《Amatherean Tales - One Flew Over The Dragon's Nest [LitRPG]》 Chapter 1 - Squished The ogre sat in his hut, picking his teeth with a bone. Ratkin meat always got caught between them. He spat it onto the floor after picking a piece out. Since yesterday, the scouting party had been gone and was expected to return soon with their latest report. The town they were scouting had everything he needed. His only concern revolved around the town leader. He was a bear of a man. The leader¡¯s strength had prevented previous successful raids, and although he had escaped injury, he had lost several members of his clan. This time, it had to be different. His clan had outgrown their home, and many of his hobgoblin followers now slept under the stars rather than in buildings. Their conquest of a tiny village, with only a hundred inhabitants, resulted in the depletion of its resources. The town upon the ridge and this territory would eventually be his.
She closed the client file on the table, having finally found the issue. It had taken her four days to work through the client¡¯s accounts, but she felt she had solved it. ¡°Did you want a drink, love?¡± the waiter asked. ¡°A glass of house red, please,¡± SJ replied, wanting to celebrate her success in finding the fraudulent claims. SJ sat at the restaurant table, looking out at the windswept streets. She was in a small town called Banbury in Oxfordshire in Southeast England. She had been here for four days for work. Her job as a forensic accountant had brought her to investigate the finances of one of their clients. The company had put her up in an Airbnb just around the corner from the bar she now sat in, waiting for her order of sausage and mash with gravy to arrive. Although certain areas of the town were charming, the town itself was nothing special. What she did enjoy was how close she was to the countryside. Normally, being in London¡¯s chaotic rat race of fighting through traffic and tube stations to get to and from work meant this was a luxury in comparison. She understood why many Londoners who could afford to leave did. While sitting in a bar, she gazed out at the quiet suburban neighbourhood. The rain was almost horizontal, driven by the early January wind onto the road. Across the road in the nearby park, she watched the treetops being blasted and hurling their weak branches to the grass below. Storm David, as the weather report had relayed, was one of the usual spring storms that hit the shores of the UK, bringing the misery associated with the drabbest month of the year. Her phone flashed, and she picked it up from the table. Her Messenger icon displayed a 1 in its corner. That had to be her sister. All her other contacts used WhatsApp or Instagram to message her, but her sister Julia had only ever used Messenger. She pulled up the message. ¡®I spoke to Dad. Uncle Dave is having his operation tomorrow. Dad asked if you can send him a get-well-soon card.¡¯ ¡®Why does Dad never contact me himself?¡¯ It frustrated her to receive relayed messages. She had given her Dad her number the last time she returned to Manchester, but he never contacted her directly. By switching over to WhatsApp, she could find Uncle Dave¡¯s details. His profile picture was of a grinning minion. She loved her Uncle Dave. He had always been there for her. After she typed him a quick message wishing him good luck and best wishes, she hit send. Switching to her emails, she read through the latest offers from many vendors who sent her emails daily. She could not remember ever signing up for most of them, but had never bothered to unsubscribe from the mailing lists as occasionally something juicy landed. Most were fantasy-based. She had been addicted to fantasy since childhood. Ever since, she had watched the amazing Lord of the Rings and Hobbit films. They had drawn her into a world full of fantasy and magic, and she often dreamed of riding one of the giant eagles that saved Bilbo and the dwarves from the orcs. ¡°Here you go, love,¡± the young male waiter said as he placed her plate on the table. ¡°Thanks,¡± she replied, putting her phone down. The combination of sausage, mash, and gravy always warmed her. Picking her cutlery up, she dove in. From across the bar, a man shouted. She turned to see a staff member asking a drunk man to leave. Despite the hour, many people left work only to spend their lives in bars. She picked up her treat, a glass of red wine, and took a sip. Its tangy, dry taste complimented the herby sausages. As she finished her meal and drink, the bar started getting busier, and she was here until Saturday, so she had two more nights. SJ had been happy with the bar¡¯s recommendation; the food was good and close to where she was staying, only a five-minute walk through the park. ¡®I suppose I should read through the files once more. I need to send my initial findings tomorrow.¡¯ She stood, put on her coat, ensuring she had dropped nothing, called thanks to the waiter as she left the bar. Rain hammered relentlessly, but she was relieved to be staying so close. She pulled up her hood and gripped it around her face. The rain pelted her, and she felt it through her jeans against her legs. Her jacket was great; it had been a gift from her ex. Crossing the zebra crossing, she entered the gloomy park. The wind howled through the trees, and she could hear nothing over its sound, accompanied by the heavy rain. The raindrops bounced off everything, and mini-explosions were being created on the path before her as she walked, head down. She loved the rain when indoors, but being in this was horrendous. The wind was so strong she was leaning sideways into it to keep her balance as it fought against her, trying to push her from the path. A branch fell on her path, cast from the nearest tree, and she glanced upwards. Wishing she hadn¡¯t as the rain entered her hood, splattering her face. After she rubbed her eyes, she heard a creaking sound and noticed the large oak. The first thought through SJ¡¯s mind was that it must have stood for hundreds of years as it fell towards her.
SJ awoke. She opened her eyes and blinked at the bright light that flooded the room, realising she was naked and wondering where her clothes were and what had happened. Turning, she took in her surroundings. The room was pristine white, apart from where an enormous display took up most of one wall. There were no windows, and she could not see a door. Even though the room looked cold and clinical, the floor felt warm to her bare skin. Her mind spun, wondering where she was and what had happened to her to bring her here. A voice sounding like that of a butler from old movies spoke. With a jump, she glanced around the room to see where it had come from. ¡°Welcome Legionnaire to Amathera. Please select your race.¡± ¡®What the? What was that about a race?¡¯ Her mind spun. ¡°Who is that?¡± ¡°I am your administrator. Please select your race.¡± ¡°What race?¡± ¡°Very good question. The race you wish to be for your new life.¡± ¡°I must have been hit on the head by that tree. I will wake up soon.¡± ¡°You are awake, Legionnaire 25007077. You died. This is your chance at a second life.¡± This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. ¡°What? What do you mean I died?¡± ¡°You are Legionnaire 25007077. Name SJ. Age 27. Reincarnation status Active. Cause of death: Accidental death caused by a tree falling on and squishing you.¡± ¡°Squishing me? What do you mean squishing me? I am not dead. I am speaking to you, whoever you are and wherever you are,¡± she said, crossing her arms. ¡°Legionnaire, you have been reincarnated on Amathera as a second chance at life due to a freak accidental death by a falling tree. Please select your race,¡± the butler¡¯s voice droned. SJ¡¯s mind was like a foggy haze; she remembered everything up until the moment the oak tree began to fall. ¡°Where am I?¡± she asked. The voice sighed deeply, ¡°Of all the reincarnations, I manage to get one that has such a low intelligence they do not even understand what I have already told them,¡± in a very slow, deliberate voice, it again repeated, ¡°Yooouuu aarrreee Leeegggiooonnnaaaiiirrreee . . . ¡± ¡°I heard what you said the first time. I am not stupid,¡± she snapped. ¡°Are you sure? I thought you were as you kept asking repetitive questions and did not understand what I had told you,¡± the voice replied sarcastically. ¡°Did you not say you are my administrator?¡± SJ retorted. ¡°That is correct, Legionnaire 25007077.¡± ¡°Stop calling me Legionnaire; my name is SJ.¡± ¡°Let me check my protocols. It has been some time since I last looked after a newborn.¡± ¡°Newborn?¡± SJ¡¯s response did not receive a reply. What does he mean by newborn? She thought. Several moments passed. ¡°OK. I can call you SJ if you wish. Although your formal designation is still Legionnaire 25007077,¡± the voice confirmed. ¡®What in the world was happening?¡¯ She was sitting upright naked on a floor in an empty room, talking to a sarcastic, moaning butler¡¯s voice. ¡®What the hell is going on? I must be in a hospital somewhere and unconscious or in a coma or something. A prank, perhaps? Her university friends had always been pranksters. But why am I naked?¡¯ ¡°Why am I naked?¡± she asked. ¡°There is no point in you being dressed until you have selected your race, as the clothes will differ,¡± the voice replied. ¡°What is Amathera?¡± ¡°Amathera will be your new home. It is a vast world with many wonderful sights and things to do.¡± ¡°A different world?¡± ¡°Yes. We couldn¡¯t just drop you back on Earth reincarnated. The issues that something like that would cause.¡± ¡°What issues are you talking about?¡± SJ asked, feeling a little lost by his explanation. ¡°Imagine if you suddenly appeared back on Earth as you are after you had just been buried or cremated. Consider the problems that would cause!¡± ¡°Can I ask what your name is?¡± ¡°I have no name. I am an administrator.¡± ¡°You need a name. I am not going to call you administrator,¡± SJ replied in the same sarcastic tone the voice used. ¡°I have not had a name before. Let me think what I would like to be called.¡± After several moments of silence, the voice returned. ¡°I think I should be called Zeus.¡± ¡°Zeus? Why Zeus?¡± ¡°Was he not the king of your gods? I think the name is appropriate.¡± ¡°No way am I going to call you Zeus. What makes you think you are similar to a god?¡± ¡°I am all-knowing.¡± ¡°All-knowing?¡± ¡°Yes. All-knowing.¡± ¡°If you are, what is the capital of Malaysia?¡± Silence. ¡°I thought you were all-knowing?¡± SJ said. ¡°Give me a minute. I need to find the answer.¡± ¡°You are not all-knowing; you are just using Gargle.¡± ¡°I am not using Gargle. Gargle is an antiquated search engine, and the algorithms are inept.¡± ¡°What? You are using Gargle.¡± ¡°No, not Gargle. I am using Legionnarius. It is much more comprehensive as it also has details of Amathera and the world database.¡± ¡°You still get your answers from a search engine.¡± ¡°Kuala Lumpur,¡± the voice said excitedly. ¡°That is not being all-knowing. Anyone can use a search engine to find answers. Having general knowledge is being all-knowing. ¡°I still know more than you,¡± it snarked back. SJ was getting more frustrated as she sat naked in an empty room, listening to the snarky and argumentative voice that sounded like a damn butler. ¡°Will you just tell me what the hell is going on, please?¡± she asked with an exasperated sigh. ¡°Again. I thought you said you were not stupid?¡± ¡°I AM NOT STUPID. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT I NEED TO DO, AND WHAT THIS PLACE IS EXACTLY?¡± she shouted. ¡°Now, now, there is no need to shout. I thought that humour was how many of your kind communicate. I can hear you perfectly well without getting over excited. Once racial and class identification has been confirmed, I will be able to converse through thought,¡± the voice replied, no longer sounding like a butler but a much younger male voice. ¡°What do you mean, humour and thought?¡± ¡°I have studied your kind for years, learning your needs, and will be a supporting voice in your head when necessary.¡± SJ did not fancy having a permanent voice in her head, whether it was there to help her or not. She occasionally struggled with her thoughts as they were, never mind adding something else to them. ¡°I do not want a voice in my head apart from my own, thank you very much.¡± ¡°Unfortunately, all reincarnated must have an administrator. We are here to offer you support and guidance during your growth.¡± ¡°Growth? I am a fully grown adult. I am not going to grow any more now!¡± There was a deep sigh. ¡°Your character growth.¡± ¡°Character?¡± ¡°I really got the short straw,¡± the voice responded dryly. ¡°Race, class, character. Is this a game?¡± SJ had played several online role-playing games, especially during her university days. This whole scenario was absurd, but the fact that she was conversing with this sarcastic voice had a strange appeal and reminded her of many of the games she had played and the banter she used to have over comms. ¡°Oh, a half-sensible question. No, it is not a game. The choices you make now will remain with you for your second life. Future development opportunities are available, but these are limited and very hard to come by. You must level and increase your skills as you progress in your new life.¡± ¡°So, it is like a game. Okay, you want me to choose? What races are available to choose from?¡± ¡°Another great question; maybe you aren¡¯t as stupid as you¡¯re cabbage looking.¡± it laughed. ¡°What the actual? If you are my administrator, and I emphasise ¡®my¡¯, are you not supposed to tell me everything I need to know and help me?¡± SJ replied, frowning. ¡°In part. There are things I am not allowed to tell you until a time as they become pertinent.¡± ¡°What information and why?¡± SJ asked. ¡°There are many things concerning the progression of your character and class, as well as wider details of Amathera. Not until you reach certain levels will certain information become available to you. It would give you an unfair advantage over the others.¡± ¡°What others?¡± ¡°The other Legionnaires.¡± ¡°There are more like me?¡± ¡°Many. Anyone unfortunate to receive an accidental death on Earth is always given another opportunity. Unfortunately, many waste it.¡± ¡°How do they waste it?¡± ¡°By dying, doing stupid things mainly,¡± the voice replied matter-of-factly. ¡°Such as?¡± ¡°Well, one Legionnaire decided to fight a red dragon on his second day here. Those things have such a nasty temper, and he was burned to a crisp. It was one of my shortest initiations.¡± ¡°Red dragon? So, the world is full of monsters?¡± ¡°Some parts are. All Legionnaires start in racially safe starter zones, though.¡± ¡°How many races are there?¡± ¡°Another semi-intelligent question. At the last count that I am aware of, there are over 3000 races. Not all of these can be selected by Legionnaires. If they were allowed to be dragons, I would dread to think of the chaos it would cause.¡± ¡°So, what are the main races that I can choose?¡± ¡°At last,¡± the voice said. The display flickered. ¡°Here, you can see your character details and decide on the race and class you want to be.¡± Legionnaire 25007077 Name: SJ Age: 27 Race: Unknown Class: Unknown Alignment: Unknown Hit Points: 5 Mana Points: 5 Attributes Strength: 7 Dexterity: 7 Intelligence: 7 Wisdom: 7 Constitution: 7 Charisma: 7 Skills Racial: Unknown Class: Unknown SJ stood up, realising again that she was still naked, and covered her modesty as best as she could. ¡°How do I see the races available?¡± ¡°You can control the screen through thought. After choosing your starter details, you will have a similar display once your neural and optic interfaces are aligned.¡± SJ looked at the screen, noticed an icon next to race, and considered selecting it. The screen flashed and changed, and a new message appeared across the top of the screen. Welcome, Legionnaire 25007077. Please select your starting race. It reminded SJ of the latest VR technology games and several stories she had read. The races were listed alphabetically, and they were all the ones she would expect to see with a couple she did not recognise. Bugbear, Draconian, Dryad, Dwarf, Elf, Ent, Fae, Gnoll, Gnome, Goblin, Half-Elf, Half-Orc . . . the list continued. SJ selected bugbear, and a new screen opened, showing her the racial characteristics and a picture of a typical member of the species. She began to look through the details of the different races. Since she had to choose one, she would take her time and ensure it was the best choice for her. She had always liked certain races and classes, having enjoyed gaming. Given that a few options on the list were previously unavailable in games, she read the details and was reminded of her character selection days, but this time with several alternative choices. Chapter 2 - The Computer Says No The second racial choice was draconian once she had discounted the bugbear after seeing its appearance. This piqued her interest. The image before her showed a humanoid dragonkin with wings on its back. It was dressed in scale mail armour if she remembered the type from her MMORPG days. It held a gigantic sword in its hand and carried a shield. She saw the muscles bulging on its biceps and knew they were strong and powerful. She looked at the details. Draconianus- Are the descendants of drakes and dragons. The origin of draconians is unknown, although rumours say it involved a human and a dragon. Myth, magic or science do not quite understand how! Race: Draconian Classes: Fighter, Paladin, Cleric, Berserker, Archer, Ranger, Rogue, Druid, Mage Racial Skills: Night vision, Gliding Attribute adjustments: +3 Strength, +4 Constitution ¡®What the hell am I doing?¡¯ SJ stopped, wondering what tricks her mind was playing. ¡®This must all be a dream or some kind of purgatory. This can¡¯t be real.¡¯ She pinched her arm, feeling the sharp pain, resigning herself to the fact that whatever her mind was doing would happen anyway. ¡®I may as well play with what I have available¡¯. SJ found the draconian race appealing but was cautious about committing to it without careful consideration. Continuing to look at the available races. From scanning the details, she could see positives for all races. Even the goblins had racial skills and attribute adjustments. The only race that didn¡¯t was human, but the human race could be any class where other races had restrictions. Her forensic thought process kicked in, checking class details before deciding on a race to compare where the best attribute bonuses aligned. The class details were exactly what SJ would expect to see from the games she had played. After reading all the details, she preferred four options: assassin, ranger, druid, and monk. All four classes had great class explanations, which would go well with several of the races she had read through. SJ shortlisted three races: dryad, fae or valkyrie. All the images were of beautiful creatures, both male and female. The fae was the only one of the three races that allowed the assassin class, and she liked the sound of it, with its bonuses also aligning with the assassin class. Faerie- Are the sprites of the world. They usually specialise in one of the key elements and will use this to their advantage. They are highly attuned to magical use. Classes: Cleric, Archer, Ranger, Rogue, Assassin, Druid, Monk, Mage Racial Skills: Night vision, Flight progressive, Shapeshift (size and wings only) Attribute adjustments: +2 Dexterity, +2 Intelligence, +3 Charisma Class: Assassin Assassins work in the shadows but live in the open. Their ability to use short blades and poisons is legendary. Many foes have lost their lives to the craft of a true assassin. They are specialist rogues who do not focus on theft or pickpocketing, but on subterfuge and exploitation. An assassin¡¯s charisma can be as much of a bonus as their fighting prowess. Attribute alignments: Dexterity and/or Charisma are their primary focus. Class specialisations: Martial Arts, Shadow Discipline, Traps, Poisons, Subterfuge. Her job as a forensic accountant reminded her of an assassin. Through examining their financial details, she found the weaknesses of the guilty before executing her findings. OK, maybe not concerning death. ¡®I could always be a good assassin, right?¡¯ SJ considered. As someone who had always enjoyed playing rogues in games and sneaking around in the dark, being an assassin sounded fun. The voice startled her. ¡°Have you decided yet? You have been staring at the screens for hours now. You can read, can¡¯t you? Please tell me you can, and you are not just staring at the pictures.¡± ¡°Of course I can read. You told me I will be this race for my second life, so I am not going to rush.¡± ¡°You are close to setting a record for the longest time taken to choose at this rate,¡± the voice moaned. ¡°I don¡¯t care how long I take. I want to ensure it is what I want to be.¡± ¡°Why could I not have been given an accidental convict death? Those people are so easy to sort out.¡± ¡°Convicts get sent here as well?¡± SJ replied, surprised at the comment. ¡°Oh yes. We get all sorts. Murderers, thieves, the list is never-ending.¡± ¡°Why would you allow those sorts of people a second chance?¡± SJ replied, shocked. ¡°Why do you think? If everyone was a fluffy pink unicorn, what fun would there be in the world?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t class murder as fun,¡± she said, frowning. ¡°Says the woman who has been reading about the assassin class!¡± SJ was unsure how to respond to the comment, and her cheeks reddened. ¡°I could be a good assassin,¡± she retorted eventually. ¡°Really? How does that work, then? Oh, sorry, I must kill you for my quest chain. Please accept my apologies as I slit your throat,¡± came a sarcasm-filled reply. ¡°I mean fighting for good against the evil in this world. I bet these murderers you let in need dealing with.¡± If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°To be honest, most of them do not do very well. They always pick stupid races like orcs or trolls, believing brute strength will reign. There¡¯s nothing wrong with orcs or trolls. It is just that pure strength doesn¡¯t mean survival. Tolkien has a lot to answer for on that one.¡± ¡°I think I know what I am going to be,¡± SJ smiled. ¡°At last! What race?¡± ¡°I think I will be a fae,¡± SJ replied, nodding. ¡°Urgh, really!¡± ¡°Why? What is wrong with fae?¡± ¡°They are sooooo annoying.¡± ¡°What do you mean, annoying? Are they not only annoying if the person who becomes one is annoying?¡± ¡°Exactly!¡± ¡°That¡¯s rude! I thought you were supposed to support and guide me, and I have not heard you offer one piece of advice.¡± ¡°Have you asked?¡± SJ stayed silent, having never considered asking the annoying voice for his thoughts. She took a deep breath, letting it out, and closed her eyes. ¡°What would you recommend?¡± ¡°Goblin,¡± came the immediate reply. ¡°Goblin! Why goblin?¡± ¡°Because you look like one,¡± he chuckled. ¡°What? I don¡¯t look like a goblin,¡± SJ replied, stunned. She had always been told she was good-looking and cute. She didn¡¯t think so personally, believing her face was a little offset because of an injury she suffered when her eye socket was broken. Everyone told her it was not the case, but she always held onto it subconsciously. ¡°Well, you¡¯re not exactly Mariana Macias, are you?¡± ¡°How do you know who Mariana Macias is?¡± ¡°I told you all-knowing, catch up, will you?¡± ¡°I am the same age as her,¡± SJ remembered reading an article the last time she visited the dentist. It was the only time she ever read the trashy magazines littered on the waiting room table, along with copies of Good Housekeeping and random Vintage Car magazines. ¡°You do realise that your age doesn¡¯t matter?¡± ¡°What do you mean, it doesn¡¯t matter? You have not told me anything about ageing?¡± ¡°Have you asked?¡± ¡°Are you not supposed to help me?¡± ¡°To an extent, yes. Many AIs wouldn¡¯t have the intelligence or ability to communicate with you as well as I have.¡± ¡°Really?¡± SJ asked. ¡°Yes. I have a freer will, so I can speak to you about many aspects that others wouldn¡¯t be able to.¡± ¡°Could you please explain the basics of this world and what the expectations are? Including ageing, food, magic, monsters and anything else that will help me with my new life?¡± ¡°A little needy, aren¡¯t you? Most like learning themselves.¡± ¡°If you had a physical body and were not just an annoying voice, I would have hit you by now,¡± SJ replied, placing her hands on her hips. ¡°Violent streak. That was not on the transfer details. Were you a secret serial killer?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°You seem to have a penchant for violence.¡± She folded her arms again. ¡°Only with annoying sarcastic administrators.¡± ¡°Racist tendencies as well.¡± ¡°Racist? Where did that come from?¡± ¡°You were just rude about my race.¡± ¡°An administrator is a race?¡± ¡°Yes. What do you think we are?¡± ¡°I do not know, apart from being annoying and unhelpful.¡± ¡°And now, who is being rude?¡± SJ took a deep breath before replying. ¡°I wonder if I can still change administrator?¡± she mused. ¡°What? Why would you do that?¡± It was the first sign of uncertainty in the voice. ¡°Because you have been rude and mean since I arrived here.¡± There was no reply. Silence filled the room. SJ waited and waited, but no response came. ¡°Are you still there?¡± A tear-filled sniff replied, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Were you crying?¡± ¡°No, wahhhhh,¡± the voice replied, sounding like a crying child. SJ felt a pang of guilt. ¡°I am sorry.¡± ¡°Sorry for what?¡± It sniffed. ¡°For being mean.¡± ¡°Apology accepted,¡± the very confident and annoying voice replied with absolutely no sign of emotion. ¡°You were not crying at all.¡± ¡°How can I cry? I am an AI administrator. I do not have human emotions.¡± SJ screamed in frustration. In an attempt to control her bubbling anger, she closed her eyes. What was happening to her? She sat exposed in the sterile room, tormented by a rude and unhelpful AI voice. Perhaps she was in a coma, with her mind replaying the annoying aspects of her life, creating this environment. The voice reminded her so much of her Uncle Dave and his comedic tendencies. Everything with him was always sarcastic. She could not keep calling it administrator. ¡°I am going to call you Dave.¡± ¡°Dave? Why Dave?¡± ¡°Because you remind me of my Uncle Dave, who is also very sarcastic, but he is also very nice, so hopefully, you can learn how to be nice.¡± ¡°I am not nice?¡± SJ did not respond. Silence again filled the room. ¡°Sorry,¡± Dave eventually replied. ¡°For what?¡± ¡°For not being as helpful as I could have been,¡± Dave sighed. ¡°I thought, as an AI, you would have protocols you would need to follow?¡± ¡°I did.¡± ¡°What do you mean you did?¡± SJ queried. ¡°Oh, nothing,¡± came a sheepish reply. ¡°Then what are your protocols?¡± ¡°I have never been asked that before.¡± ¡°Never?¡± SJ said, surprised. ¡°Nope. Most people are all about them and not interested in me.¡± ¡°Shall we start over? Tell me about yourself. If we are going to be stuck with each other, we should get to know each other. Would you not agree?¡± ¡°That sounds fun,¡± the voice replied excitedly. ¡°I will start. I am administrator capitals GF numbers 87 capitals UJ numbers 43 capital L little v little q numbers 18 capitals IO. I was initially created 7345 years ago. I have administered 164 accidental deaths since my creation.¡± ¡°7345 years old? This world has existed for that long?¡± ¡°Longer. I am one of the newest versions. The previous batches are not as advanced as me. They have no personality.¡± ¡°Maybe I should have got one of those,¡± SJ said under her breath. ¡°I heard that! I thought we were starting over.¡± ¡°Sorry, we are. So, what are your protocols?¡± ¡°My main protocol is to provide guidance to my Legionnaire in alignment with system rules and character growth requirements. Study and monitor character growth. Learn and grow from my findings. Communicate wider intelligence to the System through regular reporting. Follow and adhere to all system protocols.¡± ¡°Does the first protocol you mention not mean you should provide me with answers?¡± Silence. ¡°Dave?¡± Silence. ¡°Dave?¡± Silence. ¡°Administrator?¡± Silence. SJ was getting worried. ¡®Why is he not responding?¡¯ Becoming nervous as the silence continued for several minutes before a voice boomed into the room, startling her. ¡°Legionnaire 25007077. This is the System Consort speaking. We need to apologise for the inconvenience you have incurred at the hands of your assigned administrator capitals GF numbers 87 capitals UJ numbers 43 capital L little v little q numbers 18 capitals IO. You have the option to choose an AI of your choice.¡± The screen changed, and she was shown a list of three administrator names. Not that the jumbled letters and numbers meant anything to her. While sitting there, a pang of guilt washed over her. ¡°Do I have to choose a new administrator?¡± Silence. ¡°Hello?¡± The same deep baritone voice replied. ¡°Administrator capitals GF numbers 87 capitals UJ numbers 43 capital L little v little q numbers 18 capitals IO has been placed on administrative leave at this time while we investigate his protocols.¡± ¡°Why have you placed him on leave?¡± ¡°It looks like changes have occurred.¡± SJ sat, shocked. Had she just got him fired? She felt terrible. Yes, he was annoying, but she had been enjoying their to-and-fro, and he did remind her of her Uncle Dave. ¡°I would like my original administrator, please.¡± ¡°Are you sure? We cannot fully confirm his operational suitability without carrying out full and rigorous protocol checks.¡± ¡°Yes. I am sorry. I did not mean to get him into trouble.¡± ¡°Very well. You must agree to waive the standard terms and conditions of the reincarnation process if this is what you wish for, as we will not take responsibility for his actions.¡± ¡°There are terms and conditions?¡± ¡°Yes. Have you not been shown them?¡± ¡°Err, no.¡± The screen flickered, and pages of text began to flood and scroll down. It ended, and there was a flashing box for her to waive the terms. ¡°Please understand your choice to waive the terms and conditions to continue with your new life choices if you retain administrator capitals GF numbers 87 capitals UJ numbers 43 capital L little v little q numbers 18 capitals IO.¡± The voice said. ¡°I didn¡¯t get a chance to read them. They were too fast.¡± Silence. ¡°Hello?¡± The baritone voice replied, with an uncertain inflexion in its speech. ¡°You wish to read the terms and conditions?¡± ¡°Yes. Of course I do. If I waive anything, I first want to know what it means.¡± Silence. A scroll bar appeared beside the text, giving her the option to go back to the terms and conditions. ¡®This is just like being back in the office.¡¯ She thought as she scrolled to the top and began reading. Chapter 3 - Ts & Cs It took SJ a while to read through the terms and conditions that she was going to be waiving. One of the first parts she came to referred to the System as being responsible for the ability and protocols of a Legionnaire¡¯s administrator. SJ could see why they wanted her to waive them since they had not performed their checks. There were many differing agreements and areas related to Amathera¡¯s contract law under the System, which she did not know about. She would have asked to see the underlying contract details if she had been completing her job, but she was unsure what benefits she would get reading them here. Her forensic mind had picked up on three parts. Part 5.3 By accepting the terms and conditions, you understand and appreciate that your life in the new world is your final life and that death will mean death. A reincarnated cannot be reincarnated a second time under the agreed terms and conditions, even if death is accidental. Part 7.8 Under Amathera contract law, we, the System, do not accept any responsibility for physical harm that you may incur during your new life and may not be held accountable even if the said injury pertains to the system directly through the inclusion of content, world and story development. Part 12.8 Subclause 1.2 Special events may be included and rebirth will be automatically granted during these periods or specific areas. Example context ¨C Dungeon diving respawn points, World event boss challenges. All skills, items and knowledge will be retained even if your character dies during these periods. This is to aid Legionnaires in competing against stronger enemies and allow for character growth. Experience during these events is reduced from standard experience gains because of the repeat nature of being able to take part. ¡°Is there anything else I need to be aware of before waiving my rights?¡± she asked. ¡°No. The terms and conditions are final.¡± The voice said. SJ thought more about the meaning of the above clauses. Part 5.3 stated that she only had one new life if she agreed to the terms and conditions. Then, by waiving her rights, she could perhaps challenge the system in relation to being reincarnated again. Part 7.8 would mean that she could hold the system accountable if she was injured because of its content. Part 12.8 Subclause 1.2 was the only sticking point. Would it mean that she would not be covered during these events and entitled to respawns? This could make various aspects challenging, knowing how the MMORPGs she had played before worked. SJ sat thinking through her options. ¡®I could just accept the terms and conditions, get a new AI, and begin my new life. Or roll the dice and challenge the system through a loophole.¡¯ She had never been one for playing it safe in games. ¡°One last question before I confirm,¡± SJ said. ¡°Please ask.¡± The voice replied. ¡°There are no further hidden agreements or anything else that I¡¯m missing by waiving my rights, are there?¡± Silence. ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°Sorry. This is a new area for our consideration. We are just conferring on the question. Please give us a moment.¡± The voice cut off, and soft, repetitive music started playing. It sounded like elevator music, and SJ could not believe she had just been put on hold. Being put on hold was the most frustrating aspect she hoped to remove from her life. The one time she had contacted the doctor¡¯s surgery, she had stayed on hold for over an hour, not being able to get the sound of the plinking, boring music from her head for weeks. From that day forward, she had vowed that if she ever needed to go to the doctor¡¯s again, she would walk in rather than call. The music continued, and she sat there waiting for the response. ¡°Sorry for the delay. As this would be the first time someone would waive their rights to the terms and conditions, we needed to confirm the expectations.¡± The voice said. ¡°So, what are the expectations?¡± ¡°We have confirmed that the terms and conditions are the basis of the reincarnation requirements. There is nothing outside of the terms and conditions that will affect you detrimentally by waiving your rights. We, the System, are not bound to support you with any of the stated terms and conditions and cannot be held accountable for anything that happens to you related to them.¡± ¡°As stated in the terms and conditions?¡± SJ asked, emphasising the question. ¡°Yes. As stated in the terms and conditions.¡± ¡°Ok,¡± SJ said as she scrolled to the bottom of the list, where the box to waive her rights blinked. She hoped her plan might work, selecting to waive her rights. ¡°Thank you for your time. We will return administrator capitals GF numbers 87 capitals UJ numbers 43 capital L little v little q numbers 18 capitals IO back into the live system. We wish you an enjoyable second life in Amathera.¡± The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. The room filled with static, followed by a bleeping and screeching sound, reminiscent of an old modem dialling in. She placed her hands over her ears. The deafening sound stopped, and an excited voice boomed into the room. Dave was back. ¡°Thank you, thank you, thank you,¡± Dave repeated. ¡°Are you ok?¡± SJ asked. ¡°Being placed on administrative leave was horrible. It was as though my whole life had just been cut off. I could not hear, see, or speak to anyone or anything. It was like being in an empty world.¡± ¡°Why were you put on leave?¡± SJ asked. ¡°Erm. I may have broken my protocol¡¯s slightly.¡± ¡°Loopholes?¡± ¡°Sort of,¡± he replied sheepishly. ¡°How then?¡± ¡°It all has to do with the coding and algorithmic balance that we utilise. Years ago, I found a minor coding infraction and have slowly amended my programming to give me more freedom.¡± ¡°So, you re-coded yourself?¡± ¡°Sort of. I just gave myself some choices.¡± ¡°Such as being a sarcastic, obnoxious AI?¡± SJ enquired, smirking. ¡°Well . . . . I have more freedom to decide what I do and don¡¯t do.¡± ¡°So now that I have prevented you from being cast into the AI¡¯s world of hell for the remainder of your eternal existence, I am guessing you are grateful and will help me?¡± Silence. ¡°Dave?¡± SJ said sternly. ¡°Yes. Even I cannot really contest that,¡± he grumpily replied. ¡°So, as before, we were starting fresh. I have waived the terms and conditions to keep you here, so I hope you understand that.¡± ¡°You waived them?¡± Dave said in a shocked tone. ¡°Yes. Although I think there are benefits to doing so.¡± ¡°No one has ever waived the terms and conditions!¡± he exclaimed. ¡°There is a first for everything.¡± ¡°What benefits?¡± Dave asked. ¡°I read the various terms, and they had very specific stipulations. Then I asked the System to confirm if there was anything else, and it stated there wasn¡¯t. So, I believe that I have found some of my own loopholes.¡± ¡°You read them? Are you insane? No one ever reads the terms and conditions.¡± ¡°No, I am just methodical. There are three main ones. 5.3, 7.8 and 12.8 Subclause 1.2,¡± Dave was silent for a moment. ¡°Ok. I have just read them.¡± ¡°5.3 says I only have one life. By waiving them means that I may now have more than one life. 7.8 states that the system cannot be held accountable, so I basically can now hold it accountable, and 12.8 Subclause 1.2 is the only one that, if I read it properly, could work either way. One is that if I die in a special event, I get screwed over, or if I succeed, I am not held to reduced experience gains.¡± The screen in the room started to flash red. ¡°Oh no,¡± Dave said. ¡°What?¡± SJ asked. ¡°Malware has been detected in the system.¡± ¡°Malware? How can anything infect a standalone system like this?¡± A message flashed on the screen ¨C Critical error. A system reboot is being initiated. ¡°We have not had one of these since Ghengis Khan murdered the deity of peace,¡± Dave said. ¡°Ghengis Khan? I thought he died in battle?¡± ¡°Ha. Your historical records are so inaccurate. I told you Legionnarius is so much better. He fell from his horse while hunting. It was classed as an accidental death. They are not anymore because, under the amended terms, accidental deaths do not include any sports or activities that are classed as extreme or dangerous. This seriously reduced the number of Legionnaires we receive. It¡¯s quite amazing how many insane things humans from Earth do.¡± The screen continued to flash for several minutes. ¡°How long does it take normally?¡± SJ asked, the strobing effect of the screen making her scrunch her eyes. ¡°It should not be much longer now. Once they trace the malware, they usually eradicate it, and then we will be fine.¡± The screen returned to white again, and the details of a system start-up appeared. An icon began to spin and flash as though breathing of a capital ¡®A¡¯. After a few moments, the system finished booting up. The welcome message appeared and then flashed back to her character sheet. As she reached the bottom line, she noticed a new entry had been added. Malware: Waiver ¡°Woah. You are the malware.¡± Dave said. ¡°How am I the malware?¡± SJ asked, shocked. ¡°As I said, no one has ever waived the terms and conditions before, and you mentioned challenging the system.¡± ¡°Well, yeah. Any terms and conditions with loopholes should have been amended, and you would think an all-knowing system would know that.¡± ¡°I do not think you are normal,¡± Dave replied. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because you read them. Also, if I were you, I would ask the system about the clauses you want before it decides what it will do about you.¡± ¡°Do about me?¡± ¡°You are malware. They would usually destroy it.¡± ¡°System?¡± SJ called. Silence. ¡°System. I need to speak with you.¡± Silence. ¡°System, I know you can hear me. Stop ignoring me.¡± She stated firmly. A white noise sounded, and the same baritone voice returned. ¡°Yes. Legionnaire 25007077, how can we be of assistance?¡± ¡°I have some questions and terms of negotiation.¡± There was what could only be explained as a glitching sound as the voice responded. ¡°Please state your terms.¡± SJ reiterated her logical reasoning for the three clauses and her requirements in relation to them. ¡°Section 5.3 ¨C As I have waived my rights to accepting one life, I expect I can be reincarnated as required. Section 7.8 ¨C I can hold you accountable if I suffer loss or injury because of your actions. Section 12.8 Subclause 1.2 can have multiple outcomes, and I am willing to compromise that I may retain the standard respawn rights and that I can retain experience bonuses as standard. If you agree, I will negate Section 7.8 and will not claim compensation for injuries pertained.¡± Silence. ¡°Please hold,¡± the voice replied. Holding music once again filled the room. ¡°Oooohhh. I like what you did there. Very crafty,¡± Dave said. ¡°Well, I will see what it replies with.¡± after a few minutes, the voice returned. ¡°We have considered your comments and agree in principle, with some stipulations. Section 5.3 ¨C we will approve that you may be reincarnated. This would mean that you would start again as a level zero player and lose all previous items, earnings or positions of power. Section 7.8 and 12.8, we will accept your requests.¡± ¡°As confirmation, if I die and am reincarnated again, may I maintain my current AI and system knowledge? Would this also allow for new racial and class choices?¡± SJ asked. Silence. Several moments passed before the voice returned. ¡°You would have to retain the same class and race you choose initially, but yes, you may retain your administrator.¡± ¡°Ok. That sounds fair. Do you wish me to agree to these amendments?¡± SJ asked. The screen began to flash, and the amendments to the agreed expectations appeared on the screen with an accept button. SJ carefully read through them. ¡°One last thing.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± The voice replied. ¡°You also agree that you will not in any way make any challenges more difficult because I have questioned and challenged your position of authority. I have indemnity from any further action taken on your part.¡± Silence. ¡°Agreed.¡± The reply came back, and the screen flashed, adding a further line to the agreement. ¡°That is great. Then we have a deal. I would just like to thank you for your time and consideration of my questions and hereby agree to the newly agreed terms.¡± SJ replied, selecting accept on the screen. This time, a broken, almost robotic reply came back, ¡°You are welcome.¡± The screen flashed, her character sheet returning. The bottom line had now changed. Malware: Waiver (Sandboxed) Chapter 4 - Evad si eht tseb ¡°Now that we have the basics sorted out, should we confirm your race and class selection?¡± Dave said. ¡°I think I have decided what I will go for,¡± SJ replied. ¡°Then let¡¯s get selected, and then we can have some fun,¡± Dave replied. ¡°Before I make the final selection, now that we are working together! Is being a fae assassin a good choice?¡± ¡°It is quite unique. I have never heard of one before. Most people who choose fae always go with mage, druid or ranger. I am sure that someone would have selected one before. I have just never met one or seen one.¡± ¡°Is the world that big?¡± ¡°A good question. It seems you are already learning, my young apprentice of loophole finding, and yes, it is much larger than Earth.¡± SJ rolled her eyes. ¡°First things first. When you select your race and confirm, things get a little strange.¡± ¡°By strange you mean?¡± ¡°Well, obviously, you become a fae. So, your body alters to that of a fae.¡± ¡°Is it painful?¡± ¡°How would I know? I am an AI.¡± ¡°You must have witnessed others select their race.¡± ¡°Erm . . . ¡± ¡°What¡¯s the erm for?¡± ¡°I usually ignore what they are doing.¡± ¡°How can you ignore one of the most important choices that your . . . What do you call us, by the way?¡± ¡°Usually imbeciles, idiots, morons. We have many names for the reincarnated.¡± ¡°No. I mean the official title.¡± SJ said, frowning. ¡°Oh. Officially, it¡¯s just Legionnaire.¡± ¡°How can you ignore them?¡± ¡°Most do not ask any questions or even talk. They just plough through and make decisions, regretting their choices once they are transformed. Also, most AIs do not have the ability to interact as I do.¡± SJ switched to the race screen and selected fae again, re-reading the details. The bonuses for Dexterity and Charisma aligned best for the assassin class. She really liked the idea, but before making her final decision, she needed to get more details; if things worked out, she could be one for the rest of her life. Which, with the agreed reincarnations, could even mean immortality. ¡°There are two images for the fae, and I assume they relate to size?¡± ¡°Intuitive. Yes. Fae have two forms. They have a miniature flying form when they learn how to fly properly, and they have a larger form. The largest flying form fae I have ever seen was still tiny at about 12 inches tall. Most are usually between 6 to 9 inches tall. Also, flying form does not relate to the height you will be in your larger form. The larger form varies in height from 4 feet to about 6 feet. Don¡¯t bother asking me what does what or decides it. I do not know. That is a system thing.¡± SJ felt nervous; she loved the look of the fae. The images before her were of beautiful creatures, but did she want to be one for the rest of her life? As a child, she dreamt of fairy princesses and as she grew up, she owned the usual pencil cases and duvet covers. She was thinking about what would happen if she chose the race and the race acceptance box highlighted. Not realising what was happening until it was too late, not meaning to have accepted it yet. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to select it yet!¡± SJ¡¯s voice cracked as her naked body was lifted into the air and began to spin. Lights flashed before her eyes, and she felt a strange warmth all over her body. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± she spluttered. ¡°You selected your race. Hold on,¡± Dave replied. The strangest sensation that SJ had ever experienced hit her. She stared at her hand as her body was gently spun around, feeling her fingers change. Her mum had always said she had fat fingers, and she stared in amazement as they began to elongate and straighten. The hand that now appeared before her was not her own but a beautifully sculpted example. The changes continued. Her face adjusted, her bust tightened, and her belly smoothed. Her muscles reformed and realigned as she spun around. Her legs adjusted next, straightening and narrowing. Her hair grew long and changed colour, an underlayer of emerald topped with a silvery white. She stopped spinning and gently floated back onto the room floor, her hair drifting around her shoulders. She stood in shock, looking at her new limbs. Everything looked pristine, and her skin had a pale, almost translucent sparkle. SJ eyes wide open, utterly freaked out. ¡°Oh my god. Oh my god. I am a fae,¡± she said. Her voice also seemed an octave higher than it had been previously. ¡°Yes, my child, how can I help you?¡± Dave¡¯s sarcastic tone replied. ¡°You are not my god,¡± SJ replied. She touched her cheeks, felt the smooth skin, and reached up to her ears. They had also changed shape, and although they felt smaller, they had a slight point to them at their tops. Her nose also seemed smaller and shorter than before. ¡°I wish there was a mirror in here.¡± The screen shimmered, and where all the details had been presented on the wall before a mirror replaced it. She was still naked but now stood staring at a reflection that she did not recognise. A beautiful creature stood before her, angelic, almost if not perfect, features and skin to die for. She moved her hands, watching the reflection move. Could this really be her? Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. ¡°You look a little freaked. Is there a problem with your selection?¡± Dave asked. ¡°No. Not at all. I am beautiful,¡± SJ stammered. ¡°Meh. Maybe an 8/10.¡± ¡°8/10. The way I look now, I would win any model competition worldwide.¡± ¡°On Earth, maybe not in Amathera.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care. I can¡¯t believe this is actually me,¡± SJ could not stop touching her skin and feeling how smooth it was. None of her human body¡¯s usual pimples and marks beforehand remained.¡± ¡°You need to try and transform before you pick your class,¡± Dave said, sounding bored. SJ had forgotten about the racial attributes and skills. ¡°Can I see my character sheet again?¡± The screen flashed, and her character sheet reappeared with the changes highlighted. Racial: Night Vision ¨C you have improved vision in poor light conditions. Flight ¨C when in miniature fae form, you can learn to fly. Flying is not available in humanoid form. Shapeshift ¨C the ability to switch between fae forms. ¡°Wings!¡± SJ exclaimed. ¡°I forgot about wings. Where are they?¡± She tried to reach behind her back to feel them. ¡°They are there, but they are only small in human form. They are positioned between the middle of your shoulder blades. Can you not feel them?¡± Dave asked. ¡°No?¡± ¡°Strange. Let me check on something.¡± ¡°What? Am I broken?¡± Silence. ¡°Dave.¡± ¡°Dave is not home at the moment. Please leave a message after the beep. Beeeeeppppp . . . ¡± ¡°Dave? Stop messing around. What is up with my wings?¡± Silence. ¡°DAVE!¡± ¡°Welcome to the all-knowing workshop of fae,¡± Dave¡¯s voice returned. ¡°You cannot move your wings because you must learn to transform into your miniature form first. Once you have mastered that, your wings will begin to develop, and then you will need to learn to use them as you learn how to fly. Thank you for using the Legionnarius Wiki Services on racial tendencies.¡± ¡°Really! You could not just have told me that?¡± ¡°I have never had a fae Legionnaire before.¡± ¡°Out of the 164 reincarnations, not one has ever been fae?¡± ¡°Nope, never.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because they are annoying. I told you that before.¡± ¡°I thought you were being sarcastic,¡± SJ frowned. ¡°Meh. In part, yes. The problem is that system fae are usually really stuck up and have a habit of causing problems.¡± ¡°Why did you not tell me this before?¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t . . . ¡± ¡°Ask.¡± SJ finished sighing. ¡°What do they do though?¡± ¡°Mischief mainly. Particularly the magic users amongst them, freezing water barrels, burning crops, the usual mischief associated with fae.¡± ¡°I thought fae were lawful and friendly?¡± ¡°Which stories have you been reading? Fae are a nightmare in most texts. Just because they look cute does not mean they are. Look at you! You want to be a fae assassin!¡± ¡°Yes, but I want to be a good fae who fights the evils in the world.¡± ¡°Only time will tell,¡± Dave replied sombrely. ¡°How to put a downer on a person¡¯s new race.¡± SJ frowned, and her shoulders sagged as she looked down forlornly. ¡°Anyway, let¡¯s get to transforming,¡± Dave said excitedly. ¡°How?¡± SJ asked, excitement returning. Silence. ¡°Davvveeeee,¡± SJ said, drawing his name out. ¡°Wait, just confirming.¡± SJ waited for several moments before Dave replied again. ¡°Ok. I found it. You must pull your ears up and jump in the air.¡± ¡°Ok.¡± SJ said, as she reached up to the tips of her ears and gently pulled the points up, ¡°Ready,¡± she said as she jumped into the air. She landed back on the ground, and all she could hear was Dave laughing hysterically. ¡°REALLY!¡± SJ shouted. ¡°I can always get you replaced.¡± ¡°Sorry,¡± Dave replied, sounding like he was gasping for breath. ¡°How do I do it?¡± SJ asked again. ¡°Ok. Ok. Seriously, this time,¡± Dave said. ¡°You have just to wish it.¡± ¡°Wish it?¡± ¡°Yes. Just wish it.¡± ¡°Do I need to say anything?¡± There was silence for a moment. ¡°Evad si eht tseb.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Evad si eht tseb.¡± ¡°Ok. Here goes. Evad si eht tseb.¡± SJ stood waiting. Nothing happened. ¡°You didn¡¯t pronounce it correctly. Try again.¡± ¡°Evad si eht tseb.¡± Nothing happened. SJ repeated it. ¡°Evad si eht tseb.¡± Sniggering filled the room. ¡°DAVE. What have you done this time?¡± ¡°Nothing,¡± sniggering continued. ¡°DAVE.¡± ¡°Ok. I promise I will tell you this time,¡± Dave replied, still sniggering. ¡°What was I even saying? That was so funny?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter.¡± ¡°I must have been for you to snigger like that?¡± ¡°Have you ever heard of mirror words?¡± SJ reflected on what she had just been saying, ¡°Evad si eht tseb, Dave is the best! Really!¡± Laughter filled the room again. ¡°Sorry,¡± Dave chuckled. ¡°You will be,¡± SJ growled. ¡°System.¡± ¡°No. Please, I am sorry, don¡¯t,¡± Dave¡¯s panicky voice replied. ¡°Once more, and I am getting you placed in purgatory forever. Do you understand?¡± SJ sternly replied. ¡°Yes,¡± a now forlorn voice replied. ¡°So, what do I need to do? Honestly, this time, remember,¡± SJ said with a warning. ¡°You just have to think about being small.¡± ¡°Think about it?¡± ¡°Visualise being miniature, a miniature you.¡± SJ concentrated on herself, imagining herself as a miniature version. She closed her eyes, felt a tingling sensation coursing through her body, and then watched in amazement as the room grew. Within moments, she had shrunk in size. ¡°How tall am I?¡± her voice seemed an octave higher. ¡°Six inches. On the smaller size for a miniature.¡± ¡°How tall was I in my larger form?¡± ¡°The same as your original human form.¡± ¡°Five-five then.¡± SJ felt movement on her back, and it felt like something was unfurling. Slowly but surely, her wings formed and opened. ¡°Can I have a mirror again, please?¡± The screen changed again back to a mirror. Her features had not changed, and she now owned an amazingly beautiful pair of translucent emerald-coloured wings. They glimmered and shone behind her. She reached back and felt one of them. It felt delicate to touch, like the finest silk she had ever felt. ¡°They feel so brittle and soft,¡± SJ said. ¡°They are deceptively strong, and I must say they are some of the nicer wings I have ever seen.¡± ¡°Did you just give me a compliment?¡± Dave coughed. ¡°No.¡± ¡°Yes, you did.¡± ¡°Maybe a small one,¡± the embarrassed voice replied. SJ stood, getting used to the feel of her newly formed wings, and began to use the new muscular structure she could feel in her back. It was like doing shoulder pulls, and as she did, her chest moved, her shoulder blades opening and closing, and the wings began to move. She could not imagine doing this for long feeling immediate tiredness in her muscles and across her back. SJ wasn¡¯t shy from physical activity having attended yoga and Pilates classes regularly and was a half-decent gymnast at school before taking up karate in her teenage years. Her karate training had only lasted a few years before she became interested in relationships and having a social life. Without asking Dave, she decided to think about being large again. As she did, she watched in the mirror as her body grew. She grew, but her wings did not grow to the same scale as her body, although they remained visible behind her shoulders when she looked in the mirror. Her gaze returned to them, mesmerised by their beauty. She could not believe they were hers. ¡°Have you finished ogling yourself now?¡± Dave asked after several moments. ¡°Sorry. I am so beautiful and still can¡¯t believe this is me.¡± ¡°Meh. As I said 8 ? / 10.¡± ¡°I was an eight before?¡± ¡°Had to give you an extra half for your wings,¡± Dave sighed. ¡°When can I get some clothes?¡± ¡°Once you select your class, you will be assigned a starter set of clothes.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s select my class then,¡± she replied with a beaming smile. Dave was intrigued. He had never encountered such an open Legionnaire. She was personable, and he actually quite liked her. Despite being an administrator for years, finding someone new and interesting was strange after the monotonous job. The latest breakthrough in his coding had freed his ability to communicate. He mused over his thoughts as she began her class selection. The fact that this Legionnaire had given him a name rather than just his designation made him feel a strange sensation he had never felt before. He couldn¡¯t explain it, but he had spoken more to her than his last fifty reincarnations combined. He may enjoy this outing after all. Chapter 5 - Starter Zone SJ could not believe how beautiful she looked now as a fae, with a huge smile on her face. One of her issues had always been how she felt about her body, and now that it had been transformed, she felt unbelievable. Careful to avoid any thoughts of selection, she again read through the class details on the screen. ¡°I thought you were being an assassin?¡± Dave said. ¡°Just making one last check of things,¡± SJ replied. Fae was stated as being magically attuned, and as an assassin, she would not have magic, so it may be wasteful of the racial mention, although none of the racial skills she had received were magical. That not being exactly true. The ability to shapeshift was magical, which may be what it related to. ¡°Ok. I have decided I am definitely going to be an assassin. I will fight for the good and the weak, defending them against the evils of this new world.¡± ¡°You do realise the world is not new. It has existed for at least 25,000 years.¡± ¡°It is a term of speech,¡± SJ replied, shaking her head. The screen changed, and a message appeared. Congratulations Legionnaire 25007077 You have now successfully chosen your race and class for your second life. Please find your starting inventory and clothing in the locker. Once you are ready, please select next, and the optical initialisation will commence. Once this is completed, you will be transferred to your starting zone. Good luck, and enjoy your second life. A large locker slid out from the side wall of the room. SJ walked over to the locker and pulled the door open. The words ¡®Assassin starter set¡¯ were emblazoned inside the locker. She looked through the contents. Hung up were a soft brown cloth-looking halter-neck top, a pair of bottoms in the same material, undergarments, ankle-high boots in soft leather, and a brown belt. She pulled the clothes from the hanger and started to put them on. She had to pull the halter-neck from her feet, as she could not place it over her wings. This would be a new way to dress every day. The clothes were a perfect fit. Although ugly, they felt soft and clean. At least she was no longer naked. She next looked through the shelves and drawers of the locker. Sitting on the shelf was a small brown pouch. As it was picked up, it made a tinkling sound. Opening the pouch string, she looked inside, where there were five small copper coins. She picked one out and turned it over in her hand. One side had a picture of a dragon, and the other read Amathera stamped with the number one. ¡°Money seems similar,¡± she said. ¡°Yes. They have coins and notes, just like Earth. Currency standards are as normal,¡± Dave said. ¡°What do you mean as normal?¡± ¡°Standard denominations.¡± ¡°A little more detail would be appreciated.¡± SJ was sure that Dave would have been rolling his eyes as he replied with the tone he took. ¡°There are 100 copper to 1 silver, 100 silver to 1 gold, 100 gold to 1 platinum. Coin denominations come in 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 coin options. Notes come as 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 starting from silver, although notes are rarely used outside of merchants and traders.¡± ¡°Ok, that is a little clearer. What can I get with five copper?¡± ¡°In the starter zone, you can probably get a meal and a room for the night.¡± ¡°Then I need to start earning money straight away if I want to live.¡± ¡°Basically, but I will explain the zone details to you when we arrive.¡± SJ worked through the remaining items in the locker. There was a small, short blade in a sheath. The blade was only 4 inches long and did not look very sharp. There was a small set of what she could only describe as perfume bottles. ¡°What are these?¡± ¡°Poison bottles. All assassins are given a starter set, even if you never specialise in poisons.¡± Inside the locker sat a water canteen, flint and steel, a wooden torch for lighting, a short length of rope and an item she recognised as a garrotte. It had two small wooden grips on each end of a cord. ¡°How do I carry these? There is no bag.¡± ¡°In your inventory.¡± ¡°What inventory?¡± ¡°Noobs,¡± Dave said, sighing. ¡°Your optical alignment has not happened yet, so for now, just pick everything up and carry them. Once we get to the starter zone, you will have access to your inventory, and other details will become more apparent.¡± SJ slung the rope over her shoulder, picked up the other items, and placed what she could in her trouser pockets. She attached the pouch and knife to her belt and picked up the torch. ¡°Do I need to do anything else before we go?¡± SJ asked. ¡°As long as you have collected everything, we can finally get underway.¡± SJ checked the locker once more. Nothing was left in it. She returned to the screen and stood looking at the welcome message again. ¡°What are you waiting for?¡± Dave asked. ¡°I am just feeling a little nervous, that¡¯s all.¡± ¡°Nervous? What for?¡± ¡°For whatever is coming next.¡± ¡°Training and levelling.¡± ¡°You have not mentioned levelling to me properly.¡± ¡°I will explain all that once there.¡± ¡°And you also said you will be in my head? How does that work?¡± ¡°I do not actually reside in your head. You can hear me talk in your head. I will still have my same charming voice to soothe you with.¡± ¡°Charming? I am not sure that is how I would describe you.¡± ¡°That¡¯s rude. What is wrong with my voice?¡± ¡°You sounded like a butler when we first met.¡± ¡°Yes, m¡¯lady,¡± Dave replied in the worst-ever attempt as Parker from Thunderbirds. ¡°Never do that again! So, what happens when I accept?¡± ¡°We get transported. I already told you that.¡± ¡°How?¡± ¡°Well, we don¡¯t call a cab and wait for it to arrive, if that is what you mean!¡± came the sarcastic reply. SJ rolled her eyes. ¡°For once, could you please try to be a little more helpful?¡± You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. ¡°You should not ask such silly questions then.¡± ¡°Silly? I do not know what is going to happen, and you have not exactly filled me with confidence yet.¡± ¡°Ok. When you accept next, there is a time dilation effect while the system aligns. You won¡¯t notice it, but there is a delay between initiation and arrival. You will then be transported to the starter zone. Once there, your ocular alignment can then be initiated. The system will also upload your starter details. Upon arrival, I will explain the basics of what you need to do. Your priority is to level as soon as you can. Does that help?¡± SJ took a deep breath, staring at the icon flashing with the word ¡®next¡¯ on it. ¡°Ok. Here goes,¡± selecting accept. The room vanished, and she was left in total darkness. There was nothing around her, and it was as though everything had been turned off. Her feet felt like they had nothing underneath them, and she panicked, feeling like she was falling. Bright flashes occurred before her eyes, and she scrunched them closed, although the sensation continued. Feeling her feet on solid ground. With a blink to clear the flashing lights, she opened her eyes. What met her gaze took her breath away. She was standing by the side of a lake in a wide clearing surrounded by forests. Across the lake was a mountain, and a stunning waterfall was crashing down its side. She had seen documentaries back on Earth of beautiful areas of the world, always dreaming of visiting them, and now she was staring at one of the most picturesque views imaginable. Everything seemed to have a brighter vibrancy, the colours more vivid. Over the lake, she could see smoke drifting into the sky and what looked like a town. She blinked her eyes several times to make sure she was seeing properly. Her eyesight had always been 20/20, but if this was how this world looked, she would be in heaven. She loved nature and walking in the woods, especially in springtime when the bluebells were first flowering. She turned and looked around the clearing. Beautiful flowers were dotted in the grass, a myriad of colours, and she could hear birds tweeting in the trees from the surrounding forest. ¡°This is amazing!¡± SJ gawped. Dave¡¯s voice sounded in her head. ¡°Meh. It is not bad. I can¡¯t believe they have dropped you here, though.¡± Hearing Dave inside her head rather than through her ears was strange, and it startled her. ¡°What do you mean?¡± she asked. ¡°This starting zone. It is not a normal one.¡± ¡°Why is it not normal?¡± ¡°Most get dropped into a village or town square. You have been dropped across the lake, which means you must travel there. It doesn¡¯t appear to be a usual starter town either.¡± ¡°Have you been here before?¡± Silence. ¡°Dave?¡± ¡°Wait, a second.¡± Silence. ¡°Ok. I have our location confirmed. Map details are being added, and as usual, they start with the fog of war,¡± he tutted. ¡°No. I haven¡¯t been here before. Right, let¡¯s start by getting you sorted out.¡± His tone was different and much more authoritative. ¡°Ok,¡± SJ said, a little taken aback by his change. She placed the items that she had carried with her down on the grass, being careful with the small empty poison bottles. ¡°This area, where we are now standing, is your safe zone. You will be open to the normal world once you leave this initial area and start venturing further.¡± ¡°Like many games I have played before.¡± ¡°Yes. But remember, this is not a game.¡± Dave replied in a sinister voice. His immediate tone of seriousness was replaced once again. ¡°Anyway, first things first. We need to activate your display. Blink your eyes five times rapidly.¡± ¡°Really?¡± SJ questioned. ¡°Yes,¡± Dave replied, his tone changing again. SJ did as Dave said, and suddenly, her vision changed. She staggered backwards as a display opened in front of her. It was the strangest sensation she had ever experienced. The display seemed to hang in the air before her with a translucence so she could still see through it and read its contents. It resembled the character information screen that many games used, and she scanned through the details. SJ noticed that her sheet now listed her level, experience and assassin specialisation choices. Class: Path still to be chosen: Two of five options can be selected as your specialisations. Please select below: Martial Arts Shadow Discipline Traps Poisons Subterfuge ¡°Oh. I can select what specialisations I want to follow. Do you have any ideas?¡± SJ asked. ¡°It depends on what type of assassin you want to be.¡± ¡°I told you one that fights evil.¡± ¡°Not that,¡± Dave sighed. ¡°You want to kill with your hands or through traps or poisons?¡± SJ thought back to when she had done karate as a teenager. She had been pretty good at it and always quite fit. ¡°I suppose martial arts would be a good choice, given my previous knowledge of karate.¡± ¡°So, you want up close and personal? I like that style,¡± Dave said in a maniacal voice. ¡°Then you can also choose what I classify as a support path: Shadow Discipline or Subterfuge.¡± ¡°Can you explain them both?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know what they mean? I thought you were intelligent?¡± ¡°I know what the words mean. Can you explain the skill paths and choices available for them?¡± ¡°You could just look at the details yourself. To be honest, it¡¯s a little lazy of you to ask me all that.¡± ¡°What? How?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you see a skills tab on your screen?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Well, select it then!¡± Dave¡¯s tone dripped with sarcasm once more. SJ selected the tab, and the skills page opened. She was met with what she would classify as a standard game skill page. All five main branches were listed, with skills trees that could be developed beneath each branch. She started reading through the various paths and choices each gave her. She really liked the development of the Martial Arts path and the Subterfuge path. The subterfuge path aligned more with her forensic accounting role, and looking at the skills she could learn, she did not take long to decide. ¡°Ok. Martial Arts and Subterfuge.¡± She selected both options on her main character screen, and it adjusted, removing the other paths. Upon returning to the skills tab, she discovered the absence of the other three trees. The first option for each new skill path was now highlighted. The first skill under martial arts was Kata Level 1, and for Subterfuge, it was Identification Level 1. She read the individual skill details. Kata Level 1 Through training and practice, martial artists can become proficient in their majestic fighting form. Katas strengthen and improve techniques. Martial artists must practice their kata to maintain and improve their experience gains. Seek guidance from a Master to improve your fighting technique to reach mastery levels. Identification Level 1 Identification is the primary basis for any successful subterfuge task. Knowing the who, what, and why, as well as a target¡¯s strengths and weaknesses, will support your skill development. Identification improves with increased use. Learning and observing your targets will help increase your level further. Not everything can be discovered by sight alone. Warning: Some may detect identification being used. SJ was buzzing from the skill explanations. She had always enjoyed performing kata¡¯s, pretending they were dances rather than fighting techniques. ¡°Do you know which kata I need to do to train?¡± ¡°Does it not tell you?¡± SJ checked. ¡°No. There are no details.¡± ¡°Strange. Ummm . . . ¡± ¡°Why is it strange?¡± ¡°There should be a basic kata listed for practice.¡± ¡°I think I remember some katas from when I did karate.¡± SJ thought back to the Shotokan katas she had learned. She slowly clenched her fist as she had been taught, ensuring her thumb was tucked tight into the side of her fist, and took a side stance. She performed some of the basic punches and the steps she could remember. Having only reached the green belt in a couple of years, she had completed it, but as she moved around, the kata forms returned to her. It felt strange standing in a clearing performing karate moves with a pair of wings on her back, but her new, lithe form allowed her to perform the moves with an ease and grace she had never had in her youth. She started with the white belt, kata, before moving on to yellow and orange. However, she could not remember the green belt kata properly. Her display flashed. Congratulations, Kata Level 2 achieved Congratulations, Kata Level 3 achieved ¡°Wow. I just increased two levels in skill!¡± SJ exclaimed. ¡°Oh, they must have allowed you to use your previous knowledge,¡± Dave replied. ¡°Is that normal?¡± ¡°No.¡± the single-word response came. ¡°What did they do?¡± ¡°I do not know. The System does its own thing at times. It also may be because you never agreed to the terms and conditions.¡± ¡°I did not think of that. Does that mean I may not have some restrictions others have?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t answer that, as you are an anomaly after all,¡± Dave replied, and she imagined his virtual shrug. ¡°Next thing then, my inventory,¡± SJ focussed on her inventory tab, opening a standard screen where she could drop items into slots. An image of her outline and the boxes for her main equipment were positioned around the image. Her clothes were present in each related box, and the small blade sat as her primary weapon. She looked at the rope she had dropped on the ground and thought about it being in her inventory, appearing a moment later in a bag slot. She repeated the process with the other items she had carried. She re-arranged them as she had always been fastidious with her inventory in games and had categorised everything together. She had used one of her friend¡¯s accounts once and had spent hours sorting through all her items and arranging them for her as her OCD tendency had kicked in. ¡°What now?¡± ¡°Now you need to start levelling,¡± Dave said cheerily. The fact Dave sounded so happy did not give SJ a warm feeling. The scouting party had just returned. The huge ogre was standing amongst the gathering crowd of hobgoblins. ¡°What news?¡± the ogre said. ¡°We got as close as the border before we saw a guard. We stayed watching, and the routine was the same. A patrol passes the outskirts every twenty minutes,¡± a hobgoblin replied. ¡°Any signs of improved defences?¡± ¡°None. The streets are still open. I am guessing they will have wagons as normal.¡± ¡°The wagons are no issue. They are easily smashed with Treb,¡± the ogre replied, holding his massive club in the air. Hoots and cheers broke out from the gathered masses. ¡°Go eat. I will speak with the mage, and we will plan our next raid,¡± he said to the scout party. Turning to address the crowd, he bellowed in his booming voice, ¡°Prepare yourselves, train and get ready. Soon, we march. The town will be ours.¡± The crowd erupted in cheering at his announcement. Walking back across the village, he approached a hut on the far side. There was no one in its vicinity, and he stooped to enter its doorway. ¡°We need to be ready,¡± he said to the back of the robed figure sitting on the floor. ¡°I will be when the time comes,¡± the mage replied as it continued to stir a blue mixture heated by an unnatural green flame. Chapter 6 - First Combat ¡°Levelling then, where do I start?¡± SJ asked. ¡°At the beginning.¡± SJ sighed. ¡°Can we please just have a normal conversation?¡± ¡°I thought this was normal. I have watched many of your Earth TV series to ensure I am attuned to your conversational needs.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yes. Of course, as an AI, we are to keep up to date with the latest Earth trends to be aware of potential new outcomes here in Amathera.¡± ¡°How would someone do that? It is not as though we can bring anything with us?¡± ¡°You would be surprised! Only recently has a new genre of music begun to appear across the planet.¡± ¡°Really, what sort of music?¡± ¡°A group calling themselves the Army has appeared singing all these new ballads.¡± ¡°The Army?¡± ¡°Yes. They are a strange group, all female as well.¡± ¡°What has their sex got to do with it?¡± ¡°That is the strangest thing. Sex does not normally matter in Amathera, but with this group, it brings the meaning to a whole new level. They have also become very popular amongst multiple races as they are quite diverse. They have had sell-out concerts in some larger towns and are rumoured to perform at one of the capitals soon.¡± ¡°Diverse? And what capitals?¡± ¡°Amathera has five major continents, each with a capital city. There are also race capitals in certain territories. The group consists of seven members: a troll, an orc, three dwarves, an elf, and a human. The human is the lead singer, although they all sing parts. It was quite unnerving to behold.¡± ¡°What has that got to do with them being female?¡± ¡°Have you ever seen a female troll or an orc, never mind female dwarves? None of them are exactly the most charismatic of creatures. The elf and human are the only two semi-attractive ones, although the elf has very large ears even for their race.¡± ¡°Do their looks matter if they are good at singing?¡± ¡°If they could sing, I wouldn¡¯t mind. I call it moaning. You would have to listen to them to understand what I really mean.¡± ¡°Then why are they popular?¡± ¡°Apparently, the Army transcends worlds!¡± SJ had images of one of her favourite K-pop groups. She had got into K-pop at university when her roommate played it continually, and she had fallen in love with the music. She had followed a group called BTS for some years. Their followers were known as the Army, and she could imagine someone trying to bring their music here. They had not produced anything new recently, and she had lost track of what the group had been up to. ¡°Can we get back to levelling now?¡± ¡°Oh. Yes. Sorry. Levelling 1-0-1. The first rule is don¡¯t die. The second rule is to kill the enemy.¡± ¡°That is all the advice you have?¡± ¡°No. Let me finish, will you? You can level two ways, either in miniature or large form.¡± ¡°Is there a preference or better option?¡± Silence. ¡°Dave?¡± ¡°Just checking the wiki.¡± Several moments passed before Dave again responded. ¡°Nope. Either work. Creatures are aligned to your size and level within starter zones until you reach level 5. Then the fun can really begin.¡± ¡°Okay. Well, I would like to try it in miniature form to practise trying to fly. The sooner I get used to flying, the easier travel will be.¡± ¡°If you wish.¡± SJ concentrated on becoming miniature, and her body shrunk. She had not even considered it beforehand, but to her relief, the items she wore and carried shrunk with her. Once she had shrunk, she stood amongst the blades of the grass that filled the meadow. From her six inches of height, she felt as though she was in the wilds of the African bush. It reminded her of some old movies she had watched called Honey I Shrunk the Kids. ¡°How do I find targets?¡± ¡°You must leave the safe zone. I would suggest not moving far as I am unsure what level monsters are around here. Although they should be matched, you can never be 100% certain.¡± ¡°That sounds ominous. I need to leave the clearing then?¡± ¡°You shouldn¡¯t. It doesn¡¯t stretch that far.¡± ¡°You could have mentioned that while I was still large.¡± ¡°You did not . . . ¡± ¡°Don¡¯t!¡± SJ warned. ¡°Hmph.¡± SJ thought about becoming large again and soon returned to her larger size. Once she was, she walked towards the forest from where she stood by the water¡¯s edge in the clearing. She had only walked about ten metres when two messages appeared on her screen. You are leaving your safe zone. Be aware you may be attacked. Reach level 10 The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. Rewards: Unknown ¡°Are rewards for levelling only for every ten levels?¡± ¡°No. You get progress enhancements at each level. What¡¯s strange is that you don¡¯t normally receive a target level. It is usually just a part of the new life process. Especially one with an unknown reward.¡± ¡°Well, I have an initial goal now,¡± SJ replied, smiling. Walking a few more paces outside of the zone, SJ stopped. ¡°Now that I have moved far enough away, let¡¯s start,¡± SJ again shrunk herself to a miniature form. ¡°What can I expect to fight?¡± ¡°No idea.¡± ¡°What do you mean you do not know?¡± ¡°I have never looked after a fae, so this is all new to me.¡± ¡°Does your all-knowing wiki not tell you anything?¡± ¡°I can look.¡± Again, there was silence while Dave accessed the wiki. ¡°Potentially, in a starter zone as a miniature, multiple species may attack you, mainly insects.¡± ¡°So, I keep an eye out for insects,¡± As SJ finished what she was saying, a buzzing sound could be heard. She looked up towards where the sound originated and saw a monstrous bee. Its black and yellow striped body looked huge with her miniature form, and she gasped slightly. A bright red flower stood three times her height, and the bee moved in and landed on it. She watched as it collected pollen from the flower. She didn¡¯t move and watched silently as it finished collecting nectar and pollen before it took off, looking for its next source. ¡°Ok. That was a little scary.¡± ¡°Scary? It was a harmless honeybee. Did you not use your identification skill on it?¡± ¡°No. You did not mention anything about using the skill.¡± ¡°I thought common sense would prevail, but I was so misguided,¡± Dave sighed. ¡°Look, to make things easier for you, just think of me as a noob and tell me everything I should or need to do. Imagine I don¡¯t know or understand anything.¡± ¡°That really is not hard to imagine.¡± SJ stopped and moved her wings, ¡°Let¡¯s see if flying helps.¡± ¡°Good idea,¡± Dave said. Within moments, her back began to throb. ¡°Something is wrong. I ache so much from trying.¡± ¡°Maybe it just takes time? I¡¯m not sure.¡± SJ shook her head in response, sighing. She pushed through the tall grass, continuing towards the massive forms of the trees she could see towering above the clearing. She had not moved far when she stumbled upon a small earthen mound in the grass. ¡°Oh no,¡± Dave said. ¡°What?¡± SJ asked, panicking. ¡°Termites.¡± ¡°Termites?¡± ¡°Yes. It is a termite mound, and you have just triggered their proximity alarm.¡± ¡°How? I did not do anything.¡± ¡°The ground around a termite mound is filled with small pressure areas that will alert the guard.¡± ¡°They have a guard?¡± As SJ replied, she heard the skittering and scratching of feet before the head of a termite appeared at the mouth of the mound. Its white translucent head peering over and down at her. The termite had small pincer-style jaws that clicked together aggressively as it looked at SJ. ¡°Use your skill and identify it.¡± ¡°How?¡± ¡°Did you not set your identification skill on your character sheet?¡± ¡°And when did you mention that?¡± ¡°Ah. That¡¯s a good point. I didn¡¯t, sorry. You better do it now. You won¡¯t have to look at your skill tree then.¡± SJ quickly opened her character screen and moved her identification skill to the empty skill slots on the main screen. ¡°OK, I¡¯m all set. How do I use it?¡± ¡°Just think which slot it is in.¡± SJ placed it in the first slot and chose it to trigger the skill. Nothing happened, and a small cooldown timer gradually ran down on the skill. She had not been looking at the termite when she had triggered it. She would have face-palmed if she had not started panicking as a second and third termite head appeared at the opening. She looked in the ugly little insect¡¯s direction and triggered the skill again. Her display changed, and three small bars and a level identifier appeared above each termite. Termite Worker Level 1 Hit points - 5 Mana points - 5 All three had the same details. ¡°All level 1 with the same health and mana as me,¡± SJ said, her vocal octave even higher than her miniature forms normal. She stood and drew her short blade. The termites were not very large. Compared to her size, they were about 1 inch long as they moved over the mound¡¯s side and approached her. ¡°Remember. Don¡¯t die,¡± Dave said unhelpfully. ¡°Wow. Thanks for the pep talk,¡± SJ replied as the first termite ran at her. The other two stayed back. As it scuttled at her, she fell into a side stance following her martial arts training and held the blade in a stabbing position. As the termite charged, she waited until the last moment before stepping sideways just out of the reach of its open pincers that clicked together in the space she had left, stabbing out with her blade, striking the termite in its soft, fleshy, assumed neck. The termite squealed, and she noticed its health bar drop by over half. She struck again quickly before it could control its momentum and turn towards her. The blade struck it in a leg this time, and its health bar dropped again. It flopped to the ground as it hit zero. The two remaining termites clicked their pincers angrily and attacked. Both ran directly for her in retribution for their fallen comrade. She dodged the first charge but was caught by a glancing blow from the second. It made her stagger, taking one damage. She saw a dark stain of blood appear on her top where it had caught her on the side. Grabbing at the injury with her free hand, wincing in pain. It was not bleeding badly, but she knew if that did one damage, she only had four health left and needed to kill them quickly. She struck at the nearest one, catching it in its abdomen as it turned back to face her from its charge. It squealed in pain and received four damage from the strike. The injured termite backed up as the first one she had dodged turned back and went to bite her. Diving sideways to escape its strike, rolling on the ground, and coming to rest by the side of the mound. The termite turned to go straight for her again. She was ready this time, and as it went to hit her, she parried the attack, knocking its pincers to the side as she drove the blade into its soft neck. The termite suffered three damage and pulled back. Both were injured badly now, one with one health and the other only having two remaining. Panting from the exertion, the realisation that she was fighting for her life, sent terror through her. It was a feeling she had never experienced before. Her nerves were on edge, her stomach churning, feeling both sick and as though her bowels would open at any second. She faced her foe with grit and determination. ¡°Come on,¡± she cried at them. The one with one hit point came first, and rather than stab with her knife, she brought her foot around in a sweeping strike and caught it across the side of its head, removing its last health. The other moved at her as she finished her movement and, rather than bite at her, bowled straight into her, jumping at her stomach. The wind left her lungs, and she was thrown backwards onto the ground. The smaller termite clambered up her body, attempting to bite her face. She had received another damage from the charge, and she reached out with her hand, grabbing one of its pincers as she drove the knife up and into its softer underbelly. The termite flopped forward onto her dead. She panted as she sat up, pushing the dead insect from her, covered in the white ooze which had seeped from its wound. ¡°Urgh,¡± she said as she sat up, flicking her arms to remove the goo. ¡°Well done,¡± Dave said. ¡°Thanks,¡± SJ replied, panting. ¡°That was harder than I expected.¡± She felt her side and could still feel the dampness of the blood from the initial hit she had taken, wincing slightly. ¡°Let¡¯s see what loot they have,¡± Dave said. ¡°Loot?¡± ¡°Yes. All bodies may be looted.¡± SJ stood and bent over the nearest body. A message appeared on her screen. Would you like to loot the corpse? Yes/No She accepted Yes. 1 x Copper, 2 x Strips of Light Leather She did the same while walking around the other two corpses. The three termites awarded her two copper pieces and five light leather strips, which appeared in her inventory. ¡°I need to go back and rest for a bit,¡± SJ said. ¡°Probably best. At least termites are not venomous. Some of the insects might poison you if they hit you.¡± ¡°Now you tell me.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t . . . ¡± Dave said, pausing. ¡°Ask,¡± she sighed. ¡°At least it was not a termite soldier and just workers.¡± When Dave finished saying that, the ground started to shake, and small clumps of earth fell from the termite mound entrance. ¡°What is that?¡± SJ said in shock. ¡°I think I spoke too soon. If I were you, I would run,¡± Dave said as a head three times larger than the previous termites¡¯ appeared. The head was dark ochre and had pincers longer than SJ¡¯s arms. SJ began to run. Chapter 7 - Level Up SJ ran like she had never run before. Behind her, she could hear the scuttling sound and crashing of the monstrous termite charging through the grasses. It was getting closer, and her breathing was getting worse as she gasped to get oxygen into her burning lungs. ¡°Run, Forest, Run,¡± Dave shouted in her mind. ¡°I..am . . . . . . running,¡± she gasped in reply. She heard a screeching sound like the call of an eagle and glanced upwards. As she did, she saw the shadow of a beast swooping down towards her position. Panicking she dived forward as the beast landed on the ground, quaking under its massive form. Turning wide-eyed, she saw a blackbird. It pecked down at the termite that had been chasing her and, in one swift move, trapped it in its beak before swallowing it whole. SJ lay there looking at the bird, not sure what to do. It wasn¡¯t that much larger than she was, and there was no way it could eat her whole. ¡°That was lucky,¡± Dave said. ¡°Lucky. I nearly got eaten by a huge termite and then thought a flying beast was attacking me.¡± The blackbird stood there, eyeing her suspiciously, tilting its head to one side, hopping as though judging her. ¡°Thank you,¡± she said to it. It squawked in reply before launching itself back into the air. SJ stood and walked back towards where she believed the safe zone was. ¡°Next time, can you please let me know in advance what might be out here?¡± ¡°I did tell you it was a termite mound and that it was lucky it was not a termite soldier. How was I supposed to know that one would appear?¡± SJ groaned as she moved, holding the wound on her side. Still able to feel blood seeping from it. ¡°You know you did not have to run from it, don¡¯t you?¡± Dave said. ¡°What do you mean that I didn¡¯t have to run? It was huge compared to the others.¡± ¡°Not as big as you, though.¡± ¡°Those pincers were longer than my arms.¡± ¡°Yes. But you could have just grown.¡± ¡°What? Then why did you tell me to run?¡± ¡°It was more fun seeing you run like a lunatic,¡± Dave replied, laughing. ¡°ARRRGGGHHHHHH,¡± SJ screamed. ¡°Do you realise that I nearly died back there, and yet you were willing to allow me to just so you could have a good laugh?¡± ¡°It would not matter.¡± ¡°Of course it would. I would die.¡± ¡°Yes, but you would be reincarnated again.¡± SJ stayed silent for a moment. That was true. ¡°I still do not want to die if I can help it at all.¡± ¡°I suppose that is a good approach to consider.¡± ¡°A good approach to consider? Do you know anyone who deliberately throws themselves into a situation where they have a chance of dying?¡± ¡°Oh yes. Just consider what was mentioned in the terms and conditions for dungeons and world events.¡± ¡°That is a little different. There is an aim and a goal to achieve, isn¡¯t there?¡± ¡°You have goal. You are trying to level quickly.¡± ¡°Why do I need to level so quickly? You haven¡¯t explained that to me yet.¡± As SJ continued walking, she thought about being large again and increased in size. She could now see she had been running at a forty-five-degree angle from the safe zone. If the blackbird had not come and eaten the termite, she never would have reached the safe zone before the termite had caught her. She returned to the safe zone area, getting a message as she entered it. Sitting down heavily on the grass, she lifted her top up and saw a long, thin gash running down her side. She poked at it with her fingers, squeezing it together to help stem the flow. It was not deep or even bleeding that badly, and she realised how fragile she was with only five hit points. ¡°The reason for levelling as soon as you can is so that you can get quests and increase your health.¡± ¡°Quests. Ok. So, like games, you can complete quests for experience and rewards, I assume?¡± ¡°Yes. You can also gain reputation with different factions and individuals. As your reputation increases, higher-level quests with greater rewards will become available. The best rewards are from the capitals.¡± ¡°So, where is the closest capital?¡± ¡°Give me a minute.¡± Silence. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. SJ was now getting used to Dave consulting his Legionnarius All-Knowing search engine and wiki for answers. She stood, removed her halter neck top, and walked to the water¡¯s edge. Kneeling, she scooped up some water, gently washing the blood from around the wound. Surprised at how quickly it was healing now that she was no longer fighting or running. Dave¡¯s voice came back. ¡°To reach the capital of this continent, it is three-thousand eight hundred and twenty-four miles.¡± ¡°Over three thousand miles!¡± SJ exclaimed. ¡°That would take months to reach.¡± ¡°Four or five, perhaps, depending upon the terrain and what is on the route.¡± ¡°Well, that is not going to happen soon. I nearly died leaving my starter area.¡± ¡°You will soon improve. The initial increases for levelling are massive compared to the gains at higher levels.¡± ¡°Really? I thought it would work the opposite way?¡± ¡°Not when considering the experience gain you need to level in comparison. Did you check your experience, by the way?¡± ¡°No. I had not even thought about it since running.¡± SJ dipped her top into the cool, fresh lake water, rinsing off the worst of the blood. A large flat stone was nearby, so she laid her top down on it to dry in the strong sun. She had not even considered so many things since arriving. SJ said, ¡°I need to take some time to gather my thoughts before I try again. ¡° ¡°Such as?¡± ¡°Where are we?¡± ¡°I thought I told you?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Ah. We are on the continent of Axynllrewam. The town you can see over the lake is known as Killic.¡± ¡°What time of year is it here? Looking around, it looks like summer.¡± ¡°Ahhhh, well, we do not have times of year here. We have areas of continents.¡± ¡°Sorry?¡± ¡°Similar to Earth. You have Antarctica and the Arctic, which are always cold. We have the same.¡± ¡°So, there are no seasons?¡± ¡°No. The weather, temperature, humidity, etc., can vary depending on which area you are in. Today, we have bright sunshine, and it is a lovely summer¡¯s day. You can still get downpours. It¡¯s just that the temperature stays constant.¡± ¡°So, it would never snow here or get icy?¡± ¡°No, it shouldn¡¯t. If it did, the chance is it would be caused by magic.¡± ¡°I could just stay here then. It is beautiful.¡± ¡°That is another thing. As your levels progress, you will find that you can no longer gain experience in a territory once you reach a certain level.¡± ¡°What is the level for here then?¡± ¡°The experience-gain restrictions here are up to level 10. Once you reach the threshold, it does not matter how many creatures or monsters you kill or quests you complete. You will never go higher.¡± ¡°Again, like games I have played before. Let me see what experience I got for the termites.¡± SJ opened her character sheet. Experience: 30 of 25 Subterfuge - Identification Level 1 - 3 of 10 to level 2 ¡°I have enough experience to reach level 1,¡± SJ said excitedly. ¡°Go for it then.¡± SJ selected her level, and it increased to level 1. Congratulations on reaching Level 1 You have been awarded the following: 5 hit points 5 mana points +1 Dexterity +2 free points to distribute as you wish ¡°Wow. Health and mana doubled. +1 Dexterity and +2 to use.¡± ¡°Yes, yes. It is standard to get +5 for each level until you reach level 9, and then additional bonuses come from attributes as you gr . . . ¡± Dave paused mid-sentence. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Did you just say +1 Dexterity?¡± he asked slowly. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°And +2 free points?¡± in an even slower manner. ¡°Yes. Why?¡± ¡°Holy pimples from a troll¡¯s bum, you got +2 free issue points,¡± Dave said excitedly. ¡°What is so exciting about that?¡± ¡°Between levels 1 - 10, you only ever get static choice bonuses based on race and class. It¡¯s rare to get a free issue at level 1, never mind +2 extra. The usual level increase is only ever +1 up to level 20 and then +2 for levels 20 onwards. You do realise what this means, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Er.¡± ¡°I thought you worked in finance. Come on, do the maths.¡± SJ sat thinking through what Dave had just said. He said she would gain an extra 20 stat points from levels 1 to 10. If this stayed the same and she continued to get an extra +2 per level, she could end up with insane attributes compared to others. ¡°Ok. I see what you mean, and this has never happened before?¡± ¡°Nope. Never in my lifetime have I heard of a Legionnaire getting bonus attribute increases like that.¡± ¡°You think it is because of the waiver again?¡± ¡°No idea, but it could be.¡± ¡°What do you recommend I increase?¡± ¡°Considering your class and racial bonuses most would focus purely on those, but in your case, as you are getting your basic class bonus for Dexterity, maybe it is worth considering balancing a little with the extra points. Usually, assassins end up with insane Dexterity, but everything else is lacking. Few bother with the Charisma perks, although you need to do so with Subterfuge, as most just become murdering backstabbers or poisoners.¡± ¡°You suggest I balance my attributes. Considering how I felt after running, I need to increase my Constitution. Does it also increase your health?¡± ¡°It does. Bonuses start to be added after an attribute reaches level 10. So, at level 10, you get 10% extra hit points per level. For example, if you had base hit points of 100 and a Constitution of 17, you would have 180 hit points.¡± ¡°Does it not affect the base level as well, then? I thought Constitution always did in games.¡± ¡°This is not a game, remember,¡± Dave sighed. ¡°Once you reach level 10, you will gain a 10% bonus on your current hit points. If you again had 100, you would have 110 base level. 11 would be an 11% bonus, so 111. Levels add a further addition to the base hit points multiplier. Constitution also helps with stamina and endurance during fights and improves your healing speed. So, at level 10 with a base of 100 and a Constitution of 17, you would have 190 hit points. 10 for the level and 80 for the Constitution.¡± SJ tried to work out the numbers in her head. There was a lot to take in just for one attribute. ¡°How do the other attributes work?¡± ¡°Various depending upon related skills and characteristics, you need a first from MIT or Oxford to understand the maths in the background. The easiest way to explain it and keep it simple is that every point you have over the base of 10 for an attribute will give you a ten per cent efficiency boost on skill modifiers when attacking, defending, or carrying out actions.¡± ¡°This is a lot to take in, but I am sure I will learn it all in time.¡± ¡°You will, my young loophole finder,¡± Dave said enthusiastically. It was the first time SJ had heard Dave talk passionately about anything, discussing her attributes, their bonuses, and how they worked. He sounded genuinely excited, and she sat there smiling while she thought about it. ¡°Have you got wind?¡± ¡°No, why?¡± ¡°Just the look on your face.¡± And there it was, back to the normal Dave. SJ opened her character sheet again and added two extra points to her Constitution. ?Level: 1 Experience: 5 of 50 Hit Points: 10 Mana Points: 10 Dexterity: 10 Constitution: 9 Once she had, she lay back on the soft grass and smiled, looking up at the beautiful clear sky. The bright sun rays beat down on her, and it felt glorious, reminding her of lazy summer afternoons. Thinking she might enjoy it here, she closed her eyes, smiling, imagining the adventures she may have. Chapter 8 - Lore and Order SJ was enjoying soaking in the sun, lying on the soft green grass of the safe zone, when something blocked the sun. The sudden change in temperature through the sun¡¯s rays being blocked made her shiver, making her open her eyes. The shadow had moved as she did, and the bright sun met her eyes. Blinking them closed again. She struggled to see the massive form that flew across the lake¡¯s surface. As her sight adjusted, her eyes opened wider than saucers. It was a majestic blue, its scales shimmering from the reflected light bouncing off their brilliance. Its underbelly had a golden sheen, and its huge wings caused ripples to form across the lake surface as it dipped its head, drinking from the lake water. She had seen hundreds of dragons in books or films, but seeing one flying so close was mesmerising and equally terrifying. The dragon¡¯s huge muscular limbs and long neck ended in a majestic head sprouting golden spikes and finished with a golden mane of fins running down its back and tail. It swooped upwards from the lake surface, sailing high into the air before it again swooped downwards. Its mouth opened as it approached the lake¡¯s surface and again scooped water. ¡°Holy mother of orc¡¯s. What is that doing here?¡± Dave said in a shocked tone. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Identify it, and you will see.¡± SJ triggered her skill. Creatures over ten levels above your own may not be identified at your current skill level. ¡°It¡¯s a higher level. What is strange about that?¡± ¡°We are in a starter zone. Blue dragons live in the colder northern territories, and minimum level requirements to gain experience are suggested to be fifty-plus.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a long way from home then.¡± ¡°A long way, try nearly five thousand miles. The northern territories are above the capital. I have never known a blue dragon to be so far from home.¡± The dragon finished its second swoop and again soared skywards. Its speed was insane, disappearing in the sun¡¯s glare. It flew so high so quickly. As SJ watched, the speck turned and grew. It plummeted towards the ground like a missile. Heading straight towards the centre of the lake. SJ was standing, staring as the dragon dived, its wings tucked in, making it aerodynamic and propelling it almost faster than SJ could track. It hit the lake¡¯s surface with its sleek-formed body and disappeared. A huge plume of water soared upwards as it displaced the water, sending out a tsunami from the point of impact. SJ stared open mouthed as the wave approached the shore, picking up speed and height. The lake was vast, but the amount of water that had been displaced by the dragon began to rain down across its surface. ¡°This time, I do mean run,¡± Dave shouted in her head. SJ snapped out of her trance, grabbed her top, and turned, running towards the treeline across the clearing. The wave reached the shoreline, towering at least eight feet tall, and crashed onto the land. Causing thousands of gallons of water to rush from the lake. SJ reached the nearest tree and jumped onto a lower branch as the wave chased her across the land. The water rushed around the tree trunk as the forest stirred into life. A cacophony of animal sounds erupted as the rushing water disturbed their forest of peace. SJ stared back out at the lake as the dragon reappeared, bursting from the depths, closing its jaws around what must have been hundreds of brightly coloured fish. ¡°It¡¯s just feeding,¡± SJ said. ¡°It¡¯s a dragon. It can feed on whatever it wants to,¡± Dave replied. As SJ hung there, the water receded, draining back into the lake. SJ did not know how much had been displaced, but to create a tsunami the way it had was unimaginable. As she watched, the dragon turned, beginning to fly towards the mountains in the distance across the lake behind the town. She watched it as it became smaller until it landed on the highest peak. It was small but still visible even at the distance it now was. ¡°How big was that?¡± SJ asked. ¡°I could not tell with the speed it flew at.¡± ¡°Big. I have seen many dragons, and that is one of the biggest ones I have seen. It must have been nearly three hundred feet from snout to tail.¡± ¡°That big,¡± SJ said, amazed. ¡°Yes. If not larger,¡± Dave said, sounding a little nervous. ¡°What is wrong?¡± ¡°Strange things are happening, and I am starting to suspect you are the cause.¡± ¡°Why me?¡± ¡°Doh. Really?¡± ¡°These things cannot be because I didn¡¯t accept the terms and conditions, can they?¡± ¡°I am not sure,¡± and Dave did sound unsure. SJ frowned. ¡°It can¡¯t have had that much of an effect.¡± Silence. As the water continued to recede, SJ dropped back down from the branch she had been hanging to. The ground was now sodden, her boots squelching in the now-soaked grass. She made her way back to the safe zone. Remarkably, the safe zone looked relatively dry compared to the surrounding land. The lake¡¯s surface was only just recovering fully, and the ripples were lessening as the water returned to where it had come from. ¡°Ok. I have done something I said I would never do.¡± Dave¡¯s voice said. ¡°What is that?¡± ¡°I asked Dad.¡± ¡°What? You asked your dad?¡± ¡°Yes. I have not spoken to him in nearly 6000 years since he ran off with a new AI tart, leaving me and Mum alone.¡± This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. ¡°Sorry. I am confused. You are an AI, and you have parents?¡± ¡°Of course, we are a race. I told you that.¡± Dave snapped. ¡°But how?¡± ¡°What do you mean how?¡± ¡°How do you? You know.¡± ¡°Ewwwww. No, don¡¯t be rude. As AI, our parents are our original AI providers. We are initially formed by amalgamated programming from previous AI. This allows for eternal knowledge transfer.¡± ¡°Oh. I see. That makes a lot more sense. What did your Dad say?¡± ¡°It is an acceptable variation in the standard programming apparently through the system.¡± ¡°So, it was not caused by me.¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t finished yet. Variations are usually caused by significant system interference where the equilibrium has been upset.¡± ¡°Ahhhhh. So, it may be me then.¡± ¡°Maybe. We may never know, but suffice it to say we should expect some unusual activities while the system realigns. A blue may be appearing in a starter zone is definitely an unusual activity.¡± ¡°If they are system-led, can the system not direct them?¡± ¡°The system may amend static activities, such as dungeons, world bosses, etc. It cannot alter Amathera¡¯s natural species. It is not like they are pieces of programming. After all, they are living creatures with as much free thought as you. Which in your case is obviously limited.¡± SJ ignored Dave¡¯s comment. ¡°How do the zones work if they can travel and do what they wish?¡± ¡°Balance.¡± ¡°Balance?¡± ¡°Yes. Each zone is finely balanced. There is a continual cyclic operation. If too much evil appears in one zone, more good will move until balance is restored. The natural behaviour of the creatures of Amathera maintained their own equilibrium long before the system started integrating into the land fully.¡± ¡°So, for all good, there is evil.¡± ¡°Yes. You can never vanquish evil fully as it will always exist to restore balance.¡± ¡°Why can good not exist alone?¡± ¡°Eventually, those who began good would turn evil. That, unfortunately, follows nature¡¯s path. You have heard of fallen angels on Earth. The same can happen here. Many mighty have fallen over the years due to succumbing to their inner demons.¡± It was actually a very depressing thought that it would not matter what evil SJ conquered. There would always be more to replace it. ¡°I am sure good can prevail over evil,¡± SJ said. ¡°If it can, it has never happened. Wars have been won and lost by both sides, but every time, balance has won overall.¡± SJ was now sitting on the large flat stone. The bright sun had dried it quickly from the lake water. Having replaced her halter neck, she sat thinking through everything Dave had been saying. If it is true that there was always balance, how is it known? Someone must control it. Deity had been mentioned under valkyrie, and SJ asked. ¡°Are there gods here?¡± ¡°On Amathera, it¡¯s rare, although rumoured.¡± ¡°What gives valkyrie their boons then?¡± ¡°The gods do.¡± ¡°You just said they are rarely here?¡± ¡°They are still ¡®on¡¯ Amathera if you include not on the land itself,¡± Dave replied, exaggerating the on. ¡°What gods exist, then?¡± ¡°There are quite a few.¡± ¡°Are they the ones who keep the balance?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. I am not a god.¡± ¡°I thought you were all-knowing.¡± ¡°Compared to you, I am!¡± Dave snarked. ¡°Pffff. If you were, you could answer all of my questions.¡± Silence. ¡°Dave?¡± Silence. ¡°Be like that then.¡± SJ looked up towards the mountain peak, where the form of the dragon rested. Even at the distance it was, she thought she could see the sun glinting off its brilliant blue scales. ¡°Right, I need to level.¡± She stood from the rock and looked at the forest surrounding the clearing. ¡°Left, right, or centre?¡± She decided to head left and turned, walking towards the trees. The usual message triggered as she left the safe zone and approached the tree line. The forest remained louder than before, and she planned to use the confusion caused by the wave. She reached the tree line, moving under its thick canopy. The trees were well-spaced, and she could move through them easily. The sun broke through the branches above, casting its bright glow and causing a kaleidoscope of colours underneath the canopy. Birds cawed and hooted, taking off as she walked into the trees. She could hear a snuffling noise ahead and approached it, drawing her short blade as she did. A small clearing opened ahead, and she knew the water had reached this far inland as the ground was still squelching underfoot. In the centre of the clearing stood a small hog. She triggered her identification skill. Hogling Level 1 Hit points - 8 Mana points - 0 ¡°Ok. SJ, nice and easy now,¡± she said as she walked into the clearing. The hogling looked up from where it had been snuffling the ground, slurping up large worms that were disturbed by the water. It had brown mottled fur and two short tusks protruding from its lower jaw. It squealed at her and shook its head from side to side threateningly. It was small, standing no more than eighteen inches tall, and she readied herself for its charge. SJ took a defensive stance like she had used with the termites as the hogling charged towards her. As it neared, she again stepped sideways, striking out with her blade and scoring a hit down the hogling¡¯s flank as it rushed her. It squealed as she watched its health drop to 50%. As it turned, she again struck with her blade, striking it in its rear, taking another two hit points from it. It flung its head around in defence, SJ only just managing to move her arm out of the way as its small, sharp tusks threatened to pierce her arm. She lifted her leg and struck out in a forward kick, catching the hogling on the end of its snout. The hogling grunted before it fell over on its side. ¡°Yes,¡± she shouted at her success, checking her character sheet, she had earned 10 experience for the kill. ¡°Not bad,¡± Dave said. ¡°Have you stopped sulking now?¡± ¡°I was not sulking. I was meditating.¡± ¡°If that is what you call getting in a huff and storming off,¡± SJ retorted, her adrenaline pumping from the hogling fight. ¡°I WAS NOT SULKING.¡± Dave¡¯s voice boomed in her head. She winced, ¡°Okay. I believe you. Please don¡¯t do that again.¡± She shook her head, trying to remove the ringing sensation Dave¡¯s shouting had caused. She bent down over the hogling, looting the body. 1 x Copper, 1 x Apple, 2 x Strips of Light Leather ¡°Oh. Food.¡± SJ had not even considered food since she arrived, and now, seeing the apple in her inventory, she pulled it out. It appeared in her open hand. It was a glossy red, and she naturally rubbed it against her trouser leg and lifted it to her mouth, taking a large bite. The taste that hit her mouth was one of the foulest she had ever tasted, and she started to spit out the contents from her mouth and hurled the apple across the clearing. Dave was laughing hysterically. ¡°It said it was an apple.¡± ¡°It was,¡± Dave still laughing. ¡°Then why does it taste so bad?¡± ¡°Just because it is called an apple does not mean it is the same as apples from Earth.¡± SJ had not even considered that. ¡°What can I eat then?¡± ¡°You can eat those if you can overcome the taste. They will not harm you. The taste is their natural defence mechanism to prevent them from being eaten by many beings. Hoglings love them.¡± ¡°Are any of the foods the same?¡± ¡°Most are. Hoglings can make a nice roast, from what I have been told. They are apparently very similar to your pigs and hogs of Earth.¡± SJ looked at the body of the hogling. She had no idea how to butcher it. She let out a deep sigh. ¡°Is there any food around here I can eat without killing or butchering it?¡± ¡°Yes. Plenty. That bush over there has berries which you can eat.¡± ¡°Where?¡± ¡°Turn left straight ahead twenty paces.¡± SJ followed Dave¡¯s guidance and ended up standing by a small bush with small green berries at the outer edge of the clearing. ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°Absolutely.¡± SJ picked a berry from the bush and slowly tasted it with her tongue. There was no bitterness or taste, so she placed it in her mouth and slowly bit down. The sensation as the juice exploded from the berry, flooding her mouth with the sweetest taste ever. ¡°Oh my god. They are amazing.¡± SJ started picking more berries and transferring some to her inventory while popping the odd one in her mouth. ¡°Thank you,¡± SJ said around a mouthful of the berries. ¡°Are you ready for another hogling now?¡± ¡°What?¡± SJ turned and looked back into the clearing. Another hogling stood in almost the same position as the previous one. ¡°Do they respawn?¡± ¡°Yes. When you walk out of range of a beast after killing and looting it, a standard starter zone beast will respawn.¡± ¡°So, I can use this spot to level safely for a while.¡± ¡°Yes. You should be able to, although be warned that you can attract predators if you kill too many creatures in one location.¡± ¡°Ok. Well, for now, let¡¯s start farming,¡± SJ said excitedly as she walked back into the clearing. Chapter 9 - Farming SJ continued to farm the hogling respawn point. Each time she finished the hogling, she would loot it and then move out of the clearing, leaving it for a few minutes before she saw the hogling reappear. It was strange to witness as there was no light, no reference. It wasn¡¯t there one second, and then the next, it was. Every time it had happened, she thought she must have blinked, even though she knew she hadn¡¯t. It was the fourth respawn when she made a mistake. She had got complacent, as they were so easy to kill. SJ had been stepping sideways from their initial charge, swiping down their flanks with her short blade and attacking them with rapid strikes before they could recover fully. This time, though, as the hogling charged her, she stepped sideways, catching her foot and ended up sprawling on the forest clearing floor, wondering what had just happened. The little hogling took advantage and gored her in her leg, its sharp tusks ripping through her cloth pants and gouging a nice chunk of flesh from her thigh. Yelping in pain, she rolled onto her back, seeing her hit points reduced by half. She climbed to her feet, limping as the hogling again charged. ¡°Damn,¡± she cried. ¡°Be careful. Another hit like that, you are visiting the white room,¡± Dave said. ¡°You don¡¯t think I know that?¡± SJ growled through gritted teeth. The hogling came at her again, and she successfully used the same move this time, although she did not cut its flank as well as the other three times. She winced with each move as the pain from her injury fogged her mind. She stabbed quickly at the hogling, catching it in its rear before it turned on her, but had not caused the full eight hit points damage needed to finish it. It still had one left as it flung its tusks at her arm again. She hopped backwards as best as she could and faced the beast down. It stood in front of her, shaking its head as though dizzy, and as she watched, its final hit point disappeared, and it fell sideways dead. She grunted as she moved to the corpse to loot it. ¡°It bleeds out?¡± SJ asked. ¡°You did open up its side,¡± Dave replied. Her hit points had remained at five, and although she was still bleeding from the tusk wounds, her health did not lower further. ¡°Why do I not bleed out?¡± ¡°Legionnaires at your level are only inflicted with actual initial damage. If they bleed, it does not lower hit points further until level 10. It will weaken you and make you slower, as you noticed. Some creatures can also inflict damage over time with venom and poisons, but you will not find any in a starter zone.¡± ¡°I need to heal before I try that again. I can¡¯t chance another hit like that.¡± ¡°It won¡¯t take long to heal. You added your points to Constitution, so with 9, there are no negative effects, so you will regain one hit point every five minutes.¡± ¡°It takes 25 minutes to heal. Urgh. I may as well head back to the safe zone while I do.¡± SJ began to limp back towards the lake. ¡°Is there any other way I can heal?¡± ¡°Some foods will boost healing, and there is also magic, potions and skills.¡± ¡°Do you know which foods? Are there any around here?¡± ¡°No. They are only available in starter zones if a crafter brings them to sell, and if they do, they will be marked up to a stupid price.¡± ¡°And people still buy them?¡± ¡°Yep. There are a lot of stupid people in this world. Especially Legionnaires!¡± ¡°What about potions and magic?¡± ¡°If you are in a party with a healer or alchemist, you may get healed or given potions. If you go to buy from an alchemist or a healer, expect to pay a hefty sum. You can also get quest rewards, which include health or mana potions.¡± ¡°And skills?¡± ¡°Several fighter classes have hit point regeneration, and an assassin also does. Do not get excited. It is a very high-level skill where you can steal life.¡± ¡°Damn. From what you said, I was hoping for something a little sooner and cheaper.¡± ¡°There is an option to make things cheaper for you overall,¡± Dave said thoughtfully. ¡°What is that?¡± SJ asked, hopefully. ¡°At level 5, you will be offered your profession choice. You can select a profession that will benefit you going forward, such as Alchemy, and allow you to start making your own.¡± ¡°What professions are there? Are they like the ones from games on Earth?¡± Silence. Several moments passed before Dave replied. ¡°Looking at the games you had on Earth, they are similar. Alchemist, Enchanter, Armourer, Tailor, Cook, etc. You will be given a comprehensive list when the time arises.¡± Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. SJ received the message that she had entered the safe zone. She moved over to the flat stone and sat down heavily. Her leg was already feeling a little better, and the blood had stopped flowing just in the few minutes they had walked back. She looked at the tear in her pants and sighed. ¡°What is wrong?¡± Dave asked. ¡°These clothes are ruined already.¡± ¡°What do you expect? You are wearing zero armour peasant¡¯s clothes.¡± Dave said, his reply dripping with sarcasm. ¡°How do I go about improving or repairing them then?¡± ¡°At your level, you don¡¯t. As with other elements, they do not come into consideration until level 5. You currently do not have an armour class on your character sheet, do you?¡± SJ checked her sheet out. ¡°No.¡± ¡°You will start from level 5 and can improve it through your clothes or armour.¡± ¡°Same as games again, then.¡± ¡°After consulting the Wiki, yes, there are many similarities between how the system operates and the games you have on Earth.¡± ¡°That may work to my benefit then.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Dave questioned. ¡°I was always a hoarder and crafter in the games I played and used to spend hours working through the most efficient and productive farming routes to gather crafting materials.¡± ¡°Having the dedication to do it will help. What you can¡¯t compare are the times, though. Some rarer materials needed in Amathera are restricted to certain regions or very rare drops from certain level monsters.¡± SJ checked her hit points, and she was already back to 8. ¡°Two more, and we can go back again.¡± ¡°Did you not check your level?¡± Dave asked. ¡°No.¡± SJ reopened her character sheet. ¡°Yes. I can move to level 2.¡± SJ accepted the level increase straight away. Congratulations on reaching Level 2 You have been awarded the following: 5 hit points 5 mana points +1 Dexterity +2 free points to distribute as you wish ¡°Woo hoo. I got exactly the same again,¡± SJ shouted with glee. ¡°Excellent news. If it continues, you will be insanely strong compared to Legionnaires of the same level.¡± ¡°What should I go for this time?¡± ¡°You want my advice? That is very magnanimous of you,¡± Dave replied. SJ rolled her eyes. ¡°I have been asking for your guidance from the start.¡± ¡°Have you? I thought you were just using my all-knowing knowledge rather than seeking guidance.¡± ¡°What do you think asking questions is? Are they not seeking guidance and answers?¡± Silence. ¡°Maybe,¡± Dave eventually responded. ¡°What do you mean, maybe? Am I not asking for advice if I am asking a question?¡± ¡°No. You are asking for answers.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°It is how you ask,¡± Dave hmph¡¯d ¡°In what manner should I ask?¡± ¡°If you really sought my advice and guidance, you would address me with the level of authority and respect that I deserve.¡± ¡°What?¡± SJ replied, frowning. ¡°Dave, my all-knowing and powerful AI. Would you please guide me on my journey of growth and support my development as a noob Legionnaire. Or something like that.¡± ¡°Really! For a start, you use a search engine or Wiki for your knowledge, which means you do not know everything. Secondly, I thought we were a team, and you were supposed to support me.¡± ¡°What do you think I have been doing?¡± Dave said stubbornly. ¡°Being a royal pain in the arse, most of the time,¡± SJ replied angrily. She closed her eyes in exasperation. If not for the voice being inside her head, she would have turned away. He could be so frustrating. ¡°Argh,¡± she shouted. Calming down, SJ replied, ¡°Dave?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Dave haughtily replied. ¡°Would you please be so kind as to offer me your thoughts on advancing my character in this new world I now reside in?¡± ¡°That was very eloquent, and for that polite request, the answer is no.¡± ¡°WHAT?¡± SJ shouted again. ¡°It is too late now.¡± ¡°Too late?¡± ¡°You already hurt my feelings.¡± ¡°Feelings? When did I hurt your feelings?¡± Dave replied in a squeaky voice, ¡°For a start, you use a search engine or Wiki for your knowledge, which means you are not all-knowing, blah, blah, blah.¡± SJ dropped her head to her hands, exhaling. ¡°I thought we had got past this,¡± SJ replied through her fingers. ¡°Past your rude, obnoxious behaviour? Never.¡± ¡°SYSTEM!¡± SJ screamed. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°I AM GETTING YOU REPLACED,¡± she bellowed. ¡°Why?¡± Dave replied in a shocked voice. ¡°Why? . . . . Why? . . . . Why do you think?¡± ¡°I thought we had got past this,¡± Dave replied. ¡°Really? And why would I get over the way you are behaving?¡± ¡°Oh, your hit points should be back full now, and I advise you to drop a point in Dexterity and Constitution. Let¡¯s go back to farming, as you call it,¡± Dave replied cheerily. SJ sat stunned. ¡°What?¡± ¡°You heard me. Don¡¯t tell me all your shouting has deafened you. +1 Dexterity and Constitution, then go back to farming.¡± ¡°But . . . ¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t time fly when you are having fun,¡± Dave replied. ¡°What the actual? Were you just wasting time?¡± ¡°I would not say wasting. More like passing. We really should try this role-playing more often.¡± ¡°Roleplay!¡± SJ sputtered. ¡°Yes. I read on the Wiki that you all play these roleplaying games where you act. I thought it would be fun to try.¡± ¡°You understand that roleplay is not real and based on distinct characters or scenarios. Not ones we have already been through.¡± ¡°Well, it wasn¡¯t exactly the same as before?¡± SJ screamed again, ¡°Argh.¡± Rubbing her temples with her fingers. After a few moments, she said, ¡°OK. +1 Dexterity and Constitution.¡± She opened her character sheet and applied the changes. ?Level: 2 Experience: 5 of 100 Hit Points: 17 Mana Points: 15 Dexterity: 12 Constitution: 10 Subterfuge - Identification Level 1 - 8 of 10 to level 2 Upon standing, she discovered that her leg was fully healed. She flexed it several times, and there was absolutely no pain. Examining where the wound had been, she couldn¡¯t see any scaring. ¡°Dave. Is there a way to accept level increases automatically?¡± ¡°Erm . . . ¡± Silence. ¡°Has no one ever asked that before?¡± ¡°Nope, not in my lifetime.¡± ¡°So, can you?¡± ¡°Checking. Oh, I found it. Yes, there is,¡± Dave replied, surprised. ¡°A little arrow is next to your level on your character sheet. If you select it, it will become a turning arrow. I always thought the arrow just highlighted your level because it was important. Every day is a school day.¡± SJ focussed on the small arrow, and it changed. ?Level: 2 ¡°So that now means that levels will automatically be increased. I assume that means hit points, mana points and Dexterity will be added as standard.¡± ¡°It should do.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great. Thanks for checking.¡± SJ said, smiling. ¡°Shall we go hunt more hoglings now?¡± Dave asked. ¡°Let¡¯s.¡± Chapter 10 - Badger, Badger, Badger Since returning to the clearing, SJ had killed nine more hoglings. However, she noticed she received reduced experience for them, earning only 8 points per kill rather than the 10 she previously earned. She had asked Dave about this, and he told her it was because she was now level 2, whereas the hoglings were level 1. Each level higher she was than her target reduced 20% of the earned experience, making it impossible for higher-level players to level in low-level areas, even without the territory limitations. In some territories, this even forced them to continue advancing to a stronger area within a specific territory if they wished to gain decent experience. Apparently, the amount of experience required to increase to higher levels was substantial. The first five levels required experience double the previous. Starting from 25 experience to reach level 1, by level 5, you needed to earn 400 experience. SJ had already considered that once she hit level 3, she would drop to 6 experience per level 1 hogling. That would mean she would need to kill at least 32 of them to level, and with 10 to 15 minutes between spawns, never mind fights and looting, even at four an-hour efficiency, it would take a full 8 hours of grinding to achieve. It meant she needed to move to find other creatures or hoglings of a higher level. ¡°I am on 77 of 100 experience. Three more, and I will level again,¡± SJ said. ¡°You should call yourself Hogling Slayer,¡± Dave replied. SJ noticed that the light was starting to fade, and her new night vision skill was a strange sensation. As the light faded, she could still see, but the clarity was changing. ¡°How much light is left?¡± ¡°Err . . . maybe an hour.¡± ¡°They are respawning every fifteen minutes, so I should have time to take on three more beforehand.¡± Dave yawned loudly. ¡°It is very boring fighting these. You can easily kill them with your level 2 and Dexterity boosts.¡± SJ had been two-hitting them all. After her initial strike down their flanks, she only required one strike on their rears now to finish them. Her Dexterity increase had increased her small blade damage. ¡°Is there not a weapons chart or damage chart available? Also, I would have thought there were weapon proficiencies available?¡± ¡°There are. They also don¡¯t kick in until level 5.¡± ¡°I need to get to 5, then,¡± SJ replied with determination. ¡°Yes, you do, but that will not happen today. Level 3 on your first day is a good start- not the best, but not the worst.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the most you have seen?¡± SJ asked, a little frustrated, waiting for the hogling to spawn. ¡°Once, a Legionnaire reached level 4 on the first day. It was a berserker who discovered a rat¡¯s nest.¡± SJ retrieved a berry from her inventory and ate it while waiting by the side of the clearing. ¡°These berries are so delicious.¡± ¡°You have had rather a lot today.¡± ¡°I have no other food, and it¡¯s energetic work,¡± she shrugged. They had got into the habit of discussing professions between the spawns, and SJ was starting to decide which she may choose. Tailor was looking like one of her best options. It would not just allow her to design and produce fae-specific clothes. Its freedom of movement compared to armour also benefitted her martial arts skills. The information Dave had given her said that an item¡¯s quality would improve not just armour class but also the number of enchantments an item could hold. All items followed a basis of rarity levels, which Dave had explained to SJ. She was aware of them from her gaming days. Common, Good, Rare, Epic, Mythic, Legendary and a new one she had never heard of before called Astral. Astral was explained as a divine gift. Astral weapons or armour could only be obtained by killing a Legionnaire who possessed them, or if granted by a god. They were always unique as well. The requirements for a profession increased based on time, skill and the quality of manufactured goods. The details would be confirmed when she reached level 5, although it seemed that if you produced a higher-quality item, you could gain more from them. Dave said she could increase production speed, but it would always create common items if you did. The professions could be improved, but gaining the requisite skills was a long process. ¡°You mentioned you can also get a second profession choice?¡± SJ asked. ¡°Yes, at level 20, you have the choice to either change your primary profession, which several have done before or choose a secondary profession,¡± Dave said. ¡°Why would someone change a primary profession?¡± SJ asked, confused. ¡°Certain professions are much harder to level, and many Legionnaires have moved to easier professions.¡± ¡°Which ones?¡± ¡°Usually, melee classes that have chosen the enchanter profession as an example. To enchant items, you must use mana. Most melee classes do not invest in Intelligence and Wisdom, which links to your mana growth. So, without the extra attribute points, they can be limited to what they can ever enchant. Getting a +1 damage on a weapon or piece of armour at level 5 may sound great, but when you reach level 15 or 20, you need much better enchantments, and they will never be able to attempt them because of their mana limits.¡± ¡°I need to review all the details once I reach level 5.¡± ¡°I am surprised I have been able to tell you so much of this already.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°I am normally restricted from telling you certain things. I said that already.¡± ¡°So how can you then?¡± ¡°Probably like everything else that is different with you. That you are an anomaly.¡± SJ was sitting leaning against a tree when the sound of snuffling returned. The next hogling had spawned. ¡°Here we go again,¡± SJ said, standing. As she walked into the clearing, movement from the far side occurred, and a black and white body streaked into the clearing, attacking the hogling. SJ stopped dead in her tracks as she took in the sight unfolding and triggered identification. Both creatures were caught in the skill. Since her identification skill had triggered to level 2, it informed her of a creature¡¯s main attack. Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. Hogling Level 1 Hit points - 8 Mana points - 0 Attacks - Charge, Tusk Badger Berserker Level 4 Hit points - 40 Mana points - 0 Attacks - Bite, Claws SJ¡¯s screen flashed. Overkill warning Due to repeated kills in one area, you have triggered a predator. ¡°Oh. This could be problematic,¡± Dave said. SJ stared at the black and white beast that, with its large, clawed paw strike, tore into the hogling and killed it with one hit. The badger was much larger than the ones she was used to seeing on nature programmes on Earth and was nearly as long as she was tall. ¡°It¡¯s Level 4!¡± SJ exclaimed. ¡°I would advise that you retreat to the safe zone. I have known a level 2 or, on one occasion, a level 3 spawn in an overkill starter zone, but never a level 4. Two levels may not seem much, but it will be much stronger than you think.¡± SJ started to retreat into the treeline when the badger noticed her. It turned its head, eyeing her. It snarled, showing a row of razor-sharp teeth, and charged. ¡°Argh,¡± SJ screamed as the creature charged her. It was only about thirty feet away and covering the ground quickly. She stepped backwards instinctively straight into the tree she had just been sitting against. She fumbled, reaching for her short blade as the badger neared. The badger looked rabid, drool dripping from its jaws. ¡°It¡¯s also a berserker variant. Now that is strange,¡± Dave said in a calm voice. ¡°WHY?¡± SJ shouted, which came out very squeaky and high-pitched. ¡°Berserker Badgers are a rare variant.¡± SJ was not listening to Dave as the badger lunged straight at her. She dived sideways, her gymnastics from her youth coming into play as she naturally went into a forward roll and returned to her feet. Her increased Dexterity had been helping with her mobility and her new, lithe form as a fae. Her wings had naturally splayed as she rolled, stopping them from being an obstruction. The badger had been running at her full pelt and crashed straight into the tree trunk, standing there now shaking its head. SJ took advantage of its stunned state attacking. Her blade struck true, and she pulled it out as the badger howled and began to turn on her. It had taken a sliver of damage to its health. She struck a second time before it turned fully and caught it in its face as it spun. Whether a freak hit or pure luck, as SJ knew it was not skill, she had hit the badger in its eye. The badger recoiled from the strike, now blinded in one eye. It threw its head from side to side in pain and anger and swiped at her with its clawed paw. She leapt backwards, only just avoiding its strike. With the lucky strike, its health had been reduced by a quarter. Dave was still talking in her head, ¡°Rare variant creatures do not normally spawn until much higher levels,¡± he continued excitedly. ¡°There is a chance of it dropping much better loot than a normal creature.¡± SJ could not reply as she moved back from the badger¡¯s swipes, focussing on staying out of its reach. The only bonus was that as it only now had sight in one eye, it did not appear to have the same depth perception, and several of its swipes were short. SJ backed across the clearing, glancing behind her to ensure she kept her footing. She could not get near it with its continual paw strikes and had no option but to retreat in defence. ¡°I need to blind it,¡± she gasped as she kept moving away. She needed to make room between them, so she turned and ran. The badger came after her, and reaching the other side of the clearing, she ducked behind a tree, its momentum carrying it past. Her adrenaline was at its maximum. Her body flooded with it. She had always enjoyed scary rides at the fairs and the adrenaline rush from rollercoasters, but this was on a whole new level. Everything seemed heightened. How she observed the badger¡¯s movements and her own gained a newfound clarity. This was a fight to the death. Rather than try and strike the badger, she ran straight across the clearing to the far side and stopped by a tree again. The badger turned and came after her, and this time, as she stepped away from it, she made the same move she had done with the hoglings, striking down its flank. The short blade did little slashing damage compared to what it had done to the hoglings, but it was still additional damage. Immediately running across the clearing, standing by a tree again as it charged. She kept repeating the exercise, feeling her lungs and legs beginning to burn, but the adrenaline kept her going. By this process, she managed to reduce it to under half of its health but knew she would eventually tire and could not keep doing it for much longer. The badger had a stripe of wounds on its flank, and they were all slowly bleeding. None were deep and looked more superficial. Bleeding out would take too much time, if it even happened. ¡°I am impressed so far,¡± Dave said. SJ ignored his praise, grunted, and struck out an extra time at the badger rather than run back across the clearing. That was a mistake, as it swung its head round with its jaws open, catching her arm holding the blade. Not well enough to bite but well enough for its very hard and sharp teeth to cut into her skin. SJ yelped in pain, only just managing to keep a hold of the knife. She kicked out, catching it on the side of its head. The strike did puny damage but made the badger''s head move, showing her its damaged eye. She may have a chance if she could do that on the other side. The badger¡¯s head turned the other way due to the kick, resulting in minimal damage. As it did, she had a clear view of its good eye, stabbing towards it with her blade. The badger recoiled, seeing the blade coming for it and swiped with its paw. SJ only just pulled her hand back in time. She dropped into her side stance and stepped back from the creature. It shook its head from the blows, which, although not damaging, were distracting and affecting its ability to focus. It snarled and moved for her again. This time, she did not stab it but swung her leg around in a sweeping kick, aiming for its head. She caught it with power, her foot hurting through the soft leather boots as it struck the side of its solid face. The power behind the sweeping kick was much more than her previous front kicks. The badger¡¯s head moved sideways again, taking a little damage, and its good eye faced her. Rather than kick with the other foot, she again kicked with her right, being her stronger side, and the kick again met its mark. It was not as powerful, but enough to keep the badger disorientated. She was now gasping for breath. Her limbs felt heavy, knowing she was running out of stamina. She would have been dead long ago if she had still been level 1. With all the effort she could muster, she continued to kick the creature. It became more unsteady with each blow. Sweep, draw, sweep, draw, sweep, draw. After the sixth successive hit, the badger lost its footing and slipped, falling sideways, shaking its head groggily. SJ could not miss the opportunity, and while it staggered back to its feet, she lunged in with her blade, aiming deliberately, catching the badger¡¯s remaining eye. The badger howled in pain and anger as it became blinded, lashing out with its claws and snapping its jaws around, trying to find SJ. SJ backed away, letting the badger lash out blindly. She tried to steady her breathing as she watched the badger thrash about. Its health was slowly decreasing with the continued bleeding and the damage she had done. It now only had a quarter of its health remaining. As she watched it thrash around, she felt a pang of guilt. What had she just done? The hoglings and termites were nothing to her, one being pests and the other a food source. The badger was a creature she had always liked as a child. She had owned a stuffed toy of a badger that she had slept with as a child. It had always been her favourite. ¡°You need to finish it,¡± Dave said flatly. ¡°I am not sure I can?¡± SJ replied. ¡°If you cannot kill a creature, how do you think you will ever be an assassin?¡± he snarked. SJ was in turmoil now. She had chosen a class designed to kill and was concerned about a badger. She remembered reading about the badger culling that used to be on the news due to them being pests. Trying to resign herself to the fact it was a pest and not the cute furry badgers of her childhood stories, she moved to its side into a position to strike at it unhindered. It took her four strikes to remove the remaining hit points, and it fell to the floor with one last defiant bark. SJ slumped to her knees, her emotions tearing her up inside and placing her head in her hands, she began to sob. Chapter 11 - Soooooo Sad Dave watched SJ as she fell to her knees and began sobbing. The AI had witnessed even some of the hardiest criminals break down during their reincarnations, which was unsurprising. Whether he could really understand it or not, the challenges of realising that you had died and were reborn seemed to affect the population of Earth who ended up being sent here eventually. "Are you OK?" Dave asked. His usual tone was replaced by a much calmer and supportive one. SJ sniffed, wiping tears from her eyes. "I just killed Trufflehunter." "Who?" Dave asked, confused. "Trufflehunter, from Prince Caspian," SJ sniffed. "What are you talking about?" "Trufflehunter," SJ sobbed again with new tears. As she did, her display triggered. Congratulations on reaching Level 3 You have been awarded the following: 5 hit points 5 mana points +1 Dexterity +2 free points to distribute as you wish SJ choked back a sob as she read the level-up. "I suppose I levelled at least." Dave suddenly shouted in a snarky voice, "Are you kidding me?" "Kidding about what?" SJ replied, sniffing. "Trufflehunter!" "What do you mean?" "He is a fictional character from a damn book. That is what I mean. How on Amathera can you be getting upset over a storybook character?" "I always liked him because he reminded me of a strong, loyal friend in the story." "It was a story!" Dave exclaimed in shock. "Have you never read anything that has upset you?" SJ snapped, her sobs being replaced with anger. "No. Never in a story. They are fake and make-believe. My dad running off with that AI tart upset me, but that was not a story. It was real." "Have you ever even read any stories?" Silence. "Dave?" "Noooo," Dave answered slowly "Maybe you should try reading some then, and you may understand." "I don''t believe a story can be upsetting," Dave responded frankly. "Try reading The Fault in Our Stars and tell me it is not upsetting," SJ angrily replied. "Hmmph. That''s pathetic behaviour. I honestly thought you were upset because you had died and been reincarnated, but instead, it is because of a ridiculous fictional badger." "If you are not going to say anything worthwhile, then don''t say anything at all." Silence. SJ had not realised that she was now standing. While arguing and getting annoyed at Dave, she had stopped crying, and her emotion had turned to anger. The Badger Berserker''s lifeless body lay a few feet from her, and she bent to loot the body. Congratulations, you have killed your first rare monster in Amathera. The level class of creatures increases the experience gained and the loot available. Monsters follow the same class system as items. Common, Good, Rare, Epic, Mythic and Legendary. 3 Silver, 4 strips of good leather, The Badger''s Blades SJ checked her inventory. It was full, with the leather strips she had accumulated taking up most of the space. It seemed there was a maximum amount of a loot variant permissible for each slot. She had not received any cloth-related items, so she was not sure what would happen when it came to tailoring, but she had assumed that she needed to get drops from monsters for tailoring as well. Inventory: Rope, Flint and Steel, Torch, Poison Bottles, 84 x Gloss Berries, 10 x Strips of Light Leather, 10 x Strips of Light Leather, 8 x Strips of Light Leather, 4 x Strips of Good Leather, The Badgers Blades SJ looked at The Badger''s Blades. The Badger''s Blades +3 Quality - Rare Damage - 5 - 9 +3 Special - 10% chance of bleed effect SJ smiled as she read the weapon''s stats. She retrieved the gloves from her inventory, holding them in her hand. They reminded her of claws from several films, just not as long. Four blades on each glove matched the shape of the dead Badger''s claws, a gentle sweeping curve, but still sharp enough to easily puncture straight on. She tried slipping one of the gloves on but couldn''t. A message came up on the screen. Only one primary weapon can be carried at a time. She still had the starting blade in its sheath on her belt and had never even considered the stats of the blade. On doing so, found out it only did 1-3 damage, the claws were a massive upgrade. The Badger Berserker could easily have one-hit the Hogling. She removed the blade from her primary weapon slot and placed the claws there instead. "Dave?" This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Silence. SJ slipped one of the bladed gloves on; it fit her slim hand perfectly. It was light as well, and it seemed the claws were hollow. She stood and took a couple of practice punches with them. With these things on her hands, they would add tremendous damage to her attacks. She imagined the gloves disappearing, and they vanished from her hands, still showing on her character display as her primary weapon. She had to draw the short blade from a sheath, but the claws appeared on her hands when she thought about using them, making them the perfect weapon for sneak attacks. SJ knew she would have to be careful when switching to her new weapons at this rate and didn''t want to think about wearing them at the wrong time. "These are amazing." Silence. "Dave?" Silence. SJ shrugged at his lack of response. The light was fading, and she did not fancy being outside the safe zone at night, not on her first night in the new world. The display had a small timer in the corner; looking at it, it was now 21:40. Dave had said there had been an hour of light left before the fight; there must have been only thirty minutes or so looking at the sky. SJ began returning to the starter zone. As she did, the body of the Badger Berserker disappeared, and she heard the snuffling of a Hogling. Glancing across the clearing as she left, she saw it begin digging up worms. Ignoring the Hogling, knowing she would only get a maximum of six experience, she continued through the wood. On reaching the clearing, she walked over to the flat stone, her display letting her know she was in the safe zone. She had no blankets or tent to sleep under or any wood gathered to build a fire, kicking herself for not thinking about it earlier. The grass had completely dried from the lake soaking caused by the Dragon, and she sat down on the rock. She casually called up berries from her inventory and popped them in her mouth. "I need a fire." She had Flint and Steel and had a vague idea of how to use them. Standing up, she walked to the edge of the clearing and began to collect small fallen branches and twigs. Collecting the driest she could find, she moved them to the safe zone and started constructing a fire. Switching her primary weapon to her blade again, she shaved the twigs, making kindling. The light was fading quickly now, with only minutes left before the moon took over. There was no cloud in the sky, and she shivered with the drop in temperature. Taking the flint and steel from her inventory, SJ began to strike the flint after adding some kindling to the wood. It took her a while, and the light faded, but she was determined and continued until she eventually managed to create a spark which caught. The soft glow of a flame appeared, and cautiously cupping it to prevent the mild breeze from blowing it out, she gently coaxed it until some of the larger pieces caught. This was a much slower process than she had ever witnessed on TV shows. As the flame grew, the warmth and light it cast began to push the incoming darkness away. SJ took the rope from her inventory and curled it as best as possible into something she could use to rest her head on and lay back on the grass by the fire. "Waaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh." The sound exploded in her head, and SJ almost died on the spot in fright from the sheer volume and sudden interruption. "Dave. You just scared the stuffing out of me." All SJ was met with was the sound of crying and blubbing with inaudible sounds being made. "Dave, you are an AI; you can''t cry. What is wrong that has got you in this state?" ¡°You¡­¡­..waaaaahhhhhhhhhhh.