Arin looked around. That person was no more to be seen anywhere around. It seemed as if he was lost in the crowd completely. At that time, he did not mind it that much and went onwards. He had more pressing matters to deal with that moment, money and information both were at top of his priority list. He decided to talk to Guild Officials to update about completion of the quest on his end, and also discuss about next steps. The Guild Hall was completely different from what he had seen last time. Last time he had found it near empty. Today morning, it was occupied to the brim. Most people were bruised, bandages here and there. But only a few were crying in pain. Most were getting drunk, shouting, or boasting about their exploits of last night. It closely resembled the shady but lively bars and clubs of Arin’s past world. “Only if there were some hot chicks” Arin chuckled. Memories of some short but beautiful encounters flashed in his mind, making him blush without realizing.
Suddenly Arin’s short but romantic reminiscence came to a halt when he experienced bumping to a soft but firm pillow, promptly followed by a strong fist on face and he flying a bit away and falling on ground on his back with a huge thud. Amidst sudden uproar of huge laughter around, he heard a female voice “Where are ya lookin at ya country bumpkin”.
Arin shook his head as he stood up slowly. A maiden with extremely fair complexion, auburn hair and very strong muscular build was standing in front of him. She suddenly gave him a Viking vibe.
Arin instantly used scrying to find out her level was 12. But her Name, Class, Stats all were hidden, probably Arin needed higher level of Scrying to know more about her.
“Have my punch made ya brain fly further away, or, do ya love to keep starin’ at beautiful ladies like a fool” she taunted Arin.
“Not only brain, but his vision must fly further away, if he considers you as a beautiful!” Someone spoke from the crowd.
“WHO IS THIS, MUD BRAIN COWARD, SHOW YA FACE” she shouted at top of her voice. Silence was the reply she received.
Before Arin could process the happenings and make a reply, he faced a wooden mug full of beer pressed again his mouth.
“Drink it” she smiled as she extended the mug to him “Ya ‘ll feel better chap!”.
“Thank you” Arin said as he snatched the mug which was about to break his skull from her forcing it against his face, “Thanks again!”
“Why twice the thanks?” she asked.
“One for Beer!” he raised the mug, and then rubbed his cheek, “second for letting me experience flying without casting any spell!”
The lady burst into laughter and patted his shoulder. Arin felt like his shoulder will get crushed. He wondered how much strength a Level 12 Adventurer should have. “Heya weakling” she extended her fist, “It’s me, Ragna Stormbreaker, daughter of Rahog Stormbreaker, from Icespike Clan!”
Arin thought a bit on how to approach the situation, and decided to fist bump, with all his might, to impress the warrior lady. “I am Arin, Arin Drez” he said, “Son of Johan Drez!”
She pulled a chair for herself and Arin. She sat on her chair, and gestured Arin to sit on his, which he followed.
“Drez”, Ragna raised her eyebrow, “Never heard of the Surname. Well, I have never gone outside tundra anyway!”
Arin smiled and nodded.
“Me a level 12 Barbarian, what about ya!”
Arin choked on the beer and started coughing vigorously.
Arin had thought that these notifications he was having was his special power. He did not imagine that this level things was an well-known concept in this world. It was completely normal; the way she asked him. But again, he wondered, in that case why was she asking him about his level instead of just looking at his level, like he use to do.
Arin feigned a smirk, “Well why don’t you check it by yourself!”
“I am no Archmage!” she said, “Unless you let me see your status window, how can I know?”
Arin now got a clear idea. First, Advanced mages could peep other’s status, not everyone. Second, people could share each other’s Status Window.Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.
“I am a Level 2 warrior” Arin replied. He did not want others to know that he was a mage, because only spell he could cast are Dark and Necromancy, and he did not want others to know that about him.
“Warrior?” she found it unbelievable, “even if you are a level 2, and you seem to be stronger than a level 2 warrior, but you are not exuding aura of an warrior. I actually thought of you as a mage, or a rogue!”
