An Adventurer's Story Ch. 01

"I couldn't get it to work." Leandra says softly. "It must not be the right key, please look for another one."

"Let's see if this one works." Sia says kneeling down next to Leanndra, she removes the dagger from her boot. The dagger makes quick work of the locking mechanism in the shackle and Sia quickly pops it open and Leanndra is free. "Perfect fit." Sia says with a smile as she stands up.

"Can we leave now?" Leanndra says as she rushes to move and hobbles and falls onto the bed. Her ankle and abuse having their effect on her.

"The room is clear, and we will be able to leave." Sia replies. "But you need some time to recover before we move."

"No!" Leanndra sternly responds. "I want out of here now!" She struggles with all her strength to stand.

"And I will get you out of here and see you safely home, but you need to recover from your abuse." Sia insists, but can see Leanndra is going to continue her protest. "We don't know what the rest of the journey will entail, and I need to catch my breath for a moment. Please?" Leanndra relents to reason and sits back down on the bed. "Thank you."

Sia looks around the room for anything that could be useful. She approaches the large wooden chest and sees a lock on it, much more structurally sound than the shackle. She removes the dagger and begins prying into the lock, almost as quickly as the shackle she breaks through and the lock parts. When she opens the chest, she sees women's clothes on top and shoes beside them. Without a word Sia stands up and walks around the bed to Leanndra. She reaches down and scoops up Leanndra tenderly.

"What are you doing?" Leanndra protests but is too weak to do much more.

"You need to soak your ankle and possibly get cleaned up and relax a little." Sia replies carrying her to the pool at the far wall.

Leanndra sighs and moans her displeasure at Sia is carrying her, but she goes silent once Sia places her down on the edge of the pool and her legs are submerged almost to her knees. She immediately feels restored. Her ankle is healed. Sia leaves her there and goes back to the chest.

"Go ahead and get cleaned up and out of those rags." Sia suggests to her. "You can wear these clothes and shoes for the journey out of here."

"I don't want anything he had planned for me." Leanndra says. When she turns back to face Sia she is holding up the clothes. "Those don't actually look that bad." She adds.

"You will need these boots as well." Sia says pulling them from the box.

"Fine." Leanndra relents.

Sia lays the clothes and boots on the bed and goes back to looking into the chest. All that remains in the chest is a suit of plate mail armor with ornate pieces and Lady Kayla's symbol on the chest and black leather bag with a strap long enough to have the bag on her back the strap over one shoulder and across her body to her waist on the other side. As Sia is holding the empty bag up with one hand Leanndra's movement catches her attention. She is slowly removing her rags for a top over her arms. She then stands in the pool and removes the bottoms of her rag outfit. She turns quickly to put her foot on the pool edge and notices Sia watching her. Sia quickly turns away, red faced, clearly busted watching her. Sia begins examining the bag again and looks back into the empty chest.

"Hard to believe a fairly powerful wizard would have so little." Sia says aloud.

"He had more than that I have seen him put plenty of stuff into that chest." Leanndra answers.

Sia picks up the edge of the chest looking for hidden compartments or a trap door but finds nothing. She glances back to Leanndra and sees her lower herself into the water, the water stops at her lower back, rags on the floor next to the pool. She hears Leanndra moan with pleasure as she turns sideways to Sia and slips herself under the water completely. The water flow in and out of the pool is great enough that she stays in fairly clean water. When she comes back up a moment later, she raises up out of the water revealing down to the middle of her stomach. Leanndra reaches up with her hands and wipes the water from her eyes. She turns and again catches Sia staring at her.

"Privacy please!" She scolds "Get out!"

Sia's face goes bright red as she picks up the bag. "Did he have any books he would read periodically?" Sia asks keeping her eyes away from Leanndra.

"His spell book was on that table earlier." She answers. "Green book with a black binding."

Sia examines the small table on the other side of the bed which holds the gem of light and small pouch. She picks up the small pouch and sees the corner of a green book under the bed, it must have fallen off the stand.

"Ah, here it is." Sia says picking up the book. "Thank you! By the way, my name is Sia." She looks back to her eyes.

"I am Leanndra, but my friends call me Lea." She replies. Sia smiles and walks to the door. "Sia." Lea calls out. "Thank you for saving me. I judge a monster by their heart and I am sorry I said that. You're my hero not a monster." Sia smiles and starts to leave. "Sia, you can call me Lea."