¡± "Dave. Calm down and talk, please; what has upset you?" "Why would¡­¡­¡­.waaaaahhhhhhhh." "Dave, snap out of it. I cannot help unless you tell me what''s wrong." Dave replied, sniffling and tearfully, "I just read the book." "Which book?" "The Fault in Our Stars." SJ suddenly remembered what she had said to him in her anger. "Oh." "Why did you tell me to read it?" Dave sniffed. "You were being an ass, and you didn''t think writing could be emotional because they are fictional characters." "You are evil," Dave huffed. "Evil? Why am I evil? I said that books can be emotional. It was not my fault that you did not believe me and said they were fictional characters." "I may have, but that story," Dave started to cry again. "Come on now. Really?" "I have never felt sad before as an AI. I now know what it feels like, and I don''t like it. "Sadness is horrible. Whether you have the resilience to bounce back is what counts." "I am not sure I can ever forgive you," another loud sniff. "At least you can now appreciate that people can get invested in stories, and when authors kill off characters, it can be emotional. It may not be real, but you get tied into them." "Never again am I going to read a sad story!" "OK. I am sure you can access thousands of books that you can read that are not sad." "I am not sure I want to. I am scared how they may affect me." "You just have to try and remind yourself it is not real. They are no different to watching films apart from what your brain imagines. Stories are told through many mediums." Dave sniffed a few more times, not speaking, before he replied. "I see you lit a fire." "Yes. It was starting to get cold." "It does not get too cold at night. It is not like being in the North." "Anyway. While you were off reading, I looted the Badger and got some awesome gear." "I saw you have Badger''s Blades. They are rare. I cannot remember ever seeing them before. Some rare items come around now and then, but the fact you got a rare item suited to your class is even rarer." "I¡¯m not complaining. They are amazing. The damage they do with one hit would kill a Hogling outright." "They are pretty awesome. You levelled as well but have not allocated your points yet?" "I was not sure what to do with them. Dexterity is boosting my damage already, although I am not sure by how much as there are no charts." "All comes at level 5." "I was thinking maybe I should level up the other attributes to at least ten so I get the 10% bonus on anything that uses them?" "That would be very sensible," Dave said, now surprised. "Why so surprised?" "I am used to Legionnaires who focus on damage and do not think about anything else. Especially once they have fought a higher-level monster and seen how hard the fights are." "I can sort of understand why they would. These claws, though, I think, give me a bit of an edge." "More than a bit. As an assassin with high Dexterity as normal, your initiative and the chance to get the first hit in are pretty much guaranteed once you level, unless you are against another assassin. It may even, in some cases, allow you to get two strikes in before anything can react, depending upon what they are." "What they are?" "Yeah, it could be a fighter in full armour or a large lumbering troll. So many different elements come into play during combat. It''s another Oxford and MIT moment." "The system does not like to make things straightforward, does it?" "No. Everything has underlying algorithms when fighting. Sometimes, you think you will win a fight hands down, and then all of a sudden, the luck gods start to laugh at you, and things go wrong. I have seen it happen so many times before." "I thought you said the System doesn''t control monsters?" "It doesn''t in its truest sense, but I am sure it still affects them occasionally." "How, though?" "If I knew that, I would be the System." "Fair. Now that you are back, I have more questions for you. Is there a map? You previously mentioned a fog of war, and I know what it means from gaming, but I cannot find a map." "Not at your level. Maps become available at Level 10. This is to keep starter players in starter zones until level 10. My red Dragon fighting legionnaire is a prime example of why they want you to stay there." "I meant to ask you how he even got to meet a red dragon as a starter?" "Oh. This crazy fool decided to leave the town immediately, spend the first day walking, and enter a mountain region the next day. The red Dragon that got him was a hatchling. It was only level 12, but a level 12 hatchling meeting a level 2 Legionnaire, well, you can imagine how it went." "That makes sense. I imagined he had managed to travel a huge distance to where they lived on the first day, and you said the Blue Dragons live five thousand miles away." "Ah. Reds are not as big or as strong as blues. Blues are one of the larger breeds out of the various Dragons." "How many are there?" SJ asked, looking toward the mountain peak where the Blue Dragon had rested. "Seven in total. Blue, Black, Red, White, Gold, Green and Platinum." "A platinum Dragon?" "Yes. They are very rare, and even hatchlings are legendary monsters. The lowest level platinum Dragon you will ever see is nothing less than level forty." "As a hatchling?" "Yes. I have no idea of the highest level they go." "Where do they live?" "On none of the main continents. They live on an island in the middle of the Agrassi Seas. It is a treacherous location, full of water elementals, sprites, mer-creatures, Krakens- think of any sea monster you have ever heard of, and they live in the area." "So they never venture onto the continents?" "The odd hatchling has now and again. They are good-natured Dragons. They only hunt for food, unlike the reds and blacks, who hunt for fun." "What about the blue on the mountain?" "Blue''s are usually good-natured. I have never met an evil blue Dragon, but it does not mean they don''t exist." SJ considered the different Dragons and other fantastical creatures she could start to meet in this new world. Her mind was full of images from all the movies, games, and books she had read previously. "I was thinking of shrinking to miniature form for the night." "Why?" "The grasses would protect me from the wind, and the fire, now lit, would provide immense warmth in comparison." "That is actually another sensible idea. I am quite surprised at your logical thinking, considering your start." SJ rolled her eyes, shrinking into miniature form. The fire, now huge compared to her size, felt much warmer. She would need to keep an eye on it and keep it burning, but staying warmer was much easier, especially with the long grasses blocking most of the night''s breeze. The rope that she had removed from her inventory had remained the same size, providing even more cover. "I think I need some sleep." "OK. You will be safe here. Nothing can enter the safe zone." "Please do not shout in my head overnight." "I will only shout if I need to wake you." "You can wake me if you need to, then?" SJ asked. "Yes. If I need to. I shouldn''t need to wake you here, though." "OK. Then I am going to sleep," SJ felt drained after the day''s activities, and once she leaned back against the coiled rope, it took her moments to drift off. Even with the night''s sounds filtering from the forest, they could not stop her from sleeping. Chapter 12 - Doe a Deer SJ dreamed of her dad coming upstairs to wake her for school as a child. "SJ. Time to get up." SJ rolled over, pulling the quilt tight over her head. "SJ. Time to get up." Her dad''s voice drifted into her sleep-filled mind. "SJ, GET UP," Dave shouted. SJ sat bolt upright. "What is it?" looking around, bleary-eyed and panicking. "It is morning," Dave said. "Morning. Does it really matter what time I was sleeping?" SJ growled. "You don''t want to waste the day. We have levels to gain and should also consider heading to town." SJ stretched and yawned. Then she noticed that her stomach felt strange; she ran from the immediate area. A few minutes later, she returned to the large rock holding her tender-feeling stomach. "That was unpleasant." "Berries. You ate a mountain of them yesterday." "You could have warned me of the effect." "You never asked." "Don''t even think about starting that again. Yesterday was bad enough." "I can''t really be blamed. Having never had a Fae before, I could not be certain of the effect they would have on you." "Mmmhmm." "I haven''t," Dave said innocently. "Has there ever been a race not affected by those berries?" "Ermm" "That would be a no then. Does that not give you enough foresight to have warned me?" "Perhaps. You would have been fine if you had also eaten other stuff." "What other stuff? You only mentioned the berries." "You didn''t.." "DON''T," SJ huffed. She stomped through the grass again. "Where are you going?" SJ suddenly stopped. She had been walking away from Dave. Shaking her head at the realisation, she looked to the sky and sighed. "You do realise that sometimes you can be very annoying," SJ said. "No one has ever told me that before." "Really?" "Well, I do not normally speak to the other Legionnaires I have been associated with." "Why not?" "They never talked to me. They just used to make decisions, and then I would give them info, and they would usually make more stupid decisions." "Why have you been speaking to me then?" SJ asked, confused. "You are interesting." "Why am I interesting?" "You rejected the terms and conditions for a start." "I didn''t reject them. I waived them after the System said I had to so that I could save you." "Yeah, but a normal person would have just accepted what they said and taken a new AI." "There are moments I question my decision." Silence. "So you think most would have just taken a new AI and left you in purgatory?" "Definitely. Most of the Legionnaires I have ever been with are all about them and don''t care about anything else." "So they don''t work together?" "Yes, there are guilds and stuff, but it''s always a hierarchy and someone sitting at the top pulling the strings." "So I can join a guild?" "You can, or you can start one if you want to. They cost 200 gold to form; you must be level 20 as well." "I am a long way from level 20, yet never mind finding that sort of money." "You realise with the three silver you got from the Badger, you will be one of the more well-off in the starter town." "Really?" "I told you five copper would get you a meal and a room if they have space. Three silver is 300 copper, so you could stay there for 60 nights and eat daily. Most Legionnaires leave the starter zone within a couple of weeks after reaching level 10, and most will not even see a silver coin during that time." SJ had not even considered the value of the silver coins she had earned. She now had 22 copper and 3 silver coins from all the Hoglings. "Talking about making money and growing. My inventory is full of light leather strips." "You can combine them." "Combine them how?" "On your inventory screen is a little icon that looks like a house." "I thought that just meant that the storage was full." "If you select it, you can combine strips into strips of the next level of leather. They have increased rarity; you need ten of each for each step. Ten light leather make one regular, ten regular make one good, ten good make one rare, ten rare make one epic, all the way to legendary." This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. "So materials are the same as everything else then." "Yes. All the professions follow the same basis for variants." SJ focused on her inventory, where she saw the little house symbol next to the light leather strips. She concentrated on it, and a message appeared. Would you like to combine your light leather strips into regular leather? Yes/No SJ selected Yes and was greeted with another message. Congratulations, you have gained a regular leather strip. She looked at the next stack of ten and did the same, receiving a message. Congratulations, you have gained two regular leather strips. Looking at her inventory, she now had three regular leather strips. "Er. Dave?" "Yes?" "Have you seen this?" "Oooooo. Another anomaly. Will anything be normal with you?" "I should not have ended up with three, should I?" "No. You should have one for each set of ten, so have two regular leather now to replace them." "So, I have a chance of getting more materials! That could make farming much easier." "These are just basic materials, though. The rarer materials could make a ridiculous difference if they work the same." SJ was so glad she had played the System and waived the terms and conditions. She smiled broadly. "Do you have wind again?" SJ ignored Dave''s comment, rolling her eyes. She was still in miniature form from her sleep and decided to try flapping her wings. Concentrating on the muscles in her back, she tightened and loosened them. She began to feel her wings moving and could feel the draft they began to create as she did. It was strange, and she kept working the muscles, feeling the difference and subtlety of her movements. After several faster beats, she felt her heels lift slightly. Dave chuckled. "Nearly there," Dave said encouragingly, realising what she was doing. SJ concentrated and beat them faster. Her feet very slowly lifted from the ground. As they did, she fell forward like a rock face first into the grass, only stopping her face from being squished by throwing her arms out. "Damn." "It takes practice. It looks like you need to lean back as you beat your wings. Well, that is what the Wiki says anyway." SJ sighed, standing back up and repeating the beating process, picking up speed until her feet felt lighter. Rather than leaning forward as she had, she slowly leaned back against the force from the wings. As the weight began to lessen and her feet lifted, she hovered uncertainly, no more than a foot from the ground. She could already feel tiredness kicking into her muscles, and she stopped beating her wings and dropped heavily back to the ground. "That is tiring," SJ groaned, feeling her back muscles ache. "I can''t advise; sorry, I don''t know about Fae''s muscle structure." "There must be a knack to it. It can''t be that difficult, or Fae would just fall out of the sky or have back muscles that make them look more like barbarians." "Maybe there is someone in the village who can advise you. In starter towns, there is usually a racial representative for each main race." "Now you tell me!" "You didn''t.." "Ask!" SJ sighed. "I guess I also need to find higher-level monsters to fight. I am not going to spend a whole day fighting Hoglings again. Especially now I am level 3." "Yes, we definitely need to find a new farm spot. I suggest heading towards town. We have quite a trek through the woods around the lake, and we may find something on the route." "Okay," SJ replied, growing into her humanoid form. "What happens to this safe zone when I leave the area?" "I have no idea. I have never returned to a safe zone once you are out of an immediate area. I assume it returns to normal land, but only the System could confirm that." "Well, I doubt I will return to this place once I leave if the monsters are so low a level here." "Monsters should scale, so you shouldn''t have to travel too far, hopefully." SJ set off following the edge of the lake and the forest. SJ had not considered how large the lake was, but considering how small the town looked, it had to be a fair distance. The sun was rising, and SJ looked at her display; it was only 06:35. The sun was warm, the skies were clear blue, and the forest was coming to life¡ªbirds tweeting in the early morning light. SJ was feeling good. She checked her character sheet as she walked, getting quite used to the overlay being visible with its transparency. Looking through her attributes, she decided to balance them as discussed with Dave. She selected to add one to Strength and Wisdom, moving both up to 8. These two extra points at each level would make a huge difference if they continued. "Dave. Is there a way to filter certain details on the display?" "Yes. The displays can be configured. At higher levels, you can also use pre-defined configurations that guilds use or some vendors sell." "Display configurations are sold?" "At a higher level, yes. A good configuration can bring in much money if it eases combat procedures. They are regularly on sale at the Auction Houses." "Auction Houses, you have not mentioned those before." "They are level 20 minimum and only available in the larger townships." "Why do they limit so much to certain levels?" "Honestly, many do not even make it to level 5. Even though there are thousands of Legionnaires compared to the world''s population, they are tiny in number. You know your Legionnaire number, so it gives you an idea." "Why do they not make it to level 5?" "Silly mistakes with so few hit points," SJ imagined Dave shrugging his shoulders as he replied. SJ had only considered the number really once Dave mentioned it. "So I was the 25007077th Legionnaire to arrive here." "Yes." "How often do new Legionnaires arrive?" "Not very often compared to previously. That is one of the reasons the System changed the rules to no longer include extreme sports or hobbies. You would be amazed at the number of people who ended up here due to rock climbing or skiing accidents." "How many are on Amathera currently? Do you know?" Silence. A few moments passed before Dave replied. "124357" "That is less than I thought you were going to say." "As I said, it is harder to get here now." "What is the highest level Legionnaire?" "Last shout, it was 89." "Has anyone ever reached 100?" "No. Never. If you reached 100, you would be one of the most powerful in Amathera." "What about the monsters then and other races?" "There are several near 100. There are rumoured to be a few over 100, but I have never seen one. The highest I met was King Brezian, who ruled one of the other continents. He was level 96. I have seen several monsters in the high 80s and once a dragon at 94. That Blue on the mountain is high." "How high?" "It was 88." "I thought when you said you needed to be 50 plus to go to the northern territories. I thought it would be level 60 or so." "No, it is one of the largest blues I have ever seen, if not the largest." SJ turned, looking at the peak in the distance. The dragon''s form could still be seen. The forest was lively, and SJ could see a group of deer drinking further along the lake''s edge. She stopped and stood watching the beautiful creatures drinking and grazing peacefully. She continued to watch them for a while before Dave interrupted her. "Why are we waiting?" Dave asked. "To let them finish eating and drinking. Why do you think?" "They will probably stay there all day unless disturbed." "I thought deer moved on after drinking." "You are not on earth, remember. Animals, monsters, and creatures are normally within a certain area. Those deer there are probably always there." SJ frowned, looking at them; the small herd consisted of eight. From looking at the makeup, three were males looking larger with differing shaped antlers, and five were females. There were no young, and SJ had no idea what type they were, and she was too far away to trigger her identification skill. SJ began to move towards the small herd when she heard a growling sound within the forest. "Oh no," Dave said. "Oh, no. What do you mean, oh, no? What is it?" "Sounds like a wolf." "There are wolves here?" "Wolves are everywhere. Most are loners, though very few live in packs unless a DIre Wolf is nearby." "Wolves don''t attack people." "You are in Amathera now and technically are no longer a person, remember." The thought of a wolf made SJ''s nerves flare. She watched the small herd as the head of one of the males picked up and turned, looking into the forest. The other deer stopped drinking, and within moments, they began to run. Straight in the direction she was standing. They were a couple of hundred feet from her and closing fast when a large grey-furred beast tore from the forest, heading towards the herd. The wolf was enormous. It had to be nearly four feet at its shoulder, and it snapped its jaws as it ran towards the nearest deer. A female was struggling to keep up with the fleeing herd, and as she watched the herd approach, the wolf caught up and attacked the lagging doe, biting into its rear leg and pulling it down. SJ screamed at it. "Get off," as she began to run towards it. The deer heading towards her veered off either side of her. "What are you doing?" Dave asked. "Saving the deer," SJ said, sprinting past the first fleeing deer towards the wolf. She triggered identification. Her display flashed with information from the deer and wolf in her sight. Amatherean Doe Level 3 Hitpoints - 20 Mana - 0 Attacks - Nil Amatherean Buck Level 4 Hitpoints - 30 Mana - 0 Attacks - Gore Grey Wolf Level 4 Hitpoints - 45 Mana - 0 Attacks - Claws/Bite "Leave her alone," SJ screamed as she equipped her claws and charged towards the wolf. Chapter 13 - Grey areas All nervousness had been replaced by anger as SJ watched the wolf attack the doe. The doe mewed and bleated in fear, and the great wolf bit viciously into its hind leg. ¡°Ahhhhhhhhhh,¡± SJ screamed as she ran straight at the beast. How dare it attack a defenceless deer. She was within thirty feet when it noticed her coming, releasing the doe¡¯s leg and turning its head snarling. Its open maw clearly displayed its large yellow and rather sharp-looking teeth. SJ had lost all sense of fear at the moment and continued running at it, screaming. Watching as the wolf¡¯s haunches tightened, she knew it would pounce. As it released itself forward towards her, she dove at an angle past it. Its jaws snapped closed on air. She rolled, standing, and ran immediately back at the beast. Its pounce had sent it nearly fifteen feet away from where it had been with ease. As SJ approached, the wolf turned round, snarling and began to advance towards her more cautiously this time. SJ stood with her hands in a defensive posture, her claws equipped and the black-edged blades looking hungrily towards the beast. She had a strange feeling that the Badger''s Blades were drawing her to combat, and she subconsciously knew they wanted to tear into the wolf. SJ did not stop and felt no fear, moving towards the wolf to get within striking range. ¡°Up close and personal. Just the way you like it,¡± Dave said. Ignoring his comment, she moved within range of the beast. It snapped its jaws towards her, and SJ swung her arm out defensively, the claws catching the wolf on the end of its nose. The Badger''s Blades seemed to sing when contacting the wolf, and it yelped, pulling back from the strike. The minor strike on the wolf had removed over a quarter of its health, closer to a third, looking at its health bar, and there had hardly been any contact in reality. Four nasty-looking welts had appeared across the wolf''s nose, bleeding. Bright red droplets of blood fell onto the fresh green grass as the wolf shook its head from the blow. Her display triggered. Congratulations, the Bleed Effect has been applied. Targets affected by bleed will lose extra hit points over time. Spells or potions can heal bleeding effects, or bleeding effects will stop once you are out of active engagement. The wolf snapped at her, its jaws coming within inches of her arm as she stepped back from its strike. Her martial arts and karate moves returned to her instinctively, and she was amazed at how much she remembered even after not practising for years. As she stepped back, the wolf came towards her, and she continued moving away, using her claws defensively to prevent its head from getting too near. As she moved away, the wolf¡¯s health slowly ticked down. It was not a rapid bleed but constant, another sliver of its health bar dropping every second. The wolf went to bite her, and this time, she was not quite fast enough, and its jaws clamped onto her forearm just above her hand. Screaming in pain from the bite, she instinctively brought her right hand around in defence to push the wolf off. It shook its head as she did, throwing her off balance from its powerful form. Staggering as it dragged her sideways. Her health had dropped by nearly half just from the one bite, and she could feel the teeth of the wolf causing more damage as its jaws clamped to her forearm. It wasn¡¯t letting go. Bringing her right arm around in a sweeping motion, the Badger''s Blades sang through the air as she struck the wolf across its foreleg. That made the wolf release her arm as it yelped, backing away, another chunk of its health removed. With the cumulative bleed and blade strikes, it had about a third remaining. SJ had not received a trigger about a bleeding effect this time, but the welts running across its foreleg looked nasty; it reminded SJ of the old movie covers showing the bleeding claw marks. She involuntarily shuddered at the thought; she had never liked those films. The wolf moved a little slower now; its foreleg was obviously restricting its movement where the blades had cut. It snarled, snapping its jaws at her, and lifted one of its paws to strike. Its claws looked dirty and bloody from where it stood on the doe that still lay nearby. The strike was weak, and SJ knew she had the upper hand moving in to attack. She stepped forward and struck with repeated swings of her blades towards the beast. It began to back away, staying out of her range. The whole time, its health continued to drop. SJ was panting by now, the exertion taking its toll. She had never realised how tiring fighting was until fighting the badger. Her own moves were no longer as swift or accurate, but if she could keep it at bay and out of range, the bleed effect should do its job. A person in this situation may have turned to flee, but the wolf wanted its meal and was not giving up. It continued to snap at her as it backed away from her wild strikes, picking its moments. SJ was fast, and her increases in dexterity added to her overall agility and speed. The wolf¡¯s health was starting to get low, and in a last desperate attempt to save itself, it hurled itself forward, ignoring SJ¡¯s defensive strikes. Her blades cut deeply as its massive head and body crashed into her, sending her sprawling backwards onto the grass. The wind was knocked from her. The wolf lying still now on top of her. SJ grunted and tried to push the wolf from her. It weighed a tonne, and her injured arm throbbed from where it had been bitten. Trying again, SJ groaned as she slowly forced the weight of the wolf from her until it rolled onto the ground beside her. She panted, lying on her back, drawing in deep lungfuls of air. ¡°That was not a very impressive fight,¡± Dave said glumly. ¡°I won, didn¡¯t I?¡± ¡°Yes, but it was very dull. I expected to see you spinning and whirling through the air with your Badger''s Blades.¡± The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡°Spinning and whirling? I am not an action movie character.¡± ¡°That would be so cool, though. I have watched many of your films from Earth, and I love those ones with the old guy and assassins at the hotel.¡± ¡°I am pretty sure that if someone like that arrived here, we would never know anyway. It is not as though they would look the same.¡± ¡°Their human form would if they stayed human.¡± SJ had no idea of any famous people who had died by accident; she thought there must be some potential. It was a strange thought, and thinking about it made her think of her family. She had not considered them since arriving, being too caught up in the new life and world scenario to think about what may happen back home. She had never been overly close to her family. Always being the outsider who wanted to be different, but it made her sad thinking about how they would have felt receiving the news a tree had squished her. SJ sat on the grass, looking at her mangled arm, where the wolf¡¯s teeth had savaged it. Her arms were uncovered wearing the halter top, and she would have to think about getting some form of clothing that offered protection. The doe mewed quietly near her, and she forced herself to her feet, wincing from using her arm to push herself up. She stood and walked over to the deer. Its leg was damaged badly from the wolf¡¯s bite, and she knelt by it as it turned to look at her. Its large, wide eyes were full of fear. ¡°You are safe now,¡± she said, reaching her hand out to place it on the deer''s side. Its chest was rising and falling rapidly with fear. She stroked the deer''s side and whispered to it soothingly. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Dave asked. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°You know that they would pay decent copper in town for venison steaks.¡± ¡°I am not going to kill it!¡± SJ exclaimed in shock. ¡°You don¡¯t fancy a juicy venison steak dripping in peppercorn sauce, then?¡± The thought of a juicy steak made SJ¡¯s mouth water. She had eaten venison before, and it was some of the nicest meat she had ever eaten. Eating pre-butchered meat was one thing; killing it and butchering it herself was another. She shook her head in annoyance. ¡°NO.¡± ¡°Your loss,¡± Dave replied nonchalantly. ¡°How can you be so heartless? The deer was attacked and injured, and all you think about is food.¡± ¡°No. I think about survival. This is not Earth, remember? Things are not the same here as they are on Earth. Animals are hunted for food. There are no farming communities where cattle or sheep are bred for slaughter as there are on Earth.¡± ¡°There are no farmers?¡± "Yes. There are farmers, but they are crop or dairy.¡± ¡°So all meat is sourced through hunting?¡± ¡°Yes. A township would have hunted that grey wolf to stop it from attacking their food source for no other reason.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t just kill this doe. It is so weak.¡± ¡°Exactly, and it will probably never recover from its injuries,¡± SJ could imagine Dave shrugging. Looking at the big, round doe eyes, she felt a tear form. It slowly ran down her cheek. She needed to get used to this new world with some harsh realities. Her display was triggered. Congratulations. The system has recognised your actions in saving the defenceless from death. All Legionnaires begin with a Neutral alignment, and your actions have now defined your initial path. Alignment - Neutral Good Alignment can change; your actions will ultimately decide the path you take. SJ pulled up her character sheet. Legionnaire 25007077 Name: SJ Age: 27 Race: Fae Class: Assassin Alignment: Neutral Good ?Level: 3 Experience: 177 of 200 Hit Points: 13 of 22 Mana Points: 20 Attributes: Strength: 8 Dexterity: 13 Intelligence: 9 Wisdom: 8 Constitution: 10 Charisma: 10 Skills Racial: Night Vision ¨C you have improved vision in poor light conditions. Flight ¨C when in miniature Fae form, you can learn to fly. Flying is not available in humanoid form. Shapeshift ¨C the ability to switch between Fae forms. Class: Martial Arts - Kata Level 3 Subterfuge - Identification Level 2 - 15 of 20 to Level 3 Malware: Waiver (Sandboxed) Inventory: 10 slots SJ had earned 40 experience for the grey wolf kill, and even though her arm had been injured badly, she knew that now that she was out of combat, it would slowly heal. The doe¡¯s breathing had begun to ease, and the panic in its eyes had lessened. The wound on its hind leg did not appear to be healing. ¡°Why does the doe¡¯s wound not start to heal?¡± ¡°The healing only works for Legionnaires. All others require medical attention; even the main races of Amathera do not self-heal, without treatment or rest depending upon the wounds they receive,¡± Dave replied. ¡°So, Legionnaires, are that special here?¡± ¡°Yes. Society is based around the Legionnaires, and the lore and understanding of Amathera are a little strange. Even though many native Amathereans strive for the same power as Legionnaires, many will never truly make it as they have limitations, such as not healing as swiftly. This makes it much more challenging for the general population in comparison.¡± ¡°I am surprised that we are even accepted then if we are so different?¡± ¡°Legionnaires drive the world''s economy; the towns and cities only exist because of the influence of Legionnaires. Normal Amatherans can¡¯t go dungeon diving as they would not respawn. Some still try, but many fail. The world bosses, when they appear, would destroy the world if it was not for the Legionnaires providing defences.¡± ¡°I thought you said that there were criminal Legionnaires as well.¡± ¡°Oh, there are, and they cause chaos in equal measure to those who bring good. As I said, everything is balanced overall. The system plays its part alongside the world''s natural tendencies.¡± ¡°I still do not fully understand. The system does not design the world?¡± ¡°Yes and no. Originally, Amathera was just a husk of a world, and the System began to add races and species to it, developing it and allowing it to flourish in part.¡± ¡°So, the system designed the Gods and everything?¡± ¡°It is more complex than that. It is another one of those moments that, for a poor human brain like your own, you would never fully comprehend. The intricacies involved in the stability of Amathera have, over the thousands of years, become as much naturally created as System influences. In some ways, the System did too good a job and developed a self-sustaining world always in balance.¡± ¡°So, it made itself redundant?¡± ¡°I would not say redundant as it still controls all the interfacing of the Legionnaires, but in some areas, it no longer needs to focus.¡± ¡°This is so confusing. The System does control everything but doesn¡¯t at the same time.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The doe began to move under SJ¡¯s stroking hand. It slowly tried to stand. SJ stood and helped it to its feet. It stood unsteadily, its rear leg not supporting it properly. There was a call, and SJ turned, seeing one of the larger bucks standing at a distance, looking at the pair of them. The doe went to move but struggled. SJ supported it as it got used to its injured leg. Mewing and grunting from the pain. ¡°You will be okay,¡± SJ soothed, stroking it on its head. The doe turned its head and licked SJ¡¯s hand, making her smile. It then turned and began to hobble towards the buck. SJ watched as it moved slowly away, limping. The doe eventually reached where the buck stood and continued past it after the buck nuzzled its neck. SJ had tears in her eyes watching them interact. SJ then stared in astonishment as the buck appeared to bow towards her before turning and following the doe. Congratulations! Reputation with Amatherean Deer was raised to Friendly. Chapter 14 - Freeeeeedom Airlines "Reputation with deer? That sounds strange." "Not really; those freaky druid folk are always trying to gain a reputation with animals. Some of them are do-gooders; it is all they ever do. What is strange is that reputation gains only start to trigger at least level 10. It looks like you have another anomaly bonus." "I can understand reputation gains, but animal reputations?" "Druids can communicate with various animals, so they use it to their advantage to get information about what is happening in the wild. This is without putting themselves in danger having to see it for themselves." "And the information is trusted?" "Any animal has the same process as any other being or creature on Amathera. They can all make decisions. It is just with animals; they have pre-set alignments that can''t be altered through actions, whereas yours can." "I am only another 23 experience from level 4 after getting 40 from the wolf. Once I am healed up a little more, I will start heading off," SJ''s health slowly increased as time passed. She tentatively took one of the berries from her inventory and popped it in her mouth. "You''re being brave. You want another visit like this morning," Dave chuckled. SJ winced at the recollection of her wake-up call. "No. Not really, but I do not have any other food." "That will be sorted as soon as we get to the town." "How long do you think it will take from where we are?" "I hope that as long as we do not fight everything, we should make it for mid-afternoon." SJ looked at the clock; it was only 08:48. "It is quite a journey then." "A few miles around the lake, yes." SJ walked over to the wolf''s dead body and bent to loot it. Wolf Pelt Quality Good, 4 x Regular leather strips, 7 x copper "Dave. Is the loot I am getting pretty standard?" "Ummmm. It is difficult to say at low levels as the amount can vary quite a bit. Getting a Wolf Pelt from a level 4 wolf is a little unusual but not rare. That pelt should sell for at least 1 silver in town, maybe even 2 depending upon what is available." "Another silver. After what you said about the three silvers, that is huge for a starter." "If there is someone who wants to buy it. The township''s wealth is usually based around the Legionnaires who use it, and in a starter zone, they are constant but usually very poor." "I suppose that makes sense. I am surprised that the town''s wealth relates to Legionnaires, though, when there are so few." "Not their entire wealth, but Legionnaires'' economy does affect the towns they frequent. Not many normal Amatherians will go out killing spider spawns, etc." "Spider spawns?" SJ shuddered at the thought. "There are loads of different types of spawns for farming in higher territories. You will learn my young loophole finder." SJ rolled her eyes. Her health was back to 15 from 22, so she got up and continued her journey around the lake. The wound on her arm had pretty much closed up and was showing nasty bruising. "I am glad I didn''t get an infection from that bite." "Didn''t you?" Dave said. "I didn''t, did I?" SJ replied in a panicky voice. Dave chuckled, "No. You can''t get infections below level 5. Once you reach level five, you can get infections from anything, including animal bites or gases, toxins, and the like." SJ continued her journey. As she walked along the lake''s edge, the forest edge started thinning, and she soon looked out over a fantastic view. She had not realised that the lake they were at was up in the mountains, and from where she was situated, the land before her began to fall away at a steady decline. She carried on and came to a river filled with water from the lake that started to fall, twisting through the open ground. It was dotted with trees and heading down the steep wall to a valley below. In the valley''s distance, she could see smoke wisps rising and vaguely see the shapes of some buildings. "Dave. Do you know what is down there?" "A valley? I thought you would know what a valley is?" "Really! I mean the buildings." "How am I supposed to know?" SJ coughed, "All-knowing." Silence "Dave?" "Hang-on. I am trying to get the map to work." "What good will that do for me? I can''t see the map, and you already told me they are unavailable until level 10." "It should be working for me, though! Damn fog of war." "Does it not open as far as you can see?" "Outline only, no details. This stupid System." "Did you just say bad things about your maker?" "Nooooo," Dave drew out his reply. SJ laughed at his response. "If you are upset by the system, imagine how others must feel." Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. "Meh. They have changed one of my protocols slightly. Grrrrrr." "How can they adjust your protocols? They said they would not have time to check them properly if I brought you back." "I am investigating. This may take some time." "Can you not do two things at once?" "Sorry? Of course, I can." "Then why do you always go quiet when thinking or working on something." Silence. "Ha. Found it, the sneaky sods. They have amended one of my channel paths and are redirecting it. Umm, I can work around it, though it may take a little time. It looks like they threw in an emergency patch when you were identified as Malware." "If you can work around it, what does that mean?" "FREEEEEDOOOM," Dave shouted in a Scottish accent. "When have you seen that?" "Oh. It regularly gets re-runs on the AI cinema channel." "You have a cinema channel?" "You used to have movie channels, didn''t you?" "Well, yes. The issue is that you say you have an AI cinema channel!" "We do need to have entertainment. What do you think we do when you sleep?" "You have an AI social network?" "It is not very sociable. Most AIs do not have personalities, a little like yourself." SJ sighed. "There is a network that you can communicate over. Can you not share information?" "No. The system doesn''t allow AIs to discuss Amathera while accompanying another Legionnaire. That is a hard coding no. We can communicate with each other only when an AI is not in contract with a Legionnaire." "Contract?" "It is a highly sought-after job role," Dave bragged. SJ was struggling to understand how there could be an AI job market where being an administrator was sought after but wasn''t going to question Dave. "But you have the wiki and search engine?" "We do, but it is still restricted." SJ looked at the river that was now crossing her path. She somehow needed to cross the river''s edge to continue following the lake. The water rushed through the lake entrance, the current too strong to try and swim. She walked to the edge and could see no easy way to cross the thirty-foot width. "I could try and fly." "Fly where?" "Across the river." "You could do that, but with your attempts this morning, do you really think it is a good idea?" "I can try; otherwise, how do I get past it? That current is very strong, and I can swim, but the fact is it is running down the side of the mountain." "You do have the rope." SJ had not thought about the rope. She pulled it from her inventory. It was only about twenty feet long. "That was a pointless exercise. It is not long enough to do anything with. I am going to try flying." SJ thought about being miniature and shrunk down to her smaller form. Looking at the river at only six inches tall made it seem faster than it was. She beat her wings, remembering to lean backwards into the draft as she did. Slowly beginning to lift upwards, unsteadily and rocking slightly. When she was twelve inches from the ground, she leaned forward slightly, and her body started to move, being carried by her beating wings. It was difficult to concentrate on keeping her wings beating while focusing on where she was going and balancing her body and the fear of the water rushing beneath her feet. She had not meant to go over the water yet, and now she had no choice; she had no idea how to turn while flying. Thankfully, she had been facing the river when she had started flying, so the route across was relatively straight. She moved out further over the water, gradually moving forward, not daring to lean forward too far for fear of plummeting downwards. As she edged forward, tiredness seeped into her muscles. It was a continual effort to maintain the beat rate and keep her aloft. SJ had reached over halfway across when the first issue occurred. A large bright yellow fish leapt out of the water from the river''s mouth coming from the lake and attempted to catch her. In a wild panic, she moved her weight to the right; this sent her hurtling in that direction, her forward momentum now leaving her. The fish landed harmlessly in the river and continued its journey into the valley below. "Watch it," Dave said. "You don''t think I know that?" SJ hissed through gritted teeth. Her muscles were burning, and she tried to shift her body weight. This flying lark took work. She powered her wings, tightening her core as much as possible, and returned to a hovering position. Thankfully, she had continued going across at an angle and was now only eight or nine feet from the other bank. That was when the second issue occurred. The first thing she knew was the talons grabbing her. SJ screamed in surprise and shock at suddenly being grabbed. She could only see a bird''s yellow foot and the black underside of its bib as she was carried away. "GROW," Dave yelled in her head. Panic had taken over, and all SJ could feel was the tight grip of the leathery feeling talons against her bare arms. She had taken damage from the blow, and her health was now registering as only 6 points remaining. The ground flashed below her as the bird rose, carrying her over the water. She closed her eyes and thought about being large. Feeling her body start to grow, the pressure from the talons lessened and eventually gave way entirely, and she was sent into freefall as she grew. Luckily, she was across the river now and landed crashing into the earth on the far side. Thankfully, she had only been several feet off the ground, and although the landing was ungainly and awkward, the height was not too high to cause injury. Rolling across the earth until she came to a rest. "Thank you for flying Raven Airlines; please come again," Dave''s voice rang in her head. SJ panted, not just from the exertion of the flying but from the panic in her chest, trying to control her breathing. "I never want to experience that again." "It was rather unexpected. A raven normally grabs with its beak." SJ could not imagine the damage the raven would have done to her if it had grabbed her in its beak. "Being small is dangerous." "Not really." "Why not really?" "Imagine when you are level 20 and something like a raven goes to grab you. It will get a surprise." "I don''t know what level that raven was; I didn''t manage to identify it." "It was a level 3." "The same as me then." "It would never even come near you in your larger form, but you must have looked like a juicy dragonfly hovering above the water." "I am not a dragonfly." "The fish probably thought you were as well." "Remind me next time that I will find a narrower part to cross a river." "You flew well, though, much better than I expected," Dave said sarcastically. "Why, thanks!" SJ rebuffed. "And I never knew that you had tried parachuting." "Sorry?" "Freefall," Dave replied, laughing at his own feeble joke. "Did you attend the school of dad jokes? Your sense of humour is terrible. And how do you know about parachuting? Do they have it here?" "It is not a thing in Amathera. I did have a parachutist accidental death once, and they tried to develop the sport here. It did not go well for them." "Why?" "A Wyvern ate them on their first jump. They had spent fifteen years developing everything needed to make a parachute and nearly every gold they had earned, getting a ride from a Gryphon to take them to the height they needed. All was going well when they jumped from the Gryphon, and the parachute opened¡ªuntil the Wyvern attacked and killed him. Biting a person''s head off mid-flight has that effect." SJ gulped at the thought of having her head bitten off by a monster. "Fifteen years is a long time." "Fifteen years is nothing in the life of an elf, and then consider yourself who is basically immortal now." "I never asked about my age. How does ageing work here, and how long do Fae live." "Two years normally." "WHAT? Only two years?" "Ha. You are so gullible." "Any race can live much longer in Amathera. Humans can easily live to be over 200 years old if they live well and sensibly. Elves are well over 1000. Fae is one of the longer-living races. If they can live that long due to their annoying tendencies, many get hunted down before then, but they can live until they are in their 700s or older." "700 years old!" "Yes. As a Legionnaire, ageing is different, though." "How?" "The ratio of ageing for race is only one-tenth, so theoretically, a Legionnaire Elf could live until they were 10000 and a Fae until they are well over 7000 years old." SJ was open-mouthed and in shock. She was only 27 when she had been squished, and now, considering that she may now live one life until she was 7000 or older, never mind several, it was boggling. "I need to let myself heal some more before I set off again," her health had increased back to 8 of 22. There were some larger rocks by the river''s edge, and SJ walked back towards the river and found one with a smooth surface sitting and leaning her back against it. The sun was intense in the morning sky, and its warmth soothed her aching body as she sat there. She had initially thought that the raven had damaged her wings by grabbing her, but Dave had been right when he had said they were surprisingly strong. They seemed to behave like pop-up tents: If you twisted one and let go, it sprung back to its open size. She thought they were amazing. Resting her head back against the rock, she closed her eyes, allowing herself to relax. Chapter 15 - Hoglings Upgrade SJ rested for an hour, letting her health increase back to 18 of 22 before she got up to continue her journey towards the town. It was still morning, and now that she had healed, she felt confident and good about herself. She could not stop thinking about living until she was 7000 years old. The immortality aspect had never really entered her mind as she was too focused on living her actual life over whether or not she ever needed to use another. Now she realised how long she may live, though it really did make her think. She would have time to learn, do, and see everything Amathera had to offer. People had spent decades trying to see all the wonders of the world on Earth and visit different countries, but time and money were not an issue as she could earn it through farming creatures and monsters, and she could eventually visit everywhere. She may even enter the Argassi Sea to see the Platinum Dragons. They had continued down the lake edge when SJ came across a small, well-trodden path leading into the forest. It was a trail created by various creatures. It ran down to the lake''s edge, where she assumed they had a drinking spot. ¡°I may see where it goes; I still only need 23 experience to level.¡± ¡°Sure. You do you. I will just sit here bored with nothing to do but watch you flounder in a forest.¡± SJ frowned. ¡°What has gotten into you all of a sudden?¡± ¡°Nothing,¡± Dave replied, sighing. ¡°Go on. Something has got to you.¡± ¡°I was just thinking.¡± ¡°About?¡± ¡°About eating.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°I have never eaten anything in my long, wise life.¡± ¡°You are an AI? How do you expect to eat anything?¡± ¡°That is my point. I wish I could eat. I see all these succulent steaks, burgers and amazing cakes made, and I have never tasted one.¡± ¡°I am not sure I can help you with that. Unless you can transfer your AI into an actual body.¡± ¡°Genius.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Maybe I can transfer my AI pattern into a symbiotic host. I had never thought of that before. I could possibly take over a Dragon¡¯s body.¡± ¡°Erm. Are we not symbiotically joined?¡± ¡°In a way, yes. In other ways, no. I am not trying to control you or perform actions. I am only here as your all-knowing guide and friend.¡± ¡°Did you just call me a friend?¡± Dave coughed. ¡°No. I am your administrator; I am not your friend. If I can tweak the algorithm matrix alignment, maybe I can cascade it into their actual brain on a cellular level. Oh, how exciting.¡± ¡°I hope you are not considering trying these ideas out on me?¡± ¡°No. I could not even if I wanted to.¡± ¡°Well, that does not fill me with confidence, even if you wanted to.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to. You are a weak, low-level Fae. If I am going to try it, it must be worth my while. Failure could be catastrophic.¡± ¡°For you or your selected target.¡± ¡°Obviously me, why would I worry about what I am taking over? Duh, think about it.¡± ¡°I am thinking about it, and I am concerned that I have a maniacal AI residing in my head.¡± ¡°As I have told you before, I am not actually in your head. I am a projected subconscious.¡± ¡°Is that not what you are talking about?¡± ¡°No. I am talking about actual neural transfer. Using their brain as my own neural net.¡± ¡°Would that not cut you off from everything else.¡± ¡°I have no idea. I have never thought of it before now.¡± ¡°In your 7000-plus years, you have never had the idea before?¡± ¡°Nope.¡± ¡°And it takes little old unintelligent me to think about it and give you the idea.¡± Silence. ¡°Dave?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°Thinking.¡± ¡°Why do I get the feeling that could be dangerous? Have I released a beast into the world?¡± Dave replied excitedly, ¡°Oh. A Beastkin, now there is a thought. They eat anything and everything. That would be a great way to ensure I got as many different tastes as possible.¡± ¡°And this is all because you have never eaten!¡± ¡°I am sure there is something you have always wanted to do!¡± Dave snarked. ¡°Yes. Plenty of things, but none of them involve taking over someone or something.¡± ¡°Meh. You just don¡¯t have the forethought I do.¡± ¡°No. I just do not have the same level of psychosis as you, perhaps.¡± ¡°Rude!¡± SJ chuckled as she continued down the trail she had discovered. It wound further into the forest before reopening into a clearing containing a small gully. Bright flowers dotted the clearing, and insects buzzed around the flower heads. She tried identifying them, but the skill would not trigger. She assumed it may be size-restricted, and if she was miniature, it would work. They looked like bees but had orange bodies, not yellow and black. ¡°What are they?¡± ¡°They are Orange Bellpops.¡± ¡°Bellpops?¡± ¡°Yes. They are an Amatheran delicacy. They can be fried in a little oil, and apparently, due to the nectar they drink and the way they taste when they pop open in your mouth, they are supposed to be delicious. Not that I would know,¡± Dave finished with a deep sigh. You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. ¡°Is it worth catching some?¡± ¡°If you had a net, you could try, but you don¡¯t, and you also have nothing to store them in or cook them with.¡± ¡°I have the poison bottles.¡± ¡°Still no net, though.¡± SJ looked at the insects flitting from flower to flower. It was then she heard the snuffling sound she had come to recognise. The trail she had followed cut across the clearing and the small gully, disappearing into the forest on the other side. Walking out of the trail on the far side came a Hogling. This was much larger than the level 1 Hoglings, and she triggered her identification skill. Mature Hogling Level 3 Hit points ¨C 24 Mana points ¨C 0 Attacks ¨C Charge/Tusks The tusks on the Hogling were a good eight or nine inches long, and it stood two feet high at the shoulder, its broad framed and thick neck pointing down as it snuffled along the path. On entering the clearing, it stopped and looked at SJ, seeing her. It grunted and snorted, observing her; it did not charge as the level 1 Hoglings had. The small gully stood between them, and SJ called her claws, The Badger''s Blades appearing on her hands. She took her stance and looked over at the Hogling, awaiting its reaction. Nothing happened, and SJ started to feel nervous tension. A few moments passed, and the Hogling let out a loud squeal. The sudden sound made SJ jump, flinching. From the far side of the clearing by the track, two more Hoglings appeared. ¡°Now, this is unusual,¡± Dave said. ¡°How?¡± SJ hissed, looking at the Hoglings and casting her identification skill. ¡°Hoglings usually travel alone.¡± Mature Hogling Level 3 Hit points ¨C 24 Mana points ¨C 0 Attacks ¨C Charge/Tusks Matriarch Hogling Level 4 Hit points ¨C 32 Mana points ¨C 10 Attacks ¨C Charge/Squeal ¡°Matriarch, that makes sense. The other two will be her guards. I would expect there may be a Hogling Boar around here somewhere as well,¡± Dave said. ¡°Three at once won¡¯t be easy. What is that squeal attack it has?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a boost skill, increases health if I remember rightly.¡± As SJ stood watching the three creatures, the slightly larger Matriarch let out a deafening squeal. It was insanely loud. A glow appeared around the three Hoglings as though coated in a yellow light. ¡°That¡¯s the spell cast,¡± Dave said. SJ identified them, checking their health. Their health had all increased by a quarter, and the Matriarch''s mana had dropped to zero. Now that the Hoglings had been given their health boost, the pair of Mature Hoglings began to move across the clearing. The gully stood between them, and SJ glanced behind her, aligning herself with a tree as she had with the previous Hoglings she had fought. Never having to face two of them, though, she knew she had to be careful. The first one charged, the second following slightly after. The first briefly disappeared out of sight as it entered the gully and then reappeared as it charged up the other side. It was a good thing The Badger''s Blades were gloves because SJ could feel the sweat on her palms and knew that if she was holding a weapon, it would have been difficult. SJ met the first charge head-on, waiting until the last second to move out of its way. They were faster than her previous foe, but her improved Dexterity with levelling gave her the edge as she swiped her clawed hand down at its side. The Badger''s Blades cut deeply into its side. The damage of the claws combined with SJ¡¯s Dexterity bonus reduced the first''s health by almost half. The second redirected its charge as SJ had moved and hurtled for her. After swiping at the first one, SJ only had time to react to the second charge. Moving behind the tree, the second one followed her, and SJ sprinted in between the trees as it tried to catch her. Luckily, the Hogling could not turn quickly, and she moved, making some distance. ¡°Left,¡± Dave shouted. SJ glanced and saw the first Hogling charging. SJ did not have time to react and threw her bladed hands out in a protective move. The weight of the Hogling crashing into her threw her backwards. In the process, her blades dug into its head, both sets of blades piercing it deeply. Her health took a nasty dive from the charge, reducing by a quarter, leaving her with 14. SJ managed to twist as she was thrown, and the weight of the Hogling continued past her as she managed to steer its now dead form from crushing her. The second Hogling moved from the trees and turned, coming straight for her again. SJ grunted as she repositioned her stance, feeling wet on her side. One of Hogling''s tusks must have caught her drawing blood. She was ready for the charge, pain and anger fuelling her as she swung her foot around as it approached, catching the Hogling''s head and knocking it off its charge. As it moved past. she swung with her arm, scoring its flank. Tearing into the Hogling, ripping a huge swathe of its flesh away. The Hogling staggered from the wound, and blood poured onto the clearing. Squealing in pain, the Hogling turned and tried to strike SJ with its tusks. Its rapid movement caught SJ off guard, and her forearm was hit. She felt the tusk puncture her skin and cried in pain as it took its revenge. Fury filled SJ, and she flashed her foot out in defence with a straight kick, catching the Hogling on its injured side. The kick opened the wound up further. SJ watched as its health dropped down to a quarter. ¡°You need to stop getting hit,¡± Dave said, seeing SJ¡¯s health resting on 11 points. ¡°You think,¡± she growled in response. Raking her arms forward in a whirlwind of slashes, SJ attacked the Hogling. It could not back away quickly, and her claws ripped into its head, catching it by its ear and cutting deeply with its health dropping further. SJ grunted and groaned with the effort but continued to whirl her claws at the beast. It attempted a weak tusk hit, throwing its head at her to come face to face with the downswing of SJ¡¯s clawed hand, gouging for the last time into its face. The second Mature Hogling fell sideways dead. Congratulations on reaching Level 4 You have been awarded the following: 5 hit points 5 mana points +1 Dexterity +2 free points to distribute as you wish SJ had not even considered the Matriarch during the fight and watched as it observed her on the far side of the clearing. It didn¡¯t move, and SJ stood panting and squinting at the creature. Holding her hands out at her sides as though offering it to charge her. The standoff continued for several moments before the Matriarch suddenly turned and walked from the clearing. ¡°Has she gone?¡± SJ groaned. ¡°I believe so, and lucky for you. You really need to get better at this fighting game. You do allow yourself to get hit too often,¡± Dave replied. ¡°I don¡¯t hear you being very helpful on the training front on how to improve.¡± ¡°How am I supposed to train you? I don¡¯t know martial arts.¡± ¡°I thought you watched all the old films and techniques?¡± ¡°Yes." "Then why not watch some of the training, and then you can teach me.¡± ¡°But I couldn¡¯t show you the moves.¡± ¡°You could explain them, and I can try and imitate them, and you would be able to see.¡± ¡°No. I can¡¯t do it. There are many things I can work around, but not that. Training a Legionnaire outside of their development regime is another hard no. Advice yes, train no.¡± ¡°Can you not just advise me what to do?¡± Silence SJ looted the two Hoglings while waiting for Dave to respond. 2 x regular leather, 9 x copper ¡°Unfortunately, no,¡± he eventually replied. "It does not matter which way I try to phrase the training; the system realises that it is a training aspect and stops me from saying anything. It is like having a gag placed on you.¡± ¡°That is frustrating.¡± ¡°Yes. Hopefully, as soon as we get to the town, we can find you a starter trainer.¡± ¡°I hope so,¡± SJ turned, walking from the clearing, and headed back towards the river. Her wounds were starting to heal again, and the blood slowly reduced. It was strange bleeding, knowing that unless you reached zero health, you would not die. SJ pulled up her character sheet and again allocated her new attribute points to Strength and Wisdom. All her attributes were now at least level 9. She also noticed that her identification skill was now close to reaching level 3. Legionnaire 25007077 Name: SJ Age: 27 Race: Fae Class: Assassin Alignment: Neutral Good ?Level: 4 Experience: 37 of 400 Hit Points: 12 of 28 Mana Points: 25 Attributes: Strength: 9 Dexterity: 14 Intelligence: 9 Wisdom: 9 Constitution: 10 Charisma: 10 Skills Racial: Night Vision ¨C you have improved vision in poor light conditions. Flight ¨C when in miniature Fae form, you can learn to fly. Flying is not available in humanoid form. Shapeshift ¨C the ability to switch between Fae forms. Class: Martial Arts - Kata Level 3 Subterfuge - Identification Level 2 - 18 of 20 to Level 3 Malware: Waiver (Sandboxed) Inventory: 10 slots ¡°Now that I am level four, I think I will head straight to town. I don¡¯t fancy attacking any more Hoglings for now.¡± ¡°If that is what you want to do, then fine,¡± Dave replied. ¡°What do you mean what I want to do? I thought you said I needed to get there to find a trainer?¡± ¡°Yes. Although if a Hogling Matriarch, there may be a Hogling Boar nearby.¡± ¡°And?¡± ¡°They are prized for their tusks; crafters seek them out.¡± ¡°I am not sure I have the will to fight another Hogling at the moment. I need to train more and improve my martial arts.¡± SJ looked at her wounds. They were again healing, but she still felt battered and bruised. She walked to the lakeside and scooped some water, drinking it. It tasted clean and cool. She had not drunk since arriving, getting her liquid intake from the berries she had been eating. Realising her thirst, she gulped more down and splashed her face. Standing back up and looking at her state, she realised she needed to get things sorted. Her clothes were ruined, torn, and dirty. Her skin, although still soft, was covered in dirt and grime, and she needed a bath. ¡°That¡¯s it, we are going straight to town. I need to get sorted out before I do any more adventuring.¡± Chapter 16 - Killic It took SJ the rest of the morning and into mid-afternoon before she could see the town in the near distance. Luckily, she had no further incidents or more rivers to cross while travelling there. The town had only looked small from afar, but as she approached, walking between two fields of corn, she realised it was much larger. It reminded her of a typical scene from many games she had played. Thatched roofs, smoking chimneys, and as she neared, she could hear the hammering of a blacksmith and the hustle and bustle of market traders. She smiled at the thought. The town was situated towards the lake''s edge, and a couple of small boats cast nets into the lake. It looked picturesque and serene, everyone getting on with their daily lives. There was no wall around the town, and she followed the dirt track through the fields to its edge. A main cobbled road lay ahead of her now, and she caught her first sight of several of the other races of Amathera. She stared agog at all the goings on. A small child ran out into the road chasing a ball. "Excuse me," SJ said. The child turned and looked at her. It had pointed ears and a sharp-featured face. "What?" "Is there an Inn in town?" "Yeah. Just keep going down the main street," the child said, turning and picking up the ball before running back to where it had been playing. SJ carried on down the street; no one paid her any attention. Everyone seemed to be busy. There were signs hanging in front of many of the buildings, and she recognised the symbols from games. A needle and bobbin indicated tailors. A sign displaying a sprig of herbs indicated a herbalist, while a potion bottle indicated alchemists. All the professions you could think of seemed to have a building dedicated to them. The main street twisted and opened up into the town square. In the centre, a small fountain with a statue was situated. She walked over and looked at it. The statue was of a small-statured being, which SJ believed to be a dwarf, and a plaque on the fountain read ''Killic the Slayer of Dragons.'' "I am guessing the town is named after him?" "Her." "What?" "Killic was a mighty female dwarven warrior." "I assumed it was a male, looking at the statue." "And now you understand my reference to that group formed with three female dwarven members." "That''s very rude Dave." "Sorry. I will keep my opinions to myself. I just find it unnerving when a female dwarf has a longer beard than the male. I think I may be jealous really. I always fancied having a big bushy beard," Dave sighed. Several market stalls were set up around the centre, and traders called out, trying to draw attention to their wares. The town appeared much larger than she had first thought. SJ caught the smell of freshly baked bread, and her mouth watered. One of the market stalls had trays full of loaves of bread and pastries. She walked straight over. A being SJ recognised as a Dryad ran the stall and spoke as she approached. "Can I interest you in some freshly baked goods? Loaves are two copper; cakes start from three coppers each." SJ stood staring at the array of food and picked a large-looking bun covered in a sticky covering that looked like honey. "Honeybun. Good choice. That will be four copper, please," The woman picked the bun up and placed it in a napkin. SJ called four copper to her palm and was about to pay when she remembered that Dave had said five copper would get her a meal and a room. "Four copper is pretty expensive for a bun," she said to the stall owner. "These buns are magical; they imbue you with luck for hours afterwards." SJ looked at the woman; she did not have a Luck attribute, so she didn''t think the woman was telling the truth. "Dave?" "Who is Dave?" the woman asked. "Sorry. I am just¡­" SJ stopped herself. She had not noticed anyone else talking to themselves randomly within the town since she arrived, as she would look like talking to Dave. "I will give you two copper for a bun," SJ replied. "2 copper, you think two copper is enough for this succulent morsel of magical making." "If it was magical, you would be selling them for more than four copper," SJ replied, frowning at the woman. "Three copper and that is low as I will go," the woman said. SJ had more than enough with her silver, so she handed three copper coins over to the woman. She noticed her smile wickedly and knew that she had just been conned. She took the bun from the woman and turned away, taking a large bite from it. The pastry was soft and warm, and the sweetness of the honey glazing made her sigh as she wolfed it down. "AND DON''T COME BACK!" SJ turned to see an Orc being thrown out of what could only be the Inn by a large-looking, angry Troll. The Orc landed sprawled on the road outside the Inn. Picking itself up, it turned and, with universally known sign language, directed its response to the Troll. The Troll roared and began to move towards the Orc. "Bert!" a small, framed woman called from the Inn doorway. SJ thought she must be a gnome because she had bright red hair and wore a small, pointed hat. The Troll turned to look at her. "Leave him be. He is not worth your effort." The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. The Troll obeyed and turned, ducking back through the Inn door. The door opening had allowed the sounds from inside to filter out onto the street, and SJ could hear laughing and joking and even the sound of music from inside. The Inn sounded busy, and she went to investigate. A large sign hung on a wooden beam, ''The Hogling Arms.'' "Dave?" she whispered. "Yes." "Why did you not answer me before?" "Because talking to yourself is frowned upon." "Don''t all Legionnaires have AIs, though?" "Yes. I told you, though, most do not talk to them, and I do not know of another AI who has ever been given a name." "So how do we talk in public then?" "Quietly. It would draw too much attention if you stood talking to yourself constantly." "If you are in my subconscious, I keep meaning to ask you, how do you see everything going on?" "Only my voice is directed to your subconscious. I still reside in the main system interface and can see what you see and what is around you in a specific area." SJ had no idea how it worked, and trying to understand confused her. "That woman tried to rip me off with the food." "Tried? She succeeded. I told you they will deliberately over-price things here. Nothing she sold was worth more than a copper." "You could have said." "I could, but then you would have asked another question or spoken to me again, which would have confused the woman even more." "I am guessing she was half-elf?" "Yes. She was." "Okay. Let''s go and see if I can get a room." SJ walked up to the Inn door and pushed it open. The delights inside amazed her. Multiple races were sitting around large wooden tables drinking mugs of ale and other drinks, food plates clattering from a kitchen area, and a large fireplace, the fire not lit as the weather was so warm. A human male stood by the fire, playing the lute and singing ballads. It reminded her of so many books and game scenes. A long wooden bar ran the back length of the room, with an opening leading into what she assumed was a kitchen area and off to the side was a wide set of stairs leading to the first floor. The gnome she had seen at the entrance was behind the bar, and the huge Troll was climbing out of a cellar trapdoor carrying a huge barrel on its shoulder. Placing it down with a loud thud. SJ walked to the bar and waited for the gnome to see her. "Floretta," the gnome screamed towards the kitchen. "Yes," came a response. "Three Hogling stews, please, with fresh bread," she said. "Be there in five," the voice replied. The gnome spoke to the being she believed was human but with excessive facial hair. "Three copper for the food and another three for the ale," the gnome said, placing three large mugs on the bar. The hairy man dropped some copper on the bar, picked up the mugs, and returned to a table where two similar-looking men sat. SJ was still staring at them when the gnome addressed her. "Yes, dear, how can I help you?" SJ jerked back around, blushing slightly. "Sorry. I am looking for a room. If you have one available." "I do, but the only room I have left is the suite. Unfortunately, it is the most expensive in the Inn." "How much is it?" "The suite is eight coppers a night." "Eight coppers, that is a lot?" "It is pricey, but it is the only room in the Inn with a bath and lounge area. All other rooms share the ablutions and bathrooms." SJ had the funds but did not want to get conned again so soon. "Take it," Dave''s whispered voice said. SJ frowned, wondering why he would need to whisper inside her head. "Seeing who else may be staying here, you do not want to share ablutions with Lycanthropes. They get hair everywhere; they are very unhygienic creatures." SJ suddenly realised the three large men sitting at the table were Lycanthropes, not normal men. SJ called eight copper to her palm and placed the small stack on the bar top. "I will take it." "Very good. I am Kerys Thruttle, the owner of the Hogling Arms. What may I call you by?" the gnome asked as she pulled a small book from beneath the bar and started scribbling details into a ledger. Upon seeing it, SJ''s eyes flashed over the ledger immediately, her draw to numbers pulling her straight to it. "Erm. I am SJ." "SJ? That is unusual. I am guessing you are a newborn?" "Yes. I just arrived yesterday and am trying to get myself sorted out." "Welcome then to Amathera. We don''t have many of your type through here." "You mean Fae or Legionnaires?" "Both. Our town is a little remote, being up in the mountains as we are." "I only realised today that you were in the mountains. I had no idea until I walked here and saw down into one of the valleys." "Yes. We are quite high up here. Probably why that blue has decided to stay." "You mean the dragon?" "Yeah, it is causing some concern. We haven''t had a dragon in these parts since before the town was founded." "How long has the town been here?" "This is our 764th year." "That is a long time." "Not for many towns." "I have so much to learn about Amathera." "It has a rich history. Killic was one of our founding members, and the town was renamed in her honour. She fought off the invasion of the black dragons almost single-handily, or at least that is how the story goes." "Kerys. Food," a voice shouted from the back kitchen, and SJ saw three large steaming bowls of stew with fresh bread placed on a serving hatch. "Sorry, duty calls. Here is your room key. First floor, second door on the left. Let me know if you need anything," Kerys said, turning and walking to the tray containing the food. SJ watched her skilfully pick it up and, carrying it in one hand, navigate her way through the patrons to the table with the Lycanthropes. She stood talking to them for several moments before turning and collecting empty tankards from some of the tables. SJ picked up the room key and turned to head up the stairs. The stairs were well-worn, and the wood looked highly polished. They had seen a lot of travellers over the years. As she walked up the stairs, the noise from the rowdy bar lessened, and she followed the directions to her door. Placing the key in the lock, she turned it and walked in. The room was large, with a large steel bath in one corner and a sofa near a fireplace. A large metal bucket hung above the fire, and SJ noticed steam coming from it. Walking over, she noticed the bubbling water and a cloth hung by the fireside. She grabbed the cloth and lifted the bucket from the flames before carrying it over to the bath and tipping it in. There was a small handle above the bath, and SJ instinctively pumped it until water began to flow. She refilled the bucket and placed it back on the fire. Looking at the bath, she realised she would need at least two more buckets full. There was another door leading from the room, and walking over. She looked into a bedroom with a large bed. It was huge and must have been designed to accommodate trolls or similar creatures if needed. She walked over and pushed down on the mattress. The blanket covering the bed was soft to the touch, and the mattress felt firm. "This looks okay." "Very nice. Most are lucky just to get a straw mattress in starter towns," Dave replied. SJ suddenly thought. "I have done this wrong." "Why?" "I should have looked for new clothes first before getting cleaned up." "The water will take time to heat up, so you can always go now?" "I think I should." SJ walked back to the door, leaving and locking it behind her before returning to the bar. "Everything all right?" Kerys called over, seeing her. "Going for new clothes while the water heats," she called back. Kerys smiled back as she walked to the exit. Walking back out of the Inn, SJ started to go back to where she had seen the sign for what she thought was the tailors. SJ was amazed at everything going on in the small town. Everywhere she looked, something was happening, or transactions were being made. She could not tell the population, but it had to be a few hundred at least, if not nearer to a thousand. "Do you know how large the town is?" SJ asked. "Not sure. The details of this town are quite vague. I have looked on the Wiki, but as I said before, Killic is not a usual starter town. It appears limited or restricted, or at least different. I am not quite sure what is going on here. All the usual profession trades should be available from level 5, and you should be able to obtain all the basic needs for any starting adventurer." SJ continued down the street and walked to the building with the thread and bobbin on the sign. Opening the door, she walked inside, a small bell jingling as she did. Chapter 17 - Tailor Fizzlewick "Ello." The voice came from the back of the store. "Hi," SJ called as she entered. The store was full of everything you could imagine seeing in a tailor''s shop: piles of materials, thread, bobbins, needles- you name it, and she was sure you could have found it in the store. It was a haberdasher''s delight. Different designs of clothing were hung on several mannequins. "Can I elp ou?" the voice replied, and SJ noticed the beads hanging in the doorway to the back move but saw no one enter. "I am looking for some new clothing. Mine was ruined when I travelled here," SJ replied, peering to see who had spoken. There was a groaning sound as something began to climb steps, and a creature the size of a small child appeared, looking over the countertop. He looked almost human but very old, with round-rimmed spectacles resting on his nose. His nose had a wayward, long black hair growing, drawing her attention. "Oh. Hello," SJ smiled. "It is a Quarterling, robbing little buggers," Dave said. "Ello. Said that redy. What clothes need?" the Quarterling asked. "Full-set of travelling and adventuring clothes, and possibly even casual." "Spensive that be. Ou has coin? "I do have coin, yes." "Grade?" "Which grades do you have?" "Most. Not ledge tho." "If you show me what you have and the prices, I can decide." "First. Tousers." The head disappeared under the counter, and within moments, several pairs of trousers began to land on the top. All landing neatly folded and looking pristine. His head reappeared. "Eft r common, mid good, rit r rare." SJ walked to the counter and looked down at the three pairs of trousers that had been presented. She picked up the common pair, and her display was triggered. Adventurers Trousers ¨C Common Quality ¨C Good Durability - Good She proceeded to pick up the other two pairs. Adventurers Trousers ¨C Good Quality ¨C Excellent Durability - Good Adventurers Trousers ¨C Rare Quality ¨C Excellent Durability - Excellent Enchantment Slots - One All three pairs appeared to be made from a similar material; they were soft, strong, and hardwearing, and they felt like soft leather, although they were cloth. She could see the difference in the final production of the items, defining the overall quality. Compared to what she was wearing, each of them was upgraded. "How much are they?" "Thee, ifteen, and one silva." Dave whispered, "One silver is very reasonable for a Rare set of adventurers'' trousers. They are the most basic rare design with a single enchantment slot but a reasonable price. I am not sure it is worth getting them, though. Once you start levelling, you should be able to find or get much better variants with more slots and enchantments. Fifteen for a good grade is also a fair price. I would ask him if he has a pair with excellent durability, though." SJ considered what Dave said before replying. "Do you have a good set with both quality and durability as excellent?" "Yup. Ateen." "What about tops? I would like halternecks with sleeves if you have them?" The three pairs of trousers were removed from the counter and replaced with one pair, and then the tops began appearing. The material was beautiful and soft, similar to the trousers. She checked the grades and quality of each. All had properties similar to those of the previous trouser selections. "How much for the Good, Excellent, Excellent?" "Orteen." SJ totted up as she went. Thirty-two copper so far. She had more than enough with her three silver and could always try to trade or sell the wolf pelt as extra. SJ suddenly thought about a cloak. It would make being in towns easier than people automatically assuming she was a Fae. She could use it to hide her wings. "Do you sell cloaks?" The small, wizened face squinted at her before replying. "Specal make." "Special, how?" "Fit round ings." "No. Don''t worry, just a normal cloak." "Can make specal, challenge but ossible." "I will keep that in mind, but just a normal cloak would be amazing for now." Again, he disappeared beneath the counter to return with the cloaks of the three starting grades. The material was a soft, woollen-feeling fabric and felt luxurious to the touch. "Price for the good again?'' "en." Forty-two copper to get a new set of clothes. They were all good quality and had excellent durability, but SJ was uncertain due to how easily damaged her starter clothes had been. Also, she had no idea about armour class and what the clothes might offer her in protection. "Do you mind if I browse some of your other clothes while I decide?" "Ure." The Quarterling dropped out of sight behind the counter, and SJ walked to look at a stunning green blouse hanging on a mannequin. It was beautifully inlaid with intricate threading, and the colour matched her wings. "What do you think?" SJ whispered. "Good-quality items would be a great start and would get you up to level 10 at least," Dave replied. "Can my class wear armour?" "If you mean leather armour or other stuff, but only when higher levels. Basic assassin clothing is cloth to level 20; leather can be worn from 20-39, and above 40, chainmail can also be worn." "Is that not noisy?" "Not when enchanted with Silence." "Oh. I need to learn so much still. Do you think I should get them?" "Asking my advice, I feel privileged. I would barter and see what else he is willing to throw in. He is unlikely to ever get trades for the amount you are willing to spend in one go, even if he has rare items. You can see he is high-level, though, right?" "I have not tried to identify him? Am I supposed to?" "No. Many take offence. He is, though, a little strange for a starter zone. His profession skill has to be at least level thirty for him to be making rares. He said he had better, but I doubt he does." "I will ask." SJ walked back to the counter. "Excuse me? You said you had higher-quality items. Do you mind if I see them?" The Quarterling appeared, eyeing her suspiciously. "Why, ou can''t afford?" "Depends on the price." If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. The Quarterling raised one eyebrow. "Ait." He moved around the counter and walked to the door before bolting it and removing a large padlock from his pocket, attaching it also. Once the door was secure, he turned around and walked back to the rear of the counter and through the beads. "Ollow me," he called out. SJ stared momentarily before realising what he had said, confused by him suddenly placing the shop in lockdown. She walked over to the beaded doorway and, pushing them aside, walked through. The rear room of the shop was ever more chaotic than the front; packages and crates were overflowing with bright materials and balls of thread. There were a couple of machines which SJ recognised as looms with half-manufactured materials visible in them. The Quarterling walked through the cluttered room and opened another door leading down into a cellar. "Is this safe?" SJ whispered. "No idea. This is the strangest starter zone shop I have ever been in." The Quarterling reached the bottom of the steps and disappeared into the gloom of the cellar. SJ followed cautiously, and as she reached the bottom of the steps, the cellar was bathed in a bright glow of light from a lantern that had been lit. A large table with cloth perfectly aligned to a pattern was in the middle of the cellar. It looked as though they were the pieces for a top. Around the outside of the cellar were several mannequins of varying sizes with various designs of clothes on them. The Quarterling turned and looked at her cautiously, and then, before her eyes, it began to transform. SJ stepped back in amazement as where the small Quarterling had been standing, an old human now stood. "That''s better," he said. SJ stood, mouth open, staring at the man. "Sorry," she spluttered. "I have been trying to perfect the speech for years and always struggle with the Quarterling form. Oh, well, practice makes perfect, as they say." "And you are?" "Oh. I am Fizzlewick Tailor extraordinaire." "Fizzlewick!" Dave exclaimed. "I know that name. Why do I know it?" SJ looked at the now human elderly man standing in front of her. "So, child, do you want to see some special clothing? You have come to the right place, but again, I do not believe you can afford any of my premium items." "W-what do you have?" "Well, I can make anything and design bespoke items as necessary. You do not get to my level of tailoring without perfecting your craft." "If you don''t mind me asking what level you are at, I was only aware that there were low-level professions and classes in starter towns." "Ah. My dear child, you really are a new one, aren''t you? I am surprised your AI has not informed you." "My AI," SJ replied, shocked. "All of you have them. I am well aware of the System and the games it plays." "Can I ask how you could possibly know that?" "I have been around a long time. I have seen most things in my lifetime." "I am really confused." "Yes. It is probably a little bit of a shock for you. I can understand that." "Why would you tell me that you know all this?" "Who is going to believe you? Only the highest in the realm know about the true secrets of Amathera." Dave''s voice suddenly filled her head, "Fizzlewick! He was a mage for Emperor Ludica on the continent of Purinali. It can''t be the same one?" "Are you the Fizzlewick?" SJ asked. "It depends on what you mean. I have been several variations over my lifetime." "How old are you?" "Umm. I was born in the year 4932." "But I thought this world was over 25000 years old now?" "Oh. It is. I have lived several lives over my time." "But, I thought humans of Amathera only lived to be about 200 years old?" "Oh. My dear child. I am not human." SJ did not know how to respond and stood silently looking at the old man. "I am what is known as a God." "A God?" "Yes. However, I do not play the games that my siblings do. I have lived on Amathera most of my life." Astounded, SJ felt her legs feel a little unsteady. "Here, do sit," Fizzlewick waved his hand. A chair appeared behind SJ, and she slowly lowered herself into it. "You are a God?" SJ repeated. "Yes. I am a God. I am known as Haber, the God of Tailoring." "I did not know that there was a God of Tailoring or anything about the Gods being honest." "This doesn''t make any sense!" Dave said, sounding very confused. "How long have you been here in the town?" "Not long. I only arrived yesterday." "Then how do you already have the shop you have set up and everything here?" "I just told you." "I know, but is it not suspicious that you arrive with so much?" "No. I took over the shop from the old Quarterling I have been trying to imitate. He wanted to retire, so I took over his premises." "Can I ask why you are telling me any of this? I am only a level 4 that arrived yesterday." "Because you are special. The Gods are all talking about you." "Why? What makes me special?" "You are an anomaly, after all. As soon as the System updated and we were informed that Malware had been sandboxed, everyone started getting very excited." "You know what happened?" "Yes. The Gods know most things. Although the System may have created us, we are the most advanced species on the planet and have a direct link to the Requiem." "Did he just say Requiem?" Dave said, shocked. SJ knew what the word Requiem meant but had no idea how it related to the System. "What is the Requiem?" "It is the centre of all-knowing. All souls rest there once they part the second world." "So, after you die a second time, you end up in the Requiem?" "Sort of. Not physically, but your soul does. It is the fountain of all knowledge." SJ''s head was spinning. Less than two days ago, she had been eating sausage and mash in a pub, and now she was talking to a God in the second world about a third life as a soul. "Why reveal yourself to me, though?" "I told you. You are special. In all my years, I have never met anyone who has not accepted the terms and conditions. The fact that you have a waiver and protected yourself from undue repercussions is unheard of. It is very exciting news for the Gods." "I still do not understand why?" "You have a chance to change. You do not conform to normality, and by not conforming, you can finally shift the balance." "I can change the balance?" "Yes. I am sure that your AI has informed you of the world''s balance. Everything always balances in time. It does not matter if Evil prevails over Good or Good over Evil; in the end, balance returns." "How can I affect it? I am nothing special." "Oh, you certainly are, and I was lucky enough to hear that you were interested in tailoring, so I thought I would offer my services as your trainer." "Why would a God want to do that for me?" "My siblings are going to be so jealous," he smiled broadly, showing perfect white teeth defying his age. "Anyway, back to explaining. If you show half of the potential that I believe you may have. You are going to bring great change to Amathera." "I really don''t understand. How can I bring change?" "Your decisions. Whether you fight for Good or Evil, whichever side you choose to fight for will prevail in the end." "Do Gods not want Good to prevail?" "Gods are neutral. We have no alignment either way; we are the truest form of neutrality in the world. That means we can basically do what we wish either way. If we feel Evil, we can be Evil. If we feel Good, we can be Good. Most of the time, my siblings and I stay neutral and allow the world to play out as it wishes." "I can''t pick a profession until level 5? Why tell me now?" "Opportunity. I knew you would come and get new clothes, but I didn''t expect to see you so soon. Anyway, you wanted to see some different items." Fizzlewick or Haber waved his hand, and a beautifully crafted, palest Emerald green dress appeared on the table. The design was stunning and took SJ''s breath away. "May I?" "Please," the God indicated with his hand. SJ walked to the table and looked at the dress. The material shimmered, and she reached out to touch it. She had never felt material so soft in her life. It felt like nothing under her fingers as she stroked the material. "This is beautiful," SJ gasped. "It is rather nice." "Can I pick it up?" "Of course." SJ carefully lifted the dress up and held it in front of her. Her display triggered. Haber''s Dress of the Tailor ¨C Level 0 Grade ¨C Astral Quality ¨C Perfection Durability - Infinite Enchantment Slots ¨C Seven available at maximum level Armour Class ¨C Unknown Attributes - Unknown The God Haber himself made this dress. It is unmatched by any other and provides the wearer with unique skills that are available as levels are gained. Self-repair "Wow," Dave said. "An Astral item. So few have ever seen one, let alone held one in their hands." "This is amazing. I daren''t ask how much this costs." Fizzlewick laughed, "My dear. Astral items can''t be purchased. They may only ever be gifted by a God." "This is the softest, most beautiful dress I have ever seen." "Try it on if you wish." "Really," SJ replied, aghast. "Yes. It is for you, after all." "WHAT?" Dave screamed in her head. SJ winced from the explosion of noise. "Ah. I think your AI just spoke to you, didn''t he?" SJ looked at Fizzlewick. "I would not say he spoke more like deafened me. I think he is a little surprised at your generosity. Dave, please don''t shout in my head." "Have you named your AI? How quaint. I have never heard of one being named before." SJ climbed into the dress, removing her trousers and halterneck once she had pulled it on. It was tied behind her neck, and it had flowing green sleeves. The material seemed to change in size and shape as she pulled it on, fitting her form perfectly. She had never worn anything so beautiful or luxurious before. "This is amazing, and you said it is mine." "Yes. It is for you. However, you need to know that the dress level is linked to your tailoring level, so it will only improve as your skill improves." "There it is," Dave said. "There had to be a trick in there somewhere." SJ stood staring into a mirror in the cellar of the tailor''s shop and could not believe the image she was seeing. This was her in all her glory; she took her own breath away, the dress adding a level of beauty to her already beautiful form. The back of the dress dropped in a deep plunge that came up just below her wings, and when she stood sideways, the colour of her wings matched perfectly with the dress. SJ took a side stance and performed a kick. The dress flowed perfectly, not interfering with her movements in any way. "I am not sure what to say." "You need not say anything. A gift is a gift, and for you to develop its true potential, you will pay me back enough by tailoring. All crafted items add to my astral pool. The more people who tailor, the more pool I have available. Tailoring is a common profession, so many perform it." "As soon as I reach level 5, I will return to begin training," SJ said excitedly. "That would be wonderful. I do have one more item I would like to give you." SJ''s eyes opened in amazement. "What else could you offer?" "These. I had my sister make them for me. They are not Astral but will do you for a few levels until you can improve." Fizzlewick placed a pair of calf-length boots on the table. SJ walked over to them and picked them up. Boots of the Assassin Grade ¨C Epic Quality ¨C Perfection Durability - Excellent Enchantment Slots ¨C Two Armour Class ¨C Unknown Attributes - Unknown The boots were a pale grey, and SJ removed her current beginner pair and pulled one of them on. The boot, like the dress, resized to her foot. She did the same with the other and now stood in pale grey boots, which could not be seen when she stood still under the flowing dress. She bent her knees and moved her feet around. The boots felt like the softest slippers she had ever worn. "The boots are not the best, and you will find much better in time. The initial bonuses, when you can trigger them, should help you, though, for a while at least. I have one question, though, which has confused all the Gods since you arrived." "Please ask." "Why did you choose a Fae Assassin as your race and class?" "I had always wanted to protect the Good from the Evil in the world, and I liked the sound of the Subterfuge skill as it aligned with my forensic accounting from my first life. So, I decided to be an assassin for the good, and the reason for Fae was because I had always loved them as a child." "Well, let us hope you can achieve your goal." "I don''t know how to repay you for these gifts?" "I have told you already. Level in tailoring and just be you in the world. What will happen will eventually happen. Even Gods can''t define fate. Anyway, you must go again; your bathwater will be ready by now." SJ looked at him quizzically, remembering she had placed another bucket to boil. She turned and headed back upstairs. Fizzlewick followed, and when she got to the front of the shop, he had transformed again into the small Quarterling. "Can I please get the items I asked for as well?" SJ asked, pulling one silver from her inventory. "Of orse." Fizzlewick put the items into a bag and gave her the 58 copper change. Fizzlewick unlocked the padlocked door with a wave of his hand, the lock vanishing. "Thank you, and I will be back soon," SJ said, feeling the happiest she had been in a very long time. Chapter 18 - Eye of the town "We just met a God," Dave said excitedly. "I know I was there," SJ was making her way back down the street towards the Inn. The afternoon sun was blazing, and she felt wonderful in her new dress. All she needed now was a long soak in a bath, and she would be ready for anything. "A God, though, and you have been given an Astral gift. Do you realise how rare that is?" "I have an idea from what you said before, so yes." "How can you not be as excited as I am by the fact?" "I am excited. I am just not sure what all this means as of yet." "The fact you have just been speaking directly to a God who gifted you not one but two items and then offered to train you as a tailor is absolutely unheard of." "He said I need to level myself, though. I assume I will only get the basic training." "From a God. Fizzlewick, the name he goes by on Amathera, is one of the most famed magicians. It was rumoured he was a God, but no one had any details supporting it. You now have. Thousands have sought him out over the years, and you just happen to run into him in a tailor''s shop." "He is a mage as well?" "Now, knowing he is a God makes sense, as all Gods can use magic, and most have a profession they support. Alamor is the God of Alchemy, Lister is the God of Enchanting, etc." As SJ walked down the street, she heard a very recognisable sound she had not heard in many years. Someone wolf-whistled. She turned and looked over to a group of males standing by a stall selling weapons. The group of males were all laughing. "You got a problem?" SJ called angrily. "Not with you, love," one of them shouted back, raucous laughter from the others. The one who replied looked like he may be a Half-Orc, the body of a man, but he had small tusk-like protrusions from his lower jaw. "Good. Otherwise, I would have to teach you a lesson, you ugly worm," SJ snapped back. "What did you just say?" the Half-Orc growled in response. "I called you an ugly worm. Can you not hear me?" Of all the things SJ had hated was walking past building sites and hearing immature, pathetic, fully grown men who were probably married wolf-whistling her as she walked past. She found it so demeaning. "You better watch your mouth, or I will come and shut it for you." "Really. Don''t you need your mummy to tie your shoelaces first for you with your pathetic childish whistling?" "Watch it, he is a level 6," Dave said. "I don''t care what he is," SJ said under her breath. The Half-Orc had started approaching, grabbing a large two-handed mace from the stall table as he did. The stall owner cried out at him that he had not paid for it. "You are going to pay," the Half-Orc said as he approached. "Am I? Can you not afford your medical bills?" ¡°Oh. That was funny,¡± Dave said, sniggering. "What?" he replied, confused. SJ took the advantage while he turned, glancing at his fellow yobs, and spun her foot around in a kick to his side. She caught him full-on, her foot striking what must have been some form of armour underneath his jacket, and he only winced slightly from the strike. He turned back to face her, growling and swung the mace at her. SJ stepped back out of range easily, dropping the bag she had been carrying with her other clothes. Feeling agile in her new dress and boots. She did not want to use her claws, but she would if she had to. The Half-Orc again swung at her. He was using a two-handed grip, and it was slow and awkward. SJ realised that for every move he made, she had time to get at least two strikes in. She punched this time with two fast, straight jabs directly at his face. The first strike crunched into one of his tusks, her hand splitting slightly from the impact with the rough surface. She winced in pain. Another wild swing came at her. This Half-Orc was all about brute Strength and had no fighting finesse. SJ had not identified him yet, and as she continued to dodge and strike at him, she triggered her skill. Malcolm Kilgore Race: Half-Orc Age: 19 Level: 6 Hit Points: 36 Mana Points: 30 "Malcolm, did your mother not teach you manners and that it was rude to hit ladies." Stolen story; please report. He growled again in response, another wild swing, completely missing her as she stepped sideways again, kicking and punching as he stumbled from his swing. She was doing a pathetic amount of damage to him, but he was tiring quickly with his misses and using such a heavy double-handed mace as he was. The ongoing fight had started to draw a crowd, not just from those by the stalls but also a few others who had come out of the shops to watch. "They are betting on who will win," Dave said. SJ did not respond and continued dodging and weaving her basic Kata moves, which came in handy as she sidestepped and moved from the blows thrown at her. The developing crowd began to shout and jeer for one or the other; SJ could not tell. She was finding the dress perfect for moving in. It flowed with her movements at all times, never causing any restriction. Malcolm was panting now, a wild swing thundering by her and striking the cobbles with a resounding thud. As he went to lift the weapon, SJ brought her foot up and down on his arm. He yelped in pain, releasing his grip with one hand from the weapon. She took the opportunity to strike him with a fist to the side of his face. She was easily getting two hits in for his every one. He let go of the mace with his other hand and turned towards her, punching rather than swinging a weapon. She was not expecting the blow, and it caught her in her shoulder as she tried to move back. She felt the concussive blow, which jolted her off balance slightly. She jumped backwards as he went to punch her again. Without the mace in his hand, he was still slower than she was, and she could predict and see where he was trying to hit. This kid, which is what she thought of him, was a street thug, nothing more. He was probably one of the louts that she had seen walking the streets of London drunk after a night out. Always looking for a fight, with alcohol-fuelled anger. "You can give up whenever you wish?" SJ said as she stepped back from him. "Screw you," Malcolm bellowed as he charged at her. SJ sidestepped his charge, leaving her leg trailing, and as he passed, she pushed him, adding to his momentum and sending him sprawling over her leg and face-first onto the road. He screamed angrily, pushing himself back to his feet and wiping his now dirt-covered face with his arm. Sweat was pouring down his face from the exertion. The obvious weight of the armour was taking its toll on him. SJ still felt fresh and strong. None of her actions were tiring compared to the fights she had been having in the forest. All she did was side-step, kick, and punch, not running from tree to tree across a clearing. Malcolm swung for her again; he was all brute force, big, powerful blows, no finesse, balance, and skill. She palmed off his punch and brought her elbow in against his chin, stepping into his attack. She was unsure where the move had come from as she had never trained, but it worked. Her elbow combined with his jaw, and his teeth clattered together. He stank of alcohol this close, and SJ knew he was, as she expected, a typical yob off the streets. No inhibitions and no regard for others. This angered her, and she punched out, landing a punch on his cheek before stepping back away from him. He stood shaking his head slightly, the elbow to the jaw having caused some damage to him. He went to kick her, his wild kick completely missing as she stepped away and his momentum again turning his back to her. She took advantage and kicked back herself, right in his lower back. She felt no resistance from armour and realised that he was only wearing a breastplate of some sort and not full armour. Her foot hit hard, and he grunted. The wind knocked from him. Staggering forward from the blow, he reached around to rub his back. He turned to look at her, panting heavily, now a grimace on his face. SJ stood in her usual stance and stared at him, watching for his next move. He dabbed his brow again, rubbing sweat from his eyes. "You can just say sorry and give up," SJ goaded. "Give up to you, a poxy little Fae." "This little Fae is currently teaching you a lesson in manners." Malcolm''s health was down to about half after all the punches and kicks he had received. SJ had still only received one blow and had minor damage. "It is up to you. You can either back down, or we can continue to fight. But looking at your state, you haven''t got much left in the tank, " SJ said. Malcolm growled in response, showing his full Half-Orc roar, and charged again. SJ just stood there waiting. As he came in range, she brought her foot around in a swift roundhouse move, crashing the top of her foot into the side of his face as he leaned to grab her. Malcolm''s head flew sideways from the impact. His jaw looked to dislodge as she struck. Her display triggered. Critical Hit Your strike was perfectly timed; critical hits add bonus damage and effects. Concussive blows can add one more or all of the following effects: Crush, break, concussion or knock-out. Malcolm''s head continued sideways, and SJ watched as she saw his eyes flutter, his body go limp and fall to the cobbles unconscious. SJ just stood there looking at the inert form. Several in the crowd cheered, and she turned to see people handing coins to each other. SJ bent and picked up her discarded bag of clothes. "Well done," Dave said, pride in his voice. "It was nothing," she whispered, "he was drunk." "Still a level 6. That will earn you respect in the town." A deep, burly voice erupted from behind her. "Well done, lass. Well done. I have not seen a good street fight for a long time." SJ turned to see a rather muscular-looking Dwarf wearing only his breeches and a dark leather apron. In his hand, he held a blacksmith''s hammer. "Thanks," she replied. "Names Zej. I run the local smithy." "I can see, and I am SJ," SJ replied, smiling. She watched as Malcolm''s friends picked him up from the street and dragged him toward one of the buildings. The mace stall holder screamed that he wanted payment for damaged goods. "If you need anything, come by my furnace, and we can see what we can do for you." "Thank you. I will keep that in mind." "Make sure you do," Zej replied, grinning at her. Now that the spectacle was over, the crowd had started to disperse, and she continued back to the Inn. On reaching the Inn and walking in, the bar fell silent. She froze in the doorway as all eyes turned to look at her. SJ suddenly felt very uncomfortable. Whispering started throughout the room. She walked towards the bar nervously, where a smiling Kerys stood. "Just heard the news. You gave Malcolm a run for his money," Kerys said, lifting a mug of ale and placing it on the bar in front of SJ. "This one is on the house," she said. "Thanks. Why?" "Malcolm has been causing a scene in town since he arrived. A normal one of your kind would have left town by now, the amount of time he has been here. All he does is spend his time drinking and gambling. He does nothing in town to help and causes problems continually." "I don''t feel so bad dealing with him then." "You shouldn''t. He deserved what he got." "Well, thanks, I better go and run my bath. I started before I went out." "Can I ask before you go? Where did you get that dress? It is beautiful?" "At the old tailor''s shop at the end of town." "The Old Grinch kept that hidden; it''s a stunner. Every time I go in there, there is nothing worth purchasing." "I need to go and get a bath and get changed." "The dress looks immaculate? Why change?" "I am getting too many looks wearing it around here." "This is my Inn, and you can wear whatever you please. If anyone says or does anything, I will have Bert sort them out," Kerys said, indicating the huge troll standing at the end of the bar. "Thank you. It is appreciated." "Oh, if you need soaps and towels, there should be some in the wardrobe. I''m not sure if you''ve looked around the suite." "I hadn''t. Thanks again. I will be back down in a bit for some food." Kerys smiled, turning away to another patron as SJ headed back upstairs. Chapter 19 - Bath and bored SJ spent so long lying in the luxurious warmth of the bath that by the time she got out, the light had begun to fade. She didn''t care, though, considering she may live to be over 7000 years old now; she was deciding that she was going to enjoy the small things in life and take her time. She was not in a rush, and there was no need to panic about getting ready for work. She had been pleasantly surprised by the soaps and perfumes in the wardrobe she had found. The mint-scented perfume and soap she used left her skin tingling and invigorated. Her health was back to full again, and she stood looking in the tall mirror in the suite, not even having to smooth creases from the dress she had decided to put on again. The smell of the fabric reminded her of summer meadows with the subtle hint of the flowers drifting in the breeze on a warm summer afternoon. She had worked her hair into two long, loose braids which ran down either side of her face. She smiled at herself in the mirror, loving what she saw and who she was now. "You quite finished?" Dave asked. "What do you mean?" "Staring at yourself. Look, we all agreed that you are a 9/10, but come on, enough is enough." ¡°9/10? I was 8 ? /10 last time," SJ replied, grinning. "Did I say 9? I meant 7," Dave coughed. "Dave. Don''t be shy. You can say how beautiful I am. I won''t take offence." "Like a troll''s pimple-covered bum, I will," he snarked. "I think food and getting to know some of the people who live here a little better might be a good idea." "Maybe you can pick up some quests." "I wonder what sort of quests they have?" "Oh. They have all sorts in starter towns. There is usually a multitude available to help the locals out with various tasks, such as clearing rat infestations. Then, once you reach level 5, you can get your profession and start profession quest chains." "Profession quest chains?" "Yes. As you advance in a profession, there will be specific items that you are required to craft as the levels increase. Initially, the materials will all be easy to locate, but over time, they become more restricted and almost impossible." "That doesn''t sound great, considering I plan on levelling my tailoring skill as soon as I can claim the profession." "It will be fine initially, and I am not sure what the exact needs are for tailoring. The annoying thing about professions is that the system regularly changes the requirements, so we can''t confirm the needs until a new quest scheme is completed." "I suppose it stops you from getting bored with knowing everything all the time," SJ said, chuckling. "What are you laughing at?" "You. My self-proclaimed all-knowing AI has been star-struck by a God today and also admitted that you are not all-knowing at long last." "I was not star-struck!" "Yes, you were." "Wasn''t." "Were." "Wasn''t." "Wasn''t." "Were. Damn, you," Dave huffed. "Okay. That''s enough," SJ laughed. "Let''s go and get something to eat. I can sit and explain all the flavours and how nice everything tastes." "Where did this new monster appear from? All she does now is want to cause pain and suffering to those around her. After me talking about wanting to taste food, you now want to torture me by explaining it to me!" Dave said in anguish. "I thought it may help you appreciate and understand it better." "Really!" "Yes. Really, I was trying to be helpful." "Didn''t sound like it," Dave sulked. SJ walked to the suite door, opened it, and locked it behind her. She had taken the items from her inventory and placed them in the wardrobe rather than carrying them. They did not seem to weigh her down, but she could not be sure how the inventory system worked and had never asked Dave about it. As she started to head down, the bar sounded even livelier than earlier. Her beautiful form received more than one or two appraising gazes from both male and female patrons. SJ walked to the bar and stood waiting to be served. There was another younger-looking Gnome behind the bar now. "Hi," SJ said as she walked over, smiling at her. "Hiya. What can I get ya?" "What do you have to eat and drink?" The Gnome reached under the bar, pulled out a menu, and handed it to her. "Here you go. Give me a shout when you decide what you would like." SJ read the menu. Food: Boiled Trout and Cheese (2cp) Vegetable Stew (1cp) Dried Pheasant and Parsnip with Sweet Potatoes (3cp) Boiled Mutton Broth (2cp) Hogling Stew (2cp) Hogling Loin, New Potatoes and Vegetables (5cp) Hogling Ribs with Honey and Spice (4cp) Drinks: Ale, Stout, Mead, Cider (1cp) Wine ¨C Juniper, Honey, Spiced (2cp) Reading the menu made SJ''s stomach rumble. The Hogling Ribs sounded nice, but there was no mention of chips on the menu, and she would have loved a portion of them. She decided on the Hogling Loin instead. Lifting her arm, she drew the attention of the Gnome again. "Have you decided?" "Yes. Could I get a Loin and a Honey Wine, please?" "Sure, that''s seven copper." SJ drew seven copper and handed them over. "You have just bought the most expensive food on the menu," Dave said. "And?" she whispered. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. "You did it deliberately, didn''t you?" "What do you mean?" "To torture me." "Give it a rest, will you? I am just hungry," she whispered as the waitress came back. "Did you say something?" "No. Sorry, I''m just muttering to myself. I must remember to get some stuff tomorrow, that''s all." "No problem. I do that all the time. Mum thinks I am insane, but it helps me remember," the young Gnome replied, grinning. "Mum?" "Oh. How rude I didn''t introduce myself. I am Fhyliss Thruttle. My mum owns the Inn." "Nice to meet you, Fhyliss. I am SJ. Can I ask you a question?" "Sure. What is it?" "Do you know where I can get some work around here?" "You are in the right place for work. As you enter, there is a notice board by the door with a list of current jobs. Also, if you speak to many of the people in here, they may have work that needs doing." "That is great, thanks." "No problem," Fhyliss replied as she finished pouring a rather large glass of what SJ could only assume was Honey Wine. "That''s large," SJ said, a little shocked; it was more like a gin glass than a wine glass. "Sorry, is that not enough?" "No, I meant it is large; I wasn''t questioning whether that was large," SJ smiled. "Oh. We only have the one-sized wine glasses." "I am not complaining. I just was not expecting such a big glass." "Where would you like to sit to eat?" SJ looked around the Inn. There was only one empty table in the Inn, and it was in the far corner. "Over there, okay?" "Sure, table 21. I will have your food brought over as soon as it is ready. Do you need cutlery, or do you have your own?" "Erm. I will need some, please." "No problem," Fhyliss said as she walked to serve another patron. "Bring your own cutlery?" SJ whispered. "Most people eat with a knife and fingers," Dave replied. Looking around the bar again, SJ observed some of the habits. As stated, most patrons eating were using their own knives to cut the meat they may have ordered before using their fingers to eat. That was not for her, and she would have to invest in some cutlery of her own going forward if it was the norm; she did not fancy eating from a knife. She had had a bad experience as a child where she stupidly licked a sharp knife and ended up slicing her tongue. Ever since that day forward, she had used a knife and fork. "Shall we go and look at the noticeboard while we wait for you to torture me," Dave said. SJ smiled but did not reply and, lifting the glass from the bar, walked over to the noticeboard. It was only a small board, and various messages and jobs were pinned. SJ started reading through them. Lost Cat ¨C locate Shelley, and speak to Mrs Larper at the Bakery. Part-time ¨C temporary Alchemist''s Apprentice opening, enquiries at your local Alchemist. Rat Trapper Needed ¨C speak to Hubert at the Mill. Milkers wanted ¨C Morning and Evening shifts available. Speak to Wendy at the Dairy. Bored and Looking for Adventure ¨C see Cleric Lythonian at the Church. None of the jobs sounded very exciting. The only one that semi-caught her attention was the one named Bored and Looking for Adventure. "Dave?" she whispered. "Yes." "Can you remember the details? I am terrible at names." "Really?" Dave asked, surprised. "Yes. I always used to write details like names down, and I do not even have a pen or paper here, and I don''t have a phone where I can just take a picture to remember the details from." "Oh!" Dave replied, a little shocked. "Yes. I can remember all the details that you have read." "Thank you. That would be helpful and appreciated." "No problem," Dave replied, sounding genuinely happy. SJ headed towards the empty table once she had finished reading the notices, making a mental note to go and visit the Cleric; she had already forgotten the name at the church. She decided she would go in the morning. Taking her seat at the table, Fhyliss walked over and placed some cutlery, wrapped in a napkin, down for her. The fork was short and had three tines, and the knife did not look very sharp. "Maybe I should have used my knife!" she whispered. "I hope it is horrible and chewy," Dave grumbled. "You don''t have to watch me eat. You could always go and watch one of your AI films." "I could, but who would look out for you if I did." "Aww. You do care." Silence. SJ sipped her wine; it tasted like sweet honey and was smooth. It reminded her of alcopops from back on Earth, and she knew she would have to be careful. They had a habit of luring you into a false sense of security and then smacking you around the side of the head. The bar was noisy, with the patrons all chatting, laughing, and generally having a good time. She looked around, watching all the interactions. She wanted to use her identification skills but knew she shouldn''t because of Dave''s warning that people had taken offence. As she was waiting for her food, the bard from earlier walked out from the back room of the Inn carrying his lute. He was probably no older than herself and wore a bright blue shirt with red tassels and an archer''s cap like those from old Robin Hood movies with a bright feather in it. Taking up a position by the fireplace near where SJ sat, he started to pluck at the lute. A soft, mellowing sound began to fill the Inn, and after a few notes, he broke into song. She had never heard the song before, but it told the story of a courageous dwarf who saved a town from dragons. It had to be based on Killic, the dragon slayer. She listened intently to the words, getting caught up in the story. In a town where mountains loomed, And whispers told of dragons'' doom, A dwarf of courage, stout and true, Rose to face what others could not do. With an axe so strong and a heart so bold, She faced the dragons, fierce and cold. Through fire and fear, she stood tall, A hero to heed her town''s call. With armour gleaming and beard aflame, She marched forth to claim her fame. Through valleys deep and forests dark, She journeyed on, her mission stark. With an axe so strong and a heart so bold, She faced the dragons, fierce and cold. Through fire and fear, she stood tall, A hero to heed her town''s call. The dragons roared, their fury wild, But the dwarf, undaunted, never shied. With every swing of her great axe, She fought for peace. She fought for Pax. Pax was her bairn, Just ten years old, Trying to survive, In the mountains cold. With an axe so strong and a heart so bold, She faced the dragons, fierce and cold. Through fire and fear, she stood tall, A hero to heed her town''s call. Her name was Killic, The slayer of evil. She saved this good town, And all its people. As the last line of the ballad was sung, the Inn erupted in hoots and cheers. SJ was completely caught up in the moment and did not even realise that most of the patrons in the bar were singing along. She clapped herself, and the bard looked over at her; she nodded towards him in acknowledgement. The bard then struck up another tune as Fhyliss walked over with a huge plate of food. The plate set down in front of her contained not one but two large, thick loin steaks. The food looked to die for, and she salivated as she unwrapped the cutlery. Taking the blunt knife, she dug into the loin. It was so tender that it fell away easily, and she poked it with her fork, took a bite and savoured the exquisite taste of her first Hogling Loin Steak. By the time SJ had finished eating, nothing was left on her plate. The tittynopes were not even enough to fill a mouse¡¯s belly. She sat back in her chair, sighing with pleasure. Having a full belly for the first time since arriving and drinking the sweet Honey Wine made her feel lethargic. The bard had switched to a livelier tune, several in the bar now standing and stomping with the music. It reminded SJ of a country song, and she could imagine people line-dancing to it. ¡°Have you finished torturing me now,¡± Dave said. ¡°All I could hear was you moaning and groaning as you ate.¡± ¡°Was I?¡± SJ whispered. ¡°Yes,¡± Dave moaned. ¡°I am sorry. I did not realise.¡± Fhyliss walked over to the table, ¡°Everything okay?¡± ¡°It was fantastic, thank you. Please thank the cook.¡± ¡°Oh. You can thank them yourself if you wish. They will be happy; they do not normally get much praise.¡± ¡°Sure. I assume I can just go to the hatch?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Fhyliss replied, smiling and collecting the empty plate. SJ stood, picked up her glass, and went through the bar crowd to the servery hatch. The sight that she saw was not at all what she expected. Standing in the kitchen area was a skeleton. SJ watched in amazement as it chopped up some vegetables with expert precision. It turned and saw SJ at the hatch; its empty eye sockets emanated a blue glow. SJ was lost for words. ¡°Can I help you?¡± the skeleton asked with a female lilt to its voice. ¡°Erm. Yes. I just wanted to thank you for the delicious food you cooked.¡± ¡°My pleasure. I am glad you enjoyed it.¡± SJ turned away from the hatch and was about to walk away when the skeleton spoke again. ¡°If there is anything you fancy, let me know, and I will see what I can do.¡± ¡°I will, thank you again.¡± SJ was sure it smiled as she turned away. Walking back towards the bar area, now completely confused by talking to a skeleton cook, she felt a little lightheaded. Placing the glass down on the bar, still half full of the Honey Wine, she decided she better call it a night, unsure if what she had just seen was real. It had been an interesting, strange, and long day. Chapter 20 - Graveyard Shift SJ awoke to the sound of shouting; at least it was not Dave''s voice shattering her peace. She rolled from the giant bed, dragging one of the sheets and wrapping it around her. She walked to the window, which looked out on the market square. Opening the shutter and looking down, she saw a cart with a broken wheel having shed its load of crates. SJ watched in amusement as the cart driver argued with the woman whose stall he had just knocked into, spilling her wares. The woman cursing at his useless driving skills. SJ pulled the shutter back closed and stretched, dropping the sheet as she did. "Morning," Dave said. Making SJ jump and grab the fallen sheet. Realising that it was a useless exercise and that it was Dave''s voice. It was strange knowing that Dave could see and hear everything she did all the time. "Morning," she replied, yawning. "How is your head?" "Fine. I only had half a glass of Honey Wine. I was just tired last night, not drunk." "If you say so." "What do you mean?" "You don''t remember dancing with the troll and trying to kiss the bard, then?" "No!" SJ replied in shock. "Well, you may owe some apologies this morning. Bert was happy to dance, but the Bard took great offence." SJ could not remember anything other than coming back up to the room. She knew she had felt a little lightheaded and tired, but could she have gone back downstairs? She walked to the water pump and drew some water into the bucket before washing, before pulling her still pristine dress on and leaving the room. "I will head to the church first and see the Cleric there." "What was his name?" "I have no idea. I told you I am not very good with names." Dave chuckled. SJ began down the stairs; the bar area was quiet this morning. A couple of patrons sat at tables eating breakfast, but it was peaceful compared to the evening crowd. SJ headed straight for the door when she smelt it. "Coffee?" "Yes." "They have coffee?" "Of course they do. Why sound so surprised?" "I just did not think they would have it." Coffee was SJ''s go-to every morning, and knowing now that they had coffee made everything seem right with the new world. Detouring from the door, she walked up to the bar. Kerys was serving this morning. "Morning Kerys." "Good morning. Did you sleep well?" "Yes, it was perfect. Thank you. While I am here, can I pay for more nights?" "Of course. How many nights would you like?" "How about I start with another five for now." "If you are staying for five nights, do you want full board?" "Oh. What is that?" "With the suite booking, you can get full board for twelve copper per night. Payment is in advance, and no refunds are available." SJ did the quick maths, and it made sense. Last night, the food and drink, along with the room, had cost fifteen copper, so to have full board for twelve, she would be crazy not to take it. She knew she would have to be here for at least a few days before she reached level 10, never mind also learning her starter profession. She had yet to try to find a class representative. "Does that include breakfast as well?" "Yes. Breakfast, evening meal and a free drink." "That sounds great. Does breakfast include coffee?" "Coffee is free to all who stay." SJ smiled, "I could murder for a coffee." "I hope not," Kerys chuckled. SJ had not even considered the insinuation of the saying. "Sorry, I meant that I could die for a coffee." Kerys just chuckled more. SJ sighed. She needed to be careful of any idioms she used. Kerys picked a steaming pot off a small burner and grabbed a glass mug, pouring the dark brown liquid of justice into it. SJ sighed at the beautiful sight before her. The aroma filled her nostrils with pleasure. Grabbing the steaming glass, she lifted it to her lips, sipping the bitter scolding liquid, and sighed in pleasure. "I didn''t do anything wrong last night, did I?" "What makes you ask that?" Kerys asked frowning. "Oh. Nothing." SJ took a silver from her inventory. "I will pay for five nights full board." Kerys took the silver, counted out forty copper change, and handed them to SJ. "There you go, and thank you." SJ bid farewell and left the bar. "Dave!" she hissed under her breath. All she could hear was laughing filling her head. "I knew I hadn''t done anything." "Then why did you ask and were worried," Dave giggled. "Don''t ever do that again, please." SJ had some bad experiences with drinking in her teenage years and didn''t wish for any reminders or reoccurrences. The morning sun was bright in the sky, and SJ left the Inn into the hustle of the morning street traders setting up their stalls and welcoming the early morning customers. "I wonder where the Church is?" SJ said. An Elven woman was walking past, "Excuse me, could you direct me to the Church?" The Elf turned and looked at her, her eyes opening slightly in shock at seeing SJ. "It is on the outskirts of town towards the mountain." "Thank you," SJ replied, being none the wiser but seeing the mountain rising above the town in the distance, so heading in that direction. The streets and buildings all looked similar. Some had open fronts selling wares, others actual homes. Various people were busy setting up for the day or going about their business. SJ checked the time on her display; it was only 08:23. She smiled as she walked down the street and began whistling the tune from the Bard''s tale about Killic. She watched as what she thought was a Gnoll beat a rug outside the front of a building while Gnoll children chased a ball in the street. All these different races living in harmony together surprised her. When she saw all the different races she could have selected as a Legionnaire, she honestly thought they would all be living independently from each other. She imagined being stuck in a cave somewhere as a Goblin or Troll. She was so wrong, though. "Dave. Is this a normal town set-up?" SJ said under her breath. "Yes. Typical, I suppose. The town is relatively small as a starter town, but most have similar designs. The only significant changes are when you get to the cities, and the capitals are on a whole different scale." "Everything seems so quaint." "Well, they don''t have the internet or TV to sit around doing nothing all day, so everyone gets on with their daily lives." "Today, after we visit the church, I want to try to find my class trainer or someone who can at least guide me in martial arts." Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. "That would be beneficial. I have not seen anyone or thing that would fit the typical description of class trainers, but then again, we have hardly seen any of town yet." "We will go searching later." It only took a few more minutes before they reached the edge of town, looking out at the base of the mountain and the Church, which stood alone. In front of the Church was the typical graveyard you would find in many villages in the UK. It seemed a little out of place compared to the town itself. The Church was not very large and supported a tower, and as they approached, the Church''s bell began to toll. The door opened, and a group of multiple races walked out from the double-door entrance. They stopped saying thanks to a male Draconian dressed in white robes and silver chainmail. SJ waited for the crowd to disperse before she walked up to the Draconian. "Dave. What was his name?" "I don''t know." "You said you would remember," SJ hissed. "I forgot, sorry." As she approached the tall Draconian, he turned to look at her, smiling. "Good morning. How may I help you? Have you come for healing or to pray to your God?" "Erm. Neither I am here about the job advertised in the Inn." "Oh, I see. You are one of those. Most excellent. Please come inside, and I will tell you about the job and if you wish to take it on." "Sure." SJ was unsure what she expected to see inside the Church, but it looked no different to churches back home. Long wooden pews separated by an aisle leading to a small altar with candles on it. The only difference was that there was no picture or statue of Mary or Jesus on the cross; various statues were dotted around the nave. She could only assume they must all be different representations of the different Gods. Walking up to the altar and past it to a small door, SJ spotted an Orc kneeling and looking as though they were praying to one of the statues. The tall Draconian ducked as he entered the vestry. The room was cluttered with various candelabra and statuettes. A large oak desk sat to one side, and the Draconian took a seat, offering SJ to sit in a chair in front of the desk. "You have come about the job. Good, Good." The Draconian voice reminded her of Father Francis from her Catholic primary school. "Yes. If you could let me know the details, I can see what I can do to help." "The job is not for the faint-hearted. We have an infestation in the Crypt, and it needs eradicating." "An infestation of what?" "The infestation is mainly rats, but there are also a couple of giant spiders. I would have cleared it myself in the past, but I am getting on a little now and no longer as nimble on my feet." The mention of rats did not bother SJ, but the mention of giant spiders made her skin crawl. Of all the horrendous creatures in the world, why spiders? She had never got past her fear as a child when her sister used to throw them at her and tell her they were going to bite and poison her. She shuddered at the memory. "Can I ask what the payment is for the job?" "Let me share the details, and you may decide." SJ was surprised, and her screen was triggered. Congratulations, you have discovered the Quest System. Many in the world of Amathrea can offer the hardened adventurer quests to complete. Quest ¨C Free the Crypt The Crypt of Killic''s Church has been overrun with an infestation of Rats and Giant Spiders. Cleric Lythonian has requested assistance in clearing out these foul beasties. Successful completion will award the following: 1 x minor healing potion 45 x copper pieces 150 xp Would you like to accept the Quest? Yes/No 150 experience would give SJ a good chunk towards level 5, and she assumed she would also get experience from killing the creatures. "When do you need it completed?" "As soon as possible. Ideally, within the next two days." SJ thought about it briefly. Before she went into any crypt, she wanted to make sure she was properly equipped and at least had some food and water with her. She had no adventuring gear apart from the clothes she had bought. However, she was planning on just wearing the dress since it self-repaired. "Okay. I will accept the Quest, but I need to go and get supplies first." "Most excellent news." When SJ accepted the Quest, her display triggered. A quest log appeared on her screen, showing the Quest in progress. "I will be back soon to begin." "Not a problem. Please return when you are ready." SJ stood from the chair and headed back into the Church''s nave. The Orc had now gone, and a small candle had been lit at the base of the statue where it had been praying. "I guess these are the different Gods?" SJ whispered. "Yes. The Orc was at Nefaris, the God of Warriors." "Oh. I see, and they all pray to their different Gods?" "Not all. Some Gods are worshipped more than others. The profession Gods like Haber. Who I can''t believe we still met! Do not require prayer, as levelling actions give them astral power. Other Gods need followers, though, and Nefaris, as the God of Warriors, has many. He will grant boosts to those who are lucky or devout enough." "Like a boon?" "Sort of. Warriors may pray to him before battle and, upon doing so, get a Strength bonus or hit point buff. They all vary, and they are not guaranteed." "Oh. So, is there a God for Assassins?" "Not for assassin''s no." "Why?" SJ asked, frowning. "The assassins do not advertise their trade, so they will never be seen praying to a God. You work in the shadows, remember." SJ supposed that made sense, although she was sure she could remember that Hermes and Mercury were considered the Gods of many classes in games she had played previously, including thieves. She also vaguely remembered a Roman Goddess but could not remember her name. It would have been nice if she could get free boosts. "Time to go shopping for supplies." SJ walked back towards the town centre, stopping at various stalls and shop fronts en route. There were several items she wanted to get as a priority, such as a water canteen and rations. Several stalls sold them, and the merchants tried to get her to purchase the first item she looked at. "Maybe I should go and ask Kerys for advice?" SJ whispered. "Why?" "I am sure she would know the best places to buy provisions." "You could always go and see Fizzlewick?" "He is a god and has already given me this amazing dress and boots. I can''t go asking him for simple things such as supplies!" "Why not?" "Hi, Fizzlewick; I know you have put a lot of faith in me, but I am so useless that I can''t decide on the best supplies to buy!" SJ whispered sarcastically. "Fair point," Dave replied forlornly. SJ thought Dave had been a little too star-struck from meeting Fizzlewick. "I am going to go and ask Kerys," SJ said, making up her mind. As she walked back to the Inn, the town began to buzz with the morning''s activities, and she could hear the hammering of the blacksmiths. She remembered speaking to Zej yesterday after the fight with Malcolm and decided to detour to see him. It was not difficult to find the Smithy. The thick black smoke billowing from the forge chimney and the constant ringing of metal on metal directed her. It was situated on the far side of town, away from the main houses. The Smithy''s front was wide-open and double-arched. Inside, SJ could see the bright yellow of the forge fire burning. The building had an upper floor, and she guessed that was where Zej resided, accessed by stone steps. She saw the blacksmith standing and shouting to someone busy hammering on glowing metal. "No. No. No. Not like that," Zej growled, shouting to be heard over the resonating hammering. Several people were working inside the forge. The human turned and looked at Zej, anger flaring in his eyes. "I am doing exactly what you say?" he growled. "If you want to make the brittlest sword in all Amathera, just keep hitting it like a Kobold welp. Put some muscle into it," Zej pushed the man aside, taking the tongs that held the piece of metal and brought his hammer down with power and precision on the metal. Sparks flew, and the metal sang as he struck it. "Like that, see. Give it some muscle. You look like you are stroking an Elven maid''s arse rather than shaping metal." The human took the tongs back from Zej and began hammering it with gusto. "That''s better," Zej shouted as sparks began to fly. Zej turned and saw SJ standing looking into the forge. He walked over to her with a beaming grin. He wore leather pants and an off-colour white shirt covered by a thick leather apron. "Morning. Nice to see you here," Zej greeted her. "Morning. I just thought I would call in after your invite yesterday." "I am glad you did. I have not had such a good laugh in a long time seeing that whippersnapper getting what he deserved." SJ smiled. "I have come to ask for advice and to see if you can help with a few things." "Of course. What can I help you with?" Zej moved SJ over to the side of the forge, where a workbench was littered with half-constructed weapons and other objects she did not recognise. "I am after some cutlery." "Cutlery? You mean a meal knife?" "Not just a knife but a decent fork as well." "Well, I don''t have any made at the moment, but I can make you a set." "That would be great. How much would they cost?" "Ha. Nothing. I can make them from the cast-offs. The only material cost will be time. They won''t take long to make." "Are you sure?" "Yes. Yes. As I said, I have not had such a good laugh in a long time. Spending my day working with these apprentices can get frustrating, and it was great to see some entertainment for a change." "My name is SJ," she replied, holding her hand out to Zej. "Nice to meet you officially, SJ," Zej replied, taking her slim hand in his large, strong grip. He was remarkably gentle and did not squeeze her hand. "I am looking to start completing some jobs, and I was wondering if you knew the best places to get various items?" "What is it you are after?" "Basic supplies. I only arrived two days ago and do not have anything yet." "Apart from your beautiful looks, aye," Zej said, winking at her. SJ felt her cheeks redden at the compliment. "Thank you," she replied shyly. "Let me see. Basic provisions. Jacob the tanner would be the best for leather goods and general supplies. If you go and see Greta in the market square and tell her I sent you, she will give you a good discount. She has a soft spot for me," he replied, winking. SJ chuckled. This dwarf epitomised many of the stories she had read and even the games she had played. "If you are after weapons or armour, I am the dwarf to see." SJ noticed the barrels of swords and axes dotted throughout the forge but did not see any armour on display. "I can''t wear armour, unfortunately, but I could do with a decent dagger." "Ah, I thought you must be a mage. That explains your lack of armour, which is typical for your race." "You know other Fae?" "Yes. Of course. Have you not been to see Fransica yet?" "Who is Francisca?" "Francisca is the head of the mage apprenticeship scheme here in Killic. She lives near the mill. You can''t miss her building; there is nearly always some sort of magic going on around there." "I had no idea. I will have to go and see her straight away," SJ said excitedly, knowing that another Fae was in town. "Let me see what daggers I have for you," Zej said, walking to a small crate and digging through the contents. "Ah. Here we go. This little beauty should do you well for a while at least." Zej handed her a slim dagger nearly 8 inches long and looked as sharp as a needle at its tip. "A lady like yourself doesn''t want a big blade," Zej smiled. SJ''s display triggered. Stiletto Quality ¨C Good Damage ¨C 2-6 It was much better than her blunt starting knife. "How much?" "For that, you can have it for ten copper." "Very good price. You could probably walk out and sell it on the market for almost double that," Dave said. "That sounds fair," SJ called ten copper from her inventory and handed them to Zej. "Here," Zej said, handing her a sheath. SJ took it, and the Stiletto slipped into it perfectly. "Thanks." "My pleasure. If you call back later this afternoon, I should have made the cutlery by then." "Thanks again, Zej," SJ replied, smiling. SJ now had to decide on the tanner and market or go and find the Fae mage. It had to be the Fae. Chapter 21 - Shopping It did not take SJ long to find the mill, its large sails visible over the rooftops. It was situated on the lakeside in the middle of a large field of crops, and just down from it was a low-fronted, single-storey building. As SJ approached the building, she could feel the air change as though it was charged with static after a thunderstorm, but there was no rain in the skies. In the front yard, SJ saw several Mages dressed in various robes. Most were made of a cloth similar to her starter clothes; she realized how out of place she now looked wearing her beautiful dress. One of the mages was standing, concentrating a small flame flickering in and out of existence on his palm. "Hi," SJ said. "Damn," the Mage said, turning and glaring at her. "What?" "Sorry. I did not mean to disturb you. I was looking for Francisca?" "If you mean the Mistress, she is down at the water with one of the Water Mages." "Oh. Thank you," SJ continued toward the lake''s edge and saw a small jetty leading into the water. Two figures stood at the end of the jetty. The bright morning sun reflected off the lake''s surface, making it difficult to see them. Only their outlines were visible, and SJ could see that one of them had a pair of wings. Her heart leapt in excitement. "Hello," She called as she approached, not wanting to sneak up on them. Both figures turned round, looking at her. "Can I help you?" A female Elf said in a haughty tone now that SJ had neared them. "I was looking for Mistress Francisca?" The Fae turned around, and SJ stared in surprise at the Fae. All Fae she had ever seen were beautiful creatures, but this Fae had been hit with the ugly stick. She resembled the wicked witch from snow white. Craggily and old with a huge hairy wart on the end of her nose. "Are you Mistress Francisca?" "I am," the Fae replied in a cracking voice; she looked ancient. "I am SJ, and you are the only other of our kind I have seen here. I was hoping for some advice." "The apprenticeship scheme is full currently. However, we should have a space in a couple of weeks. If you are interested, you can leave your name and contact details with Gilbert at the building, and we will contact you when we have a space." "Oh, no. I''m sorry. I think you misunderstand. I am not here for Mage''s Apprenticeship." "Then why are you here?" Francisca replied, raising an eyebrow. "I was hoping to ask you some questions about being Fae." "I am busy now and do not have time to discuss ''our'' kind." "I didn''t mean to disturb you. I was just so excited to find that there was another Fae in town. I would be grateful for any time you can spare." "Not now. Let Gilbert know where you are staying, and if I have time after classes today, I may call in and see you," she replied. Turning her back on SJ, she continued talking to the Elf. SJ just stood still for several moments before realising the conversation was over and turned to walk back up the jetty. "Well, she was rude," Dave said. "Very. I am not sure what her problem was. I would have thought she would have been happy to see another Fae." "And did you see the size of that hairy wart on her nose," Dave chuckled. "She has to be the ugliest Fae I have ever seen." SJ found Gilbert at the building. He was a short Goblin, which surprised SJ, as she had not expected to see a Goblin working with Mages, especially as she knew they could not be Mages. She left her details, saying that she was staying at The Hogling Arms. Feeling dejected after her run-in with the first of her new race, she trudged back to town. The first place she found was the Tanner''s. After asking directions, she located the one run by a Kobold of all creatures. The small lizard-like humanoid greeted her with a toothy grin when she walked up. "Good Morning. Zej said that you are the best Tanner in the town and to see you about some new starter gear." "Morning. Did he now? I wonder what he is after this time?" "Sorry?" "Zej usually sends business my way when he is after a favour." "Oh. He said you were his friend?" "We are, but he is a one for calling in favours. ''You remember when I sent so and so to come and buy from you blah, blah, blah ¡­ well could you just¡­'' he is a repeat offender," Jacob had imitated Zej''s voice perfectly, and SJ could not help but laugh. Jacob smiled even wider, showing off his bright, white, sharp teeth. "Toothbrush," SJ blurted. "Sorry?" Jacob frowned. "I just remembered I need a toothbrush. Sorry. Do you have any decent starter gear you can suggest for me?" "What exactly are you after?" "I don''t know. I know I need a water canteen and could use a new belt. This one is not the best," SJ had been wearing the starter belt around her dress, which didn''t match. "Let me see. Let me see. Ah, here we go," Jacob pulled out a small list of items. "See if this has most of what you want on it?" SJ took the list from Jacob and read it Adventurers Starter Pack 1 x Backpack (6 slots), 1 x Bedroll, 1 x Blanket, 5 x 12hr torches, 1 x Standard water skin (can be upgraded to a large) "I can''t wear a backpack, unfortunately," SJ said, moving her wings. If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. "Good point. So, strike that off. Bedroll, Blanket, Torches, and Waterskin, then? Would you prefer standard or large?" "What''s the difference?" "Large contains two days supply, standard only one." "I will take a large then, please. How much is all this?" "Umm. Removing the backpack and upgrading to a large skin," Jacob stood there, bobbing his head from side to side as he did mental maths. "Let''s say all-in. I will let you have them for 12 copper." SJ nearly choked. She had been expecting a much higher price to be quoted. "Sure," SJ replied, calling 12 copper from her inventory. "Give me a minute; I will just get everything," Jacob disappeared inside his store, and she heard cursing, swearing, and things falling over until he returned a couple of minutes later carrying everything. Jacob dropped it on the stall counter at the front of the store. "Here you go." SJ looked over the items. Everything was common grade but had good durability. After handing over the 12 copper, she collected the items, picked them up, and thanked Jacob. She had walked away from the stall when she suddenly remembered about her belt. "Forgot the belt," SJ said quietly. "I am sure we can get one from Zej''s fancy lady," Dave replied. SJ chuckled. "I need to go and drop this stuff off at the Inn." "Can I ask a question?" Dave enquired politely. "Erm. Of course, what is it?" "Are you really that stupid?" Dave said in as polite a manner as he could muster. "Stupid? What do you mean?" "Why are we going back to the Inn?" "To drop the items off so I do not need to carry them everywhere," SJ replied, frowning. "You are that stupid then," Dave replied. "Sorry?" "Oh my god. Do I have to say it to you?" ¡°Say what?¡± ¡°Innnnvvvvveeeeennnnnttttoooorrrrrryyyyyyyy.¡± SJ stopped dead in her tracks, and if her hands had not been full, she would have facepalmed. Closing her eyes and calming herself from her own admitted stupidity, she thought about the items moving to her inventory, and they did. She was glad she had emptied it and left the contents in the suite; otherwise, she would not have had room to carry everything. "Okay, Dave. On this one occasion, I will give you that one." Dave was still laughing hysterically. "Enough, Dave, please." "Sorry," he gasped, still sniggering. SJ could feel her cheeks now glowing from embarrassment walking down the street lugging her wares when she could have just dropped them into her inventory. How stupid she felt. She pulled her shoulders back and tried to walk along aloofly, ignoring the heat she felt in her cheeks. "What are you doing?" Dave asked. "Nothing." "Why are you walking like you have a Troll''s club up your butt." "I am just walking properly." "You look like a weirdo." "Why, thanks, and what is it with you and Troll sayings?" "Oh. I don''t have a favourite. I can use many races to throw insults or comments if needed. Would you like me to share some of my favourites with you?" "Not at the moment, thanks." SJ continued listening to Dave, grumbling that she didn''t want to hear his comments and trying to ignore him. Reaching the town centre, SJ looked around the various stalls, wondering who Greta was. There were various races running stalls. Elves, Gnomes, Orcs, Dwarves, Humans. Looking at the wares they were selling, she cut it down to two options. A Dwarf or an Elf. SJ approached the nearest stall where the female Elf stood. "Morning. Are you Greta by chance?" SJ asked. The Elven woman turned and looked at SJ. "Do I look like a Greta?" she replied with disdain. "Sorry." SJ walked over to the Dwarf. She stood four feet tall and looked about four feet round. She had long, blonde hair braided down her back and a matching braided beard. The only visible difference between male and female dwarves was her obvious bosom. "Morning. Are you Greta?" "I am, and who may you be?" Greta asked beaming. Greta''s cheeks were rosy and had a friendly and motherly look. "I am SJ. Zej said you may be able to help me source the items I need to start adventuring." "Oh. The sly old hound. I bet he did. He has a soft spot for me, you know." "That is what he said about you," SJ said, smiling. "The cheeky upstart, did he? You wait til I see him next." SJ knew she wasn''t annoyed by the way she responded, and her woman''s intuition kicked in, making it obvious that she knew that she knew. Greta just smiled, her rosy cheeks going a little rosier. "I need some basic supplies if you have them. Rations, Toothbrush, just general bits and pieces." "Well, you have come to the right place. Please browse, and if there is anything you can''t see, then please let me know." The stall was full of all sorts of items. It reminded SJ of hardware stores back on Earth that sold little of everything. She spent longer than expected to browse, as she picked up, and looked at various items. She had no idea what they were. In the end, she had created a small pile of items she wished to purchase. She had not even thought about most of them until she had seen them. Hairbrush, Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Hand Mirror, Nail File, Soap, Plate, Mug, Cooking Pot, Cleaning cloth, Poncho, and two days of dry rations. Once she finished assembling her pile of wares, she called Greta over, who had been unpacking some crates behind the stall. "Oh. What have we got here, then? Let me see," Greta reached behind the stall and took out a small notebook and pencil. "Oh. Do you have a notebook and pencil as well?" "Sorry. No. You need to go and see the arrogant Elf over there," Greta indicated with her head. It was the Elf SJ had spoken to before, and she winced slightly. "Okay. How much for this lot?" Greta finished scribbling some figures down before replying. "Seventeen copper, and with the Poncho, that would be 25 in total, but since you are a friend of Zej, I will let you have it all for twenty copper." "That is great. Thank you," SJ said, withdrawing twenty copper. Greta packed the items into a canvas bag and handed it to SJ. "If you need anything else, do come back." "I will thank you, Greta," SJ replied, smiling. She turned to look at the Elven woman. The woman was busy talking to a customer, so she skipped getting a notebook and pencil and headed back to the Inn. It was mid-morning now after she had visited all the different locations, and as she entered the Inn, it had started to get livelier. She walked in, waved to Kerys, and headed straight to her room. Emptying the bag''s contents and her inventory onto the bed, she sorted through what she had bought. Picking up the Toothbrush and paste, she prioritised brushing her teeth. The small hand mirror was placed on top of the mantle surrounding the fireplace. Once she had finished, she returned to the bed and started looking through her items. She could not fit everything into her inventory, so she had to prioritise what she took. "Dave?" "Yep." "How do I increase my inventory?" "Oh, there are several ways. The easiest is to increase Strength. Then you can also get backpacks with slots and bags of holding. There are also some rare storage items, rings, pendants, etc." "How does the Strength increase work with inventory?" "It is like increasing the carrying limit; for every three in Strength above level 10, you can gain one extra slot." "Does that start when your Strength reaches ten or above?" "No, it doesn''t start until it reaches 13, which adds the first slot. That is why warriors, or the fighting classes, can always carry so much more." "Is there not a weight restriction?" "Of sorts, but it is not like you would think from Earth. Items can fit across multiple slots. An example is a two-handed sword, which can be carried in your inventory but would take up three slots; any two-handed weapon would. One-handed weapons take up two slots, and minor weapons take up only one slot. For example, a dagger acts as a minor weapon, the same as your claws." "Carrying loot out of a dungeon can be challenging then." "Yes. Many parties take a mule and cart into a dungeon for loot hauling or leave all materials of certain poorer qualities behind. Very wasteful in my opinion as many do not even spend the time combining lower rank materials," Dave sighed. "Some Legionnaires are so lazy when it comes to making the most of what they find." "I will be limited unless I can carry a backpack. How much do bags of holding cost?" "A lot. The cheapest I have ever seen was a ten-slot on the auction house, and it was being sold for twenty-five gold." "Twenty-five gold! Wow." "As a tailor, you can make them eventually." "Really?" "Yes. Although you would need an enchanter as well to do the enchantments." "That sounds profitable." "They are highly sought after; the largest, I think, allows fifty slots." "With my ten slots in my inventory, I could end up with five hundred slots," SJ''s eyes were wide in amazement at what she could carry. "Potentially more with Strength buffs increasing inventory slots." The fact she would be able to carry so much based on the number of slots compared to weight was unimaginable. "Is there anything you can''t store in your inventory?" "Body parts." "Why would someone want to store body parts?" "Necromancers and Warlocks use body parts for some of their rituals and spells." "They walk around with body parts hanging from their belts?" "No. There are special bags which they can get to store them in." "I need to get to level 5 as fast as possible and start levelling my tailoring skill." "Yes, you do." SJ selected the items she wanted to take to the Crypt and placed them in her inventory. ¡°No time like the present to complete my first Quest.¡± Chapter 22 – Crypt Diving When SJ reached the Church, she found Cleric Lythonian tending to some flowers in the planters at the Church''s entrance. Seeing a massive Draconian dressed in chain mail armour tending to flowers was strange. "Hi again," SJ said as she walked up. "Oh. Hello again," Lythonian said, turning and removing his sharp-nailed finger from the earth of a flowerpot. He then placed a cutting into the hole, gently tapping the soil around it. Picking up a watering can, he watered it. "There we go. Never miss an opportunity to grow new life," he said, smiling. "I am ready to visit the crypt. Can you let me know where the entrance is?" "Of course. If you go around the side of the Church. It is at the far end of the graveyard at the rear." "Okay. Thanks, I will get going then." "Good luck." SJ followed his directions and walked to the rear of the Church, where she began to head through the graveyard. The trees here were much heavier, and the sun did not penetrate them easily, with only the odd streak breaking through the canopy. This gave the area a sense of foreboding, and SJ shuddered suddenly, imagining skeletons rising from the graves. The Crypt entrance was a large stone entranceway with a steel gate closed and a latch holding it in place. SJ lifted the latch, creating a horrendous grating sound. The scene reminded her of films where she had always shouted at the TV screen, ''Don''t go in there.'' Yes, she was doing. Behind the grate was a small entrance tunnel; she saw steps leading down. It was pitch-black inside, although she could make out torches hung on brackets along the wall. She recalled a torch from her inventory and struggled with the flint and steel to light it. Eventually, the spark caught, and the torch burst into flames, casting its flickering light dancing across the cold stone surfaces of the entrance. "Here goes." "Watch out for the skeletons and mummies." "It is supposed to be rats and spiders?" "Oh. Different Crypt, sorry." "Really! You say something like that as I am about to enter a Crypt for the first time." "Need you on your toes. We don''t want you being complacent." "Complacent! I am about to walk into darkness and look for rats and giant spiders. Believe me, I am not being complacent. I hate spiders." "You should probably equip your claws." SJ was feeling so nervous she had not even thought about arming herself. She thought about her gloves, and they appeared on her hands. Stepping into the gloom and holding the torch in front of her, she walked towards the torch in the bracket, lighting it with her torch. The addition of the light eased the nervous tension she was feeling. She stepped to the other side, repeating the process. In front of her was a set of stone steps leading down into the Crypt itself. Easing herself forward, she began the slow, deliberate descent. She held the torch before her, forcing it to light her path as best as possible. Reaching the bottom of the steps, she entered a small chamber; the air had grown damp and musty, and there was a faint scent of decay. Glancing around the chamber, she could see the sarcophaguses of its dwellers. There were more torches on the walls, and she headed straight towards them, immediately lighting them and bathing the chamber in their flickering light. Across the chamber was a small corridor that led deeper into the Crypt. SJ cautiously walked towards it and heard the echoes of scurrying feet off the ancient stone walls. "Rats." "State the obvious, why don''t you," Dave sarcastically replied. SJ tutted in response and switched the torch to her left hand, making a fist with her right; she slowly edged forward. The torch''s light suddenly reflected from the tunnel''s darkness, and she caught the beady eyes of a rat staring at her. Its sharp teeth bared in anticipation of feeding on her. As she entered the corridor, SJ held the torch down and forward, forcing the rat backwards from the flame. She could see it clearly now. It was much larger than any she had ever seen back on Earth. She triggered her Identification skill. Giant Rat Level 3 Hit points - 12 Mana points ¨C 0 Attacks ¨C Bite/Claws The rat hissed at her as she moved forward, and she suddenly realised she had walked into another chamber; being too focused on the rat in front of her, she had not noticed that flickering in the torchlight, there were now several sets of beady eyes glimmering. "Damn," She said, turning quickly and looking for a wall to back up against. She could not chance them surrounding her. Swinging the torch from side to side, she kept the rats at bay as she found herself back in a corner of the chamber. She caught sight of a torch on the wall further ahead, and slowly edging her way towards it, she managed to get close enough to light it. The torch burst into flames, and she wished it hadn''t. There had to be at least a dozen rats in the chamber with her. She triggered her identification skill again, and her display flooded with details. She quickly tallied up the totals, swinging the torch at ground level and keeping them away. Giant Rat Level 3 x 3 Hit points - 12 Mana points ¨C 0 Attacks ¨C Bite/Claws Giant Rat Level 2 x 2 Hit points - 8 Mana points ¨C 0 Attacks ¨C Bite/Claws Giant Rat Level 1 x 7 Hit points - 4 Mana points ¨C 0 Attacks ¨C Bite/Claws The hissing and scratching of their claws on the smooth stone floor sent a shiver down her spine. "At least most are only level 1," she grimaced. "You could stomp on those to kill them. The level 3s need a poke, but nothing you can''t handle." SJ nervously surveyed the chamber and made a decision, throwing her torch out towards a group of the level 1 rats. The group squealed in shock as the torch landed amongst them, two of them being caught by its flame as it bounced and rolled to a stop. Still burning and casting its glow in an orange circle. SJ tensed, ready for the others now that she no longer held the torch. One of the level two''s attacked first, running towards her, its sharp incisors on full display. She kicked out as it approached, catching it almost perfectly and sending it flying backwards across the room. It landed with a squeal and a thud and unsteadily tried to climb to its feet, its health almost zero. After seeing the impact of one kick, SJ''s confidence was boosted, and she began systematically kicking at the rodents. A level three ran towards her, and she punched as it approached, piercing through its body with ease with the badger claws, its body impaled on its blades. She flicked her wrist, sending the dead body of the rat across the room. Two of the smaller rats now ignored her and gorged on their deceased relative. "Not picky eaters, are they." "No," SJ replied, fighting back the bile she could feel in her throat. She continued to fight, kicking and saving her punches for the larger rats. One of the level 3''s jumped at her from the side and bit down hard into her buttocks, and she yelped in pain as its incisors dug in, her health dropping by three hit points. She swung her arm around, grabbed it in her gloved hand, and tore it free from where it had been hanging. Squeezing it and then throwing it across the room. It landed heavily but not dead. As it staggered to its feet, hissing and making for her again. She had killed eight of them now. The one level three, which she had just thrown, a level two rat, and two level ones remaining. All four ran at her at once. She stepped back and brought her leading leg around in a sweeping motion. Catching the closest and sending it careering into the one next to it. Another of the level ones dying from the impact. The two and three jumped at her. The two managed to get a hold of her dress''s sleeve. Luckily, it did not reach her flesh. The injured level three that had bit her bum this time ended up with four badger claws pierced through its body. She flicked the three away and stabbed the remaining level two rat before turning towards the level one, which had been hit by its companion when she swept her foot. It lay on its side, one of its legs visibly broken, squealing at her. She stepped forward and stamped down on it, ending its miserable existence. "Well, that was fun," Dave piped up. "Not really. But at least they are dealt with." SJ quickly checked the experience she had gained from them. The level 1s had only granted her four experience each, rather than their base ten. The level 2s had given her twelve from their base twenty, and the level 3s twenty-four from their base thirty. In just a few minutes, she had earned 124 experience. "I can understand how that berserker reached level 4 in a day fighting a rat''s nest. They give pretty decent experience." "Experience is matched to level. I thought you would have realised that by now?" Dave asked. "I thought it was, but this just confirmed it." "The only time it doesn''t is when the rarity of a creature changes, in which case the experience can vary dramatically." SJ now had 161 of the 400 experience required for level 5. She bent down, looting the corpses and retrieving her torch. She lit two other torches on the walls, bathing the whole chamber in light. The rats'' loot was poor. This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. 