"It's quite wonderful! I've heard one of the Imperial family is soon going abroad, as well, but that sort of thing is a rumor after all!" replied the girl brightly, with a cheery giggle. She seemed quite happy to have met someone who shared her origins, at least in terms of their country. Soon, she had also supplied the herbs that had been requested... or rather, very similar plants. It seemed these were Akitsushiman counterparts, relatives to the plants. It was notable that some of the items she retrieved did not appear to be on her shelves, nor did there appear to be much storage space in the back. And every time she disappeared into the back, there would bee that strange bell-ringing sound...

This, coupled with the fact that she had mentioned it had to be what she could carry, may have made it rather curious indeed, just how she was getting these items.

But for now, there wasn't much time to dwell on such matters. They had to get going, after all, in order to make it to the ruins at before nightfall. It was just as Leyna said.

"Hmph, as long as you don't try to order me around like your subordinate!" declared Sophie, before turning to follow the elf. She did note, with some amusement, that Leyna seemed somewhat frightened just looking at the drider...

The trip to the ruins itself was rather unventful. It wasn't a very long one, after all, and there were few creatures who would try their luck against a group of adventurers that were out and about during the day.

By the time they reached the ruins, the sun had already begun to set, casting the sky in brilliant oranges and long shadows across the earth.

Val Ethyn was somewhat near to the dwarven mountain, but it was not of dwarven make. They ruins themselves were seemingly elven in origin, but it was difficult to determine that due to their age and any elves who might have been around when this place was in working order were unlikely to materialize. Some were simply sets of pillars jutting from the ground, others were more elaborate underground complexes.

To be honest, Sophie didn't know the exact ins and outs or the purposes of the buildings that had been discovered, aside from the fact that adventurers had previously cleared one of them of undead and other such unsavory creatures.

If she had to guess, the crumbling stairway and door seemingly cut into the rock of a nearby ledge was likely the newest ruins, on the far side of the digsite.

The adventurers weren't alone.

There were numerous tents set up, with a large number of individuals-mostly humans and dwarves-enjoying dinner on a set of long tables between them. There were a few wood elves, as well, likely there because of the potentially elven nature of the ruins.

[url=https://safebooru.org//images/562/5cbd9057e0a255c5a763d93ca8dd1f639eb489c7.jpg?564275]A short-haired young woman, wearing the blue and silver garb signifying her attachment to the Mage Academy of Venne, was first to greet them.[/url]

"Ah, you must be from the guild!" she declared, smiling and bowing. As she straightened, she continued.

"My name is Kiri Valveth, and I'm a supervisor from the Venne Mage Academy!" she introduced herself. Pausing for a moment, and blushing, she averted her eyes.

"... W-well, technically I'm still a student... b-but anyway! I'm happy to see someone came so quickly!"

Sophie cocked her head to one side. A student, in charge of overseeing the archeological dig? That didn't sound right. There had been a few jobs she'd accepted that involved the Academy, and their supervisors were usually more senior members the faculty. Like that blasted dark elf...

It seemed strange that they would send a student to oversee something like this.

"Do you have any questions?" continued Kiri, "Or would you like for me to show you to the ruins?"

[@thrrnvwls][@Raineh Daze][@Sho Minazuki][@KoL][@TheFake]