"Thank you, Lea." Sia says. "You have a pretty name either way." Lea blushes a little and looks down at the water, Sia makes her exit.

Outside the open door Sia sits on the edge of the platform and lets her knees bend over the edge. She sets the empty bag next to her and begins flipping through the wizard's spell book. The spells themselves are not anything she can understand but the names and the notes written about them she can. It looks like most of his work in magic has been to improve the strength of weaker spells. Taking lower level spells and channeling higher-level magic through them. He has had success on several spells, but he has also had several costly failures. As she is getting further into the book, she finds a folded piece of paper within the pages. Opening it she finds a list of items. According to the note these items are in the empty leather bag she has next to her. He has taken meticulous notes on his inventory and now Sia has the list.

"How can this bag have what he says." Sia mumbles to herself. "Could there be another bag?"

Sia looks at the note and picks an item in her head and looks sarcastically at the flat bag and when she opens it the ornate pitcher is inside the bag. Sia is shocked at the site. She removes the pitcher and tries again. This time when she opens the bag, she removes a potion and again she removes a sack of gems. Sia laughs to herself and tries to put the items back in the bag, each item disappears when placed in the bag. Sia looks over the list again and takes account of all her new things. She stands back up and decides to see if Lea is finished. When she gets to the door, she sees her bag of bottles and weapons and places them inside the leather bag, they disappear. This strikes Sia as funny and she is laughing when she enters the room.

"What is so funny?" Lea says turning around to look at Sia.

Sia has stopped laughing and is stunned by what she sees. Lea has the clothes on and looks beautiful.

The attire is a one-piece sundress. It is sky blue and made of a lite material. It fits loosely over her torso and the skirt extends to just above her knees. The front has a round low neckline which shows a little bit of cleavage.

"It was nothing." Sia replied. "You look amazing!"

"You better not be laughing at me." Lea says with a smirk.

"I assure you I am not." Sia answers.

"Good, I need your help." Lea replies. "Will you tie this for me?" She asks as she turns around and lifts her hair up revealing the end of the strings that hold the wide V back.

Sia approaches and does as she was asked. The V of the back runs from outside of Lea's shoulder blades down to just above her butt.

"Is that tight enough?" Sia asks.

"Draw it a little more please." She responds, Sia tightens it. "That is great, thank you." Lea turns around after Sia finishes tying it off, quick enough the skirt lifts. "How does it look now?"

"Even better than it did before." Sia replies. "You look great!"

"Thank you." Lea replies with a big smile. "Now for the boots."

The sundress fits tightly and pushes her already firm breast slightly up and together. The skirt of the dress has raised and is now about middle of her thighs.

She gathers the black leather heeled boots that are ankle high and when she sits on the bed her stomach rumbles from hunger. She looks at Sia embarrassed, but Sia is already reaching into the leather bag.

"Here you go, drink this." Sia says handing her a small bottle with a light blue coloring.

"What is this?" Lea asks taking the bottle, Sia replies only with a smile.

Lea opens the bottle and hesitantly takes a sip and then drinks the entire potion.

"I can't believe how good I feel." Lea says with big smile. "The combination of the pool and that potion and I feel better than I have in a week." Sia smiles happily back at her. "Are you feeling ok Sia, you look destressed?"

"I am fine, it has been a long day." She replies.

"You should rest before we leave. You can get cleaned up in the pool and rest on the bed for a little bit." Lea insists. "I can't have my hero in a weakened state."

Lea leads Sia toward the pool and then bends down to untie her boots. Sia stands there watching her and realizes how tired she really is.

"Maybe just a short rest." She concedes, after she says this her leather armor and boots disappear, the dagger from her boot falls to the ground.

"You're a mage?" Lea asks surprised.

"No, I don't know what just happened." Sia answers confused.

Lea looks up and realizes Sia is naked and that she is staring at her breasts. She turns her eyes down and is now looking at her thighs. She blushes and quickly stands and walks toward the bed. Sia tosses her bag and remaining items near the bed on the floor.

"How do you not know about that?" Lea asks, watching Sia approach the pool.