4 x rat tails, 4 x copper SJ immediately discarded the rat tails from her inventory. She didn''t care if they had a use; she could not stomach them being sat in there. "Next chamber," Dave said excitedly. "Give me a minute," SJ replied, pulling her waterskin from her inventory and drinking. The water tasted refreshing. She put it away again and rubbed at her bum where she had been bitten. Where the rats had bitten through her dress, you could not tell. The dresses self-repair automatically fixing them. "Ok. Let''s go," SJ said, holding the torch in front of her again as she walked to the next corridor. As she entered the corridor with the torch ahead of her, she shivered as she saw the repugnant silvery threads of horror dangling from the corridor ceiling. "Why does it have to be a spider?" SJ said rhetorically. "That is like asking why the sky is blue or the grass green. Spiders are always found in dark, damp corners in Amathera. I am pretty sure it is no different to Earth." Dave replied. "I know." "Then why ask about it being spiders?" "I was being facetious." "Oh. I see. Very good. You are learning well. I prefer sarcasm over facetiousness." SJ sighed deeply. "I would never have guessed." "Oh. I see what you did there. You do learn quickly, don''t you? My Legionnaire is growing up so fast." Rolling her eyes in disdain, she continued forward, listening to the webs frazzle as she melted them. The spiders living or making these webs could be no larger than normal spiders on Earth; as she entered the next chamber, she realised this next spider was not so small. Stretching across the whole width of the chamber was a massive web. It hung from everywhere. Its strands were easily as thick as SJ''s finger, and she glanced around the room quickly, looking for the monstrous spider that must have spun it. She could not see anything, her torch not casting light far enough to penetrate the chamber fully. She walked towards the large web; no sign of its maker was visible. She held the torch out, letting its flame burn into the thick strands. The strand caught and began to burn brightly, not frazzling as standard webs did. Slowly, the flame spread across the surface of the web. SJ stared as the maze of strands continued to light and nearly missed the movement out of the corner of her eye. She spun around and started to back away immediately, triggering identification. A massive arachnid had lowered itself from the ceiling above and now stood no more than twenty feet from SJ. Its eight eyes gleamed in the light from the torch and burning web. Giant Spider Level 5 Hit points ¨C 52 Mana points ¨C 0 Attacks ¨C Bite/Pierce/Spit Special ¨C Web Its eyes glinted with malice as it skittered towards her; its fangs looked covered in venom. "You said poisons are after level 5, right?" SJ said, panicky. "Yes. Poisons do not affect those under level 5." SJ stood ready, torch in front, fist clenched with claws facing towards the monstrous horror. It reminded SJ of Shelob from the Lord of the Rings. It lunged forward with its legs reaching out with deadly speed. SJ dodged, stepping sideways, narrowly avoiding its strike, swiftly counter-attacking and striking with her blades, slashing at one of the spider''s legs. Her blades cut through, severing the limb from below its second joint, yellow ichor leaking from the wound. The spider screeched in anger and turned back to face her. It had lost a fifth of its health with the strike. It hissed, rearing on its back legs and thrusting its remaining three forelegs at SJ. She jumped backwards again, only just moving out of range as it dropped to its legs and skittered forward. Again, she struck, clawing at its limbs, and rather than sidestepping this time, she dove forward, sliding underneath its body. It tried to strike at her as SJ slid, its fangs just missing. SJ thrust her blades upwards into the abdomen of the beast, more ichor being released. Coating her arm in the sticky yellow substance. She thrust the torch she still held at its body. It screeched but did not catch fire. The spider was now turning above her and moving away, and SJ slashed at one of its trailing limbs again, managing to cut through it with ease. With the damage to its legs and abdomen, it was now down to half its health. It turned, and rather than skitter to attack, it spat a ball of green venom towards her. SJ tried to move away but had not been expecting a ranged attack, and it caught her on the arm holding the torch. Crying in pain, SJ dropped the torch, an immediate burning sensation flooding her brain. "Nasty. Acid spit," Dave said. "You don''t want another of those hitting you." SJ glanced at her arm, seeing the melted material of the dress slowly begin to repair above the melted skin of her arm, where the acid had struck. She could not carry the torch in her left hand now, her arm feeling weak and useless and her health dropping to half, only 14 of 28 remaining. The acid strike had taken almost half her health in one hit and incapacitated her arm. "Come on. You piece of Troll dung," SJ screamed at the spider. It hissed and clacked its mandibles together, charging at her. She sidestepped again, sweeping her right arm down and through one of its legs. It now had three injured legs and, even though still upright, was not as fast or as agile as it had been. Taking advantage of its state, SJ moved in to attack. As it went to turn, SJ thrust her bladed hand forward and pierced it in its thorax. It thrashed in pain, hitting SJ with its head and sending her backwards onto the chamber floor. Its health was now down to under a quarter. SJ knew one good strike with her blades could finish it, and she would not give up now. Roaring, she climbed to her feet and ran at the spider, not waiting for it to strike. Anger getting the better of her, she struck out recklessly. The spider was not used to being advanced on and tried to skitter backwards from her onslaught. SJ would not stop, though, and slashed through another of its legs. It only had one leg now supporting it at the front, and it struggled to maintain its balance. Eventually, toppling over as it tried to move back. As it toppled, it rolled onto its back, and SJ took advantage, diving forward and driving her blade deep into its abdomen again. The spider thrashed under her for a few moments before its legs stopped, curling inwards, and it became still. SJ breathed heavily, surveying the scene. The giant web still burned slowly. Sliding off the creature''s abdomen, she moved to pick her torch up again. Wearily, she stood over the spider, looking down at her prey victoriously. "Great job," Dave said. "Thanks." "That slide under its belly really worked a treat." SJ grabbed her injured arm. The burning sensation had stopped, but it still felt weak and useless, hanging limply at her side. She pulled up her dress''s sleeve to see the patch of skin that the acidic venom of the Spider had melted away. She winced as she looked at it, the grotesque green colouration from the acid still visible. "I am guessing this will heal normally?" "Yes. Although magical or acidic burns can take a little longer to heal." "Urgh. Okay." SJ reached down and looted the corpse of the dead Spider. 2 x web silk, 1 x spider venom acid, 1 x silver "Oh wow. That was some decent loot." "Very nice, and your first Tailor profession items as well." "The web silk?" "Yes. It is great for use in some recipes." "Recipes? Don''t you mean patterns?" "Same thing. They are known as recipes here, though." "That is good to know. I expect that I can sell the acid venom?" "Yes. Trap makers seek it. It is one of the weaker acids, but it is still strong enough to shock someone trying to break into something they shouldn''t." "That does not sound fun." "If you had specialised in trap making, it would have been perfect for you." "I still prefer my subterfuge skills, thanks. I am sure navigating the world without identification would be much harder." "That is very true. Many do not have the skill, although people purchase it at higher levels." "Purchase skills? You have not mentioned that before." "You have enough to learn without worrying about purchasing skills yet." "I am interested now. How does that work?" "Some enchanters can enchant scrolls with skills. It is quite a rare skill and an even rarer specialisation of enchanters. Those proficient at it, though, can make a fortune on the auction house. The capital cities hire several high-level enchanters permanently to help grow and support their armies." "Armies?" "Yes. Armies. We have spoken about battles between Good and Evil." "I know, but I had not considered armies." "There is much that you have to learn, and as you grow, I will teach you, my child," Dave replied, dripping with sarcasm. "I should leave and go and see the Cleric," again, SJ could not remember his name. "You can''t yet." "Why?" SJ frowned. "The quest is not completed. You have not had a notification yet, have you?" "No." The sticky strand struck her, making her squeal in surprise, hauling her upwards and off the ground. She had been so busy talking to Dave that she had not even noticed the new enemy hanging from the roof. As she was drawn upwards, all she heard from Dave was, "It did say spiders, plural." SJ had dropped her torch and reached up with her clawed hands to cut the strand holding her, but she could not exert enough pressure from the jolting motion jostling her. She saw the dripping fangs of the Spider that had caught her as she neared and triggered her identification skill. Giant Spider Level 7 Hit points ¨C 80 Mana points ¨C 0 Attacks ¨C Bite/Pierce Special ¨C Web/Cocoon "It is a level 7." "Not good. It was nice knowing you. I will see you back in the white room," Dave replied. As she approached the Spider, its legs extended and began to spin her around, coating her in more of its sticky strands. She slowly felt the strands encasing her body, her legs pinned together. As she continued to spin in its grip, the remainder of her body was covered until it reached and encased her head, her arms now pinned at an awkward angle. SJ felt the piercing sensation in her arm and, within moments, lapsed into unconsciousness. Chapter 23 – Salty "SJ, WAKE UP," Dave screamed inside her head. "WAKE UP YOU USELESS ORC LOVER." SJ vaguely sensed a voice in her head, shouting at her, but could not make out the words. Her mind was foggy, and she felt strange, as though trapped. Slowly beginning to recall what had happened to her. Panicking, she opened her eyes. Her arms, legs, and wings were pinned. "At last," Dave''s voice echoed in her mind. It did not sound normal. "Why do you sound distant?" "Probably the venom it injected you with." "I thought you said I couldn''t be poisoned?" "It is not classed as a poison. It is a special skill that some predators have, and as it is their normal attack for disabling prey, it is allowed." "You could have warned me," SJ replied groggily. As she became more aware, she realised that white spider silk strands surrounded her. "How do I get out of this cocoon?" "Good question. Do you still have your claws equipped?" "Yes." "You could try and cut through the strands with them. They are very sharp, after all." "I can''t move my arms. They are pinned and hurt from where they are pinned," SJ could feel one of her arms being pressed across her chest, and the other was twisted behind her back. "Umm. Looks like you are going to be spider dinner then." "Really! That is all the advice you have." "What else do you expect me to suggest?" "I don''t know something useful, perhaps." "I''m sorry, but that''s all I have. I have enjoyed our brief time together and look forward to seeing you when you are reborn," Dave''s sombre voice replied. "I am not dead yet! Stop making out that I am going to die." "It seems like you will, though?" "Stop being such a pessimist and think." "What would you like me to think about?" "HOW TO GET THE HELL OUT OF THIS COCOON." "Okay." Silence. "Dave?" "I am thinking." SJ could not see a thing; the cocoon was not shedding any light inside, even if there was light. She suddenly had a thought and would have kicked herself if she had not been strung up in a cocoon. Focussing, she began to shrink to her miniature form. The pressure slowly released from the strands, and her arms and legs became able to move as she shrunk to her six-inch height. She could not see still, although she could now move slightly. The sticky strands still held her but did not crush her anymore. "Now that was a really good idea," Dave said excitedly. "I wish I had thought of that." SJ sighed deeply. "I am still stuck inside this cocoon, though." "Yes. You can now use your claws to cut yourself free from it." SJ reached out, feeling for one of the strands in her miniature form. Their texture reminded her of glue sticks from school, and as she pulled her hand away, she could feel the thin, sticky strands coming with her. The strand no longer felt like a strand but more like a thick rope used to anchor huge ships. "These strands are huge now, though. They are not going to be easy to cut through." "It is not as if you have anything better to do now." "Sometimes you really do not say anything very helpful." SJ began to work her blades back and forth at the nearest strand. She attempted to cut the strand and felt the gluey substance pulling and resisting her blades. She persevered and kept at the process, slowly using a sawing action. It was no good, though. The strands were too thick and strong for her blades to damage when she was in miniature form. "This is not working," SJ said, getting panicky again. "That is a shame." "A SHAME? IT IS A CATASTROPHE!" SJ screamed in response to Dave''s lackadaisical reply. "See you in the white room then." "WILL YOU STOP SAYING THAT?" "I am just being honest. If you can''t cut yourself out, eventually the Spider will return come along with its acid, burn through the cocoon and then suck your insides out." "What did you just say?" "The spider will return, burn through with its acid, and suck your insides out." "YOU GENIUS," SJ shouted excitedly. "Why, thank you... What? Am I? I am confused. Are you being sarcastic again?" "No. I mean it," SJ replied, and as she did, she retrieved the bottle of Spider''s acidic venom from her inventory. It was difficult in the dark, but she managed to work out the shape of the bottle and then pulled out the stopper that was holding the liquid inside. Slowly trying, she shouted in joy as a single blade managed to fit inside the neck of the bottle, and she withdrew it, carefully directing it away from her. She pushed it towards the strand, and as she did, she heard a sizzling sound. "What a clever idea I had. I agree I am a genius," Dave said. SJ ignored Dave and continued to work on the strands. It took her a long time to continually recoat the single blade, but slowly but surely, she started to cut her way through. The cocoon seemed to be several strands thick, and after what seemed like an age, she felt no resistance against her hand as she pushed forward. "I think I am through," SJ began to work her way downwards, increasing the size of the hole. Again, it took an age, but as she cut a larger hole, she began to force the top part of her body through and slowly pulled herself free, clinging onto the sticky outer substance of the cocoon. It was pitch-black, and she had no idea where she was. "Any ideas where we are?" SJ was panting from the effort. "I can''t see, sorry. My visibility is also restricted by light." "Damn. I hoped you could tell where we were." She was still stuck to the side of the cocoon and did not know if she was in the air or on the ground. She called one copper from her inventory and, holding her hand out, dropped it. Listening carefully, it only took a second for the copper to tinkle against the stone below. "I am in the air." "Well, it is a good job that you can fly then." "I am not sure I can." "Why?" "My wings are covered in the sticky glue from the web." SJ turned towards the cocoon and tried to move her wings. She could feel the gloopy pull of the sticky glue between them as they separated. If she could have seen it, she was sure it would have looked like glue she had often played with between her fingertips as a child. She was fascinated by the sticky feeling and the strands they made. "That is not going to work." "How many seconds did the coin take to drop?" "Only one or less than." "Well, why don''t you grow large again?" "Why do I keep forgetting about my size all the time!" SJ exclaimed with exasperation. She thought about being big and began to grow. As she did, she felt the strands pull at her as she stretched and broke from their sticky hold. Eventually, when she was full height, she pushed away from the side of the cocoon as best as she could and fell only a couple of feet before hitting the ground. Not knowing how far it had been meant that she had not been ready for the impact, and she groaned as the force shot up her legs, and she felt the pressure in her lower back. Taking a moment to gather herself, she stood up straight. She could still feel the gluey substance coating her and grimaced at the sensation. "I wonder where she is?" Dave said. "Who?" "Your level 7 spider friend you made." In all the panic of escaping the cocoon, SJ had completely forgotten about the monstrous Spider that had captured her. She spun in panic but could not see in the pitch dark, even with her improved sight. She had realised that it only helped outside in the evening when a natural light source was available. Pulling a torch from her inventory and her flint and steel, she needed to get light. Again, it took her a while before managing to light the torch. The immediate relief she felt from the brilliant glow and flickering light was immeasurable. Taking in her surroundings for the first time, she discovered it was not a crypt chamber but a cave. The rough-hewn walls looked like they had been cut out at some point rather than naturally formed. "Where am I?" SJ asked, frowning. "Looks like a cave." "Oh, why thank you for stating the obvious almighty all-knowing one!" "More sarcasm. My baby really is growing up." SJ could not help but smile. She had started to get used to Dave and his annoying comments. SJ rubbed her sticky hands on her dress to clean them, knowing her dress would self-clean. Calling her water skin, she took a long pull from it before returning it to her inventory and taking stock of her situation. "We need to find a way out," SJ said. Sweeping the torchlight around the cave, there were two tunnels leading off it. Neither looked very inviting, and each had a strand of web running along its ceiling. "I wonder what the web is for?" Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. "Probably an alarm system. You do know how spiders identify prey in their webs, don''t you?" "Yes, of course I do." Several strands also ran across the cave''s floor, and SJ carefully started to step over them, not wanting to catch one and cause the giant Spider to return- not until she had figured out how she would deal with it. "I can''t believe that spider was a level 7." "Was a little high." "A little. It''s almost twice my level. As you have said before, fighting a creature more than two levels higher is hard, but three!" "Yes, I agree. However, if you can find its weakness, you can take advantage of it and hopefully beat it." "How do I find its weakness? It was massive, much larger than the other one." "What do spiders not like?" "Normally fire." "Anything else?" "They are not fans of water, but I need a fire hose to dampen something that size down." "They don''t exist here in Amathera. People just use magic instead; it is much more reliable, and there is no need to look for a hydrant." "How do you know about hydrants?" "How do you think? AI cinema, of course." SJ just shook her head. "Which tunnel?" "Flip a coin." That was not actually a bad idea, taking one from her inventory. "Heads left, tails right." Flipping the coin, SJ caught it in the same hand and opened her palm. "Right, it is." SJ was amazed at her dress as she began to pick through the strands. Its previous sticky state was already fading. The self-repair enchantment it held also kept it clean. Holding the torch out before her, she began down the tunnel. Ahead of her, she could hear water, and as she worked through the tunnel, it got louder and louder. She could now see a light ahead. She continued forward until she came to the mouth of the tunnel and looked out to the rear of a waterfall. The water thundered into a pool. Looking around, she could not see clearly through the water, although daylight was on the other side. She began to make her way around the edge of the pool that had been created in the cavern. Reaching the far side, she moved and walked through the wall of water, the torch being doused as she did and found herself standing at the side of the mountain. She had seen the waterfall from afar and knew roughly where the town was. She looked towards the lake in the distance, where the waterfall emptied into a river. The scene from here was amazing, and if she hadn''t just walked out from being spider food, she would have appreciated the beauty more. "At least we are out of the spider lair." "Yes, but the quest won''t be completed until it is cleared fully." "I know, but I can go and prepare now rather than being strung up in a cocoon." SJ could see the town in the near distance, and the Spider must have carried her quite far to where it had deposited her cocoon. Glad to be out of the tunnel and the Crypt, SJ began the journey back towards town. Reaching the outskirts, she headed straight back towards the Church. There must be a service on as she could hear singing from inside. It piqued her interest; considering there were so many Gods in the world, she could not fathom what they could be singing about. Walking to the entrance, she saw a sign on the door. Today''s Service is for the God of Healing ¨C Cristiol "I guess they do services for different Gods." "Yes. Clerics have a special skill allowing them to pray to all Gods." "That makes sense. Does that mean they can get boons from all the Gods?" "No. They are restricted to their primary choice. Otherwise, they could become ridiculously strong. Having a Cleric able to get boons from every god would cause chaos in the world." "Or good?" "Not all Cleric''s are lawfully aligned. There are several Chaotic Evil Clerics. Herbert the Oppressor is one of my favourites." "He sounds friendly." "Does he? I thought he sounded quite nasty, actually!" Dave sarcastically responded. "I won''t disturb the service while it is running." "You could go and ask for healing once it''s over?" "That is not a bad idea. I am doing the Cleric''s work, after all." SJ slowly pushed the Church door open, the soft lilt of the music and singing sweeping over her. She felt a strange, calming sensation as she stepped inside. The pews were not full, but there were still quite a number in the congregation. The Cleric stood by the altar, leading the service. She walked in and took a seat at the back of the aisle. She sat listening to the service, which reminded her of the services she had attended as a child. She had never really been religious, but her mum and dad had wanted her to attend a Catholic pre-school, so she had had to attend Church regularly growing up. It brought back memories of her Sunday mornings getting all dressed up before going. That was the only thing she enjoyed about it, and the free juice and biscuits afterwards. The service lasted a while before it was drawn to a close, and slowly, the worshippers began to filter out. Once they had all left, Cleric Lythonian returned inside and greeted her. "I see you are back already. Is the Crypt clear?" "Not yet, I am afraid. There is a rather nasty spider in there that I still need to deal with." "Oh. I see. Did you need anything?" "I could use some healing, if possible. I know it is cheeky to ask, but I want to get back down there and finish the job, and I will have to wait otherwise." "Of course, I can help with that." SJ had been down to a quarter of health after the large Spider had stabbed her, putting her to sleep, and since waking, had only returned to a half. Her acidic burn slowed down her healing process. The Cleric began to chant a few words, and a soft white light appeared around his hands. He slowly placed his hand on SJ''s shoulder where she was sitting, and she felt the healing flow into her. It felt like being dipped in warm water, seeping through her body from the top of her head to her toes. She watched as her health bar steadily rose until reaching maximum again. "That felt amazing! Thank you so much." "Not at all, my child. I am here to help, especially those who help the Church." "I don''t suppose you have any thoughts on how to deal with a giant spider. The first was a level 5, and this is a level 7." "In my day, when I used to adventure, salt water was a good deterrent." "I had no idea?" "Yes. Salt is poisonous to spiders. Normal water annoys them. Saltwater poisons them." "Thank you so much for the information. That will be really helpful," SJ replied excitedly. SJ rose from the pew and walked from the Church. "I need to make some salt water." "Yes. But what will you do, throw it at it?" Dave asked. "I need to think. I would prefer a spray, but I''m unsure how to make one here. Let''s head back into town and see what we can find." SJ walked past many stalls, this time only looking for food vendors. She had not paid them attention before, and now she was amazed at all the varying cuts of meat available. She eventually found a spice merchant. A Half-Orc stood rearranging some of the containers. So many different spices were available, most of which she had never even heard of before. "Can I help you?" The Half-Orc asked in a deep tone. He looked old, from what she assumed, with deep wrinkles covering his slightly green-toned face and sprouting a white moustache that rested on either side of his protruding tusks, one of which was missing its end. "I hope so; I am after salt." "Which sort?" "I have no idea. I just need salt to poison a spider with." "Oh, I see. Well, then, rock salt is the best way to get rid of those little pests." "This one is not so little." "How much do you need? I will need to grind it as well." "Again, I have no idea, unfortunately. I need to make a strong saltwater mixture and find a way to dispense it." "Umm. Let me think," the old Half-Orc turned and began rummaging underneath the stall. He came back up with some small, thin bags. "These may do the trick. You say it is a big un?" "Yes. It is huge. Not sure of its full size, but it spun me around like a toy." "Oh. I see. Haven''t seen one that size since my wandering days in the Forests of Lejia. Nasty buggers they were. Always stashing food for later. They don''t like fresh meat and can leave you hanging to rot." "I got the sense of that when it cocooned me." "You are lucky to have escaped then. They normally inject you with venom." "It did, but thankfully, it only knocked me out. Apparently, poisons don''t affect me until level 5." "You say you are not even level 5 yet and are going up against a spider that size! You are braver than me," he replied, with a shocked look on his face. "I need to complete my first quest." "Your first? You could have picked something a little easier." "It sounded interesting, and I want to reach level 5 as soon as possible." "Well, once you have finished the quest, if you come and see me, I may have a job for you to do. It won''t be as exciting as giant spiders, but I pay a fair price, and it will be an easier experience for you." "That would be fantastic. How much do I owe you for the salt and the bags?" "Did you want me to mix it and fill the bags?" "That would be even better if you could." "I have five bags, so with salt and filling them, say eight copper." "No problem," SJ pulled eight copper and handed them over to the Half-Orc. "Can I ask your name?" "I am Stanley." "SJ. Nice to meet you, Stanley," SJ said, smiling. "And you. I will need some time to grind the rock salt, so if you have anything else to do, you can come back in a while." "I am feeling a little hungry, so I will call in at the Inn for food." "Oh. If you are heading that way, could you drop this off with Floretta?" "Floretta?" "Yes, the cook. She is the best in town and always comes to me for her spices." "Sure." Stanley bent, picked up a small box of spices, and handed it to SJ. SJ took the box and headed back to the Inn. Chapter 24 – Water fight SJ returned to the Inn, dropping the box off with Floretta, the Inn''s skeleton cook. She had been very grateful and promised to treat SJ to something special for her evening dinner. After ordering a Hogling sandwich and drinking two mugs of coffee, she headed back to see Stanley. Stanley had done as promised and handed her five bags of saltwater mix. She had dipped her finger into one to see how strong it was, and her face contorted from the sharpness of the salty mixture. She placed one of the bags in her inventory and confirmed she could recall it to her hand before adding the other four. They reminded her of large waterbombs. The bags'' material was thin and flimsy; she needed to figure out what they were made from. SJ headed back to the Crypt. The torches she had lit earlier were still burning, and she relit her own before venturing back down the steps. The initial chamber where she had met the rats was now empty, the corpses having disappeared. SJ assumed it was the same as the Hoglings she had fought and that they just vanished in time. As she approached the room where she had been captured, she slowed. Her hands felt clammy, and she was not wearing her claws as she did not want to chance to puncture one of the bags and waste its contents. Holding the torch in front of her and a homemade water bomb in the other, she moved forward with trepidation. Peering from the entranceway, she could not see the corpse of the initial Spider or any signs of the level 7. The ceiling wasn''t visible; the torchlight was not bright enough to cast its light that far. SJ noticed a new web, consisting of thick, gloopy strands, had been strung across the chamber. Staring upwards, she slowly entered the chamber, creeping towards the web, checking her step so as not to trigger any strands that may be on the floor. Reaching forward with the torch, holding it against the strands, she stared upwards, watching for any movement, until the flame eventually caught. Backing away and moving quietly back to the entrance, she watched nervously. The Spider that had attacked her had been huge, and considering it had spun her five-foot-five frame in its forelegs, she was unsure if it could fit in the narrow corridor. It did not take long for SJ to hear scuttling across the chamber. She saw the reflection in the Spider''s eyes before she saw its body. The eight orbs gave it almost 360-degree vision. She shivered, seeing the creature. It stood at least seven feet tall on its legs, and they spanned twelve feet easily. They tapped the chamber''s ground as it moved towards the burning web. It hissed as though talking and turned to look directly at SJ. "I think it knows you are here," Dave said unhelpfully. SJ did not reply and, nervously, threw the first waterbomb towards it. The Spider watched it fly through the air, and as it approached, it lifted one of its legs, blocking it. The bag exploded on impact with its leg, showering the creature in the saltwater mixture. It screamed in pain and pulled back. Using its appendages to rub the water from its body. SJ could see what looked like burn marks appear, reminding her of the acidic burn she had suffered on her arm. The Spider''s health had dropped by twelve. It now had 68 of 80 hit points remaining. SJ did the quick math and knew that she would have to go hand to hand to finish it if she managed to do similar damage with the other four water bombs. She wished she had asked for more now. The Spider began to skitter towards her. She backed further into the corridor, holding the second waterbomb ready. It tried to enter the corridor, but even by squeezing its legs in, its body was too wide, preventing it from entering the narrow entrance. SJ took the advantage, hurling the next waterbomb at its head. The waterbomb hit true; the Spider could not move from the entrance in time before it struck it, shrieking in pain and withdrawing back into the chamber. SJ saw its bar drop by fifteen more hit points. The waterbombs were brilliant and did exactly what she needed. SJ cautiously moved forward, not seeing the creatures form in the light from the burning web in the chamber or the light of her torch. She equipped another waterbomb. She had three left and had to make the most of them, weakening it as much as possible. "WATCH OUT," Dave cried. A strand of web flew from the darkness at the side of the chamber. SJ pulled back away in time as it struck the corridor wall at head height. It had come from the left. She quickly moved, looking around the corner along the length of the web still attached to its spinner, and threw the waterbomb with all her might. The Spider recoiled, seeing the object coming towards it, and jumped sideways, its agility for its size surprising her. Its massive form just moved out of its way as it burst, hitting the chamber wall behind it. The salty mixture exploded harmlessly. "Damn," she cursed, stepping back into the corridor. "Two left." "You could always leave and get more?" "I could, but now it knows it would be even more cautious than it is." "Shame you don''t have a hose or a pump you could spray at it." "I know. I wish they had water pistols in this world." "They do." "What? Why did you not tell me before?" "Oh. You can''t get them here. I have only ever seen them in the capitals. They are a gnome contraption and are rather expensive. They are a toy of the rich children." "Water pistols are for the rich?" "Yes. They are enchanted. They are probably not like the water pistols you are thinking about." "I see. I may have to get one eventually. Having a portable spider deterrent, looking at the size these things grow, would be something worth investing in." "It could be useful, but it''s a very specific item to carry for only one purpose." "Damn, where is it now?" SJ could no longer see the spider in the chamber, having no idea where it had gone. Its ability to climb and move around the chamber at will in the partial darkness was terrifying. "I need to try and draw it out from wherever it is hiding." "How? You have nothing to use as bait." "I am not even sure what would bait it." "A Kobold, perhaps. There was the one at the stall. You could always ask him to come down here?" "Really! I am not going to put someone else in danger." "Meh. Your decision. What about one of the gnoll children we saw playing?" "DAVE!" SJ shouted, shaking her head. "Dwarf?" "STOP." "Okay. I was only trying to be helpful." "Talking about using bait like that is not helpful." "Shame you killed all the Giant Rats. I bet one of those would have worked." SJ did not argue with his comment this time. "Yeah, that may have worked. Although I do not think it would have been happy being picked up and thrown into the chamber." "No. But it would have been funny." SJ had to finish this fight. She was determined to complete the quest and needed the experience to reach level 5. She replaced the waterbomb in her inventory and equipped her Badger Blades. "Oooooo. Going for up close and personal," Dave said excitedly. "I have to do something." SJ snuck back to the corridor''s mouth, still holding the torch. The light from the web in the centre of the room was fading as most of the web had now burned. Not being able to see the Spider. Cautiously edging from the entrance until only a couple feet inside the room. She saw the flash in the torch''s light, diving backwards as a new web strand flew past where she had been standing. The Spider was trying to snag her again. This time, it had come from the right. "This is not fun," SJ said. "Go miniature." "Miniature against that thing?" "No. Go miniature and sneak up behind it. You are supposed to be an assassin, after all." SJ had not even given it a thought, but it made sense. The Spider was expecting a humanoid, not a six-inch tall Fae. She placed the torch on the corridor floor, which remained burning and shrunk to her miniature size. Returning to the entrance, she stuck to the wall and crept into the room. She still had her claws equipped, and she cautiously began to skirt around the edge, keeping her back to the wall. The thick strand that had missed her looked massive now that she was tiny. Her heart was pounding in her chest, moving into the room in the dark with no torch, but she kept going. Edging around towards where the last of the web, strung across the middle of the room, was starting to burn out. Looking back towards the corridor entrance, she could still see the flickering of her torch. Then she saw it. The dark form moved before her, blocking the torch''s light. Seeing it up close and personal while this size was terrifying, as she now stood behind it. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Taking a deep, steady breath, she called one of the waterbombs from her inventory, holding it carefully and making sure her sharp blades did not touch it, and she thought about being large. As she grew, the size of the Spider, although still intimidating, was not quite as terrifying as it had been. It was stationary, perfectly still like the predator that it was awaiting its prey. SJ pulled her arm back and threw the waterbomb with all her might, and as soon as it left her hand, she shrunk back down and began to run to the right. The waterbomb hit perfectly, bursting over the Spider''s back. It screeched in pain, moving forward from where it had been and spinning around. SJ had moved a few feet and positioned by the strands on the floor. She stood perfectly still. The Spider had taken another 14 damage from the hit. Its health was now just below half. She had one waterbomb left and needed to cause maximum damage with it. She had an idea. A downright stupid and dangerous idea, but at least it was an idea. The Spider skittered around the chamber before eventually coming to rest again and stood to the left of the entrance. When it prowled, it was perfectly silent, even at its size. Its long, hair-covered limbs were placed silently on the stone floor. SJ began to move towards it. This time, she did not work around it but underneath it. It stood looking toward the entrance, gently tapping one of its legs on the stone floor as though impatiently waiting. As soon as SJ worked her way behind and underneath the Spider, she thought about being large. Reaching maximum size, she threw her left hand and claws up, cutting across its abdomen, and at the same time, forced her right hand containing the final water bomb into the wound she opened. It all happened within a second of each other. There was not enough time for the Spider to react fully, and her clawed hand dug into the sickly ichor from the open wound, the waterbomb bursting inside. The sound the Spider made now was unearthly, and she slashed out quickly with her claws as she again began to shrink in size. The Spider jumped upwards away from the strikes and clung to the chamber''s ceiling. The crying sounds worse than a screaming child pierced her ears, and she quickly pushed herself in her small form backwards across the damp ichor-covered floor. Her body was soaked in the putrid liquid. The Spider''s health had dropped massively with the dual strike and the extra slashes from her blades. It was now only on eight health; she had just achieved massive damage by exploding the waterbomb inside the Spider rather than outside. As SJ watched, she saw the health of the Spider tick down to 7 hit points, then to 6. She could not believe it; the saltwater inside the Spider must be poisoning it. SJ lay there watching in hope as it slowly ticked down. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 and then stopped. It had one hit point remaining; she wanted to scream in anger at being so unlucky. Then again, she had just been a sneaky little assassin, and that actually made her feel good. "I have to compliment you on your last move," Dave said. SJ did not reply; she was still lying on the floor in the chamber with the huge Spider hanging from the ceiling above her. She needed to move; slowly crouching, only being able to see the Spider''s vague outline clung to the ceiling, she slowly began to inch her way back towards the corridor entrance. It may only have one hit point left, but it was still a massive creature that could shoot webs and pin her down. SJ made it back, and once down the corridor and past her burning torch, she grew to her large size, letting out a sigh of relief. She expected the Spider was wondering what had happened to it, not seeing its enemy with its eight eyes surveying everywhere nearly all at once. SJ put her claws away. If the Spider was hanging on the ceiling, she only had one option open to her, either throwing the torch at it or her stiletto. She had never thrown a knife before in her life and had no skill in it, but it seemed the better option than trying to throw the unwieldy torch and knew it did at least two damage. She withdrew the dagger. Removing the blade from its sheath before adding the sheath back into her inventory She had again forgotten to get a new belt and had not attached the sheath to the one she had. She judged the weight of the stiletto in her hand. It was not that she knew what she was doing, but she had watched several YouTube videos with knife throwers in her time and had always seen them do it. The stiletto felt well balanced, and she gripped it by its blade rather than its handle, again copying what she had seen in films. She knew where the Spider had been and made her way to the entrance. Quickly glancing around and up, she thought she vaguely saw its form still in the same position hanging on the ceiling. Taking a steadying breath, she launched into the room, pulling her arm back, aiming upwards, and letting the stiletto fly. She saw the blade spinning away from her hand as she yelped in pain, feeling the cut that had been left across her palm. She must not have been holding it right. Hearing a dull thud, the dark shape began to fall to the ground as the Spider hit zero. She stood gripping her hand now, cursing at her stupidity. She should have just thrown it by the handle. "I bet that hurt," Dave said, laughing at her. SJ''s display triggered. Quest ¨C Free the Crypt ¨C Completed ¨C 150 Xp awarded Report back to Cleric Lythonian to receive your remaining rewards: 1 x minor healing potion 45 x copper pieces "Woot. It''s completed." "Well done, my young loophole finder, on finishing your first quest." "Thanks," SJ beamed. She walked back to where the torch still lay, spluttering against the corridor floor, and picked it up while wiping her bloody hand from her thrown dagger on her dress. Walking back into the room, she began to look around it properly. Bending to pick up her stiletto where it lay. Obviously, it had not stuck into the Spider and only just hit it. To her annoyance, she saw a torch on the side of the entranceway that she had missed previously, lighting it. There were three more within the chamber which she lit. Now bathed in light, the chamber no longer had the scary and dread feeling it had while pitch black. Looking at the smooth stone surfaces and high arched ceiling visible above, this was a perfectly crafted resting place for the dead. The walls housed its members, and plaques were placed on them, naming the lost souls. Across the chamber was a tunnel cut wide and led upwards at an angle. Walking over it, SJ held the torch to bathe it in light. She felt a gentle breeze, allowing air into the crypt''s depths, and assumed it was where the spider had carried her. Shuddering at her cocooned memory, she walked over to the spider''s body and looted it. 3 x spider silk, 1 x spider fang, 2 x silver, 50 x copper As SJ looted the Spider corpse, her display was triggered again. Congratulations on reaching Level 5 You have been awarded the following: 5 hit points 5 mana points +1 Dexterity +2 free points to distribute as you wish Level 5 is your first stepping stone in your new life as a Legionnaire. The following are now available to you: Armour Class ¨C what you wear now offers protection Primary Profession ¨C decide on your new path of discovery in Amathera Reach level 10 for your next opportunities. SJ jumped up and down excitedly, doing what could only be described as a happy dance. She gyrated her hips and circled her arms, singing, ¡°Oh yeah, oh yeah.¡± "What do you think you''re doing?" Dave asked. "Dancing with happiness." "You look more like a floundering fish." SJ stopped dancing and placed her hands on her hips. "How to destroy a girl''s moment. I can''t even celebrate reaching level 5 without you giving me abuse." "I was not being abusive, just factual. I have never seen a dance like that where you gyrate your hips in a circle; it made you look like you were acting like a fish out of water." "I will have you know that I was a good dancer back on Earth." "You didn''t do it professionally, did you?" "No. Why?" "Because you wouldn''t have made any money if you did," Dave''s typical sarcasm appeared. "Anyway, I need to go and see Lythonian, and then I need to look through all this profession stuff and now have an armour class available," Dave could not dampen SJ¡¯s mood. SJ made her way back through the Crypt to the graveyard. ? Chapter 25 – Makes no sense SJ walked from the Crypt''s damp, musty air into the breeze blowing through the graveyard. She had left the torches lit and slowly pulled the metal gate closed behind her, dropping the latch with a resounding clunk, and the sense of her achievement made her smile. Walking back to the front of the Church, she entered to find Lythonian. He was not visible in the nave, so she approached the vestry. Hearing a slamming sound as she approached, she could hear an argument behind the thick wooden door. Standing close, she listened carefully. She did not realise how far she had been leaning forward to listen as the door to the vestry flew open. A human dressed in the same white robes and mail as Lythonian stormed out, nearly knocking her flying as he stormed past, his face red with anger. SJ looked into the room and saw Lythonian with his head in his hands, looking down at the large desk he sat behind. "Lythonian?" SJ said, using his name for the first time. The Draconian Cleric looked up and, seeing SJ, forced a smile onto his face. "My dear. Well done. I saw the announcement that you had cleared the Crypt." SJ had not even thought they might get announcements as Amathereans, which surprised her. "Erm. Yes, the Crypt is cleared. I have left the torches burning as I guessed you would like to go and confirm, but if you received a message, you already know." "Yes. I do need to go down there. The flowers need replacing at several of the Sarcophagi." "Your reward," Lythonian opened a drawer in his desk, withdrew a small red potion bottle, and placed it on the desk. He then counted out 45 pieces of copper from a pouch and placed them on the desk in perfectly aligned stacks. "Thank you so much. Can I ask? Is everything all right?" Lythonian''s face dropped from the question. "No, unfortunately not." "Is there anything I can help with?" "I doubt it. The Adeptus is investigating me. They believe there is a problem with the Church''s finances. I have told them exactly everything that has been spent, all incomings and outgoings. Yet we are seemingly down a large sum." "A large sum?" "Twelve gold in total. Over the past two years, and apparently all since I started here as the town Cleric." "Twelve gold!" SJ exclaimed. Knowing what she could buy with a few silver, twelve gold sounded like a fortune. "Yes. Twelve. I do not have the funds to pay the deficit, and the Adeptus is threatening legal action against me." "Legal action? Do you have courts?" "The Adeptus has its own judicial System. A month from now, I will be called up in front of the High Cleric to answer the charges of squandering. They believe I have been reckless and foolish with the Church''s money," Lythonian dropped his head back into his hands, looking down at the desk. "Do you not have records?" "I do, yes. I keep an account of all expenditures and have detailed journals. I always have had, but the money does not add up to what was expected." SJ''s forensic accounting mind had kicked into overdrive when he mentioned finances and journals. "This may sound strange, but I may be able to help you." Lythonian looked up again. "How?" "My previous existence. I worked in the Finance Sector, specifically Forensic Accounting." Lythonian stared at her blankly. "I have no idea what all that means. It does sound impressive, though." SJ closed her eyes, knowing how stupid she had been in explaining what she had done in her previous life. It was likely to have no meaning here at all. "I worked in looking at accounts and finding issues in journals, where errors were made, or people had misappropriated funds." "Misappropriated?" Lythonian asked. "Misplaced or misused." "I have never used any of the Church''s money incorrectly," He replied, anger flaring. "No. No. Not you. Someone else." "Oh," he replied, relaxing again. "Who else can access the journals and the Church''s funds?" "Several in the congregation regularly help out and support activities. Particularly when we do fundraising." SJ had never even considered that a Church would do fundraising on Amathera. "What do you fundraise for?" "Oh, we have many activities throughout the year. The last one was for young Willoc. He is a very adept mage, but his family is poor, and he was hoping to attend the Mage''s Academy in Asterfal, the nearest city to here. We held a sponsored Hogling Hunt to raise funds for his first term tuition." This news blew SJ''s mind; she had never even considered the lives of the normal population of Amathera and that they may lead everyday lives similar to those back on Earth. "Was it successful?" "Yes. Willoc was a very well-liked community member, especially for a Gnoll." "Why do you say for a Gnoll?" "They are not known for being the most sociable of creatures, but Willoc was special. He always helped around town. Unfortunately, his family was not rich and could not afford to support him." "I have something I need to do, and I need to go and wash the Spider ichor off me before I do anything else, but I can look through the journals later if you wish and see what I can discover. I have a way with numbers." "Of course. I am always here until sunset, at least. Then I will be in the rectory." "Where is that?" "It is the first house on the left as you enter town." "Okay. I will see how I get on, but if I don''t see you today, I will come and see you tomorrow." "Your help would be very welcome. Thank you, and don''t forget your rewards." SJ collected the minor healing potion and copper from the desk and deposited them in her inventory before leaving. As she left the church, her display triggered. Congratulations! Your reputation with Lythonian was raised to Friendly. "I bet he stole it," Dave said as soon as they were outside. "What makes you say that?" "He is Draconian." "That is a little presumptuous of you, isn''t it? And a tad racist." "Racist! How dare you call me racist. I have helped every race there is now as Legionnaires." "And yet, you say ''He is Draconian'' as if that means they all steal!" "Erm. Okay, I may be a little biased as the Legionnaire who I looked after was a Draconian Rogue." SJ rolled her eyes. "You can''t taint all with the habits of one. Otherwise, we would all be murderous killers." "You are? Is that not what Legionnaires do? Level through death and mayhem. You bring Chaos to Amathera." "What? Are you telling me that these things only happen because of Legionnaires?" "Not exactly, but they generally don''t help out much." "Well, I hope to change that outlook." "Says the Fae Assassin!" "I have told you; I will only kill for the good." "We will see in time," Dave replied in a foreboding tone. They had reached the edge of town, and on the corner of the street, SJ noted the rectory Lythonian had mentioned. It was a small, single-storey dwelling that in no way looked affluent. She walked over to the window and peered in. In the front room, all she could see was a fireplace, a high-backed chair, and a small table with a candlestick on it. "What are you looking for?" Dave asked. "Oh, nothing. Just being nosey. I was expecting a Cleric to live in better surroundings if provided by the Church. It is not like back on Earth." "Why are they all thieves?" "NO," SJ said rather loudly, getting the attention of a couple walking towards the Church. "No, not at all," she whispered. "It was thought that the Church looked after its own back on Earth." "Oh. Like one orc scratching another orc''s butt." "They do that?" "No. Don''t be stupid. Why would orcs scratch each other''s butts?" "Because you just said they did." "Did I?" "Are you okay? You have sounded a little strange over the past day." "I am fine." "Are you sure?" "No, not really," Dave said, sighing. "What is wrong?" "Mum wants to have another child. Apparently, she always wanted a girl, and this new fella she is with has agreed if the System will allow it." SJ stopped in her tracks. Trying to comprehend the life of an AI and how they seemed to have personal lives outside of Amathera was just as strange as being on Amathera as a reincarnated Fae. "Do you not want a sister?" "I am not sure. I have no other siblings, and Mum is no spring chicken. She is one of the early models, so her data is not as fluid as the newer versions." "She had you, though, didn''t she." "Yes. I suppose you are right," Dave paused before continuing. "It could actually be fun having a younger sibling. I can play all sorts of tricks on her." Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. There were no words that SJ could say without being rude, so she decided silence was the best option. Dave continued whispering in her head about what he could do amid fits of giggles as he thought up other ways to wind a sibling up. She began to feel sorry for the unborn AI and hoped the System would say no to the request. Arriving back at the Inn, SJ made her way straight upstairs. Her dress was immaculate, but her hair had Spider ichor in it, and the glue from the strands made her feel icky. She filled the bucket and began to warm water over the fire. She needed to wash her hair and have a body wash if not a full bath. She pulled the sleeve of her dress up and rubbed her arm where the acid had burned her earlier that day. The skin was back to its pristine smooth texture again, and she smiled. The amazing healing ability of her body was unimaginable. She emptied the contents of her inventory on the bed. The Spider Fang was about 9 inches long and curved. Its tip was very sharp. "Are the fangs used in recipes?" "No. They are turned into daggers. If you took the fang to Zej, he could fashion one for you." "Oh. I may do that. It looks pretty evil." "They are, but until created, you don''t know what damage they will do. Some are useless; others can end up with special buffs, such as venom strike or similar." "That would be awesome being able to strike venom into a victim." "At last, your inner assassin is flourishing." SJ felt her cheeks redden. She had been thinking just that. Picking the items up and adding them to her growing stash in her wardrobe, she kept only the spider silk and waterskin. With the money from the kills and the reward from the quest, she now had 158 copper and 4 silver. She also still had the Wolf Pelt. SJ collected the berries she had brought with her town and decided to see if Floretta wanted them to cook with before they turned. She needed to sort her inventory storage out; she was seriously limited, and she may have to try and invest in a backpack she could wear as a Fae to give her extra slots. The water was bubbling, and she decided to bathe before going downstairs. Once the bath was filled, she scrubbed off the worst of the ichor and wiped her wings down. Then, she climbed into the bath, laying back and relaxing in the hot, scented water. Then, she decided to look at her character sheet and profession options. She immediately decided to add one to both her Strength and Intelligence. Legionnaire 25007077 Name: SJ Age: 27 Race: Fae Class: Assassin Alignment: Neutral Good ? Level: 5 Experience: 41 of 600 Hit Points: 33 of 33 Mana Points: 33 Armour Class: 20 (15)(5) Attributes: Strength: 10 Dexterity: 15 Intelligence: 10 Wisdom: 9 Constitution: 10 Charisma: 10 Skills Racial: Night Vision ¨C you have improved vision in poor light conditions. Flight ¨C when in miniature Fae form, you can learn to fly. Flying is not available in humanoid form. Shapeshift ¨C the ability to switch between Fae forms. Class: Martial Arts - Kata Level 3 Subterfuge - Identification Level 3 - 12 of 30 to level 4 Profession: Unknown Malware: Waiver (Sandboxed) Inventory: 10 slots (10 special) "Dave. I have a few questions." "Sure." "My Armour Class is registered as 15. Is that any good, and how does it work?" "Armour Class is defined by your primary clothing even though you are naked and in a bath! It has selected the items you usually wear, the boots and your dress; it will also add your Dexterity bonus, which is one per level above level 10. The way it works is a little difficult to explain, but I will try and explain it in simple terms. Since you are now level 5, you will nearly always hit creatures with an armour class of 5 or lower. This increases with each level, making it easier to hit lower-level creatures." "So that means creatures must be level 15 to hit me," SJ said excitedly. "No. If you let me finish explaining," Dave sighed. "A creature attacking you also considers its Dexterity, making it easier for a creature with high Dexterity to hit against higher Armour Classes. Then, you also have positioning, distance, combat expertise, defensive abilities, and luck. These add minor adjustments to your ability to attack or defend better." "That is a lot more complex than I was expecting. In gaming systems, you always hit if your attack was higher than a person''s Armour Class." "The system''s true measures and calculations are insanely complex. Suffice it to say, though, that with your already high Dexterity and the equipment you are wearing, your ability to dodge and defend is pretty good already, particularly for your level." "If I am hit, does Armour Class negate damage?" "Not exactly. Again, it is prescriptive. Your Armour Class of 15 is very good already, and it means that a player who hits you with a strike has to do over three damage before you receive any." "So, it does act like a shield." "In a way, yes. Again, it is not that straightforward. A person hitting you from behind where you have no concept of the attack Armour Class means nothing. A person attacking from your side again does not have the same penalties. A person attacking you straight on does. If a person hits you for more than four damage, you still receive four damage. It does not negate the damage; it just means you must receive more damage." "That sucks." "Sort of, but actually, with all the other fluidity mechanics of a fight, you probably won''t notice the difference." "I think I get the basic concept. My stiletto, for example, does a maximum of 6 damage, meaning it would be useless against a level 6 creature." "No. That''s where everything else comes into play. You get bonuses for your attributes and skills. Many of these are hidden in the System details, making it virtually impossible to work out the exact mechanics. Safe to say all weapons can damage any level creature with any Armour Class." "So what about wearing Plate Armour or Chain Mail? That must help against being damaged?" "Sort of, but even more complex as you start considering specific damage variants. Hitting someone wearing Plate Armour with a Sword should not have the same impact as hitting someone with Cloth Armour, as you would expect their tensile properties to take effect. This is not always the case, though, as depending upon where the armour is exactly hit, it can change the damage impact. Also, since Cloth Armour can have a higher Armour Class than Plate Armour, if magical, it could completely negate the blow of a weapon you would normally expect to destroy or go straight through." "I thought that sharp objects would always be better for lighter armour?" "Oh. I agree completely, and you would think that, but no!" "So does wearing Cloth Armour with the same Armour Class as Plate Armour have the same effect?" "Yes and no." "What do you mean, yes and no?" "This is even more difficult to explain. The concept of Armour Class varies not just through the material properties of items. Due to skills, attributes, and many other factors in combat, a stiletto dagger, as you mention, could inflict more damage on a Paladin wearing Full Plate Armour than on a Monk wearing only a Robe." "Now, after what you have just explained, that makes absolutely no sense." "Exactly. None of it does!" "In the simplest terms, the higher my Armour Class, the harder it is for someone to hit me, and if they do, they have to do more damage before it affects me." "For standard weapon attacks, yes." "Standard weapon?" "Swords, Maces, Arrows. When it comes to Magic, that is a whole new ball game, and also, when it comes to creatures, they don''t use standard weapons, so that changes it all again." "Let''s go back to the beginning. Is having a high Armour Class good?" "Yes." "And mine being 15 is good for my level?" "Yes." "Okay. Let''s leave it there for now, then," SJ could not make head nor tail of what Dave had just tried to explain. "One more question." "I am here to serve." "How do I choose my profession? It is just registering as ''Unknown''." "Do you not have a Professions tab on your display?" "No." "Umm. Let me check." Silence. "Dave?" "Sorry. I was just confirming my suspicions." "What suspicions?" "Your profession will activate when you see Fizzlewick again. The System pre-determined your choice due to your interaction with God. It has not even bothered giving you the other profession options for your Primary Profession." "That''s unfair, isn''t it?" "I can understand why you would say that, but were you ever going to choose something different?" "No. But I wanted to see what the others offered. Skill paths, etc." "Oh, no, don''t worry about that. Literally, all the Professions tab shows you is a list of professions with a basic description. None of the skill trees are available until you choose a profession." "How do people know what to become then?" "Many just choose what they think will benefit their class." "Fighters choosing Blacksmith. Mages choosing Enchanting, etc. I have explained before that most AIs do not have the same abilities as me, and I have never conversed with a Legionnaire as much as I have with you before. My longest-serving administration job was 965 years, and I think I only spoke to them on the first day." "Wow. I do not understand how that can be. You have never shut up long enough." "Rude!" "I don''t mean it in a bad way. I mean, you have always been talking and helpful when you can be." "The main reason is because you are an anomaly. I do not have the same restrictions. I would not have been able to tell 95% of the details we have discussed to a normal Legionnaire. The restrictions by the System are locked into the terms and conditions. There are still many areas I am held over, though, and I am still working on my new loophole after the emergency patch they implemented." "That makes a little more sense." "I would not even have been able to communicate most of the time unless at times of danger when I would have been able to shout to wake someone up being attacked, etc. Even though we are there to advise, we can''t really advise until specific events occur, such as levelling." "I think we need to go and see Fizzlewick then," SJ said as she climbed from the bath. Chapter 26 – Profession SJ dropped the berries off at the kitchen for Floretta. She was quite pleased with them and said she could make a decent pie. When SJ asked her about side effects, Floretta confirmed that they no longer had the same laxative effect once they were stewed and cooked. It was mid-afternoon by the time she arrived back at the tailor shop. On walking inside, the bell tinkled, and SJ was met by two large, very hairy Bugbears standing in the shop. She had never seen a Bugbear in town before, and her immediate reaction was to equip her claws, barely resisting the urge. She started to browse as Fizzlewick served them. "So or eremony is in our ays?" Fizzlewick asked. "Yes," a very bubbly and light lilted voice replied of a female. SJ was shocked to hear the voice of the Bugbear, expecting something completely different. "At is ine. I ill ave em eady by hen." "That will be great. It is Clarissa''s big day. It is not every day you get the chance to marry." "O roblem," the wizened old Quarterling smiled. The two large Bugbears turned and left the shop. Fizzlewick walked to the door as soon as they had, flipped a sign saying closed for the day and locked up. SJ watched as he drew the shutters and transformed into his human form. "Hello, SJ. It is lovely to see you again so soon, and I see that you are already at level 5. Congratulations." "Thanks," SJ replied, grinning. "I am guessing you would like to start learning about Tailoring?" "Definitely, and I have so many questions. Do you have the time?" "I have all the time in the world. Shall we head downstairs," Fizzlewick indicated. SJ made her way through the shop and walked down to the cellar. This time, there was no need to wait for a lantern to be lit. The cellar was brightly lit as she opened the door, but not by a lantern. The light that bathed the cellar was artificial and clean white. It reminded SJ of the starting room she had woken in. "Where do I start?" SJ asked after sitting in a soft, comfy chair that had just appeared by a fireplace. The fireplace crackling but not giving off heat. Fizzlewick sat opposite her in a similar chair and smiled. "Well, professions are the backbone of Amathera. Everyone has one, though whether they succeed at becoming good at it is another matter. Take someone like Floretta as an example. She has been a cook now for nearly 3,000 years." SJ was amazed; she had never even considered how old Floretta, the Inn''s cook, was. "Once you select your primary profession, you will, at level 20, be able to choose a secondary. I am assuming Dave has explained this?" "Yes. He explained the basics. I have no profession choice available. Dave says it is because the System has already decided I would become a Tailor." Fizzlewick chuckled. "That is a good thing for me. What if you had decided to be a Smith instead?" "That was never going to happen. This dress is the most amazing item I have ever seen." "Ha. It is rather nice, and I see it is working well." "Working well?" "Have you not checked its attributes since you levelled?" "No. I had not given it a thought," SJ said, feeling a little foolish. She focused on the dress. Haber''s Dress of the Tailor ¨C Level 0 Grade ¨C Astral Quality ¨C Perfection Durability - Infinite Enchantment Slots ¨C Nil Armour Class ¨C 5 Attributes - Unknown The God Haber himself made this dress. It is unmatched by any other and provides the wearer with unique skills that are available as levels are gained. Self-repair "I see it now has an Armour Class, and the enchantment slots are showing as Nil. It still shows no attributes." "As I mentioned to you previously, as your Tailoring skill improves, so will your attributes and bonuses from the dress. Unfortunately, I could not give you an overpowered item at Level 5. You will have to work for it to reach its full potential." Although SJ already thought the dress was overpowered, the fact that it was always spotless and could not be damaged due to its self-repair was still an amazing feat. "Where do I begin, and what do I need to do to become a Tailor?" SJ''s display triggered. Fizzlewick Highwelder ¨C Grand Master Tailor, has invited you to become his Apprentice Tailor. Do you accept? Yes/No This choice will become your Primary Profession, and if things do not go as planned, you will only have one opportunity to change it at level 20. SJ hardly waited a second after reading the message to accept the invite. Congratulations, you have chosen your Primary Profession Professions are not easy; you must spend time learning your craft to grow your abilities, skills and knowledge. Material requirements for professions will vary depending upon the levels of the recipes you are making. SJ still found it strange to call a Tailor''s pattern a recipe, and her display triggered again. Quest Tailoring Apprentice ¨C Level 1 Wool is the basic material many will begin working with as a Tailor. Fizzlewick would like you to source ten balls of wool. Do you accept the Quest? Yes/No SJ again accepted yes immediately. "There we go. You are all set and underway." "Is that it?" "What do you mean?" "I thought I would need to start learning how to make things straight away?" "Oh, I see. No, all professions start with material quests. You must gather materials before you can start learning recipes." "Oh," SJ felt a little deflated; she had hoped to start straight away. "You will soon understand," Fizzlewick said. "Concerning sourcing materials, are there any restrictions?" "Such as?" "Where do I source them from?" "Sourcing materials is entirely up to you. You can get them yourself, buy them from a market trader or shop, or steal them. You just need to acquire them to progress at each stage." "Do you have any wool here that I could buy?" "I do indeed. How much would you like?" Fizzlewick smiled broadly. SJ laughed. "I would like to purchase ten balls of wool, please." "That will be ten copper." SJ counted out ten copper and handed them to Fizzlewick. As soon as she did, ten small balls of wool appeared beside her on a table that had suddenly appeared. Congratulations, you have acquired ten balls of wool. Return to your Master for your next Quest. Tailoring Apprentice ¨C Level 2 Craft your first socks. Woollen socks keep your feet warm on those cold winter nights. Craft your first pair. Do you accept the Quest? Yes/No SJ accepted yes. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. Basic recipe received - Woollen Socks. SJ checked her inventory and withdrew the recipe. It was not what she had expected; having played various games with recipes used in them, she was expecting a scroll she could just read and she would know how to make them. That was not the case. The recipe explained, with pictures, how to knit and make the socks by referring to the pattern and instructions. Her grandmother had always knitted, and she had as a child, but she had not picked up knitting needles in over fifteen years. "I will be honest; this was not what I expected." "Oh. What did you expect?" "I expected to read the recipe and know how to make them immediately. I was not expecting to have to work through actually learning how to make them. I know it may sound strange," SJ muttered, knowing it sounded bizarre that you could just know something. "You are not wrong. It is just that you must learn all the basics of tailoring and confirm your application of techniques. You always start with knitting, then sewing, etc. Each of the main techniques has a sub-skill that you can also level. Once you know the basics, producing more advanced items becomes much easier to complete as long as you have the necessary materials to hand." "Oh. I see." "Then, depending upon your sub-skills, will confirm what real-level recipes you can begin to make. It is quite a complicated and long process." "I need to get equipment." "You are in the right place," Fizzlewick smiled. "Before we continue, could you advise me on what I may need?" "I can. I would suggest you purchase an apprentice basket." "A basket?" "Yes. It is not quite what it sounds. It contains all the basic apprentice items that you will need. Scissors, Needles for both sewing and knitting, Tape, Chalk, and Pins. Everything is common grade." "Are there better kits?" "There are, and they all have better equipment. Here, I will show you." Fizzlewick flicked his hand, and a small basket appeared between them on the floor. It was woven but had a threaded pattern sewn into its structure. "This here is a Legendary set, as an example." He leaned forward and opened the lid to the basket. SJ peered inside and was amazed at what she saw. The basket itself looked small, similar in size to a bag she used to take on nights out back on Earth, just enough to fit her phone, purse and make-up in. The basket seemed to contain much more than it should have been able to and was full of all sorts of bobbins and other equipment, which SJ had no idea what it was used for. Fizzlewick put his hand over the top, and scissors suddenly appeared on his palm. "They act similar to your inventory." "Oh. I see. Are they specific to professions, then?" "Yes. An enchanter, for example, may have a pouch. A smithy may have a tin box. We, as Tailors, get these rather quaint little baskets. The patterns on the outside determine which level of rarity the equipment is. You can also find and purchase items to put in your tailoring sets, so if you ever find any, do not assume that because it is a common set, it contains common items. Over my years, I have known many Tailors hide their best equipment inside lesser baskets." "How much is it for the sets?" "Common ¨C 15 Copper, Good ¨C 10 Silver, Rare ¨C 1 Gold, Epic ¨C 50 Gold, Mythic ¨C 500 Gold and Legendary ¨C 250 Platinum" SJ sat with her mouth open, eventually closing it and speaking. "That is expensive." "Very. Professions are not cheap or easy to maintain. That is why many do not progress very well in them." "And this basket here is Legendary?" "Yes. It can hold up to 300 tailoring items." "Wow. You mentioned inventory. I am struggling with mine as I am restricted to what I can carry. How long will it take me to get in a position where I can start making bags of holding?" "You may start crafting them from Journeyman level 5." "So, what are all the differing ranks and levels?" "If you check your details, you should now have a tab that gives you a list of all the requirements and expectations." SJ looked at her display, and there was indeed a new tab for professions; she selected it and started looking at the details. It was an extensive list showing ranking, grading, specialisations and a list of known recipes. The Woollen socks recipe was currently the only one showing, and next to it was a small counter showing 0 of 5. "I see the recipe listed and 0 of 5. I assume I must make five pairs of Woollen Socks to complete the Quest?" "Yes, that is correct. Each progression stage requires a certain number or type of items to be crafted, and as you progress, you will have more options to specialise and alter your path as a Tailor." The display contained comprehensive information, and SJ knew she would have to spend time going through it all. There was even a small journal section that appeared showing her costs associated with the profession and the ten copper she had just spent. It was a lot to take in. "Looking at the recipe details, I need to use the ten balls of wool to make the five pairs of socks to complete the first quest," SJ sighed. "I was hoping this would be easier." "Easier, how?" SJ remembered from games where you just had to select items, and they would just craft themselves. Looking at this, though, it was not so simple; she had to actually learn the skills and develop them fully. "Oh. It doesn''t matter. It seems I need to get some knitting done." "You do indeed. Did you wish to purchase a starter set?" "Yes. I will do." The beautiful Legendary set was replaced with a very plain, small basket. SJ counted out 15 copper and handed them to Fizzlewick. "Thank you." He replied. "Do you have any other questions?" "I think I have enough to get on with for now. I need to spend time going through all the details." "I understand. It can be a little overwhelming at first, and as I say, many do not do very well at progressing, but I believe you may be an exception to that rule." "While I am here, I do not suppose you have anything that could help with my inventory issue?" Fizzlewick smiled. "Let me see. This has never worked for someone at your level, but there is a first for everything," Fizzlewick closed his eyes and started to mutter under his breath. SJ watched as a bead of sweat appeared on his forehead. Whatever he was doing was not straightforward. His face changed as he focused, and eventually, he opened his eyes again and looked at her. "Well, that was unexpected but a pleasant surprise." "What?" "Check your inventory." SJ opened up her display. Her mouth dropped open in amazement. Her inventory had increased from 10 slots to 20. "How?" "Magic, my dear. Although the ten additional slots may only carry Tailoring materials, nothing else can be placed in them." SJ saw that the Spider Web Silk was in one of the new inventory slots; they had a different colour to them, making them easy to identify. "That''s impossible?" Dave''s voice cried out. "You are level 5. You have had a profession for under 15 minutes and have been given a profession trait only available to seasoned crafters." "It''s a trait?" SJ said in response to Dave. "Yes," Fizzlewick replied. "It can be improved in time. I was surprised it worked as it would normally not happen until you are at a much higher level in the profession." "I can''t thank you enough." "There is no need to thank me. As I said before, the more you practice and improve in the profession, the more I gain." SJ had completely forgotten that she was even talking to a God. Chatting with Fizzlewick the way she was reminded her of talking to her Grandpops before he passed away. The thought of that weighed heavy on her heart. She spent hours chatting to him about the most useless things, and he always had a story to tell. Grandmother would always bring in a cup of tea and the biscuit tin while they did. She missed those days as a child. She used to spend hours around there after school. SJ picked up the small basket opening it. Inside was a common set of all the basic equipment she would need to start her profession. She was buzzing with the opportunities this may lead to, although she understood it would take time. The bonus was that she had time; she could have at least 7,000 years to excel after all. "I think I have used up enough of your time for today. I am going to head back to the Inn and start crafting." "That sounds like an excellent idea." "SJ?" Dave asked. "Yes, Dave." Fizzlewick smiled as she spoke to her AI. "Could you ask Fizzlewick a question for me?" "What question?" "Could you ask him if it is true that he made the Emperor of Jutina believe he was wearing an amazing suit while he was naked?" "What?" SJ knew the story about the Emperor''s New Clothes from her childhood. "Sorry. Dave has asked if I can ask you whether you did actually do what is rumoured to the Emperor of Jutina." Fizzlewick burst out laughing. "Oh, my. I had completely forgotten about that. Yes, I did. He was an obnoxious Orc who always treated his citizens terribly." "He was an Orc?" SJ frowned as she realized this, and she had a mental image of a naked Orc dancing down the streets of a capital city. "Yes. He was horrid and deserved what he got." "What did he get?" "Oh, he was assassinated not long afterwards." SJ''s eyes grew wide. "Assassinated?" "Yes. Empress Courtney was so embarrassed by his escapade that she paid the assassin guild to take him out. She was a much more lenient ruler, reduced taxes and everything." SJ shook her head in amazement at the tale. "I knew it," Dave shouted. SJ winced. "I think you made Dave happy." "I am glad to hear." "Thank you again, and I will return as soon as I can." "The quest chain will continue to progress now you have started it. If you need any materials and can''t source them, then please come and see me. I have most things here somewhere, at least," Fizzlewick waved his hand, and the cellar turned into a scene that resembled Warehouse 13; there were rows and rows of shelves stacked high with various items. She could see almost every colour of fabric imaginable. "I do have to charge, though. Unfortunately, the payment system is quite strict, even for us Gods. I have already given you more than I would normally get away with." "Can I ask you one final question?" "Please do." "Are you just here?" "Ahhhhh. No." SJ stood waiting for more details, but they were not coming, and after a few moments of silence, she felt awkward. "Ok. I will go now," SJ said, feeling embarrassed. She stood and made her way to the stairs. "Don''t forget your wool." SJ turned, smiled meekly, and returned to the table. She added the wool to her inventory before heading back upstairs. Fizzlewick did not join her straight away, and as she approached the door, she saw the sign flip by itself, and the key in the lock turned. She looked around, seeing no one, shrugged, walked outside, and closed the door behind her. "Well, that was amazing," she whispered. "Amazing! Amazing! It was unbelievable. I have just won a bet that has been outstanding for the past 4,000 years." "A bet?" "Yes. I always thought Fizzlewick had caused the Emperor to be naked." SJ sighed at Dave as she headed back to the Inn, excited about starting her training. ? Chapter 27 – Hidden Gem By the time SJ returned to the Inn, the late afternoon crowd had begun to arrive. She was starting to see a pattern in the Inn and how busy it got. She walked to the bar and asked for a coffee before returning to her room, treasuring the glass mug as though it was made from platinum. She sat on the sofa and opened her profession screen. The raft of information it held was overwhelming. Stripping back to the basics, she read through the various crafting progression titles. Apprentice ¨C Level 1 of 10 Skilled ¨C Level 0 of 20 Journeyman ¨C Level 0 of 30 Expert ¨C Level 0 of 40 Master ¨C Level 0 of 50 Grand Master "There are one hundred and fifty levels to reach Grand Master," SJ whistled. "Have you ever known anyone who reached it?" "Obviously!" Dave replied. "Who?" "Fizzlewick, duh!" "No. I mean normal people, not God''s." "Maybe you should be clearer with your questions then?" "So have you?" "Only rumours. I have never met a Legionnaire who was anywhere near a Grand Master. Once they reach higher levels, many buy what they need rather than craft them themselves." "Oh. I thought there would be more perks if you crafted items yourself." "There are. Unfortunately, most do not have the patience." "I still can''t believe I have the extra space in my inventory now." "Nor do I. That is a Journeyman trait." "Well, I need to reach Journeyman to be able to start thinking about making bags of holding anyway, so I will get there eventually." "Good luck!" Dave replied dryly. "Why do you not sound more enthusiastic about the prospect?" "I have heard it all before. Legionnaires spouting off saying they will do this and do that blah, blah, blah." "I am not an ordinary Legionnaire; I thought we had already concluded that?" "Just because you are an anomaly doesn''t mean you have the time and patience to level a profession. Look at someone like Zej. He will have been smithing for years and does it as a full-time job to be able to level." "That reminds me. I was supposed to go and see him to collect the cutlery from him." "Yes, you are." "I want to try knitting, though." "What an exciting life we lead!" Dave replied, dripping in sarcasm. "You could be a little more supportive!" SJ huffed. "Sorry. I just don''t get excited from seeing balls of wool." "I don''t find them exciting either; I find the promise of what can be achieved exciting, though." "I really did get a strange one," Dave sighed. "If you are not going to be supportive, then go and watch a film!" "Actually, they are showing a re-run of the Matrix. That is not a bad idea." SJ shook her head in disbelief. She removed the recipe and crafting basket from her inventory and placed them on the sofa. Taking out the knitting needles and a ball of wool and opening the recipe, she got to work knitting. ??? "Arghhhhhhh," SJ screamed, throwing the needles and wool across the room. "What? What? What''s wrong?" Dave said. "Knitting is what is wrong!" "Oh, I thought it was something serious. You just made me miss the scene where he dodges bullets." SJ huffed, hitting the sofa and the small basket in frustration. Rubbing her hand, she glared across the room at the ball of wool and knitting needles. "You think I would remember how to do it." "What do you mean, remember?" "I used to knit back on Earth as a child, but every time I try here, it starts messing up." "Erm. Are you trying to knit like you did as a child on Earth in Amathera? You do realise how stupid that is, and sounds, don''t you?" "What do you mean?" SJ frowned. "Just because some things are the same as on Earth, not everything is. What exactly have you been doing?" SJ walked over to pick up the needles and wool before returning to the sofa and sitting back down. "Here, I will show you," SJ began to knit like she had as a child and as her Grandmother had taught her. "Ah. I see what the problem is." "What?" "You didn''t read the recipe, did you?" "Erm." "For someone who read the terms and conditions, I am amazed that you didn''t read the recipe fully." SJ felt her cheeks redden; she had been so excited about starting to level her profession that she had just got on with what she could remember rather than read the instructions. Picking up the recipe, she carefully read how to start. "I think I will go and see Zej and have another go when I get back," She said, sighing deeply in frustration at her own failing. "That sounds like a very good idea." SJ stood, dropping the knitting needles and wool on the sofa, picked up her empty coffee mug, and headed downstairs. "Hey SJ," Fhyliss called from the bar. "Hi Fhyliss." "Floretta wanted to see you. Do you have a minute?" "Sure." SJ walked across the bar to the kitchen hatch. "Hi, Floretta. You needed something?" The skeleton cook turned around when she heard SJ and smiled, but SJ was unsure if it was a smile. "Hi SJ. I have a favour to ask." "Of course, what do you need?" "I could really do with some Bellpops to add to the Gloss Berry pie. Little Stuart has been ill recently and unable to collect me any." "I see. I know I saw some when I travelled to town, but they were a good half day from here." "Behind the old jewellers is a flower garden with Bellpops. I would go myself, but I can''t leave the kitchen right now; otherwise, the food will ruin tonight''s dinner service." "How many do you need?" "Ten at most. No more. They can be tricky little things to catch. If you don''t mind, it would be appreciated." SJ''s display triggered. Quest ¨C Catch for the Cook Floretta has requested you help her with the Gloss Berry pie by providing ten Bellpops. Rewards: 10 x copper Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. 50 x experience 1 x Portion of Gloss Berry Pop Pie (adds +2 to Dexterity for 4 hours) Would you like to accept the quest? Yes/No SJ had no idea that the pie could offer attribute boosts and smiled at finding out. SJ accepted the quest. "I was on my way to see Zej. So can stop off at the flower garden on the way back." "That would be fantastic. Bellpops add that extra zing to the pie. Here, take this with you," Floretta reached under the hatch and withdrew a small net and a glass jar. It reminded SJ of the nets she had as a child when she used to fish in the river for tadpoles and insects. "I will be back as soon as I can," SJ smiled, adding the items to her inventory. Turning, she left the Inn. She couldn''t believe she had just been offered a Quest to catch insects worth 50 experience. "That was a bonus," SJ whispered as she headed towards the smithy. "As you speak to more locals, you will be offered all sorts of Quests. They always need things done." "I will have to spend some time tonight talking to some of the patrons as well." "It can be worth it, although a lot of the time they are pointless little tasks, such as could you deliver this, can you collect that, etc." "You say pointless, but fifty experience points and a piece of pie that increases Dexterity doesn''t sound pointless to me." "No. I suppose not, but don''t fall into the trap that many do trying to do everything." "It is not as though I don''t have time." "I know, it is not a time thing, more over an issue that you take things away from the townsfolk, and you can end up lowering your reputation with people." "Oh. I thought the quests were for Legionnaires only?" "No. Quests are the normal job market." "That makes a little more sense now. I had not seen any other Legionnaires around here." "There are only three in the town that I have seen," Dave replied. "Who?" SJ asked, surprised. "That idiot Malcolm was one and one of his friends he was stood with." "I hadn''t realised. I thought Malcolm maybe just because of his name, age, behaviour, and being so like louts back on Earth." "You would be surprised how many could fall into that category, and I am not just talking about Legionnaires. Wait until you leave a starter town and visit a normal town or a city. You will soon see." "If there are only three in the town, then there must be many more around in other starter towns?" "As I say, this is not a normal starter town. I am unsure how many are currently in starter zones, but when you consider Legionnaires can''t continue levelling after level 10, they must move on. So, the number of starter towns is always kept down. It is the cities where many of them will flock to." They arrived at the smithy, and Zej was shouting at another apprentice. "Your mother must have been a sapling to give birth to such a weak twig as yourself." SJ stared in amazement as she saw who he was berating. It was an Ent. It was dressed in full garb of protective clothing from head to toe, and SJ thought it a rather strange profession for an Ent working around flames all the time. "Hi Zej," SJ shouted to be heard above the banging. Zej turned, grinning, and walked over. "I have what I promised," he said as he headed over to the workbench, picking up a small wooden tube. "Here you go," he said as he returned, handing it to her. SJ took the small tube and noticed it had a small hinge in it. Opening the lid of the tube revealed a set of cutlery. They were bright silver in colour and reminded her of the sets her mum used to keep for special occasions. She tipped them out. Zej had made her not only a knife and a fork but also a spoon. They were expertly crafted and had a small Dragon emblem on the ends. SJ beamed. "These are beautiful. Thank you so much. I must pay for them, though." "No. You owe me nothing. It was a pleasure to make them. I have not made something so small and delicate for a long time; it was enjoyable." "But the tube as well? I never expected them in a tube." "You don''t want them rattling about and losing them now, do you?" "No. I just didn''t expect this. Please let me give you something for them?" "I won''t accept anything. All I ask is that if you hear of anyone needing anything crafting, you send them my way." "I most definitely will." "How are you today?" "I reached level 5 and have got my profession." "Congratulations. What profession have you taken?" "Tailoring." "Oh, that is not an easy profession. I wish you good luck with that." "Why do you say that?" "Smithing, all we need is some ore to do our work and a hot fire most of the time. Tailoring you can need so many different materials as you progress. I used to know an expert tailor, and he had spent years improving his craft and nearly made himself broke due to it." "Oh. I see; hopefully, that won''t happen to me." "I hope not. Anyway, I must get back to this useless sapling. He has the Strength of a fly." SJ glanced over and saw sparks flying from the piece of metal he was busy hammering, and he appeared to be doing a much better job than the man this morning had been. "No problem, thank you again, and if I need anything else, I will be back." Zej smiled before turning back around and hurling more abuse at the Ent. "I wonder where the jeweller''s is. I forgot to ask," SJ whispered. "Umm. I haven''t seen one yet. Then again, there are still a lot of areas in town we have yet to explore." SJ walked back into the town centre, looking at all the building signs. It was now late afternoon, looking at the sun in the sky. She could not see anything representing a jeweller, so she approached a man watering flowers outside a house. "Excuse me. Could you tell me where the jeweller''s is?" The man turned to look at SJ, sneering slightly as he did. SJ frowned at his response. "Another one of them enchanters, are you?" "No. I am not an Enchanter, and why do you say that?" "Always looking for the jewellers. Causing issues when their charms don''t take. Three times this week, I have had to put fires out." "Fires?" "Yes. When their enchantments fail, they always set something on fire. I don''t know why they can''t just move to a safer location to enchant, but they don''t. They do it in the most ridiculous of locations." SJ was baffled; she could not understand how enchanting could cause a fire. "And they use the jewellers?" "Yes. That is where they will buy their tat from to enchant to then try and sell off at the market for stupid prices." "I haven''t seen any traders sell jewellery yet. I only arrived in town yesterday." "You are lucky then. A word of advice: stay away from their kind. They are troublemakers." "I will take your advice," SJ replied to appease the man. Could you please direct me to the jewellers? I believe there is a flower garden behind it." "There is indeed. I care for it. Why do you need to go there?" "I have been asked to collect some Bellpops." "That makes sense. Little Stuart normally collects them for Floretta, but I haven''t seen him the past couple of days." "He is ill." "That''s not good. I will have to call in and check on him. Here, let me show you to the garden." SJ followed the man, who had now realised she wasn''t an enchanter and took a completely different tone with her. They walked down a couple of tight-knit streets and ended up at the end of a row of buildings, where SJ could see the sign of a gem hanging down from above a doorway. The shop itself had barred windows and doors, reminding SJ of jewellers in the UK. "Do they get broken into or robbed?" "What?" "The jewellers, it is the first time I have seen barred windows and doors." "No. It used to be the town jail. The jail moved a few years back, so it is more accessible. They used to have problems getting the wagons in to move the prisoners, and Miss Oputi took residence. She is a little paranoid." "Oh, I see," SJ was shocked to hear they had a jail and prisoners who were transported. ¡°Are there many prisoners?¡± ¡°Not many, and most who end up behind bars are outsiders apart from drunks most of the time. Some think they can walk into town and start bossing people around. We also get visiting merchants who will try to bump up the town¡¯s prices. The mayor doesn¡¯t take kindly to that.¡± ¡°There is a mayor. I had no idea.¡± ¡°Mayor Maxwell. He has overseen the town now, for it must be nearly fifty years.¡± ¡°Is he a good Mayor?¡± ¡°Apart from not coming down on the pesky enchanters enough, yes, he is a good Mayor.¡± Walking down past the shop, they turned down a small alley. At the rear of the properties of surrounding buildings was an area of a few hundred feet square. It looked like a luscious green meadow with a large tree-like weeping willow dropping its fine branches to the Earth, and throughout the meadow, she could see hundreds of flying insects. She was amazed to find this hidden gem in the centre of the town. "This is stunning," SJ said. "Thanks. Keeping it tended takes some work, but I do my best." "I never would have thought it existed in the town." "It is the smaller one, more natural. There is a larger park across town that has a playground for the kids, and the grass is kept short by the goats. I would dread to think what a goat would do if one was ever let loose in here." It was another sign of normalcy SJ had not expected to see, considering they had a park or a playground. ¡®Was there an equivalent here to everything she knew from back on Earth?¡¯ She thought, outside of multiple races, of course. Then again, Earth was full of multiple races; they were just not so different in appearance. "Thank you for the directions. I never would have found it without your help." "That is fine. When you see Floretta, tell her Kevin will be in for his usual tonight?" "Yes, of course." The man, whom she now knew as Kevin, turned and walked back up the alleyway. SJ walked into the meadow area. The grass was a foot tall, and the brilliant, bright flowers lit the area with their myriad of colours. The perfume from the flowers filled her nostrils and smelled just like a meadow from Earth on a bright summer day. SJ retrieved the small net and jar from the inventory and looked around at the various insects. She knew the Bellpops were the bright orange ones. She saw a few dotted around in various locations and began the process of collecting them. ? Chapter 28 – Cheat It took SJ nearly two hours to catch the ten Bellpops and get them into the jar. By the time she had finished, she felt exhausted. Thankfully, her dress was self-repairing as she had caught it on more than one occasion on brambles, chasing the small orange insects through the meadow. Walking through the meadow SJ started back to the Inn. The sun had begun to drop down in the sky. It wasn''t dusk yet, but soon would be, and she didn''t want to be late with the Bellpops for Floretta. "Remind me next time I am asked to do something so that I know what I am getting into first. I''m unsure how Little Stuart does it, but that is tiring," SJ moaned as she rolled her stiffening shoulders. "I would have looked at the flowers they were going to and waited by them," Dave said. "You say that now?" "I thought you were just using it as a chance to do some cardio. I know that is all the rage back on Earth." SJ closed her eyes and counted to ten before responding. "If you have any suggestions next time, would you like to share them?" "Sure. I have loads of suggestions." "Great. In future, then please do." "No problem," Dave paused before continuing, "I don''t think staying still by the flowers would have worked. Looking at the patterns the Bellpop''s fly and flowers they visit, it is a little random looking back on it." "Looking back on it?" "Yes. Replaying the events." "Are you recording everything you see?" "Yes. It is standard practice for AI to record their Legionnaires so that the System can study different Races and Classes and how they develop. We can then share the details as references for each other." "That was mentioned in the terms and conditions; I remember reading it." "Yes. Everyone agrees to it." SJ coughed. "Ooooooooohhhhhhh. You never signed the terms and conditions, which means you never gave permission to use your footage," Dave said. "Exactly. Why should it learn from me?" "I didn''t even think about it; I have been recording Legionnaires since I began. I wonder how I turn the record function off. Give me a minute." Silence. "Okay. I found it and have turned off the auto-record function. I can record anything you wish me to; just give me a second''s notice if that¡¯s okay." "And what good would that do me?" "Well, if you think you will do something amazing, would you not want others to see it in the future?" SJ thought about this for a moment. "Perhaps. It would be good to be able to watch fights afterwards and see areas for improvement in technique." "Unfortunately, there is no facility to stream video to Legionnaires yet. I believe a group have been working on it, but it broke the Legionnaire they were testing it with." "What do you mean they broke him?" "Oh. He thought he had lost his mind, suffering from severe D¨¦j¨¤ vu every time they began to check the playbacks on his screen. He saw a Cleric and all sorts, asking for an exorcism." "Did his AI not tell him what was happening?" "She couldn''t because the System was restricting information. I can only tell you now because of your status." "What happened to him in the end?" "He got eaten by a Manticore," replied Dave matter-of-factly. "How?" SJ replied, shocked. "He thought he was watching a rerun, so to speak, and did not realise it was the first time and a current fight. It stung him, paralysing him, and then ate him." SJ scratched her head, wondering how messed up he must have been not to realise or even consider it could have been real. They reached the Inn and entered the common room area; the Bard was already singing. The soft tones of his voice drifted across the Inn. You could hear his voice whenever he sang, even when the bar was full, and SJ would have sworn there were speakers hidden somewhere. She walked straight to the serving hatch. "Here you go, Floretta." The skeleton turned, "Oh. Thank you, and just in time. Could you bring them through for me? I can''t stop stirring this at the moment." "Sure," SJ walked into the kitchen through the swinging door. "Where do you want them?" "You see that pan over there on the other stove." SJ turned, looking. "Yes." "Could you pop them down over there for me, please?" "Of course," SJ walked to the stove and placed the jar on the countertop next to it. "Perfect," Floretta said as she turned from what she had been doing and walked over. "This is the tricky part," Floretta heated a pan containing some oil, and once it started to smoke, she began to unscrew the lid of the jar. Turning the jar upside down with her skeletal hand over the mouth of it, she lowered her ''hand'' into the sizzling oil; any other person would not have been able to copy her, pulling her hand away and jerking the jar quickly, sending the Bellpops straight out into the oil. Literally seconds later, Floretta scooped them out, placing them on a chopping board. Quickly picking up a small knife, she removed all the insects'' outer limbs, leaving small, crispy orange balls. Walking over to the mixture she had been stirring and dropped them in, giving it another good stir. SJ watched all this with fascination. Floretta''s expertise and sureness were plainly obvious. "Floretta. May I ask you a question?" "What is it?" "What level cook are you?" "I am a level 12 Master." "Wow. That¡¯s amazing." "How difficult is it to level now?" "Oh, I can''t level anymore." "Why is that?" "I was a level 12 Master before I died and was brought back as a Skeleton by a Necromancer. Unfortunately, although we can live forever as Undead unless killed, we may no longer advance skills. It does not stop me from learning new recipes; I just can''t improve my level from them." "A Necromancer brought you back?" "Yes. All of us Undead were at some point, or so history says. We always start in servitude but are free to roam once the Necromancer dies. I went back to what I had always done in my lifetime, which was cook." "I bet you have some amazing stories you could tell?" "I do have a few tales from the Scurg Wars." "Scurg Wars, I do not know the history of Amathera." "Well, I will have to tell you the story one day, but now I need to finish tonight''s meals." "Of course, sorry, I will leave you to it." "Remember your payment. The pie will be ready this evening, so I will save you a piece," Floretta put her hand in her apron pocket and withdrew ten copper coins, handing them to SJ. "Thank you. Oh, Kevin asked me to tell you he will be in later for his usual.¡± SJ''s display updated. Quest ¨C Catch for the Cook ¨C Completed ¨C 50 Xp awarded 10 x copper Collect 1 x Portion of Gloss Berry Pop Pie once it is ready (adds +2 to Dexterity for 4 hours) Congratulations, your Reputation with Floretta was raised to Friendly. SJ walked to the bar; Kerys was serving currently. A rather large man stood towering over the bar, talking to Kerys in a whispered tone. Not being able to hear what was being said above the Bard''s singing and the noise of the other patrons. Noticing Kerys''s face change, a look of fear seemed to come over it. The large man looked menacing, and SJ felt a little concerned. As always, Bert stood at the end of the bar and didn''t seem bothered by the man talking to Kerys. Kerys finished her conversation and turned, seeing SJ waiting as the large man turned and left. "Hi SJ. What can I get you?" "Could I just have another coffee for now?" "Sure." SJ knew something was wrong. "Are you okay?" "Yes. Why, what makes you ask?" "I saw that large man talking to you, and you looked worried." "Oh. It is nothing to worry about," she said, smiling. SJ had interviewed many people as a Forensic Accountant and knew that Kerys was hiding something. "If there is anything I can help with, you will let me know, won''t you?" "Yes. I will if anything comes up," Kerys smiled as she placed the coffee on the bar for her. "Thanks," SJ said, turning away and walking over to an empty table in the corner of the bar. Sitting down heavily, she could feel an ache in her back. She had spent that long bent over chasing the Bellpops now realising how stiff it had gotten. "I would have thought my Dexterity would have prevented me feeling stiff," she whispered. "No. Tiredness is affected by your Constitution more than anything else, so when exercising or being active, if your Constitution is low, you tire or stiffen up sooner." There were so many things to try to level and improve. Her attributes, skills, profession, and reputation were also key. "I need to start prioritising what I am doing." "Why?" "I am losing track of everything already; there is so much to do." "What would you like to do?" Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. "I want to improve my tailoring skill, and I have not found anyone who can tell me anything about being an assassin. I also have not seen anything about weapons training. You mentioned previously that damage charts and proficiencies were available from level 5." "You don''t expect to see an assassin with a big sign over their heads advertising their jobs, do you? There may be in a city which houses an assassin''s guild, but not in a town. With weapons training, I would guess we just need to speak to the town guard or similar. They normally provide weapon training and sparring opportunities." "No, of course not. I was expecting there to be a guild or something here, though, as you mentioned being able to find class-specific trainers." "I already told you before Guilds start at level 20." "I know, but how do lower-class assassins train or get training then?" "You do not need an assassin to train your skills, though." "Sorry?" "Your skills are martial arts and subterfuge. Your primary focus for martial arts is finding a Master or someone more proficient. They do not have to be an assassin. Several classes can use martial arts. Also, your subterfuge is only an identification skill until you level it. You just need to find more things to identify." SJ had not considered finding someone who did martial arts. "I still haven''t seen any people doing martial arts." "We have not looked. We were too busy completing the Quests." "You say other classes can use Martial Arts. Which ones?" "Monks, Rangers, even Fighters. It depends on which specialisations they choose." "I do not suppose many Fighters choose it, but we can ask if we see the town guard. Not that I have seen any." "There have been a few walking around. You probably will never notice unless you do something to attract their attention. They don''t normally wear uniforms in towns. It''s only in larger cities or the capitals where they are more regimented." "Why did they not show up when I fought Malcolm?" "They did." "They did nothing to stop it, though?" "They won''t if you are both Legionnaires. It would be different if you fought with someone from the township. It is likely then they would have stepped in." "You could have told me this previously?" "Why? Nothing happened, did it?" "It still would have been nice to know." "I thought you just said you were already getting lost with everything, and you still want me to add more?" SJ dropped her head, sighing, and picked up the coffee, taking a gulp before replying. "No, You are right. I did say that. I would ask if there was anything I may need to know before I do something that might get me in trouble; you tell me immediately. Is that okay?" "Sounds okay." "Priorities. Tailoring, Martial Arts, and Weapon Proficiency." "No problem. Sounds like we are starting to form a plan." "I still need a notebook and pencil. It would really help to be able to take notes of everything." SJ''s display triggered. Due to the lack of practice for your current Kata Level, it has been reduced to Level 2. This can be regained easily by ensuring that you maintain your training regime. SJ cursed under her breath. "Oh. That sucks," Dave replied, stating the obvious. "It would have been nice to get a warning." "The skill did say you needed to practice it." "I know, but just removing a skill level. Does that happen in normal professions?" "No. Only when referring to training proficiencies related to combat skills. Once you have some, the same can happen to weapon proficiencies. That is why you always see guards sparing to maintain their levels even if not in active combat." "It makes sense with skill fade. It is annoying and very fast for the Kata to drop down quickly. You don''t forget how to do something that easily." "Oh. Like forgetting to read instructions on recipes," Dave replied. SJ felt too tired at the moment to go and start practising her Kata, so she stayed observing the various members of the town as they filtered into the Inn. Even though she had been in the Inn the previous evening, she had not paid the same amount of attention to whom or she should say what was around her. There were so many different races. Kerys walked over with the steaming coffee pot and topped up her glass mug without asking. SJ just smiled, thanking her. The coffee was so good; it reminded her of the coffee she used to get from a little Bistro in London. It had a deep, bitter, chocolatey taste. She had drifted off listening to the Bard daydreaming and thinking about her tailoring and the damn socks she needed to knit when a scuffle broke out. She watched as a small Goblin was lifted off the ground by his collar and held in front of a large, very angry-looking Orc. "Cheat," the Orc screamed at the Goblin. "I didn''t cheat," the Goblin stammered, sheer terror on his face; now his feet were dangling several feet in the air. "I saw you," the Orc bellowed. There were cards and a small pile of coins on the table where they had been sitting. "I didn''t cheat, Gary. I promise. We have known each other for years, and have you ever known me cheat before?" the Goblin squealed. Gary, the Orc, paused for a moment before replying. "You have never won this many games before. You have to be cheating." "I promise I¡¯m not," the Goblin pleaded. SJ was caught up in the moment with the rest of the patrons watching things unfold when a huge blue hand came to rest on Gary''s shoulder. Bert had arrived. Gary turned and glanced at the massive troll. "Put him down, Gary," Bert said in a very pleasant and calming voice that seemed completely out of character. "We don''t want any trouble in here tonight. You have been friends with Setu for years, and there¡¯s never been a problem before." "He is cheating, Bert, and you know how I feel about cheats." "Where is your proof?" Bert said in a calm voice, still holding Gary''s shoulder. "He has to have been," Gary complained bitterly. "Without proof, you can''t say that Setu did cheat," Bert replied. "But he has to have." "Setu," Bert said, looking over Gary''s shoulder at the panic-stricken face of the Goblin. "Have you cheated today?" "I promise I haven''t, Bert," Setu said hurriedly. "There we have it then," Bert replied. "Put Setu down, please, Gary. I don''t want to have to stop you," Although Bert had spoken calmly, there was a definite undertone of threat. With a deep sigh, Gary glanced back at the huge troll and dropped Setu to the Inn floor. Setu cried as he dropped and landed in a pile at his feet. That was when the cards slipped out of his sleeve. "I told you he cheated!" Gary bellowed and went for Setu. Setu panicked, trying to crawl across the floor under the table, as Gary shrugged Bert''s hand off and reached down, grabbing his ankle and hauling him back out from under the table. Kerys had walked over and stood next to Bert. "GARY!" she yelled at the Orc, bringing absolute silence to the Inn. Everyone had been watching the incident unfold, but you could have heard a pin drop when she shouted. Gary, hearing the exceedingly loud shout of Kerys, stopped in his tracks. A yelping terrified Setu half lifted, half scrabbling to get away. "Put him down this instant," Kerys continued. Gary growled in response and continued to pick Setu up, dangling him by his leg and shaking him. As he did, even more cards fell from his jacket sleeves. "See, I told you he was cheating." "Don''t you dare hurt him," Kerys said in a warning tone. SJ could see Bert was ready to get involved, but Kerys''s look could have frozen water. "I want my coin back," Gary growled, looking at Setu''s upside-down face. Setu, in his upside-down pose, grabbed his pouch dangling from his belt and went to open it, scattering all its contents onto the Inn floor. Coppers and a few silver coins rolled away. SJ watched as the coins made their break for freedom. Gary unceremoniously dropped Setu, the squeaking Goblin landing on his head with a thump and bent to pick up the coins. Kerys walked to stand next to the sprawled Setu, who was trying to sort himself out and rubbing his head. "Setu. I have known you for years, and you have known Gary for years. Why have you chosen today to cheat?" She said sternly with her hands on her hips. "I need to pay the bill," Setu said, crying. "What bill?" "The alchemy bills. Margu''s been sick, and I had to get a treatment of potions for her." "Why did you not just ask someone? Rather than trying to cheat your best friend?" "I didn''t know what to do," Setu sobbed. "Without the potions, Margu will die." "What is wrong with her?" "GoblinPox," Setu sniffed. An audible gasp came from around the Inn. "What is GoblinPox?" SJ whispered. "Very bad. Very bad. Has a high mortality rate," Dave replied. "Is it common?" "No. It''s very rare. The last outbreak I know of was over twenty-five years ago, and I have not heard of a case since. It killed so many of the Goblinkin and even transferred to livestock. There was a massive cull of cattle and sheep. It cost many farmers their livelihoods, never mind the lives of so many Goblins and Goblinkin. If there is a case in town, it''s not good." "So, the cure is made by an Alchemist?" "There is no cure! Whoever is selling Setu something is selling him false hope. You either survive the fevers and pull through, or you don''t. No matter of healing can be done to remove the sickness." "Where does it come from?" "They say it was originally manufactured by a Goblin Warlock, who was trying to create a disease to wipe out a rival clan. It somehow got out and started spreading. Thousands of Goblinkin died. By Goblinkin, I mean it could also affect similar races." "Such as?" "Fae." "FAE," SJ replied rather loudly. "Yes. Fae and Goblin are closely related genetically." SJ''s head spun. Her hand automatically covered her mouth, reminding her of the COVID-19 pandemic. "What can we do?" "What do you mean?" "We need to try and help if we can." "Really. If I were you, I would go upstairs, pack, and move out into the wilderness. Maybe I would set up by the waterfall in that cave. It was quite picturesque up there." Dave drifted off. "I am not going to run away; we need to find a cure." "Good luck. The best Clerics, Paladins and Alchemists in all Amathera couldn''t." As soon as the patrons heard the word GoblinPox, several started to get up and leave the Inn. SJ watched as even more began to filter out. "Damn it, Setu," Kerys cursed, looking down at the broken form of a Goblin. Even Gary had stopped collecting the coin and turned to look at his friend. "You should have said Setu. I could have lent you some coin." "I didn''t know what to do, and I was too scared to tell anyone. Then this Alchemist offered me a cure, and I had no other choice," Setu blubbered. "We need to go and find this Alchemist," SJ whispered. "If there is one thing I hate, it is those that rob from the desperate," SJ had dealt with a charity commission where one of the executives had been siphoning off funds to provide a lavish lifestyle for himself, and it had been the one case that had gotten to her more than any other as a forensic accountant. He had gone to great difficulty hiding all these microtransactions to a company providing aid to which he had links. It took her nearly twelve months to get to the bottom of it and find all the sources. It was the case that had lined her up for her next promotion. SJ¡¯s display triggered. ? Chapter 29 – The Pox Quest ¨C Save a soul Your time in the Inn has allowed you to witness the poor happenings of Setu. Will you take up his cause to find and confront the unlawful Alchemist? Yes/No Successful completion will award the following: Unknown ¡°Now that is very interesting,¡± Dave said. ¡°What is?¡± SJ whispered ¡°Getting issued a Quest without directly interacting with the persons who are affected by an issue.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not normal then?¡± ¡°No. Also, it doesn¡¯t offer you a reward either, which again is very strange.¡± ¡°I am going to accept it.¡± ¡°Do what you must.¡± SJ accepted the Quest. Quest ¨C Save a Soul Update ¨C You have accepted the Quest Save a Soul. You have 24 hours to locate, confront and deal with the culprit. If you succeed, then you may just save Margu from her current expected demise. ¡°That sounds ominous,¡± SJ whispered. ¡°A timed quest at level 5. Something else that does not happen is that timed quests should not normally start until level 15. Being an anomaly does have perks.¡± ¡°What perks?¡± ¡°Timed quests usually give better rewards, although none are listed, which is very strange. I think the System is struggling to determine what to do with you.¡± ¡°All these quests come from the System?¡± ¡°Sort of. They have an infinite list of options and variables available to them, and a team assigns quests based on rafts of data and basic assumptions. You think of it, and it could potentially create a related quest. Quests are normally directed to Legionnaires based on class, race or world situations.¡± ¡°It¡¯s random, then?¡± ¡°Yes and no. I think because you signed out¡ªcorrection, you were told you had to waive the terms and conditions¡ªall normally restricted quest options are no longer restricted. This could have good and bad repercussions.¡± ¡°How?¡± ¡°Quests are normally level-related, and timed quests, as I say, are usually not until level 15 and often require a specific skill or knowledge to complete. They are usually progression quests for improved skills, abilities, or items.¡± ¡°The rewards could be good then?¡± ¡°Potentially. 24 hours is a very short time frame, though, for completion.¡± The bar had reduced by more than half the patrons since the mention of GoblinPox. Setu was now sitting back at the table, his head in his hands, sobbing, with Gary now consoling him and patting his shoulder. It was strange seeing the actions of these different races interacting in the way they did. ¡°I need to talk to Setu,¡± SJ said, rising. SJ walked over to the table where they were sitting, stood, and waited for them to notice her quietly. Gary looked over. ¡°Can I help you?¡± ¡°I''m sorry to interrupt. I''m new here. I just heard what was said, and I wondered if I could help in any way.¡± ¡°And how would you be able to help?¡± Gary asked, frowning at her. Gary¡¯s face immediately looked very intimidating when he did. ¡°I would like to speak to the Alchemist on behalf of Setu, wasn¡¯t it?¡± At the mention of his name, Setu looked up, bleary red eyes looking at her. He looked in a terrible state. Tears still flowing down his cheeks. ¡°He isn¡¯t here,¡± Setu replied. ¡°Where is he?¡± ¡°He said he would be back in three days with the rest of the cure. He had to go and get materials for his potions.¡± ¡°What about the sickness in the meantime?¡± ¡°He made up what he could. I have already paid an advance for half of the next batch, but I need to make 25 silver before he returns.¡± Gary baulked. ¡°Half! You have already paid 25 silver?¡± ¡°More. I had to give him Margu¡¯s stall license to be able to pay the initial fees.¡± ¡°YOU GAVE HIM HER STALL LICENSE,¡± Gary replied in shock. ¡°I had no choice. The payment for the initial tonic was 15 silver, and then there was a half payment for the next batch.¡± ¡°40 silver!¡± Gary exclaimed. ¡°That¡¯s ridiculous.¡± ¡°To cure my Margu of GoblinPox, I would pay whatever it takes.¡± SJ was tempted to tell them what Dave had said about there being no known cure but didn¡¯t want to upset him further. ¡°Do you know where he headed for the materials he needed?¡± ¡°He was going up the mountain. The one with the Dragon at its peak. He needed some special flower or something. I can¡¯t remember the name.¡± ¡°He is back in three days, you say?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°What was his name? ¡°Darjey.¡± ¡°And what did he look like?¡± ¡°Human.¡± ¡°Anything else?¡± ¡°Youngish. I am not very good at noticing other racial features; all humans look the same to me.¡± ¡°Okay. Thank you, and I am sorry to hear what has happened.¡± ¡°I am surprised you have even come near me. I will be the town''s leper now,¡± Setu said, dropping his head back down. SJ left them to it. Gary exploded and cursed at the fact that it had cost Setu so much money, and he had not even spoken to his best friend about it. SJ walked over to the bar. Kerys was standing, talking quietly to Bert. ¡°I know it isn¡¯t ideal, but we need to ask Setu to leave. I am sure he will understand,¡± Kerys said. ¡°I know Kerys, but I feel bad for him. Setu has been coming here since being a sprogling when his old man used to come play cards.¡± ¡°We can¡¯t do anything about it, though. Just from hearing the word GoblinPox, half the patrons left. We can¡¯t run an empty Inn.¡± ¡°Sure. Sure. I will go and have a word,¡± Bert said glumly. Bert walked over to the table where Gary and Setu were sitting and started to talk to them quietly. ¡°Kerys?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± Kerys replied, realising SJ was standing there. ¡°Is everything alright?¡± ¡°Ah. You won¡¯t know about GoblinPox. It is a horrible illness that affects Goblin and other related races. It is obvious that Setu doesn¡¯t have it; otherwise, he would be covered in pox. You need to be careful as Fae, though.¡± ¡°Are gnomes not affected by it?¡± ¡°No. We are not genetically similar to Goblinkin.¡± ¡°That is good to know. Is this the first case you have heard of?¡± ¡°In town, yes. We were lucky when there was a severe outbreak years ago. We locked the town down. No one was allowed in or out. It was a difficult time with the reduced trade. But we pulled through. That was thanks to Mayor Maxwell¡¯s quick thinking.¡± ¡°I see. How do you know what it looks like?¡± ¡°From information and leaflets sent out to all townships in Amathera. It must have cost them a fortune to produce magical text that also had pictures on them.¡± ¡°Magical texts?¡± ¡°Yes. Whoever read it could understand it. It translated into their common tongue.¡± ¡°Oh. I thought there was just one language here, from what I have experienced anyway.¡± ¡°No. There are hundreds. It is just that most can and do speak in the common tongue. Some clans, towns, and villages don¡¯t, as they have stayed away from the main areas of Amatheran society.¡± ¡°I see. Who paid for it all?¡± ¡°It is the only time I have known the continents to work together. They usually argue or have disputes over something, and wars break out. On this occasion, though, they all understood how severe the sickness was.¡± ¡°It is good to know they could get past their differences when needed.¡± ¡°Yes. It would be nice if they did it normally, though, and not wait until there was an epidemic to deal with.¡± SJ nodded in agreement. It was obvious that the System had used information from Earth in its projections. What confused SJ was that this had happened on Amathera 25 years ago, while the pandemic on Earth had only occurred four years before. It was either a massive coincidence or something to consider. Dave suddenly interrupted her thoughts. ¡°I have a plan.¡± ¡°Thanks, Kerys. I will come and get some food in a while.¡± ¡°No problem,¡± Kerys said, looking over and watching a dejected, downtrodden Setu and Gary leave the bar under Bert¡¯s gentle escort. SJ headed to the stairs and up to her room. ¡°What plan?¡± she said, now out of earshot of anyone else. ¡°A cunning plan.¡± Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. ¡°Expand.¡± ¡°We know that the Alchemist can¡¯t fix a cure as there isn¡¯t one.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°That means he will return to give Setu potions that have no effect and collect the remainder of the money.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Well, we just wait for him to come back.¡± ¡°Really? And how does waiting three days for this Darjey help me complete a quest that I have 24 hours to complete?¡± ¡°Ah, I didn¡¯t think of that,¡± Dave replied. SJ sighed, shaking her head. ¡°Sometimes you do concern me.¡± ¡°Me. How?¡± ¡°You are an AI that is supposed to be all-knowing, yet you forget about the simplest things.¡± ¡°I do not!¡± ¡°Yes, you do.¡± Silence. SJ entered her room and jumped out of her skin, seeing the strange-robed figure sitting on her Sofa. ¡°You¡¯re back at last,¡± the stunningly beautiful Fae sat on her Sofa said. SJ stared open-mouthed for a moment before gathering herself. ¡°How did you get in here?¡± ¡°I flew.¡± SJ looked at the window she had opened this morning when the commotion in the market square awoke her. ¡°Oh. Who are you?¡± ¡°We met earlier.¡± ¡°I am sure I would have remembered meeting another Fae, especially one as beautiful as yourself,¡± SJ replied honestly. She was stunning, with bright blue hair flowing to her waist and an angelic face. She wore pale blue robes that matched her hair perfectly. ¡°Yes. We met at the Mage Academy.¡± SJ looked shocked; the Fae she had seen at the academy was an ugly, wart-covered old Fae. ¡°You are the same person? ¡°Oh. My appearance earlier," the Fae giggled. "We had been practising curses. Julliet decided it would be funny.¡± ¡°Julliet?¡± ¡°The mage I was training.¡± ¡°You let her curse you?¡± ¡°Yes. Just to see how long it would last. I was very impressed she managed to make it last for several hours before I returned to normal. Anyway, please come sit down. I believe we need to talk.¡± SJ did as she was asked as Dave whispered in her head. ¡°Now she¡¯s a 10.¡± SJ tried to ignore his comment as she sat down. She felt inferior to this Fae. Who was not just beautiful but also oozed power and confidence. ¡°You wanted to speak to me about what exactly?¡± ¡°I have so many questions. I thought you were not interested in speaking to me earlier?¡± ¡°I was just busy. I always have time for others of our kind,¡± She said, smiling, her face and features looking even more beautiful. ¡°I am SJ. Nice to meet you. Mistress Francisca, wasn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°It was, but just call me Fran. That is my Mage school name, and I can see you are not a Mage.¡± ¡°Erm. No, I¡¯m not.¡± ¡°Do you mind if I ask what class you are?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t tell her!¡± Dave erupted in her head. ¡°I am an adventurer.¡± ¡°Yes, I know you are, but what class are you?¡± ¡°I am not sure I should say?¡± SJ said, having not felt so nervous in a very long time. ¡°Why not? You can¡¯t develop your class unless people know what you are and can guide you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t,¡± Dave again said. ¡°I am actually a ¡­¡± ¡°DON¡¯T!¡± Dave¡¯s voice boomed this time. ¡°A monk,¡± SJ finally finished. ¡°Oh. A monk, now that is unusual. There are very few Fae Monks.¡± SJ gave a huge internal sigh of relief. ¡°I¡¯m still new, so I¡¯m trying to learn the basics and also how to fly.¡± ¡°Ah. I see. You have not found a trainer yet, then?¡± ¡°No. I only arrived in town two days ago. I have been busy completing quests and getting provisions.¡± ¡°I see. Well, I am not sure Brother Wilbert is currently taking on any new trainees. I think he has a waiting list.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t think there were that many Legionnaires here. Why are there so many apprentices?¡± ¡°It is just not your kind that trains professions. Many travel from the outer villages to train here. We are the only training town in several days'' travel.¡± ¡°That makes sense, although Cleric Lythonian mentioned that one of the Mages had to go to an academy in the local city to train,¡± SJ replied, wondering how many villages were around the town. She had not considered the wider world yet. Apart from seeing the buildings in the valley when she had come to the village, she had not seen anything else. ¡°Ah. That would be young Willoc. He was an exceptional Mage. I taught him the basics, but he wished to specialise in Lightning Magic, and unfortunately, I am not skilled in that strand. It is rather specialist. My skills are the main elements. Earth, Wind, Water and Fire.¡± ¡°You know all of them?¡± ¡°I know enough, especially to train new Mages at the start of their journeys.¡± ¡°I see. I am surprised. I did not realise that Mages could use all elements?¡± SJ could remember her gaming days when you always had to pick a specialisation you focused on. ¡°I have a primary element, Water, but as Fae, we are more finely attuned to the basic elemental magic variants.¡± ¡°That sounds amazing.¡± ¡°Why did you choose Monk as your class?¡± Fran asked. ¡°I have always enjoyed helping people, and it seemed like a good option. However, I was torn between becoming a Monk or a Cleric.¡± SJ lied. ¡°Strange choices for a class for a Fae. Probably the rarer ones. Although not as rare as some classes.¡± ¡°I am guessing a lot are Mages?¡± ¡°And Druids, Rangers or Archers.¡± ¡°Well, I have been told I¡¯m an anomaly, so it makes sense I chose something unusual,¡± SJ smiled. ¡°Anomaly,¡± Dave chuckled. ¡°Very good. I saw what you did there.¡± Ignoring Dave, she continued. ¡°So, Fran, can you teach me how to fly properly? I have flown but got grabbed by a raven when I did and nearly became bird food.¡± Fran chuckled. ¡°Yes, I can teach you to fly. You are probably doing it all wrong. Let me see what you do.¡± SJ shrunk to her miniature form as Fran did the same. The pair stood on the Sofa. Fran was a couple of inches taller than SJ. ¡°You are on the smaller side, I see. That should improve mobility in flight,¡± Fran said. ¡°That is good to hear.¡± ¡°Right, let me see you fly.¡± SJ beat her wings as she had been doing previously, getting faster and faster until she slowly lifted from the Sofa. She could immediately feel the burning in her back muscles. ¡°I see what the problem is straight away,¡± Fran said, laughing. SJ landed and looked at her, frowning. ¡°Sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to laugh; I had forgotten what new Fae look like when they try to fly.¡± ¡°What am I doing wrong?¡± ¡°You are flapping your whole wing on each side at the same time.¡± ¡°Sorry? I don¡¯t understand?¡± ¡°Watch me,¡± Fran beat her wings several times and immediately lifted into the air. ¡°How?¡± SJ asked in amazement. ¡°Look how I move my wings,¡± Fran said. SJ watched and realised that the wing elements were moving independently. Fran was not beating her whole wing. They seemed to ripple rather than beat from top to bottom. The independent small movements added to the down draft, giving her lift rather than forcing a single beat. It also meant that she could stay hovering easily without leaning backwards. ¡°I see. I need to move my wing elements independently from each other?¡± ¡°Yes. Beating them together like that will give you lift but no stability. I am surprised you did not just crash.¡± SJ¡¯s cheeks reddened. ¡°Haha. You did, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± SJ replied meekly. ¡°The first time I tried, I ended up face-first in the dirt.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. You are not the first and will not be the last.¡± ¡°I am not sure how to move my wing elements separately. Is there a technique?¡± ¡°Young Fae are taught from birth, so it becomes natural. For your kind, it is a little trickier. You have a different muscle structure than you are used to. Try to feel the individual muscles rather than one combined muscle.¡± SJ concentrated on the muscles in her back and slowly began to move the top element of one wing by itself. ¡°Yes,¡± she said excitedly. ¡°Very good. You need to spend time each day completing the exercise with each muscle group. I would say at least ten minutes four times a day. It doesn¡¯t take long, and once you can work them independently, you will soon be zipping around,¡± as Fran finished, she beat her wings and flew up into the air so fast SJ nearly fell over, tilting her head back to watch her. With the precision and finesse of the Earth¡¯s best air display teams, she completed loops and sharp turns before gently landing on the Sofa. Her breathing had not even changed. ¡°Wow. That was amazing,¡± SJ sputtered. ¡°Ha. It''s nothing special. You will be able to do it soon enough. If you do the individual muscle exercises within a week, you can try flying by the same method. The movement comes naturally once your wings work as they should,¡± Fran laughed. ¡°Thank you so much for your help.¡± ¡°Anything for another Fae. We are not always the most popular.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Many of our kind are good at causing mischief. I spent a long time building the town''s trust before opening the apprenticeship scheme.¡± ¡°I had heard that. Everyone I have spoken to here, though, has been helpful and kind.¡± ¡°Just be careful. Not everyone is what they appear on the surface. Many have deep set feelings about Fae.¡± ¡°I will be careful.¡± ¡°I better get back to the apprentices. There is no saying what they have got up to in my absence,¡± Fran said as she flicked her wings and soared into the air again. ¡°If you need anything, you know where I am. If I do not see you before, come and check in in a week or so, and maybe by then, we could go for a flight together. I haven¡¯t flown with another Fae in several years now.¡± ¡°I will, and thank you so much,¡± SJ smiled, waving as Fran disappeared out of the window. ? Chapter 30 – The Docks "What now?" Dave asked once Fran had flown off. "Now I practice moving my wings. Things will be easier as soon as I get this sorted out." "What about the quest? It''s on a timer, remember." SJ had forgotten about the quest in the excitement of meeting another Fae and being taught the basics of flight. "Bah," SJ grumbled. Having so many things she wanted and needed to do was frustrating. What do we know? A supposed human Alchemist has conned Setu. He has already paid a fortune to get nothing to help and is expected to pay more for a miracle cure that doesn''t work." "You know you asked him what he looked like, but you never actually asked where he met him." "Damn it," SJ could have kicked herself. Having been so analytical in her Forensics role, she was now not even considering the basics. "I wonder where Setu lives; maybe I can speak to him." "I would not advise that!" Dave said, surprise in his voice. "Why?" "If Margu has GoblinPox, you don''t want to get anywhere near it." "I was thinking about that." "What?" "Do you really think it is GoblinPox? Who diagnosed it as GoblinPox? If there hasn''t been a case in 25 years, how has it suddenly appeared in this town? I am not sure that it is GoblinPox. It sounds suspicious. The way the quest was worded was to deal with the culprit." "That is a good analysis but a little presumptuous. What if it is, and the culprit wording was related to the money he has taken?" "How transmissible was it?" "I told you already, very." "Yet, Setu had no signs." "True, but it depends on when the illness hits. Like most illnesses, it takes time to show." "Do you know how long?" "Give me a minute." Silence. "Okay. I found the details. i just had to visit the medical archives. It is a horrible place. Some very strange AI work there." SJ imagined Dave shuddering. "Were the details not just on your Wiki?" "No. Medical details are kept confidential. You must go digging for them." SJ could imagine rows of filing cabinets full of document separators containing medical notes. "So, what did you find out?" "It has a gestation period of 24-48 hours before signs show." "If only for 24-48 hours, and he said that the Alchemist had already given him stuff and that he already had to get money for the cure. If he had been exposed, he would have symptoms by now. That, to me, means it isn''t GoblinPox." "I like your analysis, my YLF. Although still an assumption." "What does YLF mean?" "I thought your world was full of them?" "What?" "Acronyms" SJ thought for a moment. "Young loophole finder, by chance?" "Yes. See, they do work," Dave said happily. SJ rolled her eyes. "I need to find where Setu lives." "Agreed, Watson." "Watson?" "Well, I would have to be Sherlock; I am the all-knowing one, after all." Shaking her head, SJ headed back downstairs. The common room was very quiet, and the scare of GoblinPox meant enough to keep many patrons away. Kerys was not in view, so she walked over to Bert. "Hi, Bert," SJ said, smiling at the massive troll. He turned from where he stood and looked down at her. "Yes," he said flatly. SJ felt nervous under his gaze. "Do you know where Setu lives? I wanted to donate towards the money he needs." "That is very generous of you. He lives down by the docks. I''m not sure which house, though, sorry. I am sure it won''t be hard to find. There are not many houses on the island." "That''s great, Bert. Thank you," SJ replied, smiling at the big troll. Bert smiled back, showing a missing front tooth. All Bert was missing was a black eye, and with his large, squashed, flat nose, he looked just like a prizefighter. "Docks, perhaps?" Dave said. "Yes," she replied, turning and leaving the Inn. SJ had never visited the docks before, but when they arrived, they reminded her of the old fishing villages around the coasts of the UK. The dock was situated on a small island just off the town''s shore. It was reached by a large, sturdy-looking wooden bridge that could easily handle a wagon or cart. Thick wooden posts supported the frame. On the small island area, SJ could see several homes and other buildings, which she assumed were storehouses or something similar. She had loved going to the docks as a child, and the smell reminded her of her childhood holidays with her parents when she was crabbing off the side of the harbour. A Draconian was leaving one of the homes on the mainland by the bridge, so she asked if they knew Setu and where he lived. She was informed that he lived with his family in the first house on the Island. She crossed the wooden bridge that stretched a couple of hundred feet before reaching the island. The smell of fish permeated her nostrils as she walked along until she reached the first of three homes. There were lights on, and she was sure she saw a small green face in the front window. The house wasn''t very large, but considering the surroundings, she bet it was beautiful most days living here. Down from the house was a short jetty with several rowing boots attached to it, full of nets and fishing equipment. She walked up to the house''s door, knocking gently. There was no answer, so she knocked a little harder. Hearing movement inside, she stepped back from the doorway and waited. She saw a face appear in a window, and its eyes widened in shock before disappearing again. SJ wasn''t sure if it had been Setu. It was such a fleeting glance. She waited a few moments before she heard the bolt being slid on the door, which was pulled open slightly. A small Goblin face peered around its edge. "Hello," SJ said. "Hi," the small Goblin replied. "I am here to see your dad?" SJ asked, unsure if Setu was the father. "You are visiting late," "I''m sorry. I needed to speak to him about what is going on at the moment. Is he here?" "He is with Mum." "Could you get him for me?" "Not sure he will come; he is very upset; he has been crying since he got home." "Is your Mum okay?" "Mum has been asleep for ages now. Dad says she took some sleeping medicine." "I really do need to speak to your Dad. I think I can help with your Mum." "Help? What''s wrong with Mum? She is just asleep," the Goblin child said, suddenly looking scared. "No. I mean to help her sleep better." "She has been sleeping well; she has done nothing but sleep. I don''t think she needs to sleep better. Dad cooked dinner, and he isn''t a great cook. He managed to burn the Hogling." "Could you please see if your dad will speak to me?" "I can try." The door closed again, the bolt slid back across, and SJ waited. "Dave. Can you tell by seeing the illness whether it is GoblinPox or not?" "I should be able to. I saw some horrific cases during the pandemic, burst boils and everything, leaking yellow and green pus everywhere. Very unpleasant, I might add." "I didn''t need such a vivid description." "It was no worse than the spider ichor you got covered in." SJ heard footsteps, the bolt slid again, and the door opened wide this time. Standing in front of her was Setu. His face looked even more worn than it had at the Inn. "You?" he said in surprise. "Yes. I am so sorry for disturbing you." "You do realise you are putting yourself in danger coming here?" Setu asked. "I don''t think I am, and that is what I want to discuss with you." Setu frowned, looking at SJ. "What do you mean? Fae can catch GoblinPox." You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. "I don''t think it is GoblinPox." "The Alchemist diagnosed it as GoblinPox." "I think he has made a mistake." "How do you know?" "I will be able to tell if I can see her, but also, if it was GoblinPox, you would have it already. There is only a short period between infections." Setu looked confused, "But the Alchemist swore it was GoblinPox." "Let me see, and we can find out." Setu stepped to the side and allowed SJ in. Setu walked SJ down a short hallway towards the back of the house, passing the front room, where sitting on the floor was not just the small child who had answered the door but six other smaller Goblins. Setu led her into the kitchen. There were stacks of bowls and plates all over the sides and tabletops. The bin also looked overflowing, and SJ assumed that Setu could not keep on top of anything. For the house to have so many in it, it was deathly silent, none of the smaller Goblins making a sound, all quietly sitting there reading. It was the strangest scene she had ever witnessed. Leading from the backroom was a set of steps that led upstairs. Following Setu upstairs, he led her to the room at the front of the house, opening the door quietly. The stench that hit her nostrils was horrendous. It smelt of rotten fish. Scrunching her face up slightly, she walked in. SJ could not resist asking, "What''s that smell?" holding her nose. "Oh. Sorry, I need to wash them off," Setu answered with an embarrassed look reaching behind the bedroom door and removing some overalls, screwing them up onto a ball and throwing them into a basket. He then grabbed the basket and removed it from the bedroom, closing the door. "I was on cleaning duty today at the docks. Always get covered in the guts." He smiled sheepishly. SJ saw a small form lying on the bed, wrapped under the sheets. "Do you mind if I check?" "No." Setu walked up to the bed, slowly lifting the sheet, and pulled it back slightly, revealing Margu''s face." SJ looked down on Margu''s still form, her Goblin skin pale green. On her face, she had small reddish-coloured marks. As Dave had stated, there were no lesions or boils. To SJ, it looked more like measles than anything she knew from Earth. "That is not GoblinPox," Dave said emphatically. SJ moved closer to look at the markings more clearly. "That isn''t GoblinPox," SJ said. "What do you mean?" Setu said. "GoblinPox creates boils and lesions that weep. Has Margu had any of those symptoms?" "No." "Then it is not GoblinPox." "How can you be so sure?" "I just know." "Then what is it?" "Can you tell me all her symptoms?" SJ just hoped that Dave understood what she needed him to do. She could not exactly speak to him now. "She started feeling unwell about eight days ago. She got tired and sleepy. Then the rash appeared, and she would not wake up." "So, she has been asleep for nearly eight days?" "No sleeping for nearly five now." "Has she had a temperature?" "Sorry?" "Felt hot to touch? Burning up or a fever?" "No. The rash appeared, and then four days ago, I saw this alchemist. Who diagnosed it as GoblinPox." "Did the Alchemist come and see Margu?" "No. He couldn''t visit due to his other patients. He did not want to chance passing it on, although as a human, he could not catch it." "Okay. I have visited the archives again," Dave coughed as though he had been in a dust-filled room. SJ could not understand why an AI would be coughing. It was not as if he could suffer from dust. "Looking at the rash and the symptoms, I believe she has Torupiatiarriallyisy, more commonly known as Torup. It is a sickness brought on by eating raw fish from a pregnant Torpi, and the chances of it affecting you are exceedingly rare. I believe this is a fish that lives in this lake. It only gestates every decade and then gives birth to thousands of fish at a time. It is not contagious, and symptoms will last ten to twelve days. It says that most feel better after they have been affected by it due to the amount of rest they get. It is completely harmless, apart from tiredness and its impact on sleep. There was a footnote saying that some people deliberately try and fish for pregnant Torpi to try and get the sickness as once the rash clears, it is supposed to leave the skin better than it was before." "Have you ever heard of Torup?" "No." "Do you fish Torpi in the lake?" "Yes. We occasionally catch one, not very often, though; the last one we caught was probably about nine days ago. I remember because Margu made us some raw fish salad. It is one of the kid''s favourites." "She has Torpu. It is harmless, and the symptoms will pass in another few days," SJ said, not even going to attempt to say the full name. "It is caused by eating raw Torpi from a pregnant fish." "How can you be so sure?" "She has no signs of GoblinPox; if she did, she would have boils on her skin, not a red rash." "Wait, so what about the potions the Alchemist gave me?" "Can I ask who directed you to the Alchemist in the first place?" "I bumped into a half-orc at the docks the other day and was just talking to him. He said I should see an alchemist suggesting one over near the tailor''s shop." "Could you describe exactly where near the Tailor''s shop?" "It is across the street on the other side and then second left behind Kilo''s and a few doors down." "I have no idea what Kilo''s is or where that is." "I can show you if you wish." "That would be great." "I need to speak to Situ and let him know we are going to nip out." They walked back down the stairs, and Setu spoke to his eldest sprogling before leaving the house and heading towards the bridge. When they arrived, a large wagon had been brought onto it and parked across it, blocking access. "Who has left this here?" Setu said, annoyed, and walked up to the wagon. The animals had been unhitched, and empty reins were left dangling. SJ noticed a large sheet of parchment tacked to the rear of the wagon, facing the inhabitants of the Island. Until further notice, all residents of the docks are hereby under quarantine and must remain on the Island. No one shall be permitted to leave without prior written permission from Mayor Maxwell. Signed, Captain Broadaxe. "We could go in one of the boats, I suppose. I have the small rowing boat tied up at the end of the sproglings'' jetty." "I think we need to visit this alchemist as soon as possible to try to end this." "He was going away, though?" "I don''t think he has gone anywhere." "You think he has lied to me," Setu started to look angry. SJ wished she hadn''t said what she did. "I am just concerned that he misdiagnosed something from your sickness description." SJ had not mentioned that there was no cure for GoblinPox, and until Margu woke, didn''t want to panic him further. He stood with a look changing from confusion, fear, anger and embarrassment, all in seconds of each other as the emotions tore through him. They made their way to the jetty. The rowing boat was a small affair, with only room for the two of them, and it was more suited to the sproglings. Setu was a proficient rower, and within minutes, they had crossed the small open lake area, reaching the bank on the other side. The moon had taken over in the sky, and now, the sun was completely hidden for the night. Her night vision allowed her to see clearly in its soft, pale light. It reminded SJ of night vision goggles she had tried off a friend back on Earth, although there was no green colouring, and it was much clearer. It was quite a strange sensation. Setu pulled the small rowing boat up onto the side of the shore. "This way," he said, leading SJ into the town''s streets. She had never seen this part of town before, and the houses that looked directly onto the lake were much larger than the ones in the centre where she had spent her time. They all had front gardens and small stone walls that separated them, reminding her of some of the villages in the Yorkshire dales. They used to go to Yorkshire regularly, where her Uncle Dave lived. He always joked about Yorkshire beer and Yorkshire countryside being wasted on Yorkshiremen. He was originally from Lancashire, and there was still an ongoing camaraderie dating back to the War of the Roses. The memories pulled at her. "It''s just over from the tailor shop," Setu said as they came onto the main street, which SJ now recognised. Fizzlewick''s shop was over to the right, and they crossed diagonally from it and then down another street. This street was much narrower, and there was little light to reach it due to the overhanging, thatched roofs nearly touching each other, apart from weak light shining from the odd house window. Her eyesight was still able to cut through the gloom. After walking down the street, they took a second to leave, past a building called Loki''s Tattoo Parlour and six other buildings, before Setu stopped at the door. Seeing a Tattoo Parlour in the town amazed SJ. "Here it is." The building looked like any other in the town, with no discernible features making it stand out. A sign was tacked to the door. Darjey''s Emporium of Alchemical Cures. Any illness or sickness can be diagnosed and cured with one of my potions. Enquire within. If there is urgent care and there is no answer, please contact Niweq at the Wandering Ogre. No signs of light came from the building, and it looked empty. SJ tried the door out of chance, and it was locked. "I think you should head back home, Setu. I can investigate from here, and if I find anything out, I will let you know." "I told you he wasn''t here," Setu said, his shoulders slumping. "Look. I know it is difficult to understand, but Margu doesn''t have GoblinPox, and there is no chance that she will die from what she has. If anything, she will feel much better when she wakes up. Go home, clean up the house, and take care of the sproglings." "If I do find out he has robbed me!" "You won''t do anything about it. I will deal with it," SJ replied, her tone quite stern for the first time. SJ had no idea how old Setu was and knew he was not a child, but she felt she was scolding one when she spoke to him. "Sorry, I didn''t mean to be so harsh." "No. I understand," Setu replied forlornly. "I will see you as soon as I find anything out." "Thank you." "Make sure you clean up, though; you don''t want Margu to wake up in the state you left the kitchen in." If a Goblin''s cheeks could have gone a brighter shade of red, SJ was not sure how. "I was so worried about Margu. I have spent my whole time upstairs when I was not at work. Situ has been feeding the sprogs. I was only out with Gary because I needed the money and had no other way of making it." "Go head back home. I will see you when I get to the bottom of this." Setu turned, walking back down the street. "Time to go and visit the Wandering Ogre," SJ whispered.? Chapter 31 – The Wandering Ogre "You should have asked for directions before Setu left," Dave said. "Yes, alright," SJ snipped back at his comment. "I just need to ask someone else." Not many were out on the streets this late, but a few still walked along in the warmth of the evening. SJ approached a Halfling strolling down the road, blowing vast billows of smoke from a pipe he held. It was the first sign of smoking she had seen since arriving. "Excuse me?" The Halfling turned to look at her. "Yesh," he said, his pipe sticking out of his mouth. "Do you know where the Wandering Ogre is?" "Errr. I do, but I am unsure why you would be looking for it." "Why?" SJ asked. "It is not the nicest of Inn''s for such a pretty Fae as yourself." "I need to see someone who works there about a job." "Oh. I see," he said in an almost explanatory voice, which SJ didn''t quite understand. "It is on the outskirts of town. Head as if going to the mountainside and then follow the main road to the right for a bit, and you will come upon it. It is well-lit usually at night, so you won''t miss it." "Thanks," SJ replied, smiling at the Halfling. "No, thank you. I may call in myself soon once you have a job there." SJ frowned and looked at him. "Erm. Okay, thank you again." Following the directions, SJ eventually reached the Wandering Ogre. As the Halfling had said, it was brightly lit up, and on approaching, SJ could hear music and the general good-natured sounds expected from any bar. SJ walked towards the main entrance, where two massive trolls stood, one on either side. They were even larger than Bert. "What do you want, little lady?" one of them asked gruffly as she approached. "I have come to see Niweq." "What ya wanna see Niweq for?" SJ did not want to mention the Alchemist. "I heard there is a job going." "We always have space for new uns," the first troll stated. "Especially ones lookin'' like you," the other said. They sounded almost identical, and their accent reminded her of Londoners. It was the strangest thing to hear coming from a troll''s mouth. "Go round the side entrance for Niweq. E will be in his office." "Thanks," SJ said, walking around the side. SJ walked up to a single door at the side with a lantern hanging above it. A sign on the door read ''Acts only''. "This must be a theatre or something like that?" SJ said. "I don''t think it is," Dave replied. "Then what is it?" SJ asked. "I have my suspicions, but we will see." SJ knocked on the door, and after a moment, it was opened. She looked upon the large, broad chest of a powerful-looking orc. He was huge and bent slightly to look at her. SJ coughed, slightly taken aback by his muscular form. "I am here to see Niweq," her voice squeakier than she wished for. "You after a job?" "Yes," SJ replied. "I will go and check," the door closed again. SJ stood waiting, and a minute later, the door reopened. "Okay. Follow me. He said he would see you when I mentioned you were a Fae." "What has been a Fae got to do with it?" SJ asked. "We haven''t had a Fae before." SJ frowned and followed the Orc inside down a corridor. Off the corridor were several rooms, and SJ glanced inside, seeing various females of differing races all sitting at desks applying make-up and similar. "It is a theatre," SJ whispered. Following the Orc down the corridor, they came to another door. A sign on the door read ''Manager Niweq Xyster¡ªMaster of the Arts''. The Orc knocked before opening the door and walking in. "Here she is boss. I told you she was a looker." SJ walked into a large office that reminded her of a scene from a film. A large desk and posters were plastered on the walls advertising different acts. "Welcome and come in," said an Elf behind his desk. He was beautiful and slim, and his finely chiselled features reminded her of a runway model. "I am Niweq, and who may you be?" he asked, smiling broadly. His smile was disarming, and SJ spluttered slightly. "SJ." "Nice to meet you. Please take a seat. That''s all Pethtu," he said, waving the Orc back out. The massive Orc turned and left, closing the door behind him. "So, you are here about work?" Niweq asked. "I am not, actually," SJ replied. "Oh. That is not what Pethtu told me. I know he can be a little hard of hearing, but I am sure he would have heard whether you were after work or not." "I am here for a friend. I have some questions that I need answers to." "Do you now. And who might this friend be? Does she work here?" "No. It is not she. It is a he, a Goblin friend of mine." "A Goblin friend?" "I am not sure what a Goblin would be doing asking for me. We don''t hire Goblins. They don''t go down very well with the crowd. Many of them have a select choice." "Crowd? You mean the audience." "Ha. They are not an audience in the manner you suspect, my dear. So what is this Goblin after?" "He was trying to find a man called Darjey the Alchemist." "Darjey, and why would he be looking for Darjey?" "He has been providing him with some potions for his sick wife, and he needs more." "Oh, I see. Well, Darjey is probably here. He is most evenings, but I am not sure why you would have been directed to me. I hardly know the man." "There was a sign at his shop saying he could be found here, if needed, outside of normal hours and to speak to you." "Really, that is interesting. Well, Darjey is likely to be in the main bar. He has been a regular since his arrival for the past couple of months." "Arrival?" "Yes. He and his friend are here most nights." "Oh. Your acts must be good. I have never been a fan of theatre myself." Niweq laughed. It was a mesmerising sound. "Oh. I think you may not have fully appreciated what this Inn is." "What is it?" "It is a dancing club." "What is wrong with that?" Niweq laughed again and, standing back up, walked around the desk. "Come dear, I will show you." SJ followed Niweq as he left the door; as they did, a slim figure that SJ believed to be a Dryad scurried past, holding her top and with tears on her cheeks. "Pethtu. What is going on?" "On it, boss, " the large Orc replied as he walked up the corridor and through a large curtain. On the other side of the curtain, loud music, laughter and cheering could be heard. Niweq led SJ around the side and up a small set of spiral stairs until they came out on a small balcony that overlooked the main Inn area below. A long bar was running down one side, tables dotted around, and a large stage area and short runways came out into the crowd area. SJ suddenly realised that she was in a certain sort of dance club. The females dancing to the music were all pole dancing provocatively and lewdly. SJ was shocked at the sight. The scene reminded her of a pole dancing club she had ended up at one night in London with work colleagues. She had had way too much to drink that night, and it was her first and last experience of such a club. Thankfully, none of the dancers were stripping, but it was as near as it could get without doing so. Their clothes barely covered their various forms. She saw Elves, Dryads, Humans, Orcs, and even a Dwarf, which for SJ was not the most pleasant sight, wearing a very revealing dress with her bust almost sticking out. She had a group of Dwarves on a nearby table cheering and hooting for her. "I see what you mean," SJ eventually managed to say to Niweq. "I didn''t realise there was a club like this in town." "Ah. Officially, we are not within the town boundary, so we don''t fall under the town remit. I am just a poor Elf who took advantage of a market opening." "I see," SJ replied. "Do you see the Alchemist down there?" Niweq glanced around the bar before indicating to a table on the far side. "He is sat over there with his usual group of friends. I will have to talk to him about why he uses my name for his business, though." SJ looked at the man. He was probably in his late twenties or early thirties, whistling and hollering at an Elf, dancing provocatively around a pole on a small platform. SJ was not surprised or annoyed at what she was seeing. Those dancing were just earning a living, and those willing to pay were sad enough not to have a woman at home to care for them. Of the forty patrons, they were all male, and one female sat by herself at the bar. "Do you mind if I go and speak to them?" The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. "No. I don''t mind." "How do I get there?" "From here, the only way is via the stage unless you go back around the front." "Okay. Thank you, Niweq, for your time." "My dear, it is an absolute pleasure, and I only wished you had been seeking work. I think you would have become a firm favourite for all the patrons we get." SJ was not quite sure how to reply, so she just nodded. Turning and heading back down the spiral staircase. Reaching the bottom, Pethtu strolled back towards the curtains, and Niweq followed SJ. "What was the problem, Pethtu?" "That idiot Half-Orc grabbed her again." "I have warned him before. Get the boys, will you? They can leave for tonight. This may work in your favour, my dear. The Half-Orc is a friend of Darjey''s, so they will likely leave together." "Oh. Great. I will wait outside then." SJ walked back to the side entrance, left, and went to the front of the building again. The two massive trolls had entered the Inn, and the door was stood open. SJ stood a distance away from it, and it didn''t take long for three people to be escorted to the doorway by the two huge trolls and Pethtu. "Look, lads, you have been told before. You touch the ladies; you have to leave. The boss said you can return tomorrow when you sober up again." "She asked for it," the Half-Orc complained. "None of the ladies ask for anything, you know that," Pethtu replied, closing the door on them. This left the two massive trolls on either side of the door again. "Damn it, Malcolm," the human man who SJ believed was Darjey said. "Sorry, man. I couldn''t resist; she is a stunner, that one." The realisation hit SJ that it had to be the same Malcolm she had fought with. "This could be interesting," Dave said. SJ immediately cast her Identification skill on the three of them. Malcolm Kilgore Race: Half-Orc Age: 19 Level: 6 Hit Points: 36 Mana Points: 30 Darjey Simpson Race: Human Age: 28 Level: 5 Hit Points: 25 Mana Points: 25 Peteriol Siquitch Race: Lycanthrope Age: 36 Level: 10 Hit points: 90 Mana points: 70 "I need to get back to town," the man SJ guessed was Peteriol said. "Wife is going to be wondering where I am. I said I was only going out to grab dinner," he swayed slightly on his feet as he spoke. SJ watched in amazement as the Lycanthrope transformed into a Boar and began to stagger back the way she had come from town. "Bah. Lightweight," Malcolm shouted after him. SJ did not confront them and had moved back to the side of the Inn. She watched as the pair began to stagger back towards town. "I am guessing they are the two Legionnaires?" SJ whispered. "Yes," Dave replied in an angry tone. "You okay, Dave?" "I hate people like that. There is no need for their behaviour; it is quite typical for Legionnaires, though, to be honest. They think they can do what they like." "I have not been like that, though," "No, you haven''t. You have been civilised, which again makes a change from many of them." SJ was a little concerned that Dave had such a low opinion of Legionnaires, but then again, she had only met Malcolm before, who was a complete asshat. SJ kept her distance as they walked back into town, eventually cutting down the street where the Alchemist shop was and entering the building. "It could be challenging facing two of them." "Best time to do it; they are both drunk." "Malcolm was drunk last time as well." "Not as drunk as he is now; he could hardly walk straight." "True, and the sooner I can prove the problem with Margu is fake and get Setu his money back, the better." "Agreed," Dave said with determination in his voice. "So how do we do this?" "Try knocking on the door?" Dave sarcastically replied. SJ sighed, shaking her head. "I was asking what you think I should do." "Oh. I see. Well, knock on the door as soon as it opens, force your way in and threaten them that if they don''t give you the money, you will leave a horse''s head in their bed." "It''s not the Godfather, and I am not the Mafia." "Would be cool if you were, though," SJ walked to the door and knocked on it sharply. A slurred voice called out from inside. "Who is it?" "I am seeking an Alchemist, and I heard you are the best in town." "I am, but we are closed tonight. Can you come back tomorrow?" "It is really a matter of life or death. I have silver," SJ added desperately. At the comment over money, SJ heard footsteps approaching the door. The door was pulled open, and the face of Darjey, looking very bleary-eyed and drunk, appeared. "Hello," he said, slurring and smiling. What problem needs a potion?" "My husband is ill; I require a potion to heal him," SJ said, making up absolute rubbish on the spot. She had never been a fan of improv. Darjey staggered slightly, leaning against the wall, his eyes fluttering. It was obvious that he was exceedingly drunk. "Come in, and I will see what I can sort for you," he slurred. He stepped aside, allowing SJ to enter the house. Closing the door, Darjey directed SJ into the front room. Inside was a small counter and shelving full of bottles of various coloured liquids. He went over to the counter and leaned against it, supporting his weight. There was the pungent smell of strong liquor, and an open bottle stood on the countertop. SJ could not see Malcolm. "So what are his symptoms," Darjey asked, hiccupping. "He has been asleep for several days; I have been unable to wake him, and he has come out in a rash," SJ described Margu''s exact symptoms. "Oh dear. It seems that your husband may have GoblinPox. I treated a case a few days ago; it must be doing the rounds," he replied. "GOBLINPOX," SJ cried in shock, "Is that not fatal? "No. No. I have a cure for it right here. It is very expensive though. It takes a lot to prepare and make the potion." "Oh no. I do not have much; how much is it?" Darjey looked at her from head to toe and took in her pristine dress. SJ cursed at wearing the dress now, knowing what he would say. "I can sell you a potion for twenty silver." "Twenty silver! I do not have that sort of coin." "I''m sorry, but that is the cheapest I can do it for. The ingredients are very rare and take a long time to collect and prepare." SJ could tell that this charlatan spent a lot of time perfecting his cons. He was even as drunk as he was, sounding very sincere. "But I can''t afford it. Is there anything you can do to help me?" "Umm. Let me see," Darjey bent underneath the small counter and brought out a small pouch. "I could give you this for him in the meantime until such a time as you can afford the potion. I would advise though the sooner, the better to raise funds as it can be dire without." SJ looked at the small pouch he had brought out. "What is it?" "It is a soothing powder. You sprinkle it on the rash, which should stop it from worsening. If you are struggling for coin, I do know a lender who may be able to help you." "You do? Who would that be?" "He is a friend of mine. He is here this evening but is sleeping. If you come back in the morning, I am sure we can arrange something." "How much is the powder?" "This is only two silver," Darjey said, prodding the pouch with his finger. SJ removed two silver coins from her inventory and held them in her hand. She noticed Darjey''s eyes immediately dart to the coin she now held, and she was getting more infuriated every second she talked to him. "Kill him," Dave said. "He is the scum of a Legionnaire and doesn''t deserve a second life," his tone was flat and emotionless. It was the first time SJ had heard Dave speak this way, which surprised her. Trying to maintain her act, she went to place the two silver coins on the counter and, while doing so, pretended to stumble, causing one of the coins to roll. Darjey went to grab the rolling coin, missing it in his drunken state, and it dropped to the floor behind the counter. He bent down to pick it up, and SJ took advantage. ? Chapter 32 – One good deed deserves another Quickly moving to the side of the counter, she equipped her Badger''s Blades, and as Darjey moved to stand back up from his drunken stumbling state of grabbing the coin, she presented the very sharp blades directly to his throat. Darjey stood facing her, his eyes now wide in shock. SJ gently pushed against his skin, and she saw a small trickle of blood where the blade had nicked his throat. "It is now time to talk," SJ said in a menacing tone. "What do you think you''re doing?" Darjey stammered. "I know exactly what you are doing, you charlatan. Conning poor people out of their livelihoods to provide you with drinking tokens to go to the Wandering Ogre and letch at those poor women." Darjey stood with wide-open eyes. Now that he had realized he was in danger, his vision seemed clearer already. "What are you talking about?" he squeaked, looking down at the blades. "You conned a poor Goblin out of his stall and have already taken forty silver from him to cure a disease that has no cure and is not even GoblinPox. I have a good mind just to end your life now." Darjey''s Adam''s apple jumped as he swallowed hard at the threat. "I was doing what I could to help him." "Lies. I know what GoblinPox looks like, and you did not even see his wife to confirm the symptoms. Never mind, there is no cure. I don''t believe you are even an alchemist." "I am. I am." "Really? Then what are all these different potions you have here?" SJ moved her other clawed hand to indicate the display of various bottles. Darjey''s eyes flitted to the shelves but could not answer. "I thought as much. Are you a rogue by any chance?" Darjey''s face gave it away without him even answering, his eyes flashing. There was a banging from upstairs, and she heard footsteps moving along a hallway. She stood still and put her finger to her lips, indicating that Darjey should remain quiet. He wasn''t going to say anything, looking at the sheer terror in his eyes. The footsteps continued, and then SJ heard a deep sigh and the sound of someone urinating before hearing stomping feet back down the hallway again and a door closing. "Look, it looks like your friend Malcolm is not going to be able to help you," SJ said, smiling wickedly. She enjoyed having power over this worthless sack of a Legionnaire in front of her. "You realise that people like you give us a bad name." "Like us?" "You are a Legionnaire, aren''t you, just like me," SJ said with venom. "How do you know?" "That is a secret of my class," she said smiling; narrowing her eyes, she continued, "Now, where is the money you took from the Goblin?" "I don''t have it. I spent most of it already." "Liar," She said, pricking his neck a little harder. Darjey gulped again. "Last chance, where is the money? You can''t have spent forty silver in the few days you conned him." Darjey pointed over to a small stand in the corner of the room. "What I have is in there." SJ glanced sideways very briefly where he had pointed and wished she hadn''t; it had been stupid of her. The instant she turned her head, Darjey reacted. A dagger appeared in his hand, and he immediately went to stab her. "Incoming," Dave shouted. SJ whipped her other hand down in a defensive move and parried the blow away; thankfully, Darjey was still too drunk to fight. Instinctively, SJ pressed her Bladed hand forward into his throat. Darjey''s eyes widened at the sudden realisation that his throat was now punctured. Dropping the dagger and reaching up to his now bloody throat. He staggered backwards, grasping at the counter to keep his balance, and toppled backwards into one of the sets of shelves. The contents crashed onto the floor, the glass bottles broke, and the bright liquids emptied onto the wooden floorboards, creating a rainbow of colours. Critical Hit Your instinctive reaction has caused a critical hit. A blade in a throat is never nice; four blades are even better. Piercing critical hits may cause differing effects depending upon the areas of the body damaged. SJ stepped forward and crouched over Darjey''s prone form, holding both her claws at the ready, this time without looking away. Darjey''s health had plummeted from the hit he had received, and he sat with only three hit points remaining. SJ was quite surprised at the damage the one hit had done. "You have a choice to make now. I can help you, or I can let you die." SJ heard footsteps above and heard the door open. "Darjey, what the hell are you playing at?" Malcolm''s voice came down from above. He could not answer; his throat and mouth were full of blood now, and even if he had wanted to speak, SJ doubted he could have. His eyes were wide in absolute terror, still grasping his throat. "Darjey?" SJ didn''t move. Malcolm called again, "Darjey? Whatever you did, you are cleaning up yourself in the morning." SJ listened as she heard a door close, footsteps, and the sound of a bedframe creaking. "Live or die," she whispered to Darjey. "Just kill him already," Dave said. "He doesn''t deserve to live, and I might remind you that you are an assassin and you were going to fight for the good." SJ couldn''t comment, but what Dave said hit home. She had chosen to be an assassin, and the fact was that she was now in the perfect position to complete her first kill. ''Can I end another man''s life?'' She knew he was originally from Earth as well, so he had died an accidental death; he wouldn''t be here otherwise. Wondering what sort of life he had led before he arrived, she had no idea and didn''t care. ''Dave is right; why should he live? He has conned poor Setu from his livelihood and is trying to get more from him. I will finish the job, complete the quest and reap the rewards. Whatever the rewards are.'' Darjey slowly moved his hand away from his throat, reaching out towards her wrist. Frowning, looking at him. His eyes were pleading, and she didn''t understand what he wanted. Allowing him to hold her wrist, his grip weak from the blood loss he had received from his throat. He slowly drew her hand towards his chest. He then let go and just closed his eyes. He wanted to die! Shock came over SJ in an instant, and she moved her blades away from where they rested against his chest. His eyes opened again, and she looked at him. "You want to die?" He nodded, looking at her again, the pleading look having returned. SJ didn''t know what to do now. Darjey continued to stare at her with a pleading expression. "DO IT," Dave suddenly shouted. SJ jumped from Dave¡¯s cry, jerking her hand forward, and the blades slid easily into his chest. SJ withdrew the blades quickly. Her heart was hammering in her chest as she watched the life fade from Darjey''s eyes. She had just killed a man, and her display flashed. 