I'll give you the Rose Kiss Recipe, it's not a super big secret since only a few can even attempt the recipe, plus it's a B rank potion."
"I don't need it, why would I ev- did you say B rank?"
My original indignation was canceled out by the mention of the potions rank. However, I could feel 5 gazes drilling into the back of my skull, though one of them felt oddly desperate as if they were willing to negotiate. I turned to the others who were looking at me with looks of disgust.
"Ok, I get the looks, but come on, it's a B rank potion, and I promise to never brew it, but to even have a B rank potion would be amazing to know!"
I tried to argue, but everyone continued their disgusted looks. I wanted to argue I really did, but Will summed it up.
"Dude, were not winning this, at best they are going to have our recipe book burned, as much as I want a B rank potion, this one isn't worth it."
I gave a defeated sigh
"Fine, I won't write it down."
The others had looks of relief as they started to travel back to the vehicle to start to unpack our camp as Jax quietly snuck up and asked.
"Soooo, about that recipe?"
Jax asked raising an eyebrow, I grabbed him by the tail as I started to drag him, his paws dragging in the dirt as I growled.
"If I don't get to get a B rank recipe for my notebook, you don't get to either."
I saw the dwarven man and meerkat girl laughing as Jax looked at me, crocodile tears in the corners of his eyes as he asked.
"B-B-But hunky wolf potion."
I rolled my eyes as I continued to drag Jax back to the vehicle, Will in my head practically rolling laughing at Jax's comment.