Arin felt strong urge to check her stats, for what she just told, but it would give her opportunity of asking him to share his status widow with her as well. So, he curbed down his urge, and replied, “I know that class division, but I consider Rogues as Warrior as well. Just because we don’t wear armor or wield heavy mace or great sword, does not mean we are not warriors!” Arin tried to fake it, but instantly realized he had committed a blunder. He did not have any Rogue specific skill like trap setting, getting invisible for backstab or others (which he felt Rogues do as per his knowledge in popular media form past world). Arin felt need to change it as soon as possible. Before Ragna could say anything, he said, “I do not want to be a Rogue hiding in shadow, do lockpicking or backstabbing. I just want to fight with my daggers, not being encumbered by Armors or shields!”
It seemed this answer amused her. He laughed again and again patted his shoulder. “I knew it, you have a real warrior’s spirit. I used to think we Barbarians are better than Warriors because unlike them we do not hide behind Heavy armor. But you have a real Fighter’s Spirit, you want to enjoy the thrill of fighting being on the edge.” She pulled her chair near him, wrapped her arm around his neck and said, “Let’s go adventuring together Arin, I will help you level up fast!”
This was what Arin wanted to avoid extremely. “Thank you for your offer” he said, “But I just have finished a quest and waiting for its review, and then I need to do some personal tasks before resuming adventuring”.
“Don’t worry” she laughed, “I too have a quest tomorrow and I am already in a team. I was referring next time in future!” She looked over the door and waved at three people entering, “Hey over here”, and whispered to Arin, “they are my team for tomorrow!”
Arin looked behind to notice a very tall guy with black hair, in leather armor, is approaching their table. He was accompanied by a girl in heavy armor. Her pointy ears, and sharp facial features were screaming of her elven blood. And then there was a Dwarf in white robe, and a book in hand. Arin felt he must be a priest or paladin, or something similar.
“Who is he?” tall guy asked.
“Arin” Ragna replied, “my new friend”
“Is he tagging along with us tomorrow?” the Elf lady asked.
“No Miss, I am not” Arin replied as he stood up from chair and vacated the place for them.
“See you later” Arin told Ragna, and waved at the three.
They did not reply. But the Dwarf was looking at him suspiciously.
Arin quickly left the table and went to the Counter where the Guild Official Ladies were sitting.
As he was approaching them, he looked back and tried to look at their level. To his surprise he got notification-
[Scrying Skill Failed]
[Scrying Skill Failed]
[Scrying Skill Failed]
Not only that, suddenly the Dwarf looked at Arin’s direction with a fierce glare. Arin quickly hid himself behind a big burly man, and hoped the Dwarf had not seen him. He realized that there were some methods to stop High level beings from checking other’s status without their consent; and some people could even realize if they were being target of scrying.
Arin made a mental note of this and approached the Lady in the counter. She was the same lady from yesterday.
“So, you are abandoning the quest?” She taunted.
“On the contrary, I have finished it” he taunted back, “The captain informed, given the current scenario it would take one or two day for him to arrange the cleaning team, and till then I have to wait!”
The lady gave him a suspicious look, “Alright, Guild Hall Master will look into that matter. But we can not let you have another quest unless you finish this one! So…”
“It is okay”, Arin replied, “I just want to sell the things I had found in the Sewer, and want to sell them!”
“That can be done!” she said, “As you seem to be new you may not know, but in Drihan the Adventures have to sell their loots to Guild Merchants only. Anyone selling things to merchant outside will have their license revoked for ever. As we do not charge for quests, this is how Our Guild meets its expenses. But we pay fair price, no haggling or negotiating!”
Arin nodded, “Got it!”
“As expected” she smiled, “You are really new to Drihan!”.
She pointed her finger to a door behind. “Go though the door, go straight, and you will meet a Fox named Finnian Vulpestra. He will appraise your goods and buy from you at fair price.”
“Fox?” Arin was surprised, “That too with such strange name!”. “Must be some magical Fox with appraisal skill” he thought and opened the door shown by the lady. He was lowkey afraid of the magical fox finding out his real identity. But if he did not go now, it would lead to more suspicion. So, he steeled his mind and opened the door, and started walking towards the magical fox at end of the alley.
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