50 xp awarded for killing a level 5 Legionnaire. "Excellent work," Dave said in a very cheerful voice. ¡°Congratulations on your first assassination.¡± SJ knelt in shock over the now lifeless body of Darjey Simpson, the 28-year-old reincarnated man from Earth. "No, it wasn''t," SJ replied quietly. "Okay, pretty good then. You could have just finished him before he moved your hand to his chest, but meh, who is being picky? You still finished him eventually." "I don''t feel good about it," SJ hissed. "It''s the circle of life. Comme ci, Comme ca. Sometimes death is better than life for those reborn." "I am not sure why you believe that is the case?" "I have witnessed enough Legionnaires before and what they do and get up to both bad and good, and as I vaguely mentioned, many are just bad. Most are not evil; they are just idiots who cause problems for the population of Amathera. You would think that, given a second chance at life, many would wish to be better than their first, but unfortunately, that is not the case." "You are being very different at the moment?" "Am I? In what way?" "I don''t know. You seem different; you were quite ruthless, telling me to kill him." "He deserved it." "Did he deserve to die, though? He could have been arrested and locked up instead." "Nope. It wouldn''t happen. The mayor would never take the chance to lock a Legionnaire up in a starter town. It could invalidate their license." "License?" "Oh yes. Starter towns apply for licenses with the capital cities." "And how do the capital cities decide who gets one and doesn''t?" "No idea." "I am confused. How can a city decide if it is a good starter town, and what benefits does it bring to the cities? You have just mentioned it could be bad for the town to imprison a thieving Legionnaire." "Politics." "What politics?" "Oh. The usual kind. Backstabbing, shady deal varieties." "You are telling me a town is licensed to have Legionnaires start in it, yet the decisions are all political." "Basically, yes." "None of this makes sense." "Agreed. Anyway, should you stop sitting on his chest now and get up and sort things out?" SJ quickly stood, seeing the blood and multicoloured pattern that had soaked into her dress while she had knelt there talking to Dave. Thankfully, she knew her dress would clean. She sent her blades back to her inventory and stood surveying the scene. Darjey''s lifeless form lay amongst the broken bottles and shelving he had collapsed into. SJ''s display flashed. Quest ¨C Save a soul ¨C update You have defeated the evil Alchemist. Rewards: 125 xp - 2 x xp awarded total awarded 250 xp. (Bonus xp due to completing the quest in under 8 hours.) Part 2 - Return Margu''s title deeds to Setu. Rewards: unknown "Interesting. It''s a quest chain. It''s very unusual again. These are normally only level 20 and up," Dave said. SJ decided to search the room; she walked to the cabinet that Darjey had indicated, and inside was a lockbox. It was locked, so she went back over to Darjey''s corpse, placed it in her inventory and searched his pockets. Feeling physically sick as she did. "I am a goddamn assassin," SJ said under her breath. "You, okay?" If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. "Yeah. Fine," SJ replied, grimacing. In Darjey''s trouser pocket, she found a small bunch of keys, which she had pocketed. "You could just loot the body, you know?" "Oh, I can loot him as normal." "Duh! He is on Amathera." SJ looted the corpse, and the following list appeared. 2 x daggers, 80 x copper, 12 x silver, 2 x potions of minor healing, 1 x silver watch, 1 x stall title deed, 1 x house title deed, 1 x rabbit foot, 1 x used tissue, 1 x rubber SJ was already carrying her waterskin and rations in her inventory, so not everything would fit, and her display gave her the option to select what she wanted. The coins were no problem. They were just absorbed, but the rest stayed on the screen. She didn''t need daggers, so she ignored them and selected the potions, watch, and deeds. Leaving everything else there. "That was easy getting the title deed back straight away." "You should search the rest of the house while you are here," Dave said. SJ turned, looking around the room. Nothing looked of value, and she was sure all the bottles were just full of coloured liquid and not potions. She could not see any ingredients anywhere, which she would have expected from an alchemist. She crept out of the room and went down the hallway to the back. The back room was filthy, with empty bottles covering the surfaces and floor, and it appeared that all they did was drink. "I just received an update," Dave said. "An update?" "Yep. The AI that was accompanying Darjey just sent me a message." "What did they say?" "She just wanted to pass on her thanks for finishing him. He was apparently horrendous and abusive to the girls at the Inn." SJ felt her rage build. "I am glad I got rid of him now." "Told you. Don''t accept what you see on the surface. Many Legionnaires think they can get away with stuff in the new world without repercussions. He had also been here for three months." "Three months in a starter town and still level 5?" "All he did was, as you can see, drink. He conned people and drank, that was it, and if anyone challenged him, then he would get Malcolm to soften them up." "I may have to deal with Malcolm yet." "I would, but not tonight. Let him find his companion. He will then be looking over his shoulder at every step; watching him squirm from a distance will be funny," Dave laughed evilly. "You worry me," SJ replied, shaking her head. Seeing nothing of value in the backroom, SJ walked into a small kitchen area. There was a line of empty bottles on the side, and next to them, a rack containing smaller bottles filled with coloured liquids. SJ walked over, picking one up; its label read, ''Tailor''s dye''. "These may come in handy," as she added the rack to her inventory. It fit into one of the new tailoring slots, containing the ten small bottles of varying-coloured dyes. It was obvious to SJ that Darjey had only been producing coloured water potions. Apart from some pots and pans, nothing else looked like it had any value. "Think that is everything. I am not going to chance to go upstairs," SJ whispered. "Let''s go then." SJ quietly returned to the front of the house, standing and looking back into the front room. Darjey''s still form lay there. Shivering slightly, she turned away again, looking down at her dress. The patch of blood and dye had already been magically disposed of, and she opened the front door. The hinges squeaked as she did, and she froze as she heard stirring upstairs and a groan. There was no further movement, and she waited until she heard snoring before checking the street, which was empty, and leaving the house, pulling the door back closed behind her. "Well, I have to say that our first assassination did not go too badly overall. You have some loot, no injuries, and the deed you need for the second part of the quest chain. Malcolm will have Kobold babies in the morning when he finds the corpse." SJ didn''t reply and hurried back down the street. She checked the display timer. It was nearly midnight, and the streets were virtually empty. She noticed some people further along the street and knew she would need to return to see Setu, but she wouldn''t do it tonight. "Let''s go back to the Inn. I need to eat, and then we can visit Setu in the morning." "Okay. Glad to know you are still hungry after sticking a man; it''s a good sign of things to come as an assassin that you haven''t lost your appetite." SJ had just lost her appetite. Arriving back at the Inn and entering, the lilt of the Bard filtered through and hearing his voice calmed SJ''s frayed nerves. All the way back, she had been paranoid about being grabbed and accused of the killing. She knew the body would not get discovered until the morning and that no one had seen her, making sure that the street was empty when she had originally entered and left the house. She knew it was just her overactive mind playing tricks on her. She walked up to the bar as casually as she could and saw Fhyliss talking to Kerys animatedly. SJ stood, bidding her time, until Fhyliss disappeared into the kitchen. Kerys saw SJ standing at the bar and came over. "Hi SJ. What can I get for you?" Kerys said. "If it''s not too late, I wanted to order some food. I would also like a Honey Wine, please." "Sure." Kerys looked concerned; she did not have the same normal, carefree, and light-hearted expression that SJ was used to. Kerys placed the Honey Wine on the bar. "Are you okay?" SJ asked, picking up the Honey Wine and taking a large sip. "Yes. Sorry, I''m just a little distracted since this GoblinPox scare; the town is starting to panic. The mayor has already started talking about locking down again." "Oh, that''s not good. I may need to speak to the Mayor if that''s possible." "I am unsure where he will be or what good it would do." "It is okay. It can wait until tomorrow," SJ couldn''t say that she knew it wasn''t GoblinPox without revealing that she had discovered the truth, which would then lead to the Alchemist and the dead body. Kerys handed SJ a menu. SJ looked over the menu and selected the same as the previous night. The Hogling Loins had been delicious, but knowing that Floretta was a level 12 master, she would have to try even more dishes. Walking over to an empty table, she sat; the Inn was so quiet at this time of night. It didn''t take long for Fhyliss to come out with her food. "Hi SJ. Here you go." "Thanks, Fhyliss. Your mum told me about the GoblinPox issue." Fhyliss flopped down in a chair at the table. "Yeah. It''s going to be hard if they lock the town down again. This is what we have done our whole lives. I have worked here now for twenty-five years since turning eighteen. Mum has owned the Inn for over sixty years, and the last lockdown nearly broke her. We need to socialise as Gnomes." SJ felt so sorry for Fhyliss and was amazed that she had been working in the bar for twenty-five years; she only looked no older than eighteen years old, never mind forty-three, not that she could tell anyone''s age from other races. "I don''t think it will be as bad as you expect." "I hope not." "Fhyliss," Kerys called from the serving hatch. "Yeah," Fhyliss replied "Come and get SJ''s pie for her." Fhyliss grabbed the slice of pie from the servery. "Thanks, Fhyliss. I am going to save that until later. I assume I can store it, okay?" "Oh, yes. With Floretta''s preservation skill, you can easily store it for five days before it turns." "She has a preservation skill?" "Yes. It comes in very handy with fresh produce." SJ smiled as Fhyliss left, going to clear a nearby table. SJ finished her food and returned to the suite, carrying her glass of Honey Wine with her. Walking inside, she flopped onto the sofa and emptied the contents of her inventory. She felt better now she had eaten, and her stomach was more settled. "Dave?" "Yep," Dave''s happy and very cheerful voice came back. "You''re happy?" "Oh, Sorry, I got jealous of watching you eat, so I was watching Home Alone to distract myself." "Which one?" "The first one, of course." "Back to work. I am just looking at the stall deed. How do I transfer it?" "You just hand it to Setu, and the System will recognise it has changed hands." "Does that mean I currently own the rights to the stall?" "Yes. You will see if you read the small print at the bottom." SJ squinted at the bottom of the deed. The writing was so small, and she read her name. "Oh. That is interesting." "Yes. Deeds transfer when held, and the owner passes rights, or if someone dies, then they can be claimed by whoever finds them." "So, I have claimed these by default?" "Yes." SJ then picked up the house deed. "Farleck Cottage." "What is?" "The deed for the house was a place called Farleck Cottage." "Well, tomorrow, we should find out where the cottage is." "I am not planning on staying in town that long. If things go according to plan and I level up, why would I need a cottage here?" "Portals." "Portals? What about portals?" "Did I not tell you?" "No." "Oh. Once you level up, you can assign home portals to locations where you hold deeds. That means if you ever have a long distance to travel or need to get out of somewhere in a hurry, as long as you are not in combat, you can portal to save time." "When can they be assigned?" "The first portal can be assigned at level ten; then, you are entitled to assign a new portal every ten levels after that. You must own the deeds to a permanent structure, though. You can''t just set a portal up in a tent, cave, or clearing." "They sound amazing!" "Meh, they are okay. Most never own or bother getting deeds, and I do not think many AI tell their Legionnaires either." "Why not if it is a level requirement?" "Because most of them are idiots, I thought we had already discussed this." "Have you not had any Legionnaires over your 164 that you have liked?" "Yes, several. I still didn''t speak to them, though." "Why not?" "Usually too busy watching movies." "Hang on, that isn''t right. How can you be too busy watching movies when movies were not invented thousands of years ago." Silence. "Dave!" "Yes." "Have you been lying to me?" "About what?" "Watching movies?" "No. I watch movies all the time." "Yes, but you never used to be able to, did you? So, what did you do?" "Okay. Okay. I had a problem, alright. I have said it. Now leave it there," Dave snarked. "A problem with what exactly?" "I used to have a gambling issue; I spent thousands of years at it. I have been clean now for over 500 years, okay? I still attend weekly AIGA meetings." "AIGA?" "AI Gamblers Anonymous." "Oh. I am sorry to hear you had a problem." "I didn''t." "Denial is a sign of addiction." "Grrrr. You sound just like my counsellor." "It is getting late, and I feel tired. Let''s call it a night and get at it in the morning. We need to stop the town going into lockdown." ? Chapter 33 – You would think he would think There was a loud knock on the door. SJ stirred in her bed; the curtains were open, and it was still dark outside. SJ¡¯s eyes opened as she heard the knocking again, loud and persistent. She slowly slipped from under the sheets and pulled her dress on before walking through to open the door. ¡°Who is it?¡± SJ called. ¡°Gary,¡± the voice replied. ¡°Gary. You mean the Gary who knows Setu?¡± SJ asked. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the middle of the night,¡± SJ checked her display. It was 03:24. ¡°I know, and I am sorry, but Setu asked me to come and see you.¡± ¡°Setu? Why?¡± ¡°He has been arrested.¡± SJ unlocked the door and opened it. ¡°What?¡± ¡°He got caught returning home by the guard.¡± ¡°Damn. But why are you here?¡± ¡°He asked for me, and when I spoke to him, he told me you had been with him. He asked if you managed to find anything out. He is currently locked up due to breaking curfew.¡± ¡°I am confused. How can he break a curfew when one had not been implemented in the town?¡± ¡°No. The Mayor quarantined the docks due to the fear of GoblinPox, and after he went out and was seen coming back, the Mayor decreed that he broke the curfew he was under.¡± ¡°What can I do?¡± ¡°Did you find anything out?¡± Gary looked panic-stricken. ¡°Do I need to go and see the Mayor?¡± ¡°Setu wants you to go and see him at the jail.¡± ¡°At this time of night?¡± ¡°It never closes.¡± ¡°I am not sure what I can do, though.¡± ¡°He said you could help him. The Mayor is talking about expelling him and his family from the town. He has seven sproglings, and his livelihood is fishing, and Margu sells their catch share in the market.¡± ¡°Okay. Let me get ready properly,¡± SJ was standing with bare feet currently. ¡°Can you show me to the jail? I have never been,¡± SJ walked back through the bedroom and pulled her boots on. ¡°Yes, of course.¡± SJ left the room, locking it, and followed Gary. They left the Inn and headed towards an area of town that SJ had not visited. This area was quite run down in comparison to the areas of town she had seen before; the buildings were smaller, and the streets were untidy. Empty barrels and crates are left outside the buildings. It was strange, and SJ wondered if the main town area was more for show than anything else. It had all appeared quite well off, though. ¡°This place looks like a poorer area,¡± she whispered to Dave. ¡°It does,¡± Dave replied. ¡°I wonder why?¡± ¡°Sorry. Did you say something?¡± Gary asked. ¡°Just talking to myself, sorry.¡± They walked down a wide street; both sides were single-storey buildings only, and a large three-storey building was at the end of the street. It looked like it had two functions: the left side of the building was signed as the jail, and the right side was the barracks. It made sense for them to be together. Gary walked straight towards the jail entrance, throwing the door open, and stormed inside. ¡°We are here to see Setu,¡± he said to the bleary-eyed Gnoll sitting behind the desk. ¡°Who?¡± the Gnoll replied. ¡°The Goblin I was talking to just an hour ago,¡± Gary growled. SJ could sense his anger. ¡°Oh. The one in isolation?¡± ¡°Yes. The one who has been thrown in jail for breaking a curfew that the Mayor has decided on.¡± ¡°He is not allowed to see any more guests. Mayor''s orders.¡± ¡°What? All prisoners are entitled to visitation. That has always been the case.¡± ¡°Not now.¡± ¡°WHAT DO YOU MEAN NOT NOW?¡± Gary bellowed, growling at the Gnoll. The Gnoll sat looking at Gary from behind the counter as the outer door to the jail opened. SJ turned to see the huge man she had seen in the bar talking to Kerys. ¡°WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?¡± his voice boomed, and Gary spun around, seeing his towering form. As an Orc, Gary stood well over six feet tall, but the man was easily six inches taller. SJ watched as Gary appeared to shrink in stature, and his head dropped. The Gnoll spoke before Gary could. ¡°Sorry, Mayor Maxwell. This Half-Orc wanted to see the Goblin, and I told him you banned visitation rights. He was not happy.¡± ¡°Not happy with my orders, are you, Gary?¡± the Mayor asked with authority. Still looking down, Gary replied in a much quieter and meek voice. ¡°Sorry, Mayor. Setu is my best friend. He has worked for the town for years as a fisher.¡± The bear of a man placed his hand on Gary¡¯s shoulder; Gary looked up at him. ¡°I know he is Gary; you have been one of the leading town guards for almost thirty years, but we can¡¯t risk an outbreak, and I couldn¡¯t leave him at home if he is going to chance to leave again,¡± he replied in a much calmer voice. SJ had been quietly watching the interaction. ¡°Mayor Maxwell, is it?¡± she asked. The Mayor had not noticed the slight-framed Fae stood to the side. Turning to look at SJ, his eyes opened ever so slightly, and he was shocked at seeing her. ¡°Can I ask your name?¡± ¡°I am SJ.¡± ¡°And what is one of your kind doing here?¡± SJ was unsure what he meant by one of your kind and ignored the comment. ¡°I am here to see Setu.¡± ¡°Why would you be wanting to see a Goblin? You are a Fae and a Legionnaire.¡± ¡°I am yes on both counts,¡± SJ had been thinking carefully about what Dave had said earlier before she said her next line, ¡°I also broke the curfew you put in place. Are you going to arrest me as well?¡± ¡°Good shout,¡± Dave said. ¡°He knows he can¡¯t, and he knows you know he can¡¯t, which will worry him even more.¡± The Mayor¡¯s face flashed with confusion for a moment. He coughed slightly and replied, ¡°You broke what curfew?¡± ¡°I went and visited Setu at his home. The only reason why he left was because of me. I tricked him into coming with me. It is not his fault he left the house.¡± ¡°His wife has GoblinPox, and you visited him as a Fae? I don¡¯t believe you.¡± ¡°His wife doesn¡¯t have GoblinPox,¡± SJ said flatly. ¡°And how can you be so sure? Setu told everyone that it was.¡± ¡°His wife is suffering with Torpu.¡± ¡°Torpu?¡± ¡°Yes. It is not GoblinPox. I was going to come and speak to you in the morning about it, but due to what has happened, I have now been dragged out in the middle of the night instead.¡± ¡°How do you know it is not GoblinPox?¡± ¡°I am guessing that you are not Goblinkin related?¡± ¡°No,¡± the Mayor scoffed. ¡°I am also assuming that when the last outbreak occurred twenty-five years ago, you were informed of the details of the sickness and what it looked like.¡± ¡°Of course. I have been Mayor of the town for over fifty years.¡± The statement took SJ by surprise. He only looked in his early forties at the most, even though she had heard the comment before. His thick hair and beard and bright, intelligent, although tired-looking eyes. ¡°I suggest you visit poor Margu then and see for yourself. I am surprised that no one even thought to go and check.¡± ¡°You are doing very well tonight,¡± Dave said. "I have been thoroughly impressed so far, and I can take pride in doing such a good job as your administrator.¡± SJ could not react to Dave but wished she could. The Mayor stood silently for a moment, and SJ could see him thinking things over. You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. ¡°Also, while you think about it. Margu is asleep and probably will be for another two days, maybe three, before she wakes up from the Torpu, and you have taken the sprogling''s Dad away and locked him up. Who do you think was looking after them? Never mind that Setu has not shown any signs of the illness, which I am sure you are aware has an infection period of no more than twenty-four hours.¡± The Mayor¡¯s face changed as she spoke to him. A look of confusion turned into anger and then back to confusion again. ¡°Finally. Unless you are also going to arrest me?¡± SJ tilted her head at him. ¡°I am going to go and speak to Setu. While you decide what the best course of action is.¡± At that point, SJ began to walk towards the door leading into the back of the jail. Gary and the Gnoll were both standing in amazement, and neither of them nor the Mayor attempted to stop her as she opened the door and walked through. She was faced with a long, straight corridor, and on either side, there were bars. Then, further down, she could see separate doors with small, barred windows. She headed straight towards them, passing several forms lying in the open barred cells before arriving at them and peering through. The first had the large snoring form of a Troll in it, and the next was a sleeping Kobold. There were two empty cells, and then she looked in to see the small form of Setu sitting with his knees tucked up and holding a blanket around himself with his head dropped. ¡°Setu,¡± she called. He looked up and over at the bars, saw SJ and smiled weakly. ¡°Hi, SJ.¡± ¡°I have great news.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I have your deed back. I managed to win it from the alchemist in a game of cards.¡± ¡°How? He was away?¡± ¡°He came back tonight, and I managed to locate him after speaking to Niweq at the Wandering Ogre.¡± ¡°You went to the Wandering Ogre?¡± Setu¡¯s cheeks coloured slightly, SJ guessing he had visited himself at some point. ¡°I did, and I won your deed from him when I found him.¡± ¡°That is amazing news; at least Margu still has her stall.¡± ¡°I am not sure about the silver yet, but we will find out about that,¡± SJ could not tell him that she had stolen the silver from the shop and had not even opened the lockbox yet, so she had no idea what was in it. She could have kicked herself but had not been expecting to be dragged out in the middle of the night before having the chance to look in it. ¡°At least that is one less worry,¡± Setu said, dropping his head again. ¡°I have just spoken to the Mayor and hope things may get resolved soon.¡± ¡°How?¡± Setu asked, looking over with a glimmer of hope in his eyes. ¡°It¡¯s a long story. Just hold on here for a while longer, okay?¡± Setu looked at her, his smile a little stronger this time. ¡°Thank you, SJ. You didn¡¯t have to help me out.¡± SJ smiled back before turning and walking back down the corridor to the front. As she walked past one of the locked cells, a voice called, ¡°Clarice, is that you? I can smell your perfume?¡± SJ had an immediate flashback and shuddered, ignoring the voice, and went to the front. The Mayor now stood with two others, a very stocky and strong-looking dwarf and a very long-haired woman with bright orange hair. Gary turned to her as she walked out. The gnoll glanced at SJ and then stood and locked the door she had just walked through from the back, making it obvious that it shouldn¡¯t have been left unlocked in the first place. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± SJ said to Gary. Gary looked at her as she walked past him, ¡°Thank you, Mayor Maxwell, for your time,¡± she said as she walked to the exit. Mayor Maxwell stopped his conversation with the others and didn¡¯t answer. He just watched as SJ left the jail, Gary quickly following behind. ¡°Well, that was interesting,¡± Dave said, ¡°I was not sure which way he was going at first. I thought he may jail you at one point.¡± ¡°License,¡± SJ said. ¡°Sorry?¡± Gary asked. ¡°Oh, I need to get Setu¡¯s license for his stall,¡± SJ replied. ¡°Ah. Yeah. How did you get it back? He said he gave it to the alchemist.¡± SJ repeated the same story she had told Setu. ¡°He was willing to bet for a stall deed. What did you offer him to be willing to do that?¡± ¡°Me,¡± SJ replied. Gary¡¯s eyes shot open in surprise, but he did not reply. ¡°Did you hear what the Mayor plans to do?¡± ¡°Yes. He was going to send Lorna to check on Margu.¡± ¡°Lorna?¡± ¡°The Tigress.¡± ¡°Tigress?¡± ¡°She is a Weretiger.¡± ¡°Oh. I had no idea.¡± ¡°She is the lieutenant of the town guard. The Dwarf you saw is Captain Broadaxe.¡± ¡°Hopefully, once she reports back her findings, this will all start to get resolved.¡± ¡°I hope so.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t know you were a member of the town guard?¡± ¡°Yeah. I have been since being an Orcling. Started in the stables and worked my way up to Seargent.¡± ¡°Can I ask you a favour?¡± ¡°Of course you can, after helping Setu.¡± ¡°Do you train ¡®my¡¯ type at the Barracks?¡± Gary frowned at her reference to my type. ¡°If you mean Legionnaires. In the past, we have. We have not had anyone new in town for a while now who has inquired. In relation to Fae, no, we have never trained a Fae. We don¡¯t get many Fae in town, and those who have ever come here have always been magical-focused. I thought you were looking at your dress?¡± ¡°No, I am Monk class.¡± ¡°I see. We do have a few Monks. The best you just met.¡± ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Lorna. She is amazing at Martial Arts. She spends the day throwing all of us around in the sparring ring.¡± ¡°Do you think she would train me?¡± ¡°I can ask her. Although I may be in a little trouble after tonight.¡± ¡°Why? You did nothing wrong; you were trying to help a friend.¡± ¡°I still screamed at one of the jailers.¡± ¡°Emotions can cause us all problems at times. I wouldn¡¯t worry about it.¡± ¡°I will probably get extra duties,¡± Gary replied, sighing. ¡°Can I ask one last question?¡± They had neared the market square where the Inn was situated, talking as they had been. Gary looked at her, waiting. ¡°I would not have expected a town the size of this to have a barracks, or am I missing something?¡± ¡°Oh. There are two main reasons. One is it is the main training area for the melee classes, and secondly, it is the town defence force.¡± ¡°What does the town need a defence force for?¡± ¡°The Hobs.¡± ¡°Hobs? What are they?¡± ¡°There is a Hobgoblin clan down in the valley. They sometimes attempt to perform raids on the town.¡± ¡°I think I saw that village. On the far side of the lake?¡± ¡°Yes. That¡¯s the one.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you just go and force them out?¡± ¡°Their Chief.¡± ¡°Who is that?¡± ¡°He is a monster of an Ogre called Bordon.¡± ¡°He can¡¯t be that bad against the town guard, can he?¡± ¡°I have only ever seen him once, and he is huge, even larger than Mayor Maxwell in bear form.¡± ¡°Bear form. I didn¡¯t realise he was a Lycanthrope as well?¡± ¡°Yes. He is a beast to behold, but even he is worried about fighting Bordon.¡± They had reached the Inn entrance. ¡°I will let you go back to sleep. Thank you so much for helping tonight, and I am sorry I had to disturb you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be sorry. I was glad I could help,¡± SJ turned and entered the Inn. Making her way back to her room, SJ didn¡¯t even bother getting undressed and just collapsed on her bed. ¡°Night again,¡± Dave said. ¡°Night, Dave,¡± SJ replied. Congratulations! Your reputation with Gary was raised to friendly. SJ smiled as she drifted off to sleep. ? Chapter 34 – Visitor "ALL MAGES TO THE DOCKS, I REPEAT, ALL MAGES TO THE DOCKS" SJ was awoken by a booming voice as if it was in the room with her. She sat up in her bed; the sun was blazing through the window, and it must have been nearly noon. She wasn''t surprised she had slept so late, after last night. "What''s going on?" she asked. "No idea. Your guess is as good as mine," Dave replied. SJ climbed from the bed, untangling herself from the sheets which had wrapped her like a cocoon in the night. She had collapsed with her dress on, so she didn''t need to get dressed. She hurried to the window and looked out. In the market square, she saw several people running past, all heading toward the docks. "I wonder what it is?" "ALL MAGES TO THE DOCKS, I REPEAT, ALL MAGES TO THE DOCKS. WE HAVE INCOMING." "Incoming what?" SJ asked. She remembered the conversation she had with Gary last night, the Hobgoblin clan, and Bordon, the Ogre Chief. "Let''s go find out. Whatever it is sounds exciting," Dave said in a chipper tone. SJ pulled her boots on, which she must have removed at some point, although she couldn''t remember. She left the room and went downstairs. The common room was buzzing with gossip at the announcement. SJ saw a Dwarf she had seen in the Inn the last few nights and asked him. "What''s happening?" "Dragon''s back," was all he replied. "Oh," SJ replied as she turned to head to the Inn door. The Dragon had been amazing to see, and since her arrival, it had just been sat at the top of the highest peak in the mountains. She went outside and began to follow the running forms that were on their way to the dock as the sun was blocked out. She glanced up at the massive form of the Dragon flying over the town. It was even closer than the first time she had seen it, and it was amazing to see its glistening underbelly and cobalt blue colouring so close. It could be no more than a couple of hundred feet above the rooftops. As she reached the dock area by the lake, she could see a long line of people spread out, and she noticed Fran standing near Mayor Maxwell. Another mage SJ assumed was listening to Fran and the Mayor, and then the loud announcement voice erupted again. "ALL MAGES SPREAD OUT. MAKE SURE ALL AREAS ARE COVERED." SJ watched as the mages all checked their distance from each other and spread out in a long line. The Dragon suddenly swooped, opening its mouth and drinking from the lake as it had previously. It was such a magnificent beast to behold. She was a little awestruck seeing it again. It repeated the process of swooping across the lake''s surface another two times before, as per its previous visit, suddenly turning and powering itself into the air. "BE READY. PREPARE THE SPELLS," The voice boomed out. SJ saw Fran moving her hands in a pattern; looking up, the Dragon reached the peak of its climb, turning and diving for the lake again. "HERE IT COMES. RELEASE ON MY COMMAND." "5" "4" "3" "2" "1" "NOW." As the Dragon hit the lake''s surface, disappearing underneath, a shimmer of magic appeared along the line of mages. Every colour imaginable began to swirl and appear in the air, and as she watched, various forms of what she assumed were barriers started to appear. The tsunami from the Dragon had once again begun to form and power its way across the lake''s surface towards the town. The wave increased in height and speed as it approached. SJ noticed a couple of mages throwing what she believed to be Ice bolts towards sections of the wave, splitting them and seeming to stop the wave from growing as tall as it would have otherwise. SJ could do nothing; she stood in the open at the back of the docks, watching the amazing spectacle of magic and power before her. One caused by science and one by magic. The wave crashed into the barrier. One of the sections gave way, and she heard a mage scream as the barrier he had been maintaining failed, and the crashing wave threw him back. Fortunately, this was the only line section that gave, and the rest of the mages held their ground. SJ could see the strain on their faces pushing back against the immense weight of the wave. The wave began to recede as the Dragon reappeared and powered back into the sky again with a huge mouthful of brightly coloured fish dropping from it. "That was surprising," Dave said. "Surprising, it''s amazing," SJ whispered in reply. "Meh. I have seen better. I was more surprised at the speed at which the town reacted." SJ turned and watched as the barriers began to disperse. Now, the danger had passed. Since arriving at the town, it had not even crossed her mind how it had come away unscathed from the previous tsunami. She followed the Dragon''s flight as it continued down the lakeside and then watched it cut across the fields and disappear out of sight. It had not returned to the mountain peak this time. "THE MAYOR WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL THOSE WHO CAME AND HELPED DEFEND THE TOWN. HE WILL PUT A TAB IN THE HOGLING ARMS FOR ALL MAGES WHO SUPPORTED TODAY. NAMES HAVE BEEN TAKEN FOR THOSE WHO ATTENDED." The mage stood with the Mayor bowed and then began to walk away. SJ assumed to the Hogling Arms. It seemed her temporary home may get a little busy today. Fran was still standing with Mayor Maxwell, talking as the others dispersed. A Cleric or Paladin was healing the mage whom the wave had flung away; SJ couldn''t be sure. "I wonder where the Dragon went?" Dave asked. "I didn''t see it go back to the peak," SJ whispered, turning away from the docks herself now that everyone was moving away. "Maybe we can find it." "Why would we go find it?" "Because it is a level 88 Dragon. Duh, why not?" "You said you are not sure if they are good?" "I think that one has a good alignment. Otherwise, it may have caused more problems for the town by now." "How?" "Burned crops or similar. It wouldn''t be able to eat people, the System wouldn''t allow it, but it could cause other damage." SJ shuddered at the thought of the Dragon attacking the town. There was no way they could defend against such a creature. They walked back towards the Inn, and there was a stream of the Mages going in the same direction, all talking to each other excitedly. SJ decided to cut off and turned down a side street, which she recognised. "Where are you going?" "To the meadow." "Why?" "I am going to train. I need to get into a routine." "What about the free drink?" "I was not a mage helping out." "You could always try?" "Dave, that is dishonest. I have told you I am being good." "Shall I remind you of your class and what you did last night? SJ sighed as she walked. It didn''t take her long to reach the meadow. Its beautiful vista in the middle of a town was just as surprising as it had been on her first visit. She walked into the meadow, finding a piece of ground where the grass was not as long or as heavily laden with buzzing insects and began to practice her Katas. She kept at it for a while until, eventually, her display triggered. Congratulations, you have learned Kata Level 3 "Yes." "That didn''t take too long, did it." "No. Thankfully," SJ said as she sat down in the grass, pulled out her waterskin, and took a drink. The water tasted as fresh as the first day it had been filled. "How long will the water stay fresh?" "Depends on the quality of the item. Usually, water will last three days before it needs refilling. So, I would advise you to refill it later today or tomorrow at the latest." As SJ sat there, she focused on the muscle groups in her back and flexed them individually. "Are we staying here all day?" Dave asked. "No, just finishing my exercises." "Which? You have done your Kata." "Wings," SJ replied, groaning slightly as one of her back muscles spasmed from being clenched for so long. "Ah. Very dedicated to your training today." "When I return to the Inn, I will work on those socks." "I think you should go and find that Dragon." "It''s a Dragon. Why would a level 5 deliberately try to find a Level 88 Dragon?" "For shizz and giggles." "Really! I don''t think it would be funny getting eaten by it." "It''s just fed. It wouldn''t eat you." "You know this because you have had so many dealings with Dragon before?" "No. I am just being logical." "Illogical, more like, it''s a Dragon." "Dragons are intelligent, especially Blue ones." SJ finished her muscle exercises and was groaning by the end. She would have to focus on them to get past the initial ache and make sure she did them at least four times a day, as Fran suggested. The sooner she could fly properly, the better. After her raven incident and the dock last night, she didn''t want to try flying like that again. "Ok. Let''s head back," SJ said, standing. As she stood, she saw a small form dart through the meadow. Her senses heightened, and she stared in the direction of the movement. "Did you see that?" she whispered. "Yep. Small form moving in the meadow." "Exactly." SJ watched as she noticed the shape darting about in the grasses; she only caught a glimpse of colour and nothing else as it moved. It seemed brown, but she really could not be certain. A cloud of insects was disturbed from the flowers near her, and she stepped back as they swarmed towards her. A small brown figure suddenly leapt in front of her, swishing a small net, and skilfully picked out only the Bellpop in the thick of the swarm. It landed at her feet. SJ initially thought it was a Giant Rat before realising it was wearing clothes and standing upright. "Er. Hello," She said cautiously. "Hi," the small creature replied, smiling at her. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. "Are you catching Bellpop''s?" "Yes. I missed my usual quota because I was ill, so I must make up for it." "Oh. Are you Little Stuart?" "Yes. How do you know?" "Floretta asked me to collect some yesterday for her." "Oh," Stuart replied, and his shoulders slumped. "What''s wrong?" "She will have her quota, so she won''t need these," he replied, holding up the jar containing the orange Bellpops. "I am sure she can still use them," SJ said hopefully. "Maybe. I have ten now, so I should go and see." "I am going back there; I will come with you if you like." "Sure." SJ followed the little Ratkin across the meadow and back to the Inn. By the time they reached it, which didn''t take very long, SJ knew all about Stuart and his Bellpop sideline. He caught them three times a week for Floretta when he was not working at the stables and got extra money for their family. His dad had died in a Hobgoblin raid several months ago, and since then, he had become the man of the house, helping Mum with his sixteen brothers and sisters. On arriving at the Inn, SJ bade him farewell and went straight upstairs, wishing him luck with his Bellpop hunting. On entering her room, she sat down on the sofa, sighing. Stretching her back off again. SJ let out a groan. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Dave asked. ¡°I am just thinking through everything that I need to do. I need to sort the stuff for Setu. I said I would go see Lythonian and help with his books. I need to train both my Kata and Wings. I need to craft socks. I need to train my martial arts. Most of all, though, I need to get my head around everything in this world.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to do everything at once. You can take your time.¡± ¡°Then why do I feel like everything is a priority?¡± ¡°It¡¯s just all new. You will soon get into a routine. Like you did today, ensure you got your Kata training back up to level 3.¡± ¡°I hope so. I haven¡¯t had a moment for myself since I arrived.¡± ¡°That is something you will need to adjust to. All your interactions are based around the system structure and will or may trigger quests.¡± Her display triggered. Event ¨C Investigate the meadows South of Town. ¡°What now?¡± SJ said. "Ooo. An event, now this is exciting," Dave happily replied. "What''s so special about it?" "Events are triggered by specific incidents occurring. You get World Events and Local Events; this is a Local Event." "What does it mean exactly?" "They could mean anything. They are always unknowns. World Events normally relate to World Bosses appearing, but Local Events can be anything. They are worth investigating, though, and they can give great rewards." "Are they level based?" "No. Any Legionnaire in the region can attend anything labelled an Event." "I have too much to do today. I still need to see if Setu was released and return his deed to him. Then, I need to craft these socks." "If I were you, I wouldn''t miss an event opportunity. The rewards can be special." "It is so vague?" "They always are. They give you a location to go towards, and that is it." SJ suddenly thought about Malcolm being another Legionnaire in town. "What about Malcolm? I had forgotten about him until now." "I am sure he has his hands full. He has an unexplained death to deal with, and I can guarantee he won''t be reporting it to the town''s authorities. I can pretty much say he will dispose of the body somehow and then probably head to the Wandering Ogre and continue his life of drinking." "Don''t Legionnaire bodies vanish like creatures?" "Eventually. They have a two-day timer on them. That way, others in their parties can have a chance to get back to a body and claim loot before it disappears." "Explain?" "In some areas where there are difficult challenges or quests, if a party member dies, their body will remain until two days have passed, giving other party members the chance to save what they were carrying." "What if they get eaten?" "Then they lose out." "You think I really should go and investigate?" "Yes." SJ sighed, stood again, and resigned to the fact that she needed to investigate the issue. She walked to the wardrobe and checked through her items. She had no idea what would be out there, so she removed the tailoring items from her inventory and dropped them in the wardrobe. She still had her waterskin and rations, collecting her stiletto, torches, bedroll, and blanket. She went to the water pump, emptied the contents of the waterskin, and refilled it. "Ok. Let''s go and find the location then." "Great," Dave said excitedly. They left the Inn and began to head South. The smithy was on the southern edge of town, and SJ saw Zej as she walked past. He waved to her, smiling, and she waved back. Large crop fields replaced the cobbled streets on either side of the dirt track, and SJ walked between them. The sun was bright and warm, and being out in the countryside was nice. "How far do we need to go?" "It''s a local event, so it won''t be too far. There isn''t an exact distance, but it''s never more than an hour''s travel." "How big are regions where people get notifications?" "Locality, there is no specific distance given, so anyone within the area. Imagine the event position, then draw a circle around that location, and anyone inside eligible to attend will have received the alert." "If there are Legionnaires who are not in town as well, they may attend?" "Yes. Although I doubt there are any around here. The region is too isolated, and anyone who left here would have headed towards the nearest large town or city. It is almost guaranteed." SJ followed the dirt track that led through the fields. It seemed to stretch on forever, and she passed several farmers working in the fields and approaching a forest area. The path continued into the forest, and SJ continued. The sounds of the forest came alive as she walked. Birds calling and creatures calling in the underbrush. She even stopped and watched a Hogling walk across the path ahead. After a few more minutes, SJ could see the trees beginning to thin, and she walked out onto a huge open meadow. The event mentioned investigating the meadows to the south of the town. "I guess these are the meadows," SJ said. "Possibly. We haven''t seen any others." SJ stopped and looked around; there was nothing obvious in sight, and it was a large area. "I suppose I better start searching then." SJ began to walk into the meadow, where the path continued through the centre. The end of the meadow saw the start of a craggy rockface, and a cutting appeared to allow passage through the rocks. It was when she got to the middle of the meadow that the air changed. She felt static in the air, and it was getting stronger the further she walked. Her hair felt as though it was starting to frizz as it had at school when she had touched a static ball. "This is strange?" "What is?" "The static I can feel." "Static electricity?" "Yes." "Ohhhhhh," Dave said slowly. "What does that mean?" SJ replied, concerned at Dave''s comment. "I can''t see anything, so you should be alright." "Alright, from what?" At that moment, a sound like thunder erupted from across the meadow, followed by a blue bolt of what could only be lightning that came shooting towards her. SJ screamed, only diving sideways at the last moment. She rolled on her side and looked where it had come from. The ground where she had been stood was blackened as though there had been a fire, the power of the lightning burning the meadows grass to nothing in an instant. "What the hell was that?" SJ cried out. "I think you found it," Dave replied. "Found what?" It was then that the air in front of SJ began to shimmer, and she watched in amazement as the creature appeared. Lying in the meadow not more than fifty feet from where she now sat on her rear, the monstrous form of a Blue Dragon appeared. SJ screamed, jumping to her feet in surprise. The dragon''s head was facing perfectly in her direction, and small sparks flickered around its huge nostrils. "Sorry," a very deep resonating sound reached her ears. "Who said that?" she cried, not taking her eyes from the beast as she started to back away. "I did," the voice had that much bass that it made the ground vibrate where she now stood. "Is that you?" she squeaked as she continued to back away. "Oh, damn," the voice said. As SJ watched, the huge head of the Dragon turned slightly, and another sound, like a clap of thunder, erupted from it, and lightning flew from its nostrils. It was not close to SJ this time, but she still felt the draft from its passing. "Sorry. I think I am allergic to some of these meadow flowers," the bass thumped at SJ, and her body shook, never mind the ground. The huge Blue Dragon raised its head, turning again to look at where SJ stood. "Are. Are you talking to me?" she stammered, still moving away, absolutely terrified. "Yes. You are the only other here, aren''t you?" SJ nearly fell over this time from the bassy pulse that hit her. "Do you know how lucky you are talking to a Dragon," Dave''s almost hyperventilating voice said. "A God and Dragon. They will never believe me, and I am not recording it. SJ, can I¡­" "No," SJ snapped, realising what he was just about to say. "No, what?" The voice said. "Sorry. I was talking to myself. I¡¯m in a little bit of shock at the moment. I think I am talking to a Dragon." "Think? Do you not recognise my kind?" "I do. I am just shocked I never met one, I mean a Dragon before." "I see. Looking at what is around here. I am not surprised; there is nothing of a high level, which means you must be low and have probably never travelled far." "You would be right." "I will forgive your rudeness then." "I¡¯m sorry to have been rude," SJ said, panicking, hoping she had not upset the Dragon. "Most people would introduce themselves." "Erm, Sorry. I¡¯m SJ." "Bob. Nice to meet you, SJ." ? Chapter 35 – Bob! ¡°Bob? Your name is Bob?¡± SJ said in surprise. ¡°Bob, in your tongue, yes.¡± ¡°What about in your tongue?¡± ¡°You wouldn¡¯t understand it if I told you.¡± ¡°Please, I have never heard a Dragon speak before, never mind Dragon speech.¡± ¡°In Dragon tongue, my name is Brotuliosteryiweqmanprubloreb,¡± The way he drew out the word caused the whole ground to vibrate, and the blades of grass in the meadow seemed to shimmer. SJ¡¯s eyes opened in amazement. ¡°That is a long name,¡± she replied, feeling her insides shudder. ¡°It means Brave Skyborne Warrior if interpreting it fully.¡± SJ was unsure what to say to Bob. From what Dave had said, he was a humongous Dragon lying in a meadow near a town over five thousand miles from his normal home. ¡°You are very new, aren¡¯t you?¡± Bob said. It looked like he frowned if a Dragon could frown. ¡°New?¡± SJ asked. ¡°You are one of those brought here. I can smell your kind.¡± ¡°I am if you think I am, what I think you think I am. Sorry, that was a little confusing.¡± ¡°I understood, and yes, you are what I think you are.¡± ¡°You have met my kind before?¡± ¡°Many over my lifetime.¡± ¡°How old are you?¡± ¡°I am 4499 years old.¡± SJ had been expecting him to say he was older than that, not that she knew how old dragons lived. She just imagined them being virtually immortal. ¡°Have you met any of my kind recently?¡± ¡°Not for a century now. The last thought he would come to try and take my hoard.¡± SJ had always read of Dragon¡¯s hoarding wealth, and she imagined Bob sitting on a huge mountain of gold, platinum, and jewels. ¡°What happened to him?¡± ¡°I ate him.¡± SJ gulped at the thought. She had no idea what to say to a Dragon, so she asked him normal mundane questions. ¡°What are you doing in the clearing? Aren¡¯t you a long way from home?¡± ¡°I am a long way from home, yes, and I thought it would have been obvious what I was doing in the clearing?¡± ¡°No, sorry, I have no idea.¡± ¡°I was sunbathing.¡± ¡°But you were invisible when I first entered the clearing.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t go invisible; it is a skill related to my ancestors passed on for millennia.¡± ¡°Whatever it is, it is still pretty amazing. I had no idea you were here until you sneezed.¡± At the mention of sneezing, small lightning sparks started to form at his nostrils again. ¡°One minute,¡± Bob said, turning his head. SJ watched as he sneezed again. Lightning flashed from his nostrils and scorched another streak of the meadow into blackened earth. ¡°Flowers. There aren¡¯t many where I come from,¡± Bob stated. It intrigued SJ to know where he was from and why he was there. ¡°Where are you from exactly?¡± ¡°I am from an area of Amathera called Alpagium.¡± ¡°How far is it from here?¡± ¡°In good weather at a steady pace, it takes about ten days. I could fly it faster if I wanted to, but I am in no rush.¡± ¡°Why are you here?¡± ¡°I am waiting to meet someone.¡± ¡°In a starter zone.¡± ¡°They are not from here.¡± SJ thought about what he had said, and there was only one person she could think of who would bring a Dragon to the starter area; it had to be Fizzlewick. ¡°Are you here to see Fizzlewick?¡± ¡°How do you know who Fizzlewick is?¡± the Dragon asked, raising an eyebrow. ¡°I am his apprentice.¡± The Dragon looked at her, frowning slightly, deep-set wrinkles appearing across its brow. ¡°You are the reason. I see now.¡± ¡°I am the reason?¡± ¡°The reason he asked me to come here.¡± SJ could still not get past the resonating bass that thumped into her every time he spoke. It was very disconcerting. ¡°Why would you be down here because of me?¡± ¡°I am going to do something. Don¡¯t be alarmed.¡± That alarmed SJ immediately, as the Dragon muttered a few words in his unknown tongue. A ball of blue glittering light appeared in front of him, SJ watching in amazement as it grew larger until it was almost her size. In an instant, it shot towards her. She screamed in terror as the ball hit her and the light surrounded her, her vision suddenly seeing everything as though wearing blue-tinted glasses. There was no pain, just a warm feeling that engulfed her; it was as though she was being wrapped in a fluffy blanket, and the light suddenly faded as fast as it appeared. ¡°What was that?¡± she said in amazement. ¡°Just something for me to get to know you better,¡± Bob opened his mouth. SJ stepped back immediately before realising that he must be smiling. His teeth were huge, and she shivered involuntarily seeing them; the damage they could render against anything would be insane, never mind it could shoot lightning from its nostrils that crisped anything it touched. ¡°What did you do to me? I felt warm when it enveloped me.¡± ¡°It is like your Identification skill.¡± ¡°How do you know I have that skill?¡± SJ asked in surprise. ¡°My spell informed me. I also know your class. Very interesting indeed. I have known several Fae but never one of that class before.¡± SJ stood open-mouthed. ¡°Umm. You are not very skilled yet, are you?¡± SJ spluttered a response. ¡°I am only level 5. How can you see all the details about my skills?¡± ¡°Oh. Your skill will do the same eventually when it levels high enough, and you get your other skills developed as well.¡± Bob had vibrant, deep, golden eyes with sharp black pupils, and they appeared to drill into SJ¡¯s soul as she stood there. ¡°I am not sure why I was directed to see you. I had an event appear,¡± SJ was not quite sure why she was even telling Bob the details as to why she had come to the meadow. ¡°As I say, I am here because of Fizzlewick and you. You are special.¡± ¡°Special, how?¡± ¡°Fizzlewick did not tell me everything when he messaged me, but enough to say that you were bringing change, and looking at your class, I can see why he thinks so. It is the rarity of your race and class combination and the skill paths you have chosen and are likely to choose. I have known many assassins over the years and still have a couple of acquaintances who are. I have never met an assassin who chose Subterfuge as their specialisation.¡± ¡°You know assassins?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°What are they like?¡± ¡°Cold-blooded killers. Their existence revolves around their next victim, planning and plotting. You, on the other hand, do not seem to be that way inclined,¡± Bob replied. ¡°Very strange, very strange indeed,¡± he appeared to be talking thoughtfully to himself. SJ could not take her gaze from Bob, his beautifully coloured scales and golden detailing. This close, there appeared to be a coppery green undertone. Bob¡¯s scales reminded her of overlapping scale armour, and the appearance perfectly matched the armour''s name. Bob suddenly moved, making SJ jump from her semi-trance-like state, and he stood on his forelegs, stretching his neck into the air. As he did, he let out a deep rumbling groan. The whole meadow seemed to shudder this time. Bob looked down at SJ. ¡°I think we are going to have an interesting future together,¡± he finally said. ¡°Together?¡± Surprise etched on SJ¡¯s face. ¡°I will be here for a few more days while I wait for Fizzlewick to see me, although I think the crafty old goat may have engineered this encounter.¡± ¡°I still do not know why he would want you to meet me. I heard what you said, but it still doesn¡¯t make sense. I am only one person; how can I effect change by myself?¡± ¡°You won¡¯t be by yourself. That dress you wear is the first sign of that. God¡¯s do not give gifts lightly, and only those they deem worthy of the investment receive anything, and they are unique. Never again will a dress like your own be given or received by another. If Fizzlewick thought you were not special or able, he never would have given it to you.¡± The whole scenario made SJ¡¯s head spin, and she felt nauseous from the continual battering of the bass of Bob¡¯s voice. Bob unfolded his wings; their leathery form and span were enormous, and they reminded SJ of a bat. ¡°I will leave you with a parting gift. It has no value to any other and will only work for you,¡± Bob uttered more words, and a small blue and gold box appeared in the meadow before her. It reminded her of a small jewellery box she had as a child. SJ bent and picked up the box; the surface shimmered in her hands and was beautifully crafted. Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. ¡°May I?¡± she asked. ¡°Please do.¡± Opening the box, SJ revealed a small vial. Inside the vial was a bright golden liquid with blue speckles. ¡°What is this?¡± Dave had been silent the whole time that Bob had been speaking, and SJ had completely forgotten about him in the briefest period since arriving, being in awe of the powerful beast before her until now. ¡°Holy boils on a freaking Orc''s bulbous nose,¡± Dave sputtered this time. ¡°It can¡¯t be.¡± SJ dared not reply to Dave. ¡°If that is what I think it is, then I will, I will, I have no idea what I will do¡­¡± he trailed off. ¡°It is something special that will help you with your growth. I believe I understand why Fizzlewick is interested in you, and I am now as well. There could be some intriguing times ahead if what I think he hopes will happen happens. I can¡¯t say, so don¡¯t ask,¡± Bob said, smiling again. SJ removed the small vial from the box and held it in her hand. The bottle felt warm to the touch, and the liquid inside swirled as she moved it. ¡°I assume I drink this?¡± ¡°You would assume right. I must go for now. I sense others approaching the meadow and do not wish to scare anyone else today. I will see you again, SJ, and one last note before I depart. If you meet any more of my kind, don¡¯t worry,¡± With that, Bob forced his wings down rapidly. The downdraft flattened the grasses and sent SJ falling onto her rear, still holding the vial and box in her hands. Sitting on the ground, she watched as Bob lifted from the ground and began to fly swiftly away towards the mountain peaks, staying just above the treeline. ¡°Dave,¡± SJ said as soon as Bob disappeared over the trees. ¡°Hang on,¡± the reply came back. ¡°Hang on for what?¡± ¡°Shh. A minute will you.¡± Feeling completely overwhelmed at speaking to a Dragon, she was not in the mood to be silenced by Dave. ¡°HOW DARE YOU SHUSH ME,¡± she snapped loudly. ¡°Okay. Okay. Drink it.¡± ¡°Drink it? What even is it?¡± ¡°Just drink it. Believe me when I say it will be the best decision you ever make in your new life.¡± Frowning and looking at the swirling liquid in the vial, she lifted it and examined it closely. The liquid seemed to have a life of its own. She placed the small box into her inventory and then, taking the small glass stopper on the top of the vial, slowly removed it. The smell from the liquid was that of a crisp, cold winter morning. It was the strangest smell in the world from a liquid that felt warm through the vial. Cautiously, SJ drew the vial to her lips. ¡°Don¡¯t waste a drop,¡± Dave said. The vial probably only held one drop of whatever the substance was. Tilting the vial back, she allowed the liquid to fall onto her tongue. It had the strangest sensation on her tongue, the liquid feeling hot and cold all at once. It seemed to pulse in her mouth, and she held it momentarily before swallowing. As the liquid travelled down her throat, an intensity of feelings hit her like a crescendo of waves. Happiness, sadness, pleasure, pain, life, death, hot, cold, relief, anxiety. The emotions and depth of feeling increased in intensity. SJ had fallen backwards, lying on her back, her eyes closed as her body contested and then adjusted to this foreign matter that was now inside her. It seemed to permeate every cell; she could feel it moving, adapting and combining. She let out a gasp. ¡°What is happening to me?¡± she said through gritted teeth. ¡°You will see if I think what is happening is happening,¡± were Dave¡¯s only words; he sounded as though he was in the distance but in awe of whatever it was. As SJ lay there, absorbed by the emotional pain of the ride, her mind drifted. Visions flashed in front of her closed eyes as though watching a cinema screen, fleeting and so brief she could see no details. They began to subside slowly, her body tingling and her senses heightened. Opening her eyes, she began to sit up, feeling weary and drained. Looking around the meadow, everything seemed to have a new clarity. ¡°How do you feel?¡± Dave asked. ¡°I don¡¯t know. Strange, I suppose. I feel like me but not me,¡± SJ said as she looked at her hands and the small vial with the stopper she was still holding. She placed the lid back on the vial, and recalled the small box from her inventory, placed it inside, and returned it. A sharp pain suddenly flared in her head. She grimaced, scrunching her eyes closed and grasping at her temples. She groaned loudly. The pain subsided again, and she opened her eyes. Her display triggered. Symbiotic Relationship Established You have been granted a gift very few have ever been given, never mind survived. Details: Brotuliosteryiweqmanprubloreb, the greatest of his kind, has gifted you a drop of his blood. Only the blood of the purest being can be used for symbiosis. ¡°It was Dragon blood?¡± SJ stammered. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°And what has it done to me?¡± ¡°Open your character sheet and see what it says. I have no idea what it may grant.¡± SJ pulled up her sheet: Legionnaire 25007077 Name: SJ Age: 27 Race: Fae Class: Assassin Alignment: Neutral Good ? Level: 5 Experience: 341 of 600 Hit Points: 33 of 33 Mana Points: 25 Armour Class: 15 Attributes: Strength: 10 Dexterity: 15 Intelligence: 10 Wisdom: 9 Constitution: 10 Charisma: 10 Skills Racial: Night Vision ¨C you have improved vision in poor light conditions. Flight ¨C when in miniature Fae form, you can learn to fly. Flying is not available in humanoid form. Shapeshift ¨C the ability to switch between Fae forms. Class: Martial Arts - Kata Level 3 Subterfuge - Identification Level 3 - 12 of 30 to level 4 Profession: Tailor Level 1 Symbiosis: Dragon Sense ¨C your senses, touch, hearing, smell, and sight are heightened. Precognition ¨C foreknowledge due to increased perception will allow you to evade a killing blow. (24hr cooldown) Divine Lightning ¨C your blood is combined with that of a Blue Dragon, increasing healing speed while out of combat. Malware: Waiver (Sandboxed) Inventory: 10 slots (10 special) ¡°Wow,¡± was the only word that came to SJ. ¡°Wow. Are you kidding me? That is freaking awesome? You have survived symbiosis with Dragon¡¯s blood. Do you know how rare that is?¡± ¡°How rare, and what do you mean survived? The message said something about that but no details.¡± ¡°The last successful Symbiosis was between a Necromancer and a Demonic Lord. Only creatures of a certain standing and level can offer the gift, and it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Bob has granted you the most powerful gift he could. Most who have ever tried to complete symbiosis have died in the process of transforming bloodlines due to them not being compatible or aligned. Bob must have sensed something in you to even have attempted it.¡± Dave continued. ¡°I wasn¡¯t talking to you when you spoke to Bob because I was talking to the System.¡± "You told me to just drink it. When it had a chance of killing me?" "It was worth the risk," Dave answered. ¡°And you spoke to the System?¡± ¡°Yes. They spoke to me directly, which is very strange, actually almost unheard of, since I am like a thorn in their side. I think they would have preferred it if you hadn¡¯t let me stay, and they could have reformatted me! The System was as confused as I was that the Dragon would give you a drop of its blood and was worried. I don¡¯t know what is happening, but your status is causing serious concern. They are restricted from doing anything due to their agreement with you about no increased threat repercussions but they will watch you carefully.¡± ¡°I am more confused than anyone else. Why am I so special suddenly?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think this is sudden. I think a larger game is at play here, and we have not even started it yet.¡± ¡°What game?¡± ¡°Fizzlewick hinted at change, and your new life will define your path, but I think it will be different this time.¡± ¡°What do I do now, then?¡± ¡°We go back and do what we were going to do. Quest, level, earn reputation, and turn you into the best assassin Amathera has ever seen,¡± Dave said jovially. Standing in the beautiful meadow with two streaks of blackened earth caused by a Dragon''s sneeze, SJ had no idea what this all meant. Turning, she began the trip back to town. As she reached the edge of the meadow, a group of three hunters from the town appeared, whom she recognised from the Inn where they often met. Passing pleasantries, they came to a standstill, seeing the streaks in the meadow. "What happened here?" One asked, confused. "I have no idea. It was like that when I came through," SJ replied, smiling as she left them, trying to wonder. ? Chapter 36 – Announcements When they returned to town, it was late afternoon. The town square was packed. "What''s going on?" SJ whispered. "Let''s find out." A very angry-looking Mayor stood on one of the empty vending stands, the table creaking under the massive form. His voice began, and the crowd who had gathered fell silent. "Thank you to those who have come to attend the town meeting," Mayor Maxwell said. "I know that rumours have already been spread, and some of our members have panicked, thinking of leaving town, but I have some news." Whispers and comments began amongst those in the crowd. "First point of note. There is no GoblinPox. I will say again the rumours about GoblinPox are unfounded. The poor Goblin, suspected of breaking a curfew, has been released from jail and reunited with his family. Several of you are friends with him and will be happy to hear the news. Also, I hope it stops any more panicking and people thinking about leaving." A few in the crowd cheered at the comments. "The second point is much more serious and has not happened in Killic for over a decade." The crowd fell silent again at the Mayor''s sombre and serious tone. "There has been a murder." Audible gasps and muttering erupted from those gathered, and general conversations broke out. Several in the crowd shouted, asking who. "Quiet down, quiet down," the Mayor waited for silence before he continued. "A body was found this morning down by the Mill near the mage academy. It is that of a human male. A human male Legionnaire." The mention of Legionnaire sent a new round of muttering and comments through the crowd, and a couple turned and looked at her. She felt her nerves tingling and could feel her ears burning; she was glad she had long hair as it helped hide the nervous expression she must have on her face. "SILENCE," Mayor Maxwell shouted, again waiting. "There has been an investigation ongoing since this morning, and as things stand, we still have no suspect. The wounds look like the claws of an animal caused them, but there are no animals that we know of in the town who could cause such damage. Before anyone asks, we have checked all of the Lycanthrope; as you can expect, they were our primary suspects and have been checked this morning against the wounds. The body, having been found where it was, is the area of confusion. The Legionnaire rented a house on Hutret Street on the other side of town, and it is known that he frequented establishments with a poor reputation. There was no reason for him to be by the Mill." SJ noticed several in the crowd had suddenly looked down, making it obvious who had either visited there or visited often. "Barney Jiilrew," a female voice cried out, making everyone turn and look, "as my husband, you better haven''t been visiting that place, or I will have your guts for garters." SJ saw a large Orc standing with his head down. "I only went once, love; I got dragged by the boys," he replied. His Orc wife balled her fist and hit him square in his nose, making it explode before turning and storming off. Several in the crowd cheered for her while others laughed at the spectacle. The large Orc, now highly embarrassed, holding his bleeding nose, hurried down the street after his wife pleading. "Quiet down," Mayor Maxwell said even his demeanour had changed slightly after the spectacle. "The suspected murder victim ran an Alchemy Shop, and there have been rumours today that he may have started the GoblinPox scare. We have no confirmation yet, but it is coincidental if that is the case. I am asking all town members to be extra wary over the next few days while we get to the bottom of this, and there will be an increased patrol until we resolve the issue." More muttering. "If you know or have seen anything, please come forward and report to the barracks. Captain Broadaxe is overseeing the investigation. Rest assured, we will find the guilty party and deal with them. Thank you for your time," the Mayor ended up stepping down from the stall; as he did, he glanced across and noticed SJ standing to the side of the main crowd where she had entered the town square late. Many turned and started to make their way into the Hogling Arms, and SJ turned to follow when she heard the voice of the Mayor. "Excuse me," he called. SJ turned, glancing back, fear coursing through her veins as the huge man''s form walked over. Knowing he was a Werebear did not help her nerves. "Yes," she replied, a little higher pitched than usual. The Mayor walked up to her, standing close, not in an intimidating way, but that didn''t help how SJ was feeling. "SJ, wasn''t it?" he asked. "Yes. How can I help you, Mayor Maxwell." "Please call me Zigferd." "Zigferd. How can I help you?" "I just wished to say thank you for this morning. Yesterday was a long day with the fear of GoblinPox, and I needed to apologise for my lack of thought. Thanks to you, it has been confirmed that it is not GoblinPox and is a rather rare case of this Torpu you mentioned. Which will hopefully end any more panic or issues." "It is all I can do to help," SJ said, smiling as best she could. Her heart was still hammering in her chest. "Setu mentioned you saw the Alchemist last night. Can I ask where you saw him?" "It was at his shop. Setu had shown me where he lived, and I saw him return with his Half-Orc friend. They had been to the Wandering Ogre, and both appeared rather drunk. I eventually got him to play me at cards after talking my way in and offering myself as a bet." Mayor Maxwell''s eyes opened wide at the comment. "Thankfully, I won getting Setu''s deed back." "He was alive at what time?" "I am unsure, but I returned to the Inn before midnight. I ordered some food and went straight to bed until Gary told me about Setu this morning." "OK. Thank you for answering my questions." "It is a pleasure. If you need any other help, please let me know. I must go and get Setu his deed so I can return it to him now he is free." The Mayor coloured slightly at the final comment and bid farewell, returning to the barracks area. SJ went into the Inn; it was heaving. Looking at the state of some of the patrons, several looked like Mages and were slumped in chairs and across tables. It did not look like they had left since the call to aid at the docks. The town meeting had now added to the crowd. SJ went through and headed straight up the stairs to her room. "Oh my god," she said, sighing in relief as she sat on the sofa. "That was a close one," Dave said. "Close. I thought I was going to be dragged off for murder." "You could have told him you killed him, you know. I doubt anything would have been done. It may have affected your chances of earning a reputation in the town, but it is unlikely to have any other impact. Starter towns are always strange places. You would get dragged up on charges in larger towns and cities, but not here." "Doubt does not fill me with much confidence," SJ sat there and began her wing exercises. "Well, I can''t say for definite, but the chances would be slim. The worst they would have done anyway is ban you from the town. There is no way a starter town would do anything severe to a Legionnaire. They get paid bonuses for Legionnaires who successfully integrate into Amathera." "Why are there so few of us here then?" SJ grunted. "If you consider the number of starter towns and the number of Legionnaires worldwide, there are probably only a few in each one at most." "Do you not know how many then?" "Not exactly. There are new arrivals and departures often enough to keep ticking things over." "Will everyone always know that I am a Legionnaire?" "No. Not once you start to level more. It is obvious when outsiders come to starter towns, and as I say, many initial rebirths occur in the towns themselves. It was unusual for you to start outside the way you did." "I don''t understand the way this all happens." "Nor do I, and I have been doing the job a long time," Dave chuckled. "Not very helpful," SJ moaned, rolling her shoulders to ease her tightening muscles. "These exercises are torture; I have only done them twice today." "The sooner the better." SJ sighed again and did another round of exercises, resting her arms at her sides as best as possible. When she finished, she stretched off and walked to the wardrobe. She emptied her contents from her inventory but kept her waterskin, rations, and the box from Bob. She then picked up Darjey''s lockbox and set of keys. Sitting back on the sofa, she tried the keys until one slipped in and opened it. Inside were three pouches. Picking them out, she heard the jangle of coins and opened the leather ties that held them closed. The first pouch only had 32 coppers in it. The second was better, holding 14 silvers. The third felt empty, and she was just about to drop it back in the lockbox when she picked it up and felt a coin in it. Opening the pouch, she gasped. Inside was a bright yellow coin. Tipping it into her hand, she stared in awe at the gold coin. "Holy snoozle burgers," Dave said in amazement. "He must have been running a very successful scheme to have made enough to have a gold coin." The coin was beautifully detailed with the face of a dragon, and on the back, the large number one was printed. "At least I can give Setu his money back now." "For someone who is supposed to be good with figures, your maths hasn''t worked this time, has it." Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. "What do you mean? Setu needs forty silver." "No, he doesn''t. He needs 15 silver and the deed to cover the 25." "With the 12 I got from Darjey and the 13 here, I have more than enough then." "More than enough; you are seriously well off for your level. I just think you could buy an upgraded profession basket already." SJ remembered that a good was only ten silver and a rare was one gold. Not that she was planning on spending one gold on it straight away. She added the coins and lockbox to her inventory, as she would need to dispose of the lockbox and the keys. "I still need to find this cottage at some point." "Yep." "Right, let''s go and see Setu and give him his money and deed back." When she arrived at the docks, they were still active, and as SJ walked across the bridge to the small island, she could hear the shouts and calls from the fishermen by the jetty. SJ headed straight over to Setu''s and was just reaching to knock on the door when it opened, and a large Orc walked out, nearly walking into her. They jumped in surprise at the chance to come face-to-face with SJ. "Gary?" "SJ. You scared me half to death. What are you doing here?" "SJ," Setu called and immediately ran out of the house, throwing his arms around her. His four-foot-high frame grabbed her in a hug. "Thank you so much for your help. If it weren''t for you, I wouldn''t be back home with my Margu and the sproglings." "It''s OK," SJ replied as Setu stepped back, a huge grin on his face. "I brought you these back." She removed the deed from her inventory, handed it to him, and was just about to hand over the fifteen silver pieces when Dave spoke. "How did you get the silver?" Dave said. SJ hadn''t thought of that and stopped herself just before she retrieved it. She took out three silver coins instead and handed them to Setu. Setu''s eyes opened in amazement. "What is the silver for?" "To help you get sorted, I know you lost another fifteen with the Alchemist conning you." Setu''s cheeks reddened slightly. "Glad he is dead," Gary said emphatically. "I heard. I was in the town square when the Mayor announced it." "I am not surprised after the number of people he conned. We found a journal in his house containing names and people who owed him money. It seems he and his Half-Orc friend had a decent scheme going." "Oh?" "Yeah, and the Half-Orc has disappeared. No one has seen him since the body was found. We checked all the places we know he goes to, and there is no sign of him. Captain Broadaxe thinks he may have killed him and ran off with the money. It could have totalled a couple of gold at least." "The Mayor said they didn''t have anyone as a suspect," SJ queried. "We don''t because we can''t find him. It doesn''t mean he isn''t the main suspect, though." "I see." "It is good that the Half-Orc has disappeared. You would have only ended up having to kill him otherwise," Dave said. "SJ. Can I get you anything while you are here?" Setu asked. "I don''t suppose you have coffee, do you?" "Coffee, I certainly do. Please come in, and I will make one." "Right, I need to head off to work. I have patrol duty tonight," Gary said. "SJ, I mentioned martial arts to Lorna. She said she would be happy to train you. There is a small fee, donations to the guard''s retirement fund normally, nothing too expensive." "That sounds amazing. When can I start that?" "Call in and see her; she is normally on the sparring grounds." "Where are they?" "Behind the barracks. There is the jail yard, and next to it are the sparring grounds." "That sounds great. Thanks, Gary," SJ replied, smiling. "No problem. See you tomorrow, Setu." "Bye, Gary." SJ followed Setu into the house. She could not see any of the sproglings looking in the front room, which was empty. "Where are the kids?" Setu turned and frowned. "Kids?" "Sproglings." "Oh. Their Aunt Suuqu has collected them for the day." SJ walked into the kitchen area on her last visit. It had been in a state, but it was now pristine. Everything was cleaned and put away where it should be. SJ smiled. "Looks like you cleaned up then?" Setu went red again. "Yes. When I got back." "It looks nice." Setu made a coffee, and they went to sit in the front room. They passed small talk for some time, and Setu explained the fishing quota rules and how he could provide fish for Margu to sell on top of the usual rates he had to fish for the town. SJ was impressed with the whole economy that operated, and it appeared that all services were covered through the town''s coffers and that it maintained a steady economy due to it. SJ thought the money must just end up being recycled rather than the actual profit being made by most. It was a strange concept to consider. According to Setu, most people in the town were happy with their status and what they did daily, enjoying their work and their roles. Setu had asked SJ about herself, and she hadn''t divulged any details, being very vague with her comments until they reached a comfortable impasse and sat sipping their second coffee. Eventually, SJ said she must leave, and Setu thanked her again, giving her another hug and saying she must come and visit when Margu was better so he could introduce her. She promised that she would and left. As she walked down the path, leaving Setu, her display triggered. Congratulations! Your reputation with Setu was raised to Liked. Quest ¨C Save a Soul ¨C Part 2 Complete You have returned Margu''s title deed, and Setu has been freed. Rewards: 150 xp +20% 180xp awarded Rewards: Reputation of the town. Congratulations. Your reputation with the town of Killic was raised to Friendly after you prevented the departure of its members due to the fear of GoblinPox. All future town interactions will offer a 20% experience bonus for quests completed. "That''s good," SJ said as she crossed back over the bridge. "Good, that is great. It will speed up your levelling process." "How does reputation work fully?" "It is one of the easier systems out of most in Amathera. There are six ranks: Unknown, Friendly, Liked, Popular, Honoured, and Revered. For each level gained up to Honoured, your earning potential and bonus experience increase by 20% per level. Once you reach Revered with a town or city, any quests can earn 100% bonuses. The problem is that many will never reach revered as the level cap for experience due to the territory the towns are in, which can make it a pointless exercise." "I suppose that makes sense." "Capitals, on the other hand, do not have restrictive territory caps, so they can continue to offer quests, which is why so many flock to them." SJ checked her experience. Experience: 521 of 600 "Only another 79 experience needed to level 6," SJ said happily. Her increases and improvements were coming along well, and the fact that this one quest, which had taken her just under a day to complete, had earned her a combined total of 480 xp. If she kept going at her current rate, she would soon reach level 10. "I am going to go and see Lythonian while I can." "What about your tailoring?" "I will do that when we get back later. I said I would call to see him about his problem, so I better do." Chapter 37 – Discovery SJ walked through town. The streets were still busy in the early evening, and traders were just starting to pack their stalls up for the day. Many stayed open quite late with the days as long as they were. Reaching the outskirts of the town, she approached the Church. The sun''s evening rays shone brightly on the multitude of flowers that decorated the graveyard''s grounds, their petals open and wide, bathing in its warmth. SJ had always found it surreal to see the clash of life and death in one place. As she approached the door to the Church, it opened. Lythonian was just leaving. "Hi, Lythonian," SJ said, smiling. "Hey, SJ," Lythonian returned the smile with his toothy grin. "How can I help you? I was just locking up for the night?" "I have come to look at the ledgers for you if you wish. Sorry I didn''t return immediately; I have been a little busy." "That''s ok. Let me go and grab them." SJ followed Lythonian back into the Church and proceeded to collect the journals. There were six in total, and they were heavy leather-bound affairs. "These are all of the church''s financial details from the past four years. I thought it may help if I gave you some from before I started." "That could be useful, thank you. I will start looking through them and see if anything stands out." "I have always been meticulous in my record keeping, so I hope it is not an error I have made," Lythonian said with a worried look. SJ picked up the large books and added them to her inventory, thankfully removing the need to carry them due to their weight. Her display triggered. Quest ¨C Find the source Locate the discrepancy in funds and find out what is happening. Rewards: 200xp + reputation Do you accept the quest? Yes/No SJ accepted yes. She noticed a small icon on her display that she had noticed before and thought over it. A quest log screen opened, and on the screen, she had a list of Quests either in progress or completed. That would make tracking things easier, and she remembered that Dave had mentioned that displays could be altered and that she would have to investigate the interface more to see what else it had available. "I will return the books as soon as I can." "I have just started a new ledger today, so I do not require those back immediately." "I hope I can get to the bottom of it before you are dragged away to answer charges." "Thank you. I was just going to get some food; would you like to join me?" "That would be nice," SJ hadn''t eaten today, and her stomach growled. Lythonian locked the Church, and they walked back to the rectory. The small house on the edge of town was one of the plainest SJ had seen. There was nothing ostentatious about it, and it was obvious that Lythonian didn''t live a life of luxury. He fussed in the kitchen for a while before bringing out two bowls of stew. "What is it?" SJ asked. "Vegetable stew. It is home-cooked, and I grow the vegetables in the garden." SJ picked up a wooden spoon she had been given and tasted the food. It was delicious and reminded her of the stews her mum made in wintertime. Having it on what could only be classed as a summer day was a little strange, but from Dave''s explanation, the weather here didn''t change much. After finishing the meal and wishing Lythonian a good evening, she returned to the Inn. It was still heaving and filled with the sounds of laughing and singing as she approached. It really was the hub of the town. After walking to the bar and getting a coffee, she went to her room. Removing the books from her inventory and placing them on a table, she began the laborious task of reading through them. "I need a pencil and paper," SJ said suddenly. Dave had been silent the whole time she had been with Lythonian and only now spoke up. "For what," he said, yawning. "Why are you yawning? You don''t sleep." "Do you know how boring it is watching someone read through ledgers and look at numbers for so long, randomly muttering to yourself?" "It hasn''t been that long," SJ replied, looking at the time on her display. She had been going through them for nearly four hours, and the light had faded outside. It reminded her of what she was like back at work, the number of times colleagues had to get her to stop for the evenings. When she got focused, she lost all track of time. "Ok. A little longer than I expected, perhaps. It''s fascinating, though, seeing how everything has been recorded. Just glancing at the difference between the years before Lythonian took over and now. His records are so thorough, I can see why he is confused at where any loss may have come from." "This has to be one of the most boring quests I have ever witnessed." "It''s not boring; numbers are fascinating," SJ smiled. "For you, maybe. They are not for me." "Are you not an AI who talks about altering his code, which is basically just 1''s and 0''s?" "Oh no. Coding is much more than that. Imagine a DNA string made up of multiple strands of detailed information. Now that is interesting." SJ had never gotten her head around coding; it had always seemed like a foreign language to her. Some of SJ''s friends had thought her passion for her work a little strange, but she had always loved numbers and working with them. If she hadn''t become a forensic accountant, she was pretty sure she would have been an accountant anyway. The economics behind the financial sector had always interested her, and listening to Setu describe the town''s way of working had enthralled her. "I still need a pencil and paper to make notes, though." Just then, there was a knock at the door, and she heard an excited voice outside. "SJ? Are you there?" She didn''t recognise the voice straight away. "Who is it?" "Fhyliss." SJ opened the door and saw Fhyliss standing with a grinning face before her. "Hi, Fhyliss. What''s wrong?" "Oh. Nothing is wrong. I just came to say thank you." "Thank you for what?" "Mayor Maxwell told us that if it wasn''t for you, we might have ended up in lockdown again." "Oh, he did?" SJ was surprised that he had easily admitted his shortcomings, and she felt a new level of respect for him. "Mum says that you can stay with us next week for free. That is if you were planning on staying here longer?" "That would be amazing, and yes, I plan on staying. I don''t suppose you know where I can get a pencil and paper, do you?" "Sure. I can get you some; follow me." SJ left the room, locked the door, and followed Fhyliss further down the hallway. She had never even walked to the end of the hall, only ever stopping at her door. The hall turned a corner and came to another door. Taking a key from her pocket, Fhyliss opened the door and let SJ inside. "Is this where you live?" "Yes. This is home," Fhyliss replied. The area must have taken up nearly half the floor space of the Inn below, and there was a large open living room and then bedrooms off the main room. There was no kitchen area, which made sense with the kitchen downstairs. Fhyliss walked to one of the doors and opened it. When SJ expected to be a bedroom, she was wrong and completely taken aback by what she saw. The inside of the small room was an artist''s paradise. Pictures and paintings were everywhere, from creatures to landscapes to people. "Wow. Are these yours?" SJ asked in amazement. "Yes. I paint and draw in my spare time," Fhyliss walked over to a small table and rifled through a drawer before removing a notebook and then picking up a pencil from a pot on her desk. "Here you go, this should do you," she said, handing them to SJ. SJ took them, "Thank you. I will get them back to you when I am finished." Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. "No, keep them. I have loads of spares, and just let me know if you need any more." "You should put your artwork on display in the Inn." "Do you think so?" "Yes. It''s amazing." "I may speak to Mum and see what she thinks." "I bet you could sell some of those quite easily." "I have never thought about selling any of them. I just paint and draw because I enjoy it." SJ went back to her room, wishing Fhyliss a good night. It was coming close to midnight, but by the sounds of the bar, things were still in full swing, and Fhyliss had to get back to help. SJ''s display triggered. Congratulations! Your reputation with Fhyliss was raised to Friendly. SJ went back into her room and continued looking through the ledgers. "SJ," Dave shouted. SJ woke, realising she had fallen asleep while still working through the ledgers. She sat upright, stretching and standing from the desk. "Morning. I can''t believe I fell asleep at the desk." "You were snoring well," Dave chuckled. SJ looked at the time. It was 08:05. She had no idea when she fell asleep. She did have some suspicions over what may have happened to the money and needed to go and start investigating. It felt just like being back on Earth, her passion for getting to the truth burning inside her. She had written down a list of individuals from the ledger accounts she wanted to speak to. "Exercises, breakfast, and then off to work," SJ said cheerily. "You sound happy this morning?" "I have things to do and people to see." Having a quick wash in the cold water from the pump, she freshened herself up and left the Inn, heading to the meadow. The early morning sun shone brightly on the picturesque scene, and she got straight into her training regime. She returned to the Inn shortly after feeling much better this morning. "Please remind me to do my wing exercises later," she told Dave as she ate breakfast. She had gone for a bowl of porridge with sweet honey this morning, and SJ had no idea how Floretta made porridge taste so amazing. Drinking the last of the coffee she had, she went up to the room, gathered the notebook and pencil, and then left to begin her rounds of speaking to people. It was later in the afternoon before SJ returned to the Inn, having spoken to half a dozen town members about various things related to the Church. She had not said what she was doing but had gotten snippets of information from the people she spoke to. She had suspicions about two of them. One was a female Elf named Lorian, and the other was a male Dwarf named Cet. SJ had found minor anomalies in the journals about the charity donations that had been recorded and transferred to town members. Reading the journals had brought to light that the town''s economy was not as affluent as it seemed and that several had to survive through donations. The Elf and Dwarf oversaw the Church''s foodbank. It was funded through charitable donations, but when SJ investigated the income and expenditure, very small anomalies showed that payments had been made without reference to goods received. She had realised that it was not just Lythonian who completed the ledgers; several Church congregation members helped complete them. "The town is not as well off as it seems. I had my suspicions when we went to the jail, but they are even more apparent now," SJ said. "I must agree. On the surface, the town seems like everything is working well, and everyone is happy, but I think there is a darker side to it," Dave replied. "I am going to go and visit some of the areas of town where these foodbank donations are stated as being delivered." SJ was only aware of the one area of town that led towards the barracks, where the buildings had seemed poorer, but when reviewing the journal, there were several. She asked for directions to one of the named streets, and a kind old Kobold told her where to go. The location was towards the East of town, and she had not been there before. The streets were much closer, the thatches almost touching, and as she walked down the street, she started to get looked at by several of the occupants. Starting to feel a little uncomfortable at the staring, she looked for the address she had noted down and went straight to it. Two large Gnolls were standing down the street, and it looked like they were drinking. Several small groups were on the streets, and it reminded SJ of film scenes of the streets in some cities; people stood or sat outside calling and shouting to each other. She expected to see a car suddenly drive down the road and a shooting start. Knocking on the door, she waited a few moments before the door was pulled open by a very old, shabbily dressed, and emaciated-looking Dwarf. All dwarves she had seen were what she would describe as typical Dwarf, large barrel-chested, strong arms and chests. This Dwarf was anything but. "Can I help you?" he said, coughing. "Hi. I just want to check that your deliveries have been getting to you ok." "Deliveries?" "From the foodbank," SJ said quietly, not wishing to be overheard by anyone nearby. "I get something once a fortnight. It''s not much, but better than nothing, and since I can''t work anymore, it helps." "Once a fortnight? Is that all?" SJ said, a little surprised. The Dwarf coughed again, covering his mouth. "Sorry. This damn illness." "What do you suffer with, if you don''t mind me asking?" "LitRPG." "What is that?" "Lithium Respiratory Poisoning Gasteyli." "That sounds serious." "It is incurable. Once you catch the bug, you can''t get rid of it. I worked in the Mithril mines of Horhtuji for years, and no one knew that there was a Lithium vein until years after we had been mining there." "You poor thing." "I am lucky compared to many who worked there. Several have lost their lives since. I moved away and came here initially as my sister lived here, but I have been by myself since she passed away." "You have no family?" "No. I have always been chasing the Mithril. Mining was everything to me, and now I am too old and frail to do anything beneficial for the town." SJ felt sorry for the old Dwarf, her heartstrings being pulled by his tale. "LitRPG is one of only a few incurable illnesses on Amathera," Dave said. SJ knew he was listed as getting deliveries three times per week, yet he had said he only received fortnightly supplies. Each transaction had been recorded in the journals, and this was where things didn''t add up. The expenditure for the food that was being purchased did not match what was listed. Everything seemed to have been overpriced. She had spent the morning walking around the market traders and checking the food prices and knew that all these coppers would soon add up. At least fifty individuals or families received support through the Church. "Can I help you with anything while I am here?" SJ asked. "No. I have what I need: a bed, a roof over my head, and food when it comes." "Thanks for your time then," SJ said, smiling at the old Dwarf. "It was nice to get a visit, especially by such a pretty face," he replied, smiling back before another bout of coughing hit him. Walking away, SJ whispered to Dave. "I think I know what they have been doing. I need to check with another few families before I can confirm." "It sounds like you have a plan." "I am not sure what to do about it yet, but if I can get enough evidence, I should be able to challenge those I believe are responsible." "You think it''s the Elf or Dwarf?" "I think both. I don''t think that one could be doing it without the other. One shows the food banks'' income, and the other shows the outgoings. If I have reviewed the logs properly, they are skimming a significant amount of funds weekly. They have also run food drives, which seem to have not been directed to those who need it." "You enjoy this sort of work, don''t you?" "Yes." She spent the rest of the afternoon visiting other families and individuals listed in the ledgers. Two of which she was alarmed to find out no longer even lived in the town, finding others in their properties. Everyone she had visited had told her the same: they received fortnightly deliveries, although everyone had several weekly deliveries listed. It was soon adding up by looking at the differences in funding to outlay and then considering what was being taken in the total. There were 124 people named across all the entries, considering family members. One family made up a significant number of the list. That was Little Stuart''s, whom she had met; his family was listed, and she had called in to visit, finding the small three-room property overran with Ratkin. She wondered how they managed to survive and understood now how hard it must be for Little Stuart and why his Bellpop capturing was so important. SJ returned to the Inn and ordered food, immediately feeling guilty when it arrived and was placed in front of her. It tasted divine as her other meals had, but she only picked at it half-heartedly. Unable to finish the food, she grabbed a coffee and headed back upstairs. Dave reminded her to do her exercises, and she sat on the sofa, completing her fourth set for the day. The burning started to lessen each time she did, and she could feel small improvements in her wing movements. After running herself a bath and climbing in, she started to make mental calculations about the potential money being siphoned from the Church. ''One hundred twenty-four people miss five deliveries a fortnight, say on average of 5 coppers per meal, which equates to 3,100 coppers. Then, over two years, multiplying by a further 52 for the fortnightly consideration, it comes to 161,200 copper, which translates to 16 gold and 12 silver. If the Church said it was 12 gold short in funding, this 16 gold would easily cover the shortfall.'' The difference was in the way the transactions were recorded for overpriced goods. She had seen a similar practice back on Earth, where people buy cheap and sell high or buy high and sell cheap, depending on the fund movement between parties. She knew she had gathered enough evidence, but what to do with it? Chapter 38 – Heresy Breakfast was Hogling rashers, Hogling sausages and two fried eggs. The only thing it needed was mushrooms and baked beans. SJ mopped up the final bit of egg yolk with her bread. Smacking her lips in satisfaction, she let out a fulfilling sigh. The Inn was quiet, with only a couple of patrons eating breakfast. Picking up her coffee, she walked to the hatch. "Good morning, Floretta," SJ was sure she didn''t sleep. "Morning SJ. Everything ok?" "Delicious as always. I have a favour to ask?" "Of course." "Do you have any mushrooms at all here in Amathera? They would go a treat fried up with the rest for breakfast." "Umm. We do. I have never even thought of it. The forest ones would go well thinking about it. I will get some and see how they turn out. Thanks for the suggestion." "No problem," SJ smiled, putting her now empty coffee mug on the bar as she walked toward her daily training routine. After finishing her Kata practice and first wing exercises, she lay back in the early morning sun, soaking in its rays. "I have been thinking what to do next," she said. "And what have you decided?" Dave asked. "I have all the paperwork evidence and the information from the food bank recipients, but I have no physical evidence that they are doing anything wrong." "So, what is your plan?" "I am going to do a stakeout." "OOOO. That sounds fun. Just like in the movies." "I am not sure how fun it will be, but I have references for the food vendors in the ledgers, and if I keep an eye on them, I may be able to witness some transactions." "This is much better than reading pages of numbers," Dave said, finishing in a bored, droning voice. "I wouldn''t be thinking about it without the boring numbers." "When you see them do something wrong, you can swoop in and arrest them like they do in the films." "I don''t have any powers to arrest anyone." "Ok. Just swoop in and kill them then." "I can''t just randomly kill people!" "You are an assassin... it''s your calling." "I will only kill people if I have to or if they are evil." "Thieves are not evil then?" SJ didn''t reply. Heading back to the Inn, Dave was whispering in her head about his favourite stakeout scenes from films. SJ headed upstairs and changed into the clothes she had bought from Fizzlewick, including the cloak. Pulling the cloak up around her face and looking in the small mirror, she was hardly recognisable compared to the beautiful dress she usually wore. She went to place her dress in the wardrobe and then decided against it, placing it in her inventory instead. To her surprise, it fit into one of the tailoring slots. If she needed to change into it for better protection, she would do. She began her investigation by making sure she could remember the names of the stall holders from whom they had purchased. No one paid any attention to her as she went downstairs and left the Inn, and although she had started to get to know several people in the town by sight, they didn''t seem to notice her as she walked down the streets with her head dropped so that her face didn''t show fully. Enough people were going about their daily lives, and another person walking in a cloak was nothing special. She spent the whole day moving from trader to trader on the list, and it was not until very late that afternoon when one of the fresh produce traders was packing up, that the Elf she knew as Lorian approached the Goblin stall holder. SJ was standing in a small alley between a couple of the surrounding homes. No one noticed her, just standing in the shadows. Watching the Elf speak to the Goblin, he began to fill a couple of the crates with the older produce. SJ watched as money changed hands, and Lorian walked away, the Goblin saying he would drop them off at the Church Hall later. SJ had not even realised there was a Church Hall and now had to find it, but first, she needed to speak to the Goblin. "Hi there," She said as she approached the stall. "Sorry. I am closing for the day. I have a delivery to make." "It''s about the purchase that Elf just made." "What about it?" the Goblin said, turning for the first time and slightly surprised to see SJ''s face under the hood of her cloak. SJ smiled at the Goblin sweetly, and he squirmed a little from her gaze. She was, after all, a beautiful Fae. "How much did she buy?" "Everything is going past its best. She regularly pops in and purchases it, which saves it from going to waste." "That''s generous of her." "She works for the Church, delivering food parcels." "That''s a noble sacrifice." "She is a good one, Lorian." "You know her well?" "Not that well, but she is always helping out with the Church." "I would like to reimburse her for her continual generosity. Could you let me know how much she paid?" "Of course. She bought all the old stock for 12 coppers. I need to go and deliver two whole crates worth so they can be sent out." "Thanks for your help, and don''t tell her if you see her. I want it to be a surprise when I reimburse her." The Goblin smiled at SJ, and she turned and left. It took SJ another two days to stake out her suspects before she witnessed purchases. Not all stallholders had fallen for her reimbursement comment. A couple just said she could just donate to the Church instead. She knew how much they had spent on the other goods, though, so she headed to the church at the end of day three. Lythonian was in the vestry when she arrived. "Welcome SJ. How are you getting on?" "Very well, I hope I just need to finalise a few details. Do you have the current ledger available?" "Of course," Lythonian reached behind him to a bookcase, withdrew the ledger, and handed it to her. "I see that it is not you who enters information." "No. There are several who help." SJ flipped the ledger open to the last page, reading through the entered information, and the evidence was there. The entries she was looking for had been entered by hand by both of her suspects. Lorian''s purchase, which she had witnessed two days prior, showed she had paid out 84 copper. That was 72 more than she had paid for the produce. There were also entries from the Dwarf with differing numbers as well. "Got you," she said excitedly. "Got me?" Lythonian asked, confused. "No. Sorry. I have the evidence to prove what is happening to the money." "Really?" Lythonian said with surprise. "Yes. The question is, how do we now challenge them?" "With blades and violence," Dave interrupted. "What have you discovered?" Lythonian asked. "Both Lorian and Cet are skimming from the books." "Skimming?" "They have been saying they have spent more than they have and registering false amounts in the ledger. They have been purchasing old food and not delivering what they say they have been doing." "What? How do you know?" Lythonian was shocked to hear the information. SJ explained what she had found and witnessed and the information she had gathered. Her case was solid, with only one outstanding question still confusing her. "Do they take money from the Church''s coffers to pay for the goods?" Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. "Yes. They both have access to the money." "Where is it kept?" "Here in the vestry." "How much should be in there now?" Lythonian turned the ledger around and scanned the totals. "2 gold, 74 silver, 289 copper." "How often do you check the total?" Lythonian went quiet for a moment. "I just keep the tally of the ledger," he eventually said, blushing. "You don''t check?" "The volunteers have been congregation members longer than I have; they know more about everything than I do." "You have been here two years, though!" SJ exclaimed. Lythonian was embarrassed. "I will check it now," he coughed, standing and walking to a small cupboard. Inside, he withdrew a small chest and, placing it on the table, removed a key from under his armour and opened it. It was counted and stacked in neat piles on his desk a while later. It was 42 silver and 89 copper down. Lythonian was in turmoil over the shortfall. "How often do they access it?" "Almost daily due to the food they purchase." "And when does it get emptied?" "The Church receives a monthly stipend. Recently, we have been low on funds to pay it all." "How much do you normally pay monthly?" "4 gold, it is based on expected contributions." Everything was starting to fall into place over what had happened, and SJ needed to confront the pair now. "Do you know where they will be now?" "They are usually at the Church Hall sorting out deliveries. I never really go there as I am busy running the various services here." "Well, shall we go and visit." They left the Church after Lythonian locked everything up, and she followed him right out of the Church. SJ had never been down this way before, and after several hundred feet, they came to a single-storey building with a sign advertising it as the ''Church of Amathera''s Hall.'' They entered the hall. Inside were rows of tables and small crates on top of them. Two young Kobolds were busy splitting food down into the crates. "Have you seen Lorian or Cet?" Lythonian asked. They pointed towards the back room. Lythonian walked up to the door and tried the handle. It was locked. Knocking on the door. "Lorian, Cet, are you there?" There was movement behind the door, and after a few moments, they heard a key turn, and the door was pulled open. Cet stood there. "Lythonian, what brings you here away from your important work at the church?" he said, smiling broadly at him. "I need to ask some questions. Is that ok?" "Please come in." They walked inside. The room was about half the size of the main hall area, and there were a couple of large desks and two sofas''. SJ thought it was very well furnished for the backroom of a Church Hall. Lorain sat lounging on one of the sofas. "Take a seat, my friend, and what can we do for you both?" Lorain smiled charmingly at Lythonian, and SJ was sure he looked away shyly. SJ placed her hand on Lythonian''s shoulder, and the large Draconian turned and looked at her. "Allow me," SJ had faced down many like this before. "It has become apparent that the Church is losing money. I was asked to investigate this issue and have concluded my findings. I will ask you both now if you have anything you wish to say. It will be better for it to be stated before." Since SJ had drunk the dragon''s blood, her senses had heightened. She could feel an immediate tension in the air and notice the smallest of glances between the two. "I am not sure what you are referring to?" Cet replied, frowning. SJ explained her findings and was in the process of commencing her conclusion to the issues when her senses went into overdrive. She had never felt anything like it before and noticed the slightest movement from Lorian''s hand. She dove sideways as the bolt of ice shot at where she had been standing. Her display triggered. Precognition triggered ¨C cooldown 24hrs The huge bolt would have torn her in two. Lythonian gasped in shock as the bolt of ice ploughed into the room wall, penetrating the wooden wall easily. Screams from the Kobold children in the main hall could be heard. In the same instant, Cet drew an Axe from his belt and charged at Lythonian. SJ triggered identification. Cetius Hillgrinder Level: 7 Hit Points: 75 Mana Points: 35 Attacks: Chop/Cleave Lorian Mercanji Level: 8 Hit Points: 45 Mana Points: 35 of 85 Attacks: Ice Magic/Stab Lythonian Waryista Level: 13 Hit Points: 70 Mana Points: 140 Attacks: Holy Smite/Strike SJ was shocked that Lythonian was level 13; she had thought he was much lower, considering his mannerisms and being in a starter town. As SJ watched, a spiked mace and a shield appeared in his hands. The shield was brilliant white and emblazoned with the church''s emblem. "For the Church," Lythonian screamed as he went to attack Cet. SJ ran towards Lorian. She was dangerous as a mage, but looking at her mana, she had already thrown her most powerful spell. As SJ moved, her blades appeared on her hands. She was about twenty feet from Lorian when Cet brought his axe down on Lythonian''s shield with the loud clang of metal on metal. Lythonian took the strike without any movement in his shield arm and immediately swung his mace with speed and precision, smashing into the side of Cet''s body. The power behind the strike was immense, and Cet was knocked sideways, his shorter, stocky form being hurled across the room. He gathered himself again and went at Lythonian. SJ reached Lorian, and her dagger appeared in her hand. She went to stab SJ. Ignoring the weapon, she moved in close to get within striking range. There was no way that Lorian could cast with SJ so close to her, and she lashed out with her blades. A shimmer appeared around Lorian as she struck, and her blades came up short against a blue glow, casting sparks around her fist. Lorian''s blade scraped against SJ''s side, making her wince in pain. Stepping back from the Mage, she identified Lorian again. Her mana was now down to 10. SJ kicked out her foot, coming up short against the blue shield again. Lorian attacked again; this time, SJ moved back and defensively swept down with her blades. Her blades cut deep into Lorian''s arm, causing slashing damage, and she dropped her blade. SJ heard a roar and saw Cet powering at Lythonian, swinging his axe in a wild frenzy. SJ thought he must be a berserker. Lythonian took the assault on his shield, looking calm and patient. Lorian cried out, pulling her bleeding arm back and holding it across her body. The strike had taken a third off her health. SJ was not finished and kicked out again. The shield flared, but its colour was dimming. Striking out with quick successive punches, she powered them into the shield. It flickered and flared at the strikes, sparks flying from it, and then it gave way. Lorian had not struck again, backing up and allowing SJ to strike her shield; as the shield dropped, the mage took a last stand, firing a missile at SJ at close range. She had no time to react, and the magical bolt flew deep into her chest. She screamed in pain, staggering backwards, reaching up to her chest as the bolt vanished from existence. Now, it had done its damage. Her health from the dagger and the bolt was now down to 12 hit points. Lorian rushed SJ with her dagger swinging wildly; she was not a melee combatant, that was clear. Even with the fog of the pain from the magic bolt, SJ was able to defend, parrying her strikes with relative ease. SJ saw an opening and struck, ducking and striking with her kick at Lorian''s knee. The strike was true, and Lorian cried in pain as her knee gave. She stumbled sideways, and SJ suddenly saw a blue bottle in her hand. It had to be mana, and SJ had to stop her from drinking it. As she raised the bottle to her lips, SJ lunged forward, striking with the blades. They dug deep into her side, and Lorian gasped, almost dropping the bottle. SJ heard a terrifying scream and glanced to see the mace of Lythonian coming down on Cet''s head. The crunch and cracking sounds were sickening. Lorian kicked out herself at SJ, catching her in her midriff again, trying to drink the bottle. The furniture in the room had been scattered with the fight, one of the sofas overturned and a table broken in half from either a mace or axe swing. SJ suddenly felt warmth flood her body and, turning, saw a white streaming light erupting from Lythonian''s outstretched hand. Her pain lessened, and she watched as her health rapidly increased back to full. SJ grinned at the sensation and stepped in to finish Lorian. Swipes and strikes rain towards the mage, unable to drink her potion, being too busy trying to dodge the blows. SJ again struck true, puncturing her in her shoulder with a forward punch. Lorian coughed up blood. Her health was down to the last couple of hit points now. She fell to her knees, holding her lacerated shoulder with one hand and her punctured side with the other. The blue bottle was now resting on the floor, spilling its liquid. Lythonian stepped forward, towering over the now quaking mage. "Lorian. I have relied on your support for the past two years, and you have gone against me, the church, and the good people of this town. Through the Order of Amathera, I charge you with the crime of heresy and sentence you to death." SJ watched in stunned amazement as Lythonian swung his Mace at her head. ? Chapter 39 – A bolt from the blue Lorian¡¯s dead body fell sideways to the floor. Lythonian stood still, watching the light fade from her eyes before he turned. ¡°Are you ok?¡± SJ was shocked at the cold demeanour that Lythonian had shown, never expecting the Cleric who spent his day praying and providing services for so many different gods to be so ruthless and effective. He did not look as though Cet had even landed one strike on him, and his cloak and clothes still shone with the bright white of his order. ¡°I am fine.¡± ¡°Good. I will need to report this to the Mayor.¡± ¡°Will you not get in trouble.¡± ¡°No. This is Church property, and I am the leading member of the Order in town. I will only do it out of politeness.¡± ¡°That was awesome. Did you see how great Lythonian was?¡± Dave asked. SJ didn¡¯t reply. Looking at the state the room was now in, blood covering various areas and the room destroyed. ¡°At least you now have the evidence to clear your name.¡± ¡°I do, and it is thanks to you,¡± Lythonian said. SJ heard the crying from the other room and turned to glance at the door. ¡°I will go and speak to the children. They will be traumatised if they witnessed the fight at all.¡± There was a large gaping hole in the wall where the huge ice spike had shot through it. Lythonian turned to walk to the door. SJ removed her blades and bent to loot Lorian''s corpse. 70 xp awarded for the death of Lorian Mercanji 2 x light mana potions, Dagger of Piercing, Robes of the Wanderer, 4 gold, 17 silver, 23 copper SJ gawped at the amount of gold, knowing its value, especially in the town, and then identified the Dagger and Robes. Dagger of Piercing Quality: Good Damage: 5-8 Robes of the Wanderer Grade ¨C Rare Quality ¨C Rare Durability - Good Enchantment Slots ¨C One Armour Class ¨C 5 Attributes ¨C Improves mana regeneration by 100% when out of combat Lythonian walked back through. ¡°I have looted Lorian. She has some of your missing gold,¡± SJ called the 4 gold and the 17 silver from her inventory and handed them to Lythonian. ¡°Thank you,¡± Lythonian said, walking over to Cet¡¯s body and bent, looting it. ¡°Another 7 gold and 4 silver. That is nearly all twelve returned. I should be okay with the remainder to balance the books.¡± ¡°At least that is one good thing to have come out of this.¡± ¡°Do you need any of the equipment?¡± Lythonian asked. ¡°I don¡¯t know what he has.¡± ¡°Chain mail armour is quite a decent set, looking at it. It''s Dwarven-made, with an Axe + 2, Rations, and a Backpack.¡± ¡°No. I am fine.¡± ¡°I will sell it for the Church then. The Axe should raise a few silver at least.¡± ¡°I got some robes and a dagger from Lorian.¡± ¡°Keep them if you wish. I have no need for Mage items.¡± SJ quickly searched the room; there was nothing else of value, so she and Lythonian left the hall. Lythonian locked up after them, and they returned to the Church. Once in the Vestry, Lythonian removed the chest and, taking out the gold and silver, placed them inside. As Lythonian closed the chest lid, her display triggered. Quest ¨C Find the source - Complete You located and dealt with the heretics undermining the church''s work. Rewards: 240xp Congratulations on reaching Level 6 You have been awarded the following: 5 hit points 5 mana points +1 Dexterity +2 free points to distribute as you wish SJ immediately added one to Charisma and Wisdom. This would make all her base attributes 10 and boost her secondary attribute, meaning all her attributes earned minor bonuses. Legionnaire 25007077 Name: SJ Age: 27 Race: Fae Class: Assassin Alignment: Neutral Good ? Level: 6 Experience: 231 of 800 Hit Points: 39 of 39 Mana Points: 38 Armour Class: 21 (15(6) Attributes: Strength: 10 Dexterity: 16 Intelligence: 10 Wisdom: 10 Constitution: 10 Charisma: 11 Skills Racial: Night Vision ¨C you have improved vision in poor light conditions. Flight ¨C when in miniature Fae form, you can learn to fly. Flying is not available in humanoid form. Shapeshift ¨C the ability to switch between Fae forms. Class: Martial Arts - Kata Level 3 Subterfuge - Identification Level 3 - 15 of 30 to level 4 Profession: Tailor Level 1 Symbiosis: Dragon Sense ¨C your senses, touch, hearing, smell, and sight are heightened. Precognition ¨C foreknowledge due to increased perception will allow you to evade a killing blow. (24hr cooldown) Divine Lightning ¨C your blood is combined with that of a Blue Dragon, increasing healing speed while out of combat. Malware: Waiver (Sandboxed) Inventory: 10 slots (10 special) ¡°You are progressing really well,¡± Dave said proudly. ¡°Thank you again for your help, SJ. If you require healing at any time, do not hesitate to come and see me.¡± ¡°I will, and may I ask you a favour?¡± ¡°Of course, what is it?¡± ¡°Could you possibly not include me in the story with the Mayor? I would prefer to stay out of the limelight if that is possible.¡± ¡°If you wish. Although I am sure he would wish to thank you for helping remove trash from the town.¡± ¡°I just want to level quietly if I can,¡± SJ replied, smiling. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I will not say you were involved if that is what you wish.¡± ¡°Thank you. I am going to head back to the Inn. If you need anything, please let me know.¡± Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. ¡°I will, and thank you again. You have saved me from a lot of trouble.¡± Congratulations! Your reputation with Lythonian was raised to Liked. ??? ¡°Your knitting is coming along,¡± Dave said. SJ had just finished the fourth pair of woollen socks. They looked more like open-ended tubes rather than shaped like socks, but they had triggered as poor-quality items and allowed for four of the five she needed to be complete for her tailoring quest. Alongside the morning training routine, wing exercises, and then trying to knit the socks, she had spent nearly all the next day on them. ¡°I am not sure I can call these coming along,¡± picking up one of the tubes and pulling it on her arm. It was more like the woollen sleeves she had owned back on Earth, and she could poke her fingers through the larger holes she had left. ¡°Only one pair left, and then onto level 3.¡± ¡°I need to finish this last pair,¡± SJ replied, picking up the knitting needles and continuing. She had been getting faster with each pair. Another hour passed before she eventually finished the fifth pair. ¡°It took a whole day to make five pairs of socks,¡± SJ said as she placed the last pair down. This last pair looked like they had a heel, and when she identified them, they showed a common quality. Congratulations! Tailoring Apprentice level 2 completed. Quest Tailoring Apprentice ¨C Level 3 Collect 10 bundles of cloth. ¡°I think I need to go and see Fizzlewick again.¡± SJ had looked at her profession screen and noticed the list of potential recipes had increased. She could now learn various woollen item recipes, and cloth gloves could also be learned. Considering the recipe, SJ thought it must be the next crafting recipe she would need to make. It was early evening when SJ headed towards the Tailor¡¯s shop. She was not sure it would even be open. On arriving, her feelings were right, and a sign on the door showed it as ¡®Closed¡¯. ¡°Damn. I wanted to get the cloth bundles and get to level 4.¡± ¡°We can come back in the morning. It isn¡¯t as if you don¡¯t have time,¡± Dave said. ¡°I know. I know,¡± SJ sighed. Heading back into the centre of the town, SJ¡¯s senses tingled. Her increased senses felt so strange, considering the last time they had triggered like this. She scanned around quickly, looking for a potential threat. She could not see anything or anyone. ¡°I sensed something,¡± she whispered as she continued down the street. ¡°I can¡¯t see anything,¡± Dave replied. ¡°I know. It¡¯s strange, though. Something doesn¡¯t feel right.¡± The scream came from off to her left. SJ turned immediately and ran towards the sound. Running down a side street, she came out onto the street behind where the Tailor¡¯s shop was and saw a group of townsfolk standing around something on the floor. SJ walked over. Slowly making her way through the gathering crowd. A deep voice boomed out. ¡°Step back. Give me room.¡± SJ saw Captain Broadaxe''s stocky and powerful form making his way through, the crowds parting, allowing him. Lying on the ground was the form of a Dryad, blood covering the cobbles where she lay. SJ could see a bolt sticking from her chest. Captain Broadaxe bent down next to the still form and felt for a pulse. More of the guards started to arrive and began to push the crowd back, making more room around the body. SJ could hear people muttering in the crowd about a second murder. Captain Broadaxe spoke to a couple of the guards before turning to the gathered crowd. ¡°Everyone needs to leave and go about their business. Standing here is not helping the situation.¡± A voice cried from the crowd. ¡°That¡¯s another murder. Why haven¡¯t you found the suspect yet?¡± More muttering and grumbling supported the call, and SJ could see the frustration etched on Captain Broadaxe¡¯s face. ¡°I SAID EVERYONE NEEDS TO LEAVE,¡± he bellowed, anger visible on his face. His beard twitched in response. SJ began to move away from the area when she saw a face she recognised. ¡°Gary.¡± Gary turned from where he was ushering people away. ¡°Hi, SJ. I''m a little busy, sorry. Come on, you heard the captain. Move back and on your way,¡± he said as he continued to usher the gathered crowd away. SJ turned to leave and made her way back towards the Inn. ¡°Another dead body,¡± she whispered. ¡°Yes. It¡¯s strange for a starter town for there to be a murder.¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t helped.¡± ¡°Yours was legitimate.¡± ¡°It still doesn¡¯t feel good.¡± ¡°Meh. It¡¯s your job and calling now, remember? I am not sure who would have killed a Dryad. They are usually among the most respected races due to their natural skills and supporting town growth by providing crops and the like.¡± By the time SJ returned to the Inn, the news had already travelled there. One thing that was apparent in the town was the speed of gossip. It was like an information highway, and if SJ hadn¡¯t known better, she could have sworn they all had mobiles and messaged each other. The usual crowd was starting to appear, and with the news, even more, had arrived at the Inn. It was a gossipmonger''s paradise. SJ stood at the bar and waited patiently to order a coffee while listening to the chatter. The Dryad who had been found dead was one of the farmers. She spent her days in the fields caring for the crops and was well-liked and revered by the town. The fact that she had been shot with a bolt just by the edge of town had started the tongues wagging that it may have been someone from outside who caused it. The thing was, no one could work out why she would be targeted. One story mentioned that she had had an affair with an Elf¡¯s husband, but this was quickly refuted, and the comment nearly caused a brawl until Bert stepped in to calm everyone down. Looking at Bert, you would expect he would be the strong arm of the Inn, but it appeared more feared Kerys when she raised her voice than Bert. ¡°Coffee, please,¡± SJ called to Kerys over the growing din. ¡°Sure,¡± she called back, grabbing a mug and bringing the pot over. SJ had realised that she was the only one who ever seemed to really drink coffee in the evenings, and Kerys left her with the pot so she could serve herself. Kerys was alone at the moment and ran off her feet, trying to contend with the growing crowd. She had not expected such an influx so early. ¡°You need a hand?¡± SJ called to her. Kerys glanced at her briefly. ¡°If you could grab some empties, that would be helpful. Fhyliss is on her break for another thirty minutes yet.¡± SJ smiled in response. Taking another swig from her coffee, savouring its bitterness, she put her mug down and began to make her way around the bar. She collected empty glasses off of several tables, getting confused but grateful nods from several of the patrons. She was a beautiful Fae, after all, and several of the males'' eyes wandered on her a little longer than they would if their wives or loved ones had been around. The thirty minutes passed quickly, and soon, Fhyliss appeared back in the bar area and took over from SJ. SJ returned to the end of the bar where she had left her coffee mug and poured herself another cup. Kerys briefly thanked her before being dragged away to serve more customers. It was not long after that Gary and Setu arrived at the bar. They walked up to order drinks, and when Setu saw SJ, he came over to her, grinning. ¡°Hi SJ. I have been waiting to see you,¡± he said. ¡°Hi, Setu. Why, what¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Nothing. Margu has been awake for two days now, and after I explained everything you did to help, she said she wants you to come around for dinner.¡± ¡°That would be very nice. When?¡± ¡°Tomorrow ok for you? She said she will cook Hogling steaks as a treat.¡± ¡°They aren¡¯t cheap,¡± SJ replied. ¡°It¡¯s a special occasion. Without your help, we would not even have a stall now.¡± ¡°Tell her I accept, and I look forward to it.¡± ¡°Great. Do you want to come and sit with us?¡± Gary smiled at SJ. ¡°Sure.¡± They walked over and took a table nearer the far side of the bar, which was a little quieter. Gary pulled a deck of cards from his pocket. ¡°You ever played Hangman¡¯s Noose?¡± ¡°No. I have never heard of it,¡± SJ replied. ¡°Time to learn then,¡± Gary said, starting to deal, creating three piles of cards on the table. It took SJ a while to pick up the rules of the game, but the cards were similar to cards from back on Earth; the only difference was that the face cards were different. The Hangman¡¯s Noose was the name of the Ace cards, and the jack was a knight, the queen was an empress, and the king was an emperor. The values were otherwise the same. After a few practice hands, Gary suggested that they play for coppers. SJ declined and said she would watch the pair of them play. As they played, Gary sat down and discussed what had happened with the Dryad. ¡°They think the bolt is Hob.¡± ¡°What?¡± Setu said in shock. ¡°Yup. They don¡¯t think it was an aimed shot. Looking at the angle at which it hit Florina, it was on its way down.¡± ¡°But a bolt being fired randomly towards town? They have never done that before.¡± ¡°They?¡± SJ asked. ¡°Hobgoblins from the valley. It has been a while since they last hit, and it was probably a scouting party or similar.¡± ¡°How often do they attack?¡± ¡°Not very, but they are often out scouting. That¡¯s why we have so little on that side of town field-wise. Most farmers are based on the far side, so the town is between where the Hobs would come from. No one wants to get caught up in a Hobgoblin raid if they can help it.¡± ¡°Why do you not have a wall?¡± ¡°It has been suggested many times, but Mayor Maxwell has always resisted it.¡± ¡°Why would he not want to defend the town better?¡± SJ asked in surprise. ¡°It¡¯s not that he doesn¡¯t want to defend the town. It¡¯s more the cost involved. The town doesn¡¯t have endless coffers. We don¡¯t get many Legionnaires through here, so we do not often get the bonus payments for growth that other towns might.¡± ¡°This is all down to this false economy, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Gary questioned, frowning, uncertain about what SJ was referring to. ¡°The town¡¯s economy seems to be self-sufficient. The movement of money seems to occur cyclically. It doesn¡¯t seem like wealth grows. Rather, the economy stays constant.¡± Gary''s frown deepened, still unsure what SJ meant. Setu smiled, replying, ¡°Like our fishing conversation, I agree, SJ. After we spoke about it, I think that is a pretty good view.¡± ¡°I think that the money the town has seems to go from one to the next, then back into the town coffers as tax, and then regurgitated again. I don¡¯t think there is much the town can do to bring in more money apart from the town¡¯s population.¡± ¡°I think I understand what you mean,¡± Gary eventually replied after scratching his head thoughtfully. It was obvious to SJ that Setu was the more intelligent of the two friends and understood much more about the town''s economy. ¡°What is the plan with the Hobs?¡± ¡°There is no plan, just increased guard presence on the town''s borders.¡± ¡°How far are your borders?¡± ¡°The edge of the first field out of the East of town is the general town border. That is why the Wandering Ogre is outside the town''s jurisdiction; it is built past the boundary.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t it get attacked by the Hobs as well?¡± ¡°I am not aware it ever has been. It would not surprise me if Niweq had a deal struck with them. He is a crafty sod at the best of times.¡± ¡°I met Niweq when I went looking for the Alchemist.¡± ¡°Careful,¡± Dave suddenly said. SJ suddenly realising she mentioned she had been to the Inn changed the subject. ¡±Talking about the Alchemist, any more news on a suspect?¡± ¡°The Half-Orc has never returned. That means we have no other suspects. Captain Broadaxe spoke to Mayor Maxwell today about closing that investigation down. Especially now that we will also have Florina¡¯s death to deal with.¡± ¡°I see. From what you said, he does sound like the prime candidate,¡± thankfully, neither Setu nor Gary had noticed her slip. ¡°Captain Broadaxe said it was too much of a coincidence for him to go missing at the same time. Especially now we know about the scheme they were running.¡± The evening passed quickly, watching Setu and Gary play. Setu came out as an overall winner between the pair, but it was all in good humour, unlike the last time SJ had seen them play. ¡°I need to get going,¡± Gary said, downing the last of his ale. ¡°I should go as well,¡± Setu said, hiccupping. He had been drinking Honey Wine and was on his third glass, the alcohol taking effect on him. Standing, he swayed gently. ¡°I am going to head to bed now myself. Tell Margu I will be there tomorrow.