Arad sat up, and Amber smiled, "Are you okay?"
"Yeah," He replied. "Do you know how to get out?"
"We can't get out unless we clear this labyrinth," She replied, helping him to stand, "You're strong, so take the frontline. I will support you from the back with magic,"
"You say that," Arad looked at her, "But I'm useless here. I can't use any of my powers."
"Most are," She looked at him, "Unlike dungeons, labyrinths have rules. It usually takes weeks of study to determine all of them before adventurers are allowed inside,"
"This one just appeared, so we're working with limited information." Arad looked around, "Got a weapon with you? A sword would do,"
"Why would I carry such a thing?" She looked at him, confused, "I'm a sorceress."
"I mean," Arad looked at her, "Merlin was keeping stuff between her breasts. Aren't you doing the same?"
Amber stared at him in silence for a second, then pinched her eyes and growled, "Listen, you oaf, I'm not that weirdo,"
"So you don't have any?"
"Most mages keep their stuff in one of those," She pointed at her small satchel, "A bag of holding,"
"Merlin said something about the magic needing to be close to the heart..."
"That if you needed several carriages worth of storage. I'm not carrying a whole lab with me," She sighed, pulling a long cylindrical quarterstaff from her bag.
"This is what I have," She gave the quarterstaff to him. "Don't break it, it's worth a lot,"
Arad looked at the quarterstaff, giving it a few swings, "How much?" With his ridiculous strength, he could feel the staff's weight in his hand, making it seem nice.
"Ninty silver coin, so don't break it."
Arad blinked twice, staring at her, "Only ninty silver coins? It feels a bit heavy..." He then remembered, ^Ah, I don't have my strength.^
"What do you mean only ninty? This thing was far too overpriced. I won't pay over eighty-five for it again."
"Is ninty coins even a lot of money?" He stared at her.
She blinked twice, "Aren't you the one who couldn't pay for an inn night a few months ago? Or did becoming a Baron get to your head?"
"That's not it..." Arad scratched his head, reaching into his pocket... he could find some coins there.
"Look," He pulled what was with him, and it was a handful of gold coins.
Amber gasped, her eyes sparkling as she stared at his hand, "Wait! How do you have so much..." She reached out, but Arad closed his hand.
With the coins out of her sight, she snapped back to reality. "Did you get from the king? For becoming a baron?"
"No, just doing quests, and some chores here and there. I have a lot more, but I can't get them while we're stuck." He said.
"What do you mean you have more?" She cried, "That!" She pointed at his hand, "Is enough for me to retire and drink for the rest of my life. That's too much money. Do you know that most people barely see a gold coin in their lives?"
"I do have some platinum ones," He added.
"PLATINUM!" She screamed, holding her head, "How come!"
"Calm down," Arad tapped her shoulder, "I can pay for the staff, so I will be using it as best as I can, even if it breaks,"
As Amber turned, he extended his hand, holding a gold coin between his fingertips. "Change,"
Amber snatched the gold coin, "Come on, want change?"
"You said you won't pay over eighty-five silver coins," Arad looked at her, "Are you trying to scam me here?"
"Come on, you have so much. Surely you can pay a gold coin for it," She looked at him with a cheeky grin.
"I can pay. But why are you stuck on the money?" He sighed.
"Cause I'm poor," She replied with a straight face.
"No, you drink too much," He stared back at her.
"Drinking sadness away! Life is hard, and with stress, I end up drinking, but that added more to my financial stress. It's a cycle." She looked at him, fists resting on her hips.
"If you're aware, then stop drinking!" He rubbed his face.
"I can't!" She replied with pride.
"Fine, take the whole coin," Arad handed her the gold coin.
She smiled, "Keep it with you until we get out of here," She pushed his hand back toward him. "I won't take it now,"
"Are you sure?" He looked at her, but she smiled back at him. "Getting you out of here alive takes priority,"
"Getting me out?" Arad sighed, "Fine, let's find Merlin and leave this cursed place."
Arad started walking forward, and Amber looked at him back, a smile on her face.
^I doubt Merlin could move even if we found her,^ She pulled a crystal from her pocket. ^This can only get two people out of here. Sorry Arad, but I doubt me and you can clear this place alone. Once we find Merlin, I'm sending you two out.^
Arad stopped, looking at her, "What are you waiting for?"
"Nothing," She said with a smile, "Can I hold those gold coins for a second?"
"I thought you didn't want them?" Arad stared back at her with a disappointed face.
"I don't know. I only want to hold them for a while, see how it feels to have so much money," She replied with a grin and an excited smile.
"Fine," Arad handed her all the gold coins.
She stared at them in her hands, eyes glowing, "This much gold, it's heavy!" She sniffed them.
"You're weird," Arad sighed.
"Yes, I'm weird!" She took another deep whiff, "I'm rich,"
"No, you aren't," Arad replied.
"Here you go," She then handed him the gold back, "Thank you,"
"For what? Satisfying your desires," He sighed.
"Desires?" She stayed silent for a moment, "NOOOOOO!" She cried, pulling her hair with a disappointed face. "I messed up!"
Arad couldn't be more confused at this woman.
"Are you okay?" Arad tried talking to her.
"I'm not..." She started panting, "Merlin once told me you're looking for wives. If I had slept with you, I could have gotten so much money!"
Arad sighed, "What are you now? A pervert? And you're too old for me, no thanks,"
"Come on, one night. I'm not that bad,"
"No," Arad smacked her on the head with the quarterstaff. "Get to your senses."
"AWE!" She cried, staring at him with a sad face, "You're mean,"
"I'm not. Let's do more and not waste time."
As they walked, she looked at his back.
^Truly, what a missed opportunity.^
^At least, I got to feel rich once.^ She stared at the crystal in her pocket. ^You and Merlin are amazing. Compared to you two, I'm useless, worthless, and replaceable. The world still needs you, and I will make sure you survive this,^