She Becomes The Hero In Another World 182 She Visits Ayva's Garden

"Isn't et lovely? because of all tha steam and smoke, it's difficult ta find plants as can survive in little sunlight. With all tha water in the air, it's also easy fer mold and mushrooms ta pop up. We've tried ta draw the water out of the air, but we can only do so much..." Ayva sighed and shook her head.

"So, we can't have too many places in tha city where they can grow, otherwise we'd be overwhelmed."

Robin could understand that. In order to keep the citizens healthy, they had to keep the city as dirt-free as possible. Seeing only wood grains and stone all the time, one would inevitable get bored of it.

"There's just something in a person that longs ta see green an' growing things after a while. Even tha blue sky can't help. It can near drive a person crazy without them realizing what's wrong." Ayva shrugged.

"Mmn. That's true enough!" Robin agreed.

Ayva brought Robin over to the area of the garden where the most green was concentrated. Pa.s.sing through a set of ivy, they came to an open place, where a crystalline table and chairs greeted them. Robin looked about the small s.p.a.ce.

The walls and the ceiling were formed of ivys twined and woven loosely about a somewhat dome-like framework. A circular hole in the top let in the natural light. A glowing crystal on the table supplied more light in the somewhat darkened area. The sound of a breeze brus.h.i.+ng through the greenery further served to relax those within. Birds chirped from the bamboo.

Robin sat down in a chair across from Ayva, and just closed her eyes for a bit, enjoying the sounds of the surroundings. "Mmmn. This is a really good place." She said, opening her eyes.

"Of course et is. Mah husband made et hisself." Ayva smiled as she took out a couple mugs, and a flagon.

"Beer?" Robin asked, feeling somewhat conflicted.

"Hoho, Ah kin see that yer not partial to tha flaver o' normal beers. But please! They're nuthin' compared to a dwarven ale. Wouldnae it be a shame ta travel to dwarven lands without tryin' our specialty? This'n be mah own special brew." Ayva prodded.

"Normally, I wouldn't drink such a thing." Robin sighed, then looked over at Ayva with a wry smile. "But, perhaps such drinks depend upon the people you drink them with. Since it's a cup that you poured for me, Aunt, I'll drink it."

This brought a bright smile to Ayva's face as she pushed a full mug over to Robin. Robin stared down at the foamy brew. She braced herself, and took a sip. Her eyes widened as she quickly glanced over at Ayva.

"Auntie!" She chided. "It's not nice to make fun of me!" She swallowed another mouthful. It was sweet, but not too sweet. And it reminded her of root beer, but with a sort of minty aftertaste, like a menthol cough drop. The scent was vaguely familiar.

Ayva laughed. "Aye, Ah told ye, ye might like et. Ah never said et was normal tavern fare though. This be a drink of mah own invention."

"It smells of birch." Robin pointed out.

"Funny you be mentioning that, heheh. It's called Birch Beer!" Ayva chuckled. "Made using the boiled sap of birch roots."

Robin mildly remembered seeing a product like that back on earth, next to root beer soda. But, she had never thought to try it before. She kept the memory to herself.

"Hmm. Well, I must admit, this does taste much better to me. But where did you find the birch trees?" Robin tilted her head. "Isn't this place pretty much tropical due to the heat of the volcano?"

"Yer forgetting the Hero's Great Mountain Rift in between." Ayva pointed out. "The Birch be from the Hearthlands on th' other side, Mah Dear Niece. Et's a much more temperate climate over there."

"If this drink gets popular, you might be in trouble. All the birch forests might be cut down for it." Robin pointed out.

"Pshaw! Et's only me that knows tha recipe. The birch forests are safe enough." Ayva rolled her eyes. "In fact, they be takin' over the farmlands, if'n we don't cut 'em down every year. Those birch grow almost faster than bamboo, they do!"

"Huh. Well it looks like your birch trees have something that mine don't." Robin gave a heartfelt smile. "It's good."

"Glad ye like et, La.s.s." Ayva's eyes curved up as she looked quite pleased with herself.

"So, about this world that yer goin' back to...is there anything good back there?" Ayva asked.

Robin raised an eyebrow. "Are you talking about things or people, here?" She asked.

"Oh, anything you want to tell me about is fine." Ayva waved her hand. "How 'bout we start with that there smartphone device?"

"Mmn. As far as products and items go...it's different. We're more focused on the technical and material application of things, rather than the magical aspect. Although, we do have quite the number of stories and fairy tales-most don't believe magic exists." Robin pointed out.

"Ah'm aware." Ayva nodded.

"As far as the people are...I don't think it's best you ask me about them. I cannot give an unbiased opinion on the matter." Robin replied with somewhat glazed eyes.

"But Ah want ta know what ye think. " Ayva pursued. "Did the people treat ye well? Did ye have some good friends ye grew up with? What about yer relatives?..."

While Robin knew that Ayva meant no harm, each question she asked felt like a stab in the chest. Yet, Robin kept a tight grip on her reactions. She would not lash out at Ayva for things other people did.

What had happened was a fact. It couldn't be changed. But Robin didn't want to see Ayva's smile disappear. Nor did she want her pity. She'd much rather deal with the present than dwell upon the past.

"I..." Robin hesitated, then made her decision. She smiled gently and spoke twice as softly. "Aunt..." She began, halting Ayva's line of questioning. Ayva paused, awaiting her words.

"....I'd rather not talk about it." Robin's eyes lowered, focusing on her drink. Her smile remained gentle. But the slight wincing at the corners of her eyes and the subtlest wrinkle between her eyebrows gave away a hint of the pain that she was feeling.

Ayva noticed, but didn't point it out. She just heaved a sigh, and downed her drink.

"All right, Robin. Ah won't ask anymore. But... wouldnae it be nice if'n ya kin find someone as you kin speak with, someone who ye wilnae need ta hold in or hold back with. If ye find someone ye kin talk with like that, Ah better be the first 'un ta know, ya hear!?" She poured herself another mug full.

"All right." Robin agreed. "If I can find someone like that, you'll be the first to know. I promise." Then Robin downed her mug as well.

"Drinkin' like a true niece o' mine!" Ayva laughed.

Robin frowned. "How strong is this, again?" She asked, feeling slightly dizzy.

"Hmmm..." Ayva contemplated the dregs at the bottom of her mug. "Should be about as strong as a regular wine. Why?"

"I've had wine." Robin said. "But this doesn't....something ...don't ...feel.....right." And with that, Robin collapsed sideways onto the ground, quickly falling unconscious.

"Robin!!" Ayva exclaimed, shocked. And that was the last thing Robin heard before she fell into the darkness of unconsciousness.

As soon as possible, an investigation was made. Quinn quickly discovered traces in the cups. The beer had been tampered with, holding a rather large dose of Klargun's Brew. As it is odorless and tasteless, Ayva hadn't noticed it.

Ayva's newly-fixed coronet was fitted with an anti-poison spell that neutralizes all toxins, poisons, or sleeping draughts....at least, while it is worn. As such, Throm forbid Ayva from removing her coronet until all traces had disappeared from her body.

But as for when Robin would awaken...

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