Sia bends over to test the water temperature with her hand then remembers she is being watched. When she looks back, Lea quickly turns away and sits on the bed. When Lea looks back Sia is in the pool completely submerged except for her head. Her head is leaned back against the wall and the waterfall inlet is falling on her face.

"Tell me about yourself Sia?" Lea asks laying on her side on the bed facing her.

"There isn't much to tell." Sia replies turning her face toward Lea with eyes closed as the water continues to fall on her head. "I have lost my memory and don't really know who I am."

"What do you know about yourself?" Lea persists.

"I really don't know myself." Sia replies opening her eyes. "Tell me about you."

"Nothing really to tell." Lea says. "I live in a small town and manage a shop for my father. It's a boring town and nothing ever happens."

"Except for you got kidnapped." Sia adds, leaning back under the waterfall, eyes closed.

"Yeah, except that." Lea answers. "What brought you down here? It couldn't have been for me, no one knew I was here."

"I believe it was for you." Sia replies "Lady Kayla knew you were here, and I believe she directed me to you."

"Why would she do that?" Lea questions.

Sia leans her head up and looks at Lea. "That is between you and her."

"Are you a priestess of Lady Kayla?" Lea asks.

"I don't believe so, but I do follower her. She has done a lot for me" Sia answers with a smile.

"I have prayed to her before, but I have to admit I didn't think she heard me." Lea admits.

"Well, here I am to help you. She must have heard you. I would be willing to bet she has a plan for you. You should try talking to her more, and really listen for her to reply." Sia answers.

"I will." Lea replies.

"The question on my mind right now is, what am I going to wear?" Sia says looking at her, Lea just laughs. "Thanks." She replies with a smile.

Lea looks around the edge of the bed and under it. "Maybe you're a mage and can use this staff." Lea holds up a four-foot-long staff.

The staff is made from wood that has been sanded and stained reddish but still shows the grains in the wood. It is slightly narrower at the handle and has a sapphire gem at the other end. The staff looks to have grown around the gem, holding it in, but not by very much.

"I have seen him use this to create food and changes of attire. It looks like a very useful item." Lea says laying the staff on the bed.

"I don't think I am a mage. When I looked through the wizard's spellbook, I wasn't able to make much sense of it." Sia replies.

"If you're able to understand any of it you must have some sort of training." Lea says. "I have seen some spell books and couldn't understand a thing."

"I don't know what I am." Sia says and then stands up and exits the pool. She has no shame in front of Lea who is obviously nervous and blushes while she looks away but stares at times.

The magical water quickly absorbs and leaves Sia dry. Her hair is now flowing down her shoulders and stretches down to below her shoulder blades. Lea has a different expression on her face as she looks at Sia.

"Beautiful." Lea murmurs.

"And what are you looking at?" Sia says with a coy smile and her hands on her hips.

"Your hair looks amazing like that." Lea says. "Why don't you wear it like that?"

"I figure it would get in the way during fights." Sia answers.

"Maybe it would." Lea says. "Why do you dress so manly? You hide yourself, your beauty."

"I am a warrior. I need to have protection." Sia answers. "I can't run around in dresses." She says gesturing to Lea.

"I know, but I have seen some women adventures wear clothes that were not so, manly." Lea explains.

"What do you suggest?" Sia asks, she doesn't seem to care she is naked. Lea is still nervous, and her eyes aren't always looking at Sia's.

"Something like a leather skirt and short sleeve top." Lea suggests.

"I could try that sometime." Sia answers. "For now, though, I may have to take your dress." Sia says playfully.

"What?" Lea says jumping to her feet.

"I can't wander around naked." Sia informs her. "Even though you don't seem to mind looking at me."

Lea stumbles for the words. "Why not, you look better this way." She smiles back.

"Maybe neither of us wear the dress." Sia says moving quickly toward her.

They both start laughing as Sia grabs around Lea's waist and she struggles to free herself. After a moment Sia gets a good hold and tosses Lea on the bed and falls with her. Lea continues to struggle and laugh as they playfully wrestle.

"You have a cute laugh." Sia confesses as she stops fighting and catches her breath.

Lea just smiles and catches her breath as well, wrapped in Sia's arms. As Sia looks at the smiling woman in her arms she can't help but feel something. The urge to kiss her becomes strong and she quickly changes her thoughts.

"I should figure out what I am going to wear." Sia rolls away and sits on the edge of the bed.