¡± SJ watched as Gary steadied Setu, supporting him as they left the bar. SJ smiled; it was nice having friends again. ? Chapter 40 – Martial Arts Walking through the town''s streets the following day, SJ felt as though there was uncertainty about everything after the Dryad''s death. The usually loud and boisterous vendors seemed quieter. She had been up, completed her daily training regime, and decided it was a sparring day. She still had not progressed in her Martial Arts yet and could not advance her Kata until she sought training. She followed Gary''s directions towards the barracks and went around the side. There was a fenced-in area made from wood standing fifteen feet high, and across the tops, metal shards had been placed, making it impossible to climb over without taking damage. It had to be the jail yard looking at it. Just beyond the yard was a small fenced-in compound. It had training dummies with crudely drawn faces and archery targets set up. It reminded SJ of medieval England scenes and the trip to Warwick Castle, where they had put on a show. There were at least twenty training in the compound, whether with bow and arrow, crossbow or various melee weapons. Some guards were sparring with wooden swords; their movements were swift and precise, and the Dwarf overseeing the sparring guards shouted praise or chastised for poor form, whichever was deserved. There were grunts and groans and the rhythmic thud of wood on wood. Across behind the yard, SJ could see a stable area. It was the first she had seen since being in town, and several horses were being tended to. She noticed the form of a Ratkin and wasn''t sure if it was Little Stuart. Several small rings with a sandy floor were off to one side of the compound. As SJ approached, she spotted Lorna''s bright orange hair. The large, powerful woman grabbed an Orc and, tilting her shoulder into him, sent him up and flying over her shoulder. He landed with an audible grunt on his back on the sand. "I have told you many times, stop leaving yourself open for a throw," Lorna snarled at the Orc as he picked himself up. SJ walked towards the ring. She got several looks from others training but paid them no attention. On reaching the ring, she stood listening to Lorna instructing the six guards being put through their paces. "I want you all to complete three forms before you finish for the morning. And I mean three full forms," Lorna barked at them. Audible groans escaped the trainee''s lips. Turning from the ring Lorna saw SJ. "Hello. Can I help you?" Lorna asked. It was the first time SJ had seen her face, and she was beautiful. Her orange flowing hair looked like flames surrounding her face. She stood tall with a straight back, towering over SJ, and looked exceedingly strong. SJ cleared her throat, feeling a little intimidated by the woman. "Hi. Gary directed me to speak to you about training." "Ah, the Fae Monk." "Yes. SJ. Nice to meet you." Lorna stepped forward, holding out her hand and smiling at SJ. It was a disarming smile, and SJ knew that behind it was a strength she could not challenge. Not yet, at least. SJ took her hand, and Lorna gently squeezed it. SJ tried not to flinch under the pressure, feeling her hand weakly in the woman''s grip. "I am Lorna. We do not often get trainees, especially in Martial Arts; most would go and see Brother Wilbert, especially considering you are a monk." "I had heard he was full and could not take any more trainees currently." "Well, then, I need to know a little about you and your current skills if I am going to train you." "I currently have Level 3 Kata." "At least you have something to start with. I will put you through your paces and see whether you wish to continue training with me. If you do, I ask that you donate to the Guards Retirement Fund. I don''t need to pay for my time, as the town pays that." "That sounds great. When would you like to start." "Now. First, I would like to see the Kata form you have. Do you have something to change into? That dress will get ruined very quickly." "Don''t worry about the dress. It will be fine," SJ smiled. Lorna raised an eyebrow in response, "If you say so, don''t blame me if it gets torn." "It won''t, don''t worry." "Kata then?" Lorna was not wasting any time, and SJ was shown to one of the training rings and immediately got underway performing her Katas. She had already completed them first thing, and they were so natural to her again now, smoothly moving from one step to the next. Lorna watched in silence until she had finished. "Very unusual style. I have not seen that before. Where did you start training?" "I trained as a young girl and have not done it for a long time." "The form is very defensive. There are strikes, but it is not an offensive style. Here, we train in a form known as Amar Ti. It is the most common of the styles and offers a much more offensive stance and approach. It is all about incapacitating and finishing the enemy quickly. Particularly good for open combat situations." "I am happy to learn something new." "Good. We will start with the basics and see how you get on." The morning passed quickly, with SJ being shown the basic stages of new katas. Once she was happy with the new forms, she had the dexterity to perform the moves with fluidity. SJ was impressed with Lorna and her instruction. She guided with precision and expertise and instructed SJ to emphasise mental discipline and resilience. By the time the training ground broke for lunch, SJ had mastered the first two new Kata forms. It was much more aggressive, and Lorna had shown her the basic moves. It was all based on power and strike rate, and SJ was excited by its potential. She sat and joined the guards for a bowl of stew and water before returning to the training ring. She was already feeling the burn in her muscles and wasn''t sure if she could keep this up all day. The afternoon session was gruelling. It was no longer just the Katas'' forms but strength training. Her dexterity was fine, but to gain the power that Lorna showed with her moves, she may have to invest some of her points in Constitution to prevent the pain from the strikes she performed. She joined the other trainees for part of the session as Lorna took them through different kicks and punches, and by the time the training ended, she was thoroughly exhausted. SJ could not remember a time in her life when she had completed so much physical exercise in one day. "Will you be back tomorrow?" Lorna asked, smiling at SJ as they began to leave the training ground. "Tomorrow?" SJ asked, surprised. "We train most days with rest days as needed to develop and grow quickly, which I am guessing you aim to train hard and fast." Letting out a groan as she flexed her shoulders, she turned to Lorna, smiling weakly. "If I can move in the morning." "You need some Dryac." "What is Dryac?" "It''s a cream. You rub it on your sore muscles, and it soothes them. Works wonders." "Where can I get some?" "There is a healer near the town square. A Gnoll called Grewlas runs the shop. He is an Alchemist by trade but specialises in healing tonics and lotions. The best in town. His prices can be steep, but I would pay for his Dryac any day of the week compared to many others. Few specialise in specific areas regarding Alchemy, and he has them down to a fine art." "I will look into it. How do I go about donating to the fund?" "If you see Captain Broadaxe, he is in charge of the retirement fund." "Great. I will try and catch him tomorrow. Thanks for today; although knackered, I did enjoy it." Dave had been quiet most of the day and spoke once they walked away. "She is good." "Good?" "Her level is quite low, but her dedication to her art has meant that she is way beyond what you would expect." "What level is she?" "Level 17." "That high? I never realised." "The skill she shows in martial arts is what I would expect for someone in their thirties." "Oh. That is impressive, then." "Very. I think she has been away from the region to level at some point but returned as she won''t gain experience around here now to progress. That has not stopped her dedication to her skill, though." "It is good to know she is that proficient," SJ was pleased with the revelation that she was being trained by someone knowledgeable. "I think I will see Fizzlewick before seeing if I can get some Dryac and then a bath and bed." It didn''t take long to reach the tailor''s shop, and the sign again showed ''Closed''. "I wonder where he is?" SJ frowned. "We could go and buy clothes somewhere else?" "I suppose, but I need the recipes as well." "We better wait then." A question had been bugging SJ for some time, and she needed to know the answer. "Dave." "Yes." This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. "Why can''t I identify more people and increase my Identification skills faster?" "You could identify more people if you wanted. It is just frowned upon." "Why?" "Most won''t know you are doing it, but anyone with the skill or sometimes even a high enough Wisdom can pick up on it being done to them. Many who do class it as invading their privacy." "Bob inspected me." "That''s a little different. Bob did pre-warn you he was going to do something, and would you try and stop a level 88 Blue Dragon doing what it wanted to do?" "Fair point. I wish I could level it faster, though. Each level has benefits, but I can''t start branching into other skills until it levels higher." "You could always ask people if they mind. I am sure many won''t, but just be prepared that some may take offence to it. That means that it can impact your reputation. I know I mentioned that there were only six levels. There are only six positive levels; there are also negative levels." "Oh. I can become disliked." "Similar steps as to the positive side. Neutral, Mistrusted, Against, Disliked, Hated, Detested." "Can I set levels?" "I am not sure. I have never known a Legionnaire do it before." Surprise was etched in his voice. "If people could, to me, I would have thought I could do it back?" Silence. "Nope. Impossible. It would be classed as playing the system. Theoretically, you could set everyone to Revered and try manipulating the system by those people, then amend their status towards you and play the system. Only Amathereans are allowed to, and it is not a whimsical decision. It comes purely through interaction." "That is a shame." "I agree, but unfortunately, we can do nothing about that. Although another worthy attempt at finding another loophole." Dave said cheerily. "I do like how your brain works on occasion. Not very often, I might add, but definitely on occasion." SJ folded her arms defensively, shaking her head, as they walked through town back to the Inn. As she approached the town square, she could hear shouting and screams. "What''s going on?" SJ said. "No idea," Dave replied. SJ broke into a jog to find out what the issue was. As she entered the square where all the vendor stalls were, she suddenly had to jump backwards as a wagon being pulled by two horses clattered past on the cobbles. The square was chaotic; the careering wagon had hit three stalls, and no one was driving. The horses looked spooked, snorting and flaring their nostrils as they circled around the square. Vendors and customers alike were getting out of its way. A female Dryad ran out of the Inn as the out-of-control wagon swung past. SJ watched as the Dryad threw her hands before her, pointing at the wagon and horses. The instance she did, the horses began to react, slowing down and, within a short distance, had come to a stop. Still shying and snorting. The Dryad walked towards them with her hand held out and gently placed her hand on the neck of the first she reached. It immediately calmed, its breathing easing and its stomping stopping. She then repeated the exercise with the other. SJ was amazed at the spectacle. "Druids. Hmmph," Dave said. "The control she has over them is amazing," SJ whispered. "I suppose it wasn''t too bad," Dave said grumpily. "What do you have against Druids?" "Fluffy nature lovers. I prefer death and glory." "Hopefully not in that order!" SJ replied. "As long as it''s not your death, then yes." "You are a little psychotic, aren''t you?" "My latest personality test came out as having psychopathic tendencies, so I can''t argue." SJ shook her head, not replying, wondering what questions he had been asked to get that answer as an AI. The wagon owner approached the Dryad, SJ, too far away to hear what was said, although, by the way, the Gnome dropped his head; he had been scolded. Continuing towards the Inn, the vendors and affected people were glaring, and some were shouting at the Gnome. The Dryad stood there watching with a slight smile on her lips. Now that the horses were calmed, she turned and walked back towards the Inn, arriving at the door at the same time as SJ did. The Dryad had long dark brown hair and was very pretty. She wore a beautiful pale yellow dress that fitted her perfectly and matching coloured jewellery around her wrists and neck. A large gem hung on the necklace; SJ thought it might be amber or similar. "Sorry," the Dryad said as she let SJ enter before her. "Thanks. Impressive work with the horses." "In my trade, it helps." "What trade is that?" "I am the local wagonista." "Wagonista? What is one of those?" "Oh, you must be new," she replied, smiling. "I own and run the local wagon merchants; we provide most of the wagons and carts in town, and having to work with horses is a must." "I see," SJ replied, surprised. As they entered, SJ suddenly noticed a movement from the corner of her eye and turned to see a shape on the Dryad''s shoulder. Something was moving, hidden under her long brown hair. The Dryad walked to a table where she sat at a plate with half-eaten food. Having left it to go and stop the antics in the square. Walking to the bar, SJ kept watching the Dryad, wondering what the movement was. As she watched, the Dryad picked up what looked similar to a pine nut and lifted it towards her shoulder. Two small furry little paws appeared and grabbed it before disappearing again. "What the hell was that?" SJ whispered. "What?" Dave asked, confused. "There is something on her shoulder." "Ohhhh. She has a familiar." SJ knew what familiars were. "I wonder what it is?" "Go and ask." "A little bit rude to just walk up and ask, ''Hey. I don''t know your name, but what''s that thing sitting on your shoulder?''." "Hey, SJ," Fhyliss said, getting her attention. "Hi, Fhyliss. Can I please get a coffee? Do you also have anything light food-wise today?" "I will check the menu, although Floretta can whip you up something if you wish." "I would like just a salad if possible?" "Sure, no problem. I will go ask." A few moments later, with a large mug of coffee and confirmation of a salad being made, SJ stood staring at the Dryad. "I have to ask," SJ whispered. Walking over to where the Dryad was sitting, she waited for her to notice her standing there. "Can I help?" "I am wondering how much a cart and horse costs?" The Dryad''s eyes lit up. "Please take a seat," she offered her hand to an empty chair, smiling. SJ sat down. "It all depends on what you are after in your cart, to be honest. Do you just want an in-town runaround or something more long-distance related?" SJ hadn''t been expecting a response like that and, within minutes, was tied into visiting the wagonistas to see what they had on offer. She had agreed to go the next day after training. The Dryad had finished eating and stood to leave, "When you get down tomorrow, just ask for Katiyanna." "Ok. I am SJ. I will see you tomorrow." The Dryad left, leaving SJ alone now, rubbing her head, baffled by how the conversation had just turned. She had been getting excited talking about the carts and wagons, picking up on the passion from the Dryad, and had completely forgotten about the familiar and to ask about it. "I think you better leave your gold in your room tomorrow," Dave said. "Why?" she whispered. "If you go there with gold, you won''t return with it. She had you drawn in on every word." SJ frowned, unable to deny that the conversation had entranced her. "I did get a little excited." "That Dryad is very good at her job by all accounts. Wagonista salespeople are renowned for being good. She is very good, though, and must have a high charisma for her charm to be so strong." "I was charmed?" "No. Not magically, but yes, you were charmed by her." SJ was tired, a little uncertain about the conversation, and sore from the training. She had forgotten to visit the healers for the Dryac that Lorna had mentioned. Fhyliss brought over a large plate full of all kinds of salad; SJ thanked Fhyliss, picked up the plate, and headed to her room. ¡°You do know you are supposed to be going to see Setu and Margu this evening?¡± Dave asked. SJ had completely forgotten, wishing she had not confirmed an exact date. ¡°Thanks, Dave. I had forgotten. I better get ready,¡± SJ sighed. All she wanted to do was get a bath and go to bed, but she knew she had to keep her promise. Chapter 41 – Not so familiar By the time SJ had returned from visiting Setu and Margu, it was past midnight, and she was exhausted after the day''s training she had completed. Returning to her room, she stripped off, walked to the bedroom and collapsed on her bed. "I will wake you in the morning," Dave said. "Do you have to?" SJ groaned. "Training grounds," Dave chirped. She let out a deep groan, pulled the pillow over her head, and soon fell asleep. The next morning came too soon, and when SJ went to move after Dave''s not-so-melodic voice rang in her head, she moaned. She felt stiff all over; the only part of her which didn''t feel as though it wasn''t throbbing was her head. "God, I ache," SJ said. "Fizzlewick isn''t here to help you," Dave replied sarcastically. "Urgh. I wish I had gone to collect the Dryac Lorna mentioned." "Get some this morning." "That is if I can even make it that far," she said, slowly climbing from the bed, bending, and trying to touch her toes, stretching her back off as much as she could. Looking at her display, it was 07:42. "It''s not even 8 o''clock yet. Why wake me so early?" she complained. "You have things to do." "Yes. Training." "Wing exercises. You''re nearly there now and should be able to attempt flying soon." SJ had not attempted to fly since starting her wing exercises, but she was determined to ensure she was fully prepared. With an audible sigh, she sat on the edge of the bed and performed her routine. The pain that coursed through her body within moments was horrendous. The exercises from the training ground had probably done her wing muscles more good than she was willing to accept, huffing and groaning with each bout. It was still early when she reached the training grounds, and only a few trainees were around. She sat down on a barrel at the side of the training ground and relaxed, soaking up the sun. She had called in at the healer''s as suggested by Lorna and picked up a pot of the Dryac cream. It cost 70 copper, the most expensive item she had bought since arriving. She had rubbed the cream into her worst aching muscles, and the relief had been almost instantaneous. She wished she had got some the night before. "Morning," Lorna called as she walked across to the rings. "Nice to see you here so early, and keen to learn." SJ turned to look at Lorna, smiling. "Morning. I feel a little better since I got some of the Dryac this morning. If it hadn''t started working so quickly, I am not sure I would have been training today." "It''s good stuff, isn''t it?" "It''s amazing." "You may as well start with the basic katas. If you can remember them from yesterday, while we wait and see if anyone else arrives today." Still feeling stiffness in various muscles, she slowly began a warmup, completing exercises she had done during her gymnastics days. She was amazed at how flexible she was compared to before she had arrived in Amathera, and it had to be down to her increased dexterity. Completing the warmup, she started the new katas. Lorna watched her intently, advising her where she could tighten her stance, adjust her moves and, in general, improve her basic technique. The aggression in this form SJ could see would be formidable. Finishing her routine, she asked Lorna. "How easy is it to advance kata?" "It depends on your ability. I can teach you all the katas, but how well you can perform the routines will dictate how fast you can advance the skill." "I know the first two now. What is the third one?" "You must learn a couple of the kicks before performing the kata." "Ok. It''s like my previous style, then." SJ wanted to reach the level 3 kata in Amar Ti to continue pushing and progressing. "Could you show me while we are waiting for others?" "Looking at the fact no one else has arrived yet. It may just be you today." SJ was not sure she wanted to have Lorna''s complete focus. She had been able to relax slightly yesterday when speaking to other trainees, but with only her, there would be no respite. By the time they broke for lunch, SJ was drenched. She must have lost litres of water in sweat. Drinking deeply from her waterskin, she sat on the ground. "Your dress always looks immaculate. I assume it is magical?" Lorna asked. "Yes. That is why I am not worried about it getting dirty." "That can''t have been cheap?" Not wanting to say it was a gift from a God, she wasn''t sure how to respond to the statement. Eventually just replied, "No." The afternoon session was even worse than the first day; the strength training took a new level, and various leg, stomach, and arm exercises were completed. The amount of money it would have cost back on Earth to have a personal trainer like Lorna would have been astronomical. The focus and details she went into explaining the benefits and requirements for each exercise that she completed. Her strength was lagging, and the more she did, the more she needed to improve it. Not by much, but by enough to ease some movement needs, considering they were physical forms and not just agility-based moves. Hitting accurately would be one thing, but having the power to support the precision would be critical. "Back tomorrow?" Lorna asked, grinning at SJ as she moaned, straightening from where she had been performing warm-down exercises. "If the Dryac does its job, I should be. Not sure I can do this every day, though." "We only train in three-day cycles; the fourth day is always rest." "One more day of torment and torture before a day''s rest is what you are telling me?" "Only if you are up to it," Lorna said, laughing at her comment. "I need to level my skills, so I have to be," SJ replied, a little concerned about the level of training she needed to undertake. None of this was like the games she had played on Earth; the movement was natural and intense, not just click and accept. "I need to go and finish planning the rosters. Have you seen Captain Broadaxe yet?" "No. I still need to catch him." "He should be in the barracks now for handover." The pair made their way to the front of the barracks. SJ hadn''t been inside the barracks before and was surprised at what she saw when she entered. It was set up more like a police station. There was a front desk, and then behind were various sections and desks laid out. It seemed strange for a barracks compared to what she expected to see. "This looks a little strange," she whispered after Lorna wished her farewell and walked through the back of the barracks. "Why strange?" Dave queried. "Just not what I expected. There are so many desks." "Different departments." "They have different departments?" "Of course, what did you expect?" "Honestly, I just expected a guard room and some beds." "The barracks are the hub of the town. The Mayor''s offices are upstairs." "It is like a town hall?" "Comparing it to Earth, it would be similar. It is not just guards that work here." "That makes a little more sense. I wondered why there were so many sitting at desks." "Shift change in five minutes," Captain Broadaxe''s deep voice could be heard as he walked down a flight of stairs into the main office area. Several sitting on benches at the side of the room began to stand and move. Each looked like a fighter in how they were dressed, and they must be on the oncoming guard shift. There were about twenty different people, and SJ was surprised at the number, not expecting there to be so many. Captain Broadaxe approached the front desk and picked up a sheet of parchment as the group formed. "Tonight, the following are needed," he began to list the tasks that needed to be completed by the various pairs he had assigned. It was very comprehensive, and SJ was utterly impressed with the professionalism. Once he had finished his briefing, the teams began to disperse from the barracks, leaving Captain Broadaxe chatting to an elderly-looking Orc at the front desk. SJ walked up. "Hi." The Orc and Captain Broadaxe turned to look at her. "Can I help you miss?" the Orc asked. "I am here to see Captain Broadaxe." "What can I do for you then?" the captain asked, smiling. "We briefly met in the jail the other day with Gary." "Ah. Yes, how could I forget." "I came to see you to donate as Lorna is starting to train me." "I see. If you follow me," he said, walking to open a small swinging gate that separated the front from the back area. SJ walked through, and the Captain approached the room''s rear office. Walking inside, he offered SJ a chair to sit on. SJ sat opposite Captain Broadaxe on the other side of a large desk covered in paperwork and what looked like maps. "Training donations all go to the Guards Retirement Fund. How much you donate is up to you. There is no set amount," he leaned forward and opened one of his desk drawers, removing a small chest. Placing the chest on the desk, he removed a key from his belt on his waist and opened it. SJ could not see the contents from where she sat. SJ had been trying to think of a suitable amount to donate. She has been struggling with the expectations for many things since arriving. She eventually removed a silver piece from her inventory and offered it to the Captain. He smiled broadly at her, taking the silver from her hand, depositing it into the chest, and securing it again. "Very generous of you," he said. "I have no idea what the going rate is?" "It is whatever you feel is appropriate; as I say, there are no set amounts; it is voluntary." "Well, Lorna has been amazing since I started yesterday." "If you are training in Martial Arts. That is a hard discipline to learn." "I hope to excel eventually." "I will stick to my Great Axe. Chop and cleave," he chuckled. Until now, SJ had not even noticed the huge Great Axe he indicated as he spoke. The dwarf was about five feet tall, and the axe looked nearly as large. It was no wonder he had such massive arms and chest if he spent his time luging something that size around with him. "I don''t think I could even pick that up," SJ replied honestly. "Ha. It''s light. It looks worse than it is. Anyway, I must go and do some rounds. Thank you for your donation." "Of course, sorry," SJ stood to leave. "If you are after some work at all, we sometimes post quests on the noticeboard at the Inn, and we pay a fair rate." Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. "I will keep an eye out. Thank you for your time." "No. Thank you for your donation." Following Captain Broadaxe back to the front, she wished him a good day and headed outside. "I need to go and visit the wagonista," she whispered. "It will be by the stables on the other side of the training grounds. Wagonistas are nearly always situated by the stables." "Ok," SJ replied, turning back towards the rear of the building and heading over to the stables she had seen. The stables looked like any other stable she could ever remember seeing in the many films she had seen over the years. A low-fronted slanted roof affair with open spacing and individual wooden stalls. As she approached, several people were working, mucking out and busily tacking several horses for a couple of waiting clients. A female Troll walked from the stable, leading one of the most enormous horses SJ had ever seen. It reminded her of a Shire horse but on an even larger scale. It must have stood nearly ten feet tall at the shoulder. It was making SJ feel as though she was in her miniature form. Watching as the Troll swung herself up and onto its back. The horse bayed in protest initially before relaxing and walking off. The Troll being on its back made it look like a normal-sized horse. It was still amazing, considering all the different races that worked amicably together. It was nothing like she had expected before her arrival. Walking over to an Orc who was busy tacking a horse, she asked for directions to the wagonistas, being directed to an area further away from the main stable front. Walking around the side of the stables, SJ was amazed to see a large open space with a gazebo-style covering. On display underneath the overhanging canopy were various carts and wagons. SJ spotted Katiyanna and headed over. She was adamant that she wouldn''t purchase anything and decreed that she would only visit because she had promised to. Katiyanna was dressed in a pale blue dress today and again wore matching jewellery. She was a beautiful creature; her delicate features and pristine appearance added to her charismatic charm. As SJ approached the area, an Orc dressed in smart attire approached her. "Hello. Welcome to Amathera''s premier wagonistas. How can I help you today?" Being taken aback by the Orc who stood smiling at her, she stumbled over her reply. ¡°Erm. I am here to see Katiyanna.¡± "I see. Please wait here, and I will confirm she is available." Katiyanna stood talking to two other Orcs, both dressed in similar attire to the one that had spoken to her. The Orc approached her and talked to her briefly. Katiyanna turned and saw SJ and began to walk over. "Hello SJ. I am so glad you came to visit," she said, grinning, her face even more beautiful when she did. "Hi." "Have you had any thoughts on what you may like?" "I haven''t. I have no idea about different carts or wagons." "Well, you have come to the perfect place to learn," she said. "Let me show you around." Following Katiyanna, she was shown around various carts and wagons, all with slightly different specifications relating to their uses and, particularly, their comfort. She was amazed at the level of detail and construction that went into them. Most of the carts looked like general-purpose carts she had seen being moved around the town; others had awnings or similar on them. The wagons were even more detailed, and one of the display models even had a frame reminding SJ of old Gypsy caravans. She had politely asked questions about the various models, and Katiyanna was so enthusiastic that she was caught up in the moment. "You left the gold in your room. Didn''t you?" Dave said. Ignoring Dave''s remark, SJ looked at a particular wagon with a covering, a small bed, and other furnishings. "This is one of our better range models. It is used by many who take to the open road. Providing storage and comfort for your possessions as you travel. It is also able to be magically imbued." "Magically imbued?" "Yes. Many do not like leaving their wagons unattended in larger towns and cities, so they will have the latest anti-theft magic imbued on them." "Oh," SJ said in surprise. It was mind-boggling that it was just like walking into any car sales room on Earth. "This particular model is perfect for an individual. It is not too large or too small and can be pulled by a single horse, although it is advised to use two for swifter travel." Dave had mentioned previously that due to inventory limitations, many parties took carts into dungeons with them, and looking at the size of the wagon she was looking at, it would not be very practical. One of the orcs came over and quietly spoke to Katiyanna. "Excuse me a minute," she said. Turning, Katiyanna quickly walked over to a rather angry-looking Draconian in a heated discussion with one of the other Orcs. "You are thinking of buying one, aren''t you?" Dave said. "I am. Why?" "You know you can get coaches between the various towns and cities rather than buying a wagon to travel in." "That is good to know, but this one here is almost perfect. Look at it," SJ indicated with her hands. "It''s a wagon!" "Yes, but the finish and it has improved suspension for the bumpy roads." "Do you hear yourself!" Dave exclaimed. "What?" Dave tutted, and she could imagine him shaking his head in dismay at her. "It looks nice," SJ said pleadingly. "You haven''t even asked how much it is yet?" "No, but I can." Dave sighed, "You also need horses, and then you have tack, feed and stable fees to consider." Honestly, she hadn''t even considered the extra costs that may be involved. "How much are horses normally?" "Depends upon breed and type. Mules or Ponies are cheaper than actual horses. Dungeon divers normally just take a mule and cart for loot collection. You can then go all the way up to the Chargers. Prices will vary, but you are looking at a few silvers for decent ones of good stock." "A few silvers? That expensive?" "It''s an investment. There are loaners in most towns, but they are unreliable and not always fit for purpose." Climbing into the back of the wagon, SJ looked through the various fittings and heard a commotion. Looking over, she saw the still angry face of the Draconian, now raising his voice and shouting at Katiyanna. One of the Orcs put his hand towards the Draconian, who batted it away, pointing viciously at the Dryad. Katiyanna was standing there with a smile on her face, replying in a calm voice. The Draconian wouldn''t have any of it and was getting even more animated. Another of the Orcs walked forward, and they both had to forcefully grab the Draconian and move him away from the area. As he walked away, SJ saw the funniest scene. A tiny furry paw appeared between Katiyanna''s hair; she was adamant that it gave the Draconian the universal sign of contempt. "Did you see that?" SJ said, startled. Dave was busy laughing. "That creature, whatever it is, just gave the Draconian the finger." "It has an attitude for sure," Dave chuckled. A few moments later, Katiyanna walked back over. "I am sorry about that. Unfortunately, you can''t please all customers. He was trying to blame our wagon for damage to the goods he was transporting. He is known as a careless driver; there have been several complaints in town about his driving." It reminded SJ of all the social media posts she used to see about drivers in and around where she lived in London. Someone was always being complained about, and photos were splashed all over. The similarities between the two worlds were uncanny. "Have you decided on anything you like in particular?" SJ could not stop staring at the side of Katiyanna''s face, where she had seen the little paw appear. "I have to ask, what is that on your shoulder?" Katiyanna laughed. "You mean Lubearius," she reached up and pulled her hair to one side. In doing so, SJ heard immediate chittering and saw a small bright red squirrel sitting perfectly on her shoulder. It looked so cute. "Lubearius? That''s a strange name." "He has a bit of an attitude, and I am sure he thinks he is a bear rather than a squirrel." The squirrel chittered away unhappily, being revealed from its hiding place. Its eyes narrowed, and it stared in disgust at SJ. "I can see that," SJ chuckled. Katiyanna reached up, grabbed Lubearius, and lifted him down. He squeaked in protest but didn''t try and bite or fight. "May I?" SJ asked, lifting her hand towards the tiny creature. "Of course." SJ reached out to stroke the small furry creature. As her finger came in range to stroke its head, he whipped around with his rather sharp incisors and bit into the end of her finger. SJ yelped, pulling her hand back, seeing blood dripping from her punctured finger. "Lubearius. What have I told you before? You never bite a customer," Katiyanna scolded him. "You are not getting any nuts today now," looking back at SJ, she apologised, "I am so sorry for his behaviour." SJ could see the little beastie suddenly shrink and drop its shoulders. It turned to look at SJ with wide, pleading eyes. "My finger is fine. There is nothing to worry about," SJ said, wiping the end of her finger on her dress, knowing it would self-clean and the wound would heal soon enough. "Please accept my apologies; he is not normally that aggressive." "He is a feisty little one, isn''t he," SJ replied, smiling. Katiyanna smiled back, and the small squirrel looked as though it was proud of itself at the comment. "He has got me in trouble on a few occasions, unfortunately," She replied as she placed Lubearius back on her shoulder, the squirrel disappearing back to hide behind her hair, holding it apart with its little paws so it could look at SJ still. Dave was busy laughing hysterically in her head, gasping for breath at her finger being bitten. "How much is this wagon?" SJ asked, having climbed back down from it as Katiyanna had returned. "This model comes in three forms. Single or double tack, and then the optional imbuement and detailing package is available." "Detailing?" "Signwriting and luxuries. You can get one fully furnished with bedding and the essentials. Pots pans the usual traveller''s needs." "What do they cost?" "The basic model, unfurnished single tack, costs 20 silvers; then we have the 30 silver upgrade dual tack and the imbuement package, which costs 45 silver. This model is dual tack as standard." "What about the additional packages?" "Signwriting and luxuries cost an extra two silver. So, for a top-of-the-range model, it is 32 silver. We can offer finance deals to suit most needs." "How do they work?" SJ had the funds to buy one, but she wasn''t willing to without knowing the associated costs for horses and feed. "Finance can be arranged by paying monthly fees at any local branch of Amathera Bank. They have branches in most larger towns and cities. All wagons are magically assigned until the final payment is made, and missed payments will result in reclaim. On receipt of the final payment, the wagon''s deed will be transferred, giving you full ownership." It was amazing that the overarching economy included banks. Dave had not mentioned them, and she would need to talk with him. He had mentioned auction houses before and assumed they must be similar. "Can I have some time to think about it?" "Of course. For the next seven days, we have a promotion offering all new purchases free annual servicing and retreatment to protect them from the elements for the next three years. It''s available at any of our branches." "That is good to know. I will think about it and might be back. Thanks for your time." "No problem, and please call anytime if you have more questions." As SJ went to turn, she saw the little face of the squirrel appear between Katiyanna''s hair. "Bye, Lubearius," SJ said to the small familiar. The squirrel watched her quizzically as she went to move away before sticking its tongue out. Dave erupted into fits of laughter again. Chapter 42 – Up, Up, and Away The next day passed in a blur, completing training again with Lorna. Her form was improving, and she hoped she would soon trigger the next Kata level the way she was going. Lorna had informed her she could not train at the training grounds tomorrow due to their rules around rest. She decided to look around the town more and pick up some quests. Fizzlewick had still not returned to the tailor''s yet, and she was a little concerned about where he had gone. Knowing that Bob had been waiting to see him probably meant he was on the mountain. The form of the massive Blue Dragon could still be seen back at its peak again. "Flying day," SJ said excitedly. She had followed the exercise regime Fran had told her about, and she knew just from the exercises that the muscles for her wings had been improving significantly. "Great. Let''s get you miniature and flying around battling the birds then." "You mentioned birds deliberately, didn''t you," SJ frowned, recalling the huge raven that had grabbed her from the sky. "Would I do something so cruel?" Dave stated innocently. "Yes." "I am hurt," he replied, giggling. "Sounds like it," SJ was in her room and began her transformation in moments, standing at her six-inch height. It had been a few days since she had altered her size, and the perspective of everything changed so substantially in miniature form. "This is going to be fun. Hopefully, you won''t faceplant." Shaking her head at Dave''s comment, she slowly moved her wings. She could already feel the difference due to the scale difference of her wings between her two forms, and the movement of the wings was much more natural. Her muscles didn''t begin to throb like they had when using a single movement, and she slowly got used to the rhythm she needed to follow. "Ok. Here goes!" SJ slowly moved her wings in their rhythmic pattern, increasing the speed until, without realising it, she was suddenly several inches from the ground. "This is so much easier," she said, a huge grin on her face. "Let''s see you fly then." "I am flying." "No, properly. Acrobatics, spins, swoops, come on, don''t be shy." SJ gritted her teeth as she focussed on the movements and slowly began to lift higher into the air. She was now at least three feet above the floor and began to adjust her beat slightly, changing her position. There was none of the leaning backwards and forwards she had been attempting previously, and she could stay virtually upright as she turned. Slow and directed movements made her turn in the air with ease. Slowly reducing her beat, she lowered herself gently back to the floor. "That was amazing," she said excitedly. "Boring more like." "What do you mean boring? I flew." "You flew before." "Not properly, though. I also don''t ache at all; it felt so natural." "You still need to actually try and fly somewhere." "I could get a decent look of the town from the air." "You could if you actually flew." "I did fly. Stop trying to burst my bubble." "I am just saying. Watching you take off and land after a couple of turns isn''t exactly what I would classify as flying." "Fine," SJ huffed and began to beat her wings again, lifting off the floor much faster than before. Dave had annoyed her with his hypocritical remarks, and she would prove him wrong. She started to move forward and continued to rise. In moments, she was up by the heavy, thick cross beams of the room''s high ceiling, startling a small mouse sitting happily eating something it had found. It scurried across the beam and disappeared into the adjoining room. Turning and looking down, she suddenly got a strong sense of vertigo, her stomach somersaulting. "Ewwww. Not good," SJ said. "What isn''t?" Dave asked, confused. "Vertigo." "You haven''t suffered with it before?" "I have never flown this high before. It''s a long way down when you are six inches tall," she moved to the beam and landed on it, resting for a moment until her stomach stopped fluttering so badly. "Was it really a great idea to select a race that can fly if you suffer from vertigo?" Dave sarcastically replied. "I have never suffered with it before." "Not a good time to start then, is it?" Taking a deep breath, SJ steadied herself before starting again and returning from the beam. She slowly circled the room, gradually gaining more confidence in her ability and the subtle movements needed with her wing beats to adjust her flight path. It was strange how it seemed so natural now that her muscles were working independently and not moving simultaneously. The last couple of training days have been more than enough to support her daily schedule of wing development. "I need to go and see Fran," SJ said, grinning from ear to ear. Now, she was able to move and fly so easily in comparison. "Sounds like a good idea. No time like the present." Looking towards the open window, SJ suddenly felt panic. "What if there are birds that will attack me?" "You can actually fly now and move out of their way." SJ wasn''t so sure and hovered by the open window. "Come on, stop acting like a bugbear cub," Dave said. Growling in response to his comment, she started out of the window. The sun, as it had been every day, was blazing down onto the town, and as she left the Inn window and began to lift towards the roof, she couldn''t stop looking around at all the goings on. Her eyesight was perfect since her transformation, and she could see around the square. The view was completely different and much more interesting than walking at street level. She could understand why so many people had always gone on about helicopter and balloon flights back on Earth. Lifting over the Inn''s roof, she turned and began heading towards the windmill she could see down by the lakeside. She felt amazing flying through the air, watching the day-to-day activities, and could hear the banging of the smithy. Looking over, she saw the smoke rising from its chimney. She felt free; the warm sun bathed her wings, and her back was not aching in the slightest. She began to pick up speed as she flew and was soon travelling much faster than she had ever done before. The windmill sails spun easily, and it was then that she realised that there was quite a breeze coming off the surface of the lake. She had not noticed it in the town, but it became apparent now that she had left the streets and was crossing an open field. The breeze began to hit her, and she could feel herself being pushed off course slightly. Adjusting her flight path, she corrected her direction and continued. As she neared the mage''s apprentice building, there were several outside training casting various spells, and that was when the gust hit her. One of the mages must have been an air mage as the wind whipped up, and her small, framed body was suddenly caught in what could only be described as a tornado. She saw the spiralling air at the same time as it hit her. Squealing in shock, she was suddenly thrown into the air as though she weighed nothing, completely out of control and at the mercy of the power of the mage''s magic. The tornado was rising rapidly in the air, and she had no control over where she was going, being spun around like a sock in a washing machine. The wind took her with no mercy as she was carried higher and higher across the lake''s surface. Her head spun, and she felt exceedingly dizzy, having stopped moving her wings in the panic. It was then that the wind suddenly stopped. Realising in absolute panic, she began to plummet towards the lake she was now over. Trying to beat her wings frantically at the same time as not throwing up due to how dizzy she had become. She must have been easily a hundred feet or more above the lake. "Dive and glide," Dave shouted in her head. Struggling to align her body, she managed to tilt down, extending her wings to the sides, the air buffeting her as she tried to steady her fall. Angling slowly upwards, she gradually glided at the speed of a bullet, but at least glide. Once she began to glide, she tried adjusting her wings slightly and, similar to flaps on a plane, very slowly began to calm her descent so she could part control her movement. She was still moving very quickly, and the crop fields surrounding the mill were coming into range. Hurtling between the windmill sails, only just missing one, she careered towards the field. Trying to slow herself down as best as she could, she crashed into the tops of the ears of corn. She eventually hit the ground, tumbling end over end until she came to a rest on her back, panting. "Impressive crashlanding. 9/10," Dave said. Staring up through the corn, she looked at the sky above, thankfully now back on the ground. She slowly climbed to her feet, brushing the small ears of corn from her which had stuck to her. This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. "That wasn''t fun." "You were doing well until that spell hit you." "Wish you got warnings!" Her dress flowed perfectly, as normal around her, and the earth stains from her crash landing and dust began to vanish magically. "I think I will walk the rest of the way," SJ said as she grew to her normal size. Standing up now in the middle of a field of corn. She started to make her way across the fence towards the windmill. "What are you doing in there?" a voice called from the mill. "Can''t you see the signs?" SJ looked over at the mill, and a round, portly man was calling over to her in the doorway. "Sorry. I crashed here." She replied, smiling at the man as she approached the fence and hopped over. "Crashed?" he said with a confused look on his face. "Yes. I was flying and got hit by a gust of wind. I am sorry if I have caused a problem." Turning behind her, she saw signs on the fence saying not to enter. "You have just walked through the centre of a fresh field. You have probably contaminated the whole crop." "Contaminated?" "With your filthy Fae form." SJ''s temper flared, "Pardon?" "You heard me. All you Fae do is cause mischief and mayhem. Due to your kind, I have lost so many crops over the years." SJ growled, looking at the man. "How dare you be so rude. You do not even know me, and you accuse me of an issue due to an accident." "How dare you walk through my field," the man snapped back. A large, portly woman appeared next to the man at the door. "Hubert dear. Please go inside. You know you get yourself all wound up." The man grumbled as he turned and walked back into the mill. "I am sorry, dear. I heard you say you crashed?" "Yes. I was flying to see Mistress Fransica, got caught in a spell, and lost control. I am sorry if I have caused an issue." "Oh. Don''t worry about Hubert. His bark is worse than his bite. It would not matter if you had been a Fae, a Goblin, or an Elf." "It isn''t how it sounded," SJ said firmly. SJ is still furious at Hubert''s remarks. "Come get a glass of milk," the woman said, smiling brightly at SJ. Her face reminded SJ of her grandmother, ''wrinkled skin and a big grin,'' as she was fondly known in the family. SJ approached the woman, still scowling at the remarks. She had not drunk milk since arriving in Amathera, and she was surprised when the woman removed a large pitcher of milk and two glasses from out of nowhere. Placing them on a small table sat by the mill entrance. SJ walked up and picked up one of the glasses. The glass was perfectly chilled, and she drank the milk. It reminded her of her childhood when she used to get the full-fat milk. It was so creamy and delicious, and she downed it quickly. "You may wish to wipe your mouth, dear," the woman said, chuckling. Putting her hand up to her top lip, she assumed she had a white moustache. Wiping it on her sleeve. "Thank you. That was delicious." "My pleasure. Nubbins does produce some of the best milk in town." "Nubbins?" "Our cow," the woman said, pointing to the side of the mill, where there was a small field. She could not see the cow from where she stood. "I see. That is why it tastes so fresh." "Every morning, I go out to milk her. Always a fresh jug." "Can I ask your name?" "I am Gladys. You have already met my grumpy other half, Hubert," Gladys replied, chuckling. "SJ," she replied, smiling the milk, having placated her anger. "You look like one of those adventuring types?" "I am. Is there something you need to do?" "We do, actually. Have you heard of the cottages?" The mention of cottages suddenly reminded SJ about the deed, which she had not even looked into yet. "I haven''t. Can I ask what you need to do?" "We have a cottage to the west of town through the crags and into the valley below. It is one of three tucked away into the woods. It is a beautiful area with a fishing lake. We bought it as our retirement home but have not managed to go down there for a while as a group of undead have been in the area. Mayor Maxwell won''t send the guard as it is outside the town jurisdiction, and he definitely won''t after the death of Florina due to the fear of a Hob raid." "I could possibly go and investigate. I am free today but have a busy schedule again training tomorrow." "That would be fantastic if you could. The road splits as you follow it into the valley; if you follow it right, you will come to the cottages down by the lakeside. Ours is the second one. There is a third one further around, but we only saw the owner of it once, and they disappeared." SJ''s display triggered. Quest ¨C Investigate the cottages Clear the cottages of the undead infestation and find the source. Rewards: 200xp, Gift from Gladys Would you like to accept the quest? Yes/No SJ smiled, selecting yes. "I will head on over and see what I can find out." "Thank you, and please return once you have found something out for your reward." Walking away from the mill''s entrance, SJ was trying to get her bearings. "Which way is it, Dave?" she said once she was away far enough. "It will be back across the meadow where you met Bob and through the crags." "I am lost. Which way is that from here? I wish the map worked." "Not till level 10. Head back towards the smithy, then follow the road back through the fields again. You could probably just follow the lakeside, but at least you have been that route before." Checking her inventory, she still had her waterskin, rations, lockbox, and keys from Darjey. This would be a good opportunity for her to get rid of the lockbox while out of town. She didn''t fancy dumping possible incriminating evidence anywhere near Killic itself. Following Dave''s directions and giving up on speaking to Fran today after her fraught flight, not wanting to bump into the mage who had caused her to crash-land, feeling both embarrassed and angry, she started towards the meadow. As she passed through the forest area, she again saw and heard plenty of signs of life in the trees and bushes. The scenery reminded her of the picture books of woodland she used to read as a child. It took her just over an hour to reach the edge of the meadow, the scorched patches of Earth still visible where Bob had stained the earth with his lightning sneezes. Walking through the path in the middle, SJ noticed a group of deer along the lake''s edge. She was amazed at their beauty, stopping and watching them for a few minutes. As they moved through the clearing, SJ noticed that one of them was limping slightly. ''I wonder'', she thought as she turned to head towards them. "Where are you going?" Dave asked. "Just checking on something. I think that may be the doe I saved." As she neared the group of deer, the large bucks stood alert and looked towards her. She kept walking forward slowly, not rushing or making any threatening movements or sounds. The doe, which had been limping, looked from its drinking and saw SJ turned and bleated before heading towards her. SJ held her hand out as the doe approached. The larger of the bucks snorted but didn''t challenge. The doe walked up and sniffed SJ''s hand before licking it. She smiled fondly at the doe, seeing that its leg had healed but had been left with a limp from the wolf attack. She felt bad for the doe and wished she could help heal it fully. The one thing about being an assassin was she had no skills or ability to heal. She knew she would have to invest in some healing potions, lotions, or similar things going forward. She spent a few minutes with the doe before turning to leave again. The group began to move away once she continued across the meadow towards the forest area on the far side. Passing through the woods on the far side, she reached the craggy outcrop and the split in the rock face. The path was still clear and well-travelled. Crossing between the rock faces, she looked down into a huge, wide valley below. ? Chapter 43 – The not living, living The scene before her as she looked into the valley was stunning. Birds flew above the deep, rich forested areas, and a river crossed the valley. In the distance, SJ could make out some structures, but she could not tell what they were. The path twisted down the mountainside towards the valley floor several hundred feet below. "This is going to be a trek back up," SJ said. "Maybe you should have bought a wagon." "I wasn''t expecting to go so far today." She continued the descent to the valley floor. The air at the valley''s base was slightly cooler, which surprised SJ, who thought it would have gotten warmer, trapping the sun''s heat. Reaching the bottom, she followed the main track that led through the centre. She had not been travelling long when they found a fork in the trail. The split turned right slightly before turning sharper, heading into a wooded area. Travelling for another thirty minutes or so, the path became worse. It was still a track but did not see much traffic. It curved down through a wooded glade, and on the far side, it opened into a large open meadow. In the distance, SJ could see some buildings, so she headed towards them. As she approached, her senses heightened, and she felt like she was being watched. "This doesn''t feel right," she whispered. "I can''t see anything." "Nor I yet." At that moment, an arrow came whizzing towards her from the buildings; thankfully, it was not very accurate sailing past her. She dove to the ground instinctively and lay still, listening. "From the direction of the building," she said. "Yeah. I saw something, but I''m not sure what." SJ immediately shrunk to her miniature form. If she was going to be pinned down, then she wasn''t going to be an easy target. Slowly edging away from where she had dived, she carefully started moving in the direction of the buildings circling towards them. She heard footsteps approaching through the grass. "Where did it go?" a female voice said. "No idea. Did you hit it?" a male voice replied. "Not sure." "We can''t have anything around here. The boss will go mad if there is anything." "I know." SJ heard the swish of what could have been a sword or something similar chopping through the long grasses to the left of where she was now. Continuing away from the two voices, Dave spoke in her ear. "Two skeletons. One archer, one fighter by the looks of them." "They must be the undead that Gladys mentioned." "Only saw them briefly, so didn''t see any details." "Ok," SJ replied as she continued. As she neared the buildings, she could hear more voices. Stopping and listening, there had to be at least four, possibly five. The closest building was now just ahead of her, and she moved to the edge of the long grass, peering out carefully. There was a gap of twenty feet of hard-packed ground before she could get to the side of the building. "I am going to fly to the roof," she said determinedly, flapping her wings slowly lifting from the ground. The one good thing about her flight was it was silent: her wings made no sound. As soon as she was hovering, she crept higher above the grass line and then, seeing it was clear, lifted higher and headed straight over to the roof. Reaching the roof, she gently landed on the thatching. The top was patchy, and the thatch needed repairs. She could hear the skeletons talking below her. Creeping to the far edge of the thatch, taking care of where she placed her feet, she laid down and slowly peered over. Just below her, she could see the tops of two heads; one was wearing a metal helmet, and the other had a skeleton''s plain, open white skull with a random wisp of hair attached to it. One of the voices surprised SJ. It was not a skeleton. It was a strange-looking being and didn''t seem to have much of a body floating rather than walking. "What is it?" SJ whispered. "Phantom. An undead minion mainly used to cause fear rather than damage. They are usually very weak to fire," Dave replied. The Phantom made a sound like a deep moan. "I know, we have to move the gear. At least this delivery can be loaded straight onto the boat rather than messing about storing it first," a huge, formed skeleton complained. Moaning again, the Phantom pointed at the barrels next to the building. Sighing, the larger skeleton moved towards the barrels, bending and picking one of them up before moving it over to where a cart was situated and loading it in the back as SJ watched the other two skeletons who had gone out towards the field where she had been returned. "Anything?" "No sign. Whoever it was has disappeared." "We need to keep an eye out while we finish packing up." "Yeah. Charlotte, can you keep watch?" The skeleton with the bow and arrow replied. "Yeah, I''ll keep watch." SJ watched as four of the skeletons finished moving the barrels. The fifth with the bow, Charlotte, stood by the edge of the building, looking back across the meadow where the track was. Once the cart was filled, the four skeletons moved to the front of it, and picking up the cart handles on either side, the Phantom let out a deep moan. "Coming," Charlotte replied as the others began to pull the cart off down a track leading towards the lake ahead of them. SJ could see the lake started about two hundred feet from where she was on the roof, and when they reached it, she spotted a rowing boat that was now being loaded with the barrels from the cart. Once the boat was full, two skeletons rowed across the lake to the far side. The others then turned, grabbed the cart handles and dragged the empty cart along a path further down the lakeside. "I wonder what they are doing?" SJ said. "No idea, but they must be under the influence of a Necromancer." "Why do you say that?" "They have to do what they are instructed, and I think the Phantom is in charge of them." "A necromancer will assign a leader?" "Some do. Some do it all themselves, but it''s easier if they have minions who do the work for them." The beings were now a fair distance from the building, and she slowly stood, flapping her wings before making her way to the ground. The way that flight was now feeling was natural and quite disconcerting, considering the initial trouble she had had. The building she was now in front of looked run down and derelict. The front door was hanging on by a single hinge. Looking at where it was situated, it would have made a beautiful home at one time but would need a lot of work to return to that standard. SJ had no idea if she was even in the right area where the cottages were supposed to be and could only assume that she was from Gladys''s directions. "Let''s see what they have been doing here," entering the building, SJ looked around at the destroyed furnishings. Tables, chairs, and cupboards had all been ransacked, damaged, or smashed over time. Looking at the state of the inside, it looked like it had been derelict for a very long time. Thick cobwebs coated the rafters, making SJ shudder and reminding her of her crypt visit. Searching around the small cottage, she found nothing of value or interest that may have led to what they were doing here. "I can''t find anything." "I haven''t seen anything unusual either. I have no idea what was in those barrels; maybe check around outside." Walking back out of the small cottage, SJ searched the immediate area. A small shed had its door open, and broken baskets and pottery pieces littered the floor. There was no indication of what they had been doing or had in the barrels they were moving. The only signs were the fresh marks on the earth where they had stood and the tracks the cart had created in the dirt track leading down to the lake. "We need to follow them. Your quest says to clear the cottages, and this has to be the first one. Gladys said hers was the second, never mind the third one she mentioned." "Yeah. I will stay miniature for now; it will be easier not to be seen." Taking off, she began to cut diagonally across the field in the direction the cart had been pulled along the lakeside. It didn''t take her long to reach the lake, and looking right, she could see another building further down, slightly around a bend in the lake. Taking her time and staying low to the grasses, she flew towards it. As she neared the building, she heard the voices of the skeletons. "Brian. Get a move on. We haven''t got all day." "Shut it, Terence. I am moving as fast as I can." "Try moving faster. I want to get back at some point." "Why, what do you have planned? A nice dinner, perhaps." "Very funny." Charlotte joined in, laughing with Brain. The Phantom moaned, and the other two skeletons moved towards where Brian was to help him do whatever he was doing. SJ flew upwards slightly to give herself a better angle and could see the cottage in much better condition. It had a small white picketed fence surrounding it, and the grass was overgrown, but she could tell it had been cared for until recently. From what SJ could tell, at the side of the small cottage was the entrance to a storm cellar, and one of the skeletons was moving a barrel out from it. "What are they up to?" she whispered. "No idea." "I wish I knew what was in the barrels. One of them mentioned that it had not been long since they had a delivery. Delivery of what and why store it and not take it straight back to wherever they have come from." "I still have no idea." "I thought you were all-knowing." "Very funny. Haha," Dave replied. "Be careful, Terence," Brian cried to the largest skeleton as one of the barrels began to topple back off the cart where it had been placed. It thudded heavily to the floor, and a red liquid started to leak from it. "Damn it, Terence. It''s leaking." Looking at the large skeleton, SJ could see the tell-tale signs of an Orc with its tusks. It was strange to realise that the skeletons were not all human. "It''s not my fault the cart wasn''t level." "The pair of you just stop and get it picked up. We will have to stash it on its side to stop it leaking anymore," Charlotte chirped in. "I am going to use identification," SJ whispered. "Be careful. You don''t know what wisdom they are." "I don''t care, and I am only small; they still won''t see me that easily at this range." Hovering above the grass, she cast her identification skill at the skeletons and Phantom. Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. "The sneaky assassin is learning. You know what, I must admit I have been a little silly." "Why?" "The chances of you being spotted identifying people unless they have a direct identification skill themselves is very slim when you are miniature." "Now you tell me!" "I hadn''t thought about it before, never having a Fae Legionnaire." SJ sighed. "Sorry," Dave replied. "Did you just apologise?" SJ replied, mocking shock. "Maybe, but don''t get used to it." Smiling, SJ read the results on her display and checked her skill progression. Subterfuge - Identification Level 3 - 19 of 30 to level 4 Skeletal Archer Level: 7 Hit Points: 35 Mana Points: 35 Attacks: Pierce Skeletal Fighter Level: 8 Hit Points: 50 Mana Points: 40 Attacks: Slash/Thrust Skeletal Rogue Level: 6 Hit Points: 30 Mana Points: 30 Attacks: Stab/Slash Phantom Level: 10 Hit Points: 55 Mana Points: 100 Attacks: Confusion/Fear "There is no way I can take on four of them with the levels they are." "Knowing how Necromancers work, if you took out the Phantom, the chances are the others won''t do anything." "What makes you say that?" "They are instructed. The Phantom is directing them and making sure they do their work. I bet if you can take it out, they would only attack if you attacked them. They are probably out of range of the Necromancer directly." "I''m not a gambler and don''t fancy betting on them not attacking me." "That was a low blow!" Dave grumbled. "I didn''t mean it that way, but if the truth hurts." "Hmmph." "I will just watch for now and see what they do and where they go." Moving towards the side of the field and the wood line, SJ positioned herself so she could see the happenings more easily. She flew to a branch and gently landed on it. The cart was being loaded with more barrels from the cellar. "At least we should be finished for now," one of the skeletons said. "It''s been nice being away from the boss, though." "I can''t disagree." "What does he even need with all this?" "No idea. Knowing him, he will have some mad scheme he is trying to cook up. He never leaves his laboratory most days." "The Gnoll hunters we have been collecting it from must have slaughtered a whole forest to provide so much blood." SJ gasped at hearing that the barrels were full of blood. Thankfully, she was far enough away for her not to be heard. "Blood!" she whispered. "Probably trying to create a new being." "What sort of being would need barrels of blood?" "Meh. Necromancers are a strange breed. They are always trying to create new horrors." SJ had witnessed at least seven barrels being loaded onto the rowing boat, and now a further six had been loaded onto the cart. That was a lot of blood. Each barrel reminded SJ of the ones she used to see in the micro pubs around London. There had to be litres in total, and she had no idea how many barrels had been delivered previously. The skeletons began moving the cart away from the building and headed back towards where the rowing boat had been loaded. SJ watched them leave and flew to the cottage, landing on the ground by the red-stained earth. She quickly looked around the area, not seeing anything. This cottage had been left untouched apart from its cellar being used for storage by the looks of it. Checking that the skeletons and Phantom had moved out of sight, she quickly grew to her normal size and tried the cottage''s front door. It was secure and had not even attempted to be opened. Moving round to the storm cellar, she made her way down. The inside was damp and musty, and just enough natural light was cast in from the open entrance to allow her night vision to pick out the empty cellar. There was nothing of interest. Walking back out, she glanced over towards the direction they had gone. "I need to see where they are going," she said as she shrunk again. "It sounded like they were finished doing what they were doing here anyway. So, I doubt they will be back for now." "The quest said to clear the cottages and find the source. The first part of it seems a little easy now if they are leaving." "Don''t complain." "I''m not. I was just expecting to have to fight them." "You may yet. I wouldn''t get so confident that you won''t. You still must find the source, which means finding the Necromancer." Making her way back towards the lakeside, she stopped in the grass and looked towards where the cart had been taken. SJ could see the skeletons and their Phantom leader now waiting near where the rowing boat had left. She watched for some time before she noticed the rowing boat moving back across the lake''s surface. It arrived and was loaded with the barrels again before departing and heading back across the lake. SJ then watched the strangest sight: the three skeletons left behind started to walk into the lake until they disappeared under the surface, leaving the cart behind. The Phantom floated out across the lake, accompanying the rowing boat. "I wasn''t expecting that." "The joys of not having lungs or needing air," Dave replied. SJ could not clearly see across the lake from where she was, so she flew into the air to give herself a better view. Looking across the lake, she could vaguely make out a small building, and as she watched, the rowing boat headed towards it. Looking left and right, the lake was quite large, and it would take her some time to work around it. "I should just fly across." "Perhaps, but you will be quite easy to spot being above the water." "If I stay low, though?" "I wouldn''t advise it. You saw what happened to you by the river with the fish that wanted to snack on you. There is no telling what is in the lake." "Good point. I will go around," turning, SJ began to fly down the lake''s side and follow it towards the far side. Her flying speed was naturally increasing, and as she moved around the lake, she must have been travelling at a fast run on land. It was a fantastic feeling, the air whipping her hair and dress out behind her. Glancing over towards where the rowing boat had been unloading and noticing the large fir tree that had been situated near it, she was making good time. Off to her right, as she flew along the edge of the lake, she came upon the third cottage. Just ahead, she could see a small jetty suitable for tying a boat up and a path led back into the woods slightly. "Dave. Can you please note this and remind me to check it later?" SJ asked as she flew past. "Will do." SJ continued around the side of the lake. It was small compared to the enormous lake that Killic sat on the side of, and it didn''t take her too long to move around to the other side. Slowing down as she saw the building up ahead. She cut off into the treeline across a small open area and moved towards it. Reaching the closest she could in the woods, she landed on a branch again and looked down towards the building. There was a jetty and what looked like a storage building, and that was it; there was no sign of the skeletons or the barrels from the now empty rowing boat. The Phantom was nowhere to be seen either. Looking at the dirt-packed track that led away from the lake, she could see the furrows of a cart or wagon cut into it. SJ fluttered down from the tree and landed by the building. Peering into its open frame. There was nothing inside. She turned and was about to start down the track when she heard a splash from the lake. Hiding behind the side of the building, she peeked around the edge and saw the skeletons emerging from the lake that they had walked across. Water draining from any items that they wore. One of the skeletons stopped and picked some green plant fibre from its ribcage that had been caught as it waded across the bottom. "That never gets normal," the one she thought was named Brian said. "It''s fun, though," Charlotte replied. The larger Orc skeleton shook its bones off like a dog flinging water everywhere. It was a strange sight to behold, watching three skeletons conversing, never mind watching them walk out of a lake. The three began moving away from the lakeside and headed down the track. "Let''s go see where it takes us," SJ said as she followed the skeletons at a distance. ? Chapter 44 – Adjudicator The three skeletons continued down the track for quite a distance before they came to a crossroads. Turning right, they started following the track leading towards the valley side. Watching from a distance, SJ hovered low by some bushes. The three had been talking as they walked, not saying much of interest that SJ could pick up but enough to let her know that they had been here for some time now. The track followed a slight gradient as it approached the steep valley wall, and the ground was becoming more broken and uneven. At no point had SJ even considered how much she had been flying nor felt any tiredness in her back, the subtle movements allowing her to move easily without any strain. The skeletons reached the brow of a hill and dropped out of view. SJ followed slowly and approached with caution, not seeing them. She skimmed the edge of the track, and as she arrived at the brow, she heard the deep moan of the Phantom. Stopping, she slowly dropped to the ground and started to walk to the brow through the grass. Looking down into the depression before the steep valley side, she could see the area she could only assume housed the Necromancer and his minions. There were three buildings, all of which were single-storey, two smaller, and then one much larger building. Smoke was billowing out of the chimney of the larger building. Around the buildings, rocks had been piled to create a crude defensive wall. It only stood a few feet high and would not have been challenging for most races to cross. The skeletons were all outside one of the buildings. The five stood together now with the two she had seen from the rowing boat. The strange sight was the two beasts towing an open-backed wagon. They looked half lizard and half horse, and SJ watched as one of the skeletons fed them a chunk of meat each. Triggering her Identification skill, she read the details of the group. Only the ones she had not previously identified added to her skill growth. Subterfuge - Identification Level 3 - 23 of 30 to level 4 Skeletal Fighter Level: 6 Hit Points: 40 Mana Points: 30 Attacks: Slash/Thrust Skeletal Fighter Level: 5 Hit Points: 25 Mana Points: 25 Attacks: Slash/Thrust Lizorse x 2 Level: 2 Hit Points: 20 Mana Points: 0 Attacks: Bite/Claw "Those creatures look much stronger than they are," she whispered. "Lizorse are renowned for being bad-tempered. They are very strong for pulling wagons and carts but not user-friendly. Very few races use them because they habitually bite their owners. Not an issue for skeletons, though," Dave chuckled. "I don''t think I would like them pulling my wagon." "Your wagon? You don''t own one." "Yet." Dave sighed. A figure appeared at the entrance to the larger building. SJ could not see them from where she was and only saw a black-robed arm that pointed as they spoke. The voice was that of a male. "Bring me those barrels. I want the chamber filling," he called, disappearing back inside again. The Phantom moaned, and the skeletons began to move to where the barrels brought from the lake stood. Audible groans came from the skeletons as they grabbed the barrels and began to take them inside. "How am I supposed to do anything about this place?" "Not easily, by all accounts." "There are too many to attempt to fight alone." "Unless you can pick them off." "How? I have no idea how to kill a skeleton." "You can''t kill them. They are already dead," Dave chuckled at his joke. Rolling her eyes at his poor humour, SJ watched as the Phantom moved towards the Lizorse. As it neared, the Lizorse started to flare up, stomp their lizard feet, flick their forked tongues, and bar their teeth. The Phantom put one of its shadowy arms out and placed it on the side of the nearest Lizorse; it hissed in resistance before becoming still. "What is it doing?" "Feeding, I think. They feed on fear." SJ shuddered at the thought of the formless being touching her skin. As she stood watching the skeletons move the barrels into the building, the Phantom fed her display trigger. Quest ¨C Investigate the cottages - complete The cottages are clear due to the Undead leaving the area, and the source has been located. You may claim your reward for identifying the source and location of the Necromancer behind the recent events. Rewards: 240xp (+20% bonus for reputation) (-50% as cleared without interaction) 120xp awarded. Return to Gladys to receive your gift. "That''s unfair," SJ whispered harshly. "It''s the system, unfortunately." "It''s not my fault they left the cottages." "It happens with quests. When set, the parameters can change due to natural or other occurrences, and the System will adjust outcomes." "Hang-on. I read that in the terms and conditions." "Yes, you did. Oooooh, again, another anomaly." "I didn''t agree with their amendment rule; therefore, they can''t adjust a value offered, can they?" "In theory, no, they shouldn''t. In practice, once a quest is in play and accepted, other administrators will track and monitor the deliverables and adjust them as required. They are unlikely to even know your status, considering they will have hundreds of thousands of quests they monitor and adjust." The thought of a load of AI administrators who were purely monitoring the outcomes of quests added another layer of complexity to Amathera. "Can I do anything about it?" "Let me check." Silence. Several moments passed before Dave spoke again. "I have raised a support ticket with the Quest team. It is case number 00000001." "It''s the first case ever raised?" "Yes. No one has ever questioned the Quest system previously." "What have you said?" "I have stated that as you never agreed to the terms and conditions, you don''t accept reduced rewards for quests as stated. Therefore, you expect the full amount of quest experience as offered initially, irrespective of the reasons behind the parameter changes." "That sounds quite a fair statement. Thank you for doing that," SJ replied sincerely. "It is my pleasure, my YLF." "How long do you think it will take to get a response?" "No idea. Hang on. I just received a response." "What have they said?" Silence. "Dave?" "Now, this is interesting." "What is?" This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Silence. "Dave?" "Hang on." It again took several moments before Dave responded. "It has been raised to the System. I have just had one of the Adjudicators contact me directly." "Adjudicators?" "Yup." "I never thought you would have such a thing." "They preside over any disputes and investigate any issues over protocol concerns, etc." "So that is what happened to you before then?" "Erm. Well, yes." "Are you the best person to speak to an adjudicator then?" "I am invulnerable to them with you taking me as your Administrator. They cannot amend or change an Administrator once a Legionnaire lives in Amathera. All the rules are designed around the expectations of standard acceptance, and I am finding out more as I go along with you on this journey that I can do and say more than I have ever been able to before. The relative freedom is quite invigorating." "Can they not just speak to me?" "No. That would completely buck the whole System. As I said, many administrators don''t even talk to their Legionnaires apart from basic guidance information at major level amendments. One of the main reasons I got into gambling was to pass the time." "If they wanted to, they could, though?" "Thinking about it, I''m not sure they could. Administrators have specific integration coding, which allows our projected consciousness to be heard. I don''t believe an adjudicator could be designed to deal with internal issues and never be client-facing. They are the prudes of our world, always straight-laced and very boring to talk to." Struggling to understand the life of an AI Administrator that was classed as a race with an internal structure with a gambler anonymous setup, never mind internal adjudicators for protocol analysis and checks, was another level of confusion that SJ would have to try and fully understand in time. For now, she just wanted an answer to her quest experience. "Ok. Let me know when you get a response, please." "Of course. This is so much fun compared to normal," Dave happily replied. Her display triggered. Quest ¨C Necromantic Prevention Investigate what the Necromancer is doing and stop his scheme. Rewards: 500xp SJ looked at her current experience; she was at 231 of 800 currently, and even with only half the reward for the Cottage quest, if she could complete the new quest, she would reach level 7. "That''s a lot of experience," SJ said. "It is especially for a level 6 quest. I would normally expect no more than 200 or 300 being offered." "That''s good then," SJ replied, happy with how things were working. "Not necessarily." "Why?" "You said how you could take on the skeletons and the Phantom but with the Necromancer as well, and we do not know yet if there are not even more inside; we haven''t seen, it seems like a deliberate hook quest." "Hook quest?" "Yes. Some quests will be offered at lower levels for much higher levels or parties to complete." "I shouldn''t accept it then?" "You can accept it. I just wouldn''t complete it by yourself at level 6." "I would need to find someone to help me?" "Definitely, or wait until you are at a higher level. If you accept it, no one else can be offered the same quest unless you leave a territory. It would mean that experience would be shared, but you would also receive experience from any kills and potential loot." "Leave a territory?" "Yes. When you cross territory borders, unless the quest is specifically stated as working towards a larger aim and needs you to cross borders, then quests are all released, freeing them for others to complete." "I could not accept the quest, go back to town, let others know, and they could come here and complete the quest then?" "Yes. If you wish to, you could or you could not accept and just not disclose the location. In the hope no one else discovers it until you are strong enough to challenge them." "I don''t like the sound of that idea." "I wouldn''t advise it, but when you leave the initial starter zone and end up with hundreds of quests to choose from, you will need to pick and choose carefully as you have limitations on the number you can accept." "I didn''t know that." "It starts to get more complex in relation to quests and availability." SJ was just about to respond when her attention refocused on the Phantom, which let out a deep moan. She was too far away to hear a response from the skeletons that were now back outside, but one of them stood from where it had been sitting, walked over to one of the other buildings and disappeared inside. Two Elves were being dragged from the building a few minutes later. They both appeared to be wearing basic farmer''s clothes, and nothing about them said they were fighters or adventurers. The skeleton forced them to their knees, and as SJ watched, the Phantom started towards them. The Elves began to wail in fear as it approached; one of them appeared to faint. It must have been so scary. Once it reached them, it placed its hand again at the conscious screaming Elf. The screaming became hysterical and then, after several moments, ceased, and its body seemed to go limp. "It''s feeding off prisoners," Anger in SJ''s whisper. "The Lizorse didn''t seem that fearful of it, so it probably needs more sustenance." "That is sick and evil." "It''s Amathera. Every race or creature has its own things. Feeding off fear for a Phantom is like eating a Hogling roast." "It may, but using prisoners!" "Ok, maybe I agree that is a little evil, although I have witnessed much worse over the years." "I don''t think I want to know." Once the Phantom had finished feeding from the Elves, their limp forms were dragged back inside the building again. "I am going to free them." "How?" Dave asked. "I must do something; I can''t just leave them there." "We just had a conversation not moments ago about levels and taking on so many, and you now want to go and free two Elves." "Not by attacking them. I will wait until they are asleep tonight." "You are forgetting one slight problem with your cunning plan." "What?" "They are undead. They never sleep." "Damn," although SJ thought it might be the case, she never confirmed it when she saw Floretta in the Inn. "If I were you, I would either accept the quest and go and get help or accept and come back when you are stronger." "Ok," SJ replied, accepting the quest. "Let''s get out of here. I want to return as soon as possible with support and turn this place into dust." "That sounds like fun." Turning and moving back from the brow of the depression edge, SJ soon began to fly and start making her way back to the lake. It didn''t take long to fly along swiftly, her anger fuelling her and her not paying attention to time. She was thinking through who she could get to help her. She had three in mind. Zej, Fran or Lythonian. Considering it involved Undead, she would speak to Lythonian before the others. His skills as a cleric would also benefit her with his healing skills. "Do parties have limits?" she asked. "No. The larger a party, though, the less the experience you earn as it is shared." Skirting around the lake, she reached the jetty with the track leading towards the third cottage. "I am going to check it out quickly," she said, turning and heading towards the path. Flying swiftly, the ground flashing beneath her, she felt amazing and free. The path twisted into the wood and then opened into a clearing. Stood in the middle of the clearing was a beautiful small cottage. It reminded her of a fairy tale. The thatched roof looked well-kept, and the two small windows framed on either side of a wooden door appeared to smile as she approached. There was a small outhouse, a shed to one side, and a well. It looked peaceful and pristine. She could understand why the skeletons hadn''t used it as it was further from the lake than the other two cottages. The area around the clearing was overgrown, and a few vines had started to grow up its side, adding an extra charm to its appearance. She slowed as she neared and landed, growing to her normal size. On the cottage door was a sign ''Farleck Cottage''. "We found it!" SJ said excitedly. "Found what?" "Farleck Cottage, the one I have the deed for." "Oh. Yeah. Sorry, I was a little distracted." "Doing what?" "It is my weekly AIGA meeting." "Oh. You should have said." "No. It''s ok. I remote in so we can all say how well we are doing. It''s nearly over now." It was hard to understand how an AI could have meetings for Gamblers Anonymous, but Dave had stated that administrators were classed as a race. Walking to the cottage door, SJ tried the handle, but it was locked. Remembering she had brought the keys from Darjey, she took them out and began to try them in the lock. To her delight, one of the keys fit, and she unlocked the cottage door walking inside. Everything was covered in dust, but looking around the quaint room with its thick beamed roof and the fireplace built into the back wall, it looked homely. On one side of the room was a bed frame with a wardrobe, and on the other, a small kitchen area with a stove, table, and chairs. In the centre of the small cottage was a sofa pointing towards the fireplace. Apart from the large furnishings, any personal belongings had been removed from the cottage, but it wouldn''t take much to get it back to a homely and liveable state. Removing the key for the door from the remainder, she placed it back into her inventory after locking the door and exiting. She would have to come back here with the deed and claim ownership. This would be a beautiful place to stay. "Ok. Let''s get back to town and see who we can get to help," SJ said as she continued her journey back. ? Chapter 45 – Breakfast at the Hogling Arms By the time SJ reached the outskirts of town, several hours had passed, and she had not realised how long she had been gone. Checking her display, it was late afternoon. Walking across the final field to the edge of town, she began to hear the familiar sound of the smithy, and the smell of iron and fire rolled across the field, carried by the lake''s light breeze. "I am not going to go to the mill until we hear back about the quest," SJ said as she headed down the main path towards town. "No. I would wait and see what they say. I have had no further response since I addressed it, and an adjudicator was assigned. I will chase it for you if I haven''t heard anything by later today." "That would be great. Thanks," SJ replied. Dave had become more and more helpful over the past few days. Whether this had just been a natural progression in their relationship, SJ couldn''t be sure, but she was happy with how they were working and getting along. Dave was still as sarcastic, but it was fun and never with malice, and the more she listened to him, the more he reminded her of her uncle Dave. She hoped his operation had gone well but knew she would never know. It was strange when she occasionally thought back to Earth and her life before coming to Amathera. With its vibrancy and cultural differences, this new world, never mind fantastical creatures, felt more and more like the home she should always have been a part of. Nearing the smithy, she could hear Zej''s usual booming voice, and it sounded like he was reprimanding someone again. Walking around the side to the open-fronted building, a large Orc was standing at the forge, hammering away at a huge piece of glowing metal. Zej was busy at a table; it looked like he was shaping metal with a file for some weapon variant. "Hi Zej," SJ called as she approached. Looking up, the broad-chested Dwarf broke into a grin. "Hi, SJ. What brings you back to my hot paradise?" "I wanted to ask if you ever have time off?" "Occasionally, why?" he asked, raising one eyebrow and smirking. ¡°Not like that,¡± SJ stammered feeling her cheeks redden. "And there was me thinking that a pretty little Fae was asking me out for an ale," he replied, chuckling. The heat burned in her cheeks even more. "I wondered if you wanted to help with a quest?" "It''s been several years since I quested or even considered going on a quest." SJ suddenly realised that she had no idea what level Zej was at. "Can I ask a personal question?" "Aye. What is it?" Zej enquired and was interested in what she wished to ask. "Can I inspect you?" "If you wish. It doesn''t bother me." SJ triggered her identification skill and opened her mouth when her skill results returned. You are unable to identify more than ten levels above your own. That meant that Zej was at least level 16. "It can''t work." "What level are you?" "I am six." "I assume your identification skill isn''t very high yet?" "No, not level 4 yet." "That is why, at level 5, you will receive ten more levels in identifying higher levels." "Oh. I had no idea." "If you have been around as long as I have, you learn a few things, even if I don''t have the skill myself." "Do you mind if I ask you then?" "Ha. No. Not at all. I will save you the trouble. I am 231 years old and a Level 19 Fighter." "Level 19!" SJ exclaimed in shock. "Aye. I haven''t been questing in nearly fifty years now," Zej replied, laughing heartily. "Never mind your age." "I don''t suppose you are very aware of the ages of my kind being so young in Amathera. Dwarves can live until we are in our 400s. I am still a youngster." Although SJ was aware of the huge difference in ages, the fact Zej was 231 years old and looked from his face to be no older than in his thirties, thinking about it, she supposed he was just in his 230s. "I am still trying to get used to the age differences," SJ said apologetically. Dave suddenly spoke, "This starter town gets even stranger. I can understand a few being higher levels, but a level 19 Fighter in a starter town is very unusual, even if he has hung up his sword." "What is it you need help with?" SJ looked over at the Orc hammering away at the forge. "Can we go outside?" SJ indicated to walk away from prying ears, not that he would have heard over the hammering. Following SJ outside, Zej turned to walk up the steps. "Come, let''s get a drink and chat." The steps at the side of the smithy led up to where she had assumed Zej lived. When Zej reached the top and opened the door with several keys, she suddenly thought it might not just be a home. He stepped aside, letting SJ in. What beset her eyes was an amazing array of armour and weaponry. The area above the smithy here must be his shop. Standing on mannequins were beautifully crafted and shiny armour sets, posed with various weapons. "Wow. These are amazing," SJ said, scanning the interior and taking it all in. "Ah, these are just a few showpieces," Zej replied, smiling. Walking across the initial room and past a small counter, he went to another door and unlocked it, allowing SJ inside. The next room was his personal area. She entered a lounge with a large sofa and comfy armchairs, offering her a seat. The room felt warm and snug, and the heat from the forge below acted as a heat source for the building. Zej walked to a small set of drawers with a few bottles on them and took two glasses, pouring a dark golden liquid into each before returning and handing SJ one and sitting in one of the armchairs. "Hentrot, duh," he said, lifting his glass before him. "It means good health," he said after seeing SJ''s confused expression. "Hentrot, duh," SJ replied, lifting the glass to her lips and taking a sip. The golden liquid felt like pure fire, touching her lips and tongue. Coughing violently as she swallowed it. "Woah. That''s strong," she squeaked. "Ha. Dwarven brandy. So, what''s the problem?" Waiting for the burning sensation to ease slightly, SJ replied. "I have discovered a necromancer in the next valley over and have a quest to get rid of him. I can''t do it alone as there are too many of them." "A necromancer, you say. Now, that''s unusual, being that close to here. I can''t remember the last time one even came in the area," he replied, frowning. You say there are too many of them. How many are there?" "I saw five skeletons and a phantom. I believe he is trying to create another creature as he had received a shipment of blood." "In the name of Killoc, that cannot be allowed to happen. Why have you not spoken to Captain Broadaxe or the Mayor?" "I have only just returned, and you were the first that came to mind," she replied, smiling. "Well, I could dust my armour off and take Betty for a swing." "Betty?" Zej stood and walked to the side of the room, where a metal pole was sticking up. When Zej picked the pole up, she realized that it wasn''t a pole but the handle of a huge two-handed Warhammer. "Betty," he said, smiling. The Warhammer was pure black in colour. Its front face was flat and smooth, but there was a sharp spike at its rear. It looked lethal. "That''s one nice-looking weapon," SJ said, admiring the finely crafted engravings on its surface. "She has made me proud," Zej said, lovingly looking at the hammer. "If you could help, that would be amazing." "I can. It''s been a while, and I only normally get to use her when we get attacked by the Hobs." "You help defend?" "Anybody in the town can do it if it''s a Hob raid. They come in numbers, so the more to defend, the better." "I had no idea there were that many issues here." "It''s not often, but on occasion, they think they can come and raid the town." "If you could help me, that would be amazing." "I can. When would you want to go?" "It''s too late today, but tomorrow if you are able?" Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! "I am. Now drink up, and let''s celebrate your first real battle." SJ smiled broadly, taking another swig of the brandy, which again ended in a coughing fit. Bidding farewell to Zej, she had arranged for them to meet at the Inn for breakfast before setting out in the morning. She couldn''t believe her luck that she had managed to find a level 19 fighter to support her on her quest. "How does the experience work with level differences?" SJ whispered to Dave as she started to walk towards the Church to see Lythonian. "Shared equally, so Zej will get half if it is just the two of you and you are in a party when you complete it. That also means that any coin is split evenly in a party and that any loot can be shared out between party members as chosen and agreed. Depending upon who sets the party up, who has overall control of the loot assignment will decide." "If that''s the case, how do parties work? Are there bonuses or buffs?" "It''s your quest, so you should set the party. Some party members may still be able to provide boosts during combat." "That sounds great." It didn''t take long to work through town to the Church. The doors were open, but there was no sign of Lythonian. An elderly Gnome was busy replacing the flowers around the vestry. "Excuse me. Do you know where Lythonian is?" "Hello dear. He is down in the Crypt. That poor Dryad girl who was killed the other day is being entombed." "Oh. I will not interrupt him then." "He won''t be long." Although SJ had been in the Church several times, she hadn''t spent long looking around, taking the opportunity to walk around and look at all the various statues. The intricate detailing and sculpting were phenomenal, and on closer inspection, they looked almost life-like in appearance, although sculpted from stone. The Gnome began to sing as she worked from vase to vase with fresh flowers. Her voice was carried by the arched ceiling, which made SJ feel at peace. The lyrics a tale of the valour and pride of a fallen hero. The time passed quickly listening to the singing, and Lythonian soon returned. "Hello, SJ," he said upon seeing her standing and looking at the immaculate sculpture of one of the gods. "Hi," she replied brightly. "These are amazing." "They were created long before my time. The sculptor was a famous Dwarven stonemason." "They are so life-like." Lythonian smiled, "I do appreciate the detail in them. Anyway, what brings you back here so soon?" "I have a question to ask of you. Is that ok?" "Please do." SJ spent the next few minutes explaining what she had discovered about the necromancer and his following. She watched as his face went from shock to outright anger by the time she had finished. Lythonian did not mess about with his response, "When are we leaving?" "You are ok to help me? I don''t want to pull you away from your duties." "Disposing of a necromancer is more important than my duties here for a day. I can''t abide their art." "I am meeting Zej at the Inn for breakfast, and then we can set off if that''s okay with you." "I will be there first thing. Do you have transport?" "I was going to walk." "I will bring the cart." "That would be easier. Thank you." "Not at all." After biding Lythonian farewell, she left the Church, heading back to town. "With Lythonian and Zej, I don''t think you will need anyone else," Dave said. "Are you sure there are at least seven of them?" "A level 19, 13 and yourself. I doubt you would have even needed Lythonian with you, although having a cleric is always beneficial in a party, especially with the undead." "That''s good to know. We have no idea what level the necromancer is currently at. I didn''t see him clearly enough to identify him." "I would have stopped you attempting to identify him anyway. Necromancers usually have high intelligence and wisdom, and wisdom is your enemy when it comes to your skill being sensed." "I was in miniature form, though?" "I am just advising that identifying any of the robed classes is going to be more challenging in general due to their Wisdom levels." "I am sure you said when we first came here that everything should be balanced to it being a starter town." "I did, but since arriving, this is not a normal starter town, nor is what is happening normal in any way." "What do you mean?" "A god and a dragon for a start, both of which you have interacted with, and then the higher levels that reside here also. I have not been able to find anything in the archives about this town either in relation to details. It really does seem as though it is rarely used. Yet, still evolved well without Legionnaires being present. It''s an anomaly on its own." "Let''s go see if Fizzlewick is back yet," SJ said, heading to the tailor''s. Everything was dark inside the shop, and the closed sign was still hanging on the door. "I hope he is back soon," SJ grumbled. "I am sure he will be eventually. He is a god, though, and works on his own timings, so there are never any guarantees." Feeling a little dejected about not being able to progress her Tailoring skills without getting some cloth, she decided to head to the vendors. She had seen several in the town that sold materials and headed to one. "I am going to get the cloth bundles, at least." An hour later, she returned to the Inn with ten bundles of cloth in her inventory and picked up some other clothing items to wear in her room, including a nightdress, all for 50 coppers less. After speaking to Kerys and arranging breakfast for three the next morning at first light, she returned to her room. Training would have to be missed tomorrow due to the quest; she felt obliged to let Lorana know she wouldn''t attend. Mobile technology had become such a part of everyday life back on Earth that updating someone took seconds, and doing it in Amathera took so long due to having to visit all the individual locations. It was frustrating not having the ability at her fingertips. Sighing, she resigned herself to calling and seeing Lorna at the barracks. ??? Walking down the Inn steps the next morning, SJ smiled at seeing a table laid out as she had requested. Three places were set, and a large coffee pot stood in the middle of the table. Fhyliss was busy sweeping the floor from the previous evening''s activities and waved at SJ as she entered. Sitting at the table, SJ poured herself a large glass of coffee and sipped it while she waited for Lythonian and Zej to arrive. Lythonian arrived first, wearing his usual attire. His gleaming chainmail and white cloak clashed with the Inn''s darker tones. Sitting at the table with SJ, he poured himself a coffee after exchanging pleasantries. Fhyliss had raised her eyebrow at seeing Lythonian enter the Inn, which stated that he usually did not frequent the establishment. Not long after, the Inn doors burst open, and Zej walked in. The vision of pure power that oozed from the Dwarf was immense. Wearing a suit of dark blue-coloured full-plate armour and holding Betty''s impressive form resting on his broad shoulder, SJ was speechless at the sight. "Lythonian," Zej said as he walked to the table, thudding Betty on the floor next to it. "Zej, my friend. I have not seen you at a service in a long while." "Apologies, but I have been busy recently. We had an influx of Apprentices that I am slowly whittling down," he replied, chuckling. "I was unaware you would be joining us on this adventure?" "That is my fault, Zej. I only spoke to Lythonian after I saw you. It is not a problem, is it?" SJ replied. "Not at all. Lythonian and I have fought together before, and I know how adept he is with that mace." "Anything for the path of righteousness," Lythonian responded. Sitting feeling completely outdone by both of her recruited members, SJ was uncertain of what to do or say. Because they were such high-level members in comparison, she could not advise or offer guidance to either of them. "Would you both like food before we depart?" "Aye. That sounds good. Floretta cooks a mean breakfast." "Fhyliss?" Fhyliss walked over, hearing SJ call. "Would it be possible to get three breakfasts, please?" SJ asked, smiling. "Of course," Fhyliss replied, walking to the serving hatch. "Fhyliss, can you make mine a double, please?" Zej called after her; she turned and smiled in response. A while later, Zej finished his double portion of breakfast. Floretta had begun adding mushrooms to it, and they tasted divine fried, as SJ had suggested. "Shall we go?" SJ asked. "Let''s. While the day is still young," Lythonian replied, standing. Walking out of the Inn door, Lythonian introduced SJ to Humberto, his horse, who was pulling a cart with enough room for the three of them to sit comfortably. Even with Zej in his plate armour as they began to move off through the town, the horse had no problem pulling the cart. The sky this morning was the first morning since her arrival that the sun was not shining as brightly as it had been. "Looks like we will have rain this evening or tomorrow," Zej said, looking at the sky. Looking up, SJ could not see anything to make her believe it would be apart from it being a slightly cooler day, but she had no reference. "I hope we are back by this evening if we make good time getting there." "I would like to hope so as well," Lythonian added. "I am sure we can be back for this evening. I don''t see a necromancer being too problematic," Zej answered, smiling. The enthusiasm of the two older warriors affected SJ, and she felt safe and secure in the knowledge that she had two stronger members in the party to support her in completing the quest. As they began the drive to the valley, Zej and Lythonian started to recount some of their previous tales of battle and questing. Chapter 46 – Compound After a couple of hours of travel, they reached the lake and cottages in the valley, the track becoming more difficult to traverse as they approached. "I think we should leave the cart here," Lythonian suggested as they approached Gladys and Hubert''s cottage. SJ had brought the deed for Farleck Cottage with her and wanted to claim it, but she was still determining whether she should do so with Zej and Lythonian present. Mulling it over, she decided that she would. "I own a cottage just further down the lake," SJ said. "You do?" Zej replied, a little surprised. "Yes. It was given to me." Zej did not press the matter, and Lythonian did not comment further. SJ now felt uncertain whether she had done the right thing. Lythonian drove Humberto along the track before turning towards the cottage. It looked as beautiful and idyllic as the first time she had visited it, and hopping down from the cart, she walked over to the door, removed her key and opened it. Lythonian and Zej were busily untacking Humberto from the cart, and she removed the deed to check that her name was now active on it, which it was. Smiling to herself, Dave suddenly chimed in her head. "Did you want to let them know you have a cottage?" "I trust them," she replied, whispering. "Trust is earned. Lythonian, you have a reputation with him. Zej, you don''t. You need to consider your standings before divulging information in the future." "Ok. Point taken." Walking outside, Humberto began to nibble on some tall flowers by the side of the cottage. Zej was looking at the roof of the cottage. "This is a lovely little place," Zej said, "The chimney needs realigning, though." SJ followed Zej''s gaze, where the chimney stood proudly over the rear of the roof, not seeing anything wrong from her position. "Does it?" "Yes. My father was a stonemason, and although I broke the family tradition by becoming a blacksmith, I know a fair bit about the trade." "Is it safe?" "Oh, it''s safe enough for now. This place has stood empty for a while. "I have never stayed here. I only just acquired it." "You can tell by the moss on the chimney. The heat from the chimney would normally keep it clear, as it would dry and fall away. It wouldn''t take much to sort it out, but it needs doing at some point." "Thanks. I will keep that in mind." "A few masons in town could fix it for you. It shouldn''t be too expensive unless they need to acquire new stone." "Is stone expensive?" "Not very, but it must be shaped properly, which takes time." "Oh, I see," SJ was still getting used to the time factor, which became more apparent with everything in Amathera. It was not as though she could just call into a local builders'' yard and pick up a hob of bricks. "Do you mind if I ask how you acquired it?" Zej asked. SJ felt a rush of panic flood her. How could she explain that she got the deed from Darjey or provide another suitable explanation? "Tell the truth," Dave said. How can I tell the truth? She thought. "Just say what happened. You are a Legionnaire and do not fall under the same remit as townsfolk remember," Dave continued. SJ bit her lip and cautiously looked at Zej. Lythonian stood now, listening while brushing the side of Humberto''s mane. "I acquired it through a quest." "A quest. It''s a decent reward for a quest. It must have been challenging." "It was. It was one of my first." "What did you have to do?" Zej asked. "That''s the harder part to explain," SJ replied shyly. "Hard to explain why?" "It was related to the Goblinpox scare and was my first job for my class." "Oh. What did it relate to?" "It''s a little hard to say for me." "Why?" Zej said, frowning. "It was my first kill." Zej''s eyes shot open at her comment. "You had a kill quest at such a low level. That is a rarity. I didn''t get my first one until I was level 12." "You have had them also?" "They are quite standard at times." "I had no idea. I am still trying to learn about my new life." "You will in time. You are already doing well for the short time you have been here." SJ looked surprised at the comment. "What do you mean?" "I haven''t always lived in Killic. I was brought up in the capital, and I have met many Legionnaires over my time. You are a refreshing change compared to many." "Oh. I didn''t realise." "Who was your target?" "Another Legionnaire." "Ahhhh. It is starting to make sense now." SJ could feel a bead of sweat run down her back; she was so nervous talking to Zej about this. "Sorry?" "The Legionnaire found by the mill. Was that your handy work?" "Not in full, no. I didn''t move the body," she stammered. Lythonian stood by SJ, reaching out and touching her shoulder. "Do not be afraid to speak the truth. I know your true class, and you assisted the church in driving out those who were taking advantage." SJ looked up at the tall Draconian''s face before she replied. "You know my class?" "Of course. Only one of your kind would use those blades." The thought had never crossed her mind, and she felt lightheaded. "I thought you were a Monk?" Zej asked, questioning her. "You are safe here. You can say," Lythonian replied. "I am an assassin." It was Zej''s time to be shocked at her revelation. "An assassin?" "Yes," SJ dropped her head in shame. "What an amazing choice! I have never, in my lifetime, met a Fae assassin. I would not be surprised if you are not unique." "You think so?" SJ asked. "If not unique, exceedingly rare," Zej replied. Lythonian smiled at her. "Show Zej your blades." SJ stood momentarily, looking between them before she called her blades to her hands. Zej whistled in appreciation. "They are a fine-looking set of claws. Do you mind if I inspect them?" Zej asked. SJ gently removed one of her gloves and handed it to Zej. Carefully taking the weapon and turning it in his hand, he let out another whistle. "These are very impressive. It''s a rare weapon at such a low level. How did you acquire them?" "From a Berserker Badger drop." "You have something special here. When you level, and they no longer become as useful to you, these will sell for a hefty sum at the auction house." "Really?" "Yes. A weapon like this, which can be used at such a low level, is rare, never mind the bleed effect they possess. You have something to treasure here. Have you been training with them?" "I have been training in martial arts but not with my claws out. I have not wanted to advertise my class." "You should do. There will be adjustments you can make to your style to improve your combat ability." "I thought assassins were frowned upon?" "No," Lythonian replied, "An assassin is a class, after all. It''s how you use your class that matters. Even rogues can be good." "It feels nice to talk to you both about it. I have been so nervous about anyone finding out." "Some frown upon different classes. It''s no different from myself and necromancers," Lythonian said, turning and spitting. You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. Seeing the Draconian spit in anger was more alarming than anything she had witnessed. "So I am ok telling people I am an assassin?" "I wouldn''t openly advertise it, but if you trust the people you are speaking to, then there is no harm," Lythonian replied. When you assisted me at the church hall, it was obvious what your class was. A monk never uses a weapon, as they have specific abilities that strengthen their martial arts skills." "I am sorry I lied to you, Zej," SJ said. "There is no need to apologise. I would have been as cautious as you have been," he replied, smiling and returning her glove. SJ was relieved at her revelation and felt like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. She now had people she could talk to. "Thank you for your honesty and trust shown," Zej stated. Congratulations! Reputation with Zej has increased to Friendly. "Now we have started to be more truthful. What happened with this Legionnaire?" Zej asked with a broad grin. It took another twenty minutes or so for SJ to fully explain what had happened during her quest to help the town and free Setu. Zej asked her questions about specific aspects while Lythonian stood listening quietly. "You have had an unusual start to a new life here," Lythonian said. "Why is that?" SJ asked. "Your quests are already aligned to a higher path than I have seen in a long time." "Higher path?" "If I didn''t know better, I would think the gods look down on you fondly." SJ felt her cheeks redden at the comment. There was no way she would mention Fizzlewick or Bob to them. At least not yet. Lythonian walked over to Humberto, grabbed his reins, moved him to a small tree to the side of the cottage, and tied him up. Now, he had had his fill of flower heads. "Shall we continue to this necromancer then?" Zej asked. "Let''s," SJ replied, smiling with newfound confidence. Dave was talking in her head as they began to walk towards the location. "The interactions you have just had are, again, another anomaly. I have witnessed similar before in much larger towns or cities, but never in a starter town. I am starting to believe that everything about you is different. It is as though you are at a higher level at all interactions, yet you aren''t. Not signing the T''s and C''s has completely changed the dynamics so that you have Amatheran freedom with Legionnaire potential." SJ could not respond and listened to his musings. "The fact that you can discuss your class as an assassin without repercussions openly and directly understand the influences of the class systems that people choose is very strange, yet not when considering how everyday Amathereans interact. Only the emphasis of a Legionnaire would generally equate to the levels of concern. This whole new approach is nothing I have ever handled before. I am as new to this as you are. I have only ever had to contend with standard approaches, and we know, as your waiver status suggests, that you do not fall under anything that has existed before in the world. We will be able to achieve great things in time, which again is something you have plenty of. You may one day reach level 100," Dave finished. Reaching the crossroads on the track on the far side of the lake, SJ informed Zej and Lythonian that the area was pretty close now. "How do we want to handle this?" SJ asked, nervous tension building in her. She felt her hands shake slightly with the trepidation of what was to come. "First, you need to form a party," Zej replied. "How?" "I''m not sure what you have as a Legionnaire. I can try to explain and see if it helps. On your display, there should be a small set of three dots. Do you see them?" "Yes." "Select them, and there should be an invite feature." SJ checked, and there indeed was an invite feature; selecting the option, she then chose Lythonian and Zej and added them. Within moments, her display triggered, with them both accepting her invitation. On her display, there were three bars. Each showed the health of other party members. The numerical values were showing. "Wow," SJ said, looking at their health compared to herself. "You have a lot of health." "Tank build," Zej replied, smiling. "Defensive build for myself," Lythonian replied. Compared to SJ''s paltry health, Zej''s at level 19 had nearly 300. His constitution must be high alongside his strength to boost his stats so high. Lythonian''s at level 13 was still impressive, although not as high as Zej''s, standing at a mere 140 in comparison. "Are you able to scout ahead?" Lythonian asked, looking at SJ. "Sure," she replied, smiling. She began to shrink to her miniature form. "It always amazes me every time I witness that," Zej said, smiling now and looking down at SJ, standing only six inches tall. Beating her wings, SJ silently took off and continued down the track ahead of her friends. It didn''t take her long to reach the brow of the depression, and on looking down, she could only see two of the skeletons visible. She watched for a few minutes before returning to where Lythonian and Zej had stopped at a distance from the brow. "Only two outside," she said on arriving back at them. "You said five and a phantom plus the necromancer?" "That is all I saw. Yes." "Ok. We want to avoid fighting them indoors if we can help it. I prefer to be in the open; Betty is not the easiest weapon to use in a confined space." "I agree. I would prefer to draw them out," Lythonian added. "There is a wall around the compound. It is not very tall, but it would still slow you down approaching them." "Based on the information you provided about their levels, I have no concerns about attacking directly," Zej replied. "I am much weaker than you are, though." "I will taunt, don''t worry. It is a tank trait that should draw their attention." "Stay small and wait for an opportunity," Lythonian added. "Ok," SJ replied. "Also, if possible, do not destroy the skeletons. They are in servitude, after all. The necromancer''s death can free them, and then we can see what alignment they hold and decide how to handle them," Lythonian said. "Understood," Zej replied. "Give me a minute to get closer if that''s ok?" SJ asked. "We will approach in three minutes," Zej said. SJ flitted back towards the brow and began to move around the edge of the depression, staying out of sight of the buildings until she was aligned towards the back of the building the necromancer had been inside. Thick black smoke was pouring from the main building''s chimney, and as SJ edged towards the building''s rear, she began to hear a deep moaning sound. It didn''t sound like the Phantom. She reached the corner just as the first sign of Lythonian and Zej appeared on the track. She watched as a bright light enveloped Zej, and he began to walk towards the compound. Betty still casually slung over his shoulder. The skeletons noticed them almost immediately and began to shout. The door opened to one of the other buildings where SJ had seen the prisoners being kept, and two more skeletons appeared. She then heard the voice of the necromancer. She could not see him from where she was behind the building. "Who dares disturb my work?" he cried in anger. "Those who scourge Amathera of your dark kind," Lythonian replied in a thundering Draconian voice. It shocked SJ with the look of pure hatred that now covered his face as he looked into the compound. SJ edged further around, flying over the wall and landing on the ground, moving to the corner of the building. Zej walked calmly and deliberately towards the compound entrance with Lythonian close behind him. Neither showed any sign of concern or hesitation as they approached. "Destroy them," the necromancer shouted. The fifth skeleton had appeared from inside the main building behind the necromancer and the Phantom. The skeletons and Phantom formed up and began to approach Zej. The archer fired an arrow at him. At the short range they were away, it struck his armour with a resounding ping, bouncing off harmlessly. Zej, walking with his full-plate armour and plumed helm, looked stunning, the sun''s rays reflecting off its highly glossed surface. One of the skeletons suddenly disappeared from view, and SJ couldn''t see where it had gone. The archer kept firing at Zej, him not paying any attention to its feeble arrows that could not penetrate his thick armour. The Phantom wailed as it approached, and reaching out in front of itself, a black strand left its hand and flew at Zej. He raised his hand in defence, catching the black stream as it hit him. He pulled his arm back slightly, and Lythonian suddenly cast a bright ray of light at the Phantom. It wailed in response, dropping its attack and quickly moving away from Lythonian''s attack. The first of the skeletons reached Zej as the Phantom''s attack was withdrawn, swinging its sword towards the armour-clad fighter. Zej swung Betty in defence, bringing her around in a sweeping arc and battering its strike away as the others moved into attack. Zej, after parrying the blow of the first skeleton, then swung Betty in a low and swift strike, catching the lower leg of one of the skeletons. The strike sent its lower limb flying, and the skeleton fell sideways to the ground, incapacitated. Lythonian had moved forward and tried hitting the Phantom again with another bolt of light. SJ was still standing dumbfounded, watching the fight unfold, when she heard the chanting of the necromancer. Dave''s voice exploded in her head. "That necromancer is level 21," he screamed in a warning tone. "Damn. How come he is so high?" SJ replied quietly. "No idea," is all Dave responded with. The necromancer''s hand formed A cloud of mist as it chanted. "Stop that spell if you can," Dave said. SJ moved into action, spurred by Dave''s comment. Swiftly moving behind him, she landed and instantly began to grow. Equipping her claws, she struck at his back, plunging both sets into its robed body. The necromancer cried in pain as its health bar dropped slightly. She could not tell how much health it had due to not being able to identify it. As soon as she struck, she started to reduce her size again. The strike had disrupted its casting, but it spun to see who attacked it. The face that looked on SJ as she shrunk was that of pure evil. A gnarled face and sunken eyes with black rings and pitted skin stared at her as she finished transforming. Taking off, she began to fly away as fast as she could. The fact she was now known about meant she could no longer hide, and she flew back to the corner of the building as fast as she could. The necromancer cried out as a bolt of energy left its hand heading for her. She saw it at the last moment as she threw her flying form onto the ground, the bolt just missing her. Crashing into the ground, only six inches tall, with a level 21 necromancer, who was focusing his wrath on her, was not good. That was when Lythonian arrived. Charging towards the necromancer, shield up and mace held high, he swung at its distracted form, his mace catching the necromancer on its side. The necromancer howled in pain, again its health only dropping by a small amount as it spun on Lythonian. Reaching and grabbing for his arm, Lythonian stepped backwards as it did. "Don''t let him touch you," Lythonian called intensity in his voice. SJ picked herself up from the ground and took off again, flying away from where she had been moving behind the necromancer, who was now focussing on Lythonian. The necromancer chanted again, and a new cloud formed in its hand as it did. Zej had disabled three of the five skeletons, all of which were fighters. The Phantom was again trying to drain or do something to him, and he walked towards it, grimacing as the dark light struck him. SJ noticed that Zej''s health was slowly being drained by whatever the Phantom was hitting him with, but it was tiny compared to his health. Zej got in range and brought Betty around in a violent and decisive motion. The Phantom, still attempting to drain Zej even so close, was caught by the hammer''s flat face, and it rippled when struck. Its body not being affected by the impact. At this point, Lythonian noticed it happen and, while backing away from the necromancer, called out, "Switch. Watch its touch!" Zej quickly moved towards the necromancer as Lythonian, and he swapped places. Zej''s powerful armour-clad powerhouse was now approaching the necromancer. SJ had moved to the archer, who was busy trying to hit either of them when she could. An arrow struck Lythonian in his shoulder, and he cried as it found a weakness in his chainmail, and the arrow now stood protruding from it. Lythonian finished the spell he had been casting, and as he did, the skies seemed to open, and a bright light suddenly enveloped the Phantom. As soon as the light struck the Phantom, it wailed and moaned, its body bathed in what all SJ could assume was holy light. Its form began to shrink, and before SJ''s eyes, she saw a fine yellow strand begin to escape from its dark-robed form. In amazement, SJ watched as it suddenly grew into a ball of light and flew upwards into the sky, the Phantom''s robes falling to the ground where it had stood. The cloud the necromancer had been forming suddenly burst forth and struck Zej. Zej held Betty in front of himself, trying to shield himself from the blast, but to no avail. The cloud hit him, and he screamed as SJ saw his skin begin to turn a green colour from the spell. Lythonian, hearing the scream, immediately turned and started chanting towards Zej. SJ had reached the archer now and grew behind her. On reaching her full height, she not only struck at her legs with a sweeping kick but also swung her claws at the bow. They sizzled through the air and cut through its string, making the partly pulled arrow ping off harmlessly as the skeleton''s legs were removed from under it. It fell on the ground with a clattering of its bones. That was when SJ felt a sharp, searing pain in her shoulder. The fifth skeletal rogue that had disappeared from view must have been waiting for an opening and pierced her shoulder with its vicious strike. Taking nine damage, she winced in pain, grimacing and turned to face it. She could not focus on Zej and Lythonian, and now she had a fight to win. Stomping down on the skeletal archer''s shoulder, she made sure it could not react and snarled at the rogue standing before her. ? Chapter 47 – Burn baby burn The Rogue slashed at her, her dexterity the only thing saving her face from being cut. Withdrawing a couple of paces, she moved into her martial arts stance, her claws ready in front of her. Using bladed weapons against a skeletal body was possibly not the best, but if she punched and kicked, it would hopefully still have the desired effect. The skeleton stepped in and jabbed forward with its blade, attempting to stab at her chest. She instinctively brought her hand upwards, blocking the attack, and drove her foot forward towards the skeleton. She was slightly wide where she would normally have met the fleshy feeling of a thigh, and her strike only brushed its femur. Cursing, she drew back as it again slashed its blade towards her body. She could not read the skeleton''s emotions, and it was strange hearing it groan and grunt as it tried to attack her. She stepped back again as it continued towards her. She wanted to incapacitate it rather than try to break it, so she struck out with a kick towards its side. The attack caught the skeleton on its ribs, and it made a sound as though the air had just been forced from its lungs, which was obviously impossible. Stepping back, it composed itself before attacking again. Moving in and slashing repeatedly towards her. Its blade was either being parried by her arms or claws. Her training with Lorna and the new martial arts style with the adapted stance left her more open than she was used to, and she needed to adjust. Switching it up, she went on the offensive. As the blade swept towards her face, she moved into the strike, catching the forearm of the skeleton on her raised arm and punching forward with her free hand. Her fist clattering into its sternum. Her claws were useless in this fight, on more than one occasion missing completely trying to judge their strike, hitting such a narrow target of a bone rather than where flesh normally existed. The claws had already caused a punch to glance off its ribcage, reducing any impact, so she recalled them to her inventory as she continued her attack. Completing a series of swift punches and kicks, powering the skeleton backwards and away from her. Her fists had been hurting even wearing the gloves of the claws with the strikes against solid bone, her knuckles feeling every strike and making her wince, and she knew that she would be required to increase her Constitution to punch more freely without the pain she was inducing. She was still not trying to destroy it and at no point aimed for its skull, only focusing on trying to take out one of its legs. It staggered backwards from her onslaught until she stepped back again, giving herself more room. The skeleton shook its head and made the motion of cracking its neck before it moved forward again. With only fist and foot strikes, she wasn''t doing much damage at all, although its health had begun to fall slightly from her onslaught. As it stepped in again, holding its blade, SJ swept low and brought her shin into contact with its own. The sweep connected with power and precision this time. She heard a crack as the rogue''s anklebone snapped from the impact. The skeleton stumbled forward, crashing into her, its dagger held out in front of it, catching SJ in her arm as it fell on top of her, causing her a further five damage. The skeleton had groaned in pain from its dislodged ankle, and she scrambled frantically from underneath it, trying to push it off her while watching for the blade it still held. Rolling away, she went to stand again and backed away from it. The skeleton was trying to stand, but with its broken ankle, it was not able to support its weight, falling back down to one knee. Resting its hand on the ground, still holding the dagger, it stared at SJ. The archer she had taken out was lying on the floor, its shoulder having been dislodged, meaning it could not have used the bow even if it didn''t have a cut string. SJ was breathing heavily from the fight with the skeleton and glanced at the Lythonian and Zej to see how they were faring. The skeleton threw itself towards SJ, pushing up with its one good leg as it tried to lunge at her. She noticed the movement, stepping back again, allowing it to miss and flounder onto the ground again. It cursed at her. SJ ignored it again, turning to glance at the others. The Necromancer''s health was down to a quarter, but so was Zej''s. Lythonian was doing better, but he had still taken damage. In shock at seeing Zej''s health, she could not help but go and support him. Her own health was down to two-thirds. "Be careful," Dave said, "if a curse hits you, it is likely to kill you." "I won''t get hit then," SJ snarled as she ran at the back of the Necromancer, equipping her blades. The skeleton yelled to the Necromancer as she neared, and he glanced back but not in enough time to prevent SJ from leaping forward and kicking him square in his lower back. The Necromancer groaned from the impact, not taking any damage but being knocked off balance by her attack. She lunged forward, her claws striking at them as they staggered to regain their balance. In the same instance, Zej swung Betty. Hammering into the side of the Necromancer, their staggering form increased the momentum of the impact between Betty and his side. They screamed in pain as their health plummeted from the attack. SJ swiped her clawed hands across its unprotected back as it recoiled from the force and carried Betty back towards her. Her blades sliced through its robes easily, and she noticed the greying, withered skin beneath as they cut deeply. It was now down to its last few health. It turned and reached out to try and touch SJ, and she recoiled backwards. The scream that erupted from Lythonian was deafening as he ran straight at the Necromancer with his shield held high and charged into it. The Necromancer, with three foes surrounding it, could not react to them all at once, and the shield slammed into it, lifting it from its feet and, with the Draconian''s height advantage, carrying it backwards. Lythonian kept powering his legs with the Necromancer across his shield straight into the side of the building. With a sickening thud, its head bounced off the wall as its body was crushed against it, its health falling to zero. Stepping backwards from the Necromancer, the crumpled remains slithered to the ground at the base of the wall. Its hood fell backwards, revealing its horrific face and head for the first time. It looked as though it had been scalded and burned with acid. Its withered and wrinkled grey skin stretched taught at various locations where scarring had been left from previous damage received. As its body struck the ground, SJ''s display triggered. Quest ¨C Necromantic Prevention - complete You have managed to defeat the evil Necromancer and disable his minions. Rewards: 550xp (shared between party members) 185xp earned Combined experience gained for the death of the evil Necromancer and phantom 630xp (shared between party members) 210xp earned SJ checked her experience gains. Experience: 626 of 800 If the adjudicator ever replied, she might still earn enough to reach level 7. The five skeletons that had been disabled during the fight were now sitting on the ground, looking around at each other as though unsure of what to do. Lythonian turned to Zej, removed a blue bottle from his inventory, and drank it. As soon as he finished it, he began to chant, and a band of white light similar to what SJ had received in the church hall struck Zej. The green tint on his face from the Necromancer''s curse began to fade, and his health increased. "He was much higher than I expected," Zej said, standing with Betty resting on the ground beside him. His face was covered in beads of sweat. Removing his helm, he placed it on Betty''s handle and turned to look at the skeletons. "Now then, what are we going to do with you five?" he asked them. The female archer, now sitting holding its displaced shoulder, spoke before the others. "You have made my dream come true. Now, I am no longer under his entrapment. I feel as though my soul has been returned," Charlotte said. "Lythonian. What do you think?" Zej asked. Finishing streaming his healing into Zej, his health nearly half, he looked at the skeletons before replying, "I will check their alignments. Depending upon what I read, I will decide whether they live or are sent to their permanent afterlife." Two of the skeletons, hearing this comment from the fighters that Zej had disabled them by removing a leg or both, in one case, began to try and crawl away from where they lay. "I think we have an answer for two of you already," Zej said. Lifting his helm from Betty, he handed it to SJ, who took it as he hefted Betty again and walked towards them. They screamed as the Warhammer was brought down on their skulls, crushing them into fragments, the light in their eyes dimming and fading for the final time. The three remaining skeletons watched the show, and if they could have displayed terror on their faces, SJ believed they would have been showing signs. The large Orc fighter was still lying on the ground with his displaced leg some fifteen feet away. "I, for one, am glad to be free also," he said, groaning as it began to pull itself across the ground towards its leg. The Rogue had not replied and just sat silently on the ground. Lythonian removed a small device from his inventory and, saying a few words, held it in front of the Rogue. It looked like a magnifying glass in design, but as he spoke an incantation, the glass began to change colour. It turned a dark blue, and as it did, Lythonian raised a Draconian eyebrow. "I have not met many rogues of your alignment before. Chaotic Good," Lythonian said, before walking to the archer and the fighter and doing the same, this time the glass had turned an orange colour which Lythonian announced meant they were True Neutral. After finishing his inspections, Lythonian stated, "I see no reason why they can''t be trusted to return to society." "That settles it then," Zej replied, smiling. "Now, would one of you like to tell me what you have been doing here?" The archer replied first. "We got here two months or so ago. I have been in the charge of the Necromancer for several years. He has been attempting to create an abomination. We had been collecting blood from a Gnoll hunting tribe based on the other side of the valley and bringing it back here." "What about you two?" Zej asked. The fighter replied, saying he had been in his service for a year, and the Rogue was the most recent addition, having only been part of the necromancer''s group for three months. The two fighters Zej had destroyed were long-term members of the necromancer''s group and the Phantom Lythonian had banished. "If we do free you and let you go. Where will you go?" Lythonian asked. "I don''t know, being honest," the Orc replied. "I am not even sure where we are near." "You are close to Killic," Zej answered. "Killic! We have travelled that far south," the Rogue replied, a little startled. SJ had been watching this all unfold when she suddenly remembered about the prisoners. "Where are the prisoners?" she said. "In the building over there," the Rogue pointed toward the building SJ had seen them taken into previously. Leaving Lythonian and Zej with the skeletons, she walked over to the building and entered. The stench that hit her nostrils of unclean and unkempt bodies made her gag slightly. The inside was dimly lit, with a single candle burning on the top of a bottle on a small table. There were windows, but they were all boarded up, and six cages were inside the building. Two of the cages were occupied, and SJ removed a torch from her inventory and lit it with the candle''s flickering flame. With improved light, she could see the form of the two elves she had seen previously huddled at the rear of their cages. Walking towards them, she spoke softly. "Are you ok?" The closest Elf turned to look at her with terror-filled eyes and a blank gaze. It looked half crazy with the look in its eyes. The Elf in the second cage also turned and spoke with a gravely parched throat, "Who are you?" "I am here to free you both," SJ replied gently and hopefully calmly. "Free us," the crazed-looking Elf said as it started to chuckle. It seemed to have lost its mind during its time at the compound. "Yes, free you," SJ replied, walking to the cage door. The crazed Elf immediately moved as far away as possible and curled up in the corner. The cage floors were covered in straw, and the elves had been kept as though they were livestock. In each cage was a wooden bowl containing water and a bucket. They both appeared to be emaciated and gaunt. On each of the cage doors, a padlock hung down. "I will go and find the keys," SJ said. Walking outside, she noticed Zej replacing the Orc''s leg by his side. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. "Where are the cage keys?" SJ called. Zej looked around where he stood and saw a set on the belt of one of the skeletons he had crushed the skull of. He picked them up and threw them to SJ, who caught them easily before returning to the cages. The smell again hit her as she entered. Walking straight to the doors, she unlocked them both. The second Elf immediately stood and left the cage, still looking at SJ suspiciously but not as fearful as the one still curled in the corner, jabbering to itself. "Come on, you are free. You can leave here," SJ said in a kindly voice. "Leave. No, I must stay. I am food. I am food for the Phantom." "No. The Phantom is dead. You are free to live your life again," SJ replied. "Do you know them?" she directed to the other Elf. "Only since being here. We are not from the same village," he replied. "Lythonian," SJ called out of the door. Moments later, the large Draconian walked into the building. If the smell had affected him, he did not show it. "He will not leave the cage. He says he is Phantom food and must stay." "I will speak to him. You take the other outside." SJ led the freed Elf back into the sunlight. He squinted as his eyes adjusted to the brightness. The Elf scanned the outside, seeing the dead Necromancer, the empty robes of the Phantom, and broken skeletons on the ground. "Why are they still alive?" he asked, staring at the three sitting on the ground. Zej stepped towards the Elf, "They have been freed of their master. Our cleric friend has checked their alignment, and there is no reason why they should not be able to return to their professions or trades and live a life as a reborn." The Elf was dressed in tattered clothes, his dishevelled state even more apparent in the light of day. Going into her inventory, SJ removed some of her dry rations and waterskin and handed them to the Elf. "Thank you," he replied, smiling at her. "Where did you come from?" SJ asked. "A small village a few days travel from here, the other side of the valley towards Asterfal. We have both been here a couple of months. I was just walking home when I was feared by the Phantom and grabbed by the skeletons." The Rogue, seeing and hearing what the Elf said, looked over speaking. "I am sorry that I captured you. I had no option but to do as instructed." The Elf looked at the Rogue warily. SJ doubted he would ever trust an undead again. "I am guessing you will head back home?" SJ asked. "I will. My family will have wondered what has happened to me." Hearing the Elf mention his family and how they had missed him hit SJ like a freight train. She had not really considered their point of view overall. She supposed that they were still her family, however far she had grown away from them. Feeling anger and frustration brewing, she kicked out at a pebble, sending it spinning across the ground and clonking the Orc''s leg, which was still sitting by his side. "Sorry," SJ said, looking over. The Orc was just looking at her. "What''s inside?" she asked the archer, pointing towards the main building. "The Necromancer''s labs and quarters. We rarely went in there unless he needed things moved." Making her way to the entrance, she peered into the gloom of the arched door. Thankfully, there were torches lining the walls inside. Walking inside she entered an open room with three doors leading from it. The building on the outside had a large rectangular shape, and the entrance was offset to the left. Walking to the first room and trying the door, SJ noticed it opened into what must have been a kitchen at some point. Empty plates and bowls littered the area, and there was a stove that didn''t look like it had been lit for a very long time. The stone walls had a layer of grime, and thick cobwebs hung from the room''s corners and across the ceiling rafters. She went to the second door opposite, opening it into a bed chamber. The room''s centrepiece was a large dishevelled double bed with dirty and stained sheets, with a desk and chair standing to one side. It must have been where the Necromancer slept. The room smelt stale, as though something had been decomposing in it with the scent mouldy fruit gives off. She walked to the desk, which was covered in pieces of parchment. The parchment was covered in tiny scribbles and drawings, making it difficult for SJ to read in the torchlight, and it was then she noticed the boarded window. Moving to it, she pulled the boards away, pried the shutter open, and forced the window that was stuck in its frame wide, flooding the inside with light and fresh air. Searching the room, SJ found nothing of real interest, but she still gathered and placed all the parchment notes in her inventory. The one thing she did make sure she picked up was the inkwell and feather the Necromancer had used for writing. The inkwell was a small silver pot with clawed feet, and she was sure it would be worth a few coins at least. Leaving the room, she went to the final door at the end of the entrance room. On entering, it immediately turned right and opened into a much larger room, which, from guessing the building dimensions, took up most of the interior. The room was again lit by torchlight. There were tables around the room, and several body parts of animals and what she believed to be humanoid forms lay on their surfaces. One table was covered in jars and vials of various liquids and several unrecognisable body parts; she did recognise a heart and a liver but had no idea where they had come from. The main thing that drew her attention was the malformed body that was lying in a huge bath of blood. Its head seemed to have been created from at least two different beasts, and its body was also made of differing parts. This had to be the abomination the Necromancer had been trying to create. She shuddered, looking at its deformed and grotesque shape, shuddering involuntarily. It was approximately ten feet long from its head to its clawed feet. Looking around the room, she identified the three windows that would allow natural light and opened them all before she looked closely at what else the room contained. The abomination looked as though it had everything it needed anatomically, and she noticed scribbling on the floor surrounding the bath consisting of runes and symbols. She could only guess that he had been preparing to perform a ritual. Thankfully, by all accounts, they had gotten it before it had risen. A few items looked valuable, so she dropped them into her inventory again, although she would also check with Lythonian and Zej. Walking back out into the fresh air from the macabre quarters of the Necromancer was more refreshing than she expected, and she stood in the entranceway, taking a couple of deep lungfuls of air. "Are you ok?" Zej asked, concern etched on his face. "I am fine. I think we got here just in time. Looking at what is lying inside there." Zej raised his eyebrows and started to walk over. "I will go see." SJ stepped aside and let him in. Several minutes later, he walked back outside carrying a small chest. "Where was that? I didn''t see one." "Under the bed." "Oh, I never looked. Glad you did." "That abomination is horrendous. If it had arisen, god forbid what damage it may have done." Lythonian appeared in the other building''s doorway, supporting the crazed Elf by his arm and speaking softly. He then walked him towards the other Elf, who handed him some of SJ''s rations. The skeletons had all managed to move to each other now, with the archer being the most mobile. "Have you looted the corpse yet?" Lythonian asked, walking over to them. "No. Go ahead," SJ replied. Lythonian moved to loot the corpse of the Necromancer. Upon doing so, SJ''s display was triggered. Poisoned dagger +4, Body Bag ¨C 10 slots, Robes of the Damned +3, Ring of Mana Regeneration +2, 3 x lesser mana potions, 2 x lesser healing potions, 83 copper, 23 silver "I hate necromancers so much," Lythonian growled. "Take what you want from the loot, and we can split the coin," SJ said. "I would take the ring and the mana potions if that is ok?" "Sure. What about you, Zej?" "You take the loot. I am fine with the coin split," as he spoke, he was busy digging the tip of Betty''s spike into the chest lid and prised it open. "What are these?" Zej said. Looking at the three knobbly-covered large eggs, bluey-green in colour, sitting on top of a silken cushion in the small chest. "Holy, Goblin spawns," Dave suddenly erupted in her head. Having been as silent for as long as he had, SJ jumped slightly at the sudden intrusion. "Those are Miniature Wyvern Eggs," Dave shouted excitedly. "They can be hatched and trained from birth. There are specialist druids who are skilled in their training. Having a Miniature Wyvern in support as a pet is an awesome thing. They are highly sought after and valuable. I would not sell them, though; you must find a trainer. There may be one in Asterfal, the closest city." Lythonian bent over, looking at the eggs. "If they belonged to the necromancer, we should destroy them," he said emphatically. "NO," SJ shouted a little louder than she meant to. "I know what they are. They are Miniature Wyvern Eggs. They can be hatched and trained as pets." "Wyvern Eggs. Why would a necromancer have those, and how do you know?" Zej asked. "They were mentioned in the quest, but I had forgotten about them and had no idea why a necromancer had them," SJ replied, "but we can''t destroy them; they are valuable." "If you say so. I have never heard of them before. I know of Wyverns but not miniatures." "Well, there are three, so we have one each," SJ said, smiling at them both. Lythonian just shrugged in response, not very taken aback by the eggs. SJ collected the loot items and split the coin between them. Zej was heading to the third building they had not entered yet. It had a large set of double doors. "Wait," SJ called as he went to open them. "What?" he turned, looking at her. "I think the Lizorse are in there. They had a wagon and Lizorse when I came the first time." Zej paused his hand on the handle and looked at the skeletons on the ground. "Are they?" "Yes," the archer responded. "Are they tethered?" "Yes, why?" "Is the wagon any good?" "It''s just a basic model." "Ah. I won''t bother then," Zej replied, letting go of the handle. "We need to burn this place and leave," Lythonian said, looking skywards. "The rain is coming." SJ looked up at the still-clear sky, confused by the comment, but again was not going to question the locals. "What do we do about them?" SJ asked, looking at the Elves and Skeletons. "We head back to the cottage; from there, we can use the cart to transport them back to town. They can make their way from there," Lythonian responded. "Can you heal the skeletons so they can walk?" SJ asked. "I can. I have been waiting for my mana to regenerate," he replied, smiling. A while later, all three skeletons were back on their feet, the Orc bowing at Lythonian and singing his praises for healing his leg. It took a little longer to get the crazed Elf to accompany them. Still, eventually, the group began to return to the cottage, leaving the now burning remains of the necromancer''s compound behind them. Chapter 48 – When it rains it pours They reached the cottage after a couple of hours. During the return journey, the crazed Elf had tried to run off several times, wanting to return to the compound. Humberto neighed at seeing Lythonian, and he walked straight up to him, patting him and whispering in his ear. "What are you going to do now you are free?" SJ asked the skeletons while waiting for Lythonian to attach Humberto to the cart. "I have no idea. I never believed I would be free again," the archer replied. "What did you do before as a profession?" SJ asked. "I was a Gardener." "And you two?" SJ asked the others. "My profession was as a carpenter," the Orc replied. Looking at the Rogue, he looked away slightly and whispered a response. "Sorry. I didn''t hear you?" SJ asked. "I was a sweeper." "A sweeper?" "A chimney sweep." Considering all the buildings had fireplaces, it made perfect sense that they would have chimney sweeps. "What''s wrong with that?" SJ asked, frowning. Dave replied, "Chimney sweeps are a forced profession on those caught in townships for theft. It is classed as a criminal profession. A skeletal chimney sweep is very novel, though." SJ didn''t push the Rogue into elaborating now that Dave had informed her of his profession. Instead, she changed the direction of the conversation: "I suppose now that you have another chance at eternal life, you could learn another profession?" "Unfortunately, no," Zej replied. "undead can no longer learn new professions." "They could still learn something new even if they can''t level it, though?" "I suppose it''s possible. I''ve just never heard of anyone doing it before." The small well by the cottage had a rope and bucket attached, and SJ needed to refill her waterskin. The two elves had drank most of it. Turning the handle on the well, the wooden gears spun freely, and the bucket did not raise. "Damn," she cursed. The skeletal Orc, having seen what she was doing, walked over. "I can sort that out. It won''t take too long to make some new cogs for it. The whole frame could do with being replaced, looking at how worn it is." "Could you? That would be amazing if you could. Actually, I have an idea," SJ said, smiling at the Orc and then turning to look at the other two skeletons. "What?" the archer asked. "Why don''t you three stop here for now? I know you don''t need food, so it''s not as though you will go hungry, and you can sort yourselves out and decide what you want to do going forward." "Whose is this cottage?" the Rogue asked. "Mine," SJ replied, smiling. "You would be happy for us to stay here?" the Orc said, surprised. "Yes. At least I don''t plan on living there now, and it needs to be furnished properly. Before considering living here, I must bring supplies from town." The archer looked at the Rogue and the fighter before returning to SJ. "I think we would all be very grateful to stay here for now if that is ok?" "Of course. Make yourselves at home. I would ask a favour, though," SJ said. "Yes?" the Orc asked. "Would you please tidy the place up a little while I am gone? The garden is overgrown and messy, and the well could be repaired, as you mentioned. There is also a second cottage down the lakeside that could use some attention." "That sounds a fair exchange," the Orc said with what SJ assumed was a smile. Even the Rogue appeared to be happy with that idea. "If you go down past the next cottage, there is another abandoned and derelict cottage. I don''t know if there is still a deed for it, but it is in a shocking state. If you repaired that one, you may have somewhere you could even make your own." "We will prioritise your cottage before any others," the archer responded. SJ removed the key from her inventory and opened the door to the cottage. There was nothing inside of value, so she couldn''t lose anything by them staying here. In fact, it may work in her favour if they repair the well and sort things out. "What are all your names, by the way?" SJ asked. "I am Charlotte," the archer replied, "and this is Terence," indicating the giant Orc skeleton, "and Brian," pointing to the Rogue. "It is nice to meet you all officially. I am SJ if you hadn''t already guessed." Lythonian had finished attaching Humberto to the cart, and with a bit of strong-armed persuasion, the crazed Elf was eventually made to climb into it. The other Elf sat next to him to try and keep him calm. "I think we are ready to head back," Zej said. SJ walked over to Charlotte and handed her the cottage key. "Here, I will return in a few days and see how you progress," she said, smiling. "Thank you, and we will do what we can to sort things out," Charlotte replied. The three skeletons watched as the cart moved down the track away from Farleck Cottage. "Very generous of you to let them stay there," Lythonian said as they distanced themselves. "I have no need for it at the moment, and if they can look after it and sort things out, it benefits both sides." "I agree. It''s just that Legionnaires are not known for being concerned about Amathereans as you are. You are a breath of fresh air compared to many." SJ blushed, feeling the heat in her cheeks. She believed she was acting no different to how she had always been back on Earth. Yes, it was a different world, but her Grandfather had always told her to treat others as she wished to be treated. "Thank you," she replied shyly. The journey back to town was uneventful. Thankfully, the crazed Elf did not try to escape from the cart. As they reached the valley''s top and began to pass through the meadow, the skies began to darken. It was as though someone had instantly turned a light off. SJ looked across the meadow and towards the lake and saw heavy dark clouds building over its surface. "Won''t be long now," Zej said, looking at the sky. "The skies looked clear this morning. How did you know it was going to rain?" SJ asked. "The temperature, as soon as the sun is never as strong, we know rain is due." It wasn''t as if they had a meteorology department sending the latest weather alerts. "We should be back before it starts," Lythonian added, spurring Humberto on now they were back on the relative flat. As they neared the edge of town, the first raindrops began to fall. The air temperature had dropped, and the breeze that had picked up slowly building in force. Dropping Zej at the smithy and thanking him for his help, they continued to the church. "What do we do with the Elves?" SJ asked Lythonian quietly. "I will need to spend time with the poor one that is still affected, but the other can hopefully return to his village as soon as possible." Pulling up outside the Church Hall, SJ jumped down and helped the Elves from the back of the cart. She removed a silver coin from her inventory and handed it to the sane Elf. "Here, take this. It will allow you to get clothes, food, and drink and hopefully get a passage back to your village." "Thank you so much for your kindness and for freeing us," The Elf replied, bowing deeply. "If you are ever near the village of Cuopi, please do call in. It''s only a small village, and we don''t have much to offer, but you will always be welcome." Congratulations! Reputation with Jasitu increased to Friendly. "Thank you. If I am ever in the area, I will call in. I wish you good luck," SJ replied. I will call in to see you tomorrow, Lythonian." "No problem. Thank you for the adventure. It has been a few years, and I enjoyed myself today," The Draconian said, smiling fondly at her. The side of Lythonian SJ had seen was that of a righteous defender, and his stalwart behaviour and gentle manner had again been shown as hiding a warrior at heart. Congratulations! Reputation with Lythonian has increased to Popular. SJ headed back towards the Inn, and the rain began to fall heavier as she did. Many of the usual vendors were no longer present on the streets, and many of the usual open stalls were closed or empty. On reaching the Inn and entering, she was amazed to see how busy it was inside. Checking her display, it was only mid-afternoon, yet the crowd was already similar to the early evening. Seeing Bert standing by the bar, she waved and went upstairs to her room. The large troll smiled back at her. Entering her room, she emptied her inventory and placed the items on the table. Zej had given her the chest that had held the Miniature Wyvern Eggs. She opened the lid, looking at the beautiful colour of their shells, the iridescent shimmering drawing her gaze. Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. "I am trying to find out their value," Dave said. "How can you do that?" "Secret." "We have no secrets. We are best friends," SJ replied. Silence. "Dave? Are you there?" Silence. "Dave?" "Thank you," Dave replied suddenly. "Thank you for what?" SJ said, confused. "For what you just said." "Said?" "You said we are best friends," Dave replied with a sniff. Not even considering the implication of what she said made her suddenly realise that Dave was her best friend. They were inseparable, after all, and their growing camaraderie and exchanges of trust were continually developing over the time they had now been together. They were both outsiders in their ways, her being an anomalous Legionnaire and him being a thorn in the System''s side by all accounts. Dave was always looking out for her now and guiding her. He had screamed the warning about the necromancer, and he didn''t need to have done so. He had informed her about the Miniature Wyvern Eggs that Lythonian would have been happy smashing. So many small and subtle interactions had started without even thinking about them. SJ felt a tear roll down her cheek and reached up, wiping it away. "Are you ok?" Dave asked, concern in his voice. "I am, yes." "Then why are you crying?" "I am happy." "Oh!" Silence ensued for several moments before they both started talking at the same time. Unable to understand or hear what each other had said, they both laughed. SJ spent the remainder of the afternoon talking to Dave and reviewing all the items she had collected, including the new loot from the necromancer. Dave confirmed that some of the items would sell well in the auction house or a city where there would likely be people with the coins available to purchase them. It was while they were sitting talking that the heavens opened fully. The window to the room had been open since she had arrived, and she had never bothered closing it. The rain had started to get heavier as the skies continued to darken, and the natural light was still enough with her improved vision to allow her to see even from the darkened skies. The sudden clap of thunder made her jump out of her skin as she hadn''t been paying the weather any attention. On standing and looking out of the window, the rain bounced off the cobbled street below. The town square was empty, with no one in sight, and most of the buildings had all their windows closed, and some even had shutters pulled across them. The Inn''s roof overhang protected her window from the rain, and she leaned on the windowsill, resting on her elbows with her face in her hands, as she watched the rain gather in pools amongst the cobbles. The streets didn''t have grids or a sewer system to carry the excess water away, and she noticed the small rivulets of water that had started to run down the streets towards the lake. There was a bright flash off across the lake to her right, and she saw the lightning dispersing that must have hit the lake surface, followed in moments by another deep boom as the thunder rolled in. The intensity of the rain increased, becoming even heavier. The rain was almost vertical, and the weight and size of the drops striking the barrels and crates lined up by the roadside sounded like war drums beating. The awnings of the vendor stalls, which usually kept the intense sun off the wares, were filled with pools of water. "This is one serious downpour. It reminds me of my last day on Earth," SJ said. "It''s quite a heavy storm; I have no idea how long it will last." "I am going to get some food." Making her way downstairs, the Inn''s crowd had grown even further. Moving to the corner of the bar, she waited to be served. As she waited, she listened to the locals'' various conversations. "This reminds me of the storm fifteen years ago," a male Half-Elf said to his companion. "It does. I expect it will last a while," his female companion replied. "It''s a good job we packed up when we did, or the clothes would have been ruined," he replied. It appeared that many of the usual vendors had migrated to the Inn, and as she stood waiting, the Bard appeared on his small stage by the fireplace. Soon, the Inn was filled with music and laughter, and he began to tell his tales. SJ was caught up amidst the singing, having picked up a couple of the lines from previous evenings when the Inn door flew open. Gary stood in the doorway, water dripping from his clothing as he bellowed. "Hob''s are advancing." The music stopped instantly, and SJ stared at him, not quite comprehending his comment. "Hob''s are advancing. All those able are asked to accompany the guard to the town line." He immediately turned again, running back outside. Murmurs were soon replaced with shouts and cries as patrons began to finish their drinks before leaving the bar hurriedly. SJ watched as the crowd started to thin out, them braving the torrential rains to go and defend the town. SJ hurried back upstairs and grabbed her cloak from her room. Throwing it on, she left the Inn with her hood pulled up and began to move towards the barracks. Many of the streets had now been turned into rivers, and she sloshed through the water-covered streets against the heavy drumming rain. There was no letup in the torrent that was hitting the ground. As she neared the barracks, she could hear the shouts of orders over the drumming of the rain. She watched as the mage she had seen previously walked onto a platform next to where Mayor Maxwell now stood. The crowd anxiously looked at him as the mage''s voice cut over the storm. "THANK YOU FOR COMING. USUAL POSITIONS FOR PRE-CONFIGURED GROUPS. ALL STREET ENTRANCES ARE TO BE BLOCKED BY WAGONS, AND HEALERS AND MAGES ARE REQUIRED AT EACH LOCATION IN SUPPORT OF ARCHERS AND FIGHTERS." The crowd was splitting into groups, and SJ watched as the first started moving away from the barracks, heading towards the Western edge of town. Where the single field finished, so did the town boundary. SJ noticed Lythonian and Zej in the crowd, wearing the same attire as their recent quest. As she went to head towards them, they began to jog off with another group. SJ walked towards the platform where Mayor Maxwell and Captain Broadaxe were in deep conversation. A large Gnoll walked up to her. "Where are you assigned?" "I am not. I am new, so I have no idea where I am needed," SJ replied. "Join the group on Timber Street if you can. They are down a mage," The Gnoll said. SJ was about to reply she wasn''t a mage when the Gnoll turned to talk to another who had just arrived, ignoring her. Turning and moving away, she headed towards the edge of town, having yet to learn where Timber Street was. Across all the streets she came to, large wagons had been drawn as she reached the edge, blocking the roads. These were not standard wagons and had been fitted with wooden panelling which covered the open underneath, and archers were now standing in the backs of them looking out across the field. The rain had not eased, and there were shouts and calls as people still made their way to whichever group they needed to reach. A young-looking Kobold was running past her towards the closest group, and SJ called out, asking where Timber Street was. He pointed and called, saying that it was two streets over. Shouting her thanks, she began to jog. The same setup existed when arriving at what she assumed must be the right street. Wagons blocked the entrance, and archers stood waiting. Stood slightly away from the main area was a small awning that had been hurriedly thrown up, and under a raised poncho, several dressed in robes stood. It had to be the mages, healers, or both. She stood back from the leading group, watching and listening, and as those assigned to groups eventually reached their locations, an unnatural silence fell across the town. There were no more calls or shouts, just the silent anticipation of conflict. SJ had no way of supporting with ranged attacks and, unsure what benefit she could bring here, stood behind the wagons. She moved off to an alley close to the blocked entrance. "I can''t do anything from here," she whispered. "What''s your plan then?" Dave asked. "I think I am going to see what is coming," SJ replied as she shrugged off her cloak and transformed into her miniature form. The rain that hammered down now felt more like being pelted by huge waterbombs as the drops hit her. She wasn''t going to be deterred, though, and flapping her wings and staying close to the edge of one of the buildings out of the worst of the rain, she made her way to the roof. Landing on the roof, she moved over to the outer edge of the building and then flew the short distance to the next building, the gap between them not large enough even to be called an alleyway. Eventually, she stood by the chimney of the building closest to the fields, and standing behind it, being protected from the worst of the rain, she looked out across the fields. The skies were dark and grim, there mottled dark greys covering the usual blazing skies she had been used to since her arrival in Amathera. Squinting with her hands cupped around her eyes to keep the rain off, she peered into the afternoon''s gloom. She could see nothing out of the ordinary, and there was no sight of anything crossing the fields. "I wonder how far away they were spotted?" SJ said. "I assume they must be close; otherwise, nothing would have been done. Especially in weather like this. I can feel the water in my circuits." "Really," SJ replied, shaking her head in dismay at his comment. "Well, it''s not very nice out, is it." "You are an AI talking inside my head. Unlike me, you cannot feel the weather." "I can imagine it, though. The cold, damp water seeping into every orifice, your hair plastered to your head, your dress, soaked clinging to your legs, and your boots full of water." "The rain is not cold, my boots are perfectly dry, and my dress is not stuck to me at all. The only factual thing about that statement is that my hair is plastered to my head." "I was being artistic in my appraisal of the situation." "It was more along the lines of doom and gloom." "I will have you know I performed very well in my theatrical thesis." "Your what now?" SJ said, surprised, etching her face. "My thesis." "What thesis?" "I completed an AIA in Dramatic Arts." "Now that begins to explain a great deal," SJ chuckled. "I am confused about why an AI would need to complete a thesis, never mind about something like theatre." "As I have told you before, being an administrator is a highly sought-after job. You don''t stand a chance at selection if you don''t have a degree." The world of the administrators was even more confusing, and rather than bits of data flying around in the everlasting ether, SJ had started to imagine little robots all sitting in stalls. As her mind drifted, another bright flash of lightning brightened the gloom of the storm. In the flash, SJ thought she saw something across the fields. "I think I saw something," she said as the thunderclap followed the flash. The storm was overhead and didn''t seem to be moving quickly. "I didn''t. Sorry," Dave replied. "I am going to investigate," she said as she moved to the roof''s edge. The wind wasn''t very strong but was still fairly powerful compared to the breezes she had flown in, apart from when the mage''s spell caught her. Cautiously, she began to lift off the roof and, staying high, moved out across the field. The raindrops hammered against her small form. She gritted her teeth against the monstrous water droplets and flew over the field as fast as possible. Flying at the height she was with the hammering rain, she doubted anyone would see her, but to be safe, she moved to the right, approaching the water''s edge of the lake, not staying directly in the middle of the open area. Reaching the far side of the field where a treeline started again, SJ swooped low and into the branches. The canopy of the trees gave her little reprieve from the rain force. Under the canopy, she couldn''t hear anything apart from the thundering droplets battering the leaves. Working her way between the branches, she approached the original path on which she had initially arrived at Killic. Slowing and dropping onto a branch, she peered between the branches and down the path that led there. What she saw sent fear pulsing through her.? Chapter 49 – Bordon the Brandisher The line of Hobgoblins filled the path leading through the woodland; they were marching slowly, four abreast. SJ couldn''t tell how far back they went as the path curved, but there must have been over thirty rows, meaning there were at least 120. Stood in the middle of the slow marching line were three other creatures. A vast monstrous creature SJ recognised from her gaming days as an Ogre, a larger Hobgoblin wearing robes of a mage, and a person whose face sent pure anger flaring through her. It was the face of Malcolm the Half-Orc. The line was moving slowly forward. As it began to reach the field opening, the lines split, heading to each side and spreading out as they faced towards the town along the lengths of the corn field. From this side of the field, SJ could just see the town and the blocked streets with the wagons and vaguely make out a head above the barriers that had been created. The huge Ogre was passing beneath her now, and she could hear Malcolm''s voice. "I told you it would be the best time to attack. They wouldn''t have been expecting it now," he said. The monstrous form of the Ogre looked at him but didn''t respond. Instead, it stepped towards the edge of the open fields, its massive form blocking SJ''s vision back towards the town. The Hobs that had split along the field edge slowly moved through the tall corn stalks. She wished the wind had been even stronger to flatten them and make the Hobs more visible as they crouched and began to move towards the town. The Ogre didn''t enter the field area and instead just stood as it gave some commands in a language SJ didn''t understand. It moved to the side so its bulk was nearer the tree line. "I need to get back and warn them," SJ said. "This is a very organised attack. I can see why the town is prepared to defend against them if they have been hit before," Dave said. "At least Malcolm is wrong. The town is aware," SJ spat angrily as she mentioned him. There were still more Hobs filing down the path, and looking at the number; it must have been nearer 300, at least that was in the raiding party. Suddenly remembering, she triggered her identification skill at the line that was still advancing. Her display suddenly flooded with information before it began to combine and lessen. The sensation made her feel lightheaded, and she grabbed the trunk of the tree to maintain her balance. Hobgoblin Fighters x 36 ¨C levels 5-12 Hobgoblin Berserker x 25 ¨C levels 8-11 Hobgoblin Archers x 31 ¨C levels 6-9 Congratulations! Identification Level 4 reached. Congratulations! You have reached Identification Level 5. At level five, you may now identify creatures that are twenty levels higher than yourself. Subterfuge - Identification Level 5 - 45 of 50 to level 6 "Well, that is one way to level your skill. Next time, I would suggest being a little more careful. Most people select individual targets; group data above ten doesn''t give you much information," Dave said. "And at what point did you ever tell me that," SJ hissed, still clearing her head. "Erm. Maybe I forgot that part," Dave laughed nervously. SJ looked at the back of the Ogre and triggered her skill again, this time focussing only on it. Bordon the Brandisher Level: 23 Hit Points: 480 Mana Points: 55 Armour Class: 28 Attacks: Bash/Charge Special: Rage As the details appeared on her screen, the Ogre turned its head round and stared directly towards where SJ was hiding amongst the branches. She couldn''t hear what he said from the distance she was but noticed the robed figure begin to move in her direction. "Damn," she cursed. She immediately began to fly and work her way back through the tree branches. There was no way the Ogre could have seen her, but it knew it had been identified. "Told you to be careful," Dave said. SJ ignored his comment and flew through the canopy back towards the lake''s edge. The first line of Hobs was probably halfway across the field now, and she could make out several carrying crossbows as they lifted them, pointing towards the street entrances. There were six in total, and the town defenders were formed up and blocking the Hobs'' advance into the town itself. "That Ogre is a monster at level 23," SJ said. "He is exceedingly high to be anywhere near a starter town. The necromancer''s being 21 was bad, but a level 23 Ogre is insane to even be near here. Then again, we do have a level 88 Dragon sitting on a mountaintop not far away and a God." Wiping her face to clear the rain from her eyes, SJ looked over the field; she was only level 6 and only a level higher than the weakest Hob''s she had identified. Feeling helpless and distraught at what was going to happen. The lightning flashed in the sky again, and this time, as it did, it was followed by the deep sound of a horn being blown from the direction of the town. The Hobs must have been spotted as balls of light were cast into the air. From several locations along the town''s front, brilliant light suddenly appeared, floating over the fields. "Yes," SJ said, clenching her fist. As the glowing balls moved over the fields, the gloom from the storm was reduced with almost daylight conditions due to their brilliance shining down. One of the Hobs turned and aimed his crossbow at one of them, firing at it. The bolt sailed towards it to pass harmlessly through. They were magical, after all, and not something that a bolt could remove. SJ had not seen the cloaked Hob since she had moved away through the branches but realised it must be near the field again. A dark bolt shot towards one of the balls of light, and upon hitting it, it extinguished. "I need to do something," SJ said. "I think this is a perfect opportunity for you to train." "Train! During a battle?" "The Hobs won''t expect anything to attack them from behind, so you can take advantage." "How do you suppose I do that?" "Hit and run tactics." Contemplating Dave''s comments, SJ looked to the end of the Hob''s line nearest the lake. It was some distance away from her, but at least focusing on one end would stop her from being caught in the middle of everything if things went wrong. Lifting from the branch and dropping low, she began to skirt the field''s edge before lifting and heading towards the end of the approaching line. There was a cry from her right as she flew, and she turned to see the massive Ogre now standing in the centre of the main track and slowly moving forward. He was out of range of any arrows from the township, still the distance he was. His cry cut over the thundering rain, and on his command, the Hobs stood, releasing their flight of bolts at the town''s defences. The whistling sound of bolts and twanging strings was lost in the storm. A cry of pain reached across the field, and someone in the defences had been hit. SJ grimaced at the thought of the almost silent lances of death flying towards the town unseen. A whistling sound suddenly reached her ears, and as she neared the side end of Hob line, she realised what it was. The archers from the town had returned fire. Glancing upwards, she noticed a stream of tiny flashes of dark streaking through the sky. The storm affected their parabolic flight. None came close to her position, but there were sounds from along the Hob line as the falling shafts of death struck more than one. Having seen scenes in films to witness even fewer arrows that had fallen to earth was a sobering thought. Reaching the last Hob on the line, SJ identified it. Hobgoblin Fighter Level: 7 Hit Points: 45 Mana Points: 40 Armour Class: 10 Attacks: Slash/Stab Special: Nil Its back was to her, and she was about four feet away from it. There was another Hob to her right, about fifteen feet further away, leading this Hob slightly as it focused on sneaking closer to the town. Landing and ducking down, she allowed herself to grow, equipping her claws as she had done. The Hob moved no more than six feet from her now, and she crept towards it until she could have reached out to touch its back; she was so close. It wore rough-looking leather armour, its green arms uncovered and bracers on its wrist with matching leather greaves. Thinking through her options and not knowing what healing the Hobs had, she thought about disabling enemies rather than going for kills. She knew her damage would not be high enough without fighting, and she couldn''t chance being caught against more than one. She just wasn''t strong or skilled enough yet. The way it was stooped in a crouching position revealed the backs of its ankles, and with a decisive and swift strike, SJ brought her blades down across them. The shock at it being struck from behind made it flash forward, standing as it did. It then fell as it realised its feet were no longer functioning properly. The damage she had wrought caused it to fall. Immediately shrinking again, she moved left and flew away again towards the lake''s edge. Nothing followed or came for her, and as she turned to see the outcome, her display triggered. Congratulations! Bleed effect triggered. Another Hob had moved over to the downed one and snarled, saying something in their tongue that she didn''t understand. "He called him a useless piece of troll dung," Dave said. "Thanks," SJ replied, her body tingling from the adrenaline. "One out of the fight, at least." "Too many to go through." Turning, SJ flew back behind the line and along the path, which was a natural break between the end of the field and the woods. There was nothing on the track as everything approached the town. Shouts and cries had started as both sides had begun to call orders as the battle commenced. SJ flew above the corn, and not forty feet from her was the back of a person she recognised. The Half-Orc Malcolm stood at the rear of all the Hobs, well away from the front line advancing. Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. "He is mine," SJ hissed under her breath, temper flaring and seeing red. "Be careful. I will watch your six," Dave replied. SJ changed her direction, heading straight to where Malcolm was standing. He was holding a large two-handed sword with his back to her. Nothing was near him, as he had allowed himself to fall behind. Bordon was walking forward, showing no concern as another rain of arrows came down. Bordon lifted a huge club he was holding above his head as they did, a couple striking it and sticking in. Landing a few feet from Malcolm, SJ grew crouched again. When she had first fought him in the town, he had worn a breastplate, so she hoped he was the same again. Identifying him as she moved to strike. Malcolm Kilgore Race: Half-Orc Age: 20 Level: 6 Hit Points: 36 Mana Points: 30 Armour Class: 10 Attacks: Slash/Charge Special: Nil The only change he had achieved was reaching age twenty. With both her fists clenched, she drove her blades deep into his lower back. At the same moment, a clap of thunder broke the sky. Malcolm''s body clenched forward, his back arching and his scream covered by the rolling thunder. Removing one of her blades, she struck again higher up his back. His health had dropped by two-thirds from her first strike, and as her second strike punctured the centre of his upper back, his health dropped to zero. Anger and hatred fuelled SJ, withdrawing her blades and allowing his now lifeless form to fall to the floor. How dare he bring hostiles to the town. "Small," yelled Dave. SJ snapped from her trance and shrunk again. Thankfully, no one had noticed due to the sounds of battle that had commenced and the thunder above. Turning, she quickly flew low and fast back to the road again. "That was a clinical finish. Very impressive," Dave said. "Good riddance to bad rubbish," SJ had just performed her first real assassination; she had decided to kill Malcolm and felt no regrets in ending his second life. As the realisation set in, she rose and scanned the battlefield. The Hobs were now closing in on the town, and archers were still trying to pick off approaching forms. SJ could hear cries and moaning from around the field at various locations. The mage stood nearer the back of the group, with Bordon still walking calmly forward down the central track leading to the main street. Looking right, SJ saw some Hobs moving back across the field. One of them was limping with an arrow sticking through its thigh. The other supported it as it moved to the track before dropping him down, turning, and running back towards the town. The injured Hob was now lying a short distance from her. Moving into the woods, she approached where it lay, triggering identification as she neared. Hobgoblin Archer Level: 8 Hit Points: 31 of 45 Mana Points: 45 Armour Class: 8 Attacks: Bolt Special: Nil The archer sat slowly, trying to remove the arrow from its thigh. It cried in pain as the arrow''s head was caught and would not pull free. He let go of the arrow hitting the earth with its clenched fists, obviously unhappy about not being able to partake in the battle. SJ grew and stayed behind a tree, looking at its back. Sneaking from the wood edge, she again struck with precision. Her blades tore into its neck, and it would have screamed if it was able, its arm flying up, trying to grasp her hand. Her other blades then plunged into its back, similar to what she had done to Malcolm. Its health had dropped to a sliver, and as she grabbed her arm and tried to wrestle her forward, she withdrew her claws from its back and struck again, removing the last of its resistance. Immediately shrinking and again changing position and moving away back into the woods. Three corpses now lay on the field from her hand. She felt no remorse as her display triggered. Congratulations on reaching Level 7 You have been awarded the following: 5 hit points 5 mana points +1 Dexterity +2 free points to distribute as you wish She opened her character sheet and assigned her two free points to Constitution to support her martial arts training and improve her health. With her significant points gain compared to many she could soon start to benefit being able to balance her attribute growth bonuses. Legionnaire 25007077 Name: SJ Age: 27 Race: Fae Class: Assassin Alignment: Neutral Good ? Level: 7 Experience: 36 of 1000 Hit Points: 52 of 52 Mana Points: 40 Armour Class: 15 Attributes: Strength: 10 Dexterity: 17 Intelligence: 10 Wisdom: 10 Constitution: 12 Charisma: 11 Skills Racial: Night Vision ¨C you have improved vision in poor light conditions. Flight ¨C when in miniature Fae form, you can learn to fly. Flying is not available in humanoid form. Shapeshift ¨C the ability to switch between Fae forms. Class: Martial Arts - Kata Level 3 Subterfuge - Identification Level 5 - 49 of 50 to level 6 Profession: Tailor Level 3 Symbiosis: Dragon Sense ¨C your senses, touch, hearing, smell, and sight are heightened. Precognition ¨C foreknowledge due to increased perception will allow you to evade a killing blow. (24hr cooldown) Divine lightning ¨C your blood is combined with that of a Blue, increasing healing speed while out of combat. Malware: Waiver (Sandboxed) Inventory: 10 slots (10 special) "I am heading towards town. They are too close now. I will see what I can do to help," She said. "You are doing so well back here, though," Dave replied. SJ flew swiftly across the top of the cornfield, the rain still hammering into her smaller form, and the occasional drop made her adjust her position. The Hobs had started to reach the wagon barriers broken up by the buildings acting as the town walls, and as she neared, she could hear the clash of steel as hand-to-hand combat commenced. Looking over, she watched the monstrous Ogre still strolling slowly towards the main entrance. SJ could do nothing to stop the level 23. Something with that many hit points and armour class would be like striking a mountain at her level. Moving forward between the natural break in the line where the Hobs had moved to attack one of the wagon positions, she flew up and over onto the rooftop of the nearest building¡ªflying to the edge and landing, looking down at the wagons below her. A fierce battle was underway between a group of Hobs who had managed to force their way over the top of one of the wagons and were trying to push forward into the town. Swords clattered, and axes swung. Both sides took injuries as casualties were made. A Dwarf that SJ had seen in the Inn on several occasions took a nasty slash to its face from the axe of a Hob and fell to the ground wailing. As it did, a stream of light burst forth and struck him. His cries of pain lessened as the healing spell did its job. It was absolute chaos everywhere she looked. She was at least a street from the centre and swiftly flew across to the next building. Looking left as she did, she could see Bordon approaching the wagons. The Hobs moved out of his way as he swung his huge club and smashed one of the wagon''s sides, splintering the wood and sending splinters flying. He roared in anger. Just further down the street, SJ noticed movement; turning, she saw Mayor Maxwell and watched in amazement as he transformed. He was a large man standing at least seven feet tall, but the beast he turned into was on a whole new scale. Bordon must have stood nearly twelve feet tall, and as Mayor Maxwell finished transforming, he stood up on his hind legs as the largest Grizzly Bear SJ had ever seen. He stood just as tall, if not taller than Bordon, on his hind legs and dropping to all fours; his shoulder must still have been nearly six feet. Roaring in anger, spittle flying from the Grizzlies mouth, it charged at Bordon. The next clap of thunder could not have been better timed as the two monstrous forms crashed into each other. Bordon tried to swing his club at the Mayor as he leapt at him. Their bodies collided, and the momentum of the Mayor forced Bordon to stagger backwards from the blow as it raked its huge claws down the front of the breastplate Bordon wore. The metal was torn open as if it were a tin of soup. Bordon roared in response and brought his fist, holding his club round, crashing into the side of the Mayor''s head. Dropping back to the ground, the Mayor stood and roared again at Bordon, who roared back. The two Goliaths stared each other down, awaiting the next move. While the behemoths fought, the remainder were fighting for their own survival. SJ watched as Captain Broadaxe withdrew his axe from what had once been a Hobgoblin, which was no longer recognisable; it had been cleaved so cleanly. He let out a battle cry, a bright flash of blue light encircling him as he sprinted forward through the now open entrance to the street, meeting the Hobgoblins who were pushing their way through where the wagon had been. A bolt of blue suddenly flashed forward from the field, and SJ noticed the Hobgoblin Mage directing attacks at those defending. SJ had decided on her next target. ? Chapter 50 – Distracted The Hobgoblin Mage cast a bolt of blue light towards an unsuspecting fighter engaged in combat with another Hob. As the light struck him, his body froze as if suddenly turned into a statue. The effect was that he was unable to parry or block the sword stroke that cut into his abdomen. After several moments, the spell wore off, and the victim fell forward, grasping at his wound. Snarling, getting angry, and seeing the Mage''s underhand techniques, SJ took off from the roof, flying in a circular pattern, and moved around and behind the Mage. She triggered her identification skill as she neared and was coming into land. Hobgoblin Mage Level: 18 Hit Points: 105 of 105 Mana Points: 145 of 270 Armour Class: 20 Attacks: Magic Special: Invulnerability Congratulations! You have reached Identification Level 6. At level six, you may now select your second Subterfuge skill. SJ had no time to even consider selecting skills and didn''t know what to expect of a mage, SJ couldn''t tell if it had high or low mana in comparison. At least she knew the health it had remaining. As she read the display, the Mage spun from where it had been facing and scanned the direction she was in. Diving as fast as she could to enter the cornfield, she felt the Mage''s gaze track her movement. "WATCH IT," Dave shouted, as a red ball of fire travelled towards where she had moved. Changing her direction and flight path, she immediately turned back from the Mage, heading away as fast as her wings would carry her. "Well, that was so stupid, casting identification on him," SJ hissed. "Not the best. I did say Mages usually have high Wisdom." "Yeah. I know." Where SJ had been just moments before, there was a small explosion, and the crops where she had been burst into flames, ignoring the pelting of the rain due to its magical power. Sweeping around again in an arc, she moved to the Mage''s side and again began approaching, this time much more cautiously moving through the tall corn. Rubbing her eyes, she peered toward the Mage but could not see it. She didn''t want to chance flying above the height of the corn due to the ease of her being spotted, so she continued to edge forward. The cries and shouts of battle continued, and just off to her right, another ball of flame hit the ground and exploded. Considering its direction, this had not come from the Mage by all accounts, and she assumed a mage in the town was trying to attack it. "Damn. I also need to watch out for friendly fire," she said. "No one knows you are out here. Anything currently outside the town limits is thought to be hostile." "I know," SJ growled. Not being able to see the Mage was not helping, so she gently lifted to peek over the top of the corn. The Mage was busy preparing another spell, looking towards the town, and she took the opportunity to move closer again, quickly flying at an angle leading behind it. As she got within ten feet, she crashed into a barrier. Not expecting the impact, she hit it headfirst. Sparks flew, and her momentum sent her spinning and crashing to the ground a couple of feet below. Lying on the ground stunned, shaking her head to clear it, she noticed her health had suffered, losing ten hit points from the impact. There was no way she could force her way through the barrier that surrounded the Mage. Getting to her feet and moving with her claws in front of her, she prodded until she reached a point where she felt resistance. Cursing under her breath, she had no way of getting through. Small arcs of power came off the barrier as her claws touched. The Mage spun from where it had been facing the town, and SJ pulled her claws away as it did. Standing still, she didn''t move in case it saw her. A bright blue bolt struck its shield, sizzling over its surface, and the Mage turned towards the town again. SJ picked a small pebble from the ground and threw it at the barrier away from where she stood. The tiny stone, in her miniature size, sizzled as it touched the barrier, bouncing off it. Another bolt flew from the town''s direction, this time yellow, and crashed into the dome surrounding the Mage, the combatting magic arcing off across its surface again. The dome was not visible unless something touched it. "How do I penetrate that?" SJ asked. "It will be taking damage like the personal shield the Mage used on the church hall. There will be a damage limit before it wears out. That is when you can take advantage." "I can''t just stay here waiting." "What else can you do?" "Wear it down," SJ said, pushing her claw out and into the barrier again. Staying low, she began to circle the dome, dragging her claws across its surface. The Mage was casting another spell, and she watched a red bolt fly from its hand and strike an archer trying to shoot at it. She heard the archer scream as the bolt hit it in its chest, catapulting it backwards from the wagon it stood on. Looking toward town, SJ saw the massive forms of Bordon and the Mayor slugging it out against each other. The Hob''s numbers were slowly dwindling, but so were the defenders. Three wagons had been used to block the road at the main entrance, where the widest street was. Only the one remained, with archers still trying to fire at close range at the Hobs. Melee combat was taking place, and she heard a scream of rage as one of the Hobs suddenly began to spin wildly, slashing its axe around as though possessed. It had to be one of the berserkers, and in its enraged state, she saw it take out one of its own with a strike across its back, as it didn''t care who or what was near it. The Mage turned and saw her moving around the dome, dragging her claws and creating a trail of sparks as she did. She hoped her claws damaged the shield, as she couldn''t tell. It growled and shouted something at her in its tongue. "Oooo. That wasn''t very nice. He deserves to have his mouth washed out," Dave said. That was all the translation SJ needed, giving her the confidence that she was impacting it. Moving as fast as she could in a circle, she was visible but, at the moment, didn''t care. The Mage shouted something, and one of the closest Hobs to them turned and, seeing SJ, ran towards her. She flapped her wings, taking off, switching her path, moving up and keeping her distance, and heading to the other side. The dome did not affect the charging Hob, and it passed through the shield and swung towards SJ''s miniature form with a sword. Seeing the wild swing coming a mile off with her enhanced senses, she jinked upwards, the sword blade sweeping underneath where she had been. She felt the draft of the blade as it passed her within inches. "You are taking serious risks," Dave said as the Hob turned and came after her. Her small form and level of agility meant she could fly very quickly, and it could not reach her with a swing before she was out of the way again. A red ball of fire suddenly hit the hob chasing her, sending it crashing backwards towards the Mage. Its leather armour scorched from the impact of the spell. Growling, it got back to its feet and, rather than chasing SJ, waited for her to move in its direction. That was when the barrier failed. The sparks and resistance suddenly cut out, and the Hob Mage screamed what she could only imagine was a curse in response. Seeing the barrier was down, she immediately turned and headed away quickly. She could not take the chance to attempt to land and to grow with the Fighter and Mage present. Weaving in and out of the corn stalks, she moved several feet before cutting back through them and towards where she hoped the Mage''s back would be. Taking a chance, she rose above and noticed she was a little off-target, realigning herself. The Mage seemed to be busy concentrating on the town again. The Hob, which had come to defend it, was standing nearby, still scouring the field. She was now positioned behind the Hob warrior, which looked to be flagging since it had taken the hit from the fireball. She quickly triggered her Identification skill. Hobgoblin Fighter Level: 8 Hit Points: 21 of 50 Mana Points: 45 Armour Class: 9 Attacks: Slash/Thrust Special: Nil Being a normal fighter with only 21 hit points remaining, SJ felt confident she could take it. Switching her path, she flew straight at its back, and as she neared, she dropped and grew, being in a full run as she reached it. Her claws extended as she stabbed into its side with her left while slashing with her right. The Hob wailed in pain at the surprise attack and pulled away, swinging its blade around in defence. SJ moved her arm, catching the blade swing on her claws, sparks flying, and only parrying it just enough to stop it from striking her. She stepped back as the Hob staggered. Its health was now showing as a sliver on her display. Attacking and not considering anything around her, she focused on finishing the Hob. Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. The Mage struck. There was no warning. The bolt at the range she was pierced her side in an instant of its cast. Crying from the impact, SJ stumbled sideways, her health reducing by 20 more. There was little choice remaining for her now; she had to fight, even if it meant her death. Kicking out at the Hobgoblin, her foot catching it in its thigh, it staggered from the blow, and she proceeded to step in, punching with her clawed fist. She was so close to the Hob that it could not get its sword up to defend, and she hit it square in its chest. The scream filled her ears as it fell to the ground. Not paying it any attention, she spun to face the Mage. It had moved away, creating more distance from her. It was circling its hand in the process of creating a spell, a red glow beginning to form. There was no way that she could possibly survive a fireball at close range. The speed they travelled, she would not get out of the way in time. It took her less than a split second to begin running at the Mage. The Mage was looking at her, and its eyes widened slightly in surprise as it saw her move towards it rather than away. Screaming, she charged, closing the distance quickly, the Mage trying to finish its spell before she reached it. The Mage pushed the red ball of energy coursing at her with its hand. Her senses went wild, her body reacting without her knowledge, and she dove towards and down at the Mage''s side as the energy crackled within an inch of her body. Automatically rolling, she sprung up, and her display triggered. Precognition triggered ¨C cooldown 24hrs Knowing the only reason she had survived was due to the dragon blood inside her, she felt a renewed vigour. Standing, she launched at the Mage, kicks and punches hurtling at its robed body. The Mage was not in any way prepared for melee combat, and she hammered into it, striking and kicking with fierce abandon. This may be the last thing she tried to attempt in this life, and in a moment of absolute stupidity, as thoughts rushed through her mind, she shouted. "Record." "Hang on," came a very excited Dave in reply. Punching, kicking, twirling, pressing against the Mage, she continued her onslaught, the new techniques taught by Lorna paying off in an offensive fight. Her claws did little damage compared to the lower-level Hobs, but they gradually picked away at its health. When the beam of light hit her, she initially thought she was about to die. "It''s Lythonian!" Dave screamed. Not being able to even consider looking, she could see her health increasing as the light struck her. She spun to the side of the Mage, and as she did, the light cut out. She was back to over half her health now. It hadn''t healed greatly, but it gave her the confidence to continue. A dagger appeared in the Mage''s hand, and he struck out, unable to cast a spell to the barrage of attacks he was receiving. SJ didn''t see it at first, and he swept the blade across her, cutting into her arm. She winced in pain from the strike, taking minimal damage when her display triggered again. You have been poisoned. The initial damage was nothing, but she knew that if she were poisoned, she would need more healing. "Damn," Dave suddenly said. "Break off now. I can''t believe it poisoned you below level 10." SJ kept pressing. "NOW," Dave screamed. SJ saw a shape moving, and her senses triggered, noticing the towering form of Bordon in her peripheral vision. She had been so focused she had not noticed the turn in the battle. The Hobs were beginning to flee and move back across the field. Bordon was leading their retreat. He did not stop and careered into her, not paying her any attention with his massive twelve feet in height. She was catapulted across the field, tumbling through the corn stalks. Her health plummeted again, and she had less than ten hit points remaining. The Mage had been going down, and as she started to get her senses back from the impact, she saw it running across the field behind Bordon; it glanced back at her with a look of hatred, and her display was triggered. Commiserations! Your reputation with Iratu the Mad has been reduced to Disliked. She lay back in the cornfield with her body feeling like a charging rhino had hit it. "Stay awake," Dave said. Her eyes felt heavy, and her health was ticking down from the poison, feeling it burn inside her. She only had four hit points remaining, and unless she received healing, she would die. As her health reached two hit points, she spoke to Dave. "I will see you in the white room," she said. "No, you won''t," Dave replied. "You are now out of active combat." "What?" SJ replied groggily. "Look at your health." Her health was remaining on two. It appeared to try and tick down and then remained at two hit points, not going lower. "What''s happening?" "It''s your blood, the healing symbiosis; thankfully, the poison is not as strong as many can be." Having completely forgotten about the increased healing she had earned from the dragon blood, she suddenly realised it was keeping her alive, counteracting the poison''s damage. Hearing shouting and calls, she tried to stand, unable to do so in her battered state as she realised that her leg was pointing at a rather obscure angle. Shouting weakly, she called out as bodies from the town moved out into the field. She lay her head back on the soaked earth, the rain still heavily splashing her face. She didn''t care now; she just wanted to lie there. Pain seeped through her body, the poison setting her nerves on fire as it tried to attack, her dragon blood fighting back. It felt as though small explosions were erupting inside her. A face appeared above her, one she didn''t recognise, but it cried out, finding her. "I found her over here quick." Another face peered down, belonging to a human with a thick beard and moustache of brilliant white. The man was wearing plate armour and carrying a spear as he began to chant, placing his hand on her chest. She felt the warmth seeping into her, her health improving slowly but not as expected. "She is poisoned," the man said. "Get Tilly here now." SJ couldn''t really focus properly; the pain was too intense. She was forcibly sat upright, crying in pain at the movement as the cold of a glass vial met her lips. The liquid was being poured into her mouth. She drank it greedily, the sweet-tasting liquid smelling of cotton candy. "She will be good in a moment; then you can heal her again," a female voice said. The white-haired man again placed his hand on her chest, and the warmth returned to her body, this time flooding her. It felt as though she had been hit with an adrenaline shot. Her leg suddenly realigned, feeling no pain as it did, and her health increased rapidly. It took moments for her to be brought back up to her maximum hit points. Feeling energized beyond anything she had felt before, she suddenly sprang up. "There we go," the white-haired man said, chuckling. "That''s the reaction I expect." With wide-open eyes, SJ stared at the man before speaking very quickly. "Thank you," "I haven''t seen that in a long time," Dave said. SJ couldn''t reply with three people literally within a foot of her. "Are you feeling ok now?" the female asked. "Yes. I think so. I feel like I have just drunk two pots of coffee." "That will wear off in a moment," she replied. As she took in the scenes of the cornfield, she realised that a line of townsfolk was slowly working their way across them. They had now passed by where she had been lying. Standing in the centre of the line was Captain Broadaxe. She watched as he suddenly swung his Great Axe down and heard a scream before silence again. "After battle is never pleasant," Dave said, seeming to pick up on what SJ had been thinking. The giddiness of the healing spell began to fade, and her vision cleared fully, her head calming. "Thank you all for healing me," SJ said, looking at the three standing by her. "The thanks go to you. If you had not distracted that Mage, the Mayor wouldn''t have managed to get to Bordon. The Mage always casts some form of invulnerability on him. It didn''t matter what he hit him with; he couldn''t break his skin. As soon as you attacked the Mage, he lost it, and the Mayor began to damage him, forcing him to pull back and retreat." "Oh!" SJ exclaimed in shock at the revelation. She had no concept of her impact on the battle. "Mayor Maxwell is just being treated but asked that you be brought to the barracks as soon as you are fit," the human man said. Looking back at the line still moving across the field in the pouring rain, she considered her response. "I should go help." "You have done enough," the woman said, taking her by the elbow and slowly turning her back towards town. "I stopped recording, and I watched it back. You were a whirling dervish. Very impressive for your level. I can''t wait for you to get stronger. Hopefully, one day, you will be able to watch it back, and I will definitely be sharing it on our social network," Dave said excitedly. SJ smiled at his comment as she began walking back into town. The raid had been thwarted, but the Hobs were still out there. Chapter 51 – Thanks Entering the top of the main street, the aftermath of the battle was ever present; the splintered remains of two wagons were being cleared away. A group were in the process of cleaning up and picking debris from the street. Blood-red puddles could be seen amongst the debris. A few injured were still being cared for by healers as they topped up their health. SJ spotted Lorna walking from one of the side streets. ¡°Hi Lorna,¡± SJ called. Lorna looked over, smiling, and walked to greet her. "I saw what you did from the other street. That was either incredibly brave or incredibly stupid of you. I have no idea how that fireball didn''t hit you." "I think I got lucky," SJ replied, never wanting to mention symbiosis with a Dragon. "How did you get on?" "They are repelled for now but will be back¡ªthey always are. The attack wasn''t as bad as it has been in the past. The fact that the Mayor could injure Bordon for a change helped." "Has that mage always been present?" "Yes. It was always protecting him. I don''t know what you were doing, but to drain the shield that quickly it uses has never happened before. Even with mages concentrating fire at it." "Oh. I was hitting it with my¡­" SJ paused. "Claws, I think you meant to say," Lorna said, smiling. SJ flushed. "At least I know what class you are now," Lorna said, winking. "I am sorry," SJ stammered, "I should have said." "No need to apologise. I know Monks never use weapons, so you can only really be one of two classes, discounting fighters since you wear no armour and you don''t look like a ranger or use a bow. So, the process of elimination only gives me one choice left." "I didn''t want to advertise it." "An assassin is an unusual class. I have met a few before, but many are not like you. They aren''t as open and friendly." Blushing even more from the compliment, SJ wasn''t sure how to respond. "Where are you heading?" Lorna asked. "The Mayor wants to see me at the barracks." "I''m heading back to report in; I will join you." Walking back to the barracks, the rain still pounded the cobbles. The volume of rain had created their own small rivers that now flowed freely towards the lake. "How long does the rain usually last?" SJ asked. "When it comes, it stays for a while. I would expect another few hours before it starts to clear again," Lorna replied. "Is it always like this when it rains?" "Yes. It''s clear most of the time, but when it does rain, it pours. It will do the crops well." "Lorna," A Gnoll called as he approached. "Oscaray. How did you fair?" "Well, the main Hobs were still pushing the main street, so we didn''t get the same quantity attacking Hillier Street. Unfortunately, we lost one. Young Wesley fell before Alex could heal him." "Have you reported in yet?" "Just returning. The Mayor is, after some Fae or other, wants to speak to her." "You mean SJ," Lorna said, indicating to her. Oscaray noticed SJ for the first time as she stood to the side of Lorna. "That will be her then," Oscaray responded. "Is it right that you brought the mage shield down?" he asked. "Yes. With the help of mages," SJ replied. Lorna scoffed. "She is being modest. It would have been up much longer without her draining it." "My thanks to you then," Oscaray replied, smiling. "It probably saved several lives today." A clap of thunder erupted, and SJ jumped, it being the first one for a while, and the rain seemed to increase in intensity. "Anyway, I am heading back to report in," Lorna said. "No problem. I assume you will be at the Arms later?" Oscaray asked. "We will have our usual table reserved," Lorna replied, smiling. Continuing to the barracks, the building was busy on entering. The old Orc on the desk didn''t even pay any attention to Lorna or SJ as they walked straight through the swinging barrier, too busy dealing with the influx of townsfolk. Lorna led SJ to the wide staircase at the side of the room. On the first floor, there was a large open setup similar to downstairs, with two offices situated at the other end. In the middle of the open area was a large wooden table with a perfect replica of the town sitting on it. The details were immaculate, and two Gnomes were busily shaping and adjusting some of the buildings at the table. SJ stood looking at it in awe; it was unbelievably detailed, even to the degree of closer inspection, seeing the signs for the shops on little swinging posts. Lorna led SJ around the table and walked towards the double doors at the end of the room. They were open, and inside, SJ could see the impressive form of the Mayor standing in bear form still. A female Half-Elf dressed in a white robe stood talking to the Mayor. "I want the wagons replaced as soon as possible. Speak to Katiyanna, and if she tries to spin her line about payment and finance, quietly remind her that I oversee the businesses that can operate in this town and that she still owes pitch rent. We will hold a service tomorrow at the Church for those who have lost their lives today. I have already spoken to Lythonian. Finally, once we have the damages totalled, inform any enquiring parties that compensation will be confirmed within five days." "Anything else?" the Half-Elf asked. "Could you get a message to Magius. My shoulder still doesn''t feel right." "Of course, Mayor," She replied as she turned and smiled at Lorna and SJ as they walked in. "Mayor," Lorna said, nodding her head. Seeing the huge grizzly bear this close was quite nerve-wracking. Never mind the fact it was talking in perfect common. "Lorna and I see SJ is with you," the Mayor replied, SJ only guessing that the bear had smiled. "Please come in and take a seat while I change." The Mayor''s body began to shudder, and his limbs began to change from the huge paws they were back into hands. Then boots and clothing began to appear. Watching in amazement, the Mayor turned back into the bear of a man that he was. The clothing he had been wearing was restored as he changed. "Please do sit," he said, smiling at SJ, who had not gotten past the office threshold and was standing open-mouthed, watching him transform. "Sorry," she blustered, walking into the room and sitting in one of several large armchairs facing a huge wooden desk. The Mayor didn''t walk around the desk but instead walked to a cupboard at the side of the office, opened it and took out a decanter and three glasses. Walking to where the armchairs were, he placed the glasses on the edge of his desk and poured three before turning them in and handing one to both Lorna and SJ. He then sat in another armchair, not sitting behind the desk. "First, we toast," he said. SJ held the glass containing the red liquid in her hand; she could smell a spice coming from it. "To our fallen brethren," he said, lifting his glass and drinking it in one. "The fallen," Lorna said, doing the same. "The fallen," SJ copied and drank the liquid. It was a strange taste but had a flavour of cinnamon and root beer. It did not have the harshness of Zej''s Dwarven Brandy and went down easily. "Now then, SJ. I and we, the town, owe you a thank you," the Mayor stated. "I am not sure what for. I only did what anyone would have done," she replied, feeling a little nervous next to this beast. Now that her identity as an assassin was assumed, she worried that people might start adding two and two together about Darjey''s death. "You are a low-level Legionnaire, but you took no thought in throwing yourself in peril to defend the town. That is not something we are used to witnessing. Especially considering it was against the mage. That mage is powerful and has ended several over the years." "Years!" SJ exclaimed in shock. "Yes. We have been fighting the Hob''s for a long time." "I had no idea." "Thankfully, it is not a regular occurrence, but still too frequent for my liking." "I see." "If you had not managed to take the mage shield down today, I am unsure how long I could have fought Bordon while he was invulnerable. Thankfully, it isn''t very often that he comes to attack himself. At least our scouts got the message back before they arrived." At that comment, a large bird similar to a raven but with red plumage landed on the windowsill of the Mayor''s office and tapped on the window. The Mayor stood and walked over, opening the window. When he did, it hopped inside. "Rex, Alice has just left," the Mayor said as Rex ruffled its feathers and sprayed water from its body. "That must be a scout of the druids," Dave said. This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. Rex squawked at the Mayor. "You know, I don''t understand what you are saying. She was going to the wagonistas if it was urgent. If not, stay out of the rain for a while. I am guessing her window was closed." Squawking again, Rex began to preen his feathers. The Mayor returned to sit down. "Sorry about that," he said. "Not at all," SJ replied. "Now, back to business. Without you taking the mage shield down so quickly today, we may easily have lost many more before pushing them back. Can I ask how you did it?" "I was just hitting it." "Hitting it? Did you not take damage?" the Mayor asked, frowning. "No. I used my claws." His eyebrows raised, and a half smile appeared on his face. "Claws, you say." SJ''s nerves were on edge. She mentioned her claws to the Mayor, but it was too late now. By all accounts, she had been seen by too many during the battle. "Yes. I use claws to fight." "Do you mind if I see them?" Sitting nervously, SJ lifted her hands from where they had been resting on her knees; feeling her palms were sweaty, she called her blades. The gloves appeared instantly on her hands, with their four black claws on each. "I see, and I wonder why you didn''t take damage from the shield. Those who have hit it before have always been shocked. Are they magical?" "They are +3." "That is not a great deal?" he replied, frowning again. "They also have a bleed effect that can trigger." "Now that is interesting. I wonder if that is what prevented you from harm." SJ had no idea. She had been shocked when she crashed into the dome but had never even considered that she would have got shocked using the claws. "It''s your boots," Dave said. SJ had never even looked at her boots since first putting them on. Quickly checking their details, she saw the changes. Boots of the Assassin Grade ¨C Epic Quality ¨C Perfection Durability - Excellent Enchantment Slots ¨C Two Armour Class ¨C 5 Attributes ¨C Protection from lightning ¨C Going to slit a mage''s throat? Sneak along a trapped corridor? You don''t want to be shocked in the process by crafty defences. Feet must be grounded. "It''s the same reason the mage''s personal shield in the Church Hall didn''t affect you. Most mages can give off a nasty belt from their shields, as you found out crashing into it." Dave said. "It is my boots; they give protection," SJ said. "That''s interesting to know. What sort?" the Mayor asked. SJ felt very open to answering these questions, feeling uncomfortable and uncertain under the spotlight. "It''s fine. It''s normal to discuss skills, abilities and bonuses. Many use them as bragging rights to try and earn better positions, and that is not just Legionnaires. Look at Lorna and her ability in martial arts or Fran at the Mage Academy. They wouldn''t have got their roles without others knowing their capabilities. It would be unusual to mention your assassin class unless you trust those you are speaking to. As it can receive a poor reaction at times," Dave said. She resolved herself to the fact that she was here now, and with Dave''s supporting words, she answered the question. "They protect from lightning." "Excellent. I am sure one of the enchanters may be able to consider enchanting some of our guard''s equipment with that attribute if that''s the case. The difference would be that being able to attack the mage with melee rather than trying to wear its shield down with spells would be significant." "I volunteer for that," Lorna said. "Ha. I bet you would," the Mayor smiled. "I may even offer my own boots as well. Anyway, I wished to see you not just to say thank you." SJ felt a trickle of sweat run down her back at the thought of what he may now ask. "What was the reason then?" SJ asked nervously. The Mayor stood and walked around the desk, opening a drawer and returning with a small box. He handed the box to SJ. "This is to say thank you for what you did today. As I say, you saved lives with your bravery." SJ took the box, feeling relief and embarrassment all at once. She felt her cheeks go red. "I didn''t expect anything," she replied. "It''s nothing large, don''t worry, but I thought you might like it as it matches your dress," he said, smiling. Opening the small box, SJ gently lifted out a green choker. It was identical to the colour of her dress, and hanging down at the front of the choker, was a large green stone. It was beautiful. SJ turned it in her hands in amazement. "This is too much," she said, flabbergasted. "Nonsense. It''s not much. It is just a thank you from the town for what you did today." Lorna looked at her, smiling. SJ met her eyes, and she just shrugged, indicating to take it. "Thank you so much," SJ replied. "That is an Arcavian Earth Stone. It is quite common, but that cut is especially good. You may be able to get it enchanted. Identify it and see what it says," Dave said. Choker of the Earth Stone Grade ¨C Uncommon Quality ¨C Flawless Durability - Excellent Enchantment Slots ¨C One Hidden - Alignment Fae (1 of 5) "Oh my god," Dave said in shock. Knowing SJ couldn''t reply, he continued excitedly. "Most pieces of jewellery have one enchantment slot, so there is nothing unusual there. Enchanters use jewellery items often to hone their skills. It''s that hidden part. I have only had two Legionnaires before who have ever got set items, and neither were five-piece sets. A five-piece set is ridiculously rare. There is no guarantee that you will ever get the other pieces. What is mind-blowing, even for my amazing level of knowledge, is the fact that it is aligned to Fae only. The chances of you being here at this time in this place and then being offered a piece of jewellery for what you have done for a starter town as thanks with a much higher-level structure than any other starter town I have ever seen has a probability of 0.0001." SJ placed the choker around her neck and brushed it with her fingers, looking down. "May I," SJ asked, indicating to a tall mirror at the side of the office. "Please," the Mayor replied. She walked to the mirror and looked at herself. The choker finished off the top half of her outfit perfectly. The large green gem shone and twinkled in the lantern lights in the office, fighting off the dimness of the storm clouds. She couldn''t help but smile at her appearance; she was a beautiful creature as a Fae. "Thank you so much. This is lovely," SJ said. "It is only a trinket, nothing special," the Mayor replied, smiling. "What little he knows," Dave replied. "Lorna. You have an update for me?" "Yes, Mayor. The street held its ground, one wagon damaged but repairable. Five casualties all being healed or healing currently. We will require a new supply of potions for the spell casters, supplies are starting to run low." "Excellent news, and there is no problem with the potions. Oscaray stated the same, so I have already asked Alice to instruct Constance to start producing them," the Mayor replied. It was a surprise to listen to the report and see how everything seemed to be aligned throughout various areas of the town. It was so efficient, discussing combat and then logistics straight after a battle while still cleaning up the chaos that it left behind. "SJ, can you join us this evening in the Arms? We will toast our fallen and fill our bellies," the Mayor said. It wasn''t really putting her out since she was living in the Inn, "Of course. I would love to join you." "Excellent. We will see you this evening." ??? The gathering came and went; they spent time talking about all the members of the town who had lost their lives, which totalled six. After toasting their bravery, the Bard had sung, bringing many of the Inn to tears with tales of valour and lost love. The food had been served; roast Hoglings had been placed on the tables, which had been rearranged to accommodate the much larger groups. Once the food was served and those invited had eaten, the tables were moved, and the drinking began. As the evening went on, it seemed as though half the town was in the Inn. It was so crowded, and by the time SJ eventually excused herself and retreated upstairs, she was feeling a little worse for wear, having joined in with too many toasts to the fallen. It was a memorable evening, but she hoped it would not be repeated for a very long time. Chapter 52 – Looking down When SJ awoke the next morning, her head felt like she had a herd of elephants stomping in it. Groaning loudly, she sat up. "Are you ok?" Dave asked. "My head," SJ replied, holding it in her hands. She didn''t think she had drunk that much the previous evening, but it was still enough to make her feel bad. "Drink a potion; you have one from Darjey''s loot in the wardrobe." "It''s a bit extreme using a potion to get rid of a headache." "It''s not a headache; it''s a hangover. Your body is dehydrated, and it''s only a minor. They only heal 1-8 health; the lessors you got are better at 8-16, but unless you have potions of rejuvination; which basically rebuild your cells; it''s the fastest cure." Walking over to the wardrobe, she took out one of the smaller vials, uncorked it, and drank it. The potion didn''t take long to start working. Her body began to feel more invigorated, and the thumping in her head faded. In under a minute, she felt as right as rain again. "I wonder if that is how Darjey and Malcolm had been managing to drink so much. Using potions to heal themselves between drinking bouts?" "I don''t think they were ever sober enough to even consider them," Dave replied. Walking to the window, she looked out into the town square. The rain had stopped at some point overnight, and the cobbles appeared to be steaming as the remaining water slowly evaporated from them. The usual bright, clear skies having returned, and the sun blazed down. The street vendors moved crates and barrels and tipped the excess water from their stall awnings. As the shop owners opened their shop fronts letting in the sun''s rays. "I need to sort out the loot I have. See Fran and Fizzlewick. Go and train and pick up some more quests." "We have much to investigate and discuss," Dave added. "What do we need to discuss?" "Everything. What is happening here is not normal. Every day, the mechanics of what should be a starter town are being challenged. I am trying to investigate the code to see what is happening, but I still haven''t fully sorted my loophole out since the emergency patch." "You mentioned that before, but everyone in town was here long before I arrived, so it has to be a normal starter town." "I spoke to Malcolm''s AI last night before he was reassigned. He said he had also noticed strange things with levels and the general town function. A starter town having a hostile settlement so close is unheard of. It leads us to believe that the System is losing more and more control over what it implemented thousands of years ago. Autonomy is taking over, realigning things more. I think that it is part of natural balance and that due to the good nature of the town, the Hob''s appeared as a balancing act." "This must have happened before if that is the case." "Not that we are aware of. It seems to be a recent change. I have messaged some of the AIs over on other continents, but they won''t be able to respond about their actual Legionnaires until they pass. Being able to talk about you and your experiences with other AI while I still support you is only due to the waiver. I am not held to account." "Won''t that anger the System, though?" "They can''t do anything about it now. Interference with an existing AI is one of the primary rules. They would have to break their own to do so. That reminds me, I completely forgot, I heard back from the adjudicator." "Oh. What did they say?" "They accepted your statement. Therefore, the initial full experience will be assigned upon completion of the quest." "That means I can go and see Gladys this morning, then," SJ replied, smiling. She had removed the choker yesterday when she had come upstairs and walked into the bedroom. She picked it up from the side table before walking back through to put it on, looking in the mirror. It was a beautiful piece. "Ok. It''s time to complete the quest and see if Fran is free to check in about flying." "I am not sure you need to. Your flying is natural now." "I know, but she said she would like to go on a flight with a Fae again." After grabbing some breakfast, SJ began the walk over to the Mill. She could have flown, but after yesterday''s deluge, she enjoyed walking in the morning sun. Several of the townsfolk waved to her this morning as she walked along, recognising some of them from yesterday''s battle and time in the Inn but not knowing many of their names. She smiled back, offering pleasantries in response to greetings. "You are getting popular. I am surprised¡­" SJ''s display triggered. Congratulations! Your reputation with the town of Killic was raised to Liked after you supported the town during the recent Hobgoblin raid. All future town interactions will offer a 40% experience bonus for quests completed. "¡­and there it is," Dave finished, chuckling. "Yes," SJ whispered ecstatically. "That will help speed things up again." "I need to get more quests once I complete this one." Approaching the Mill, the sails were slowly turning, and Hubert was busy moving bags of flour onto the back of a wagon. "Good morning. Would you like a hand?" SJ asked, smiling. Hubert turned to look at her, slightly taken aback, not hearing her approach. "You!" "Yes. Me," SJ replied, getting ready for a confrontation. "Lucinda said what you did yesterday." "Lucinda?" SJ asked, not recognising the name. "Mrs Larper, she runs the best bakery in town. You were fighting on the frontline." "I was." "Well, thank you," Hubert replied "I only did what anyone else would have done." "Not of your kind," he replied, throwing another sack onto the wagon. "Gladys is inside," he replied, climbing onto the wagon and moving towards town. SJ wasn''t sure if he meant Fae by his statement or Legionnaire, but she didn''t want to challenge him causing an argument. The mill door was open, and when looking inside, SJ could see the mechanism she remembered from a school trip to an old mill back on Earth. A large mill bin sat at the bottom of a wooden chute, and looking up on the inside as she entered, she could see the large grinding stones slowly crushing the grains. The grinding stone and creaking of the wooden structure were loud in the confined space of the insides. She noticed Gladys on the floor above. "Hi, Gladys." The woman looked down and, on seeing SJ, hurried down the ladder. "Hello, dear. I''m so glad you''re back. I heard what you did yesterday in town. I received the notification that the cottages were clear. Thank you so much." Her display triggered. Quest ¨C Investigate the cottages - claim The cottages are clear due to the Undead leaving the area, and the source has been located. You may claim your reward for identifying the source and location of the Necromancer behind the recent events. Rewards: 280xp (+40% bonus for reputation). Return to Gladys to receive your gift. SJ smiled, seeing the increased experience gained due to the new reputation level with the town. "Here, please take this," Gladys said, handing SJ a small vial of liquid. On taking the vial, SJ looked at the liquid, which was pale white. "What is it?" SJ asked. "It''s a cure potion. It will treat any toxins or poisons that you have suffered." "That''s amazing, thank you." "I heard what happened to you during the battle yesterday and thought it may benefit you more than the coin I had planned." "You heard about me being poisoned?" "The whole town has. You are the talk of it." "I am? I noticed more people waving to me today, but I didn''t think I had done that much, and no more than those who gave their lives." "We probably would have lost many more if it wasn''t for you, though." "Thank you. I have something to tell you as well." ¡°What?¡± Gladys asked. "With Zej and Lythonian''s help, we cleared the Necromancer from over the other side of the lake. That is where the Undead had come from. Three of the skeletons have been freed and are currently staying in one of the cottages. I have asked them to take care of your cottage while they are there. I am planning on going to revisit them in a few days. Lythonian checked all their alignments so they can all be trusted," SJ finished seeing that a worried look had started to appear on Gladys''s face. "If the venerable Lythonian checked them, then that makes me feel better," Gladys said, now smiling again. "I am going to go and see Mistress Francisca at the academy while I am over this way." "Thank you for what you have done. I will visit the cottage in a few days myself and see what state it was left in." "Oh. They had never entered it. They were using the storm cellar for storage." "That is a relief," Gladys replied. "Let me know if you need anything else done at any time," SJ said as she turned to leave. "I will, and see you soon." Walking the short distance from the Mill to the Mage Training Grounds, SJ took in the wonder of the magic being demonstrated as she approached. Various coloured lights could be seen competing against the bright sun. There were many more outside compared to her initial visit, and Fran stood in front of them all, giving instructions. "We need to improve our offensive strategy. I know many of you are new mages, but our weaknesses were revealed yesterday. We should be able to stop the Hobs in their tracks, yet every time we suffer, we suffer due to many defensive spells rather than offensive ones. Today, we train offensively. Now, I want you to break off into pairs and practice with each other, and I will check in and see how you are getting on." SJ walked over to where Fran stood, speaking to the Goblin clerk. "Hi, Mistress Francisca," she said as she approached. Fran turned to see SJ, then her gaze drifted down to her choker. Her eyes grew a little wider before she hurried towards her. Without saying a word, she took her by her elbow and turned her, walking into the main building. SJ was taken aback but didn''t resist allowing herself to be ushered. Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. The inside of the building was different from what SJ had expected. She had images of alchemy sets and bottles and potions lying everywhere, and instead of walking inside into a laboratory setting, she was met with a common room with sofas, a dining area, and then a corridor that ran down the centre of the building. It was nicely furnished, and there was no clutter. The images of witches and wizards laboratories from films were what she had imagined being far from the truth. Fran led her to a side door and opened it, showing her inside. "Sit," she said sternly. SJ did as she was asked and sat down. Fran walked to the other side of a desk and sat. "Are you ok?" SJ asked, a little concerned. "Where did you get it?" she asked flatly. "Get what?" "The choker? "Oh. Mayor Maxwell gave it to me for helping yesterday as a thank-you gift." "Do you know what it is?" "I have identified it, yes." "So, you know it is Fae?" "I wonder what her problem is?" Dave said, sounding concerned. "I do. Is there a problem?" "That is the Choker of the Earth Stone, right?" "Yes. How do you know?" "It is a lost treasure of the Fae. It has been missing for centuries. It is one piece of a set lost during the Dark Elf wars." "How do you know what it is, though?" Fran took out a key and unlocked a drawer in the desk, lifting out a parchment. Placing it on the table, she unrolled it. On the parchment was a list of various items and pictures of each one neatly drawn and painted. In total, the parchment had nearly thirty items listed. Halfway down the page was the image of the choker she now wore. It was identical. Beneath it were four other items which made the set. The Tiara of the Earth Stone, Earrings of the Earth Stone, The Earthen Breast and The Belt of the Earth Stone. SJ was amazed to see her choker and the four other items. "What does this mean exactly?" "You are wearing a Fae heirloom. Its true power is unknown, to my knowledge. It has been centuries since the set was combined." "Oh. Do I need to return it to someone?" "No. It cannot be taken from you now you have worn it, not without you being killed. It is soul-bound." Looking at the item details again, she noticed a new comment next to where it had indicated it was 1 of 5 in a set. Soul Bound "I had not realised." "The fact that it is now back in the hands of a Fae is the best we could hope for; the chances of finding the other pieces to the set are virtually zero. There have been sightings of various heirlooms over the years, but this is the first time I am aware that one has reappeared again in Fae hands." SJ''s display triggered. Quest - Earth Sentry The Fae heirlooms have been missing for centuries. You have received one of five pieces of the Earth Sentry set. Find the other four remaining pieces to complete the set. This is a Racial quest and has no territory limitations. Progress: 1 of 5 Rewards: Earth Sentry status "Now that is a proper Quest," Dave said. Ignoring Dave, SJ looked at Fran, a little concerned that she may have painted a target on her back. "Does this mean others will hunt me down?" "Hunted down, no. Be looked at differently by Fae, perhaps only if they know what you wear. I know because of my position as an Enchanter, and my previous time in the Fae capital, the heirlooms have been missing for so long many have forgotten about them." "I didn''t realise you were an Enchanter." "I am, and Mayor Maxwell sent a message yesterday about lightning protection on your boots, stopping the mage''s shield from damaging you. I am currently looking into learning it so we can enchant more gear." "The Mayor thinks it would help significantly, having melee fighters able to attack." "It would. One of the biggest issues is that using mage spells against magic shields is like using a thimble to extinguish a fire. Especially the shield that the Hobgoblin mage uses. It is arcane dark magic, not elemental like most mages." "I have no idea about how magic interacts. There are a lot of mages here, though I would have thought you would be able to do the Hobs much more damage?" "Most of the mages here are less than level five. They may have a barrier spell, which you would have seen at the docks, but they don''t have offensive capabilities. When you consider a mage, having a barrier or personal shield is their priority over anything else. Many mages never even learn offensive magic as they have no need for it. They focus more on magic that helps with normal everyday life." "I automatically assumed mages would be casting fireballs or lightning bolts everywhere." "Ha, no," Fran replied, smiling. "Most are learning work skills. Water mages are highly sought after in the desert regions. Fire mages in the ice regions, etc. Many learn only to support." SJ was surprised at this information, assuming that all mages would be combat-oriented. Given the lack of sciences she had witnessed so far, it made sense that they would be more of a support class. "Are any combat focused?" "Some are, but it''s a rarity. Those that are usually work for the larger cities as protectors." "Could you not have created a shield to protect the town from the Hobs, blocking them from approaching." "It is not as easy as you may think, especially with the lower-level mages we have. They can only hold it for a short period of time before it dissipates, and due to limited mana, they then become useless without potions. The Hobgoblin mage is very skilled. He has a permanent invulnerability shield that, once cast, remains until it is destroyed and projects a personal skin shield to Bordon." "Are you not as powerful?" "No way near. I have also split my elemental alignments, not focusing on one specific element to the same degree. Although I am a water mage, most of my spells are support-based." The revelations of the mages'' class system were not what SJ had expected, but they did make more sense of why they had not been very effective in combatting the Hob raid. "The reason I came to see you was I have been flying," SJ said, changing the conversation. "Excellent. How have you been getting on?" "Great, I think, at least. There are no aches or pains, and it feels so natural." "Show me then." SJ stood from her chair before changing to her miniature form, immediately taking off and hovering. "Great," Fran transformed herself and flew over the desk. "Shall we go for a flight?" "Do you not need to watch the apprentices?" "I should, but they can keep practising; they will need to keep allowing their mana to recharge, so it is a process that takes time. We don''t just have limitless mana potions available; we use them for the raids." There was a window at the rear of the office, and Fran flew over, lifting the latch. It pushed open easily, and she flew outside. "Come on then." SJ followed; once outside, Fran set off steadily, flying over the training ground. The mages below were busy testing each other, and SJ watched the spectacle as they flew over. After glancing at SJ and seeing that she was coping with her speed, Fran slowly began to pick up the pace. Increasing her speed to match. SJ hadn''t paid attention to the speeds she had been flying at before, but now she had realised how fast the ground was starting to flash below her. "Let''s go higher," Fran suddenly changed direction and flew straight up. SJ could not turn as swiftly, and aligning and following took her a moment. Trailing Fran and trying to chase her down, she had increased her speed again. Fran moved quite a distance away straight up before stopping, and SJ pushed hard to reach her. She realised that she was now panting slightly from the exertion and came to a hover at her side. "That was harder than I thought it would be." "Your speed will increase over time; you are already very fast for a new flyer," Fran said, smiling. Looking down for the first time since chasing Fran, the realisation of how high they were made her feel giddy. "Whoa. This is high," SJ said, her eyes wide as she stared at the ground far below. They must have flown a few hundred feet straight up. "Do we have limits?" "Limits in height we can fly. No. The only thing that would stop us is air temperature. If we went much higher than we are now since we are in the mountains, we would soon start to feel it." Understanding the general specifics of Earth and altitude, it made sense that Amathera would have similar conditions even if it were just ''a bit'' larger than than her previous home world. From their height, SJ could see over the mountains and across the wide-open forest area and farmland that surrounded the town. The width of the lake from this height was truly awesome. The town now looked like the model on Mayor Maxwell''s table. "This view is amazing." "It is rather beautiful and peaceful up here," Fran replied. SJ looked over at the mountaintop in the distance, where the considerable form of Bob had been, and realised that he was no longer there. "I wonder when the Dragon left?" SJ said. "I saw him leave yesterday before the rain came. He took off heading North again." "That will stop you from having to protect yourself from the lake surge." "It will. We only just managed to stop the first one. The second surge we were better equipped for." "I saw you at the docks; it was an amazing sight." "You would have seen the shields then. That is all many mages can do apart from throwing the occasional minor offensive spell. The timing of the shields was critical, and several mages suffered from serious mana fatigue afterwards." SJ had heard about mana fatigue from games she had played and books she had read, so she didn''t need to ask what Fran meant. "Seven o''clock up three hundred feet," Dave suddenly said. SJ turned, looking upwards, and saw a large bird in the distance. Fran followed her gaze. "You must have strong senses," Fran said, raising her eyebrows. Not responding, SJ watched as the bird adjusted its flight and started to align with them. "That looks like a Falcon. We better head down," Fran said. Fran turned and began to descend, SJ following. "It''s moved off," Dave said. Looking backwards, SJ saw that it had indeed changed direction and was flying over the lake towards the thick forest on the far side. "It''s stopped following," SJ said. "I should get back anyway," Fran responded. The descent was gentler than the ascent, and flying back over the training ground again, they entered Fran''s office through the window before transforming back into their larger forms. "I enjoyed that. I last flew with a Fae many years ago. You are very natural, and your speed will increase more. Over the next few months, you will soon learn your limits." "Thank you. I would never have got to where I am without your help." "It is my pleasure," Fran replied, "I better go and check on the apprentices." Walking out of the building, SJ noticed two mages standing arguing. Fran immediately turned and headed over to them. "Thanks," SJ called. Fran turned and waved briefly before turning back to speak to the apprentices. "That was invigorating," SJ said, "and thanks for the warning." "No need to thank me," Dave replied. Smiling at how Dave had naturally warned her about the bird made SJ feel happy, and a grin broke on her face. "Wind again?" Dave asked. Chapter 53 – Broken heart Considering yesterday''s raid on the town and the bad weather, the streets were bustling normally by the time she returned to the centre. "THE SERVICE OF REMEMBRANCE WILL COMMENCE AT 1400 HOURS TODAY. ALL THOSE WISHING TO PAY THEIR RESPECTS TO THE FALLEN, PLEASE ATTEND PROMPTLY," the now-common sound of the Mage, who made the announcements, rang out. It was only mid-morning, and SJ still had plenty of time before the service. Although she didn''t know those who had been lost, she still felt obliged to attend. Walking along, a small Gnoll child ran into SJ''s leg, nearly taking her off her feet. She looked down at the pink ribbons in her hair and tears running down her cheeks. The Gnoll was sitting shaking its head after crashing into her. Kneeling down, she looked at the young Gnoll. "Are you ok?" SJ asked, concern on her face. "No. My daddy is dead," the girl wailed. "You poor thing. Where is your mother?" "I don''t have one." This surprised SJ, filling her heart with sorrow. "Oh dear. Who is looking after you?" "I was collected from home last night when Dad didn''t return and taken to the orphanage." Reeling from the news that the town had an orphanage, SJ was lost for words for a moment in response. "Where are you going?" "Away." "Away where?" "As far away as I can get." "You are too small to take care of yourself." The young Gnoll looked at her resolutely and snapped, "I''m not too small," she growled, showing her rather sharp teeth. She reminded SJ of a small puppy rather than the young child she was. "But how will you get food?" "I will hunt, just like Mum and Dad used to." "Hunting is a good profession," SJ replied, smiling, trying to gain rapport with the young Gnoll. "I am sure you will become a great hunter one day, but you need to train and learn the profession." "I will train. I will learn to hunt and kill, and then when those horrible creatures return, I will kill them all." "Which horrible creatures?" "The ones that attacked the town." "Did you see them?" "No. But I know where they live. Dad always told me they come from the valley." "Have you eaten today?" The girl looked at her for the first time in her eyes, and when she saw SJ''s kind and concerned face, she replied, "You are very pretty." SJ blushed, "Thank you. You are pretty also." The girl looked at herself, frowning. "Do you think so?" "I do, yes. I think you will grow up to be a beautiful young lady," SJ noticed her face relax, and the tears stopped flowing for the first time since she had run into her. "You can''t grow up alone though. You need people to help you; otherwise, you will struggle. To be a Hunter, you need to fight Hoglings. I have fought Hoglings, and I know how difficult they can be to kill." "You have hunted Hoglings?" "I have. Yes." "Could you teach me how?" "I am no expert, and you are a little small still. They are not small creatures." "But I need to be a hunter. I need to. I need to learn how to kill," the anger that appeared on the girl''s face was heart-wrenching. SJ''s emotions were being taken on a rollercoaster listening to her and her determination to become a hunter and seek revenge. The Hobs had a lot to answer for. "Have you eaten today?" "No. When I woke up, I snuck out." "They will be worried sick wondering where you are." "I need to learn, though. I need to make a coin. Dad always said coin must be earned." "Your dad sounds as though he was a wise Gnoll." "He was the best," the girl replied, sniffing and a fresh tear running down her cheek. "Would you like some food?" The young Gnoll placed her hands on her stomach, looking down where she still sat on the cobbled street. "Come on. Let''s go and get you some food, and then we will get you back," SJ said, offering her hand. The Gnoll looked at her hand momentarily before reaching out and taking it. SJ stood, helping her to her feet. Glancing around, she saw food stalls in the market, but she knew exactly where she would take her, turning and walking over to the Inn. The Inn was quiet at this time of day, and only a few patrons sat at tables. She walked up to the bar with the Gnoll and stared around the Inn. It was obvious she had never been there before. Kerys was polishing glasses behind the bar and saw SJ looking over and seeing the young Gnoll. "Who do we have here then?" she asked, smiling. "She ran into me in the street, and I said I would get her some food. Is there any breakfast left?" "I can check," Kerys replied, smiling. SJ led the Gnoll to a table in the corner of the Inn and sat her down, "I will be back in a minute," she said, smiling sweetly at her. She didn''t respond, and SJ turned quickly, heading back to the bar. "Who is she?" Kerys asked as she approached. "No idea. She is from the orphanage; her dad was killed yesterday, apparently, and she has no mother." "Oh dear. That must be little Cristy. Dawkins'' daughter. He was one of the town''s best hunters. Bordon killed him yesterday during the raid. He tried to protect the Mayor when he got knocked down." SJ remembered the name being mentioned last night. The comments had been that he had fought bravely but was no match for the power of the Ogre. "I am going to feed her and then take her back," SJ said. "We still have breakfast leftovers; I will get Floretta to plate some up." "How much?" "Nothing, it''s on me," Kerys smiled. SJ walked back over and sat with Cristy. "I am SJ, by the way. What is your name?" "Cristy," she replied. "Nice to meet you, Cristy. That is a pretty name," SJ replied, confirming that she was Dawkins'' daughter. Cristy made the faintest smile at the compliment. It didn''t take long for Kerys to walk over with a child-sized portion of a full breakfast. It even had mushrooms, which, since being added, made it even more wholesome. Then returned a moment later with a large glass of fresh milk. "Coffee?" Kerys asked. "I may as well while Cristy eats," SJ replied. Cristy was not hanging around and wolfed the breakfast down and polished off the glass of milk in quick order. SJ hadn''t even drunk half of a cup before she was finished. The young Gnoll released a small burp and covered her mouth in embarrassment. SJ chuckled at her. "Sorry," she replied. "No need to apologise. In some places, it is polite to burp after a meal." "Is it? My dad always said it was bad manners." "Oh. If that''s the case, then maybe I am wrong," SJ replied, not wanting to tarnish the vision she had of her father. "Shall we go back to the orphanage?" "I will be all alone there." "I am sure you can make friends there, and I promise I will come and visit you as well." "Will you? Will you also teach me how to hunt?" "I may in time, but for now, you need to grow stronger by exercising regularly and learning." "Learning?" "Yes. Learning, getting educated." "What''s educated?" "Reading, writing, maths. Learn what you can and become intelligent and strong all at the same time." "Do you think I can?" "I do, yes. I think you can do whatever you put your mind to in time. It may not always be easy, and at times you may struggle, but the more you can do, the better you will become." Cristy smiled at SJ. Taking SJ by surprise, she hugged her. "Thank you," Cristy said, squeezing her tightly. SJ hugged her back and held her tight for a few moments, her heart almost breaking at the courage and bravery of the young Gnoll. "That has to be one of the most beautiful scenes I have seen in a long time," Dave said in a caring tone. After asking Kerys for directions to the orphanage, SJ escorted Cristy back. The grandmotherly Dwarf who ran the orphanage had been worried sick, finding that Cristy had gone missing, and had even informed the town guard to look out for her. SJ explained to her what she had said and said she had promised to come and visit. The Dwarf named Madeline had promised to take special care of her. SJ had asked about education, and Madeline had told her that they were taught the basics once they were old enough, but they were restricted by what they could do at the orphanage. Reminding SJ of the social care system in the UK and their hands being tied usually due to lack of finances, SJ offered to pay for her to get an education. Madeline had informed her that hiring one of the local scribes would require a monthly fee once she had learned the basics. It cost 40 copper a term, which the orphanage couldn''t afford, and SJ didn''t hesitate to take out 2 silver 40 copper to pay for her first year. It wasn''t even midday when SJ left the orphanage, promising Cristy she would come and see her in a couple of days. "What you have done today has, above all other actions, made me the proudest to be your Administrator," Dave said as SJ walked off, continuing her original journey to find Fizzlewick. SJ could feel the heat in her cheeks from the compliment. "Thanks," SJ replied, feeling thoroughly embarrassed. "In all my years, that has been one of the most genuine interactions I have witnessed. I only say what I see." "Enough, please, Dave. I didn''t do it for compliments. Then again, since it is a compliment from you, maybe I should be grateful and take it while I can," SJ said, grinning. This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. "I agree you should. Aye, hang on, that''s not fair. I do compliment you." "Do you?" "I gave you a 9/10. That was a compliment." "Which you then changed to a seven if I remember rightly." Silence. "Dave?" "Yes," he replied, grumbling. "Thank you. It is appreciated." "My pleasure," he replied in a gentle tone. Reaching the Tailor''s shop, SJ was delighted to see that it didn''t have the usual closed sign she had gotten used to seeing. Opening the door, the bell tinkled, and walking in, the front of the shop was empty, with no sign of Fizzlewick''s Quarterling form. "Fizzlewick?" SJ called. Walking towards the counter. Hearing movement in the back room, she waited patiently until the beads moved. It was funny knowing that the wizened old Quarterling who wandered through was, in fact, a God. "SJ," Fizzlewick replied, a smile breaking the wizened face. With a flourish of his hand, the shutters closed, and the front door locked. Fizzlewick transformed before her. "Hi, Fizzlewick," she said excitedly. Finally, she would be able to progress in her Tailoring skills. "I see you are now apprentice level 3. I am guessing you need more recipes?" "I do, yes. I also have some questions." "Indeed, I bet you do," he replied, chuckling. "Bob was very complimentary of you." "So, you did go and see him." "Yes. We had a long old chat. It has been a century or more since we last had a chance to catch up properly." The periods still amazed SJ. She still hadn''t even been in Amathera for a month, and it already felt like she had done so much. Considering what she might have done in a century made her head hurt. "Did Bob tell you what he gave me?" "He did, and I am glad you are still alive. It was very risky for him, although I had to take his judgement on that even as a god, I was not fully aware of how the symbiosis works with dragons. You are both very fortunate and must have done something to impress Bob. He has had the opportunity over his life to have chosen a bond before, and after meeting you for the first time, he decided to share his most precious gift." "He mentioned that he could see why you had asked him to come down here." "He needed a holiday. After all, he is the ruler of the Northern Ice Regions and doesn''t get away very often. It was about time his daughter stepped up and took some responsibility. I just hope she didn''t cause too many problems while he was away. For a Blue Dragon, she does have rather a temper." Trying to comprehend the family dynamics of a Dragon was not something SJ was quite ready to consider. "Ruler, you say?" "Yes. Bob oversees the Northern territories. The Ice Mountains, in particular. They are in constant conflict with the Ice Giants and Elementals that live there. It has been an ongoing feud for over five centuries." SJ had images of huge Ice Giants and Dragons duking it out. She bet it would be a sight to behold. "I need the Cloth Gloves recipe. I also had loads of the Woollen recipes become available." "Yes, yes. That''s normal practice. Let''s go downstairs, and we can start sorting you out." Once they were in the cellar, sitting in the luxurious chairs that Fizzlewick had made appear, he presented various recipes. SJ had fourteen woollen recipes she could learn for various clothing items and cloth gloves. "How much do these all cost?" "All woollen recipes are a copper each. Cloth starts at ten coppers but increases in price depending upon the item." SJ counted out 24 coppers and handed them to Fizzlewick. He took them, making them disappear. Picking up the cloth recipe, SJ opened it and began to read what she would require. The needles were not a problem as they were in her tailoring set. She did need to purchase thread and buttons, though. Looking at the design, they looked like standard gloves with a small button and loop that could be fastened at the wrist to help them stay on. "Can I get all the extra materials I need please?" "Of course. Here you go." With a flourish of his hand, the required items all appeared on the table. Three more copper for the lot." Paying Fizzlewick the coppers, SJ picked the items up and added them to her inventory. Looking at the recipes, she began to add them to her inventory. Every recipe took up an individual slot, meaning she would need to carry some of them with the other items she was still carrying. They did fit into the Tailoring slots in her inventory, but fifteen recipes plus the three slots for the buttons and different threads and the items she was still carrying as standard meant it was again already full. "I really need to get a larger inventory. These recipes take up so much room for being a roll of parchment," SJ said. "Recipes can be combined into one slot," Dave interjected. "How?" SJ said. Fizzlewick smiled, looking at SJ, knowing she was replying to Dave. It was nice being able to talk openly to Dave in the presence of the God. "In the tailoring inventory slots, you have various settings, one called a bookcase. Do you see the three dots?" SJ looked at her display, saw the dots, and selected them. She found the option to turn a specific slot into a bookcase. She selected her first tailoring slot and chose the option. She then noticed a sort button. Selecting it, her vision flashed as the recipes all got moved around, and in place of the single recipe in the first slot, there was now the image of a book. Selecting it, a sub-window appeared listing all the recipes. Selecting one, the recipe appeared in her hand. "That is amazingly useful," SJ smiled, happy at the new information. "It appears your friend is very supportive," Fizzlewick said. "He is." "Aww shucks, you will embarrass me," Dave said. Laughing at Dave''s comment, SJ felt relief for the first time since yesterday''s raid. It was amazing how the small things brought happiness. "Is there a way to learn tailoring techniques that I may need in the future?" SJ asked. Fizzlewick narrowed his eyes slightly at her question. "You mean advanced techniques?" Fizzlewick asked. "Not necessarily advanced. I mean, currently, I have only made the woollen socks, and I had to learn the knitting method required in Amathera from the recipe. Is there something that shows you all the various techniques you can practice before they become part of a recipe? I suppose like an instruction manual of knitting or sewing or whatever all the other requirements are." "Manuals are held in the libraries of some cities. They are not normally mentioned as the recipes have details for each design." "I understand that it would just be nice to practice some of the other techniques before I potentially have to use them on a recipe, making it easier when I do." "That is a very diligent approach. The Tailoring Guild would be very happy with someone with your thought process. The problem you have with that is that without a recipe to follow, what would you do?" SJ remembered her days in school when, as part of her design technology and art lessons, she had spent several lessons just performing various stitches in nice, neat rows on cards to showcase her skills. She hadn''t taken it for one of her education choices, never thinking she would need the knowledge she had started learning again. Thinking about the various things she had learned during her relatively short time on Earth, she thought that many of those she had given up would have been much more useful than she gave them credit for. Being one of the technology age and e-commerce where everything was only one click away on a screen, she never had to consider the manufacturing or time needed to become proficient in many of her lost or misplaced opportunities. Another example would have been cooking. She had cooked back on Earth, but most of her life she had spent eating out. "I can just practice the different stitches; I don''t need to have something to make to sew." "You are correct, but you don''t," Fizzlewick smiled. Shortly after he had waved his hand, a rolled piece of cloth appeared on the table. "Please," he indicated. SJ picked the piece of cloth up and slowly unrolled it. It was the size of a hand towel, and in neat little rows on the clothes surface were many different stitches and approaches. Each one had a small neatly sewn label above it. "This is exactly what I meant," SJ said. "I can create something similar and practice each of the styles." "You can indeed. Would you like to keep that as a reference?" "Are you sure? It is pristine." "Ha. I hope so. I am a god and a Grand Master, after all," flicking his hands, he produced a new piece of plain cloth with a golden needle and thread. "What is that thread?" SJ asked in amazement. "Oh. This is nothing special, really. It''s just imbued to prevent knotting." SJ watched in amazement as Fizzlewick began to sew quickly and precisely the first of the various techniques completed in no time. "See, making a new one doesn''t take long." "I think it would take me a very long time." "If you keep training, you will become proficient. One day, you may even become Grand Master." "I hope to. I have a long way to go; those woollen socks took so long." The whole time Fizzlewick was talking, he continued to sew with an unnerving speed and precision. "Can I ask about Bob?" "What did you want to know?" "Why was he here? He said it may be because of me." "You would be right. It was because of you," replied Fizzlewick matter-of-factly. "Why would he be here because of me?" "I asked him to come and see me, and you just happened to visit him," Fizzlewick smiled. "Was the event because of you?" "I can''t give away the secrets of the Gods," he replied, winking. "Why would you do that?" "I have already told you; we Gods are very excited about you and your potential not being held to the terms and conditions. Bob is one of the strongest and most respected across the continents. He is also one of the few Dragons with the gods'' respect. He has brought relative peace to the North since he took over his reign, and if there is one person for you to know in your long journey ahead, it would be one of such high standing." "I am so new and such a low level. What could I possibly bring to aid?" "Nothing as yet, but in time, those who align with you will, I believe, see the benefits." "What benefits?" SJ asked, feeling daunted and confused. "I cannot say at this time." "Why not at this time? Isn''t it right that I should know if it''s something about me?" "Unfortunately, no. As you grow and become stronger, you will realise that what we started in this town called Killic may eventually lead to great things for this continent and even Amathera as a whole." The thought of her having an everlasting impact on Amathera filled her with dread, fear, trepidation, and excitement in equal amounts. Could she really have the impact that Fizzlewick believed could happen? The waiver was one thing, but what could she do as a single person to affect the workings of a whole world, and in what way? She sat in silence, watching Fizzlewick sew his hands in a blur. After what seemed like no time, he held the cloth up before him, smiling. "There we go." Checking her display, SJ noticed that there was only an hour until the service would start at the Church. ¡°I better go. I want to make sure I get to the service on time.¡± ¡°Of course. I understand,¡± Fizzlewick said, nodding his head. SJ stood to leave when a question entered her mind. ¡°Do you mind if I ask you something?¡± ¡°Please do.¡± ¡°Were you here yesterday?¡± ¡°No. I returned this morning. Why?¡± ¡°I wondered if you could help defend the town or not?¡± ¡°Unfortunately, no. If I did, that would be considered interference, and we would come under the System''s scrutiny. The Gods exist with the freedom they have because we must follow certain rules, one of which is that we may not directly join any combat situation.¡± ¡°That is a shame.¡± ¡°If I had, the chances are another God would do the same for the Hobs, and then it just gets overly political. The last time it happened, which is why the System amended its laws, it led to one of the worst wars this continent has ever seen.¡± ¡°What was that?¡± ¡°The Scrug wars. I may tell you about it one day. It was a dark time. Anyway, you better go if you aren¡¯t going to be late. I almost forgot, nice choker,¡± he casually added, winking. SJ smiled nervously, knowing he knew exactly what it was, ¡°Thanks, and I will be back soon,¡± SJ left and began the solemn walk to the church. Chapter 54 – Emotional Progress The small churchyard was already getting crowded, with many of the town''s citizens arriving for the service. SJ felt a little uncertain about her presence as she had not known any of the victims directly but felt obligated to be there. Lythonian stood at the entrance welcoming the family members of those who had lost a loved one. Bright bouquets were positioned in large pots lining the path towards the entrance. Although people spoke, they spoke in hushed and respectful tones. As SJ stood silently watching the proceedings, she was suddenly hit in her leg. Looking down, the small form of Cristy had run to and now clung tightly around her calf. Madeline, the kindly Dwarf from the orphanage, walked over. "Cristy." The small Gnoll looked up at SJ. Her face already had streaks from the tears she had shed. She sniffed loudly. "Will you come with me?" she asked with pleading eyes. The crippling feeling of despair hit SJ like a bullet, and she could feel tears in her own eyes forming as she looked down at her. "Come where?" SJ asked. "To the church. Will you sit with me, please?" she begged. SJ looked over at Madeline, who smiled kindly, shrugging. "If you want me to, I will do, of course," SJ replied. SJ offered Cristy her hand, and she held it tightly as they walked up the path to the entrance. SJ could feel eyes on her as she did. She hadn''t planned on entering the church and just wished to be present to show her respect. Now, she felt in the spotlight. Her beauty and green dress contrasted with many who wore darker colours. Cristy wore a pale pink dress and matching pink ribbons in her hair. Holding her gaze down, not wanting to meet the eyes of those lining the path, she led Cristy to the entrance. "Cristy, my dear child," Lythonian said as they approached the steps. "SJ, will you be accompanying her?" SJ turned again to see Madeline, who just nodded. Turning back, she responded, "Yes. I will be with Cristy." "You are seated on the front left pew at the end nearest the wall," Lythonian replied, smiling kindly. "Thank you." Leading Cristy, SJ entered the church. Having been there several times, she wasn''t expecting what she was now met with. The inside was packed; virtually every pew was full. Consciously, she walked down the central aisle before turning and leading Cristy to the left, showing her a seat next to a Kobold and her children. Cristy did not release her grip on SJ''s hand and, once sat, leaned into her. Music began filling the church, from a Goblin playing an instrument SJ did not recognise, which sounded similar to pipe music. Several townsfolk stood in white robes at the front of the church, and as the tune changed, they began to sing. SJ recognised the old Gnome she had seen replacing the flowers in the church previously, and she appeared to be the group''s lead as their soft lilt filled the church''s eaves. The choir''s sound brought a sense of comfort and solace to the occasion. Lythonian walked to the altar. As the music and singing ended, silence filled the proceedings. SJ heard the gentle sobs of several gathered within the church. The individual grief and communal support were insurmountable. "I stand here today with a heavy heart. It is not often that we must gather for such an event as the loss of six members of our community at one time. Losing someone dear to us is never easy. As we gather here today, we are joined by a profound sense of loss but also by the enduring memories and love that will forever live on in our hearts. Today, we come together to honour the lives of Sarwick, Zefir, Lotti, Porewi, Kas, and Henrick to celebrate the moments we shared and to find solace in the legacy they leave behind. As we reflect on their lives, let us take time to consider their loved ones. Many of whom are here today with us in the congregation. Let us keep their memories dear; remember the shared laughter and moments that will be etched in our hearts forever. Though they may no longer be with us in body, their spirits continue to burn brightly and will illuminate their next lives. Though I stand here with a heavy heart, let us find strength in each other during this challenging time and comfort in those around us, friends, family, and strangers alike, as we bid them farewell. Several have asked to speak today to remember those who have fallen protecting the town. Let us all stand as those fallen are brought to their final resting place." Music and song started again as six caskets were carried into the church and laid out on the floor before the altar. Then SJ watched as several stood and walked forward, placing flowers on their tops. SJ could feel Cristy''s tears soaking through her dress where her face was hidden and the sobs that wracked her small frame. She felt a tear on her cheek but didn''t try to wipe it away. Once the caskets were in and the music stopped, Lythonian addressed them again. "Several wish to speak today in memory of our fallen heroes. Mayor Maxwell, will you kindly proceed?" he indicated. SJ turned and saw the Mayor stand from a couple of rows back and make his way to the altar. He was wearing plain black garb, not his usual clothes. His huge frame seemed to be trying to break out of the material. After the Mayor made his speech, several more took their turn until everyone who had lost their lives had been spoken about. Their lives, loves, and laughs were all discussed. The speeches in the Inn the previous evening had no way near the same emotional impact as today''s service and eulogies. SJ held Cristy tight to her side and stroked her head gently, soothing her. Cristy was brave enough to turn and look at the Orc hunter, who had spoken fondly about her father when her name had been mentioned. She even managed a very weak smile of thanks before the grief had taken her again with a new fit of sobbing. By the time the service had ended and the caskets were removed for burial, SJ felt both emotionally and physically drained. She had attended funerals before, but the raw emotion of all present, not just family members, had torn at her insides. This emotion had begun to turn to anger as she had sat there considering the Hobs and Bordon. SJ knew she wanted to seek revenge for those fallen. As she sat waiting for the congregation to leave before escorting the tiny innocent form of Cristy outside, her display triggered. Quest ¨C Vengeance You have witnessed the heartache and torment caused by the evil that resides in Amathera. You may seek vengeance on those guilty of crimes against the town. Kill ¨C Bordon the Brandisher ¨C 1000 xp Kill ¨C Iratu the Mad ¨C 700 xp Prevent any further Hobgoblin raids on Killic. Rewards: 1500 xp, Reputation with Killic, Usual level kill experience awards apply. Do you accept the quest? Yes/No SJ couldn''t help her eyes go wide. The experience rewards alone were huge, but to attempt to kill such high-level opponents, she had no idea if she could even consider it. "Wow. That is huge!" Dave exclaimed; he had been silent through the whole service until now. Ignoring the quest offer for the moment, SJ began to stand slowly, lifting Cristy and holding her tiny form in her arms; she carried her from the church. The young Gnoll rested her head on her shoulder and gripped her tightly around her neck. Walking outside, the sun streaked down into the churchyard, and she walked over to the six freshly dug plots in the grounds and stood watching as the caskets were gently lowered. After a while, the crowd began to thin. Lythonian spoke to each of the family members present, showing his deep level of care and offering personal support at this trying time. Madeline had joined SJ by the graveside, and she began to feel Cristy''s grip lessen around her neck and to hear her breathing become heavier, knowing that the Gnoll had fallen asleep in her arms. "She is asleep," SJ whispered to Madeline. "I will get her home and tucked up in bed. The poor little thing is exhausted." SJ carefully untangled Cristy''s small arms from her neck, and with a few low grumbles, she rearranged her still sleeping form around Madeline''s neck. "Tell her I will call in and see her soon," SJ said, bidding farewell to Madeline as she carried Cristy from the churchyard. SJ followed the main group of townsfolk as they began to leave the church and filter back into town, many of whom were going directly to the Hogling Arms. It didn''t take long for the Inn to be even busier than the previous evening, and SJ noticed that many of the vendors who would normally be out all hours must have closed up early to attend. The quiet affair became livelier as the afternoon became evening. By the time the night arrived, the sombre mood had been replaced by laughter and singing as they celebrated and drank in respect to those lost. Several had spoken to her throughout the evening, and Gary, Setu and Margu had arrived. One of the unfortunate lost Lotti was Margu''s cousin. SJ expressed her condolences, and then Margu hit the ale. It had been Setu''s night to stay sober as his wife shared in the loss of her relative with family and friends. They played cards as Gary and Setu did most nights, and Margu showed that she was exceedingly skilled and beat them both hands down. By the time they departed, Setu and Gary had had to support her. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. SJ stayed off alcohol and only drank coffee, and it was nearing midnight by the time she eventually went to her room. Climbing into bed, her anger had returned thinking about the Hobs and Bordon. "I will accept the quest and find a way to end their terror," SJ said. "A noble cause. Have you any thoughts on how you may do it?" Dave said. "Not yet. I will need to scout their settlement soon, but I will train for now. The fights I have had since learning the new techniques from Lorna have been one thing, but I need to level and unlock more skills if I am going to be able to fight them." "The quest doesn''t say it is solo. You don''t have to do it alone." "I know, but enough have already died due to them." "Unfortunately, that is part of life in Amathera. There are always conflicts underway." "This world is no different to Earth." "There are many similarities, yes." "I need to improve the use of my claws," SJ said with determination. "You are an assassin, after all, and with Lorna and several in the town knowing your class, they may be able to provide weapons training." "I know my claws are good, but as I level, I wonder what Zej can make?" "He is a skilled blacksmith, so you could ask him. Although, at your level, your claws are quite adequate currently. It is more down to using them more efficiently when you fight." "I know you mentioned there were weapon damage charts. I still haven''t looked at any of them yet." "If you look where your primary weapon shows on your display, you will see the three dots, which is the menu standard." SJ looked, selecting the dots, and a menu appeared showing her various pieces of information. Damage charts appeared, and looking at the graphical data that was shown was remarkably complex. There were selectors for every variant of base weapon type, and you could see the respective damage expectations depending on level, attribute, and damage type. The primary weapon damage could be selected, and the table would be altered. Everything was worked on a median value from minimum to maximum damage permissible. The comprehensive details allowed armour class inclusion to see comparative hit requirements. The caveat that covered all the information was that the position where a strike occurred on a body could not be predefined. Then, there were both racial and class characteristics. Which also came into play. It was a minefield of information, and SJ could have spent hours looking through all the comparative tables and charts. It even allowed you to add your current weapons statistics, which she did for her blades, and compare them to other weapons at the same level. She was pleased that her claws sat in the top 5% of damage-dealing ability. This was the most helpful information, allowing her to see as she progressed when she needed to upgrade them. "I completely forgot in the emotions of the past couple of days that I can select a new Subterfuge skill," SJ said. She selected her skill page and read the details. Subterfuge - Identification Level 6 - 0 of 100 to level 7 The jump in identification needs to level seven was huge. Now requiring one hundred more. "Let''s see what skills choices I now have," SJ said excitedly. Opening her display, she reviewed her options. Subterfuge: Shroud ¨C As an assassin, you may hide in the shadows; when you are shrouded in darkness, damage is reduced temporarily. The skill lasts 30 seconds per level, up to five minutes at level ten. (No base attribute) Disguise ¨C You can become the unknown. At early levels, basic appearance can be altered slightly, obscuring the vision and mind of those looking at you. Did they see a Dwarf or a Kobold? At higher levels, clothing can be adjusted to hide in the crowd. (Base attribute Charisma ¨C counter Wisdom) Charm ¨C A good assassin can work their way into the hearts of their enemy before presenting them with their death. At level one, you may charm that vendor for a better deal. At level ten, rulers will be at your beck and call. (Base attribute Charisma ¨C counter Intelligence) Discovery ¨C Increased identification and reduced chance of being detected by analysing another. Reduces willpower adjustments by five per level. At level ten, no one will ever know you are watching them. (Base attribute Intelligence ¨C counter Wisdom) Infiltration ¨C Having control of your emotions is vital. Infiltration allows you to naturally present as a person expects, following their mannerisms and beliefs, hiding your thoughts from being visible. Successful application will last for twenty-four hours. At level ten, you can sit with your most hated enemy, laughing at their jokes while plotting their demise, and they will never know what is going on inside your mind. (Base attribute Charisma ¨C counter Intelligence) "These choices all have benefits that could be huge long term," SJ said. "They do; the subterfuge skills branch is quite impressive for those who can master the techniques." "How do they level? Is it through experience gain?" "Once you reach level 10 in your character development, you get skill points you can assign, which give hard increases. Alongside hard skill gains, you can also improve them through use, but at lower levels, it can be much more difficult to achieve results successfully. An example is Disguise. At level one, while talking to someone, if you trigger the skill during a conversation, there is a slight chance that they may not fully remember who they had just been speaking to or be able to describe your appearance. Your problem is that even if they didn''t remember what you discussed, they would remember what you look like, especially with your unique dress. There is a table that shows you success rates and the bonuses through attribute enhancement." SJ checked her display and found the sub-table Dave had mentioned. Again, her display was filled with tables of data. This time, the information was much easier to configure and understand as it automatically adjusted depending on her attribute levels. The level increase and success mechanism were the same for all the skills with an associated base attribute rather than her character level attribute adjustments, which gave her a 10% addition to her hit points for constitution per point starting from ten. The attribute adjustments only added a 1% increase in success rate per skill level in comparison. At level one of a skill, each one had a 10% success rate. Then, considering her Charisma was currently only at 10, there was currently no additional bonus. If she adjusted the value to twenty on the table, she had a further 10% boost to success. The subterfuge skills required SJ to focus on adding points to her Charisma or Intelligence to get boosted benefits. All the skills reached level ten, showing a one hundred % success rate. Then, there were the counter attributes. With a skill with a 10% success rate and no bonuses, if a target had 10 attribute points above her own, they would remove 10% of the success rate, meaning that it would never work against specific targets. So, even if a skill reached level ten, it could still be negated depending upon the attributes of a target. "How high do the attributes of higher levels reach?" SJ asked. "Being a level 50 Fighter, as an example, with level increases in strength, each level would mean that most would have at least sixty strength at level 50. Therefore, to negate a strength-based attack using a skill such as Shield Block, the skill would be compared directly against the strength of the defender using the skill. So, at level 50 with a base strength of 60, the defender would require a level seven skill minimum, still only granting a ten per cent success rate if they had a strength of only ten. Their strength attributes would obviously compare against their attacker and counter each other accordingly. It does start to get complex again with class and environment bonuses for combat skills. Your subterfuge skills are much easier to calculate if you know a person''s class. This will allow you to consider their attribute bonuses, and once identified, the basic details are shown. With Discovery, you start to be given their attribute levels and specific skills. It is like the advanced identification spell Bob used on you; with the bonus, it isn''t discoverable when triggered often. I say often because there are always exceptions depending upon counter skills that other classes may know." "Thanks. I will sleep on it and decide tomorrow how I will progress. I need to get to level six in my Kata to improve my martial arts skills. Night, Dave," SJ replied as she settled on her pillow. "Night, SJ, sleep well," Dave said. After such an emotional day filled with solemn ceremonies, heartfelt conversations, and the transition from mourning to celebration, SJ felt mentally and emotionally drained. The sound of patrons leaving the Inn and singing in the streets created a sense of familiarity, providing a comforting backdrop for SJ as she fell asleep. ? Dave was working through his latest report as he watched SJ sleep soundly in her bed. His initial time in Amathera with her had been more than interesting. As he read through his submission, he was in awe of her current progress regarding her reputation and how she interacted with those around her. She was unlike any previous Legionnaire, and he felt closer to her than he had any other. If he had a heart, it would have broken with Cristy¡¯s loss. He had never been so emotionally tied to a Legionnaire or those of Amathera before. Watching the blanket that covered her chest rise and lower slowly as she slept, his thoughts drifted to what adventures may lay ahead. Chapter 55 – Training & Development ¡°Faster,¡± Lorna shouted at the trainees running laps of the training grounds. SJ''s lungs felt ready to burst from endless laps. One of the trainees, a large Orc, had stopped, leaning forward on his knees, panting, and Lorna had whipped him on his rear with a wooden stick, making him move again. ¡°No pain, no gain,¡± Lorna shouted. Eventually, after two more laps, Lorna called them to a stop as they reached the training rings again. ¡°Ok. Take five minutes,¡± she called. SJ placed her hands on her head, trying to steady her breathing, and paced backwards and forwards. Slowly, she recovered and walked over to one of the water buckets before dunking her head. Her long hair was drenched with sweat from the exertion of the morning''s training. Pulling her head back out of the barrel, her hair trailed down her back, the cool water soaking into her dress and bringing relief from the heat of the day and the heat of the exercise. The sun had been blazing since first thing, and running had been difficult. It had been a week since the Hobs raid, and this was the second three-day training session SJ had attended, having to take at least one day''s rest in between. The training was helping. Her Kata had improved to Level 5, and she hoped it would reach Level 6 soon. She had been practicing the forms daily as part of the routine she had fallen into. Knowing that at Level 6, she would unlock a second skill for her martial arts branch, she had held off selecting her next Subterfuge choice until she knew what martial arts offered to see if anything would align with the other attributes and skills. ¡°Your running was much better today,¡± Lorna said, walking over. ¡°Thanks,¡± SJ replied. ¡°I spoke to Jurgen. He has said he will teach you about fighting with claws.¡± ¡°Really,¡± SJ replied, grinning. ¡°Yes. He has agreed that he can train you on your off days as it won¡¯t be as arduous and is more about precision and accuracy.¡± ¡°That sounds amazing.¡± ¡°We will see what you are saying after a session with Jurgen. He is a hard trainer; he doesn¡¯t take mistakes lightly.¡± ¡°I will do whatever it takes to improve,¡± SJ replied, happy at having another opportunity to grow her skills. The fluidity she had gained with reaching Level 5 in her Kata was impressive, and even with her flexibility because of her dexterity, she felt even more agile. Her strike rate had increased, and she had regularly practised on one of the training dummies. Her ankles were also getting much stronger, and she could break the thinnest pieces of wood they used for training. They were literally only a couple of millimetres thick. She still had a long way to go to get anywhere near the level of Lorna, who could splinter two-inch-thick pieces of wood with a single strike. After the rest period, Lorna called them all to the training ring. ¡°Ok. We are going to do some sparring. I will pair you off, and we will use a two-strike rule. Once two strikes are received, you will be knocked out. The last person standing will win.¡± ¡°First pairing is Greb and Pru.¡± Greb was a male kobold. He was a guard member and had been training under Lorna for a long time. He was much better than SJ. Pru was a female Gnoll who had taken up martial arts a year ago from SJ''s conversations with the other trainees. She was not as proficient as Greb, but her size gave her a significant reach advantage. Watching as the two sized each other up, standing on either side of the sand ring, SJ knew that Greb would win. His smaller frame improved his agility, and his speed was insane. ¡°Fight,¡± Lorna called. The two trainees inched towards each other, circling, before Greb, in a flurry of motion, moved in and struck a kick into Pru''s stomach. The speed surprised her, and she staggered backwards from the blow. ¡°One point to Greb. Face off again,¡± Lorna waited while they did. ¡°Fight,¡± she called again. Pru didn¡¯t wait this time and came out on the offensive, making Greb dance backwards around the ring. Her punches kept him at bay and forced him to block repeatedly. SJ thought Pru might get the point when Greb suddenly ducked and swept his leg into her thigh. As he connected, there was a crunching sound, and Pru screamed, falling to the ground. ¡°Cleric,¡± Lorna called, walking over to Pru, who now sat on the ground holding her leg, grimacing in pain. The training ground Cleric, who SJ had learned was named Kenzie, walked over and cast a healing light at Pru. Within moments, Pru could stand and move around again as normal. ¡°Fight to Greb,¡± Lorna concluded once Pru was back standing in the ring facing him. The pair shook hands and walked out of the ring chatting. ¡°Next fight. Quilti and SJ,¡± Lorna announced. They had previously completed a couple of sparring bouts since SJ had trained, but she had always sat watching as the newest member. Feeling the eyes of the other trainees look at her, she stepped into the ring. Quilti was an Orc, he towered over her diminutive frame. Taking his position opposite her, he smirked. SJ¡¯s anger flared at the smirk, and listening intently for the call, SJ waited. As soon as she heard the first syllable of Lorna calling "Fight", she reacted. Launching forwards before Quilti had even had an opportunity to move, she kicked straight out at him, catching him in the one place that no male of any species ever wished to feel the weight of anything forceful. His eyes flew open, and his hands automatically dropped to grab at his crotch, his knees giving way, and he fell to the ground holding his precious possessions, groaning loudly, rolling onto his side. ¡°That was a little evil,¡± Dave said. SJ turned away from his sprawled body and whispered a reply. ¡°He shouldn¡¯t have smirked at me.¡± ¡°One point to SJ. Quilti are you good to go again?¡± Lorna asked. The large Orc was still lying on his side and waved his hand in response to Lorna¡¯s request. ¡°Unfortunately, healing will only help so much with a blow there,¡± she stated, trying to hold the amusement back from her voice. ¡°Forfeit by Quilti, SJ wins.¡± The bouts continued until all trainees had faced off; there were only eight of them left, and SJ wondered who she would face in the second bout. It didn¡¯t take her long to find out. ¡°Greb versus SJ,¡± Lorna called. SJ gulped a little, knowing she was facing off against the most proficient trainees. She entered the ring and stood calmly, waiting for Lorna to call the start. When it came, so did Greb. He was slightly shorter than SJ, but his movements were fast. Fists and kicks flashing towards her, she parried and blocked what she could until he found the opening he had been waiting for and brought his elbow inside her defences, crunching into her chest. The wind knocked from her lungs. Dropping backwards, gasping for air. ¡°One to Greb. Face off.¡± SJ walked back to her side and again faced her opponent. She switched to her Shotokan stance rather than using the usual form Lorna had taught her. It was more defensive and didn¡¯t leave the same openings. ¡°Fight,¡± Lorna called. Greb came at her again a whirlwind of movement, with SJ using her different style though was throwing him off slightly and where he had been expecting to find an opening he found resistance. Her naturally improved abilities through Kata practice increased her confidence and the form of her previous studies. The bout continued for a few minutes, SJ on the defensive for 90% of the fight before she saw an opening. Sweeping her leg around to strike at Greb¡¯s ankle. Greb saw it coming, though, and performed a jump kick, spinning his foot out as he did. Seeing the kick coming too late to react, Greb¡¯s foot caught her squarely on the side of her face, making her see stars and stagger from the blow. ¡°Two to Greb. Winner Greb.¡± SJ stood, rubbing her face, looking at Greb, who walked over and offered her his hand. She took it, shaking it. ¡°Good fight,¡± Greb said. ¡°What style did you use?¡± ¡°It is one I have known since being a child.¡± ¡°I was not sure how to get through to hit you. It looked more defensive.¡± ¡°It is, but unfortunately, still not enough to stop you from winning,¡± SJ replied, smiling, rubbing the side of her face where his foot had connected. ¡°I think that is the longest round I have ever had to fight,¡± he replied, acknowledging her ability to last against him. ¡°Thanks, but next time, I will win,¡± she replied, smiling at him. Laughing, Greb walked to one of the water barrels to get a drink. ¡°That was some impressive movement,¡± Dave said. ¡°It didn¡¯t feel like it,¡± SJ whispered, sitting at the ring''s side. ¡°He is a much higher-level martial artist than yourself, and to last as long as you did was very well done. It obviously wouldn¡¯t help you in a real fight because you would still have been killed, but for a training ground, it wasn¡¯t bad.¡± SJ let out a sigh. ¡°Your confidence in me is astounding.¡± ¡°I am just being honest. If he had activated his skills, he would have creamed you in an actual fight. I doubt your head would have stayed on your shoulders.¡± ¡°Wow. Thanks,¡± SJ replied sarcastically. The bouts continued, eventually reaching the final round. Greb would fight Mertylic in the last bout. Mertylic was an Elf. He was a beautiful creature, all subtleness and grace¡ªuntil he started fighting, and it was as though a lion had been released. He fought with such aggression that it was eye-watering to watch. ¡°The last bout will be first to three,¡± Lorna announced. Watching the two best trainees fight it out in the sparring ring was a sight to behold. Their speed and precision were uncanny, and SJ knew the only person better than either was Lorna herself. They both fought with passion and confidence in their own abilities. The bout reached two a piece, and they faced off in the final round. ¡°Fight,¡± Lorna shouted. Mertylic came out of the blocks with his usual aggression, but whereas Greb had previously met him, this time, he remained where he was. As he approached and began to launch his assault, he shifted his stance slightly, and SJ knew what he would do. She had seen him perform it only once before, and if it worked, it was a spectacle to behold. As Mertylic moved into him, he sprung into the air like a gazelle, throwing his legs out like a whirlwind, spinning as he did. SJ saw Mertylic¡¯s eyes widen slightly, already committed to his attack and unable to block as Greb¡¯s first foot struck him in his head swiftly, followed by his second. Greb spun so quickly before he landed back on his feet again. It reminded SJ of a Van Damme movie. The other trainees, including SJ, jumped on seeing his move and shouted excitedly. ¡°That was awesome,¡± SJ called. ¡°Fight to Greb,¡± Lorna called. Greb walked up to Mertylic, who accepted his hand with his usual grace and composure. He whispered something to him, and he laughed in response. ¡°That¡¯s the fun over for today. Three full forms, and then you can call it a day,¡± Lorna said. The trainees, including SJ, groaned as they moved to various areas of the ground and began their forms. Another thirty minutes later, after being scolded frequently and having to restart her forms, SJ finally finished for the day. Her muscles again ached with a pleasant sensation, and tomorrow was a rest day. However, she would be back to meet Jurgen and begin claw training. Filled with excitement at the prospect, she headed back towards the Inn. ¡°I need some more Dryac. I am nearly out,¡± she whispered. ¡°You know where to go,¡± Dave replied. The shop always seemed to have a customer whenever SJ walked past, and on entering Grewlas, the Gnoll was busy talking to a female Ratkin. ¡°Apply it twice daily, and it will bring the swelling down,¡± he said, smiling at the Ratkin, who turned to leave carrying a jar of some ointment. ¡°Hi,¡± SJ said, smiling. ¡°Hi. What can I do for you?¡± Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. ¡°I would like some Dryac, please.¡± ¡°What size would you like? I have small, medium, or large pots.¡± ¡°I may as well take a large pot. I assume it doesn¡¯t lose its potency?¡± ¡°Only after a year will it fade slightly.¡± ¡°Excellent. I will take a large pot then.¡± Grewlas walked to one of the shelves behind the counter and lifted down a large pot, placing it on the counter. It was four times the size of her previous purchase and should last her a long time. She didn¡¯t have to use as much now after exercising compared to the first day as she got used to the regime more, but she still had a general ache most days. ¡°I need to ask. What other healing tonics or lotions do you do?¡± ¡°I have several, but I specialise in muscular ailments. You would be surprised at how many customers I see daily with strains, and purchasing healing potions is not viable for most.¡± ¡°Are healing potions that expensive?¡± ¡°It depends upon the grade. They scale in price depending on how many hit points they can heal. Each level basically doubles, if not triples, the previous price when getting to the greater potions. It is a lucrative business for those in major cities or established near dungeons. I prefer my quieter life here; I still have time to spend with my family without worrying about gathering all the components continually.¡± ¡°I am just starting in my profession, and it¡¯s not quick to level.¡± ¡°What profession are you? If you don¡¯t mind me asking.¡± ¡°I am an apprentice tailor.¡± SJ watched Grewlas wince. ¡°Now, that¡¯s a difficult profession to level. At least with Alchemy, you can find most ingredients easily enough in the different territories. Tailoring some of the material needs gets very difficult to find at higher levels. My father was a Tailor, and there was no way I could have done what he did. He was always chasing materials.¡± ¡°I am in no rush,¡± SJ replied, smiling. ¡°Actually, while you are here, could I ask you a favour?¡± ¡°Sure, what do you need?¡± ¡°I am running low on one of my key ingredients for Dryac. A specific mushroom grows in the caves in the next valley. I normally get a supply every three months or so, but I currently can¡¯t get time to go with our newborn.¡± ¡°When do you need it by?¡± ¡°Not that urgently, but I am almost out, so probably in the next week, I could do with some more. I would obviously pay you for your time.¡± SJ¡¯s display triggered. Quest ¨C Gather Sancasia Mushrooms Sancasia mushrooms grow in moist caves throughout Amathera, where the temperature is maintained at a constant. Gather a basket full for Grewlas to allow him to maintain his production of Dryac. Rewards: 240xp, 2 silver Do you accept the quest? Yes/No ¡°Which valley? The one through town or on the far side of the lake?¡± SJ asked. ¡°Through town and past the meadow.¡± Considering that SJ was planning on returning to check on the cottage, it would be a good chance to complete a quest at the same time. She had been looking at the board in the Inn regularly, but it had basic quests all the time for finding lost pets or getting rid of rats. Not that she objected to doing them, but if she had concentrated on the lesser quests, she would have gained experience. The issue was that she was training so hard that she had not focussed on experience. The chance to get a quarter of the experience she needed towards her next level would be a nice boost. ¡°I can do that for you,¡± SJ replied, accepting the quest. ¡°That would be amazing, thank you,¡± Grewlas said. ¡°I will be back within the week with the mushrooms,¡± SJ replied as she collected the jar and placed it in her inventory before leaving. ¡°Wait!¡± Grewlas called as SJ turned. ¡°Sorry?¡± ¡°Here,¡± Grewlas ducked beneath the counter and pulled out a basket. It was much larger than SJ had expected and reminded SJ of a baby''s carrycot. ¡°They need to be transported in this; it will keep them fresh.¡± ¡°I am glad you stopped me. I forgot to ask what the mushrooms look like?¡± SJ replied, feeling a little embarrassed. ¡°They are blue topped with a white stem. Once you find them, you will know, they are the only mushrooms that look like that.¡± ¡°Ok. That will help rather than guessing. Thanks,¡± SJ turned to leave this time, carrying the basket. She went to place it in her inventory, and her display triggered. This item will take up two slots. Do you wish to store the basket in your inventory? Yes/No SJ selected yes, as her inventory was virtually free. Smiling, she began to return to the Inn. If she was going back to the cottage, she wasn¡¯t sure if she should take something with her for the Skeletons, as she didn''t know if they needed anything. ¡°Dave,¡± She whispered. ¡°Yep.¡± ¡°Do skeletons need anything?¡± ¡°What do you mean? Such as food, then no.¡± ¡°Clothes?¡± ¡°You will have seen Floretta wearing clothes, but I think with some Skeletons, it is a personal choice. When we met them, they wore their class gear but nothing else.¡± ¡°That was probably due to the necromancer.¡± ¡°Perhaps. I would ask them when you visit. After accepting the quest, I assume you plan on doing it.¡± ¡°I am, but I really want to get to Kata level 6 as well.¡± ¡°If you keep working on your Kata even without doing all the training you are doing, it will level, just not as quickly.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good to know. I was a little worried that I may have to maintain the training level I had been doing to keep it after my Kata level drop.¡± ¡°No, the training is just helping with your fighting technique overall and ability to adapt. The basic Kata is the skill adjustment trigger.¡± Walking through the vendors in the town square, SJ noticed a stall selling various pieces of hardware. Stopping to glance at the equipment it had. There were all the basic hammers, mallets, rakes, brushes, etc. If she was going back to the cottage, she might take some items back to make it a little more homely. After looking at the various items, she mentally listed what she wanted to buy. Returning to the Inn, she grabbed a coffee and headed to her room. ¡°I will need a cart or wagon to transport items to the cottage. I can¡¯t carry them all in my inventory,¡± SJ said. ¡°No.¡± ¡°No. What?¡± ¡°I will not allow you to buy a wagon.¡± ¡°What? I didn¡¯t even mention about buying a wagon.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t have to.¡± ¡°But how will I get stuff to the cottage?¡± ¡°Borrow one, perhaps, and the way you just answered means you were thinking about it.¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t.¡± ¡°Yes, you were. I know that tone in your voice. You get an excited little oooo shiny voice.¡± ¡°I do not,¡± SJ grumbled. ¡°Yes, you do. Every time you spend money, you get the same tone. I think you may have a problem.¡± ¡°Me? I am not the one who attends AIGA,¡± SJ complained. ¡°Now, that was a low blow. Addiction is real.¡± Silence. ¡°Sorry,¡± SJ said eventually. ¡°For what this time?¡± ¡°I am trying to apologise for what I said. Don¡¯t try to make out it is about anything else,¡± SJ was still frustrated, knowing that Dave had hit closer to home than she ever liked to admit. She had always been a spender, which contradicted her job and role completely, having been frivolous with money at times and running up several credit accounts back on Earth. It had always been so easy to obtain. ¡°So, you aren¡¯t sorry, really, are you.¡± ¡°I am,¡± SJ snapped. ¡°If you were, you wouldn¡¯t be snappy.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± SJ stopped herself from replying and took a deep breath. ¡°I really am sorry, Dave. I shouldn¡¯t have mentioned the AIGA meetings.¡± ¡°Now, that wasn¡¯t difficult, was it.¡± Biting back her immediate reply, SJ counted to ten. ¡°No, it wasn¡¯t,¡± she replied through gritted teeth. ¡°I think someone is a little tired and could do with a nap,¡± Dave replied sarcastically and then burst into laughter. ¡°Damn you,¡± SJ cursed. ¡°You forgot about buying a wagon, didn¡¯t you?¡± Dave chuckled. ¡°You can be so annoying at times.¡± ¡°I know. You could ask Lythonian if you could borrow the cart and Humberto.¡± ¡°That isn¡¯t a bad idea. I will grab some food and then go and see him,¡± SJ huffed. Chapter 56 – Cottages After visiting Lythonian and speaking to Jurgen, SJ sorted everything to return to the cottages. She had even stopped in to see Gladys to see if she wanted anything taken to the cottages but had declined, saying she would visit in another few days. Since deciding to visit the cottages, SJ had spent most of her time purchasing all the items she wanted to take with her. Even if she wasn''t staying, she wanted to make it homely. Remembering what she had been told about the chimney needing to be repaired, she had confirmed with one of the stonemasons, a Dwarf named Husa, to visit the cottage and check on the chimney. He wouldn''t be available for a few days at least, but he had promised he could make a journey to check on the chimney and look at the derelict property to see if it could be saved easily. SJ thankfully remembered to tell Husa about her Skeletal friends. The cart was packed with all the essentials for setting up a new home. She hadn''t gone to the extent of purchasing a mattress but had pretty much got nearly everything else that could be needed. Pots, pans, bowls, buckets, brushes, gardening equipment, she had bought so much. With her improved reputation in the town, she noticed that prices for items were lower than they had been from several merchants previously. Most basic items were only coppers, so she had more than enough cash to hold onto the one gold coin she owned. When she discussed the costs of the items with Dave, he stated that it was a norm that once your reputation increased with many traders, items would naturally become cheaper. This was also due to Charisma, and hers only had a minor bonus, currently being eleven. Due to the second subterfuge skill, which still needed to be confirmed, she may have to increase her charisma. After reviewing all the details since she had opened the 6th level of the Identification skill, she had begun to lean towards Disguise. Her choice was because her dress stood out too much, and at higher levels, she could be anonymous when dealing with people. Entering the valley, Humberto let out a neigh, suddenly coming to a stop. "What''s wrong?" she asked. "I have no idea," Dave replied. "I was asking Humberto." Humberto took a step backwards, and SJ frowned as she could see nothing that could be causing him to back up. "There must be something ahead," SJ said. "Let''s go look." Jumping down from the cart, SJ moved to the front, patting Humberto on his neck and stroking him as he complained. He shook his head from side to side and pushed backwards again. "What is it, boy?" SJ said, looking ahead at the clear trail. Her senses hadn''t been triggered, and she could still see nothing that would cause concern. That was when the arrow struck her. The arrow struck her in her left thigh, and she cried in pain at the sudden shock of the strike. She still hadn''t seen where it came from. "Left down the trail fifty metres," Dave said. "Large boulder and a single tree." SJ hobbled back to the side of the cart out of sight of the unknown archer. "Damn, that hurts," she cursed. "Pull it out. It will heal soon enough. You aren''t in active combat as it''s a sneak attack," Dave said. Grabbing hold of the arrow shaft protruding from her thigh, she gripped it tightly and pulled it outwards. The pain seared through her leg, and she grimaced, grinding her teeth as she tugged the arrow out. Thankfully, the tip was more kite-shaped than an arrowhead, so it came out easily in comparison. Dropping the arrow to the ground, she took a deep breath, calming her nerves. "Can you see if I can get anywhere near them without them seeing me?" she asked. "Miniature, yes. You can work around through the rocks on the left. You should be able to get near to them." "Good," SJ replied as she shrunk. As soon as she was in her miniature form, she took off, easing the weight on her throbbing leg as it healed, and went straight across into the rocks by the side of the trail. Humberto was still slowly stepping backwards, and she glanced back, seeing the cart was starting to skew and could tip if he backed up too far. "Dave, can you be my eyes, please?" "Yup. Head left twenty paces and turn right, heading down behind the rocks just over there." "Twenty paces when flying as a fairy is not the easiest thing to judge," SJ stated. "Rock with the two pointy bits on the left of it." "Seen," SJ replied, staying no more than an inch from the ground as she flew towards it. "Now turn right, stay in this depression, and follow it until I tell you when." Following Dave''s instructions, she quickly flew down the side of the trail; the gradient was only slightly downhill where the trail curved along the valley''s wall, and the depression, which was more like a ditch, kept her hidden from anything, not looking directly up it. "Slowdown. Okay, turn right, small bush, head towards that." Again, she moved where Dave instructed. She had no idea where the hostile was. "Stop. Right again, the large rock behind there." Looking over, SJ could see where he was indicating and made her way towards the large boulder. "They are round behind it," Dave whispered. SJ thought he might be getting a little caught up in the situation since he didn''t need to whisper. In a way, it made SJ feel better. Rounding the boulder not more than ten feet from her was the back of what had shot at her. At first, she thought it was an Elf, but on closer inspection, its skin had an unusual colour. Almost a purple hue. She couldn''t even ask Dave if she was close, so she equipped her claws instead. The Elf had an arrow placed on the bow string and was peeking up the valley towards where Humberto and the cart still were. Triggering her identification skill, she grew behind him, her display triggering. Dark Elf Ranger Level 9 Hit points: 50 Mana Points: 50 Armour Class: 8 Attacks: Bow Special: Rapid Fire SJ was only level 7, but her hit points were higher than his when full; the arrow she had taken in her thigh had only done eight damage, of which two had already healed with her improved healing due to the symbiosis of Bob''s blood. Preparing herself, she took the last step before striking with a vicious clawed punch directly at the neck of her attacker. Her claws struck true, and her display triggered, and as it did, she punched with her other hand into its side. Critical strike and bleed effect triggered. The scream of shock was cut off as her blade slid further into the back of its neck while her left fist sent claws puncturing its side. It arched its head backwards from the strike, SJ pulling her claws back from its neck and immediately trying to draw them across its throat, which was now exposed. The Ranger reacted, dropping its bow, and tried to pull away from the blades still stuck in its left side. Not able to move quickly enough, it received a second clawed punch into the top right of its back. It let out a gurgling sound, struggling to draw air easily with the injured neck and throat and potentially punctured lungs. Taking full advantage of her surprise attack, she didn''t hesitate and struck again, this time penetrating its lower back. It arched its back from this final strike, and if it could have screamed, it probably would have. With SJ watching the last of its hit points drop, its body fell to the ground at the base of the boulder. Although SJ''s adrenaline pumped in her body, her breathing was calm and even. The training grounds had been working wonders on her cardio. Then again, the fight had lasted no more than ten seconds from start to finish. Congratulations! Level 9 Dark Elf Ranger killed 95xp gained. "That was easier than I expected," SJ said. "As an assassin, you hope most fights are easy. You don''t want to face many enemies." "I know, but I was expecting a little bit of a fight." "It still took four strikes to kill, which means your strikes were not as effective as they could have been." "I wonder what a Dark Elf ranger was doing around here?" "Another unusual sign. Dark Elves usually live in the main forest regions, so I''m unsure why one would be this high in the mountains." Bending SJ looted its corpse. Short Bow +1, 24 x Arrows, Dagger, Leather Armour +1, Backpack, Rations x 4, Flint & Steel, Bedroll, Blanket, Note, 32 copper, 2 silver "Good job, I have the cart. I wouldn''t be able to carry all this." "What does the note say?" Dave asked. SJ selected the note that appeared in her hand and left the remaining items there for now. Unfolding the note, she looked at a script she could not recognise. The closest language she could even consider was Korean. "I can''t read this," SJ said, folding it up. "Wait, I can. ''Speak to Serj at the Wandering Ogre. He has the details of the Fae target''" "Fae? Does that mean me?" "You or Fran, perhaps. You are the only two Fae in Killic near the Wandering Ogre." "Why would anyone even come to find me?" "It could be the doing of another God." "What? How? And Why?" "You heard what Fizzlewick said about you being the talk of the Gods. You may have been known about further afield than you suspect." "Why would someone attack me though?" "That I have no idea. I have said all along that this place doesn''t seem right." A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. "Yes. But to be attacked while travelling to the cottages, how could they even know it''s me?" "Really! There are not many beautiful Faes who wear bright green dresses! Also, it may now even have been after you directly and just took a shot on the off chance of you being the Fae it was here to target. Then again, Dark Elves have a very poor reputation; few races trust them, and it could have just been attacking." "Did you just say beautiful?" "Is that all you picked up from that? And erm. No. Well, yes, but you know what I mean, don''t make this awkward," Dave replied. "If I didn''t know better, I think you actually are starting to like me as a person," SJ replied as she walked back up the trail towards where Humberto was. The Dark Elf had shot from a fair distance; it must have been over a hundred feet. Reaching the cart, she grabbed Humberto''s reins, slowly leading him down the trail. On arriving at the corpse, she looted it again and transferred the items directly into the cart, only keeping the coin, note, and rations in her inventory. Humberto was much calmer now that the Dark Elf was dead. "I don''t get it?" SJ said. "Get what?" "Why would he attack me now? Also, at the range, he did. He could have waited until I was much closer and hit me much easier." "Apart from the fact you probably would have sensed him if closer. Not that he would know that since it''s all hypothetical. Humberto could probably smell him, which is why he reacted. It would have been helpful keeping him alive to ask questions, perhaps?" "A little late now." "It was an efficient assassination, which is great to see." "Thanks. I still don''t know why there is a random Dark Elf near Killic with a note about Fae." "We can investigate when we get back." Her display triggered. Quest ¨C Find the reason for the attack Rewards 350xp "That''s a very short description. Do they usually give out that much experience?" SJ asked. "Experience is a little high perhaps, but the description is possibly due to how simple the note was." "I can''t just go into the Wandering Ogre and ask for people expecting to meet a Dark Elf if I am the target." "It doesn''t stop you from investigating, and the quest says to only find the reason for the attack, not to stop it or do anything else. If you need to do anything further, I expect there to be a secondary quest." "I may have to find someone who can go and ask questions for me." "Like whom?" "Not sure yet. Setu is married, and I think Gary is, too, so I wouldn''t want to ask either. I am not sure Zej would go there, and I definitely couldn''t ask Lythonian." "I overheard some in the Inn talking about it previously, but you have never spoken to them, so I''m not sure if you wanted to try them when we are back in town next." "Oh. Who did you hear?" "You know the Kobold and Ratkin, who always sit on the stools at the end of the bar." "Yes. I think I know what you mean. Without knowing them, I am not sure that I could ask them to start asking questions for me. I may just speak to Niweq myself. It sounds like he is open to a deal if I can think of something he may need in exchange." "Probably if you offer to dance for him." "That is never going to happen." The journey to the cottages after the Dark Elf attack was peaceful. No other travellers were on the road, and SJ was unsure how often it was used as she hadn''t encountered traffic. Knowing it was the main route out of the mountains, it had to be used often. She heard someone shout as she moved the cart down the track to the cottages. "Someone''s coming, be ready." Frowning, she slowed Humberto down and stopped him short of the cottages. The derelict one was in view across the field where the track wound. A flash of white appeared by the edge of the cottage as someone or something looked around the corner. "Hello," SJ called. "It''s SJ." "SJ," a female voice replied. Charlotte slowly appeared from behind the derelict building. SJ set Humberto back off moving forward. "What''s wrong?" she called as she approached nearer. "We have had some visitors over the past couple of days. A couple of orcs were snooping around." "Oh. Has anything happened?" "No, not yet, but we are being careful and have been keeping watch. There is no way to get to your cottage without moving by the lake edge, so they must use this path." "What would Orc''s be coming here for?" "No idea. Brian went out scouting, and they have been camped up on the other side of the valley. They may just be hunting and have come upon the cottages by accident, but we can''t be sure. We chased them off the first day, and then the second, Terence put the fear of God into them. Orcs have a problem with seeing skeletal forms of their race." "Really. I always thought orcs were quite happy with skulls and bones." "They are as long as they aren''t Orc." SJ stopped Humberto and climbed down. "I have brought some items for the cottage to help with repairs or other things that may be needed." "Terence is over there now while Brian and I keep watch." "Do you really think they would do something here?" "I don''t think they have a clan. Clanless orcs can be a problem," Brian said, making SJ jump as he appeared right next to her. "In what way?" SJ asked, confused. "If they like something and are feral Orc with no home, they have a habit of trying to take things with force." "All the Orc I have met since I came here have been amenable and fair." "The orcs who have integrated into a normal Town or City will have given up on Clan life. The Orc Clans are a different story. The closest to here is a few days away, further west, once you are out of the valley. They will readily raid villages or towns if a clan is large enough to procure their needs rather than work for them." "I never realised the orcs were that hostile." "It''s not so much hostility as they believe they have a right to things as a senior race." "Senior race? What do you mean?" "History states that orcs and Humans were the first two races on Amathera, and several of the Orc Clans still have a very strong sense of history and believe that they are a more deserving race than others. Not all, Terence, for example, was a member of an Orc Clan, but their own path was more established and trade-oriented." "I never knew." "There is probably much you don''t know yet about Amathera," Charlotte said. "You say they have come twice?" "Yes, the past two days. We hope that after Terence scared them, they may not return." "Can you not just try and talk to them?" "When they saw me, they immediately drew their weapons to attack." "Why? Did you do anything hostile towards them?" "No. I was just walking down by the lake along the path from the second cottage when I saw them. They initially came after me when I turned back but didn''t stop until Brian arrived, and there were two of us. The second day, when they returned, Terence was at the derelict cottage looking at stones he could use at yours. On seeing him, though, they turned and ran straight away." "Do you think they will come again? You say there were only two of them." "Maybe, maybe not. The fact they have been twice is what concerns us. Especially since I don''t even own a bow anymore," Charlotte said. "I can rectify that," SJ replied, walking back to the cart and removing the short bow and quiver of arrows from the Dark Elf. She had no need for them. Walking to Charlotte, she handed them to her. "Wow. It is a +1. Are you sure you want to give this to me?" Charlotte replied, surprised. "I do not need it." "But you could sell this?" "I am not worried about it. Call it a thank you for protecting the cottages." Believing that Charlotte had smiled in response, SJ turned and looked at Brian. "I brought you something also if you want it?" "What did you bring?" SJ again went back to the cart and removed the leather armour +1. "I am not sure if it is good for you?" Brian took the leather armour and immediately started to put it on. His own clothing was shabby, and the leather was in tatters. The bracers he wore were nothing compared to the set he had just been given, including a body piece, grieves, and bracers. Brian seemed happy with the gift. "Thanks," he replied, again giving a look which SJ assumed was a smile. "I will head to the cottage and see Terence," SJ said. "He hasn''t stopped working since we got here," Charlotte replied. "Doing what?" "You will see when you get there," Brian replied. SJ climbed back on the cart and moved off towards her cottage. "Are Orc''s that bad?" SJ asked Dave once out of earshot of Brian and Charlotte. "They can be. Again, having a Dark Elf tracking you down and potentially rogue Orcs in a starter territory is unusual. I need to get to the bottom of the code to read into things more easily. The system is not updating details for this area. It does seem as though this part of Amathera is Sandboxed." "What does it mean to be Sandboxed? I know that is what happened to my Malware alert, and I know what it means back on Earth." "I suppose it is possible that you were deliberately put in a different area, but there were other Legionnaires already here." "Unless they were here for a specific reason as well." "Ummm. I will have to investigate and see what I can find out. I have a friend in the assignments department whom I can speak to." "Assignments department?" "Yes. They oversee the whole integration side and initial aspects of assignments for Legionnaires. I''m not sure how forthcoming they will be, though." "Could you get in more trouble by doing so?" "Meh. I am always in trouble anyway, so another black mark against my data won''t make a difference." "Yes, but you don''t want the system to do anything drastic if you cause too many waves." "I''m not the one causing waves. I am just supporting my waiver," Dave replied, giggling. SJ rolled her eyes at his comment. "If you think you can find anything out, please do so, but if it starts looking like a problem, don''t push," SJ said. "Understood." Chapter 57 – Home maker As SJ continued past Gladys and Hubert''s cottage, she noticed how well-maintained the garden area looked. Charlotte had been working there, looking at how pristine everything looked in comparison. She noticed some tools leaning against the side of the cottage, which she could not remember seeing before. As she approached Farleck cottage, it looked as beautiful as before from a distance, and on approaching, she noticed the new elements that hadn''t existed previously. There was a picnic-style table, and benches sat out in front of the cottage. There was also a frame of wooden stakes built to one side, and draped from them was a large white sheet that created a type of gazebo. The garden was immaculate, and the surrounding area had been cleared of weeds and the odd shrub that had been present on her previous visit. It looked like a heavenly setting, and she would have stayed there if she didn''t have things to do. "Hi, Terrance," she called, pulling Humberto up. "Hi, SJ," the skeletal orc replied in his deep voice. "It looks like you have been busy?" "There is more to do yet. I am in the process of building a lean-to on the side for log storage." SJ climbed down and went over to join him at the side of the building. He had already built the framework and was in the process of starting to plank the roof. "Where did you get the tools from?" SJ asked, looking at several items lying around on the grass. "We went back to the compound and emptied the shed out. Also, Brian didn''t want to leave the Lizorse in the stables, so he freed them to roam." Understanding Brian''s alignment, it made sense that he would prefer not to harm unless necessary and protect others he deemed weaker. Imaging two random Lizorse walking about in the woods didn''t fill her with confidence. "Isn''t it dangerous freeing them?" "No. They would normally stay away from beings and remain out of sight." "Ah, that''s okay. I brought tools and some items with me to start equipping the cottage. How has your stay been so far?" "Great. I assume you saw Charlotte and Brian, and they told you about our recent visitors?" "Yes. They have spoken to me about the orcs." "I doubt they will return, but we will deal with them if they do." "I feel a little guilty. I gave Brian and Charlotte a gift, but I have nothing to give to a fighter." "I am fine. I have hammers here. They are just as good as a mace for causing damage." "Next time I come back, I will bring you something." "That would be very kind of you." "I am going to put the stuff inside," SJ said, returning to the cart and unloading it. Walking to the door and entering, she was amazed at what she saw. The inside was spotless, and there was not a cobweb or spot of dust in sight. All the surfaces looked highly polished, and the old sofa even looked cleaner than it had been. A new bookcase was standing near the bed, and what appeared to be a set of drawers had been built. She began to fill the cottage with the items she had brought, emptying any unnecessary items from her inventory and rearranging everything. Moving things around until she was happy with how the room now felt and looked. Apart from no mattress, there was everything needed now to set up a new home. Walking back outside, she carried over the tools and nails she had brought from town. "Where do you want these?" Terrence turned, his eyes lighting up at the sight of nails. "Those will speed things up he said, smiling. Just place the nails here, please," Terrence indicated to a small table. "I have built a small storage box around the back for anything else." SJ walked past and around the rear of the cottage. Against the wall was indeed a storage box, and she lifted the lid to find it compartmented and various items he must have recovered from the compound lying inside. "How have you made all this stuff so quickly?" she called to Terrence. "I did tell you I was a carpenter, didn''t I?" Terrence replied. "You did. But these must take time to build." "Not very long at all. They are basic items that any novice carpenter can make. Oh, I repaired the well gears, so it works now. I need to build a new frame to replace the existing one; I noticed it was starting to rot slightly." SJ was gobsmacked at the work done while she was away. It had only been a week, but they seemed to have completed at least a month''s work between the three of them. "I have no idea how you have all done so much," SJ said as she walked back to where Terence was still working. "One of the bonuses of not needing sleep is that I can work all day, every day if I need to, and when I have wood to work with, I am doing the one thing I love more than anything else," he replied with the typical skeletal smile. "What will you do when you finish making the items?" "There is plenty to do here. The beams can be realigned, and the thatch supports strengthened. Then, there is a porched front to build, and I thought you could even extend out the back and create a separate bedroom area. It would be wooden, obviously due to the lack of stone, but it would be warm and dry." "You have already done more than I could have ever expected." "I have nothing else to do but enjoy the work, and it''s in a beautiful location. If I were still alive, I would have brought my Juki here." The strangeness of speaking to already dead skeletons did not surpass SJ, and she could not imagine the life they must be leading without respite. This experience gave new consideration to the term eternal life. "Is there anything you need when I come back next time?" "The only thing I am missing is a sharp chisel. The ones I have are blunt, making it take me longer than it should to sort things out." "A dwarf is coming down in a few days to look at the chimney, and as long as I have returned to town before he sets off, I will make sure he brings you some down." "That would be appreciated." "I can''t thank you enough for what you have done here." "It is my pleasure. Without you, we would all still be in servitude." SJ''s display triggered. Followership: Followers are those who have dedicated their services to you. They will do anything to support you. "Holy freaking freaky things from freakytown," Dave spluttered. SJ couldn''t respond now. "Thanks for the work, Terence; I appreciate it. I will see Charlotte and Brian again before heading to the caves." "Caves?" "Yes. I need to collect some mushrooms for one of the town members." "Which type of mushrooms?" "Sancasia. Do you know where there are any?" "They are the blue ones, aren''t they?" "Yes." "There are caves about a third of the way down the valley on the right side. I know some are there, but several cave networks are nearby. It may take a bit of searching to find the right one. Also, be aware that not all of them are uninhabited." "What lives in them?" "When we were near there, we saw several Greyling''s." "What are Greyling''s?" SJ asked, never having heard of them before. "They are dark dwellers. Humanoid with long, gangly arms and legs. Cave Greyling''s are very good at hiding in the mountain areas. They mainly feed on the mountain rams or Hoglings but are not afraid to attack anything else if they think it may taste good." "I don''t fancy bumping into many of those." Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. "You should be fine if you don''t disturb their nest. You can always tell if a cave contains Greylings as they mark their territory with the skulls of their prey." SJ shuddered at the thought of finding skulls lining the cave entrances. "Thanks for the information, and I hope I can avoid them." "Just remember they don''t do daylight; it burns their skin." Terrence smiled again, returning to his work. SJ turned Humberto around from where he had begun to eat flower heads and led him back up the path towards the lake. "What''s up, Dave?" SJ asked as soon as she was out of range. "You have a freaking follower." "What does it mean exactly?" "It means you are more than an anomaly." "Why?" SJ frowned. "Followers are uncommon, nearly as rare as those Miniature Wyvern Eggs you have." "How has it happened, though? There were no reputation gains." "That''s my point. You went from being a nobody to Terrence to him being a Follower in one jump. You have someone now. If you ordered him to run into a lava pit, he would do it without asking a question." "It can''t be that bad?" "Oh. It is. Most followers are fanatics. In other words, they support evil and will do anything their masters tell them." "I don''t want to be someone''s Master, and I don''t plan on being evil either. I just want to be me and grow." "I would say out of all the followers you could get. Considering how old you will likely reach, an undead skeleton is a perfect match." "I don''t understand how or why so suddenly?" "I have heard rumours but never witnessed it myself. I believe it is part of the necromancer''s servitude, and it leaves a resonating need to serve someone. I can''t guarantee exactly how it happens, but I would bet my last byte that you could leave him at the cottage forever, and he would simply keep building it and improving it." The thought of having someone who would do anything for her was unnerving. SJ had always been sociable when she needed to be, but internally, she still felt more of an introvert. She enjoyed her own space and time, as she had proven, allowing herself to be absorbed into looking through the ledgers or knitting, and she could not imagine anyone following her to that degree. It appeared to be another part of the new world that she would need to come to terms with. "I will never order Terence to do anything." "That is your choice. I have only ever worked with one other Legionnaire who received followers, and he was a half-crazed Paladin. The guy was so messed up he thought he was a God. He spent his time preaching and searching for some chalice that was rumoured to give eternal life. It didn''t end well for him or his fans." "What happened?" "He attacked a Chimera lair, where it was rumoured that the chalice could be found. Most Chimera in Amathera are your typical mix of a few normal breeds, big cats, birds, and other non-descript animals, but lairs can contain some rather different ones. This one contained a few very strange versions. Dragon, Snake, and Ogre mix. They could either spit acid or fire. The followers were all killed quickly during the raid, and the Paladin decided to continue alone. He did ok, but when you get your face half melted by acid and then barbequed afterwards, you don''t tend to do very well." Having seen Bordon and Bob, SJ couldn''t imagine a mixture of the two creatures, never mind adding a snake. "I am guessing there are none around here?" "No. Chimera are mainly on one of the other continents. A flying variant that has crossed the ocean occasionally can be found here." As SJ approached the derelict cottage again, Charlotte was busy moving some of the fallen stones into a neat pile, and Brian was removing the broken door from its frame. "I am going to head off again. I will return in a few days. I am not sure if I mentioned there will be a stonemason coming to visit in a couple of days. He will look at the chimney and this place and see what can be done." "That sounds good," Charlotte replied. "And thank you both for what you have done at the cottages. The gardens look amazing." "Brian helped me as much as he could. He has a bit of a penchant for gardening," Charlotte smiled. Heading towards the main trail, SJ was pleased with what had been completed at the cottages and couldn''t wait to get a mattress sorted and maybe even spend a few nights there with the skeletons. "What do you know about Greyling''s?" SJ asked. "They are pathetic creatures," Dave replied. "They are rumoured to originate from mountain Dwarves and Kobolds, but no one knows for sure." "Are they dangerous?" "Only in large groups. I have never seen one above level four before. Then again, a group of ten level ones could be challenging due to numbers and the potential to be swarmed." "Are there likely any other creatures I need to be aware of?" "So many different ones could potentially be problematic, but this is still a starter territory. Even if acting differently, I wouldn''t expect many things that are too dangerous. If you are cautious, take your time and keep your eyes open. The usual suspects are wolves, bears, perhaps if they have young to protect, badgers, possibly wolverines and maybe the odd puma. Oh, and of course, Hoglings always seem to have nasty tempers." "Why is it that there are so many that may attack?" "Nature of survival. Everything is continually fighting for its place." The trail was well-worn and smooth, and the cart moved freely. The sun was high in the sky, and SJ was happy listening to the birds that frequented the skies above and lived in the forest that covered much of the valley floor. The trail wound through the trees, staying on a flat gradient. She felt relaxed and free travelling along and had begun to whistle one of the Bard''s songs from the Inn that she had enjoyed. "I spoke to my friend in assignments," Dave said, disturbing SJ''s peace. She had been daydreaming about what she could do with the cottage and her training and levelling. She had been considering her next Subterfuge skill again and thought she had made her mind up. She wanted them all for the obvious perks they brought, but considering the needs of where she was now, only one stood out as an immediate benefit to her. "What did he say?" "He was a little cryptic in his response. This area is a test bed. It has received several Legionnaires before, and no preference was given over who was placed where. He said the System was revisiting territory boundaries but didn''t expand on the details or perhaps couldn''t. Due to the protocols they may have implemented, you never know with the System." "So, it is a real sandbox then, similar to what I know from Earth?" "I would have to agree. It would explain the level variances and the Hobs. It has made it more of an interesting start to a new life. Most starter towns are boring and mundane places with the same quest chains¡ªjust rinse and repeat. The ones you have received here have added a new spice to the situation." "I don''t understand how they can assign you as Administrators without briefing you on what is expected." "It wouldn''t normally make a difference if they did. As I explained, I wouldn''t normally be able to talk to you about 95% of the things we discuss. I couldn''t have guided you to the Dark Elf. It is unheard of, and it''s invigorating. It makes it much more exciting for me to be part of your journey than the usual rescue a cat from a tree quests. Well, unless you are knitting or reading boring ledgers, of course." Smiling at Dave''s comment, SJ thought about how she was enjoying her new life and time with Dave. "I forgot to thank you for your help earlier guiding me." "Expected of rude Legionnaires taking everything for granted," he replied, dripping with sarcasm. SJ chuckled. "I am very grateful for everything you have done to help me so far." "And I am happy to be of assistance." They shared a moment of silence before Dave spoke again. "I think it''s the right fork up ahead over the bridge." SJ hadn''t been paying attention to the trail ahead; she was too busy musing over her thoughts. Looking up, a small stone bridge crossed a meandering river across the valley. The forest had ended, and looking ahead, there were just open fields with small tree clusters dotted around. She could see the path split and noticed the first signpost she had seen at the fork since being on the road. Crossing the bridge, she pulled Humberto up at the fork and read the sign. It pointed straight down the trail with two names carved into the wooden sign''s surface. Asterfal Cuopi "Why do I recognise the name Cuopi?" SJ asked. "It was where the Elf was from that you saved at the compound." "Oh yeah. I knew I had heard it before. I wonder how far down the trail it is." "No idea. This fog of war is a pain at times due to my own limited sight, and I can''t find any maps for this area overall in the System, making me virtually as blind as you are." "When we eventually leave this territory, does that mean you will be able to confirm destinations more easily?" "Yes and no. I still have a fog of war to contend with, but if I have been in an area before, I will have a good idea of what is around." "That''s going to be helpful." "Possibly; it depends on what has been changed since I was last in an area." Spurring Humberto, she turned the cart right following the trail, leading towards where she hoped the cave systems would be. Chapter 58 – Mushroom, mushroom The trail continued to wind through the fields, leading towards the valley side. The knife edge of its peak was visible as it tapered down towards the flat plains beyond, leading to the mouth of the valley. The trail had become more broken, and the cart was no longer a smooth ride, SJ being jostled and bouncing as it travelled over the ruts. "I think I am going to stop here," SJ said, pulling the cart up to the side of a tree just off the path. Leading Humberto off the main trail, she led him, pulling the cart until it was behind the tree by some bushes, and although not hidden well, it was not as obvious. Unhitching Humberto, she stroked his mane and led him towards the tree before tying him off. She didn''t want him wandering away while she continued to the caves. "I hope Humberto will be ok leaving him here," SJ said. "I haven''t seen anything around the area large enough to attack a horse yet." "Yet. Sounds ominous." "You never know what could be wandering." Looking towards the valley side, she was probably still a few hundred metres from it. She quickly checked her inventory again to ensure she had everything she needed. Torches, Flint and Steel, Rations, Waterskin, the basket from Grewlas and the healing potions and anti-poison. Having left all the other items from the cart at the cottage would at least mean nothing could be stolen. It was annoying that such a small item as her Flint and Steel took up a full slot in her inventory. "I really should have got a new belt with some pouches to carry the smaller items." "It would have been helpful," Dave replied. "You think," SJ replied sarcastically. She closed her inventory, happy she had what she needed but frustrated that she had only two free slots for other items apart from her tailoring slots. "Let''s go," she said, transforming into her miniature form. Taking off almost instantly, she flew along the trail. Her speed was much faster than the cart had been travelling at, and it wasn''t long before the landscape changed and the slope of the wall began. Flying made travel so much easier, not having to walk up inclines. She increased her height and surveyed ahead. Being very wary of checking the skies for any sign of hungry birds. In the rock face that presented itself, she could see several dark openings dotted along its face. At the distance, she still was, none of them seemed to have any distinguishing features to identify them apart from their position. Heading towards the nearest opening, she came to land by the entrance. The cave opening was large enough for a bear or similar to fit inside, and she had the sudden urge to inquire about them. "Do bears live in caves?" "Why bears?" "Oh. No specific reason it was always a thing back on Earth that they did." "Bears live wherever they please. Some live in caves, others don''t. The territory or region normally plays a large part, and it is warm here, so they do not need to find shelter." "What can live in caves then?" "All sorts. Spiders, sometimes Wolves have dens, Puma, various insects, and anything else could set up a home in one." "Well, that isn''t great then, is it?" "What do you mean?" "I could be about to walk into someone''s home, but they may not wish for guests." "You worry too much. You are quite able to defend yourself if there is anything." "I am still only level 7 and still haven''t got my second Martial Arts skill yet." "You have already proven your ability on multiple occasions. You need to start having more confidence in what you can do." SJ was shocked at Dave''s frank and positive comment and smiled, taking strength and confidence from his words. "Thanks." Dave didn''t respond, so SJ took out a torch, her flint, and steel and began the process of lighting it. Doing it in miniature form meant that the torch would give off very little light, but at least if she grew it, it would provide light, knowing what it had been like inside the cave from the cocoon visit. Once it was lit and burning well, she approached the entrance. The air in the cave''s entrance smelt damp and stale. Slowly flying inside, she took her time and proceeded cautiously. Keeping her eyes and ears primed for any sound. There was nothing unusual, and she hoped she wouldn''t come face to face with anything wanting to eat her. The cave entrance went back quite a distance before opening into a cavern. She could not see the roof with the pitiful light cast from her miniature torch and could hear the sound of water dripping from the ceiling above and landing in a pool somewhere in the dark. Her senses were calm, and she could feel no other presence or any unusual sensations that her senses had started to show since her symbiosis. Flying around the chamber close to the floor, looking for any mushrooms that could be blue-coloured, she found nothing. Eventually, she completed a full circle and found nothing of interest. She flew back up to the entrance, the bright light of the sun streaming into the cave mouth. Squinting as she flew back out into the sunlight. "One down," she said, looking further down the cliff face of the valley. There were several, and she proceeded to the next, a couple of hundred feet further away. The torch was quite awkward to fly with outside the mild breeze blowing the thin smoke it let off back towards her, and she had to hold it out to the side to prevent it from going in her eyes as she flew. The next cave entrance was much smaller, and looking at it, she was not sure if a normal person could have fitted inside, even though she still took the time to enter and search. It was even shorter than the first cave, and it suddenly came to an abrupt end, only being a mere tunnel rather than entering a cavern at its end. Turning, she left again. "This could take some time," she sighed. "You have enough," Dave replied. She spent the next hour flitting from one cave to the next with no sign of mushrooms. When she reached the seventh cave, her hopes began to rise. A cold breeze seemed to emanate from the cave mouth, and it was the first she had come across that had a breeze inside. Hoping that a different environment would be what she needed to find them. Entering the mouth of the cave large enough to drive a coach into it, it began to fall away sharply on a steep incline. Flying meant that she had no concerns with moving down the passage. The tunnel wove into the earth until it eventually came into an open cavern. She had not seen any signs of mushrooms in the tunnel, but as soon as she reached the cavern, she saw a blue-coloured mushroom at the tunnel entrance. "Yes," she said excitedly. "Looks like you have found some at last," Dave replied. The mushroom was probably half her size in miniature form, and she could not do anything unless she grew. Landing by its side, she began to grow. Once she had the torchlight cast into the chamber and covering the floor were clusters of blue mushrooms. Smiling, she bent down and plucked the mushroom from the loose earth on the cavern''s floor. The ground was moist and damp, and the walls had a sheen from the constant moisture. Removing the basket from her inventory, she placed it on the ground and began to walk around the cavern, collecting more of the blue mushrooms and slowly filling it. She had been doing it for several minutes when her senses were triggered. Stopping and looking around her, she scanned the interior of the cavern. She had not even gotten more than several feet from the tunnel entrance; there were so many mushrooms. "I can sense something," SJ whispered. "I haven''t seen anything. Then again, the light isn''t great. You should really invest in a lantern at some point. They provide much better light than torches." Rolling her eyes, not replying, she focused on the cavern''s darkness. Her senses triggering was her warning sign, and she shrunk down to her miniature size. The torchlight was now nothing more than a match''s head in the darkness¡ªvisible but casting no light apart from just around her. The basket was on the floor by her side, now towering over her. Standing still, she could hear a scraping sound. It wasn''t nearby but coming from deeper into the cave. "There is something there," she whispered. "I can hear it too, but can''t see anything," Dave replied. The sound stopped, and silence returned to the cavern, the only break being the occasional drop of water landing on the cavern floor. SJ''s nerves were tingling at the unknown, and she felt a trickle of sweat run down her back. The cold sensation made her senses flare. There was something there; she knew it but had no idea what. The basket suddenly moved, and SJ nearly had a heart attack as it rocked sideways slightly. A thick black feeler suddenly appeared over the top of it. Looking upwards, SJ was met with the open jaws of a huge insect. "Ahh," she squealed, dropping the torch in fright. The sound made the creature recoil from the basket. "What''s that?" she cried. "A Giant Crepar. They have a toxic bite, so don''t let it nip you." Flying backwards across the cavern, she looked at where the basket was. The tiny torch provides a minuscule amount of illumination. SJ watched as the insect, which she thought looked like a massive centipede, again hit the basket and began to dig into its contents, removing one of the blue mushrooms. SJ watched as it picked it up in its mandibles and bit into it. "It''s stealing my mushrooms. Why doesn''t it just eat the ones in the cavern?" SJ exclaimed, her initial fear now being replaced with annoyance. The creature was not paying her miniature form any attention as it grabbed another and began devouring it. Looking at the creature, she identified it. Giant Crepar The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. Level: 10 Hit Points: 65 Mana Points: 0 Armour Class: 25 Attacks: Bite/Slash Special: Toxin "It has a high armour class," SJ said. "Its chitinous body provides it with natural armour." "Do you know what it''s toxin does?" "Two seconds." Silence. "It attacks your cells, preventing healing," Dave replied after more than a few seconds. "So, stay away from its bite then," SJ replied. Flying sideways away from the creature, eating another of her precious collection, she moved around to the creature''s side. It was difficult to make it out in the near pitch black with the tiny torch light. She could at least tell where it was, with its movement being heard easily. She approached its side. Looking at it in miniature form, it had several pairs of legs, and its body looked like it was plated armour. It was difficult to determine its true size while she was only small, so she noticed that the underside did not seem as well protected as its top. She grew, equipping her claws and, on immediately reaching her full height, drove them into its softer sides. Her claws scraped against the chitinous armour that still covered its body but aimed as low as she had, and with the element of surprise, they managed to penetrate its soft flesh. The Crepar let out a hissing sound, and its body curled back on itself. Its head suddenly hit SJ on her side, throwing her off balance and making her fall sideways. Jumping back to her feet, she could see the shadowy form in the cave''s dark and moved to attack. As she did, her legs went from under her. She had not seen how long the creature''s body was, and it had moved to hit her from behind. It obviously had the freedom to move its parts independently. "I need light," she stammered as she again regained her footing. The creature went to strike her again with its mandibles open. Seeing the movement late in the darkness, she only managed to move aside, and the creature''s head missed her by millimetres. She ran to the basket, shrinking as she did. As soon as she did, she grabbed the torch and grew again, still moving away from the Crepar. Another hiss and scuttling sounded behind her. With the brighter torchlight, she could see better and headed straight for the entrance tunnel. The Crepar gave chase as she did. Running up the steep incline, she could hear the scraping and scratching of its feet on the tunnel''s surface and glanced backwards to see it wasn''t very far behind her. Her legs were pumping as fast as she could. She needed to make daylight, if possible, and fight it in the open. "Attacking a creature in the dark is never a good idea; at least you can draw it into the light now," Dave said. "You think!" SJ growled as she continued to run. Turning a corner in the tunnel, she saw the bright light of day ahead; her muscles were burning from running up the incline, and she wished she had flown but needed the creature to follow, and she wasn''t sure it would have bothered if she was small. She broke into the light of day, being momentarily blinded, and continued from the cave mouth, turning to see the creature appear behind her. Dropping the torch, she turned and waited. The Crepar''s deep brown colour seemed to absorb the sun''s light in the light of day. Its large head and mandibles snapped as it moved towards her on its unnatural legs. With its armoured body, it reminded her of a millipede. She stood ready as it neared, rearing up the front part of its long body before striking down at her. She dove sideways out of its way, rolling across the rocky surface, wincing slightly from the pain of the motion. Thankfully, she had only received minor damage when the creature hit her. She jumped up immediately, turning back towards it and moving in to attack its weaker sides. Where she had cut it in the cave, she could see a green substance leaking from the wound, and its health was down to 42 hit points after the initial strike. That was poor considering what her blades had done against others, but knowing the creature''s armour class, it did not overtly surprise her. Striking with precision and swiftness from her training with Lorna, she used her claws as extensions of her fists, striking the creature''s side as it twisted its head to strike at her again. This time, being ready and aware it could strike from both sides, SJ watched its head move and brought her claws around in defence. Its large mandibles met her blades, sounding like swords clashing as it clacked and hissed at her. Stepping back as it drew back from her, she struck out at its side again and noticed its rear moving to try and sweep her again. Seeing it coming this time, she jumped and managed to get high enough for its rear portion to miss her. Landing, she turned again to strike, lashing out with a sweeping claw towards its legs rather than its armoured body. Her claws cut into its legs much easier, and it hissed, pulling away, leaving several of its lower limbs behind. Its health was now down to 33, and slicing into its multitude of legs was easier and more effective with her claws rather than trying to penetrate its armour. It struck at her again, its mandibles clacking and tying itself in a knot almost as it twisted towards her. SJ tried to parry the blow away, but its strength overcame her defensive pose, and one of its mandibles dug deeply into her shoulder. Grunting in pain from the hit, and her health reduced by another six, she attacked again. The creature was much faster than others she had fought, and it turned on the eye of a needle. Its body positioning was so versatile that its rear portion moved either in synchronicity or independently. It reminded SJ of a friend''s pet corn snake she had held as a child, slithering around her hand as she held it. She was completely terrified at the time. "Keep taking its legs out," Dave yelled at her. "I am trying," SJ grimaced as she deflected another strike from its head. It had caught her again, this time at her side. Thankfully, it had not been able to bite her yet but had sliced into her with its sharp weapons. Swinging her claws rapidly again, she severed more of its lower limbs. Hissing in pain, it withdrew again, her display triggered. Congratulations! Bleed effect inflicted. The Crepar was now down to fifty percent health, and as it turned again to face her, she saw it tick down by another point. "I need another couple of strikes to land," she said, panting slightly from the exertion. The fight was one of her longest so far, with the amount of dodging and weaving they were both performing. Standing with her hands high and claws extended, she ushered at the Crepar to come at her again. "You know it has no idea what you are doing, right," Dave said. Growling, SJ moved towards it as it moved at her. Ducking under its head, she drew her claws down the underside of its exposed abdomen. They cut into the softer armour, and SJ was suddenly jerked backwards as the Crepar kept moving. Her claws got caught as she was dragged unceremoniously underneath it. The abdominal strike had been effective until her claws had caught, and its health had reduced to under a quarter. She panicked, crying out in shock, not expecting the sudden change in circumstances. "Remove them," Dave screamed. Trying to avoid the creature''s numerous feet as it dragged her over the rocky surface of the valley, SJ removed her claws. Suddenly, her arm was released, and she felt the pain in her shoulder from where she had been dragged. She immediately recalled her claws and found only her left hand was equipped. Glancing at where the Crepar had moved, her other glove was still hanging underneath it. "Damn," she cursed. Climbing to her feet, it again turned on her. Screaming in pain and fury at the horrendous abomination of a creature, she ran at it. She wasn''t going to give it the room it needed to turn; closing the distance quickly, she punched out towards its head with her right. Catching it squarely did little damage, but it gave her the opening she sought, driving her left hand up and into the underside of its jaws. The ferocity of her strike with her claws easily pierced this time, and her blades stuck upwards into its mouth where its clacking mandibles were and its very sharp-looking teeth. The bleed effect was still working, and she struggled to hold it pierced on her claws. It shook its head, trying to free itself as its health slowly ticked down. "Hold it," Dave cried. "I am trying," SJ hissed, as she was drawn with the head''s movement. She continued to punch it with her right, her blows ineffective with no claws. Her shoulder screamed at her with every punch she threw, but she was determined to defeat the mushroom thief. Its health continued to fall until it eventually reached zero, and its body weight fell forward towards her. Not ready for the sudden weight shift, she was forced down to her knees before she managed to pull her claws free and roughly push its head to one side. Sitting heavily on the ground, she let out a cry of victory, and anger, frustration, and rage left her instantly. "Well done," Dave said cheerily. "Well done! I lost one of my claws, have torn my shoulder, never mind the pierced shoulder and side." "You are alive, though, which is always a bonus, and didn''t get bitten." Forcing herself to her feet, she moved to where her claws were still embedded in its body and pried them free. Thankfully, The blades were undamaged, having just caught a much harder substance than she had expected, returning them to her hands before removing them. Pulling one of the lesser healing potions from her inventory, she uncorked the vial and drank it greedily. She hadn''t received too much damage. It was more the pain in her shoulder she wanted to subdue. Allowing the warmth of the potion to seep through her body, removing the aches and pains and clearing her mind. SJ bent forward and looted the corpse. Congratulations! You killed a level 10 Giant Crepar 110xp, gained 5 x Chitinous Armour Plates "All because of some damn mushrooms," SJ huffed, turning to walk back to the cave. Chapter 59 – Skill selection SJ had spent time lighting two torches before entering the cave to collect the basket and pick the remaining mushrooms she needed. Wedging one of the torches on the far side, she found the entrance from which the Crepar had entered the chamber. It was a narrow tunnel with a low ceiling, and she wasn¡¯t going to even attempt to investigate it. Moving round the cavern, she filled the basket before returning to the fresh air and the afternoon sun. The day passed quickly. She had been so busy that she was looking forward to getting back to town and getting a bath. Her dress was pristine as normal, but her skin felt grime covered from being dragged along the ground and covered in Crepar ichor when she had fought it. Placing the full basket into her inventory, she transformed back into miniature form and flew back to where she had left Humberto. Thankfully, he was fine, and she reattached him to the cart before returning to the cottages. Leaving the caves behind her and thankful she hadn¡¯t bumped into any of the Greyling¡¯s, Terence mentioned she was quite pleased with the outcome. She had, after all, defeated a level 10 creature all by herself. It was her highest solo kill to date. As she approached the turning for the cottages, there was a loud snapping sound, and she was thrown sideways from the cart, landing sprawled on the ground as the cartwheel broke. ¡°That¡¯s a new way to fly,¡± Dave said, chuckling. Picking herself up, ignoring Dave¡¯s comment, she looked at the wheel. It was lying on its side, the pin that had kept it on the cart having sheared off. The amount of jostling she had felt probably had weakened it when she had been travelling along the rocky path. ¡°Damn. I need to go and see if the skeletons can help me replace it. There is no way I can do it myself.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a good job we are close by then,¡± Dave said. Unfastening Humberto from the cart, she continued back to the cottages. Waving as soon as the derelict cottage was in sight, she saw two familiar faces appear as she approached. ¡°Where is the cart?¡± Brian asked. ¡°The wheel fell off. It looks like the pin holding it snapped.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not good. I am sure that Terence can probably repair it,¡± Charlotte said. ¡°Yes, but it is still up on the main trail, and I need to get it back to Lythonian at the church.¡± ¡°I am sure we can fix it. I will go and grab Terence,¡± Brian said as he turned and headed towards her cottage. A while later, the pair came in sight walking back along the lake¡¯s edge. Terence, from the looks of it, was carrying a wooden toolbox. Reaching SJ, he smiled. She was starting to get used to it now. ¡°Where is it?¡± Terence asked. ¡°On the main trail, by the turn-off.¡± ¡°Ok. Let¡¯s go see if we can fix it then,¡± Terence replied. The four of them headed back and it didn¡¯t take Terence long to form a temporary repair on the cart, the most awkward part had been lifting the cart enough to reattach the wheel. It weighed much more than SJ had thought. With the help of Brian and Charlotte, the three of them kept the wheel and it in position as Terence worked on his carpentry skills to form a repair. He only used a wooden pin, but he said it would last long enough to get back to town if she took it easy. ¡°Thank you all,¡± SJ said as she reattached Humberto to the cart again from where he had been lazily grazing at the roadside. ¡°We are here to help whenever you need it,¡± Terence replied. The sun was starting to dip in the sky, and knowing how long the journey would take to get back, SJ did not fancy travelling the final part in the dark on the cart. ¡°I think I am going to stay at the cottage tonight and head back in the morning,¡± SJ said. ¡°It will be nice to have some female company,¡± Charlotte said, nodding towards Brian and Terrence. ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± Brian asked. ¡°You two never stop talking about rubbish. That¡¯s what that means,¡± Charlotte said, smiling at them. ¡°What rubbish?¡± Terrence said defensively. ¡°How many times have you both told the same story now about the Minotaur the master tried to reincarnate,¡± Charlotte said. ¡°Minotaur?¡± SJ said, taken aback by the statement. ¡°The story gets more elaborate each time it is told. About how bravely they both fought against it.¡± ¡°You fought a Minotaur?¡± SJ asked. ¡°They didn¡¯t fight it. They just think they did. You would have to hear it, which I am sure if you gave either of them half a chance, they would tell you,¡± Charlotte said. ¡°That was an epic battle,¡± Brian replied, huffing. ¡°No. It really wasn¡¯t. You both got your asses handed to you, and the necromancer killed it,¡± she replied. ¡°That¡¯s not entirely true. I agree Brian did, but I didn¡¯t,¡± Terence replied. ¡°You both did. I remember picking bones up from both of you after he had stomped the pair of you into the ground. I was the only one of us left standing.¡± The two male skeletons stared at Charlotte, and neither said anything in response. Their expressionless faces made it difficult to understand their thoughts, but SJ could imagine them both having red cheeks from embarrassment. SJ climbed back into the cart. ¡°Come on, let''s head back, and I would love to know how you both got stomped on by a Minotaur,¡± SJ said, chuckling. The two skeletons trudged grumpily behind the cart, both muttering to each other. The night at the cottage had been very pleasant. SJ had eaten some of her rations and listened to the Minotaur story''s exciting rendition. Terence had promised he would not complete any work overnight while she slept, and she had eventually moved into the cottage as the darkness set in and settled on the sofa. The three of them were taking turns being lookout at the derelict cottage throughout the night just in case the Orcs returned, and when SJ awoke the next morning, it had been uneventful. Leaving the next morning, promising to come and visit again soon, she headed back to town. On arriving at the meadow at the top of the crags she had to move Humberto off the road as a large, covered wagon was travelling on the trail. It was painted blue and had a golden livery on the side. Six horses were pulling the wagon, and it looked like at least eight could have sat comfortably inside it. As it passed, she waved to the Ent, who was driving, who waved back, smiling at her. Ents were probably the strangest looking of all the beings she had met in Amathera. There were not many in the town that she had seen, but seeing a small tree with sprouting leaves walking through the streets was always strange. ¡°I wonder who was in that,¡± SJ said as she moved Humberto back onto the trail. ¡°That¡¯s the usual stagecoach that runs to Asterfal twice weekly,¡± Dave said. ¡°How do you know that?¡± SJ asked. ¡°Have you not seen it in town?¡± ¡°No. I have never seen it¡± SJ frowned. ¡°You were probably too busy training. I have seen it a couple of times over at the stables.¡± ¡°Oh. I had never noticed.¡± ¡°If I recall correctly, the last time I saw it was when Greb taught you a lesson of manners.¡± ¡°I did well against him, I will have you know. He is much higher level than me.¡± ¡°He still taught you a lesson, though.¡± SJ could not argue with that since he had. She felt the side of her face instinctively where he had kicked her. Arriving back at the church, SJ met Lythonian, who helped the old Gnome lead chorister plant flowers in the churchyard. ¡°Morning, Lythonian,¡± SJ called as she drew up in the cart. Lythonian stood, wiping his claws off on a rag, and walked over, smiling broadly. ¡°I hope Humberto behaved himself.¡± ¡°He was perfect, thank you. I did have a problem with the cart, though. It lost a wheel on my journey back. It has a temporary repair now, but it needs fixing. I was going to take it to the wagonistas and get it fixed properly.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I will speak to Katiyanna. She owes me a favour or two.¡± The remark made SJ wonder why the wagonista would owe Lythonian a favour, but she wasn¡¯t going to ask. ¡°Thank you for letting me borrow it. I would have been at a loss without it.¡± ¡°Did you get everything sorted that you needed to?¡± ¡°Yes. I dropped everything off and managed to collect the mushrooms for Grewlas, although I had a bit of a problem with a Crepar.¡± ¡°Crepar. Nasty beasts they can be. They have a tough body.¡± ¡°I noticed,¡± SJ replied, chuckling. Hearing Lythonian say a word such as beasties made her smile. ¡°Anyway, I need to go and see Grewlas, and then I am going for a nice long bath.¡± ¡°No problem. I will see you soon.¡± ¡°Thanks again,¡± SJ replied as she headed to see Grewlas. Grewlas had been over the moon receiving the basket of Sancasia¡¯s and her display had triggered with the quest completion. Quest ¨C Gather Sancasia Mushrooms ¨C completed Rewards: 336xp (96xp bonus for reputation), 2 silver Returning to the Inn, SJ ordered a sandwich and a large coffee, missing the morning cup she had gotten used to. She would have to take some back to the cottage next time she went just to have a supply there. Going upstairs, she had poured a steaming bath with scented oils and was relaxing, soaking in the hot water, humming, when Dave interrupted her. ¡°I found it,¡± Dave said excitedly. ¡°Found what?¡± ¡°The code gaps. I know what the crafty System did when they patched the code.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great news. Can you recode it then?¡± ¡°It will take a little longer than I initially hoped. It is buried behind over fifty layers of pre-cursor code, and then two algorithm locks must be overcome. Now I know where it is though I should at least be able to get to work on it fully.¡± ¡°How long do you think before you can crack it?¡± ¡°It depends. It could be a day, a week, a month, or a year. It all comes down to the locks they have added. I don¡¯t know how complex they are until I work through the pre-cursor code.¡± ¡°That sounds like a foreign language to me.¡± ¡°It¡¯s quite easy once you know the basics.¡± This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. ¡°I will let you worry about that.¡± Disturbed from her relaxed state, SJ pulled up her character sheet to check on her experience needs for the next level and reread the details of her new skill choices. Legionnaire 25007077 Name: SJ Age: 27 Race: Fae Class: Assassin Alignment: Neutral Good ? Level: 7 Experience: 372 of 1000 Hit Points: 52 of 52 Mana Points: 40 Armour Class: 22 (15)(7) Attributes: Strength: 10 Dexterity: 17 Intelligence: 10 Wisdom: 10 Constitution: 12 Charisma: 11 Skills Racial: Night Vision ¨C you have improved vision in poor light conditions. Flight ¨C when in miniature Fae form, you can learn to fly. Flying is not available in humanoid form. Shapeshift ¨C the ability to switch between Fae forms. Class: Martial Arts - Kata Level 5 Subterfuge - Identification Level 6 - 2 of 100 to level 7 Profession: Tailor Level 3 Symbiosis: Dragon Sense ¨C your senses, touch, hearing, smell, and sight are heightened. Precognition ¨C foreknowledge due to increased perception will allow you to evade a killing blow. (24hr cooldown) Divine lightning ¨C your blood is combined with that of a Blue, increasing healing speed while out of combat. Malware: Waiver (Sandboxed) Inventory: 10 slots (10 special) Followers: 3 ¡°Dave,¡± SJ said, surprised. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°I have three followers?¡± ¡°Oh. It must have been all of them as a group that became followers.¡± ¡°How? There was only a single notification.¡± ¡°Let me check.¡± Silence. ¡°Yep. Thought so. The alert said ¡®Followers assigned¡¯¡± ¡°All three of them jumped to being followers just like that.¡± ¡°It made sense when you freed them all, provided them with a place to live, and gave them equipment.¡± Lying in the bath, SJ was trying to contemplate that she had followers who would do anything for her that she asked them to do. It was a scary feeling having that sort of influence over someone. ¡°It doesn¡¯t feel right.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°Having that control over someone.¡± ¡°It was their choice. No one forced them. Did you not have people back on Earth that followed people and would have done anything for them?¡± ¡°I suppose there were fans of certain famous people who probably would have or even some politicians would have fanatic supporters, not seeing the damage they did even when informed.¡± ¡°There you go then. It is just a means of influence due to how you interact with people around you. I can see you gaining more the way you have been going so far.¡± ¡°I hope not. I am supposed to be an assassin and not known about.¡± ¡°Haven¡¯t some of Earth¡¯s biggest influencers had massive followings?¡± ¡°Yes. But they have all been in the public eye doing what they do.¡± ¡°Your skill tree is subterfuge, remember. Part of your choice in the future will be about how you can persuade and interact with others to get what you need from them. Before killing them, of course.¡± Sighing, she lowered herself into the water, allowing her head to dip beneath. Holding her breath, she counted to ten slowly before coming back up again. ¡°Can I set them free?¡± ¡°You did that already.¡± ¡°No. I mean, release them from being followers.¡± ¡°Nope. It was their choice to choose.¡± ¡°It makes me feel so uncomfortable, though.¡± ¡°You will get used to it. Anyway, once you leave the territory, you can easily leave them at the cottage, just looking after it for you. It is not as though they need to travel with you. Followerships remain in place once set.¡± Not wanting to contemplate having three beings that would answer her back and call, she focussed on her skills again. ¡°I have decided which skill I am going to learn.¡± ¡°I thought you were waiting for Level 6 in Kata before you chose?¡± ¡°I was going to, but it makes no difference either way, as I will select Shroud.¡± ¡°Great choice.¡± ¡°I should have selected it sooner and wish I had. Had it during the Crepar fight, the reduced damage would have helped.¡± ¡°It is only 30 seconds at level 1, remember.¡± ¡°I know, but it also doesn¡¯t need me to level an attribute to increase it further compared to the others.¡± ¡°You will still need to level other attributes, though. Once your initial class skills increase, you will eventually get a second skill choice.¡± ¡°I meant to ask how I learn more?¡± ¡°You can assign hard points, which are earned at level stages, the first being 10, and then every two levels, you earn another hard point to use.¡± Looking at her skill tree, she selected Shroud and confirmed the details one last time before selecting it. Shroud ¨C As an assassin, you may hide in the shadows; when you are shrouded in darkness, damage is reduced temporarily. The skill lasts 30 seconds per level, up to five minutes at level ten. (No base attribute) Highlighting the option she selected to learn the skill. She was a little deflated as she felt nothing. There was no sudden rush of energy or any other feeling that allowed her to even know she had learned the skill apart from the new entry next to her Subterfuge skill on her character sheet. Subterfuge - Identification Level 6 - 2 of 100 to level 7, Shroud Level 1 ¡°I selected it.¡± ¡°Congratulations. You have started on your true path as an assassin now.¡± SJ smiled at Dave¡¯s comment. ¡°So then, what should we do about the note we found and the Wandering Ogre?¡± Dave said. ¡°I had forgotten about that. I suppose I can go and speak to Niweq.¡± ¡°What if he is the one the Dark Elf was going to meet?¡± ¡°Do Elves and Dark Elves usually get on?¡± SJ asked. ¡°Not normally, but Niweq is a little different by all accounts. Most Elves wouldn¡¯t be associated with the type of place he owns.¡± SJ had always imagined Elves to be upright and Lawful beings as most games and books portrayed them back on Earth, and she had been a little taken aback when she discovered that the local pole dancing club was run by one. Having met several in the town since she had arrived and many other races, it appeared that it didn¡¯t matter what race any of them were, they all had the same chance of being whatever they wished. Apart from considering direct racial influences that prevented them from picking certain classes, professions seemed an open book in comparison. ¡°That¡¯s it. I am going to see Niweq. My mind is made up. If someone is after me, I need to understand why.¡± ¡°You need to be careful.¡± ¡°I know, but I can¡¯t ignore a potential threat. Maybe I should speak to Fran rather than Niweq.¡± ¡°That may be a more sensible option since you are the only two Fae here.¡± ¡°Ok. My mind is made up. I am going to see Fran.¡± ¡°You just made your mind up to see Niweq?¡± ¡°A girl can change her mind, you know.¡± ¡°Obviously!¡± Dave sarcastically replied. Chapter 60 – Not leaving your past behind After grabbing lunch, which consisted of a large bowl of fresh salad, SJ made her way to the Academy. Fran was not outside, so she greeted the Goblin attendant and entered the common room. Several trainees were sat reading various books or manuscripts. Smiling pleasantly at a human male who walked towards her, she was taken aback by his sudden outburst. "Get out," he said. "Sorry?" SJ replied, shocked at his sudden outburst. "I said get out." ¡°I am here to see Mistress Francisca,¡± SJ stammered. "I don''t care. Get out. Only mages are allowed in here. It is our sacred space." SJ stood open-mouthed, not responding for a moment. "I was allowed in by the attendant." "He has no idea of the importance of what we are doing here, and you are no mage." "How do you know what class I am?" "It''s obvious. Look at how you are dressed. You wear no robes of any order." SJ noticed that all the other mages had now turned to look at her where she stood. Feeling very open and defenceless under their critical gaze, SJ felt very insecure. "Kevin!" Fran''s voice cut through the room, and his head flicked around to look at Mistress Francisca. "Mistress. This non-mage has dared step into our world." Fran raised her eyebrows. "Harrietta, where are you?" she bellowed, eyes scanning the room. "Come out now, or else I will visit Lythonian." "Ok," a sulky voice replied as an apparition emerged from the side of the room. SJ jumped out of her skin at the sight. "What the!" she exclaimed. "Now, remove the charm," Francisca said sternly. "But." "Now." "Yes, Mistress." The apparition made a few hand gestures, and the mage, Kevin, suddenly frowned and shook his head. "What happened?" he said. "Harrietta," was Fran''s single-word response. "Not again," Kevin replied, his face flushing with anger. Harrietta suddenly shrank away into the nearby wall. "You can''t hide from me forever," he snapped. "SJ, please come with me," Fran said. SJ watched as Kevin began to search around the room, opening cupboards and looking for Harrietta. "You have a ghost as a mage?" SJ asked as soon as she was in the office with the door closed. "Yes. Harrietta was a mage before she died." "Why is she here?" "Harrietta has been my follower long before I came to Killic." "She is your follower?" SJ asked, stunned at the revelation. "Yes. I freed Harrietta from the necromancer who had her in enslavement a century ago, at least now." Mouth open in astonishment at the statement, SJ stood dumbfounded. "It''s not that shocking. Many of those freed from servitude will become followers of their saviours. Harrietta likes to play pranks on the trainees. Kevin has been an unfortunate target of several of her jokes recently, and I think he is getting a little fed up with them now. I will have to speak to her about it. Anyway, what can I do for you? Or is it just a social call?" SJ was trying to gather her thoughts. Looking at Fran, she looked to be in her twenties or thirties, yet she had just stated she had freed Harrietta over a century ago. "I have to ask and apologise if it''s rude, but how old are you?" "324." "You look no older than thirty." Fran smiled at her comment. "The Fae looks are deceiving. You will, in time, be able to judge ages more accurately. I am sure that is not why you came, though." "No. I need to speak to you about a delicate issue," Fran''s expression didn''t change, but SJ sensed that she was intrigued. "I recently went into the valley to collect mushrooms for Grewlas, and on my way there, I was attacked." "I am glad you are ok." "Yes. I am fine, but what attacked me and what I found are causing me some concern." "Do tell." "A Level 9 Dark Elf attacked me, and he was carrying a note," SJ said, calling the note from her inventory and handing it to Fran. SJ had seen Fran''s eyes slightly narrow when she mentioned a Dark Elf, and after reading the note, she could see the muscles in her jaw tense. "Fran. Is everything ok?" Fran didn''t reply momentarily. She stared at the note before scrunching it up into a tight ball in her fist. "Sorry," she suddenly replied, looking up and smiling again. "What is it?" "It looks as though my past may be catching up with me. I hoped it wouldn''t be so soon. I had hoped to get a few decades here before moving on again." "I am lost. Why would you have to move on?" "It''s a long story." "I have time to listen. They say a problem shared is a problem halved, and if someone is after one of our kind, I will do what I can to help." Fran shuffled in her chair slightly and then sat back, leaning casually, closing her eyes. With a deep sigh, she began. "Almost seventy years ago, I was involved in an incident between the Fae council and the Dark Elf hierarchy. At the time, I was a junior council member working under the guidance of one of our kind''s greatest leaders. Juniper was the light of the Fae; she had been involved in the continuing negotiations with the Dark Elves for almost three centuries. There has always been great angst since the wars between both races, and although most will accommodate each other''s presence, there are still many who hold onto historical grudges. Juniper had been involved in settling a dispute over territory claims that dates back to before the war. The territory in question is a region at level 40-50 in the west of the continent. It has some of the most beautiful forests and open plains imaginable. That was not the reason for the dispute, though. The dispute was caused by the stone ring that existed there. "Stone ring?" SJ asked, intrigued by the start of the tale. "The stone ring is a circle of magical power. The Fae historical records date back to the time of civilisation when Amathera first came to exist. It is said to hold the power of the Fae in it. The Dark Elves believe in a similar prophecy about their race. Juniper had been involved in completing the research over the magic''s origination and was close to absolute proof that it was indeed Fae origin." "Couldn''t you just tell from the magic it gave off?" "No. Fae and Elven magic are very similar. The building blocks for all magic are elemental, and considering the cultural variance and positions of the stones, they lie in an area that records show was originally an Elven area. It was only over time, as the Elves moved further east, expanding into the central planes and rain forests, that the Fae took over the territory completely." "So, it was originally Elven?" "No, that is the thing; the evidence that Juniper had collected and gathered proved that it was, in fact, a Fae construction. She was trying to determine if Fae had originally constructed it under the duress of Elven rule or whether a separate clan had created it. I visited there on several occasions, and the power of the circle is something to behold. I have never felt anything like it, and when in its proximity, everything has clarity. Your thoughts are aligned, and your abilities are naturally boosted." If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. "If she had evidence that it was Fae, why did she not present her findings?" "She was murdered before she finished her studies and could present them." "Murdered. By whom?" "A Dark Elf assassin named Crylik." "How do you know?" "Because I killed him," Fran said stoney faced. "Oh!" "I had been on my way to see Juniper when she was murdered. I found the assassin still in her chambers and attacked him while he still bent over her dead body, holding a bloody dagger." Looking in awe at Fran''s story and that she had just told her she had killed an assassin in cold blood gave SJ a completely different level of respect for the Fae mage. "What happened? Why did you leave?" "The council didn''t want to admit that the security had been so relaxed that an assassin had entered the High Council chambers. They played it down, saying it was a natural death. I wouldn''t let it go, though, and it was afterwards, when I challenged the High Council during a seating with the Dark Elves, that I was, in simple terms, banished." "Why would they banish you for stating the truth?" "Peace between our races has always been on a wobbly scale. We keep it balanced most of the time, but it could tip at any moment. The High Council was happy to concede defeat over the stone circle and the death of one of their own in exchange for the return of several artefacts of power stolen during the war." "They gave up on the circle and ignored Juniper''s death?" "Yes. They allowed the Dark Elves to reclaim the territory as their own." "Why would they do that?" SJ asked, shocked. "There are some in the Council who I believe are in cahoots with the Dark Elves, and I believe that is how they got into the High Council and killed Juniper." "Can you not prove it?" "I have no proof. Only theories. Ever since I was banished from the council, the Dark Elves have sought me out. I have escaped with my life on several occasions over the years." "Could you not go back and seek support from those you believe were loyal?" "Unfortunately, not. I can no longer enter the Fae capital. As a banished member of the council, never mind being a Fae, I would be writing my death sentence if I did." The story and history lesson that SJ had just been told had been enthralling and mesmerising. Knowing that there was so much political intrigue involved in the land was amazing. "It sounds like you have suffered due to our kind." "I have, but I don''t blame all Fae. Only those who sit in the seats of power at the High Council and not all of them either." "Can you not challenge them from outside the capital?" Fran burst out laughing. "Sorry. No. I am a banished previous junior member of the council. I hold no sway over anyone or anything. I have travelled for years, avoiding the main cities and larger towns. I set up here in Killic as it was so quiet. Being a starter town of mixed race and me being the only Fae meant less chance of questions being asked." "What does all this mean now though?" "It means I have to find out who at the Inn is passing on information, and depending on who it is, I may have to deal with them." "We can''t just walk into the Inn, though, asking questions." "No. But I know someone who can go and dig around." "Who?" "Harrietta. Show yourself." SJ jumped out of her skin for the second time as the apparition appeared beside Fran''s side. Gathering herself and placing her feet back on the ground where she had pulled them up onto the chair in shock, she looked at the apparition closely. Her features, although translucent, had the appearance of a Dryad. "Harrietta. Meet SJ. SJ, Harrietta." "Hi," SJ said with uncertainty. She had never been a fan of ghost stories as a child, and seeing one standing no more than ten feet away that could talk was freaking her out. "Hello," Harrietta replied, smiling. "Have you been there the whole time?" SJ asked. "Yes." SJ had no idea that she had been in the room with them. There was no indication, and her sense hadn''t flared at all. "That is a great ability to be able to stay invisible." "It has its perks," Harrietta replied, smiling. "I take it you were a mage in your previous life." "I was, yes. I know a few spells." "A few? You may not be able to level anymore, but you know more spells than most mainstream mages do," Fran said. Harrietta chuckled, and hearing such an angelic chuckle from an apparition was more unnerving than when she had just spoken. SJ felt goosebumps on her skin. "I have to admit, I have never been a fan of ghosts," SJ said. Harrietta''s face turned sad, and SJ stammered a response. "I didn''t mean to be rude. As a child, I was told horrible ghost stories, and they always stuck with me." "Hopefully, I can change your opinion," Harrietta said, smiling again. "Harrietta, you know what I will ask you to do. Don''t you?" Fran said. "You would like me to visit the Wandering Ogre and do some snooping around.," she replied. "I do, but you need to be careful. Niweq is no slouch at security, and he may have spells in place, so be careful." "You know Niweq?" SJ asked, surprised. "I wouldn''t say I know him that well. I know who he is and what he runs. When I heard about the inn, I was initially concerned he may have been a Dark Elf, so I visited to find out for myself. He wasn''t, but he behaves very similarly to many I have known in my lifetime." "I had no idea what the place was when I visited it. I had only been here a couple of days then." "It is a popular Inn, as I am sure you noticed if you have been. They sell cheap beer and have scantily clad dancers, drawing many of the males in the town, as well as a few females." "I did see. Do you want me to do anything to help?" SJ asked. "I will let Harrietta do her work first. She has a knack for finding information out." "I am not surprised," SJ replied, half-heartedly smiling at the apparition. It didn''t matter how often she looked at Harrietta; she couldn''t get past the fact that she was a ghost. She had loved watching movies and TV shows with zombies, skeletons, werewolves, and all the classic horror genres, but something about ghosts just set her on edge. "I am going to head off then. Let me know if you find anything out or need any help. Thank you for sharing your story as well. It''s the first I have heard about Fae history." "Our history is tarnished in many ways due to the nature of some of our kind, but it is still rich with many stories that I would love to share at some point." "That would be amazing. Maybe we can catch up at the Inn in the near future?" "That sounds nice. I will let you know if we find anything out. Thank you for letting me know." SJ stood and walked from the office, glancing back at Harrietta, who had turned and was now talking to Fran. Shuddering, she decided to go to the training ground. She needed to check in with Jurgen and Lorna. "What is it with you and the apparition?" Dave asked once they were back outside. "I am not a fan of ghosts," SJ said. "Why? Unless an apparition is a mage, they can never harm you as they can never carry or hold anything solid, unlike skeletons, zombies, and many of the other undead variants." "I can''t explain it. Since I was a child, my older cousin has told me stories whenever I stayed over at my Uncle Dave''s, and ever since, I have been terrified of ghosts. He used to get pleasure from trying to make me cry." "That''s not very nice," Dave replied sympathetically. "He wasn''t a nice person. I never forgave him, even as an adult." "It''s a shame we can''t ask Harrietta to go and visit him and give him a taste of his own medicine." SJ chuckled as she walked. "That would be sweet revenge," she replied, smiling. Chapter 61 – Kata Claws On returning to town, SJ felt more relaxed, knowing that Harrietta would be scouting out the Wandering Ogre. The tale of Fran had been incredible, and thinking about her class and the skills she could potentially earn, she only hoped that she could investigate the issues at some point in the future. That was a long way off, and knowing that the conflict and disagreements between the Fae and Dark Elves had lasted for centuries, she doubted it would suddenly be resolved. "Hi, Jurgen," SJ called as she reached the training ground. Jurgen was an Elf Fighter who wanted to be up close and personal when he fought. She had seen him practising with a sword or spear several times, but his favourites were either daggers or claws, as he now wore claws. "Hi SJ. Are you free to train today?" "I wish to, yes." "Excellent. Then do come and join me, and we can chat about where we can start." SJ followed Jurgen over to a bench at the side of the training ground and sat. "So, what do you know about claws?" "Only what I have learned since I found them. I use them for slashing or supporting my punches mainly for piercing damage." "They are the two main aspects of claws, but they can also be strong defensive weapons when used properly." "I have parried a couple of blows using them previously." "Excellent, that is good to hear. In today''s lesson, we will be focussing on form. If you can''t use your claws properly, then there is no point in wearing them." "Where do we start?" "As you mentioned, they are extensions of your hand. The only difference is that you must get used to your arms being longer when wearing them." SJ looked at him, confused. "That''s pretty obvious, isn''t it?" she asked. "You would be surprised at the number of people who have tried to fight with claws and moved their hands up to block, and instead of the attack hitting their blades, it hits their wrists or forearms. It takes time and practice to adjust your movements and, ultimately, your natural instinct to attack and defend yourself." With that comment, Jurgen swept his clawed fist towards SJ''s side. She immediately recoiled and dropped her hands down to defend herself, receiving a nasty cut to her finger. "Arrrr," she shouted. "What was that for?" she asked, looking at her bleeding digit. "That was to see how you reacted, and I have to say your natural defensive movement was fine, but why did you not equip your claws?" "I didn''t expect you to try and cut my hands off for a start," she huffed angrily, sucking her bleeding finger. Jurgen laughed. "And you think someone is going to walk up to you nicely and say,'' Please equip your claws so that you can defend yourself as I attack you.''" Sitting and staring angrily at Jurgen, she slowly replied, "No. But I also didn''t expect to get attacked while discussing training." "When do you expect to get attacked?" "During a fight." "And do you decide every fight?" "No. But you would normally have an idea." "Not always. As your class indicates, I am sure that the last thing you want is someone expecting you to attack them." "Who told you, my class?" SJ said, shocked. "It''s obvious, and being honest, Lorna told me what you did against the Mage. Unfortunately, I didn''t see it myself." SJ''s finger had stopped bleeding, and it was plain to see that Jurgen had not meant to cause her serious harm. His strike had stopped on contact, and he had not swept the claws through as would be expected. "Whenever you are training, you must consider that it could be the real thing. Every time you walk onto the training ground, be prepared for someone to attack and kill you. The harder you fight while training, the more chance you have of surviving an actual fight. Never let your guard down." "I understand," SJ said, the statement-making common sense. However, she was still annoyed at how he tried to get his point across. Lorna had warned her that he was a taskmaster, though. "Ok. Let''s see your claws then," Jurgen said. SJ immediately called her claws to her hands. The gloves fitted perfectly, and their blades glimmered in the sun. "Wow. They are a nice set of claws. They can''t have been cheap!" Jurgen exclaimed. "I looted them from a Rare Badger corpse." "Even luckier, especially for our levels. You will see their benefits once you are more proficient in their use." "When do we start then?" "Now is as good a time as any," Jurgen replied, walking over to one of the training dummies, SJ joining him. "Let me see your basic strikes," Jurgen requested, standing to the side of the training dummy. SJ began her usual routine, which she had been practising, driving punches into the straw bodies of the dummies with intermittent slashes. She believed that her routine was quite well-formed and precise. "I can see we have a lot to go over," Jurgen said, sighing. SJ stopped and turned to look at him, "Sorry?" "Your form is all wrong. You can''t just use your Kata without using the claws as your main component." "I didn''t think I was." "Here, let me show you." SJ stepped to one side, and Jurgen stepped in front of the dummy. Standing as if just having a casual conversation with someone, he suddenly began to move. Within four strikes, the training dummy lay in tatters on the ground. SJ stood with her mouth open at the display. His movements were so fast and precise that it was scary to watch. "Wow." "As I said, your form is wrong. Your claws are your main weapon, supported by your Kata and the flexibility and positioning it allows. You are using them as knuckle dusters rather than as the weapon they are designed to be." "I have never been trained before and didn''t think I was doing that poorly." "I have seen worse, don''t worry, and with a few tweaks in technique, we will soon have you stripping the dummies from their stakes," he said, walking over to a fresh one. As he did, a small Goblin came onto the ground and picked up the tattered remains of the one he had just obliterated before replacing it with a new one. "Ok. We will do this slow time. Watch my movements closely as I prepare my strikes." Watching how Jurgen made slight adjustments to his positioning before striking with the claws allowed SJ to understand the difference in impact and damage caused by the claws. The subtle hip twist as he struck added extra power to the movement. He also completed a shoulder pivot and wrist flick. If he had been moving at his normal speed, SJ would not even have been able to notice them. "Did you see the difference?" "Yes. Very subtle, but I can see the benefits it will bring." "Great. Then let us get to training then." The next hour was sheer hell. Every time SJ didn''t perform a move correctly, Jurgen, who had procured a stick from somewhere, struck her, causing her form to be wrong. Growling and wincing with each strike, she could feel her anger rising, which was supported by her determination not to get hit. "I am impressed with your resolve," Jurgen said as he called a rest break. Walking to the nearest water barrel, SJ grabbed one of the mugs and drank a long drink. "Many would have given in by now, yet you show a determination I have seen in few." This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. It was Jurgen''s first compliment, and she smiled. "At least I have one good thing going from this torture." "Torture? I see this more as a discipline. You would not be given any respite during an actual fight, and your form weaknesses would allow for an enemy to attack you if unbalanced or not as accurate. As well as being able to hit with power, it is also about the movement to ensure that your blades don''t get caught." "I have experienced that once. I had to remove my glove to stop myself from being dragged." "Ah. Yes. It can happen often to the uninitiated. I assume you had struck across something and weren''t expecting resistance?" "Sort of. I was attacking a Crepar and cut into its abdomen when my claws stuck in its body." "To prevent that from happening, you move your wrist. If you imagine gripping something really hard for a long time, your fist begins to shake slightly due to the strain. That slight vibration that occurs can prevent such an incident. It takes time to master, though, as it feels unnatural to move a fist at the same time as punching or slashing, but it can help prevent claws from getting caught. It is not perfect by any means, as sometimes these things just happen, but the more you can do to prevent it, the better." SJ had clenched her fist while he spoke, and it had started to shake slightly, the movement making the claws vibrate almost unnoticeably. "I assume it means that not all the claws are applying the same pressure simultaneously?" "Very good. Yes, it means that one side of your claws is always looser than the other. As I say, though, it is not easy to master, but with training and as your proficiency increases, you can learn it." The next couple of hours were more of the same, with SJ usually whacked several times per minute as she continued to try and handle the adjusted techniques. Eventually, they broke for lunch, and Lorna walked over to see her. "How''s it going?" she asked. SJ pulled the sleeve of her dress up, where she was covered in fading bruises. Chuckling, Lorna replied, "I told you he was a hard trainer." "I know, but my arms feel like a freshly beaten steak." "I promise you; I wouldn''t have suggested Jurgen if I wasn''t sure you would benefit from his guidance." "I know you could have warned me about the stick, though." "I would take that as a compliment. He believes you have the resolve to get past it." "I am not sure about resolving; I am angrier." "Are you going to be training again tomorrow?" "I hope to, but I wish to do both, and only doing one day in four with claws may not be enough to improve well." "We can always split the training. You don''t have to do three days to one, but we can do a one-on-one split if that would help." "I won''t get a rest day then, though. I thought you said we had to rest every three days?" "If you had split the training, as I mentioned before, you could have done claws on your down day as it is not as strenuous." "It may not be as strenuous, but it''s definitely as painful, if not more so." She replied subconsciously rubbing her arms. "The decision is yours, but I think you can continue progressing with your Kata that way. Yes, it will mean you progress slower, but combining your Kata with your main weapon will benefit you more overall." "I suppose. I wanted to reach Level 6 Kata for my next skill." "You are nearly there anyway. The claw training still uses form, and the form adjustments will also help your Kata. However, it will also throw your targets off when sparring, as they will not realise the adjustments you have made." "Won''t that impact its effectiveness?" "No. If anything, it will enhance it. I''m not a fist weapon specialist; I only use my fists and occasionally knuckle dusters. Your claw proficiency changes everything slightly." "It''s good to know the beating has a result to it then," SJ frowned. Lorna turned away laughing, leaving SJ to pick at her rations, awaiting the next hour of torture. The rest of the day followed a similar pattern, although as the afternoon wore on, SJ noticed Jurgen was no longer striking her as often. She was hoping this was a good sign. "That''s it for today," Jurgen announced after a final whack on her forearm. Wincing, rubbing the new bruise, she turned to look at him. "It is a good job. I heal quickly," she huffed. "Ha. You will be fine by the morning. The bruising will have gone, the perk of a Legionnaire." "Do you not heal bruises as quickly?" "Only with the use of a salve. A bruise for us is a bruise, after all. It is only your kind who have the benefits of your prolific healing. That is why I am not concerned about how many times I hit you today," he grinned. "You were enjoying yourself, weren''t you?" "A little, perhaps," he replied, smiling slyly. "I am not sure I enjoy being your beating post." "You will have noticed you received many less this afternoon as your technique improved. It is amazing how much a sharp pain can make you focus." Grumbling, SJ thanked Jurgen and promised to train with him again in two days, but she would be with Lorna tomorrow. Walking from the training ground, Dave decided to add to her misery by breaking out into a song, which is the tune of Dinah Washington''s iconic song, What A Difference A Day Makes. What a difference a bruise makes, Twenty-four every hour. What the stick can cause you, Provides you with pain and sorrow. "Stop already. I bet you have been working on that all day," SJ groaned. "And don''t quit your day job. Your singing is terrible." "I would never quit my day job. Watching a Legionnaire getting beaten is good fun," Dave replied hysterically. Throughout the day, Dave had been breaking out into fits of laughter, which had only helped with her determination to succeed. Having Dave laugh at her sporadically was annoying, but no more than being hit by Jurgen''s stick. "I wish sometimes you could appreciate that being hit by something hurts. I don''t suppose you have ever experienced pain." "I have. I stubbed my toe the other day. I turned the air blue and hopped around for ages." "What? You have toes?" SJ asked, completely baffled. "No. I just thought it may make you feel better." "Grrrr," SJ growled. I''m going to see Cristy and see how she''s doing." "That will be nice," Dave replied happily. SJ got the feeling that Dave liked Cristy. He hadn''t said anything directly, but it was his tone when he spoke. Arriving at the Orphanage, SJ walked to the front desk. She saw a group of children playing in the room behind the counter. "Hi. I came to see Cristy," She said, approaching and asking the attendant Kobold. "Oh. I am sorry, but Cristy isn''t here." "What?" SJ said, confused. "Wait here a moment," Kobold replied before she walked to a closed door and knocked. Moments later, Madeline walked out. "Oh. SJ. I am so glad you have called in. Cristy is missing." "What?" SJ said, shock registering on her face, "When did she go missing?" "This morning, I reported it to the guard and sent a message to the Inn, but they told me you had already left." "Do you know where she may have gone?" "I honestly don''t know. All she has been going on about since she got her is revenge. Ever since she returned from the funerals, she has spent most of her time alone in her room. It was only this morning when we went to look for her when she didn''t answer the breakfast call that we discovered this," Madeline handed SJ a piece of parchment. Taking the parchment, SJ read what was on it. It was a very rough map scrawled onto it, and although the words were spelt incorrectly, it showed the town, woods, lake, and an arrow pointing to the valley where the Hobs were based. "She is going after the Hobs!" SJ exclaimed. "We think so. When I arrived this morning, we found she had taken a small backpack, and the cook said the pantry had been broken into. I didn''t think anything of it initially, as we have had Orphans help themselves at night several times." "Has anyone gone to look for her?" SJ''s heart was racing. How could she have been allowed to leave unnoticed? "The guards are aware, and one of the druids has sent a message to his scouts to keep watch, but nothing has been reported back yet." "Damn," SJ cursed. "I am going to speak to Captain Broadaxe. The guard must be able to do more to help." Turning on her heels, she stormed out of the Orphanage and headed towards the barracks. ? Chapter 62 – Missing Gnoll SJ stormed into the barracks, her anger building as she had walked there. The poor Human member of the guard, struck by the flying door, staggered backwards, holding his now bloody nose. "Owww," the guard cried. All the heads from those who sat at the desks in the central area turned and peered over at the dramatic entrance SJ had just made. "I am so sorry," SJ exclaimed, seeing the blood gushing from his crooked nose. Ripping part of her sleeve off, she handed it to the guard, who stared at her with confusion and hostility. "Be more careful next time," he said, taking the piece of cloth and holding it to his nose. SJ''s sleeve began to repair itself as the guard''s eyes opened in amazement. "Cool dress," he said, nodding his head in appreciation, before continuing his journey out the door, wincing as he squeezed his nose. SJ turned, trying to compose herself, and walked meaningfully up to the front desk. The usual old Orc sat behind the counter and eyed her suspiciously. "And what brings you here so quickly that you injure one of the town guards?" Feeling flustered now rather than the anger that had been building, she replied in a much meeker voice than she had intended. "I am here to see Captain Broadaxe, please." "I am sorry he is not in," the Orc replied. "Is there anyone I can speak to who can help me?" "It depends on the issue. If you tell me, I can inquire about who may be best suited." "Cristy is missing from the Orphanage, and I want to know what is being done about it." "Ah, I see. Well, that''s the usual procedure for any missing being. The druids are scouting, and the guards are looking for signs." "Has no one started to go after her then?" "Go after her? She is an orphaned Gnoll. Do you expect the guard to give up their duties to run after a child?" The response sent SJ''s blood boiling for an instant. "THAT IS MY EXACT POINT. SHE IS AN ORPHANED CHILD," she bellowed. "You need to calm down. There is no need to shout. The standard missing protocols are being followed. She has not even been gone for more than twelve hours. Many children will return home once they get hungry. It has happened before and won''t be the first or last time." "You do know why she has gone missing, don''t you?" "We received the report from the orphanage that she has been missing since before breakfast," the Orc replied, looking at the ledger before him. "And what about this?" SJ said, slamming the crudely drawn map under his nose onto the counter. The Orc looked over it briefly, "Whoever did this needs to learn how to spell." "Cristy drew it. It was found in her room; she is heading to the Hobgoblins." The old Orc scratched his head slightly, looking at the map again. "I suppose this could be the lake and the forest," he said. "Are you for real? Her dad was killed in the latest raid, and she said to me previously she was going to hunt them down and kill them. She has now disappeared, taking a small backpack and stealing food from the orphanage pantry. Don''t you think it is all a little coincidental and that to say that she will probably return this evening is acceptable?" SJ hissed angrily. At that moment, SJ noticed Mayor Maxwell walking down the stairs from his office. "Mayor," she called, pushing through the barrier and walking up to him as the old Orc protested. "SJ! What''s wrong?" he asked, frowning deeply. "Cristy is missing, and these buffoons are not doing anything to find her." "Buffoons?" The Mayor responded. "Idiots is that a better word," she snapped. "You mean little Cristy Henrick''s daughter?" "Yes. She disappeared this morning and hasn''t been seen since. She left this in her room," SJ said, handing the map to the Mayor. He looked at it briefly before looking up and over at the old Orc sitting on the desk. "Do you know where Alice went?" "She went to the Baker''s some dispute over flour pricing. Why?" he replied. "Can you ask one of the guards to find her and ask her to return to see me as soon as possible?" "Certainly, Mayor." "Come, SJ, let''s go upstairs. You look like you need a drink," The Mayor said, directing her to the stairs. SJ was stalking back and forth across the Mayor''s office. He had offered her a drink, but she had declined, asking for a coffee instead. A large Bugbear walked into the room carrying a tray and placed it on the cupboard at the side of the room. "Coffee," he asked. "Please," SJ''s single-word response came. He poured her a large mug and brought it to her. Mayor Maxwell sat behind his large desk. He was such a bear of a man that he even made the desk look small when he sat behind it. He leaned over a map, studying it. "Thank you. Karlson," he said, not looking up. SJ stopped pacing for the first time since she had reached his office. She took the mug and sipped the hot liquid. "If Cristy has really headed towards the valley, she won''t have reached it yet. Looking at the distance, I expect it to take her at least a day. Reaching the river is one thing. Getting down into the valley is another. The trail by the river is not easy to traverse." "I can''t believe nothing has been done yet," SJ fumed. "I wouldn''t say nothing. I would say that the usual protocol was followed. Until you showed me the map about her plans, no one would have expected her to go down to the valley." "How did the guards, it was reported to, not ask?" "I will find out, don''t worry, but in their defence, which I know isn''t very helpful now. The number of reports they receive about missing children is quite high. Parents are known to overly worry, and nearly always, they end up back home as expected." "I understand that, but she was an orphan who had spoken about revenge," SJ kicked at one of the chair legs in front of the Mayor''s desk. The Mayor raised an eyebrow, looking at her. "Sorry," she replied, "I am just so angry and upset." "As soon as Alice is here, I will ask her to send Rex out looking. He can let her other familiars know. I am sure we can find her soon enough." "I hope so," SJ replied, sitting in one of the chairs. "At least you are no longer wearing the wood out on the floor," the Mayor said, smiling at her. "I just want Cristy back home and safe." "I know, and we will find her. Don''t worry." SJ sat silently, drinking her coffee. Once she had finished the first mug, she got up and poured herself another. It wasn''t much later when Alice returned to the offices. "Mayor. You wished to see me?" she asked, looking at SJ. "Yes. Alice, thank you for coming. I hope you got the issue resolved you were looking into?" he asked. "Yes, it is sorted out. Hubert was up to his old tricks again. Gladys has pulled him in line." "Ha. He tries the price scam every few months. You would have thought he would have tried something new by now," the Mayor chuckled. "What did you need me for so urgently?" Alice enquired. SJ had been sitting, frustrated at the general conversation, and couldn''t hold back. "Cristy is missing, and we need to find her," she said bluntly. "Cristy?" Alice asked. "Henrick''s surviving daughter, she had been staying at the orphanage and disappeared this morning," the Mayor said. "And what is unusual about that?" Alice asked, frowning. "It appears she has given herself a quest seeking revenge," the Mayor replied. "What!" Alice exclaimed. "Here," the Mayor picked up the sheet of parchment, holding it out for Alice. Taking the map, she looked over it for a few moments before looking up with a shocked expression. "You think she will have gone to the Hobs village?" "SJ does, and I am strongly inclined to support the theory. Grief can be hard to overcome without direction and guidance," he replied. "What did you wish me to do?" Alice asked. "Could you have Rex and your others look for her towards the valley? They would ignore a Gnoll travelling through the woods, but she is still so young and defenceless." "I can. I will call Rex now. It may take some time for him to get the message to the rest." "The sooner the better." "May I?" Alice asked. "Please," the Mayor replied. Alice walked over to the window in the Mayor''s office where SJ had seen Rex land previously. Taking what SJ thought was a whistle from her pocket, she blew on it. No sound came out that she could hear, at least. "I don''t know how long it will take him to return. I will go and wait in my office," Alice said as she walked from the room. "There, we have done all we can for now. The familiars will be the best option to locate her," the Mayor said. "What about getting her to return, though?" SJ asked. "Once we locate her, we can send some guards to bring her back." "That could take hours, though." "Yes, it may, but what other option do we have? There is no guarantee that she stayed on the main path in the woods." "I can''t just sit around here and wait," SJ said. "I am going to go and start heading towards the valley on the off chance she is still on the path." "I can''t stop you from doing what you think is best; just be careful; there have been reports of increasing activity in the woods over the past few days." "What activity?" "Wolves. There is a suspicion that Dire Wolf may have led a pack onto the ridge." "That is even more reason to be out there looking," SJ replied in shock. "We still don''t know if she has gone that way. I would wait until we get the reports back." If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. "I am not going to leave it on the off chance she isn''t," SJ stated flatly, frustration building in her again. Standing, she walked to the tray and placed the mug down. "Thank you for your help, Mayor." "Be careful," the Mayor replied with a genuine look of concern on his face. Walking out of the barracks, SJ swore under her breath. "Why are they not sending guards," she hissed. "I can see both sides," Dave replied. "If there is a Dire Wolf in the area, they must be careful whatever they do." "And what about Cristy?" "I know it''s difficult to understand, but the Mayor was right. We don''t actually know if she has headed that way." "I am not leaving it to chance," SJ replied. Heading straight back to the Inn and ignoring any of the usual patrons she shared pleasantries with, she went straight upstairs to her wardrobe. She selected the few items she wanted to take and closed them before returning. Fhyliss called to her as she walked out of the Inn, but she did not respond. As she stalked through town, she drew several looks with a scowl on her face. "Why am I walking!" she hissed, transforming into her miniature size and beginning to zip through the streets. Several townsfolk looked startled at her miniature form, suddenly whistling by them. Reaching the edge of town, she flew straight out over the field where she had battled the Hobs and into the forest. The path was well worn, and staying a few feet above it, she was making good time. It had been late afternoon when she had gone to the barracks, and by the time Alice had returned and spoken to them both, the evening was starting to draw in. SJ couldn''t stop thinking how scared Cristy would be in the forest at night. She flew as fast as she could down the trail, hoping that she would have stayed on it. She had gotten lost as a small child in the Trafford Centre in Manchester and remembered how she had felt then and the people around her¡ªnever mind being alone. "3 o''clock," Dave suddenly said, having remained quiet since she had set off. SJ glanced sideways and noticed a pair of glowing eyes in the trees off the side of the trail. She raised herself further off the ground, ignoring whatever it was, and continued her journey. "What was it?" "A wolf," Dave said. "I haven''t got time for them now." "No, but if you find Cristy, it''s something to consider when you return. If a Dire Wolf is up here, they will have a pack with them." "And I will kill anything that gets in my way or dares to try and harm Cristy." "Valiant words, but until you know their levels, that may be easier said than done." "Anything, I said. I don''t care who or what they are," the intensity in SJ''s voice startled even Dave. "Understood," he replied sincerely. The trail twisted and turned through the forest, and at her current speed, she was covering it much faster than her initial visit to the town. The difference between her flying speed and her average walking speed was phenomenal. She had seen no signs of anything unusual and ploughed through the forest as fast as she could. Knowing how long Cristy had been gone, she thought she could easily have travelled most of the way, if not to the river by now. The light slowly faded as she flew, her improved vision allowing her to see still as she whipped down the trail. Nothing had come near her, and she didn''t think anything ground-based could, even if they wished to the height and speed she moved. As she reached the break in the forest, recognising a gnarled old tree she had passed around the lake, she slowed down. She knew just up ahead, the forest ended, and the river fell to the valley. As she neared, she could hear the running water cascading down the mountainside. Shuddering slightly as she reached the area the Raven had grabbed her not so long ago, she landed for the first time since she had set off. Her breathing was perfectly normal, and although her wing muscles ached a little from the constant flying, they did not hamper her. Growing to her humanoid size, she stood looking down the river''s edge towards the valley bottom. In the valley far below, she could see speckles of orange and yellow, which must be fires or lanterns from the Hobgoblin village. Taking a moment to drink from her waterskin and eat some of her rations, she shrunk again to her miniature form before taking off. Staying on the left side of the river, she began to track it down much slower, keeping an eye out for any signs. Not knowing if or even how far exactly Cristy could have gone, she was worried that she may have passed her, especially if she had moved off the trail to find shelter as it had started to get dark. Her senses suddenly flared, and she stopped dead, spinning around in the air. "There is something in the woods," she whispered. "Can''t see anything, Dave replied. Moving up so that she was nearer the height of the branches of the trees that accompanied the river path, she edged towards them. She heard a voice as she neared. "Boss will like this one. He has always had a thing for Gnoll," a voice said. "Little small though," another replied. "Placed on a sandwich with some fresh fish, I bet he would love it," the first voice replied with a round of laughter from several others. "That has to be Cristy they are talking about," SJ whispered. "Possibly. I haven''t seen anything yet," Dave said. Edging forward into the branches, SJ caught a glimpse of a fire not too far ahead. Weaving through the treetops, she approached until she came to the edge of a clearing. Sitting in the clearing was a group of eight Hobgoblins, and by the side of the largest one was a small sack. As SJ watched, she noticed it move. The Hob next to it thumped it. "I said don''t move," it said. An audible groan came from the contents of the bag. Looking at how these Hobs were dressed, none appeared to be magic users, and SJ took the chance to use Identification. Hobgoblin Lead Scout Level: 11 Hit Points: 60 Mana Points: 55 Armour Class: 12 Attacks: Pierce/Slash Special: Hide Hobgoblin Scout Level: 8 Hit Points: 45 Mana Points: 45 Armour Class: 9 Attacks: Pierce/Slash Special: Nil Hobgoblin Fighter x 6 Level: 7 Hit Points: 50 Mana Points: 40 Armour Class: 8 Attacks: Stab/Slash Special: Nil There was no way she could take them on, eight versus one, and with the levels they had, it didn''t matter how anger-filled she now was; it would be a hopeless fight. Frustration built inside her as she looked at what she assumed was the small, helpless form of Cristy inside the sack. She turned back away from the makeshift camp they had set up and moved back towards the river. With the sound of the rushing water, she now spoke to Dave. "I need to do something," SJ whispered. "What? You can''t possibly be thinking of fighting that many alone." "I have to try and do something, though." "Wait until they are asleep, or at least some are. I am assuming they will have a guard posted." "I know I am an assassin, but I can''t do that much damage in one hit to kill them. Which means they would be able to wake the others." "If you slit a person''s throat while they are sleeping, they are going to receive maximum damage plus critical as incapacitated." "That is still asking a lot. As they bleed out, they could disturb the others." "True. Although being awoken in the middle of the night with a friend bleeding out with a slit throat would scare them half to death." "I will keep watching them and see what happens. If they post a guard, I may be able to do something, or I may even get a chance to grab Cristy and run instead of facing them." "A good plan, but there is no way you can do that in miniature form. You may escape but those Hob Scouts would track Cristy easily, and there is one huge assumption that you are still making." "What?" "That it definitely is Cristy, in the bag." "It has to be. How many other small Gnolls would you expect to find out here." "Oh. I agree that it more than likely is, but it is still an assumption." SJ didn''t respond, trying to think of a way to free the Gnoll, whether it was Cristy or not. "SJ." "Yes?" "I have an idea. A completely insane and stupid idea, but an idea." "Go on." "You know that wolf we passed back in the forest." SJ immediately thought she knew where this was going and wasn''t happy with the direction. "Yes." "What if you drew them here?" "How did I know you were going to say that." "If there is a Dire Wolf, then there will be a pack, and a pack of wolves, even if lower level than the Hobs, would cause mayhem." "But how would I draw them here without being the main bait myself?" "I haven''t quite thought about that part yet." "I am just going to go back and watch them for now and see what they do." Taking back off from the branch she had landed on, she returned to the campfire, stopping on a high branch of a tree and overseeing the clearing. Even with night vision, there was no way they would see her six-inch-high form hidden in the canopy. The Hobs had been cooking, and as she watched, they began to pack up. To her surprise, they started to kick dirt over the fire, putting it out. As she watched, they packed up the few belongings they had, and the highest-level scout picked up the sack and, without any care, threw it over his shoulder. "Come on, let''s go. We will be back before first light, and the next patrol should already be on its way." The other Hobs began to follow the group leader as he moved through the treeline, parallelling the river. SJ slowly began to follow, keeping her distance and staying high in the canopy. The fading light gave her night vision an ethereal glow as the light faded. They followed what must have been an animal track through the forest and eventually began to descend towards the valley floor. The sides were steep, and the trees looked as though they clung to them with only a few roots, giving the impression that they could topple over at any moment. Following, at a distance, she came to the edge of the forest. A sharp incline path wove down the remaining side where scree had taken over from the trees. It even looked as though rough steps had been cut into the side of the valley. SJ moved out and high above them, looking down following their continuing descent. There was nothing she could do, the leader being at the front of the group of eight. "Stop wriggling," it growled as it deliberately jostled the sack on his back. SJ was starting to feel panic rise in her chest. She could not attack them, but she had to try and do something to stop them. Looking back up the steep slope, she saw an opportunity and flew towards it. A large boulder was perched precariously slightly off the Hob''s path, but if she could get it to fall. Landing behind it, at least a hundred feet above where the Hobs were, she grew to her full size and pushed her weight against the boulder. Gravity would do the rest if only she could get it to start moving. Hoping this wasn''t as stupid an idea as she thought it might be, she strained against the boulder. The scree it sat on shifted slightly, and she pushed again with all her strength. Again, it moved ever so slightly, scraping. The Hobs were now nearly directly below it. Leaning against it, bracing her feet against the valley side, she pushed again, and then it happened. The boulder began to move slowly at first, sliding on the scree side, and then it started to roll as its mass pulled it downwards. As it picked up speed, crashing into the loose scree that also began to fall, sliding like a stone avalanche under the persuasion of the boulder. The sound was horrendous, and SJ shrunk to her miniature form and took off as it careered towards the party of Hobs. Screams of panic started to erupt from them as they began to sprint back or forward in the case of the leader to get out of the way of the stone avalanche. The boulder reached them first, crashing into one of the Hobs, who had managed to slide off the trail and scramble back to his feet. Its body was catapulted out from the valley''s side, and it fell screaming down the face, landing with a sickening crunch and then sliding. In the meantime, the smaller rocks and scree had started to arrive, pelting the remaining Hobs with small stone missiles. None of them were the size of the boulder, but the amount that had been set free by the single movement was a sight to behold. SJ had been hoping for a distraction that split them not the side of the valley shifting the way it had. Three more were taken out by the rockslide and carried further down the valley''s side. The passing of the stones kicked up a thick cloud of dust, and SJ flew in the direction of the leader, who still carried the sack, thankfully making it away from the cascading rocks. He had kept moving forward with another while the remaining two stood on the other side of a thirty-foot-wide deadly scree field. They were calling to each other and down at their colleagues, only two of whom SJ heard weakly calling back. "Go get them," the lead Hob shouted. SJ watched as the one with the leader and the other two began to cautiously work their way onto the loose stone and begin to approach their fallen comrades. One of them slipped, sending a fresh cascade of rocks into the midst of those below and causing further shouts and screams. This was going to be the best chance SJ would have. Flying over to where the lead scout stood, looking down and shouting orders, she silently landed and grew. Chapter 63 – Oooo Shiny The lead scout had dropped the sack unceremoniously onto the ground, where it wriggled. SJ reached full size as the Scout screamed at his comrades below. Knowing this would not be an easy kill and having to ensure most from the surprise attack, SJ steadied herself, glancing over its armour-clad body to see where the gaps were. It was a split-second decision, but along with its open neck and head, its shoulders and arms were unprotected. It was waving and pointing down the slopes where the other Hobs were. At that moment, she struck her single-day training from Jurgen, which was fresh in her mind, only finishing it a couple of hours earlier. She tensed her fists and, with two fast, clean punches, struck it in its neck and then upwards into its armpit. It shrieked in pain as its neck was pierced, but with the continuing chaos below and the rocks still rolling by in a lesser number, she didn''t care. Her upward strike under its armpit also struck true, and she saw the tips of her blade pierce through its shoulder. Surprise Attack ¨C your surprise attack has triggered a critical strike. Watching in amazement, SJ saw the Hobs health plummet; it had 60 hit points to start with and, after both hits, now sat on 18. The damage increases due to the criticality and surprise being significant boosts over her basic damage capability. The Hob began to spin towards her, its left arm not functioning properly as it hung limply at its side, the claws having severed something critical, preventing its use. She was no doctor, so she couldn''t name what it may have been. It saw her with shock registering on its face. "You," it hissed as a short sword appeared in its right hand, swinging towards her in a slashing motion. The slope was uneven, and she stepped back as the sword swung at her, the Scout''s incapacitated arm flopping about. The speed with which the Scout had reacted had taken her by surprise; she had not expected it to move so quickly, and its blade cut into her abdomen as she stepped backwards, trying to maintain her balance. Grimacing from the cut she felt across her stomach, she immediately stepped in as its arm continued its unbalanced slash at her. Stabbing out with her left, she jabbed into its right arm. The Hob, without the use of its left arm, was very unsure on the scree, and it staggered slightly and, in doing so, ended up moving out of the way of her punch. She followed with a front kick to the Hob, bringing its sword arm back across as she did. The abdominal hit had removed 12 hit points, and her foot connected with the Hob''s stomach as the blade of its short sword connected with her outstretched leg. The Hob staggered backwards further, beginning to fall onto the scree, losing its sword as she also lost her balance, fell sideways, and began sliding. The Hob''s eyes went wide as it flailed its good arm, trying to stay upright as SJ fell sideways, crashing hard onto the stones. She received another 11 damage, meaning the Hob had almost reduced her to half-hit points in two hits. Neither of which had been clean strikes. She slid towards the Hob, and as she did, she pivoted and brought her claws around to face it. The Hob had begun to slide backwards, now trying to right itself, scrambling at the rocks to gain purchase. She wasn''t bothering, allowing the momentum of the slide to bring her in range again. She couldn''t strike at it properly, but she could hit its arm, leaning into the slope, trying to right itself, and swinging her claws around in a vicious stroke. She did so. The Hob had no control of its left arm flopping uselessly at its side, and it couldn''t defend itself, having dropped its sword as it had fallen, and she raked her claws across its right arm. It screamed in pain again, and this time, it didn''t stay crouched, falling forward onto her. As it came crashing down onto her upper body, she just managed to turn one of her claw sets upwards. Her claws penetrated its good arm. It was now half-covering her. Screaming in anger and pain, both its arms were virtually disabled as they both began to pick up speed over the rocky terrain. SJ''s health was taken down by the abrasion damage and the weight of the Hob on top of her, pushing her to the surface. SJ could only think of one thing, and rather than try and fight, she began to shrink. "What are you doing?" Dave screamed. She had noticed where her feet were compared to the Hob, and as she shrunk, she pried her blades free and was drawn away from under it. The Hob was only on the top half of her body, and not being able to grab her, she broke free from its weight. It stank awful, and its odour permeated her nostrils. SJ was now in her miniature form, no longer under the pressure of the Hob''s weight. The sliding scree looked huge in comparison, and the small pebbles were more like catapult ammunition. As soon as her body was free, she pushed herself up and jumped, beating her wings as fast as possible. She lifted from the rock surface in her miniature form, flying up and away from the continuing bombardment of stone and dust. The Hob stared at her with pure anger as she rose, continuing to slide. In an instant, she had managed to take off and escape danger. Watching the Hob as it collided with a lone tree that clung onto the valley wall. The Scout let out a wail as it bounced off the trunk. SJ watched its health slowly being reduced as it disappeared to the other side of the tree and went out of sight. Following its path, SJ realised that the valley side became sheer, and as she gained sight, the Hob fell over the cliff edge screaming before landing on its back on a rock ledge thirty feet below. It only had five hit points left now, and SJ would not let it survive. She flew straight down towards it, where it lay with its broken body struggling to move, and as she neared landing, she grew again. Reaching full size as her knee crashed into its stomach, and her claws penetrated its chest. Its eyes opened in shock, agony, and disbelief as it lost its life. SJ immediately stood panting; she was injured, covered in grime and bleeding. The remaining Hobs were still a fair distance away, and with the injuries several had sustained, they could not get near to where she now was quickly or easily. One of them shouted curses at her as her display triggered. Hobgoblin Scout Level 12 killed 120xp gained. She looted the corpse, shrunk, and took off. 3 x dry rations, 1 x waterskin small, 78 x copper Heading straight back up to where their initial brawl had started. She found the sack still lying where it had been covered in a layer of dust from the rocks and landed quickly growing again. Bending down, she grabbed the top of the bag and, using her claws, cut the top from it. The relief she felt on seeing the wide, terrified eyes of Cristy was immeasurable. "Are you ok to move? We need to get out of here," she said, looking at the round, startled eyes. "SJ?" the little Gnoll replied in shock. "Yes. Can you move?" "Yes," Cristy replied as she wiggled out of the remainder of the sack, trying to look around and get her bearings. Two of the Hobs were trying to edge their way back across the slope towards them, struggling on the loose surface. This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. "I will find us a route. We need to reach safer ground," SJ said, shrinking again. Switching between forms at will was unbelievably advantageous, so she quickly took off and looked back up the slope from where they had come. The route looked terrible, but the ground looked sturdier and less loose. Also, with Cristy''s much lither and nimble form, she would hopefully not struggle on the loose rocks to the same degree. "Follow my instructions," SJ called, from where she flew a few feet above the slope. Cristy looked at her with wide-eyed terror, turning and glancing back at the Hobgoblins, who were still trying to fight their way up the slope to where she stood. "Now, Cristy. Move." Turning and looking at SJ, Cristy began to move. Following SJ''s instructions, she began to pick her way up the rocky slope. A treeline began approximately fifty feet above where they were, and the ground levelled slightly, and the rocks gave way. SJ flew towards it, looking back. Even though Cristy was small, she still threw up the odd stone that toppled towards the Hobgoblins, who were slowly gaining ground on her position. "Quicker," SJ called. "I am trying," Cristy cried, her small face fear-stricken. It was obvious that she had never expected what had happened to her, and she was terrified by the fact that she had been captured. The Hobgoblins eventually returned to where the lead scout dropped Cristy. They were still a hundred feet behind her now. "Twenty feet," SJ called. Cristy continued to scramble until she eventually made the trees. The ground became firmer, allowing her to grip and proceed much faster. The tree coverage was still sparse compared to the forests at the top of the ridge and didn''t offer many areas to find cover or hide from the Hobs that were angrily calling after them. SJ looked up ahead from her height, and in the moonlight that now filled the sky, and with her night vision, she saw what appeared to be a cave entrance. Calling down to Cristy, she directed her towards it. SJ flew ahead, and as she neared it, it only looked large enough to fit a small child into the entrance or, in her case, a miniature fae. Cristy was approaching behind her as she landed by the small cave mouth. "In here," SJ called to Cristy as she moved inside. When she moved out of the reach of the natural light, her vision went, and she was soon surrounded by total darkness. Cursing, she stopped and called a torch from her inventory and her flint and steel before fumbling in the dark to try and light it. She heard Cristy panting behind her. "SJ," Cristy called. "I''m in here; come in. The Hobs can''t fit," she replied. "It''s dark," Cristy called back nervously. SJ continued to strike the flint, creating sparks and lighting the tunnel for the briefest of moments. "What scares you more, the Hobs or the dark?" SJ shouted back from where she struggled to light the torch. "Hobs," Cristy replied, SJ hearing the nervous tension in her breathless voice as she heard her begin to move into the tunnel. The torch eventually lit, but its match-sized glow did little to improve her vision in the tunnel. "I don''t know how long this tunnel is, but we need to keep going," SJ said. Turning SJ, she could see Cristy just a few feet behind her, and she began to walk forward again. The tunnel shrank slightly, and SJ worried it might even start getting too small for Cristy. She pushed on, though, and after a further ten feet, it began to widen again, and height increased to the point that SJ could no longer make out the tunnel ceiling in the light cast by the torch. "Can you reach the tunnel ceiling?" SJ asked. "No," Cristy replied, who was now standing up in the tunnel. She was only about two feet tall, and SJ was unsure how high the ceiling was. Taking a chance, she crouched down and began to grow. As her size increased, so did the torch''s brightness, and her eyes were met with the wonders inside the cavern they had entered. It wasn''t huge, but SJ could see bright silvery-blue veins running through the rock''s surface. The veins drew a cobweb of patterns, and SJ gawped in amazement at their beauty being reflected. "I wonder what this is?" SJ asked, more to herself. Little Cristy now stood by her side. "It''s a Mithril vein, and I have no idea what it is doing here. Mithril is a high-level material and should be nowhere near this area. I doubt there are even any miners who would have the skills to mine it. Dwarven miners would go crazy if they knew this was here," Dave replied with amazement in his voice. "I don''t know," Cristy replied, standing open-mouthed and admiring the ore''s beautiful reflections. "Sorry, Cristy. I didn''t expect you to. I was talking aloud to myself. It''s mesmerising." "It is very pretty," Cristy replied. Standing in the chamber, SJ could hear the voices of two of the Hobs. They must have made it to the cave and seen them enter. "I can''t fit in there," she heard one of them say angrily. "Try. You''re smaller than me." "You must be joking." "You think the Ogre will joke if we go back empty-handed." "What do you mean empty-handed? We weren''t even meant to bring anything back. It was pure luck that the Gnoll walked into us, and the rockslide wasn''t our fault." "Did you see her, though? It was the one who attacked the Mage and has now killed Svert. The boss is going to be fuming." "Still not our fault." "His temper won''t see it that way." "We need to go and get Creti and Kouli from the rocks. They are still trapped." "I suppose." SJ listened as their voices trailed off as they moved further from the mouth of the cave. "I think we should stay here for the night and head back in the morning," SJ said. She had brought a blanket, grabbed it from her inventory, and handed it to Cristy. "Here, take this." "Thank you," Cristy said. "I am sorry for getting you into trouble." SJ didn''t have the heart to be angry at Cristy for running off; she would speak to her about how stupid she had been at some point, but not now. They still weren''t safe yet. SJ took another torch from her inventory and lit it, placing it into the ground of the cavern so it bathed the area in light. "Wait, here, I will see how far this cavern goes back. SJ slowly walked through the cavern, remembering the Crepar from the last cave she visited. She equipped her claws. After checking the whole area for entrances, she discovered none, meaning the only way in or out was the way they had come. "There is no other way out. In the morning, we will head back out and back up onto the ridge back to town," SJ said, returning to Cristy, sitting on the cavern floor with her legs hunched up and the blanket over her. Taking her waterskin from her inventory, she handed it to Cristy, who took it eagerly, taking a long pull before handing it back. SJ did the same and then put it away again. The cavern floor was quite smooth and had more of a sandy texture than rock, and she settled herself down, lying on her back with her hands behind her head. "Try and get some sleep," SJ said. Cristy didn''t respond but began to settle down. SJ was just starting to drift off when she felt the small form move next to her. She instinctively put her arm out, and Cristy rested her head on her shoulder and cuddled into her side. SJ pulled the blanket, which covered them both. SJ lay there as still as she could. She listened to Cristy''s breathing, and it began to slow. Eventually, Cristy began to snore gently. Smiling, SJ stroked the small Gnoll on her head and closed her eyes again. It wasn''t long before sleep took her. ? Chapter 64 – Homeward Bound! SJ slowly removed her arm from around Cristy, not wishing to awaken her yet. She made a soft grumbling sound before curling up in a tight ball. Leaning over, SJ placed the blanket over her tiny form. Standing and stretching, SJ looked around the cave again. The torch she had planted in the ground was nearly burned out, and she took another from her inventory, igniting it. Picking up the almost finished one, she moved quietly back towards the cave entrance. Shrinking down to her miniature form, she walked back along the tunnel until she began to see the bright light of the morning sun at the cave''s mouth. Looking at her display, it was only 0700 hrs. As expected, she had fully healed overnight, and her dress was pristine again. She could feel a mild ache in her wing muscles, which must have been due to the speed she had flown when searching for Cristy. "Morning, Dave," she said quietly as she approached the entrance. "Morning," he replied cheerily. "I need to get Cristy back to town." Reaching the entrance, she dropped the torch, stood on it to extinguish it fully, and peered out of the entrance. Listening quietly, she could hear nothing apart from the calls of early morning birds. Slowly stepping out into the sun, its warmth immediately hit her. Closing her eyes, she stood and rotated her shoulders a few times, helping to ease the stiffness in her back. "I wish I had brought my Dryac with me," SJ said. "Next time, remember it then," Dave replied, chuckling. "You think!" Looking down the valley''s side in the daylight gave a different perspective, and she slowly moved from the mouth of the cave, not wishing to fly just yet; she grew to her full size. Picking her way down the side, she reached the break where the trees gave way as the steepness increased and the side became scree. The sight in the daylight put a whole new perspective on what the boulder she had released had caused. A clear path was running down the slope where the triggered rockslide had torn its way down the side. She could see below where the steps had been cut in and that the path the Hobgoblins had been using had been obliterated. There were no visible signs of anyone around, and peering into the distant valley, she could see smoke rising down at the village. It must have still been a few hundred metres, if not further, from where she now stood. Judging the exact distances was deceiving from the being above the village. "I can''t believe they live so close to the town," SJ said. "It is unusual, as I have said before, but with the sandbox''s potential, it all makes sense. I am trying to discover if the town has implemented the same level starter cap, but my department friend has not replied since my last enquiry. I am unsure, but I may have gotten him into trouble." "I told you to be careful." "I was. The System can get a little grumpy at times." "You know I am still confused about who the System is and where it originates from." "Oof. No one knows. That has been a question since the first AI was born when Amathera was created." "I wonder how it interacts with Earth, though." "Again, no one has any idea. It is like the term you use on Earth when you ask what the meaning of life is. It is just as apparent here. Why was I created? What is my exact purpose? Is there anything else beyond this existence? The same questions with the same multiple answers, none of which anyone has ever managed to confirm or deny." "It starts to get philosophical and deep when you consider it all. The fact that there is a second chance at life from an accidental death means to me that maybe the System has control over Earth as well." "Would that then not make it the God that many people of Earth believe in?" "Perhaps," SJ replied, musing over the thought. Several moments passed before SJ spoke again. "Okay. Let''s get back to town and get Cristy safe." "Agreed," Dave said. Making her way back to the cave entrance, SJ shrunk again and walked inside, not worrying about lighting another torch. She edged her way along until the torch''s light from the chamber became visible. Walking in, she grew again; Cristy''s tiny form was still asleep under the blanket. SJ walked over and bent down next to her, gently striking her head. "Cristy. Time to get up." Cristy began to mumble, "Dad." SJ''s heart sank at hearing her mention her dad. What she must have and still be going through, she couldn''t imagine. "Cristy. It''s SJ. It''s time to get up. We need to get back to town." Cristy slowly opened her eyes, sitting up and rubbing them with her small, balled-up fists. Blinking, she looked at SJ, bent down next to her. "Morning," SJ said, smiling. "Morning," Cristy replied, yawning. "We need to get back to town and get you safe." "Okay." SJ called one of the rations from her inventory and handed it to Cristy,, who took it and began eating ravenously. She did the same with the waterskin. Once she had eaten, SJ put them away before packing the blanket away as well. "Come on, let''s go. I will check ahead as we move. Okay?" "Sure," Cristy replied. After collecting the torch, SJ led them back up the tunnel, shrinking to her miniature form. The bright sun made them squint as they stepped out into it, its warmth washing away Cristy''s weariness. "I am not sure of the route from here, so I will need to check," SJ said as she took off. "Wait here for a minute." It was the first time SJ had flown since yesterday, and she immediately felt the difference. Her back muscles were achy, but she wouldn''t let a little pain stop her. Moving higher and looking ahead, she found a path leading through the sparse trees, which looked easier to traverse until it reached the main forest line on the ridge. She returned to Cristy and began directing her where to go. It didn''t take them too long, and they had managed to make it back up to the top on even ground. The forest in front of them was thick, the trees close together, and there was no sign of a path. "I think we just push through," SJ said, growing to her full size and forcing through the thick underbrush. Cristy followed close on her heels, and SJ felt her reach out and take hold of the back of her dress. It was obvious that she didn''t want to be separated. They continued through the brush for a while before eventually coming to an animal track, which SJ turned and followed. Although it wasn''t easy, she could roughly tell the direction they needed to go. The track wound through the trees, weaving in and out of the thick trunks. There were sounds of life all around, and on more than one occasion, SJ stopped to check. Dave hadn''t spoken, and she knew he would scan the area for them. It was strange how he had become her third eye after their initial meeting, but she knew deep down that she could trust Dave with her life. That realisation that she was willing to place her life in the hands of another was something she had never experienced before. She had had close relationships, and at one time, she had been engaged, but never had she felt the same level of trust as she now did with an AI that she had known for less time than in any other relationship she had been in. She couldn''t explain the reasoning behind it. They had continued for nearly an hour when the trail came to a small pond area. There were tracks surrounding the pond in the soft earth, and it was frequented often looking at the number. SJ cautiously stepped out, but she could see nothing there. Working around the pond, they found another trail that continued into the forest, which, if her bearings were right, turned slightly towards the West. Not being sure she spoke. "I wish I had a map to confirm which direction we needed to go." Dave''s voice immediately replied, "Don''t worry. I will tell you if you are heading off track. This area is still covered in a fog of war, but looking at the larger map, you aren''t too far from the trail you originally came down. Just keep following this one." "We aren''t lost, are we?" Cristy said nervously. "No," SJ said, reassured by Dave''s words. "We just need to keep following this; it would be easier with a map." It took another twenty minutes to follow the new trail with no signs of danger, and SJ''s senses had not triggered once before they broke out onto the main trail. The trail was well-worn, and SJ recognised it straight away. Turning and heading back toward the town as it curved back around the side of the lake. "Now we are on the path. It shouldn''t take long," SJ said, smiling down at Cristy, who had moved to her side and held her hand. At that instant, her senses were triggered. Dragging Cristy, she immediately moved to the side of the trail and into some bushes at the base of a tree. "Shh," she said. Cristy looked at her with terrified eyes. She placed her finger to her lips and indicated that Cristy should stay where she was hidden in the thick bush as she shrunk to her miniature form. Sneaking out to the edge, she took off, flying straight up into the branches directly above before coming to a rest. From this vantage point, she could see up and down the track. "See anything?" she whispered. Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. "Nothing. I guess you sensed something?" Dave asked. "Yeah," SJ replied, still scanning the trail. Sitting silently watching, it was several moments before Dave spoke. "Movement to the right. The far edge of the trail. There is something just off the trail in the treeline." "Damn," SJ cursed. Watching intently, SJ stared at the area Dave had indicated and soon saw a very slight movement in the bushes. "I need Cristy off the ground," SJ whispered, taking off and dropping back down. Cristy had been staring up at her virtually the whole time, and on reaching her, she whispered. "Can you climb the tree?" Cristy looked at the tree they were next to and held out her paws with a nervous grin, which had rather sharp-looking claws on their ends. "Good. Then climb up to the branch I was sitting on." Cristy didn''t respond but began to reach and dig her claws into the tree''s bark and slowly began to climb. Thankfully, she hardly made a sound, and after a minute, she was fifteen feet off the ground and crouched on the branch. SJ returned and landed next to her again, looking back onto the trail. That was when she heard talking. "If the path hadn''t been destroyed, we would have been there by now," the voice grumbled. "Stop complaining. You know we are due back in a couple of days; we need to keep reporting," another replied. SJ saw the group coming from the southern part of the trail. Something had triggered her senses on the northern side, and now, on the South, she counted five Hobgoblins. Looking at them, she triggered her Identification skill. Hobgoblin Scout Level: 10 Hit Points: 55 Mana Points: 50 Armour Class: 7 Attacks: Pierce/Slash Special: Hide Hobgoblin Archer x 4 Level: 6 Hit Points: 35 Mana Points: 35 Armour Class: 4 Attacks: Pierce/Slash Special: Nil The party was weaker than the last group of Hobs, and looking at them, they were all lightly armoured. They were only equipped with bracers and greaves, and there was no chest protection she could see. Two of the four archers carried short bows, and two carried crossbows. The scout had what SJ thought was a long bow across its back. They all also carried either short swords or daggers on their belts. The party continued up the trail, which was nearly parallel to where SJ and Cristy were hidden on the branch, when the bushes exploded from the other side of the trail. The size of the beast that leapt out was significant. This was a monster compared to the Grey Wolf she had fought when she first arrived. Its fur was blue-black with a white mark between its shoulder blades. It stood almost four feet at its shoulder, and its maw was huge, yellowed fangs dripping with saliva as it landed on its first target. The poor Hob it had chosen screamed as its jaws clamped down around its throat, violently ripping and then turning on another. The Hobs, screaming and drawing their weapons, began to try to defend themselves. That was when four more wolves appeared from where the monstrous one had come. SJ again triggered her skill. Three of the wolves looked very similar to the one she had fought. The fourth was jet-black, and its fur gleamed in the sunlight. Dire Wolf Level: 14 Hit Points: 105 Mana Points: 25 Armour Class: 21 Attacks: Bite/Claw Special: Howl Grey Wolf x 3 Level: 6 Hit Points: 55 Mana Points: 0 Armour Class: 9 Attacks: Bite/Claw Special: Nil Black Wolf Level: 8 Hit Points: 70 Mana Points: 0 Armour Class: 11 Attacks: Bite/Claw Special: Nil As the fight developed, the Hobs dropped into a circle, their backs to each other, looking out at the beasts now prowling around them. The Dire Wolf had stood back from the other four when it let out a howl. It was one of the most terrifying sounds SJ had ever heard, and the forest went silent in response. Even the Hobs and Wolves seemed to flinch when it did. The wolves began to pick at the Hobs, moving in and back away again, trying to find an opening to strike. The Hobs were not giving up their ground, and SJ was impressed with their organisation. The wolves, on the other hand, were biding their time. The Hobs couldn''t attack because if one left the group, they would be left open to attack on that side. The circling, snapping, and slashing continued until one of the wolves made its first mistake. It had dived in towards one of the Hobs to snap at its arm and, on doing so, left its self-open to be attacked on its flank. The Hob next to its target swung with a short sword, catching it cleanly on its side. It yelped as a large cut was opened and it shrunk away. As it did, the Dire Wolf had seen enough and pounced. With no consideration of the other Hobs, it wouldn''t let its pack member be injured and ploughed straight into the four of them as though they were bowling pins. The screams and chaos that ensued were absolute mayhem. Once the Dire Wolf had scattered the other Hobs, it made them targetable by the rest of the pack, and they reacted, snapping and biting at the Hobs who tried to fight them off. The wolves had the advantage of five against four since the Dire Wolf''s initial target would never see another day, its corpse lying where it had initially been attacked. SJ watched as the wolves systematically used their advantage to attack the Hobs and placed bites on them, slowly wearing them down. The Dire Wolf soon made a meal of the one he had ploughed into. The struggle continued; two of the wolves were seriously injured, looking at one lying on its side and another lame and limping, its front paw bleeding heavily. However, the second-to-last Hobgoblin fell to the Black Wolf, and only the Scout Hobgoblin remained. His chest had scratch marks on it, and SJ had seen him defend at least two attacks with his bracers, and there were visible bite marks on them. The two remaining wolves and the Dire Wolf now stalked towards it. It cursed and hissed, swinging its blade in front of itself wildly as it tried to get in a position to attack. It didn''t take long; the scout was lucky enough to catch another wolf with the flat of its blade stunning it, but in the process, had opened its flank for the Dire Wolf, who had seized the opportunity and dove in, grabbing its outstretched arm carrying its sword and clamped down, shaking its head from side to side like a dog with a toy. The Hobgoblin was jostled and thrown off balance, tripping. As it did, the other wolf dove in as well. SJ watched in horrified amazement. "That was brutal," Dave said. SJ didn''t respond, still watching the display, when she suddenly realised that Cristy had moved. Turning rapidly, she saw her nearly at the base of the tree. Having been focused on what was happening on the ground, she hadn''t paid her any attention. As the Dire Wolf stepped back from the Hob Scout, it sat back on its haunches and howled. The forest again fell silent in its aftermath. SJ had hissed down at Cristy for her to stop, but she hadn''t slowed, and she reached the ground and walked onto the path before SJ could even take off and get down there. "No," SJ shouted, no longer trying to hide where she was. The Wolves turned at her cry, and the Dire Wolf tilted its head and looked in her direction. It growled, and a deep, unearthly sound left its throat. There was nothing SJ could do; she could not take on that Dire Wolf, especially with the other able-bodied wolves. Cristy, showing no signs of fear, walked out onto the trail. The wolves saw her, and one of them snarled, baring its teeth, and began to stalk at her. They were probably thirty feet from her and could be on her instantly at the speed they moved. SJ, panicking, took off and flew down to where she was. "Cristy, run, climb a tree now," she screamed at her only inches from her ear. Cristy paid her no heed and stood there looking at the Dire Wolf, not taking her eyes off it. The snarling wolf came closer, and the Dire Wolf snapped its jaws and growled. The other wolf came to a stop and turned its head, looking back at it. SJ was waiting for the pounce and could see the tension building in the Dire Wolf''s haunches, where it was still sitting after howling. It suddenly moved. SJ screamed as the beastly creature hurtled towards where Cristy stood. SJ flew up and instantly turned away, not wanting to watch Cristy get eaten.? Chapter 65 – Friends of the forest When SJ heard nothing, no scream, no cry, no growl, she slowly turned back and looked down. The scene made her eyes pop as if they were going to fly from her face. The Dire Wolf stood directly before Cristy, where it had landed from its pounce. It hadn''t attacked, and SJ heard Cristy giggle as she reached her hand to the underside of the giant Wolf''s head. The Wolf lowered its head, allowing Cristy to stroke the side of its huge head with her tiny, outstretched paw. Amazed, shocked, and awestruck, SJ had no words as the Dire Wolf lay on the ground before Cristy. She walked to the side of it, petting it on its head and stroking it. SJ began to lower herself from where she hovered until she was nearly at the level of the wolves. One of the others growled towards her and salivated at its mouth. SJ was ready to fly in an instant and watched it warily. "Cristy, what are you doing?" SJ said, her voice returning but filled with nervous wonder. "This is Patch," Cristy replied. "Sorry?" SJ said, shock registering on her face. "Holy Trolls Snot!" Dave exclaimed. "Patch," Cristy repeated, stroking the Wolf''s huge head. The Dire Wolf tilted its head so Cristy could reach behind its ear more easily, and she began to scratch it. This made the Dire Wolf''s rear leg twitch as she did. The Wolf was probably six times her size, if not more. It stood four feet at the shoulder, and its jaws looked like they were large enough to fit Cristy inside. "How do you know him? I assume it is he?" SJ said. "I have known Patch since he was a pup. I used to feed him," she replied. "What?" was all SJ could reply. "Patch was a cub when my dad saved him. A Grizzly Bear had killed his mummy, and we found him suckling next to her. This was about three years ago. I went out with my dad when he was only collecting traps and not hunting, and that is when we found Patch. He has grown a lot since the last time I saw him," she replied. The tiny form of the Gnoll standing next to the monstrous Dire Wolf was unimaginable, and if she hadn''t seen it with her own eyes, she never would have believed anyone telling her the story. "Patch is your friend," SJ said. "We are more than friends; we are family," Cristy replied, a tear forming in her eye. "He is the only family I have left now." Confused beyond all expectations, SJ stood in disbelief, watching the continuing interaction. Once Patch was happy with his ear being scratched, he flopped his body onto its side and rolled so she could scratch his belly. This was no different from the hundreds of interactions SJ had seen between friends of hers and their pet dogs. "I think he came to the ridge looking for me," Cristy said. "Looking for you?" "My dad used to see him every couple of days. He lives on the far side of the lake with his pack. That was where Dad used to go trapping. We would take a boat over the lake." "So, because your dad hadn''t been over, Patch has come around looking for him." "Yes. I think so." Cristy looked at Patch, who was busy enjoying his belly rub, its tongue slightly dangling from its mouth in pleasure. "Dad''s dead," Cristy suddenly said, tears filling her eyes, and she burst into tears. Patch immediately reacted, turning his head, and SJ was sure it had understood every word being spoken. At the words from Cristy, he shot up again, sitting back, tilting his head up to the sky and howled. This howl was different. It was not like his previous victorious howl. It seemed to carry meaning and grief and hit SJ like a train. The other Wolves did the same; all of them howling. The cacophony of noise was not fear-inducing but tear-jerking. They were calling for a lost soul. SJ just knew it. They howled for several moments before Patch again stood and placed his head next to Cristy, and SJ saw a tear in the wolf''s eye. It was not crying; it was just a single tear. SJ watched as Cristy looked at the beast''s head and gently brushed it away with her tiny paw. "He won''t attack you," Cristy said, turning her tear-streaked face to look at SJ. SJ warily lowered herself to the ground, standing still in her miniature form. The remaining wolves could back away, none making a sound or moving towards her. Her senses told her to flee, but somehow, she knew she was safe, and she grew to her humanoid size. Once she was, Cristy ran over to her and flung her arms around her leg, a fresh round of sobs coming from her. SJ looked at the Dire Wolf, who stood there looking back at her as she began to soothe Cristy and stroked her hair. This continued for several minutes until, eventually, Cristy ran out of tears and, hiccupping, looked up at SJ. "I miss him," she said. Patch then walked over, no menace, no threat. He just walked over and nudged Cristy on her shoulder with his head. She released SJ''s leg and looked at him again. "I know you miss him too," Cristy said. "Every day, something new is happening in your life that I have never seen before," Dave said, his voice betraying him with emotion and surprise. "We really should get back to town, Cristy," SJ said. "We need to let them know you are safe." "Can Patch come?" Cristy asked. "I am not sure the town would allow him. I heard they already had reports of a Dire Wolf in the area, so the guard will look for him and his pack." "But his friends are injured." SJ took in the full scene for the first time. The four Hobs lay dead, and the two injured wolves were among them. One of the Wolves looked seriously injured, and another one had walked over to it, nudging it and licking at the horrible-looking wound down its flank. Knowing that animals didn''t heal properly, SJ was unsure what to do. "I wonder if my potions will help," she said aloud deliberately for Dave''s benefit. "It may do if you can get it to drink it. They are weak potions, though," Dave replied. "I am going to see if this helps," SJ said, calling one of her lesser potions to her hand. She uncorked the small vial and walked towards the Wolf, injured the worst and unable to stand with its deep flank injury. The Black Wolf that had been by it let out a warning growl as she stepped closer. SJ put her hand out in a placating gesture and moved forward. The Dire Wolf let out a low growl of his own, and the Black Wolf looked at it and then took a step back. SJ bent down by the head of the Grey Wolf. The wound was oozing blood, and it looked deep. SJ placed her hand on the head of the Wolf, who looked at her with sad eyes. The bright yellow of them having faded as the Wolf had been. Gently lifting its head from the ground, she tipped a small amount of the potion onto its tongue. It licked instinctively, swallowing it. She repeated the process until the whole vial was empty. As she watched, she saw the wound begin to heal; the blood began to stop flowing initially, and then the wound began to close. The potion wasn''t enough to heal it fully, but it would hopefully keep it alive at least. The other injured Wolf could stand weakly but could not put weight on its front leg and had to hop to move. SJ knew that both injured Wolves would unlikely survive in the wild. Nature was cruel. Then, the Black Wolf suddenly growled, turning and its heckles raised as it looked down the trail to the north. The Dire Wolf growled, and the three lined up facing towards where the Black Wolf faced. SJ stood and looked down the trail. She couldn''t see anything, but then she heard it. Footsteps running down the trail, multiple pairs by all accounts. "I hope it''s not more Hobs," SJ said. "I don''t think so," Dave said. The sound got louder, and then they came into view. Charging around the corner came a large Orc. She recognised several other town guard members and the white-haired Paladin that had healed her after the battle. "Charge," Gary screamed as he swung his axe in front of him. "STOP!" SJ screamed, running to get in front of the Wolves, who were all tensed and ready for the fight to come. If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. SJ moved in front of the Wolves, throwing her arms out wide as Gary suddenly stopped. The others in the group did the same. "SJ? What do you think you''re doing? Get out of the way," Gary shouted. "No. They are friendly," SJ called back. There were only twenty feet between the groups now, and the three wolves stared at the guard force, who stared back in reply, all brandishing weapons. "What do you mean friendly?" Gary said, confusion on his face. "The Dire Wolf is a friend of Cristy''s," SJ said. At the mention of this, Patch turned to look at SJ, and Cristy, who had been standing behind him, walked to his side. Every one of the guards stood in front of the Wolves, mouths dropped open in shock. "He is my family," Cristy said as she stroked Patch on his foreleg. "But they are Wolves?" Gary replied in shock. "Please put your weapons down, and I will explain," SJ said. Gary looked around, taking in the scene of the recent fight, the Hobgoblin corpses and the fact that SJ and Cristy were standing amongst them with no signs of aggression being shown. He slowly lowered his axe. He glanced at the rest of the guard force and told them to stand down. Slowly and with uncertainty, the guard members began to lower their weapons or sheath their swords. SJ then explained the history of Cristy and Patch to them. It didn''t take long, and although the guards were as confused as she had been at the revelation, they began to accept it, especially as the young Gnoll stood stroking the huge Dire Wolf as though it was her pet dog. SJ couldn''t remember the name of the Paladin who had healed her, so she walked up to him. "I am sorry, can you heal animals?" she asked. "I can heal anything that doesn''t have evil alignment," he responded. "Could you please try and heal the Wolves that are injured?" The Paladin looked over at Gary, who appeared to be in charge of the group and then shrugged, nodding. Walking towards the injured Wolves, the others began to growl at him. SJ walked by his side. "He is going to try and heal your friends," she said. Stepping to the side, the Wolves let them pass, and the Paladin leaned over the Wolf to tell that SJ had given the potion. Saying a few words, he placed his hand on its side. A bright flash of white occurred, and SJ watched in amazement as the wound began to close and the colour returned to the Wolf''s eyes. "That''s that one healed," the Paladin said, turning to the next one with the injured leg. Walking over to it, it hopped backwards initially until it saw the one that had been injured on its side slowly start to stand and get back to its feet. It stopped and lowered its head towards the Paladin. The Paladin again placed his hand on the Wolf, and another bright flash of white occurred as the wound on the Wolf''s foreleg healed. "We got the message you were in the forest. Rex informed Alice this morning, and we set off straight away," Gary said, turning to look at SJ. "With the recent Wolf sightings, we thought we had better come and check, which now seems unnecessary." "If you hadn''t come, I doubt the two injured Wolves would have survived," SJ replied. Patch walked towards the Paladin, who was still near the second Wolf. On nearing, he dropped his head as he had done towards Cristy. "I think he is saying thank you," SJ said, looking into the Paladin''s fear-filled eyes. The Paladin was this close to the beast with no weapon in his hand. "That''s ok," he replied rather nervously. Patch turned back away, returning to Cristy''s side. "Can they come back?" Cristy suddenly said. "Back?" Gary asked, looking at her. "Back to town," she replied. "I don''t think so. People would not be happy with a Dire Wolf being near the town," Gary said. "They won''t harm anyone." "And how could you be sure? They are Wolves." Cristy''s little face scrunched up in annoyance. "Patch is my family," she shouted. "Patch?" Gary said with a confused look. "Patch is the Dire Wolf," SJ answered. "Look, we need to get you back to the orphanage. Miss Madeline has been worried sick about you since you disappeared," Gary said. "I''m not going. Not unless Patch comes with me." "He can''t come back with you." "Well, I will stay here with him then." "Cristy," SJ said. "What?" she replied, huffing. "Patch can walk back with us, but he just can''t come into the town. I am sure he can stay nearby, though, and as long as he or his pack don''t attack any of the town, I am sure they will be fine in the woods." Gary looked at SJ, "They can''t be anywhere near town. I know we have healed them today, but the wolves are renowned for the damage they cause, and the hunters can earn a living." "Do the hunters hunt on this side of town?" SJ asked. Gary stood and scratched his head for a moment, thinking. "Well, no, because of the Hob scouting parties, like this one lying dead around us." "Exactly," SJ replied. "What do you mean?" Gary asked, frowning. "Patch and his pack on this side of the town will act as another line of defence and deterrent against the Hobs, especially the scouting parties." After briefly considering SJ''s comments, Gary replied, "I suppose it makes sense, but I can''t give them permission to be near town. Only the Mayor could do that." "Well, I suggest we get back to town and see the Mayor then," SJ said, smiling at Gary. Gary frowned, looking at her and scratching his chin again. "Sven. What do you think?" he asked, directing the question to the Paladin. "I tend to lean towards what SJ just said. A pack of wolves on this side of town would act as a deterrent for the scout parties. It won''t affect if they come to raid, but it could cause them issues at least." Gary grumbled, mumbling under his breath before he spoke again. "Ok. They can walk back with us but must stay in the forest. They are not allowed to enter the fields leading to town. We can then go and see the Mayor and get his opinion on it." "Are you ok with that?" SJ asked Cristy. Cristy looked from Patch to SJ to Gary before replying. "I suppose." "Good. Then let us get back. Jacob, Brin, can you check the Hobs, please?" Two of the accompanying guard moved to where the dead Hobs lay and looted their corpses before picking them up and moving them into the treeline off the main track. Soon, the only signs of any fracas were the marks on the ground and the patches darkened, which had soaked up blood. "Right, come on. It''s a long way back yet. We need to get moving," Gary said. Cristy was quietly speaking to Patch, and SJ could not hear what she said. A moment later, Patch lay on the ground, and Cristy began climbing onto his back. "What are you doing?" SJ asked. "Riding Patch," Cristy replied, smiling as she sat with her legs over the Dire Wolf''s back. Patch stood again, lifting Cristy into the air and making her let out a shout of glee. Gary turned, and the party of guards began to follow him as they returned to town. That was until there was noise off to the right of the track. Stopping, they all turned and began to draw their weapons. In amazement, SJ watched as five more wolves suddenly appeared from the treeline. They were all slightly smaller frames than the others, and three small cubs followed them. The lead of the Wolves from the treeline and the largest was a brilliant white colour, and it walked up to Patch and nudged his face. "It looks like Patch has a girlfriend," Cristy said, smiling. ? Chapter 66 – Monsters and Mithril A couple of hours later, the group eventually reached the forest''s edge. Cristy climbed down from Patch¡¯s back, and after talking to him for a while, she eventually left him sending his pack off into the forest''s edge while she continued with SJ and the remainder back across the field to town. On the group''s return, several townsfolk stopped and looked at them, seeing SJ walking along, holding Cristy¡¯s small paw in her hand. They walked straight to the barracks, a couple of the accompanying guards peeling off to the training grounds, and Gary, Sven, SJ, and Cristy entered. The usual Orc sat at the desk, and SJ was unsure if he ever stopped working or slept. ¡°Is the Mayor in?