When the light of the Mind Ripper flooded the city, Tristana, who had been resting in the stone house, received quite a fright.
The female drow reacted as though facing a formidable enemy, layering protective divine spells over herself until purple light enveloped her body.
So much so that when Renato arrived, he thought Tristana had gotten into another fight with some band of duergar.
"Is this light the artifact's effect?" The female drow extended a finger, but it cast no shadow on the stone wall. The light seemed to pour in from every direction at once. "Can it fight mind flayers, too?"
"According to the duergar, it should, but I'm not certain." Renato leaned against the wall, his gaze passing over the new leather pouch at her waist. "You bought a pouch?"
An wicked smile curled Tristana's lips as she said cheerfully:
"A passing duergar lent it to me free of charge. He clearly understood how distinguished a female drow of the Nightwind Family is..."
"You killed a duergar just to steal a leather pouch?" Renato frowned. "Couldn't you have bought one? Perhaps I should reassess your mental state."
"That's because I don't have any money! Not even enough for a lousy pouch..." The female drow took a deep breath and forced herself to soften her tone. "No, no, no, of course I didn't kill anyone. How could a noble drow be so barbaric?"
"It was only a little Suggestion spell. That duergar was won over by my power."
She suddenly stepped forward, her purple eyes staring straight into Renato's from an oddly close distance.
"You brought me into the city. How could I cause trouble for you?" Tristana tilted her head. "Or do you humans prefer the sort who kills without hesitation?"
"You're not causing trouble for me,