Lea rolls off the other side of the bed and walks around to Sia. "You're right you can't wander around here naked." Lea says then turns around and lifts her hair. "Untie me and you can wear this and I will wear those clothes I had on before."

"No, I can't do that. Thank you though." Sia replies. "I will have to figure this out."

Sia tries to think of how she can remedy this. Help me Goddess, she thinks. She then remembers when she changed from a dragon to human form her armor changed. Maybe I need to change into a dragon and then back to human.

"I can only think of one option to try and I don't know if it will work." Sia informs Lea.

"What are you going to try?" She asks.

"Wait in here and keep the door closed." Sia says walking toward the door.

"What are you going to do?" Lea persists.

"Give me a moment, please?" Sia turns to her.

"Okay." She responds.

Sia walks outside the room and closes the door. When she turns back the view of all the carnage is quite intense. "Lea isn't ready for this." Sia says to herself. Okay a quick change and then change back. As she walks to the center of the room, dodging the blood, bodies and body parts, she imagines herself wearing clothes like what Lea described. When she gets into position, she takes a deep breath and then notices she is dressed.

She is wearing a leather skirt which extends to just above her knees and a short-sleeved leather shirt. Both are light brown, padded, thick and protective.

"What is going on?" She says softly to herself, as she makes her way back into the room with Lea.

"Hey it worked?" Lea exclaims moving to Sia. "What did you do?"

"I'm not exactly sure. It turns out you must be right. I must be a mage of some sort." Sia admits watching Lea examine her with her eyes.

"Not bad." Lea says halfhearted. "You don't look like a man now."

"Thanks." Sia replies.

Lea moves around her and places her hand on Sia's shoulder feeling the leather material.

"That armor looks strange." Lea says with a puzzled look. "It looks real, but if you look closely it has minimal texture and it feels like cloth. It can't be offering much if any protection."

"It does ok. At least I'm not naked." Sia answers. "And I don't look like a man." Lea laughs in reply. "How are you able to tell that from just a look?"

"I work in my father's shop, so I know fabric. Are we ready to go now?" Lea says hopefully.

"Almost, two things first. One I need to fill these empty bottles I have with the healing water." Sia moves to the pool and begins removing the empty bottles to be filled. Second, I need to prepare you for what is out there. The carnage is pretty bad out there."

"I can handle that. I just want to go home." Lea replies, as Sia puts the full bottles into her bag.

"Ok, let's get you home." Sia says "Sorry, one more thing." Sia approaches the bed and picks up the dagger she dropped when her clothes disappeared. "Take this, I don't know what we will encounter out there."

"That?" Lea says questioning. "Don't you have any bigger weapons than a dagger I could use?"

"Yes, I do, but I think this would be the best." Sia explains. "It is small but, it is light and sharper than anything else I have. Watch this." Sia flips her wrist and tosses the dagger at the wall. The dagger hits blade first and buries several inches deep. Lea gasps at the sight and before she can speak the dagger disappears from the wall and reappears back in Sia's hand. "I was not expecting that. Even more reason you should carry this, it is highly magical."

"Thank you!" Lea replies, taking the dagger from Sia. Lea then goes and removes the leather belt from the wizard's corps. She puts the belt around herself and secures the dagger on her side. "Ok, I am ready." Sia looks over Lea and can't help but stare. "Are we ready to go?"

"Yes, but you are too beautiful to be fighting. I want you to stay behind me and out of danger." Sia informs her.

"Oh, so if I was ugly than I could fight." Lea says with a smirk.

"If you were ugly, I would make you fight for me." Sia laughs, Lea laughs as well taking the joke as intended. "If you were ugly you wouldn't have been here." The conversation gets serious. "Let's get out of here." Sia puts a hand on the door. "Prepare yourself this is not pretty."

"I can take it, let's go already." Lea demands.

Sia opens the door and walks out with Lea right behind her. The image of the carnage is more than Lea was expecting and it overwhelms her, she freezes in her steps beside Sia. It becomes too much for her and she turns away leaning into Sia. Sia holds her while she gets her strength.

"It's so bad." Lea says softly. "Did you do all that?"

"No, that is what happens when a cyclops gets loose after being tortured and beaten by its smaller captors." Sia answers. "My part in this was small. Do you want to wait up here while I go and clear a path through that rubble?"