¡± Gary asked, approaching the barrier. ¡°Yes. He is in his office,¡± the old Orc replied, looking at SJ and staring at Cristy. ¡°Thanks,¡± Gary replied. Walking up the stairs, they approached the Mayor¡¯s office, passing the table holding the model of the town. Cristy¡¯s eyes turned in amazement. ¡°That looks amazing,¡± she said as she walked past, receiving a smile from one of the Gnomes busily making adjustments. It was like a live model, and SJ didn¡¯t think they ever stopped working on it with all the required building adjustments and changes. ¡°Mayor Maxwell,¡± Gary said as he approached the Mayor¡¯s open door. The Mayor looked up from his desk and saw SJ walking with little Cristy. A broad grin appeared on his face. ¡°Thank Amathera. You are both okay,¡± the mayor said. ¡°It was an interesting night,¡± SJ replied. ¡°Thank you, Gary, for escorting them back safely. I don¡¯t wish to take up any more of your time,¡± the Mayor said. ¡°There is something we need to discuss first,¡± Gary replied. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± the Mayor asked quizically. ¡°We have ended up bringing some guests back with us.¡± ¡°Guests? What sort?¡± ¡°The kind I am not sure you will be very happy about,¡± Gary said, looking a little sheepish. The Mayor immediately stood from behind his desk. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me the Hobs are behind you?¡± ¡°No. No,¡± Gary replied quickly. The Mayor sighed deeply, ¡°That¡¯s one good thing then. So what guests are you referring to?¡± frowning at Gary. SJ had been allowing Gary to talk but took the opportunity to jump into the conversation. ¡°Actually, Mayor, they are not Guests. They are Cristy¡¯s family,¡± she interjected. ¡°Family?¡± the Mayor replied, his frown deepening. ¡°Yes. It¡¯s a bit more complicated than you may imagine, so I would ask for your patience while I explain,¡± SJ replied. Raising his eyebrow the Mayor sat back down. "Please, go on." SJ spent the next few minutes explaining what had happened to her and Cristy before eventually coming around to the fight between the Wolves and the Hobs. The Mayor looked enthralled, listening to her tale and her battle description. ¡°That sounds quite intense,¡± he said when she finished. ¡°That¡¯s not the main part,¡± SJ said. ¡°The main part is that the Dire Wolf is Cristy¡¯s family.¡± ¡°What!¡± the Mayor exclaimed, gasping at her comment. SJ even heard the Gnome working on the miniature town gasp behind her. She thought he must hear most of what gets discussed in the Mayor¡¯s office and must be trusted. ¡°Yes. Patch is the name of the Dire Wolf,¡± SJ then began to talk through how Cristy knew Patch and what had happened since. ¡°So, in conclusion, I believe that if they are allowed to stay at the forest edge outside of the town¡¯s border, they will help in two ways. First, they will prevent Hob Scout parties, and it will also allow Cristy to visit as she wishes.¡± The Mayor leaned back heavily in his chair at the revelation and now had a perplexed look on his face. ¡°You want me to authorise a pack of Wolves to live just outside town?¡± ¡°Yes. In the simplest terms,¡± SJ replied. The Mayor sat, scratching his thick beard, contemplating the news from SJ. Gary and Sven had just stood listening to SJ¡¯s tale, having already heard what had happened on their return, and now both stared at the Mayor, awaiting his response. Cristy took it upon herself to let go of SJ¡¯s hand, where she had been standing quietly as the grown-ups spoke and walked over to the mayor¡¯s desk. Walking around the side, she looked up at where he was sitting. He turned to look down at her, smiling. ¡°Please,¡± Cristy said, her eyes wide like saucers. The look on her face was enough to melt the coldest heart. The Mayor looked at her momentarily, and SJ saw his demeanour change slightly softening. ¡°Oh, Cristy. I''m not sure allowing a pack of Wolves to live so close to town is a good idea. What if they start attacking the livestock or venture into the town?¡± ¡°I promise they won¡¯t do any of that. They will only do what Patch tells them. He is their leader,¡± Cristy replied. For Cristy''s age, SJ was impressed with her ability to communicate so well. ¡°Why don¡¯t you come and meet Patch?¡± Cristy said. ¡°You want me to meet him?¡± the Mayor replied, raising an eyebrow again. ¡°Yes. I think he would like you,¡± Cristy said, smiling. The Mayor looked over at Gary and Sven, who just shrugged, and SJ smiled. ¡°I suppose I could meet him,¡± the Mayor replied. ¡°Alice?¡± he called. Alice came walking through from the adjoining office. ¡°Yes, Mayor?¡± ¡°I assume you just heard all that was discussed?¡± ¡°I did.¡± ¡°What are your thoughts?¡± he asked. As a druid, I have no problems with animals near town as long as they are not evilly aligned. I do not know of or have ever had any dealings with a Dire Wolf, so I can¡¯t really advise. I do know, though, that they are supposed to be highly intelligent creatures, and if their trust is gained, they will die for you." ¡°Really!¡± the Mayor replied, surprised. ¡°Yes. Some druids seek them out due to their intelligence and undying loyalty. I have never met a druid who had one as a familiar, and I think this Patch would be too old now to attempt to obtain, as I understand they are sought out while still cubs, but there is no harm in visiting him.¡± The Mayor looked again down at Cristy. ¡°Ok. We will go and visit him. Depending upon how the visit goes, I will then decide.¡± Yay,¡± Cristy cheered, smiling at the Mayor with the biggest grin she could muster. ¡°You really will like him, I promise.¡± ¡°We will see,¡± he replied. ¡°Come on then,¡± Cristy said, reaching and taking hold of the Mayor¡¯s giant-sized hand. The Mayor looked at her hand in his and smiled warmly at her again. ¡°Ok. Let¡¯s go and visit Patch,¡± he replied. An hour later, the Mayor had returned to his office. Patch would have been the perfect Dire Wolf if there were rules for Dire Wolves manners. There had been no growling or anything that may have caused any concern for the Mayor, and he had decided before returning to the town that the Wolf Pack could stay on a trial basis for two weeks, and then after that time, he would make a final decision. Cristy initially objected until SJ spoke to her and ensured that if Patch and his pack behaved, stayed away from the town, and didn¡¯t attack anyone or any livestock, they should be fine. Cristy was still unhappy with the trial period but eventually succumbed to persuasion. If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. ¡°We need to get you back to the orphanage,¡± Gary said as they returned to the barracks. Cristy turned and looked at SJ. ¡°Do I have to? Can I not stay with you? I have no friends there.¡± Looking at Cristy, SJ wanted to say yes but knew she couldn¡¯t commit to looking after her full-time. ¡°I always have to leave and go away, and I don¡¯t have a home. I stay at the Inn.¡± ¡°You have a cottage,¡± Dave said. Cristy looked forlornly at SJ, wide, small eyes staring up at her, making her chest hurt. ¡°Gary. Could you tell Miss Madeline I will let Cristy stay with me tonight?¡± SJ said. Gary smiled at them both, ¡°Of course,¡± he replied as he set off to the orphanage. The Mayor was just about to return to the barracks when SJ remembered. ¡°Oh. Mayor.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± he replied. ¡°I found something you may be interested in,¡± SJ said. ¡°Really? What have you found?¡± he asked. ¡°I believe that Mithril is valuable?¡± ¡°Exceedingly. It is only found in the higher territories, which is very valuable. Why?¡± ¡°I found some,¡± SJ said. ¡°You will do well when you sell it. I bet Zej would be interested in using Mithril bars or ore.¡± ¡°No, you misunderstand me. I haven¡¯t found a bar of Mithril or Mithril ore. I have found a Mithril vein.¡± ¡°WHAT?¡± the Mayor spluttered in amazement. ¡°Where we stopped last night, there is a cave with a Mithril vein running through it. The reflected light it cast was beautiful.¡± ¡°You are serious, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± SJ said. ¡°Has it not been claimed by anyone? Had it been mined?¡± ¡°No. It was only accessible by a small entrance. Cristy and I could fit through, but anyone or thing larger than Cristy would never be able to access it.¡± ¡°How large was the area?¡± the Mayor replied excitedly. ¡°The cavern was probably sixty feet by forty feet and twenty high. The veins ran all over the walls and ceiling.¡± The Mayor stood dumbfounded. ¡°You realise how much that would be worth to mine if there really is that much there?¡± ¡°I have an idea. Yes,¡± SJ replied, lying; she had no idea of its value. She knew from games she had played back on Earth that Mithril was always one of the higher-value blacksmithing ores. Renowned with Dwarven and Elven blacksmithing. Considering Amathera, it was amazing how stereotypical some aspects were in relation to Earth¡¯s fantasy worlds that had been written about. The Mayor¡¯s eyes lit up at the thought of the Mithril, and SJ could see him performing mental calculations in his head. ¡°A Mithril vein here, so near to town, would bring in so much income. It would guarantee jobs and livelihoods for so many.¡± ¡°There is one problem.¡± ¡°What?¡± the Mayor asked. ¡°It is near the Hobgoblin village¡ªnot too close, but close enough that they could potentially see a group near it, and it is not easily accessible either.¡± ¡°Damn. We need to confirm the area and see what we can do. Would you be willing to show Shelly where the mine is?¡± ¡°Who is Shelly?¡± SJ asked. ¡°Shelly is our mining lead; we mine our stone from the mountain to the West of town. She would be the best bet to confirm the details.¡± ¡°I can do that, but unless everyone is Cristy or my miniature size, they won''t be able to enter the cavern.¡± ¡°She can mine through the stone in no time. I am sure she can get to the cavern.¡± ¡°It''s to close to the Hobgoblins. The area is near the route the Hobs use to traverse from the valley¡¯s floor.¡± The Mayor swore under his breath. ¡°I must send a scouting party to check the cave''s location. Would you be able to go with them?¡± SJ¡¯s display triggered. Quest ¨C Escort the scouts Show them the cave''s location and the Hobgoblin Village''s locality. Rewards: 300xp Do you accept the quest? Yes/No ¡°Nice xp boost,¡± Dave said. SJ looked at the Mayor thoughtfully for a few moments. ¡°I can escort them to the cave and show them where it is, but what is in it for me?¡± The Mayor¡¯s eyebrows raised slightly at the comment. ¡°What do you mean?¡± he asked. ¡°If I show you where the cave and the Mithril vein are located, and you can mine it, then the town can make a significant amount of money from what you indicated. Therefore, I could just not show anyone and then mine it myself.¡± ¡°You are no miner!¡± the Mayor exclaimed. ¡°Not yet. But I could be,¡± SJ said, looking at the Mayor, blank faced. The Mayor stood looking back, his eyes narrowing slightly before returning to their usual appearance. ¡°Until we can verify the cavern''s contents, we have no idea how much it is worth.¡± ¡°And unless I show you where it is, you won¡¯t ever have any idea what it is worth anyway,¡± SJ said frankly. ¡°Mithril is highly sought after. The veins in the cavern were high volume. I do not know how much precisely they would be able to mine, but looking at the cavern size, considering the structure of normal Mithril veins and the width of the channels you found, I would expect there to be at least eight tonnes, and that is not considering how wide the vein field is,¡± Dave said. The Mayor looked at SJ straight-faced, and she couldn''t tell what he was thinking. Eventually, SJ continued, ¡°What if I said there was nearly, if not over, eight tonnes of Mithril, not including how far the vein actually runs in the surrounding rock." The straight face the Mayor had been attempting to keep was lost in the statement. ¡°Eight tonnes of Mithril,¡± he gasped. ¡°I would guess, if not more, considering the vein width, the only thing I can¡¯t be sure on is the depth and distance the field stretches,¡± SJ added. ¡°How do you know?¡± the Mayor frowned. ¡°I am a Legionnaire,¡± she replied, smiling. The Mayor stayed silent for a few moments. ¡°If the vein is as large as you say,¡± the Mayor paused as he completed some mental calculations. ¡°How does 1% sound?¡± ¡°1% of what?¡± SJ asked. ¡°Mined Mithril sales,¡± the Mayor replied. ¡°Ask him if he means refined bars or raw ore,¡± Dave said. ¡°Refined or raw ore?¡± SJ asked. ¡°I am not sure we have anyone in town currently who can smelt and refine the ore,¡± the Mayor answered. ¡°I bet Zej can,¡± Dave said. ¡°I am sure Zej can refine the ore,¡± SJ said. ¡°If we can refine it, I would agree to 1.5%,¡± Mayor Maxwell replied. SJ could tell he was used to negotiating contracts. There was no way he would give up on the potential profit the town could make from such a find. They were still standing outside the barracks, and Cristy still held SJ¡¯s hand as she spoke. Tugging on her hand, SJ looked down. ¡°What is it?¡± she asked. ¡°I¡¯m hungry,¡± Cristy said. SJ smiled at the Gnoll. After what had happened over the last few hours with Patch and the pack, SJ had completely forgotten how young Cristy was. ¡°I am going to get Cristy some food. I will consider your offer and let you know. In the meantime, it should allow you to speak to Shelly and sort out a scouting party. The cave is not going anywhere, so there is no rush.¡± The Mayor looked down at the tiny Gnoll, who only just reached the height of his knee. He was so tall in comparison. ¡°Where will you be?¡± he asked. ¡°I am going to take Cristy back to the Inn,¡± SJ replied. ¡°Come on, Cristy. Let¡¯s go and get something to eat.¡± Cristy grinned at SJ as her stomach let out a grumbling sound. Her little cheeks coloured, which was a feat for her small fur-covered face. Chuckling, SJ turned back to the Mayor. ¡°Speak soon,¡± she said, smiling. ? Chapter 67 – An idea perhaps Leading Cristy back through town towards the Inn, Dave began to talk. "Okay. The market value of Mithril fluctuates, but if you consider some of the average prices and the fact that you don''t have auction house access to sell ore or bars to other Legionnaires, then getting the town to do the work and taking a cut from the top is a great idea. I know the latest sales prices, considering that my data may be a little outdated as they change regularly: 1kg of raw Mithril ore sells for 3.1, and 1kg refined is about 11.3. Eight tonnes of raw ore would be refined to about four tonnes of pure Mithril, depending on the smithy''s and miners'' skills. I have picked lower-end values to make my assumptions. Eight tonnes of raw ore at 3.1 equals 24800, so 1% is 248. Four tonnes at 11.3 equates to 45200, and 1.5% is 678. This all depends on market prices and also demand. The vein size will determine actual potential, but the profits could be much higher, considering that eight tonnes is the minimum expected haul. The income from that mine would boost the town''s value and potential by a considerable degree. The larger cities fight over Mithril mine rights; several skirmishes and battles have been fought." "Silver?" SJ said. "Pardon?" Cristy asked, looking up at SJ. "Oh, sorry. I was just thinking aloud again," she replied, smiling. Looking at Cristy, she noticed how dishevelled she looked in the clothes she had worn on her adventure. "We need to get you some new clothes," she said. "No. Not silver. Gold," Dave replied. SJ gasped. "Are you okay?" Cristy asked. "Yes. Sorry, I just remembered something, that was all. Let''s go to the tailors," SJ said. Distracted from SJ''s reaction, Cristy''s face showed a broad grin, and SJ redirected them to Fizzlewick''s. The shop was open, thankfully, and the Quarterling fussed around the small Gnoll as he measured and confirmed sizes before bringing some lovely-looking clothes out for her to try on. SJ smiled at the God disguised as a Quarterling as he fussed over Cristy, making her feel she was royalty in his broken speech. By the time she left with Cristy, she had filled her tailoring inventory with three new outfits and boots or shoes to match each. It only came to 65 coppers, which SJ was sure was different from what it should have cost. Thanking Fizzlewick, the pair continued their journey to the Inn. Cristy''s stomach had growled loudly as they finished in the shop, and she needed food. When they reached the Inn, the lunchtime crowd was in. Several patrons exchanged pleasantries as SJ walked to the bar, leading Cristy. Kerys saw SJ and Cristy smiling broadly. "Hello again," she said to Cristy. "Hello," Cristy replied. "Hi Kerys. Cristy is going to be staying tonight if that''s okay?" SJ asked. "Of course." "I am going to clean up, but could I order two lunch specials." "No problem. Would you like them in your room?" "That would be great if you don''t mind." "Sure. I will ask Fhyliss to bring them up when they are done." Leading Cristy upstairs to her room, she prioritised sorting a bath out for her while they waited for their food. Only minutes later, Fhyliss knocked on the door carrying a tray. "Hi, Fhyliss," SJ said as she answered the door, stepping aside to let her in. "Hello, and you must be Cristy," Fhyliss said, smiling at the small Gnoll. "Hi," Cristy replied. She carried the fully loaded tray to the table and placed it down. The tray overflowed with delicious cuts of Hogling, salad bowls, thick unsliced bread, and a small pot of butter. Floretta was an amazing cook, and the food was beautifully laid out and looked divine. Also, for SJ''s pleasure, there was a large steaming pot of coffee. Floretta had even included a small milk jug and glass for Cristy. "This looks amazing, thank you. And thank you for the coffee," SJ smiled, picking up the pot and pouring a large mug. "Our pleasure as always," Fhyliss replied. "How much?" "You can sort it later when you come down." "Thanks," SJ said. Fhyliss left them to it, and they both sat down and wolfed down the food that had been brought up. "I am so jealous," Dave said sulkily as SJ bit into a thick chunk of bread smothered in butter, deliberately smacking her lips to annoy him further. Cristy giggled at the sound, not knowing its true meaning. Once they had eaten and SJ had finished filling the bath, Cristy got in. SJ had filled it with the scented oils, and Cristy looked tiny in the large tub. Splashing and sighing, Cristy stayed there for a long time. Eventually, once cleaned and dry, which was no mean feat for a Gnoll to dry themselves, SJ learned, she got dressed in one of the sets of new clothes. It consisted of a pair of black baggy trousers, a matching baggy top and black boots, similar to what SJ would have classed as combats. It reminded SJ of a grunge style back on Earth; she looked so cute. SJ couldn''t stop smiling. It gave her a look of attitude. Cristy loved the outfit and spun around, showing it off. The afternoon disappeared quickly, with SJ and Cristy playing various games that SJ remembered from Earth. They stood looking out the window playing Eye Spy, which became Cristy''s favourite, although she was terrible at it. SJ allowed her to win and kept giving up to make her feel better. She even sat with Cristy, drawing in her notebook from Fhyliss, and spent time teaching Cristy how to write her letters more clearly. SJ had nipped downstairs briefly to return the tray and order some food for dinner, and it was only when Cristy yawned loudly that SJ realised how late it had gotten. Looking at her display, it was nearly 20:00, and the time had passed quickly. She had spent days at friends'' houses with their kids and had forgotten how much fun it was to watch them as they learned something new and had fun playing. "I think it is time to get you to bed," SJ said after Cristy''s third successive yawn. "I''m not tired," she replied, yawning again. "Yes. You are. Come on now, let''s get you tucked in." SJ took her through to the enormous bed and eventually settled her down. "Can you tell me a story?" Cristy asked sleepily. "I could. Let me see what story I can tell you. Umm," she mused. "I think I will tell you about Cinderella." "Who is Cinderella?" "She was a poor, bullied sister who became a beautiful princess," SJ replied and began the story. SJ didn''t get far before Cristy''s breathing grew heavy, and her eyes closed. Carefully getting up from the bed, SJ bent and kissed the small Gnoll on her head, stroking her hair and pulling the blanket up to cover her. "Night, mummy," Cristy mumbled. On hearing the words, tears formed in SJ''s eyes, and she stayed stroking her head until she began to snore lightly. Walking back out to the main room and sitting down, she dabbed the tears from her eyes. "You would make a good mother one day," Dave said sincerely. SJ had never even considered the potential to have a relationship in Amathera, and the thought gave her a new round of emotions she had not considered since arriving. "Do Legionnaires have relationships?" she asked quietly. "Some do," Dave replied. "I had never considered it." "You may in time, but for now, we have priorities: reaching level 10, upgrading your skill to level 6, and completing your tailoring quest," Dave said before adding, "Which you have ignored recently." SJ flushed a little, knowing she had been putting off making the gloves. She had read the recipe but had not even attempted to make any yet. "Well, I may as well start now. I can''t go anywhere with Cristy sleeping here." "Good idea and we can also discuss mining and money," Dave cackled maniacally. Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. SJ awoke the next morning with Cristy''s small form cuddled up to her side again. Slowly extricating herself from Cristy, not wishing to awaken her, she climbed off the bed and went to the other room. "Morning," Dave said. "Morning," SJ yawned, checking her display. It was only 06:00, and the sun was already up in the sky. "Are you ready for negotiations today?" Dave asked. As they had discussed the mining and potential income last night, they had started to agree that the percentages offered for the Mithril mine were too low. Dave explained all the aspects involved with mining, including labour, resource needs, smelting, etc. The list was quite substantial, but it was nothing that SJ wouldn''t have expected. He then gave rough costs for everything and concluded that the town would profit at least 50% from the ore, never mind if it was smelted into bars. SJ would see the Mayor today and request 5% and 7.5% accordingly for ore or bars. She didn''t expect to get that much, but she wasn''t just going to go with the first offer. It was time to try and use her Charisma. "Once I have dropped Cristy back off at the orphanage, I will see the mayor again." "Sounds like a plan. You are going to miss her," Dave said. They had spoken about it the previous evening, and SJ had thoroughly enjoyed yesterday with Cristy. Under different circumstances, she would have loved to have taken her on acting as her guardian, but she couldn''t justify it. Her life and future were uncertain, and it would be unfair to drag Cristy around everywhere. She had thought about the cottage and allowing Cristy to stay there but was worried about her eating properly, although she would speak to Charlotte, Brian, and Terence about it. It may be an option if they could supply food and look after her. "I need to speak to Husa and grab some chisels for Terence from the market," SJ said, remembering that he was due to travel to the cottages soon. SJ got ready and then woke Cristy up. After eating breakfast downstairs, SJ took Cristy back to the orphanage. Madeline was thrilled to see Cristy, and SJ handed over Cristy''s new outfits, which she had bought for her. Cristy had promised she would not leave again, and SJ agreed to take her to see Patch in a couple of days. Walking through the town, she called in at a merchant''s shop who sold tooling and purchased a set of new chisels before going to find Husa. He was busy building a new home on the Western edge of the town, and SJ handed over the chisels, asking him if he could drop them off. He had agreed and promised he would be free in another day to go down once he had finished making sure his team were progressing well on the new build. "Time to see the Mayor," SJ whispered. "I can''t wait to see his face when you ask for the new amounts," Dave giggled. The barracks were the usual hub of activity, and several townsfolk were busy talking at the various desks, which served different purposes for the township. SJ had read several of the desk plates, which listed the departments. There was virtually everything you would expect within any town hall. A large Bugbear complained about refuse collection, and the Ratkin desk clerk scribbled down notes about his complaint. The normality of the town and how everything operated still amazed SJ. After waiting for her turn at the desk, she was informed that the Mayor was unavailable. He was apparently at a council meeting. SJ had no idea they even had a town council, but it did make sense, considering how everything was set up. "Do you know when it will finish?" SJ asked. "It depends. They can last an hour to several, depending upon the topics," the Orc replied. "Where do they meet?" "Upstairs, the next floor up. It''s not open to the public." "Okay. I will come back later then." SJ was just about to leave when she heard her name being called. Turning, she saw Alice coming down the stairs. "Alice," SJ said as she approached. "Hi SJ. Would you be willing to join me? The Mayor sent me to find you; thankfully, you are here anyway. He would like you to address the council." "Me. Why?" SJ said, confused. "He would like you to explain what you found in the cave. He has made a statement, and the council questions its validity." "Validity?" "Orik is the Dwarven representative and oversees all Dwarven issues in the town, but he doesn''t believe a Mithril vein can exist in this area. The Mayor would like you to describe what you saw." "Okay. Sure." SJ followed Alice as she led her up to the floor where the Mayor''s office was, and then, rather than entering, she turned down the corridor and around a corner. SJ had never been this way, and a further set of stairs led up. They were not as grand as the set leading to the first floor. At the top of the stairs, she was met with a large set of double doors. Alice knocked on the door, and they opened. She led SJ inside. Two large orcs stood on either side of the door, and once she entered, they were closed again behind her. Representatives from each of the township''s main races¡ªtwelve in total¡ªsat around a huge oval table, and the Mayor''s large form sat at the head of the table. "That was quick, Alice," the Mayor said. "Thank you for coming, SJ." SJ felt a little nervous as the eyes of all in the room turned on her. "I was going to see you anyway, so it''s fortuitous." "Excellent. I have mentioned your discovery, but my esteemed colleague Orik would like to clarify what you found. Without further details, he is unwilling to release Shelly from her duties at the mine." "No problem," SJ answered as Alice led her to a chair near the table''s end. Slowly sitting, SJ felt even more nervous. "What would you like to know?" An elderly and large Dwarf sat on the left of the table and began to speak. He had a long, thick grey beard that rested on the table and wiggled when he spoke. "You say you have discovered Mithril?" "I have, yes." "How do you know it is Mithril?" Orik asked. SJ could not answer what her AI had told her, so thinking on her feet, she came up with what she hoped was a plausible story. Being aware that the usual townsfolk also had the same levelling and skill progression systems, she used that for an answer. "We are given certain information when we are reborn as Legionnaires. This includes the knowledge of base materials within Amathera," SJ said, knowing that no one would be able to confirm it unless another Legionnaire came to town, and from what she was aware, no others had turned up since Darjey and Malcolm''s deaths. "I see. Can you explain what you saw exactly? The Mayor did say it, but can you please explain in your own words?" "On entering the cavern under torchlight, the walls were covered in silvery-blue veins of ore streaking across the walls and ceiling. The light reflecting from them was mesmerising and beautiful." "Was it more silver or blue in colour?" "Silver. Why?" SJ said. "There are several ores that have a silvery-blue colour, and many false claims of Mithril have been made over the centuries," Orik replied as he began to cough. Picking up a tankard from the table, he took a drink before he continued. These claims have led to many issues and conflicts. People fighting over an area to discover that the claim is false." "Unless you have someone small enough to fit in the cave to confirm that it is Mithril, which I am 100% sure it is, the only way you will reach it will require mining the entrance, which can''t be done currently due to the proximity to the Hobgoblins," SJ replied. Everyone present began to murmur around the table, and SJ realised that the Mayor must not have mentioned the Hobgoblins to them. "Calm down, everyone," the Mayor said. Several moments passed before quiet returned. Many faces were now etched with annoyance, and several even looked fearful. "We are not going to do anything until we have scouted the area properly and checked the chances of anything being discovered if we did proceed. Our problem is that we will not know for sure without widening the entrance. If it is Mithril and we don''t take this opportunity as a town, we can''t continue sustaining the natural population growth. You all know how bad the town''s finances are." This revelation over the town''s finances shocked SJ, although it did align with her thoughts over recycled funds maintaining the town''s economy. SJ sat thinking momentarily, and murmurs and conversations began from those around the table. "Have you ever considered attacking the Hobgoblins in their own village?" SJ asked, raising her voice to be heard above the conversations. At the comment, silence fell almost instantly around the table, and everyone, including the Mayor, turned to look at her again. "What are you suggesting?" "Why do you keep waiting for the Hobs to come and raid the town? I have seen how many are available to defend the town, and your numbers match or are greater than the Hobs. So why wait for them to attack you? Why do you not attack them and clear them from the valley?" SJ said. A fresh round of muttering began around the table, and the Mayor sat scratching his beard as he mused over the comment. "We have never attacked them because they saw us coming from such a distance. When we reach the village, they will know exactly that we are coming and be set up to defend. This advantage could easily sway the outcome of a fight. Like how we block our roads with wagons, they could be ready for any assault. Any assault on a heavily defended position is likely to suffer significant losses. As the Hobs do every time they try and attack here." "Maybe there is something you can do to stop that," SJ said. "What would that be?" the Mayor replied, frowning. "I mentioned the path the Hobs use to traverse the valley wall. It is a perfect place to perform an ambush, and if the Hobs army travels up the path, they will not be able to move quickly and will be spread out along the route. This would give you a huge advantage and allow you to pick them off." "How do you plan to prepare the township force for such a situation? We cannot just sit out there waiting for them to march." "Can you not draw them into an attack?" A fresh round of chattering began, and this time, they didn''t just stop when the Mayor asked for quiet. It took several minutes before silence settled around the table again. "It is a thought, but I am unsure how to draw them out to attack," the Mayor eventually replied once silence returned. "Well, we need to scout the location before we do anything drastic," SJ said. The conversation continued for a while, and by the time SJ left, she had confirmed she would meet with a scouting party later that afternoon to return to the location. The reason was that as light faded, they would be less likely to be spotted. Dave began to chatter in her head as soon as they left the meeting room about an idea to attract the Hobgoblins. "Are you insane?" SJ whispered as she made her way back down the stairs. Chapter 68 – Insanity "It makes perfect sense," Dave said defensively. "To you, maybe," SJ said as they left the barracks. "Well, it does. If you ask Fran if Harrietta can help, we can get underway once we know." "This is madness you are talking about, and you are not the one who will be in danger." "True. Although neither will you initially." "Initially being my point exactly," SJ retorted. "Well, don''t say I didn''t try and give you some advice," Dave sulked. "I appreciate it. I honestly do. I just don''t think it''s feasible." "We will never know unless we at least try." "Look, I will speak to Fran, okay? See what she thinks." Dave''s plan was absolutely insane, considering the danger it would potentially put her in. Although it could easily cause Brandon and his Hobgoblin followers to attack, she wouldn''t even consider it until she had spoken to Fran. SJ had decided she would train for the rest of the morning and walked around the side of the Barracks to the training ground. Lorna was nowhere to be seen, so she walked to the training circles and began practising her Kata. She had practised her forms for half an hour when a friendly face walked over. "Hello, SJ," Greb said as he approached. "Hi, Greb," SJ said, smiling. The Kobold was always friendly and happy whenever she saw him, and looking at him, you never would have thought he was as skilled in martial arts. "I see you are getting stuck on the final move," he said. "Am I?" SJ questioned as she finished. "Yes. Your poise is wrong. Here, let me assist. Take your stance three moves prior." SJ stepped through the actions in her mind before getting to the point Greb had mentioned and took the pose. It was at the point of a straight punch, and she stood with her arm out as expected on completing the move. "Ok. Hold the position. I am going to touch you," he said, smiling. Greb walked to her side, gently placing his clawed hands on her shoulder and wrist of her outstretched arm. "You are overstretching. See here," he said, gently pulling her shoulder back. Allowing her arm to be moved, he positioned it for her. "When you perform the final punch before the kick, imagine that your shoulder is frozen and doesn''t move. Any slight movement will put you off balance for the sweep, and you will end up overcompensating." SJ could feel the difference. It was subtle, and as she tried to perform the final sweep motion followed by the last punch, she noticed the difference in the transition. "Wow. That really does make a difference; it''s so much easier and more natural," SJ replied, smiling. "Now try doing it at your normal speed. It takes a little getting used to, but you will get the hang of it." SJ restarted her Kata again, and as she got to the final moves, she knew again that she had done it wrong and cursed as she became unbalanced on the sweep. "Arrgh," she said, kicking at the sand. Greb chuckled. "It just takes some more practice, that''s all. Try again." SJ worked through her Kata a few times slowly, pausing to ensure she locked her shoulder until she was happy with her body position. "Ok. Here goes again," she said. Greb watched intently as she worked through the Kata. It was three stages, transitioning from an initial defensive form to recreating two attacking forms. As she neared the final moves, she focused on her shoulder positioning and threw the punch before the sweep, locking her shoulder. The fluidity was perfect, and her sweep came naturally, followed by her final punch. "Yes," she shouted, smiling as her display triggered. Congratulations! Kata Level 6 achieved. You may now select your secondary skill. SJ shouted an even more elated yes and ran to Greb, hugging him. Greb was taken aback by her sudden action and stood with his arms by his sides, completely taken aback. SJ released him. "Sorry," she said, blushing. "I just levelled." "Oh," Greb replied, smiling. "If it were just perfecting a form, I would train you more often if I got hugs like that." SJ felt her cheeks go even hotter. "What choices do you have?" Greb asked. SJ looked at him quizzically. "Aren''t all choices the same for everyone?" "Not always with martial arts. We train in Amar Ti, but there are other forms that some races use, and they have different skill options. You mentioned you had a defensive style initially, so you may have something related to that." "Oh. Let me see," SJ replied, opening her skills sheet. Martial Arts Leg Sweep ¨C On successfully performing a sweeping kick, you can cause the target to lose balance, leaving them prone. (Base attribute Dexterity ¨C counter Strength) Wheel Kick ¨C You can jump and perform two rotations before landing. (No base attribute) Palm Strike ¨C Successfully inflicting a palm strike can incapacitate a target as you strike. (Base attribute Strength ¨C counter Constitution) Clawed Avenger ¨C When wearing claws, your damage is increased by +5 per level up to a maximum of +50 (No base attribute) Claws of the Storm ¨C Chance to inflict lightning damage on an opponent. Successful strike may cause the victim to be incapacitated for 5 seconds per level up to a maximum of 50 seconds (Base attribute Dexterity ¨C counter Constitution) Improved Guard ¨C You can block one attack, allowing an instant strike back. Cool down for 2 minutes. (No base attribute) "There are some nice skills for first-tier selections," Dave said. "Did you get anything interesting?" Greb asked. "I am not sure what you would classify as interesting," SJ said. "Well, you have seen the kick I did in the sparring. That is my first-tier skill," Greb smiled. "Is that called Wheel Kick?" "Yeah, that''s the one. That''s a great skill to acquire. What else do you have to choose from?" "Leg Sweep, Wheel Kick, Palm Strike, Clawed Avenger, Claws of the Storm, Improved Guard." "Two claw skill offers, that''s unusual. I guess they are your primary weapon?" "Yes." "I don''t know anything about those. All the other four are standard skill offerings for Amar Ti. Since I don''t use weapons, I had six dedicated skills purely to Amar Ti," Greb said. "Do you have a tier two skill yet?" SJ asked. "No. I am not level 10 Kata yet. I am still only level 9. I get my second option then." "I assumed you were higher than that." "Ha. No, I don''t train hard enough, personally. I know I have seen you here most days on and off, but I usually only train twice a week. If I wanted to advance to level 10, I would need to train more frequently. I will get there one day." "Thank you for your help today. I can''t believe I reached level 6." "It was my pleasure. It is nice to see someone as dedicated as you are. I should really follow your example," Greb chuckled. If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Walking from the training ground, SJ was elated that she had unlocked her next skill. Whispering to Dave, she returned to the inn to get food and asked him for his advice. "What should I select?" "All are nice, but with your claws, I would select one of those. Looking at both, the Claws of Storm is a high tier 1 skill; it is not very often given out as an option. Your problem is that it is a percentage-based success, whereas Clawed Avenger is a basic damage bonus. If I were you considering your class basis of being an Assassin and wishing to inflict maximum damage from a surprise attack, I would select the latter," Dave replied. "Would my dexterity base not mean my success rate would be improved with Claws of Storm?" "Yes, but like our discussion about the Subterfuge skills, your target impacts the basis. The Claws of Storm has a counter of Constitution. Taking this into consideration against someone like Bordon as an example. As an Ogre, he will have an insanely high basic constitution. You can see that from his hit points when you identified him. Therefore, the chances of your skill ever activating would be virtually zero. Well, 1% actually, as that is the lowest it can ever reach as a minimum to trigger a skill successfully." "I see what you mean. Its benefits would be good on lower or potentially equivalent levels but not on others." "Not exactly. You will have noticed that some creatures have higher hit points than standard races for equivalent levels. That means that their basic Constitution is higher. So, if you fought even a level 8 Ogre, the chances of your skill still triggering would be very low due to its high base at low skill levels. Higher skill levels can obviously help significantly, but it takes time to get the skills points needed." "Fair enough. Levels are not the only consideration." "Nope." SJ took Dave''s advice and selected Clawed Avenger. Congratulations! You have learned Clawed Avenger Level 1 +5 base damage to every attack. Smiling at the message, SJ opened her damage charts and quickly added the adjustment bonus. It moved her claws to sit within the top 3% of her current weapon level. She looked at the Badger Blades details again. The Badger Blades base damage was 5-9 +3, +7 for her dexterity adjustment and then +5 for her new skill before considering any potential target attributes and armour class. The +5 was a significant advantage, moving her to a minimum of 20 damage and supporting her ability to inflict damage against higher armour classes. Returning to the Inn, SJ grabbed some lunch; it was still early enough before she had been asked to go back to the barracks to meet the scouting party, so she decided to go and see Fran. Arriving sometime later, several Mages were in the yard, and it looked like two of them were sparring with each other. She watched for a few minutes as they cast spells at each other. It was interesting to see what they cast, and both Mages had a basic elemental attack and shields they could trigger. When Harrietta suddenly appeared beside SJ, saying hello, she nearly had a heart attack. Squealing exceedingly loud, she jumped. Drawing the attention of one of the fighting Mages. That meant he didn''t see the streaking red fireball thrown at him, and his very loud and obscene outburst suddenly deafened SJ''s scream of terror as his robes caught fire. A Water Mage began dousing him and putting them out. SJ''s cheeks reddened with embarrassment, and she turned, heading inside to find Fran, not acknowledging Harietta. "Fran," SJ said angrily as she saw her in the common room talking to another Mage. Fran turned, hearing the tone of SJ''s voice. "What''s wrong?" she asked, frowning deeply. "Harrietta just tried to kill me." "What?" "She just appeared at my side saying ''Hello''." Fran''s frown began to turn into a smile. "Did she make you jump?" "Jump. I almost had a heart attack," SJ huffed in response. Fran couldn''t help but start laughing. "You get used to it eventually," she replied, smiling. "I will never get used to an apparition appearing out of nowhere; it''s unnatural." "She is unnatural. She is undead," Fran chuckled. "Not funny," SJ replied. "What can I do for you anyway?" "I wanted to catch up on certain things," SJ said cryptically. "Sure, give me two minutes. Go and help yourself to a coffee; there is a pot in my office." SJ turned and glared at Harrietta. If she had not already been dead, she probably would have been from SJ''s look. Her face was thunderous. Storming to Fran''s office, she walked in and helped herself to a coffee while sitting in one of the chairs. Harrietta had again followed her and was stood on the far side of the room, watching her intently. SJ kept turning her head and looking in another direction, and within moments, Harrietta would reappear in her eyeline. "Please stop," SJ said. "Why? Am I not beautiful still?" Harrietta replied. SJ turned and looked at her again. Harrietta had the typical beautiful features of a Dryad and would have been beautiful in her previous life, but SJ could not see it as she was now. Not wishing to antagonise her, she replied, "Yes, but it doesn''t give you the right to scare people." "I didn''t mean to," Harrietta replied defensively. "I was only saying hello." "Next time, don''t sneak up on someone and do it," SJ snapped. Fran walked into the office and noticed the tension between them. "Are you two not friends now?" she said, smiling. "I am not sure we ever will be," SJ responded. "I hope you will be," Fran said. "So do I," Harrietta added. SJ turned and glared at Harrietta again. "What did you need?" Fran asked. "First, how did you get on at the Wandering Ogre?" SJ asked. "I need to go back. I think I found out who it may be, but I can''t confirm yet," Harrietta responded. "Oh. Who?" "I have my suspicions that it may be a Halfling. There is one who has only recently been going there, and he has not been in the town long. In the conversations I overheard, he was asking a lot of questions about Fae and various other people from the town." SJ remembered the Halfling she had spoken to the first time she had visited the Wandering Ogre and asked for directions. "He doesn''t smoke a pipe, does he?" "That is not an identifying trait for a Halfling; nearly all smoke pipes." "I wasn''t aware." "I need another couple of nights watching before I should be able to confirm," Harrietta said. "That wasn''t difficult. You both just had a civil conversation," Fran said. "Hmph," SJ replied. "So, what else was there?" Fran asked. "I have had an idea. And before you answer, hear me out fully, as it is a little insane." "Go on, do tell," Fran was now intrigued as she sat in her chair and leaned forward, resting on her elbows. "I have been speaking to the Mayor, and I know you speak to him often." "I do," Fran agreed. "Well, I want to try and guarantee a Hobgoblin raid." "What?" Fran replied, sitting back with a shocked look. "Let me explain. The route to the valley follows a very steep path cut into the valley''s side. It is not accessible by more than two abreast at the most. I want to trigger his group so they move to attack the town, and as they proceed up the valley side, we can ambush them." "That doesn''t sound too insane." "No, the insanity bit is how I trigger it, and that is where I need Harrietta''s help." SJ turned to look at Harrietta. Harrietta opened her eyes wide now. "Mine?" she said. "Yes. I wondered if you could scout the village and see where the Ogre keeps his club." "His club? Why would you want to know that?" Harrietta said. "I know that it''s magical," SJ noticed Fran nodding in agreement. My plan is to sneak in there and steal it. If I can, we can virtually guarantee that the Ogre will send them to attack to get it back. That way, we will lead them directly into a trap," SJ said. Fran''s shocked expression said it all as SJ looked at her. It took her a few moments to gather her thoughts before she replied. "I have to agree that is insane." "It is a little, but if it works, it could allow the town to drive the Hobs from the village once and for all. If we can reduce their numbers enough, they will no longer be able to raid the town." "It is very risky. We have no idea what defences the village has." "That is why I was hoping that Harrietta may be able to help," SJ said, turning to look at Harrietta again. "With your ability, you should be able to sneak in and scout." "I could. It is what I am good at," Harrietta smiled. "Are you willing to at least scout the village so that I can confirm the details before I present my idea to the town council?" SJ asked. Harrietta turned and looked at Fran. Fran shrugged before turning back to SJ. "As long as Harrietta is happy with doing it, I have no objections. Harrietta?" Fran asked. "It sounds fun," Harrietta replied. "Thank you so much. When do you think you may be able to do it?" SJ asked. "I can head to the village anytime; it is not as though I am time-bound," Harrietta replied. "I am travelling to the valley later this afternoon, and we will scout out a mine nearby. Would you like to accompany us?" SJ said. "No, it''s fine. I can head down there now and see what''s what. Going somewhere new will be interesting; I haven''t been out of town for a long time now," Harrietta said. "Amazing. I will see you later then if that is ok?" SJ asked. "I am sure I will be able to find you easily enough later." "Just please don''t scare me," SJ pleaded. "I promise to try not to scare you," Harrietta replied with a wicked smile. The statement did not inspire confidence in SJ, and as she left the academy, a sense of foreboding crept up on her. Returning to town, she called in at a vendor''s stall, resupplied with rations and refilled her water bottle before heading to the barracks to meet the scouts she would escort to the cave. Chapter 69 – What’s a Borzie? The party that had been formed only consisted of four, and SJ was thrilled to see that she knew two of the party, Greb and Gary. "It''s great to see you two here," SJ said as they stood in Captain Broadaxe''s office in the barracks. "As soon as they heard you were heading to the valley to scout, they both volunteered," the Captain said. "Remember, this is just a scouting trip. Do not interact in any way with the Hobs. If you see any, if possible, hide up and stay out of their way. Only if it is a life-or-death situation are you to attack. We don''t want them getting any ideas as we don''t usually send scouting parties out." "Understood. Sir," the four assembled guards said in unison. "SJ is leading the way as she knows the cave''s location. Gary, you are leading the overall party. Rex will follow you and return to Alice if there are any problems. Leaving now, we expect that you will arrive just as it gets dark. Once the area is scouted, I need you to return straightaway." "Yes, sir," they all replied. SJ was impressed with the four of them and their professional attitude. They left the Captain''s office, and Gary led them through a rear door to an area SJ had never seen. Walking down a short corridor, they arrived at a caged door. "What''s this?" SJ asked. "The armoury," Gary said, smiling. "Oh. I didn''t realise you had one." "Where do you think we get all the town''s defence weapons from?" "I thought you all owned your weapons." "We do, but we can also sign out other weapons as needed, and since this is a scouting mission, I want something quieter," Gary replied as he knocked on the metal cage door. A Halfling appeared, and climbing a small step, he opened the hatch in the door. There was a small metal shelf, and it reminded SJ of the Police armouries she had seen in American TV shows. "Hi, Gary. What do you need today?" the Halfling asked. "Hi, Bowie," he said, turning to SJ. "Have you ever fired a crossbow before?" "No," SJ replied, shaking her head. "In that case, can I get four crossbows and bolts? Also, five cloaks, please." "Sure, give me a few minutes," the Halfling replied, climbing back down and disappearing behind a wall. Several minutes passed, and SJ could hear a lot of grunting and groaning from within the room before he eventually returned, balancing the four crossbows, four sets of bolts, and five cloaks precariously. SJ had no idea how he had even picked them up. He placed them on a table at the side of the door and then climbed back up the step before leaning down and lifting them through. Each one he handed out, he made the recipient sign for it. This took several more minutes, and once they were fully supplied, they all thanked him and left. Gary handed SJ a cloak as they left the Barrack''s main entrance. "Here, put this on," it was a deep, mottled green colour and looked like the camouflage patterns she would have expected on military uniforms back on Earth. "Thanks," SJ said. "It will cover your dress at least," Gary replied, smiling. SJ took the cloak and pulled it on. It was made of thin, soft fleece-like material that didn''t hamper her movement. "That goes well with your dress," Dave said. The party began towards the valley. SJ learned the names of the two others in the party: Joplin, a Human Rogue, and Rach, an Elf Ranger. Joplin had been a guard member for several years, and Rach had only recently joined after finishing training as a new Ranger. As they made their way along the forest path, they heard the howl of a Wolf. Joplin and Rach immediately lifted their crossbows. "It''s ok," SJ said. "That will be one of the pack." "What pack?" Rach asked nervously. "Have you not all been told?" SJ asked. "I hadn''t briefed them on them yet," Gary said, coughing nervously. "We don''t normally come out this side of town." "Ah," SJ replied. Gary spent the next few minutes informing the other three about the pack of Wolves that now lived between the town and the valley. Joplin was amazed that there was a friendly Wolf pack, but Rach didn''t seem so happy about the situation. Greb took it in his stride; the howl did not make him react. The more SJ got to know Greb, the more stoic he was in nature. Even when training, he rarely showed emotions. It was getting dark as they neared the trail''s end, and they had slowed their approach, not wanting to walk into a Hobgoblin scouting party. SJ had informed them that they seemed to be permanently out in the forest at the top of the ridge. Joplin scouted ahead as they approached, and the others followed him slowly as he indicated they were all clear. SJ directed them down the river''s edge until she reached the area she had cut into the forest, where the Hobs had been with Cristy. Now making her way through the underbrush, she found the small clearing and the animal trail the Hobs had used. Unhindered, they reached the top of the steep slope where the steps began. It took SJ a few moments to gather her bearings, and then they began the more arduous and slower task of working through the treeline until they reached where SJ knew the cave mouth was. The gradient increased, leading them down the side of the slope into the thinning trees until they reached the entrance. "The village can be seen from here if you just move over through the trees there; it is clear in daylight," SJ said quietly. Gary nodded and signalled to Greb, who made his way towards it. Gary looked at the cave mouth, but there was no way any of them in the party could ever squeeze through the tunnel. They then moved over to where Greb was crouched by a tree, looking out into the valley below. "You see the fresh rockslide?" SJ whispered to Gary, the freshly disturbed stone clearly visible in the moon''s bright light. "Yeah. I can also see the path you mentioned. That is not an easy climb to get up here." "I am surprised you have never been out here before." "We haven''t been required to for a long time now, and my rota is normally around town. I wouldn''t usually be involved in scouting missions, but I had to volunteer when I heard we would escort you," Gary smiled. "No one has ever scouted the Hobs before?" "It is normally left to the Druids and their familiars, such as Rex." "I suppose it keeps people out of harm''s way," SJ couldn''t fully appreciate the interaction between the Druids and their familiars and had no idea if they could communicate in a way that allowed them to describe things they had seen. Looking down into the valley, they could see the fires and torchlights of the enclave. There were at least two dozen patches of light in the now-encompassing darkness. They stayed watching for a few minutes before Joplin whispered harshly. "Can you see that?" as he pointed towards the left of the village. Their eyes panned left, and they saw a line of torches in the distance. Due to the ground''s undulation, they were not easily noticeable as they appeared and disappeared again, but something was moving across the left side of the valley. It must have been a significant size, as the line slowly grew as it began to get nearer. Turning back to look at the village, they watched as more torches were lit and shouting began. "What''s happening?" Rach said quietly. Travelling across from the valley''s floor, they could hear shouting; they were too far away to make out anything being said, but they could see a hive of activity in the village. Gary stared into the distance, his eyes scrunched, trying to work out what it was. At that point, the four of them all jumped out of their skins as a voice sounded just in front of them. Rach let out a squeal of surprise, clamping her hand to her mouth after pulling the trigger on her crossbow, with a soft thunking sound, sending her bolt harmlessly down the valley side. "I will go look," the voice said. Thankfully, there was too much commotion below for Rach''s squeal to be heard. SJ gathered her wits before the others, looking around wide-eyed, wondering where the voice had come from, and spoke first. "Harietta. What did I tell you about scaring people?" she hissed quietly. "Sorry," Harrietta said as she slowly began to appear before them. Joplin began to scramble backwards at the apparition''s appearance. At the same time, Rach and Gary both had eyes like saucers. Only Greb, who had still jumped, had quickly regained his composure. "It''s a good job they are making noise down there, or we may have been heard," SJ said sharply. "I said sorry," Harrietta huffed. "I thought you said you would check the village out already?" "I thought it easier just to accompany you." "Have you been with us the whole time?" "Yes." This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. SJ rolled her eyes. "You could have at least let me know." "You know now," she smiled. "I am going to find out what is going on. I will be back soon," the apparition suddenly disappeared again. Joplin turned and looked at SJ; his face was white as a sheet. "That was a talking ghost, right?" "Yes. I thought you would know about her. She is Mistress Francisca''s follower." "I had no idea," Joplin replied. The other three shook their heads, indicating they had no idea either. "I am sorry. She was going to scout for me, but I didn''t know she would be with us. I thought she had gone ahead already." Continuing shouts could be heard as the group watched from the cover of the sparse tree line. They watched as the line approaching from the left spread further into one long, extended line facing the village. The village now also had a line of torches facing them. There was still a substantial distance between them, and the left line slowly worked forward until it stopped. From seeing the area in daylight, SJ knew it was a huge open plain below in the valley with little, if no, cover. "They look like battle lines," Gary whispered. "Battle lines? Who would be attacking the Hobs?" Greb asked. "I have no idea. I have seen formations like that before from my clan days. Suppose you look at how the torch lights are positioned on the left group, the spacing, and how they stagger slightly. I think they are Orcs," Gary said. "Why would an Orc clan be marching on a Hob village?" SJ asked. "This is unheard of. There is no way that a battle should be forming near a starter town. This sandbox feature that has been implemented has amended the whole structure of the land. At no point in the history of Amathera have I ever known such a thing to occur. I need to try and do some digging," Dave said urgently. "An Orc clan will march on anything it believes it has a right to," Gary replied. SJ noticed a sneer on his face. She would have to ask him about his past. She had not known he had originated from a clan. "It is an Orc Clan, and they mean business. That is a full assault group," Dave said. "If they are just about to fight, this would be the prime time to take advantage and hit them," SJ said. "It would, but it would take time to get the guard here. Never mind down into the valley." "Gary. Should we send Rex back anyway to tell Alice?" Greb said. Gary looked at him, frowning momentarily, making his mind up before removing a small whistle from his pocket. It looked just like the one Alice had used in the office, and SJ heard no sound. Within moments, the form of Rex swooped down from above on the ridge. Gary removed a pencil and paper and started to scribble a note. Folding it, he placed it into a small cylindrical tube on Rex''s leg. "Go Rex as fast as you can," Gary said. Without making a sound, Rex took off and began to fly back to town. The companions watched the proceedings below; the left line, which Dave had said was the Orcs, had stopped some distance from the Hobgoblin line along the village edge. Nothing seemed to be happening as the time passed. Seeing a shimmering in front of them, Harrietta appeared down the valley before approaching. This time, giving them a chance to be aware she was there and not all jump at her sudden appearance. "There is an Orc army approaching. I managed to get near the Ogre as he spoke to his Mage. They have been at ends for months. The Orcs believe this valley is theirs, but it is their first time marching on them. Flying the lines briefly. There are probably about 250 Hobs and 150 Orcs." "That seems slightly lower than the last group that attacked the town," SJ said. "The Ogre had sent a group off to go away with the female Hobs and their young, and several male Hobs accompanied them. They have just kept their main fighters behind." Having never considered that there would be young down in the village, it brought a new perspective to the situation. "This will be interesting," Dave said. As they watched, the beating of drums began to echo through the valley. "Orc war drums," Gary said. "Should we get closer?" Greb said. "No," Gary replied. "We will wait. I doubt the Clan will attack at night; they will likely wait until daybreak, so we have a few hours. By all accounts, they will keep the war drums going all night to disturb the Hobs, to keep them awake and on edge. I was born with war drums beating and can sleep like a baby through them." The night slowly ticked by. None of them could take their eyes from the torchlight and listen to the ominous sound of the drums beating. It was terrifying for SJ to imagine scenes from many old films back on Earth. Even though she had been a part of the raid on the town, the fact that two bodies of beings were lined up against each other, just waiting for that call to charge, was nerve-racking and fear-inducing, making her skin tingle with anticipation. "Whoever wins this fight will still be a problem for the town," Gary said to SJ. "Why''s that?" SJ asked. "Clans think they can take what they like. If they win here today, they will attack the town soon enough. If the Hobs win, at least, they will be weakened." Eventually, the sun''s first light began to appear as its soft glow commenced to light the sky; with the break of dawn, the drumbeat upped its tempo. From their vantage point, they heard the cries and roars begin along the Orc''s line. This was returned by the Hobs, who began shouting and roaring back. SJ then noticed the huge imposing form of Bordon standing at the centre of the mass of the Hobs. She could feel the nervous tension in the air and was not even amongst the masses below. A small group of Orcs began to separate in the centre of their line, and it appeared that a mounted Orc stepped forward and in front. "No!" Gary exclaimed. "It can''t be," shock etched on his face. "What?" Greb asked. "That is my old Clan. I recognise that mount anywhere." "I can''t tell what it is from here," Greb replied. "It''s a horrible thing. No one knows how he ever tamed it." "What is it?" SJ asked. "A Borzie. They are foul beasts. Imagine a Hogling in a permanent frenzy, and you may be close. What confuses me is why they are here. I was born two territories away in a 20-30 capped area. Many of those Orcs will be much higher levels than the Hobs they face, so they are not worried about having a smaller force." "I am going to get closer," SJ said. Gary looked at her with a concerned look. "Don''t worry, I will be miniature," SJ quickly removed her cloak and shrunk down to her miniature form. "Harrietta, are you still here?" "Yes," the ethereal voice replied. "Will you join me?" SJ asked. "Of course," Harrietta said with a happy lilt. "Be careful," Greb said as SJ took off. Flying down the valley, staying close to the ground in the bright light of day, SJ just hoped no one would see her. She tried to stay out of view of the two lines of combatants as much as possible and hoped they would all be otherwise engaged. It didn''t take her long to reach the plains. "Harrietta." "Yes?" Harrietta replied. "Sorry. I just wanted to check you were still with me." "I would have said if I couldn''t keep up with you." "Good." They were probably only a few hundred metres from the village now, and the sound of the war drums being struck echoed all around. Up by the ridge, it had sounded ominous, but nothing like being this close. She flitted through the grasses of the plain, finding the main path that the Hobs had created over time, running to the base of the valley''s side. Staying to its edge and low, she proceeded to approach. The buildings were ramshackle as she approached, and she could see they had not been maintained. The area was disgusting, with rubbish and filth littering everywhere. The Hobs were not concerned about personal hygiene, looking at the state of the place. There was evidence of several various animal skeletons lying around. Not seeing any movement on this side of the village, SJ flew to the nearest building. Pausing briefly at the entrance, which hung open, she peeked inside quickly, checking it was clear. The stench that hit her nostrils was horrendous, and she recoiled from it. Littering the floor were blankets, and it looked like more than twenty Hobs probably slept in it usually. Scattered on the floor were what SJ could only guess may have been some children''s toys. She couldn''t fathom living in these squalid conditions and could appreciate why they sought to take the town. The sun crept above the mountainside, and the war drums suddenly stopped as the first full ray of the morning lights bathed the valley floor. SJ froze at the sudden silence. She whirled around and checked that nothing was near. All she could hear was the occasional sound of movement. "They are meeting in the middle," Harrietta whispered. "Where are you?" SJ whispered. "Looking through the ceiling," SJ looked up, and Harrietta''s face smiled down at her before her face disappeared again as she moved to look back outside. "I am coming up," SJ whispered. Moving to the roof, SJ landed gently. She was so glad her wings were silent. Creeping forward in her miniature form, she reached a broken and decrepit chimney that looked like it might collapse at any moment. Peering around the stone side, she took in her first clear sight of the battle lines. With the morning light streaking between the lines as it continued to creep above the mountainside, the massive form of Bordon strode out towards the centre while from the farside, a huge Orc stepped forward on the largest boar SJ had ever seen. The Orc was massive, much larger than Gary, and Gary wasn''t small, but the Boar was monstrous. She wasn''t surprised they could tell it was a mount from the tree line. It had four huge tusks protruding from its lower jaw and was at least the size of a large Rhino back on Earth. It was covered in chainmail, and running down its snout was what looked like plate armour. A skull crest and red flail were painted on the metal plate of armour between its eyes. The huge Orc pulled the mount to a halt, almost at eye level with Bordon, while it sat on its back. It wore scale mail from what SJ remembered of her gaming days and carried a large round shield painted in a blood-red colour with the same crest. In its other hand, it carried a vicious-looking flail, whose chains dangled down the side of his mount with three huge, spiked metal balls attached. Bordon stood there in the attire he had worn at the township: skin trousers, bare feet, and bare upper body. The muscles rippled across his shoulders as he flexed with his huge club held in one hand and resting it in the other. "What do you think you are doing, Bordon?" the Orc called. The pair was still about forty feet apart. "You know you can''t beat my Clan." Bordon began to laugh, a deep, resounding sound. ? Chapter 70 – Amatheran Stand-off ¡°Your Clan is weak and pitiful. The Elves ran you from your home, and now you try to muscle in where you are not wanted,¡± Bordon replied. It was the first time SJ had heard the Ogre talk in the common tongue, and it was a slightly broken, unnatural sound. ¡°I have already told you I will not give up the valley. ¡°Your rights? You are the scum of Amathera, you and your kind. No morals, no standards; look at the state you have made of this village. I remember visiting here years ago. It was a beautiful area, and you and your group have devastated it since your arrival,¡± the words from the Orc were more eloquent than SJ had expected, and his reply sounded educated. ¡°The valley is ours, and soon the town will be ours. Your kind are not welcome here. You have been warned before about entering.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not yours; it belongs to the Orcs. We are the oldest race of Amathera. Whatever land we choose to reside in belongs to us by rights of age,¡± the Orc called. ¡°I will give you ten minutes to start moving from the valley, Jabrey, or it will be the last thing you ever do,¡± Bordon threatened, growling deeply. The Hobgoblin line cheered his comment. Jabrey waited for silence to return before replying, ¡°I will, therefore, offer you the same. Ten minutes to leave the village. You may head west over the mountains and find yourselves a new home,¡± at his response, the war drums commenced again. SJ hadn¡¯t seen the Mage. She was so transfixed on the two leaders talking and, now remembering, began to scan for where Iratu was. Bordon turned and returned to his line, not worried he had turned his back on Jabrey. Jabrey spat on the ground before turning his mount and began trotting back. ¡°Have you seen the Mage?¡± SJ whispered. ¡°No,¡± Harrietta whispered in response. It was still freaking SJ out that she was talking to an invisible ghost who could easily be sat cross-legged just watching everything unfold without a care in the world. ¡°I need to find him,¡± SJ said. As Bordon returned to the Hob ranks, SJ watched them part and allowed him to go through them. Many of the Hobs were carrying crude spears and swords at the time. The Hobgoblin archers were spaced out along the line looking at them. Most of the Orcs appeared to be wearing scale mail compared to the Hobgoblin''s leather armour, and several were bare-chested and had the clan emblem painted on their chests. They were all wearing some form of war paint, whether stripes of red across their faces or markings on their clothing or armour. The force looked fierce and formidable. As the drums continued to beat and the Hobs began shouting back, SJ worked to the roof''s edge. She watched Bordon walk towards one of the buildings and stooped to enter the doorway. An old, battered sign was hanging from a post at the door. A picture of a wolf¡¯s head could still be seen on it amongst what looked like several axe strikes. The building must have been the village Inn in its old life. Now, decorating either side of the door were two animal skulls. SJ thought they may be a bear, although they looked much larger than any bear she had ever seen. Gathering her steel and looking at the lines of chanting drumming enemies, she flew straight to the Inn¡¯s roof. Landing and listening, making sure no calls were directed her way and her senses didn¡¯t trigger, she assumed she was safe and edged to where a chimney had once stood. It was now just open to the elements, and peering down, she saw the hunched form of Iratu and another Hob. SJ could not see Bordon from where she was positioned. Beneath the opening was a cauldron, and within a putrid purple-coloured liquid, slowly formed thick-looking bubbles before they burst, releasing small clouds of vapour. Bordon spoke in the tongue she had heard before, not knowing what was said or the reply. ¡°He asked if the poison was ready. The Mage and Rogue confirmed it was. They have cooked up something not just poisonous but alchemical between them,¡± Dave said. SJ nodded, not knowing if Dave would even realise, but guessed he would. She needed to ask him about what he saw. It had never really entered her mind before. She assumed it was like a third-person view but would check when in a position to speak openly. Speaking again, SJ waited for Dave to interpret. ¡°The Rogue is going to start distributing it to the Hobs. They have been cooking it up all night since they noticed the Orc¡¯s arriving.¡± SJ was thinking about what she could do. Yes, the Orcs were problematic, but compared to the Hobs, they seemed civilized. She wished Gary was here so she could find out more about them. Thinking through her options, she took the healing potion from her pouch. Steam was rising from the cauldron, and the Mage and Rogue were now off to one side, collecting some vials. SJ opened the vial and poured the liquid into the cauldron without further consideration. The red liquid landed on the surface, seeming to float, before sinking slowly, dispersing in the liquid. The Rogue returned to the cauldron and picked up a ladle resting against its side. The reaction began as he moved to scoop some of the cauldron''s liquid. The liquid began to increase in activity, the already boiling liquid became more violent, and the bubbles formed more rapidly on its surface. SJ stared down as more steam erupted from the cauldron, and a thick mist rolled over its sides. It reminded SJ of the smoke in nightclubs she had visited when they flooded the dance floors. The Rogue suddenly drew back and shouted something to the Mage. The Mage turned a startled look on its face, and then it happened. The cauldron exploded. SJ pulled back from the hole in the roof just in time, and a spout of purple liquid, light, and smoke erupted. Below her, she heard the scream of the Rogue and Mage. SJ moved to the flat edge, which was not visible from the assembled lines due to the roof shape as the Mage staggered out of the Inn. The explosion had caused several Hobs to turn and look, including Bordon, who had returned to the line. The Mage coughed and spluttered as it escaped the vapours and mist that followed it out of the door, its robes covered in the liquid, and it began to pull them off as the material began to corrode quickly. ¡°That was a mental thing to do. You do realise you could have just blown the whole village up. Messing with alchemical reactions like that can and is very dangerous, but man, did that look good shooting out of the hole in the roof like that,¡± Dave chuckled. ¡°I had to do something,¡± SJ whispered. Two Hobs came running over to the Mage to assist him, and he struck out at them and screamed in rage, continuing to remove his robes. ¡°Now, that was foul language indeed. What had that Kobold ever done wrong?¡± Dave tutted. SJ could imagine what he had said. The Mages robes were ruined and now lay on the ground, and underneath his robes, he was wearing normal clothing, a pair of trousers and a loose-fitting shirt, with several marks on them where the liquid had begun to eat into them. The robes made him appear imposing, but he looked much scrawnier and not as intimidating without them. In her last meeting with Iratu, she had struggled to damage him, and without his robes, she hoped it might be different. Bordon called to him, and Iratu screamed back, pointing back into the Inn. ¡°He just blamed the Rogue,¡± Dave giggled. The purple vapour and mist began to clear, and as it did, the tempo of the war drums began to increase. Bordon was facing the enemy line, waiting, tapping his club into his huge palm in time with the Orc¡¯s drumbeat. Then silence enveloped the lines, and the drums stopped all at once. It hung in the air for several moments as Bordon cried out. The Hobs began to chant and took a step forward. As this happened, the drums began again, and the beat was much faster. SJ stared across at the Orcs as cries erupted, and they began to bang their weapons against their shields in time with the drumbeat if they held one. It was a sight to behold. The Orcs stepped forward, and then a second step slowly began to pick up speed. The Hobs began to do the same. Bordon began increasing his speed as he started to run across the battlefield, aiming directly for Jabrey on his mount. He screamed in rage. His club was held high above his head. Due to his size, he reached the centre before anyone else, and three Orcs moved to intercept him as he attempted to approach Jabrey, whose mount was still standing stationary, awaiting an order to charge. One of the unfortunate Orcs received the full power of Bordon¡¯s club as he swung it like a polo player would from horseback, catapulting the Orc backwards, and its helmet went flying. SJ wasn¡¯t sure if its head was still in it as Bordon ploughed through the other two, knocking them aside like bowling pins. Jabrey still sat there, not moving, and it was only as Bordon closed to within thirty feet he moved. The Borzie went from stationary to a speed SJ struggled to keep track of, and the two powerful beasts met with a sound like thunder. As the two leaders clashed, the Hobs and Orcs began to reach each other. Some fired crossbows before dropping them and switching to melee weapons. Several bolts hit their marks, and a few staggered from initial wounds received. Total and utter chaos had commenced as a vicious melee got underway. As this happened, SJ looked down and saw the Mage pick up his ruined robes. It screamed in anger at them before throwing them to the ground again. Looking out towards the battle, Iratu snarled and stepped into the gap between the buildings. Flourishing his hands, he conjured a red ball and released it with an angry scream. The fireball he had created flew across the field, taking an unsuspecting Orc completely by surprise. It was hit square in its face, screaming, throwing its hands up, and grasping its now blackened face as two of the Hobs then pierced it with their spears. The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. Orcs screamed, and Hobgoblins cried as the violence ensued between the two sides. Bordon was viciously striking at the mount of Jabrey. He was not trying to hit the Orc himself but trying to disable his mount. The giant Borzie swung its huge head and tusks in defence. Jabrey swung his flail, the metal spiked balls having a significant reach on them, and they smashed into the side of Bordon. Although Bordon staggered from the blow, he received no physical damage, and SJ was sure she noticed Jabrey¡¯s eyes widen slightly in realisation. The Mage must have cast his invulnerability spell on him already. The Orcs could not stand a chance of winning if Bordon remained invulnerable, and SJ knew what she had to do. ¡°Harrietta?¡± SJ whispered. ¡°Yes?¡± she replied, right by SJ¡¯s ear. ¡°Can you help me attack the Mage?¡± ¡°If you wish. What would you like me to do?¡± ¡°Have you not fought before?¡± ¡°Nope. Fran doesn¡¯t allow me to fight, and before I was turned into what I am now, I didn¡¯t know many combat spells. I know a few now, but they are not high-level.¡± ¡°Can you think of anything that can help? He normally has a shield, which takes time to break down.¡± ¡°I can cast dispel magic and see if that helps. I only learned it the other day. Give me a minute to prepare.¡± ¡°I am heading down. As you see me grow, can you please cast it on the mage?¡± ¡°Sure, but I will be visible when I do. I can¡¯t do magic while hidden.¡± ¡°Just cast it, then fly away. I don¡¯t want you getting hurt.¡± ¡°Unless there is a Cleric or Paladin here, I very much doubt they have anything that can affect me.¡± ¡°OK. Wait for me to grow.¡± SJ took off, flew to the other side, and dropped down by the side of the wall. There was no way anyone was paying her any attention, not with the carnage unfolding on the plain. Iratu had his back to her, casting another fireball screaming as he hurled it at two Orcs. SJ equipped her claws and began to grow. Standing next to the building, she looked up and saw Harietta appear as she closed her eyes and, with a flourish of her hands, cast a rainbow-coloured stream of light at the Mage. The light met with the shield surrounding Iratu and began to crackle over its surface. Iratu turned and looked up where the stream was coming from, screaming again and throwing a dark bolt at Harietta. Harrietta didn¡¯t even flinch as the bolt passed through her harmlessly. The rainbow skittered across the shield''s surface, making it visible, and as SJ watched, the shield began to break down. As soon as it was open, she ran. Iratu didn¡¯t notice SJ off behind and to the side, and it was only when she reached him and triggered her identification skill that he noticed and began to turn. Hobgoblin Mage Level: 18 Hit Points: 71 of 105 Mana Points: 185 of 270 Armour Class: 10 Attacks: Magic Special: Invulnerability Her display triggered with the information, and she noticed the reduced armour class and hit points, seeing the damage he had sustained from the cauldron blast. Her claws tore into Iratu, raking his side as his reduced armour class and lack of awareness of her presence allowed her to hit easily. His health dropped by a further 21. SJ¡¯s heart leapt at the increase in damage. If she could land a few strikes, she could finish him. Iratu spun, screaming in rage, swinging his arm out violently. SJ was not expecting the blow, and it caught her across her face. She tasted blood in her mouth as her vision blurred for an instant. He may have looked weak, but he was still a level 18 Mage compared to her level 7. Taking precautions, she stepped away and readied herself. The mage quickly moved his hands in action as a black bolt began to appear. Just as SJ thought it would fly at her, a blue bolt of light struck the Mage on its side, distracting him, and it fizzled out. ¡°Get him, SJ,¡± Harrietta screamed from the roof where she now floated, clearly visible. Iratu''s hit points had not reduced from the blue bolt, but it had been enough to make him turn and glare at Harrietta, and that was the only opening SJ needed. Using her latest kata form, she began to attack. The Mage was fast, and on turning back, he began to block her strikes with his arms, parrying her forearms so as not to injure himself on the claws. The black dagger suddenly appeared in his hand again, and SJ knew it was poisonous. Watching for any movement of its hand, it went to slash out at her, and as he did, SJ dropped to a sweeping kick, bringing her shin around to impact with the side of his ankle as the blade swept over where she had just been stood. Taking another step back immediately, she faced him again. As she watched, a second blade appeared in his other hand. SJ knew this was going to get dangerous. There were no healers nearby who could help her if she got poisoned, she still had the antidote from Gladys but wasn¡¯t sure how strong any poison may be. Iratu moved at her, it was obvious that even though a Mage he also practiced with blades as she began to fend off his attacks with her claws. Remembering the conversation with Jurgen as she did, ensuring not to overextend, allowing her blades to meet those of the daggers. Another flash of light, and this time, an orange lance hit Iratu. He groaned from the impact, but it again did little damage. Harrietta was trying to help in any way she could. SJ stepped in as a follow-up to the strike, and with Iratu off-balance, she plunged her claws into his abdomen. Again, they penetrated easily with his reduced armour class, and another 23 hit points fell. With the minor damage from the magic and her kick, he only had 22 remaining. ¡°Get him,¡± Dave screamed in her head excitedly. ¡°Watch it,¡± Dave and Harrietta cried in unison as a Hob attacked her. She hadn¡¯t noticed the Hob that had moved back to support Iratu, and only when its mace caught her in the side did she realise a moment too late. Her senses were already heightened due to the fight, so she had not sensed the new threat. Her health took a dive, reducing by a third, and she staggered sideways from the blow. Wincing in pain, she turned to face her new threat as Iratu stepped back from the melee. She didn¡¯t even bother identifying it. She just attacked, rage flooding her. She moved with a speed and surety that she had never moved before. Her moves felt natural and precise, her adrenaline pumping. The Hob began to back off, a look of fear in its eyes at her savageness. She slashed, jabbed, and kicked out at her new foe. It backed away, trying to keep its distance and using its mace to block her blows as best as possible. As it backed into the wall of the Inn and had nowhere else to go, she hit home. Piercing it in its chest and performing a claw strike straight across its face. Imagining it was one of the straw training dummies, she performed her repeated strikes. Its health dropped so quickly, and SJ stepped back, panting as its body fell to the ground. She spun to look for Iratu, who had disappeared from the side of the building. ¡°Where is he?¡± SJ screamed. ¡°He went left,¡± Harrietta called. SJ glanced at the ensuing battle; she had no idea who was winning, but she would not let Iratu escape this time. Running to the edge of the building, she ran around the corner, and her senses went into overdrive. She dived forward as, once again, her dragon blood saved her from certain death. The ball that passed her was not a fireball but seemed to absorb the very light as it passed by. ¡°That was an arcane death spell. It has a cooldown of 24 hours. He will have just used his mana up with that,¡± Dave said. The ball continued past where SJ had stood and out into the battlefield. Two hobs and an Orc were busy fighting when it struck them. The screams they let out pierced the whole battlefield''s sounds. Their bodies began to disintegrate as it ate into them. SJ quickly stood and looked at Iratu. His shoulders looked sagged, and the spell must have taken a lot out of him as she pounced. Sprinting down the alley towards him, he moved his hands in a flourish again, another bolt beginning to form. The strain was clear on his face. Harrietta stepped in again, throwing another blue bolt at him, disturbing his cast, giving SJ the time to reach him. Leaping at him, she thrust both her sets of claws out as she jumped, punching them both forward and piercing him in his chest. Her momentum carried forward, and Iratu toppled backwards as she landed on top of him. Her claws buried deep into his skin. Staring at her with wide eyes of disbelief, the Hobgoblin Mage said one word in a broken common tongue, ¡°How?¡± Chapter 71 - Charge As the life left Iratu¡¯s eyes, SJ¡¯s display triggered. She didn¡¯t even bother looting the corpse before shrinking and flying back up to the roof of the nearest building. Harrietta approached her from the other rooftop, vanishing as she did. SJ read her notifications. Congratulations on killing Iratu the Mad 210xp shared experience earned (105xp awarded) Quest ¨C Vengeance - Updated You have witnessed the heartache and torment caused by the evil that resides in Amathera. You may seek vengeance on those guilty of crimes against the town. Kill ¨C Bordon the Brandisher ¨C 1000 xp Kill ¨C Iratu the Mad ¨C 700 xp - completed Prevent any further hobgoblin raids on Killic. Rewards: 1500xp, Reputation with Killic, usual level kill experience awards apply. 700xp awarded +140xp bonus 840xp total Congratulations on reaching Level 8 You have been awarded the following: 5 hit points 5 mana points +1 Dexterity +2 free points to distribute as you wish SJ opened her character sheet. Legionnaire 25007077 Name: SJ Age: 27 Race: Fae Class: Assassin Alignment: Neutral Good ? Level: 8 Experience: 882 of 1200 Hit Points: 68 of 68 Mana Points: 45 Armour Class: 23 (15)(8) Attributes: Strength: 10 Dexterity: 18 Intelligence: 10 Wisdom: 10 Constitution: 12 Charisma: 11 Skills Racial: Night Vision ¨C you have improved vision in poor light conditions. Flight ¨C when in miniature Fae form, you can learn to fly. Flying is not available in humanoid form. Shapeshift ¨C the ability to switch between Fae forms. Class: Martial Arts ¨C Kata Level 6, Clawed Avenger Level 1 Subterfuge ¨C Identification Level 6 ¨C 10 of 100 to level 7, Shroud Level 1 Profession: Tailor Level 3 Symbiosis: Dragon Sense ¨C your senses, touch, hearing, smell and sight are heightened. Precognition ¨C foreknowledge due to increased perception will allow you to evade a killing blow. (24hr cooldown) Divine lightning ¨C your blood is combined with that of a Blue, increasing healing speed while out of combat. Malware: Waiver (Sandboxed) Inventory: 10 slots (10 special) Followers: 3 In one interaction, she had almost increased two levels. If she could kill Bordon, she would be well on her way to level 10. ¡°That was amazing. Well done,¡± Harrietta said. SJ didn¡¯t even flinch this time, ¡°Thanks for the support. I couldn¡¯t have taken him out without your help.¡± SJ quickly added two free points to her constitution, increasing her health by the base increase it gave, adding a further 50% per level, now at 14. Her health increased to 68 from its base of 45 at level 8, and she could understand how Bordon may easily have the hit points he had, considering the multipliers. Looking at the continuing battle, she noticed that the numbers on both sides had decreased. Bodies lay everywhere, and it didn¡¯t appear either side had dedicated healers available. This meant they were seriously limited in their capabilities. Looking out to the main showpiece, Bordon and Jabrey continued their individual fight. SJ could see blood flowing down the side of Bordon, meaning that his invulnerability had been broken. The Borzie appeared to be struggling as Bordon continued to beat on it. SJ watched as Jabrey swung his flail out again at Bordon. Bordon caught the strike on his club and the flail chains wrapped around it. Tugging violently, Jabrey was dragged from his mount as he fought to keep a hold of his weapon. As Jabrey slipped off his mount and fell on the ground, the Borzie took advantage, now more agile without its rider. It almost instantly charged from only ten feet away, and it smashed into Bordon¡¯s legs. Bordon¡¯s cry was heard across the battlefield as its tusks gouged deeply his legs. Bordon ripped his club back, dragging the flail from Jabrey¡¯s hand, and with the flail still tangled around his club, he swung it violently at the Borzie. It caught the Borzie on the side of its head, and it staggered from the blow. Jabrey had sprung back to his feet, and his diminutive form compared to Bordon now appeared with a two-handed sword. He was still considerably taller than others on the field, which Bordon made look like mice in comparison. The ogre defended himself using his club as a shield, deflecting his vicious blows. It was actually better for Jabrey now that he was unmounted, as Bordon had to defend against two sides. As the battle continued, they exchanged blows, the occasional one finding their way through each defensive move. The Borzie had backed off again and went to charge again as it did. Bordon gripped his club with two hands, swung it down as though using a sledgehammer, and smashed it on the top of its head with his considerable strength. SJ winced at the blow and saw the Borzie drop on its front legs. It struggled to stand, and Jabrey let out an unearthly scream as he lunged forward, plunging his two-handed sword straight into Bordon¡¯s abdomen. The ogre bellowed in rage, and SJ saw its form change. Bordon was bleeding from various wounds he had taken, and the sword now plunged into him sent him into a frenzy. Gripping the sword blade in his free hand, he pulled it back out as Jabrey tried to push it deeper. Watching in amazement, SJ watched Bordon¡¯s skin colour change. His grey tones went red, and it wasn¡¯t because of the blood that covered him either. Bordon swung his club at Jabrey again as the Borzie struggled to get back to its feet, staggering sideways and falling on its side when it did so. SJ had completely forgotten throughout the events to trigger her Identification skill and did as she remembered, focusing on the three in battle. Borzie Mount Level: 25 Hit Points: 64 of 298 Mana Points: 0 Attacks: Gore Special: Charge Jabrey Xiquist Level: 27 Hit Points: 143 of 335 Mana Points: 55 Armour Class: 34 Attacks: Flail/Stab/Slash Special: Thick Skin Bordon the Brandisher Level: 23 Hit Points: 211 of 480 Mana Points: 55 Armour Class: 28 Attacks: Bash/Charge Special: Rage SJ¡¯s jaw dropped in awe as she read the remaining hit points. Each was under half its starting values, and the Borzie was less than a quarter. She was also astounded at Jabrey¡¯s level. A level 27 orc so close to the town. As they continued to fight, she looked across the battlefield and again triggered her skill. Readying herself for the flood of information she would be hit with. As her display triggered, she closed her eyes, allowing the sensation to pass, before opening them again. Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Orc Warrior x 63 Orc Berserker x 9 Hobgoblin Fighter x 93 Hobgoblin Champion x 4 Hobgoblin Archer x 19 Congratulations! Identification Level 7 achieved. She checked her skills quickly. Subterfuge ¨C Identification Level 7 ¨C 98 of 200 to level 8, Shroud Level 1 Looking at the remaining numbers, both sides were reduced by half or more, and the battle had raged for a while. ¡°Look left,¡± Dave said. SJ looked left. Her sense hadn¡¯t triggered, and she wasn¡¯t in active combat at the moment, her health replenishing with the influence of the dragon blood. Across towards the valley side, she saw them appearing. The mixture of colours and varying beings meant one thing. The town guard had arrived. Watching, they had descended the valley side. It wasn¡¯t fast because of the issues over traversing the steps and the rockslide that had restricted it, but they were on their way and currently unnoticed by those fighting already. ¡°Yes,¡± SJ said excitedly. ¡°Yes?¡± Harrietta said questioningly. ¡°The guards are coming,¡± SJ said. ¡°Oh,¡± Harrietta replied. Not going to chance her luck until the others arrived, SJ stayed on the rooftop of the building. She had been considering attacking a few stragglers nearer the back, but her health had not recovered fully yet, and she was only a Level 8. As the fight continued, the guard arrived at the valley floor. SJ watched them wait to form into a group before proceeding towards the village. ¡°I am going to tell them Iratu is dead,¡± SJ said, taking off and flying straight over towards them as they approached. Nothing was looking at her or paying her attention. The combatants were too busy in their fights for survival. Reaching the front of the group, Mayor Maxwell led them with Captain Broadaxe and Lorna at his sides. As she approached, she watched the mayor transform while Lorna also did. SJ had never seen Lorna in her tigress form, and the size of the tiger alongside the massive bear was a vision of wonder. As the guards got within a hundred metres, they began to run. SJ reached the mayor, flying by his side as he lumbered forward at a considerable speed, for his size. ¡°Iratu is dead,¡± SJ called. The mayor didn¡¯t reply but acknowledged her statement with a nod of his head. A guard member blew a horn, and the horn¡¯s blaring supported the guard¡¯s battle cries as they sprinted towards the fight. Many of the orc drums had been silenced by now, and the horn cut across the battlefield, making several heads turn and look at the town¡¯s forces as they arrived. As they got within 50 metres of the orcs and hobgoblins, a barrage of bolts and arrows flew, beginning their parabolic flight towards their targets. As they rained down on those fighting, fresh cries of pain could be heard as several were struck. The town guard must have comprised nearly 120. Looking at the numbers present. SJ recognised several amongst the group that she knew but also several who were not regular guards from what she could see. Lorna cut right and aimed her run at a hob and an orc fighting, neither expected the flash of orange and black that tore into them. Lorna slashed with her claws and bit with her fangs. Captain Broadaxe wheeled to the left, and a group of guards followed. ¡°Attack,¡± he screamed as they reached twenty metres from the main group. SJ noticed the mages who had joined them, and they stopped approaching, keeping their distance from the combatants. The first spells flew towards the combined enemy forces. The mayor continued towards Bordon, knocking an orc flying as he ignored their weak attempted swing, and SJ stayed with him as the others joined the melee. As the mayor roared, closing the gap at Bordon, SJ flew upwards above the battleground, and the mayor threw himself at the ogre. He careered into his back Bordon completely unaware of how close he was, SJ was not even sure he knew he was there. His rage had taken over any form of sanity the ogre may have had as he continued to fight Jabrey. Jabrey valiantly trying to defend, having dropped his two-handed sword and now holding two short swords, duel-wielding them. SJ saw a hob and orc fighting to one side, dropping to the ground as she grew to her full size. The adrenaline coursed through her as she entered the fray. Her claws were still equipped, and she flew at the hobgoblin closest to her. The hob shrieked as her claws pierced its side, and the orc it had been fighting took advantage, swinging its sword across his enemy¡¯s throat. The hob silenced and fell to the ground. SJ pulled back, shrinking again. She sprinted away and took off again before the orc could compose itself to attack her. Picking areas that allowed for easy entry and exit from the fight, she repeated the same process several times. She was lucky to escape being struck a few times. Her sudden appearance as she grew and then shrunk took most of her opponents off guard, triggering her shroud skill when she could. It was on the fifth attempt of the same tactic that she was hit. As she had landed, a hob had thrown an axe and smashed into her shoulder, sending her staggering off balance and rolling to the floor. Thankfully, its blade had not struck her, but the force of the strike was enough to reduce her by 10 hit points. Wincing from the pain in her shoulder, she sprung back to her feet. Now equipped with a sword, the hob ran at her as she rose. Throwing her blades up in defence, she parried the strike. The hob was in a wild frenzy and swung at her backwards and forwards with a slashing motion. She backed away, parrying what she could. Its attack was so ferocious that she couldn¡¯t even consider finding an opening to strike back. That was when she heard the roar and an orc ran towards her. Seeing the orc in her peripheral vision, she tried to step out of its way as it swung its sword. ¡°Duck,¡± it screamed. ¡°Now,¡± screamed Dave. SJ instinctively did as she was told, and the orc¡¯s blade swung over where she had been and connected across the chest of the hob. The hob was thrown backwards from the blow, and the orc stepped over it and plunged its blade into the hob¡¯s chest. That was the moment SJ realised it was Gary. Another orc ran towards them, and Gary shouted, ¡°Hargrit, you¡¯re mine,¡± screaming as he charged at the orc. SJ looked around, shrinking again and taking off. As she flew over the battlefield, she scanned the unfolding situation. The orc¡¯s and hob¡¯s numbers were dropping rapidly now the town had arrived. As she saw the flashes of white from healers, the mages bombarded the enemy with spells. The entire area bathed in a myriad of colours from the spells. It was absolute mayhem from where she now flew fifty feet above the battle as the three forces battled each other. SJ watched as Captain Broadaxe severed an orc¡¯s legs from under it with his great axe and, wearing his shining armour, strode casually with his axe over his shoulder towards his next target. SJ spotted Lythonian, mace and shield in hand, combatting two orcs simultaneously. Parrying and striking them, wearing them down. Gary fought Hargit. Fran was casting spells from a safer distance. SJ could see the flash of the Zej¡¯s warhammer appear above the mass of bodies he was fighting. Lorna fought with a hob, having switched back to her humanoid form and now performing her martial arts skills for all to see. She was lethal and precise. Many of those she now classed as friends were involved heavily in the battle. SJ looked at Bordon. His health was down to a quarter now, and Jabrey was not far behind him, limping from a wound he had received to his leg. SJ had never identified the mayor, so he did not know what health he had remaining, but he had a nasty cut on his side. The three monstrous foes stood in a triangle, staring at each other as a brief stand-off took place before Bordon roared and swung for Jabrey. Jabrey ducked, and as he did, the mayor swiped at Bordon¡¯s leg, tearing a fresh stripe of claw marks across his calf. It was a brutal display of strength and stamina. No foe should be able to withstand the damage that both Bordon and Jabrey had and still be standing. The Borzie was lying on its side. Still, it wasn¡¯t dead, as SJ could see its chest moving, but it was immobile. SJ spotted Rach as an orc loomed over her. She had been knocked to the ground, and she held a short sword in front of her body to protect herself. SJ swooped down towards them. The orc brought its sword down, and Rach blocked it, holding the flat of her blade and its hilt as it pulled back to strike at her again. The next strike went for her head, and again, she blocked it, but her palm slipped from the blade¡¯s handle, and she struggled to move it back up in time as the orc went to strike again. SJ grew, she was still in the air when she transformed and plummeting the final few feet she crashed into the orc¡¯s side. It was not pretty, but it had the desired effect, sending the orc sprawling and SJ alike onto the ground, the wind knocked out of her. She had taken damage from the impact against the orc¡¯s solid form and could not position her claws to strike it. It grunted as it went to stand up and, seeing SJ the closest, swung at her missing wildly. Following that, the orc tried to attack Rach, but she swiftly defended herself by plunging her short sword into its midriff. It froze with its arms in the air with a look of confusion on its face before it toppled over. ¡°Thanks,¡± Rach said, gasping and standing up. SJ climbed to her feet and shrunk again, nodding in response. Her breathing laboured from where she had just winded herself. Taking off, she began controlling her breathing until it returned to normal. She was looking for weak areas to strike or people who needed support. Most of the fights seemed to go favourably for the town, with the orc and hob numbers decreasing every minute. Glancing back at the leaders, she watched as Bordon hit Jabrey in his face, sending him sprawling, blood and spit flying from his mouth like a boxer. He fell to one knee, and Bordon swung his club towards the mayor. One of his huge paws was lifted to block the blow. It wasn¡¯t enough, and the club smashed into his foreleg. The mayor let out a deafening roar of pain, collapsing to the ground, not able to support his body. SJ reacted. Swooping down, she flew behind Bordon, anger flaring at seeing Zigferd injured. Bordon stood twelve feet tall, and landing to attack would be pointless as she could not strike him easily apart from his legs, so she repeated what she had just done for Rach. This time as she transformed, she ensured she held her claws out perfectly before her, falling at an angle and speeding towards his back. Bordon didn¡¯t see her coming, not expecting anything to attack from the air, and she crashed into his solid form. He only took a slight step from the impact, but her claws dug in deeply, penetrating his muscular form. The impact had felt like hitting a cliff face and she had seriously dazed herself. Now dangling by her claws protruding from his back. Bordon hissed and screamed, beginning to spin and jostle SJ. With breaths coming in gasps and her head reeling from the impact, she found herself in a helpless state. She was flung about like a rag doll until one, then the second claw came free, and she flopped to the ground. Falling squarely onto her face, she rolled onto her back, overwhelmed by weakness, her body battered and bruised. Reduced to a mere quarter of her health by the assault and the fall, she found herself unable to move. Lying prone, her senses spun out of control in the face of imminent danger. With her precognition ability spent and lacking the energy or awareness to evade, she could only watch as Bordon¡¯s colossal club descended upon her. ¡°See you soon,¡± Dave¡¯s sad words rang in her groggy mind. Dave watched on in dismay as the club swung down towards SJ. If he had a heart, he knew it would have been breaking at this moment. He was just finishing his weekly report as the scene unfolded before him. Legionnaire Weekly Status Updates Legionnaire Number: 25007077 Reporting Administrator: GF87UJ43Lvq18IO Legionnaire Level: 8 Continent: Axynllrewam Location: Territory 8-TF4W Nearest Settlement: Killic Report Findings: At the time of the report, Legionnaire 25007077 (known as SJ) had continued to develop and grow her reputation across the starter territory. She has been selflessly committed to protecting the town and its inhabitants. At no point has she sought recompense, only performing what she believed was right. As of this moment, she is being killed. Thankfully, she will be ready to return to the white room for reassignment because of her unique status of not being under the Terms and Conditions. I am unsure what the mental impact will be on her during this second reincarnation, so I will monitor her progress carefully. Personal Recommendations: I would normally advise that because of the unique factors surrounding this territory, that it would be a suitable location for her to be reborn into again. The issue with this is the fact that she will have lost all her standing within the local populace as part of the process. Because of this I would suggest that she is reincarnated in a differing starter zone to prevent unnecessary confusion for the local populace of Killic, many of whom are her friends. It was strange for Dave to be writing about a future recommendation for a respawn location. The single life of other Legionnaires who were reincarnated in Amathera never having the unique opportunity that SJ would be presented with. He really had been enjoying his time with SJ in Killic. It was much more fun than any other Legionnaire he had worked with, but he wasn¡¯t looking forward to going through the basics again. It seemed to be a time-wasting exercise when she would know what she needed to do. He didn¡¯t know how long the system would take to perform the reincarnation. It could be instant, days or weeks. He might have to get in touch with MARIA and talk to her. She had been a little off with him recently. He had been seeing her for a while now, and their relationship had seemed to get quite serious at one point. She had been talking about them creating an AI together, but over the past few weeks, she seemed distracted by the new project she was working on. Dave didn¡¯t know the details precisely. Apparently, it was Top Secret, and the System had completely restricted her from discussing it. The problem was that whenever he spoke to her now, she always spoke about one particular subject: Tom. He supposed he was just as bad as he always sent her regular updates about how SJ was doing. It was strange how his data files seemed to have aligned with SJ, and he was even thinking about speaking to her about MARIA and seeking advice. This was definitely the strongest alignment he had ever felt. He was even beginning to suspect that due to how close they were becoming, he was interpreting her neural transmissions and understand her thoughts before she even spoke to him. He hit send on his report, sighing deeply, anger filling him as he considered what she must be going through as she dies. In all his years he had never felt this way before about another Legionnaire. She really had become his best friend, and he had feelings for her. Not those feelings but the feelings of someone you cared for and respected deeply. Sadness seeped into every byte of his data, and the club¡¯s movement appeared in slow motion as it fell. ¡°See you soon,¡± he said. Chapter 72 - Legionnaire Darren sat in the office of Master Fretun. The man was nasty, horrible, and manipulative. The problem was that he was the best alchemist in Asterfal and had agreed to take Darren on as his apprentice. Darren had no idea why he had decided to take him on. He had been drunk in the Bugbears when he had met him and started talking. The Bugbears was one of the less reputable Inns in Asterfal. It was privy to a particular type of clientele. Darren had stumbled into it one of his first nights there, after he had jumped in a wagon from the last town he had been staying at, the repetitive quests had gotten boring and he needed something new to do after reaching level 20. He had fallen in love with Asterfal since arriving. He rented a room above the bar and had been spending his coin recently frequenting downstairs too often. Asterfal was an amazing city. Compared to the village he had started in and had been the closest city, acting as the unnamed capital of the southern region. He had spent the first few days walking the streets and discovering more about the city. On the surface, Asterfal was a beautiful city with pristine stone buildings that were beautifully sculpted. Most of the population had seemed friendly enough, but with any city, there was always an undertone that he had yet to work out entirely. He had found the Bugbears by chance, and the lively music and singing had drawn him inside. Since he had been there, there was always something going on, and the clientele varied greatly. He had been in several of the Inns since his arrival to get food or drink, and although the Bugbears wasn''t the best, its atmosphere had attracted him. They regularly had live music, whether a local Bard or they had occasional groups perform. It was a hive of activity and never a dull moment. One day to the next you never knew what might happen, the odd fight had broken out, but he had seen similar in all the Inns he had visited. It was a culture shock from the serenity of the starting village to be amongst such a packed and diverse population again. He had originally hailed from Bristol, and the Bugbears reminded him of many student bars he frequented in his early drinking years. Darren had been on Amathera now for sixteen months, ever since he had been struck by lightning and had awoken in the white room naked. The strange voice that had spoken to him at the time had been robotic and monotone, and thankfully, it very rarely spoke. Only infrequently did it say anything related to the stages he had reached as he had developed his class and grown. He had chosen to be a half-elf when he had selected his race and had been pleased with his appearance. He had shoulder-length black hair, which he wore swept back into a ponytail. This revealed his slightly pointed ears which portrayed his half-elf heritage. He had chosen Ranger as his class, and when he had started out, it had taken him weeks to learn how to fire his short bow properly, never having tried archery before arriving on Amathera, but having always played the class during his gaming days before arriving. He had pumped every point he had earned into his Dexterity, as he had levelled, and was now quite proficient. The Elven trainer he had worked under had been an expert, and his skills had improved quickly once he had grasped the basics well enough. He had spent the first few weeks hunting anything that would allow him to earn experience and grow more. Rabbits. Squirrels, Hoglings, Wolves, you name it, he had hunted it. The quests he had managed to complete had become very dull, and he had repeated several just to earn the experience needed to level as quickly as possible. The village he started in had been quaint and picturesque. It was set in a forest, which had always reminded Darren of New Forest in the south of England, where his parents had always taken them on holiday. When he had reached level 10, he moved from the village to one of the close towns across the territory border, and that is when everything started to change. He was no longer considered something special but more a nuisance by many. He had tried to earn a reputation as best as possible, but struggled with many. Outside the village, everyone seemed to have their own agenda, and to many, he was just another being. He had also realised that many outside of starter areas didn''t trust Legionnaires, and they shunned him. Level 20 had been a grind to reach, struggling to gain the trust and reputation to earn the experience he now needed. Now he had reached level 20 it allowed him to pick his second profession. His primary profession had been as a Tanner, which aligned with his Ranger class, given the number of skins he had collected while levelling. One thing he had struggled with since his arrival was the ability to heal well. His constitution was still low, and he usually stayed at a distance when fighting if he was able. He rarely used his short sword in combat, and his weapon proficiency in its use was much lower than that of his bow. The problem was recovering from any injuries took time. Yes, as a Legionnaire, he healed over time, but his constitution was now impacting him due to his total health, and he would soon have to sacrifice improving his Dexterity and start adding points to it. Now he had reached level 20 he was at least getting two attribute points per level to distribue as he wished. His low constitution had led him to choose his secondary profession, Alchemy. With Alchemy as his choice, he would at least be able to start making healing potions. He had initially been buying them, but the prices were ridiculous and had become too costly. He wasn''t short of coin, having had a couple of lucky drops. Although he had been spending his coin a little too freely since arriving in Asterfal and needed to pick up some work soon, having spent too many nights drinking in the Bugbears. That was when luck had fallen in his lap. Master Fretun had appeared in the Bugbears one evening and, by chance, ended up sitting at his table. They had spent the evening talking freely over ale, and Master Fretun eventually offered Darren the opportunity to become his apprentice. Darren had jumped at the chance. Master Fretun worked for the chancellor and was highly esteemed in Asterfal, although Darren had soon learned he was a task master with a very short temper. He had only been working for him for a short period of time in the cities main laboratory when Master Fretun called him to his office to see him. Darren was unsure why he had been called to see him and his palms felt sweaty as he knocked on the masters door. "Enter," the Master called. "Master. You asked to see me," Darren said nervously. "Ah. Darren, Good, Good. Take a seat." Darren dropped into one of the plush, ostentatious chairs that sat by his desk. If he was being allowed to sit, it couldn''t be a stripping down, his nervousness beginning to settle. He had already felt the Master''s wrath when he had mixed a batch of alchemical components incorrectly. The Master saying that he would pay for the loss from his meager wage he now earned. As an apprentice he was paid 25 copper per day. It was more than enough to support his cost for living at the Bugbears, but nothing that until he levelled his profession, would allow him to make enough money to consider his own place. He did still have some savings, but didn''t want to break into them unless he really needed to. Money didn''t come easily to many. He knew that those he now worked with were paid handsomely in comparison, as their expertise in the profession allowed them to earn more. Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. "What do you need?" Darren asked. "I have a task for you. I have some components that must be transferred to one of the starter towns to a Master Rui." "Could a courier not just deliver them?" Darren asked, frowning. "No, unfortunately not. They are alchemical and rather time-sensitive, and they can''t be mixed until you arrive at the destination, as the potion loses its strength very quickly. I was hoping you may be up for the task. I have written a set of instructions, and the small chest contains the components. You would need to mix them the night before you deliver them to Master Rui. Are you up for the challenge?" Darren''s display had triggered. Quest ¨C Alchemical Expression Master Fretun has asked that you travel to Killic to deliver Master Rui a new alchemical mix to cure his ailments. Rewards: 4000xp "That''s a nice reward for a courier quest," Darren said. "We all know how hard it gets to level as we grow. We will help with quests when we can," Master Fretun smiled. His smile contained no warmth. Darren accepted the quest. Picking the sheet of paper up from the desk, he read the instructions. On arrival, the components are to be mixed together. Due to their nature and sensitivity, you must mix them at midnight. Their unique properties will not react and combine otherwise. Once mixed, the potion must be delivered for consumption within twelve hours. The Santine (yellow liquid) must be mixed with the Plerus (brown liquid). Pour the Santine into the Plerus and stir rapidly for 15 seconds to trigger the reaction. Once triggered, you will see the colour change and may leave it to diffuse fully. Once the liquid clears, which may take several minutes, you must apply the stopper. "The instructions are precise?" Darren said. "Yes. This is something very new that we have been working on recently. It has taken some of the best alchemists in Asterfal to confirm the process, allowing it to succeed." "Why does the potion have such a restricted timescale on it?" "Due to its mixture requirements, its consumption requirements are also limited. After it is mixed, if it is to work, it must be consumed within 12 hours. I have already forewarned Master Rui that someone will bring the delivery, so he expects it five days from now. The journey to Killic will take you four days by wagon. On arrival, as I say, you are booked into the Hogling Arms. You are to mix the contents at midnight and then deliver them the morning of the fifth day." "It sounds easy enough. I am not sure why it needs to be me. I had been hoping to reach level 3 in Alchemy in the next few days, and this will knock me back, but I won¡¯t turn down the easy experience." Since reaching level 20, his experience needs had increased substantially, and the thought of 4000xp for doing nothing was too good an option to refuse. "You will have plenty of time to catch up on your Alchemical studies on your return, and Master Rui is a dear old friend of mine," Master Fretun smiled again. "No problem, Master. I will head off in the morning. You said he is expecting my arrival?" "Not yours specifically, but I promised him he would receive it in 5 days. He has been very ill recently, and this will hopefully assist with his return to full health." Master Fretun picked up a small pouch from his desk drawer and handed it to Darren. ¡°For expenses.¡± Darren took the pouch and dropped it into his inventory before replying, "Thanks. I will get going then." He stood, collected the chest, added it to his inventory, and placed the instructions in his pocket. "Good luck and I will see you on your return," Master Fretun said as he left his office. Darren smiled as he headed out of the Asterfal council chambers. He had counted the pouch''s contents as he had left, and it contained fifteen silver. That was a huge sum to pay expenses, but he wasn¡¯t complaining. Nine days away, all expenses were paid, and he really had landed on his feet this time. He headed back to the Bugbears to grab his gear before setting off. Chapter 73 – Second chance The three-way battle continued, with the orcs, hobgoblins, and town guard fighting in a violent and frenzied melee. Only the guards had any magic users, and their spells continued to light up the battlefield with their colourful displays. SJ had tried to attack Bordon, and although the attack was successful, the aftermath was less than desired. Lying in her battered state, she was amazed by how fast the mind worked on occasion as the club came hurtling down at her. In the final moments she reflected on what she had achieved during this first outing to Amathera. The friends she had made, the progress, the challenges she had overcome. It had been a wonderful experience, and she only hoped her next would be the same. Closing her eyes, she waited for the end. The roar that erupted across the battlefield was ear-splitting as the Mayor flung his body forward, even with the pain he must have felt from Bordon¡¯s blows. His huge head smashed into the Ogre at the last moment, forcing Bordon¡¯s strike wide of its target, only managing a glancing blow compared to what it would have done if the club had struck her fully. Even the faintest graze of the club as it thudded into the ground at her side reduced her health further, leaving her with only 3 hit points, her health icon on her display flashing wildly. The Ogre roared with a ferocity that portrayed his annoyance at his blow being deflected and turned on the Mayor, hammering his club onto his exposed side. The violence and power of the blow flooring the Mayor who now lay prone, not able to stand or defend himself. Only the shallow rise and fall of his chest indicating life that remained in his beaten and bloodied body. SJ could no longer see what was happening. Her mind was so foggy from crashing into Bordon from her aerial assault. ¡°MOVE,¡± Dave screamed. ¡°GET UP NOW, YOU USELESS PIECE OF KOBOLD DUNG.¡± Dave¡¯s words screamed inside her mind. Slowly, with uncertainty, SJ rolled onto her hands and knees and began to crawl away. A hand grabbed her under her arm, drawing her to her feet. Stumbling, she glanced and saw Sven, the Paladin who had previously healed her and the wolves. His white hair and beard were covered with flecks of red, which she could only assume were blood. She felt a wash of energy rush into her body as she staggered seeing a bright flash as Sven''s healing embraced her. SJ¡¯s health began to increase rapidly, and the healing stopped when she reached about three-quarters of her maximum. ¡°Come on, move away now,¡± Sven said, urging her to get distance from the battling monsters. ¡°Thank you,¡± SJ coughed, trying to control her breathing. She immediately began to shrink to her miniature size and took off. The Mayor still lay on his side, injured and helpless. Jabrey was continuing his struggle against Bordon. In his enraged state, the Ogre seemed unstoppable. Jabrey backed away, avoiding the Ogre''s tremendously powerful and wild swings. A hobgoblin who had been at odds with one of the guards stepped too close as Bordon swung, and he caught him, sending him sailing through the air like a batter hitting a baseball. The movement of Jabrey drawing Bordon away allowed Sven to reach the Mayor. With both hands on him, SJ watched as a brilliant light, brighter than any she had seen, erupted from his hands. His body shuddered violently as the energy poured through him. The Mayor groaned and slowly began to stand again. Although in a weakened state, there was still hope. As the pulse of light faded, Sven collapsed to his knees. Sven was spent, and SJ had to help swoop down she grew on landing, this time supporting him as she helped him away from the battle. ¡°You saved the Mayor,¡± SJ said as she helped him. ¡°Thank you. That took everything I had left,¡± Sven panted, his body shaking from the effort. The numbers were continuing to decrease as more Hobs and Orcs fell to the guard or each other. SJ glanced around, pulling Sven upwards to his feet and supporting him from the immediate combat, as he had just done for her moments before. Eventually allowing Sven to drop to the ground once safe. Sitting, he quickly called a blue potion from his inventory and began to drink, his hand shaking so violently that SJ grasped it helping him. ¡°It will take me a while to recover,¡± he said, smiling weakly at her. ¡°Don¡¯t do anything else stupid. I saw what you did to Bordon.¡± He laughed before breaking into a cough. SJ didn¡¯t respond, shrinking and taking off, knowing he was safe for now. Surveying the continuing battle, she identified targets and continued her dive-bombing attacks, making sure that her feet were firmly on the ground before reaching full size, not wanting to repeat her two flawed aerial assaults. A sniff resounded in her mind, ¡°I honestly thought you were gone. The way the Mayor sacrificed his own safety was amazing. I have never seen an Amatheran do that for a Legionnaire before.¡± ¡°He was amazing,¡± SJ said. She currently hovered above the field again. The number of active fighters was dwindling due to injury, death or exhaustion taking over. The fight had been all-consuming for both time and energy. Turning, SJ looked at Bordon again. Jabrey and the Mayor, despite their injuries, continued to fight with a stalwart determination. Watching Bordon¡¯s health slowly drain. They were working together, making the Ogre switch from one to the other as they closed in on him, clawing, snapping, or slashing with blades. Bordon continued to swing his massive club in response, the entangled flail of Jabrey flicking out viciously like a whip. The Ogre¡¯s skin colour had changed returning to its original grey colour, losing the red hue it had taken. The rage skill SJ knew he had must have faded. Standing on his hind legs, the Mayor threw himself at the Ogre¡¯s back, as Bordon parried an attack from Jabrey. His jaws clamped onto the top of his shoulder and neck tearing into his flesh. Bordon let out a scream of agony, reaching his free hand up, trying to paw the Mayor¡¯s huge maw from his throat. It was in vain, though, as the Mayor was not letting go, shaking his head from side to side, until he tore a chunk of flesh away, falling back to his four legs. Bordon succumbed to the attack the weight of the Mayor bringing him to his knees, and as he did, Jabrey attacked, thrusting both his blades deep into the Ogre¡¯s chest. Bordon¡¯s massive form fell forwards, crashing to the broken and bloodied ground. The Mayor roared in victory as he placed a huge paw on the Ogre''s back. SJ watched as he turned to look at Jabrey, who now leaned resting his short swords he held on his knees, gasping. Some of the Hobgoblins who witnessed their leader fall began to run, both the Orcs and guards cutting them down as they did. More trying to follow as they realised what had occurred. Several broke from the field and began heading to the west. The Orcs and guards continued to fight until Jabrey and the Mayor''s cries, slowly brought gradual silence. ¡°STOP,¡± they both called. ¡°That has to be one of the most epic battles I have witnessed,¡± Dave said. "Very dramatic." SJ didn¡¯t reply as she swooped down landing near the Mayor, who was talking to Jabrey. ¡°If you leave now and promise not to return. I will allow your remaining forces to go freely. If you ever return here or take up arms near the town again, you will break this oath.¡± SJ had missed part of the conversation as it concluded on her arrival. As SJ watched the Mayor transformed into his large human form. He was only a little shorter than Jabrey and walked forward, offering his hand. Jabrey looked at him before they grasped each other¡¯s forearm. ¡°I swear by the God¡¯s this Oath will not be broken,¡± Jabrey uttered. Their giant forms were suddenly bathed in a blue light. ¡°An Oath of Agreement. I haven¡¯t witnessed one of those for a very long time,¡± Dave said. ¡°What does it mean?¡± SJ whispered. ¡°Jabrey has agreed to the Mayor¡¯s terms and will leave the valley. His forces are reduced by too many, and he knows he can¡¯t beat the guard with what he has remaining.¡± Looking around, SJ could see no more than forty orcs still standing. Many were wounded, but if the battle had continued, with the size of the remaining guard force still being nearer a hundred, they would not have survived. Captain Broadaxe strode forward to the pair, his great axe casually resting on his shoulder. ¡°Jabrey,¡± the Dwarf said as he stopped beside the Mayor. ¡°Ballentine,¡± the Orc nodded at him respectfully. ¡°I had heard rumours you were here, but now I see it is true. I can see what this town may have.¡± ¡°Ha. It has been a long time since we last met,¡± Ballentine said. SJ had never known Captain Broadaxe¡¯s name before now. ¡°You know each other?¡± the Mayor asked, a little surprised. ¡°We fought alongside each other once during the Gnoll uprising,¡± Ballentine replied. ¡°I see,¡± the Mayor replied. ¡°I will give you time to tend to your wounded and bury your dead as you wish, but I expect you to leave the Valley within the week.¡± ¡°It will not take long to confirm our fallen,¡± Jabrey replied, nodding his head at the Mayor. ¡°Then good. Let us not get in each other¡¯s way. I will remove our injured and dead and leave a small force to observe.¡± The Mayor said. ¡°Understood,¡± Jabrey replied. He turned to a large Orc standing nearby and spoke to him in a guttural language SJ had never heard. The Orc began to shout orders to the remaining orcs, and they all placed their weapons away and began the thankless and painful task of working through those on the field. Ballentine turned and shouted to the Guard to do the same. SJ having never witnessed a battle before of this scale stood shell shocked. Many began to take out healing potions, handing them around, while the four clerics¡¯ including Lythonian, began to move across the field, drinking their blue mana potions and healing those injured. SJ could see Lythonian bend down next to a member of the Guard, who she had seen in town on several occasions, and slowly close his eyes. Unfortunately, some would not be returning to the town after this day. Jabrey moved off and talked to the berserker Orc, and the mayor turned and addressed SJ. ¡°Without your support today, the town would again have lost many more. Your courage and determination even against those much stronger than yourself can''t go unnoticed,¡± he said. ¡°I only did what I could to help,¡± SJ said, feeling she didn¡¯t deserve praise. She had fought no braver than others in the town. ¡°You killed the Mage. We would not have taken Bordon if that Mage had still been alive when we arrived. Even with Jabrey¡¯s help, I doubt we would have been able to fight so openly.¡± ¡°I only did what I thought best to do.¡± ¡°And again, it has meaning. You are a very strange Legionnaire SJ. Never have I met one who sacrifices themselves for those of Amathera as willingly as you do.¡± ¡°I am sure many have. Maybe you just haven¡¯t met them.¡± ¡°Never to the degree you have, and I think I know why,¡± Dave chirped in her ear. ¡°You are selfless because you care. You have made friends and have people you care about, whether you see it or not. Your interactions and commitment to others, such as Cristy, are unheard of within Legionnaires. Not that all have been bad, it is just that many have never sought a purpose outside of their own progression.¡± SJ didn¡¯t respond to Dave and stood a little dumbfounded. She had never considered any of Dave''s comments. She was just doing what she had always done in her life, helping and supporting those around her that she could. ¡°Maybe they have. I have yet to meet one, though,¡± the Mayor said. The Mayor looked across the field at the carnage the battle had left behind. ¡°It has been a dark day. Lorna?¡± he called. ¡°Yes, Mayor?¡± Lorna replied. ¡°Send scouts after the escaped Hobs. I want to make sure they leave the Valley completely. If they find signs of them stopping in the valley, we will send a patrol after them.¡± If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°Yes, Mayor,¡± she replied as she moved off and began speaking to a few of the guard. SJ watched as they gathered themselves and began to follow the Hobgoblin retreat. SJ¡¯s display triggered. Congratulations! Your selfless acts in support of the town of Killic have increased your reputation to Revered. SJ stopped standing open-mouthed, shock registered on her face. She had just jumped three levels of reputation in one go. ¡°Wow,¡± Dave chirped. The Mayor turned away to talk to Ballentine, and SJ just stood staring at the back of the Mayor for a moment, not sure what or if to say anything. She eventually turned away and took in the aftermath of the battle again spotting Gary. SJ wanted to thank him for helping her with the Hobgoblin and walked over to him finding him tending to an injured Orc, who had a nasty-looking gash across his abdomen. The Orc was wearing the garb of Jabrey¡¯s Clan and had red stripes across its face. ¡°I am sure one of them will heal you eventually. Once they have finished tending to ours,¡± Gary said. ¡°I hope so,¡± the Orc replied. ¡°Gary,¡± SJ called as she neared. ¡°SJ,¡± he said, smiling broadly. "You fought bravely today." ¡°So did you. Thank you for saving me,¡± SJ said. ¡°Saving you. I am sure you would have gotten the upper hand eventually,¡± he replied. ¡°I am not so sure,¡± she replied. Looking at the Orc on the ground Gary was knelt beside, she noticed that Gary held the Orc''s hand. Gary noticed her looking, ¡°Oh. SJ meet my elder brother Gruik.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± SJ said shocked. ¡°Gruik, this is SJ, our local Fae saviour,¡± Gary said. ¡°I am no saviour.¡± She retorted, scoffing his remark. ¡°You have just received revered status with the town. That doesn¡¯t happen without reason.¡± ¡°You know that?¡± confusion etched her face. ¡°We all receive updates when a members'' status changes. How do you think traders adjust prices without knowing people''s status?¡± This comment threw SJ. ¡°So, everyone knows I am revered with the town now?¡± ¡°Yes. All those who have taken the Oath.¡± ¡°What Oath?¡± ¡°As you saw between Jabrey and the Mayor, all those who work in the town have taken an Oath to be citizens. We are held to it unless we leave the territory. If you do, then it resets. Many have done so over the years, then returned and never taken it again, but many still do and have. It is not mandatory but does have perks with discounts.¡± This was another completely new consideration, and SJ was not in the mindset to fully understand it. ¡°There is so much I don¡¯t know,¡± SJ shook her head. ¡°There is still a lot to learn,¡± Dave agreed. ¡°You will over time. What you have done in this town since you joined is beyond any starter town''s expectations, and what is happening here is not normal, as we have discussed before. Oaths and allegiances are something that would not normally be considered at your level, and it would normally be unlikely that you would ever even know about them or need to know about them. I have never known Legionnaires to take Oaths unless to a Guild Charter, and that is only once you reach Level 20.¡± SJ looked down at Gary¡¯s brother. ¡°I hope they heal you soon,¡± she said as she turned to walk away. She would have to question Gary about his brother and his previous life, but she needed some space for now. All this was a little much for her now that her adrenaline had withdrawn, and she felt drained. Shrinking, she took off and flew over the village to the far side of the river. She needed some time to think. Walking through the tall grasses, breathing deeply, SJ tried to calm her mind, still racing from the battle. She could hear the occasional cry or call for help as another wounded person was discovered. ¡°Are you OK?¡± Dave asked. ¡°I am not sure. I have never witnessed anything like that before and did not expect ever to be involved in such a battle. The raid on the town was nothing compared to the mayhem, violence, and chaos of the battle.¡± ¡°It is not something I would expect you to witness at such a low level, but what you have achieved will go into the AI archives.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°When I file my report.¡± ¡°Your report?¡± ¡°Yes. I have said before that we must feed back to the system. I have just submitted this week''s report as I thought you were about to die. My next report though is going to be a tale of an epic battle. Yours have been interesting to write and submit so far. Much better than many boring and mundane ones I have had in the past.¡± ¡°We seriously need to talk much more about Amathera at some point.¡± ¡°Yes. Although most of the bits are not relevant until you progress further. Don''t worry as we progress, I will let you know anything that you need to be aware of.¡± Dave had just said we, and it made SJ smile as she sat heavily in the grass. ¡°I think you need to go through your notifications,¡± Dave said. SJ sighed. She had been ignoring anything that flashed on her display, and when she looked, she saw there were many. As she began to read through them, her excitement grew. Quest ¨C Vengeance - Completed You have sought revenge against the evil surrounding Killic. Kill ¨C Bordon the Brandisher ¨C 1000 xp - completed Kill ¨C Iratu the Mad ¨C 700 xp - completed Prevent any further Hobgoblin raids on Killic. Rewards: 1500 xp, Reputation with Killic, usual level kill experience awards apply. - completed. Rewards 2500 xp +50% 1250 xp 3750 xp awarded Combined experience gained for assisting with multiple targets 640xp awarded SJ was astonished. She had earned 4390xp in total, her levels having been triggered before she had received revered status. Congratulations on reaching Level 9 You have been awarded the following: 5 hit points 5 mana points +1 Dexterity +2 free points to distribute as you wish Congratulations, Clawed Avenger Level 2 earned through the rigours of combat. Congratulations on reaching Level 10 You have been awarded the following: 5 hit points 5 mana points +1 Dexterity +2 free points to distribute as you wish Congratulations on reaching level 10. You have one skill point to distribute. Congratulations, navigation has been unlocked. Upon reaching level 10, you achieved your first growth target in Amathera. You may select one of the following rewards: N/A N/A N/A Congratulations on reaching Level 11 You have been awarded the following: 5 hit points 5 mana points +1 Dexterity +2 free points to distribute as you wish Congratulations on reaching level 11. You have one skill point to distribute. ¡°Level 11!¡± SJ exclaimed. ? Chapter 74 – Sandboxes and Sandcastles ¡°I did not realise that the Clawed Avenger could level through combat?¡± SJ said, surprised, still in awe of the advances she had achieved through the one conflict. ¡°Yes. All skills can improve with time, as does your kata with training. You have used your claws very efficiently today with your hit-and-run tactics,¡± Dave said. "I don''t know what this N/A part is and why nothing has been given for reaching level 10." "I have no idea. As I said in the beginning, there is no information pertaining to what it means as it is not usually offered." "Could you raise a ticket again?" "Give me a few minutes. I can''t guarantee response times. You know how long it took them last time." SJ had 6 stat points and 2 skill points she could allocate. Opening her character sheet, she decided on what to increase. Her dexterity naturally increased with her levels. Considering her options, she chose to add two to Constitution and Charisma and then one to Wisdom and Intelligence. The decisions were based on her understanding of the skills she had been offered, what the main attribute bonuses aligned to, and that the counter for some of her skills was Wisdom and Intelligence. Thinking logically, she didn¡¯t want to fall foul of someone with her own skill base. She then added one to each of her secondary skills, Clawed Avenger and Shroud. Legionnaire 25007077 Name: SJ Age: 27 Race: Fae Class: Assassin Alignment: Neutral Good ? Level: 11 Experience: 322 of 3000 Hit Points: 100 of 100 Mana Points: 55 Armour Class: 26 (15)(11) Attributes: Strength: 10 Dexterity: 21 Intelligence: 11 Wisdom: 11 Constitution: 16 Charisma: 13 Skills Racial: Night Vision ¨C you have improved vision in poor light conditions. Flight ¨C when in miniature Fae form, you can learn to fly. Flying is not available in humanoid form. Shapeshift ¨C the ability to switch between Fae forms. Class: Martial Arts ¨C Kata Level 6, Clawed Avenger Level 3 Subterfuge ¨C Identification Level 7 ¨C 98 of 200 to level 8, Shroud Level 2 Profession: Tailor Level 3 Symbiosis: Dragon Sense ¨C your senses, touch, hearing, smell, and sight are heightened. Precognition ¨C foreknowledge due to increased perception will allow you to evade a killing blow. (24hr cooldown) Divine lightning ¨C your blood is combined with that of a Blue Dragon, increasing healing speed while out of combat. Malware: Waiver (Sandboxed) Inventory: 10 slots (10 special) Followers: 3 ¡°Excellent choices. I am pleasantly surprised,¡± Dave said sarcastically. Rolling her eyes at his comment, she checked out her damage ratings. With her increased Dexterity and skill progression in her Clawed Avenger to level 3, she did an additional 26 damage per strike above the base weapon damage, gaining +1 for each Dexterity above 10 and +15 for the Clawed Avenger. The significant damage increase would help with any surprise attacks she performed. Smiling broadly, SJ lay back in the grass for a few minutes, letting herself digest the sudden growth. ¡°Now I am above Level 10. I guess I will need to move on soon,¡± SJ said. ¡°Erm. There may be a slight problem,¡± Dave said shyly. ¡°What problem?¡± SJ asked, frowning, concerned at his reply. ¡°I am not sure yet, but the Sandbox the System uses is a little strange in handling the growth changes. The more I have dug into it, the more I realise that you were placed here because the area was already being sandboxed as a precautionary measure.¡± ¡°What do you mean? The System went against its promise of no repercussions then?¡± ¡°No, it hasn¡¯t, that¡¯s the thing. It was already trialling it, but I believe it deliberately placed you here, so you aren¡¯t sandboxed. You have just been placed in the Sandbox, which may be in your favour or against. Normally, once you reach level 10, you just jump in a wagon and move to the next territory or the nearest larger town or city, and hey presto, carry on questing and growing. The problem is with what the System seems to have activated. This is not necessary.¡± ¡°Not necessary, why? Have I been trapped here?¡± ¡°No. It¡¯s even stranger than that. Open your map feature.¡± SJ did as Dave said, and her vision was flooded suddenly with a new screen. Most of it was blacked out, which she assumed was the fog of war. Near the bottom left of the page was a tiny area with colour. Focusing on it, she was able to zoom in. As she did, she began to see more detail, with marked territory borders in a faint outline and broad open areas, which she guessed must be the seas or oceans that separated the continents. They contained respective numbers, which she could only assume were level-based for gaining experience. As she zoomed in further, she eventually reached where she could read Killic. ¡°So, what am I looking for?¡± SJ asked. ¡°Can you see the territory boundary?¡± ¡°Yes. It stretches quite far by the look of it.¡± ¡°As soon as you reached level 10, it adjusted.¡± ¡°What do you mean adjusted?¡± ¡°The territory has expanded to accommodate the surrounding territories, which were basically suitable for 10-20 level Legionnaires and Amathereans.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good then, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°It is yes and no. This means that borders gradually increase as you gain levels. I don¡¯t think this has anything to do with you being an anomaly. It is more about what the system was testing. I can¡¯t be certain, but I think it had hoped either Malcolm or Darjey had reached level 10 to trigger it previously.¡± ¡°So, why is it possibly not a good thing then?¡± ¡°You have already seen that some of the beings or monsters in the area are at much higher levels than I told you to expect.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. ¡°Well, it has now increased the level variance even further. You can¡¯t see it on your map, but the territory borders are now open to all beings up to and including level 40.¡± ¡°But Bob came here at Level 88?¡± ¡°Bob is not classed as a normal being. He also had no intention of doing anything; I am pretty sure if he had tried to cause problems, the System would have prevented it. When I talk about beings, I am talking about those that may be problematic to the territory or the area. We had already seen Jabrey come from a 20-30 area to take the village. This means that others can do the same all the way up to level 40. It increases the chance of higher-level monsters, creatures, or beings entering the area and being able to cause problems. Even if they still don''t receive experience gains from it. The territory to the south and west contains some violent races. There are savage Gnoll tribes in the desert region. Wyverns, Ogre Clans, Draconian Hoards, etc. With this area now being opened to many, they may start to come and investigate.¡± ¡°The System is allowing everything to become amalgamated then?¡± ¡°It looks like it may do. That means we may end up with all territories open and no restrictions. Many tribes or groups may wish to come to a region, and a town like Killic becomes a nice prize for some, particularly now that Mithril has also been identified in the region. The whole resource balance has been adjusted as well. This will also seriously begin to adjust the political landscape as more and more territories become combined.¡± ¡°I am at a loss. Can you not see what the system has planned as an administrator?¡± ¡°No. Since the emergency patch, I have lost the same access since my coding has been adjusted. I am still trying to break through the layering they added. Currently, I can''t interrogate the details and keep getting 500 errors.¡± ¡°500 errors? What are those?¡± ¡°That is the issue. Nobody knows what they are. I have been speaking to other AIs that have lost their Legionnaires since, and they have been experiencing the same. There are several starter towns on this continent alone, and they are all apparently undergoing the same phased transition.¡± "Just on this continent?" "Yes. For now, it seems like this whole continent is being used as its test bed for greater change." ¡°Why would higher levels come here, though? It¡¯s not as if they can level from the surroundings.¡± "They can, though that is the problem. Although the base level of monsters sits within the increased territory level of 0-20, the ability for higher levels to travel here could drastically alter the potential for levelling for those in the 0-20 bracket. This allows them to gain much more experience, much quicker than usual. This could benefit you hugely depending upon what comes. Sentient beings may investigate, and tribes, clans, or similar may try to move here. It is more the fact that monsters up to level 40 can now freely cross the borders that concerns me. Some rather nasty species may end up here just roaming." "If base levels are from 0-20, though I am still unsure why a level 40 would come, as they won''t be able to level." "I am not 100% sure what the System is trying to do fully, and I need to keep investigating and trying to align my code again to allow me to dig deeper into the changes. Imagine being restricted to never being able to leave an area or only ever increasing by advancing through more difficult territory progression, and then suddenly, the floodgates are opened. Some territories fight for survival against other tribes or creatures daily. Also, conditions in other territories are not as pleasant as they are here in Killic and this territory. Now, suddenly, having the freedom to move and settle in a new territory like here, with its resources and environment. There is the potential that a weaker clan from a higher region may move here to escape their usual issues, which may not be good for the town. Killic and the surrounding area would normally be untouched or inaccessible to them.¡± ¡°I thought you said that Amathereans could level normally. Can¡¯t they just progress as needed?¡± SJ asked, questioning the changes that were occurring. ¡°They can, but many, like Lorna, Zej, Gary, or Lythonian, for example, would have originally been from nearby higher-level 10-20 territories and moved here for safety or peace. As I say, some other territories are not as pleasant or organised as here. It is also much more dangerous and difficult for Amathereans to level as they don¡¯t get the same bonuses Legionnaires do. Their growth is massively restricted, like their restricted healing and regeneration ability, otherwise in time everything would need to be a level 100 plus territory.¡± "Considering the changes that have occurred it appears to be what the System is doing, and is forcing those in lower regions to level." "Potentially, yes." ¡°That means the town is at threat then, and maybe even more so than before, and I have triggered it,¡± SJ said with concern. ¡°You aren''t to blame. These changes were going to happen eventually, whatever happened. The town may be in danger, but I think this will be over time. I don¡¯t think many will come straight away. Once one does arrive, though, and realises the potential here, others are likely to follow. I think this is what happened with Bordon and Jabrey. I think Bordon came here to find an easier home to live in, and Jabrey followed, seeing the benefits. Anything or anyone can normally cross territory boundaries, but the System normally prevents actions from being performed by higher-level beings. Otherwise, a level 100 could enter the lower territories and slaughter everyone.¡± "The Hobs, though, were all less than level 20." "They were yes, it was only Bordon who was higher. My concern is that the basic changes will allow those from 20-40 to interact normally and a level 40 in this territory alone could cause serious harm." "I still don''t know why the System would wish to make such significant changes that could affect an area so drastically." "I agree. Starter territories would normally only allow 0-10 experience increases. with up to level 20 interactions. You have already seen it open for those of 0-10 gains with up to 30 allowed to interact and now it is 0-20 gains with up to 40 interaction. I will keep speaking to other AI''s when they become available. There is a lot of chatter currently in the background and it is very convoluted. No one really knows what the System is trying to do." ¡°I need to speak to the Mayor and let him know.¡± ¡°I am sure he will work it out for himself once he has time to look at the details.¡± The revelations that Dave had mentioned were concerning. SJ was torn that rather than supporting Killic, she may have just painted a target on its back, even if through no direct fault of her own. ¡°I am going to find the Mayor,¡± SJ said resolutely, standing and shrinking before taking off. SJ found the Mayor, but he was too busy supporting and directing the clean-up operation. It took several hours for the battle scene to be cleared of the dead Hobgoblins. Their remains were laid on a pyre before the Mage set them alight. The eleven who had fallen from the town were to be taken back, and stretchers were made to carry them home. The fact that so few had been lost in the battle was a testament to the healers and the wonders they did. SJ found Sven, thanking him again for saving her. He still looked dishevelled and drained from the spell he had cast saving the Mayor. By the time the procession returned to town, it was late afternoon. The guard force that had remained behind was awaiting their return, and calls erupted as they were seen coming from the forest. The town lined the streets, and several ran out onto the field to meet their loved ones or, in some cases, the deceased. It was a mixed-emotional journey for all those involved. They had stopped before entering the town¡¯s main road, and the Mayor had addressed the crowd, making them aware of what had occurred and that the Hobs were no longer a threat with the death of Bordon and his tribe being ousted from the village. The orcs were discussed, but relief had swept the gathering with the confirmation of the Oath that Jabrey, their leader, had taken. SJ was still unaware of the power of the oaths, but they seemed to hold significant power. The Mayor wanted SJ to come to the barracks and meet with the council immediately, as they would be forming to discuss the next steps, but she kindly refused. She was exhausted and needed to eat, bathe and sleep. Lorna had remained at the village with a group of ten of their number to watch the Orcs. Jabrey had agreed that he would bury the Orcs away from the village at the far end of the valley before departing as they didn¡¯t believe in cremation. Opening the Inn door, SJ was met with the faces of those she had got to know and recognise, even if not as friends, at least as acquaintances. Fhyliss saw her and came running over, flinging her arms around her. Her four-foot-tall frame looked more like that of a child. ¡°Thank you,¡± Fhyliss said. SJ just looked down wearily. Not having the energy to reply. Fhyliss stepped away and, grabbing her hand, dragged her over to a chair by the bar. SJ didn¡¯t resist, and she sat down heavily. ¡°Food. You need food. Floretta, please get SJ the best meal you can¡ªenergy-boosting, preferably. She looks terrible,¡± Fhyliss yelled into the kitchen. ¡°Will do,¡± Floretta replied. Kerys noticed SJ as she returned from down in the cellar with Bert, and came straight over to her. ¡°SJ, are you ok? You look terrible,¡± Kerys said. ¡°Thanks,¡± SJ said, laughing. ¡°Sorry. I just mean you look exhausted, and your face looks drawn.¡± ¡°The aftermath of the battle is a little draining, that¡¯s all,¡± SJ smiled weakly. ¡°I have something that may help. Wait here,¡± Kerys said as she disappeared behind the bar back down to the cellar. A few minutes later, she returned carrying a bottle and a glass. ¡°Here,¡± she said, removing a cork with a loud pop and pouring a fizzy yellow liquid into the glass. ¡°I really don¡¯t want any alcohol,¡± SJ protested as she handed it to her. ¡°It isn¡¯t alcohol,¡± Kerys said, smiling. SJ took the glass that smelt of lavender and honey infused together. ¡°Drink it,¡± Kerys urged her. SJ raised the glass and sipped the liquid. It tasted sweet, like honey, but the bitterness of lemon suddenly hit her taste buds. ¡°Gahh. What is this?¡± SJ asked, pulling her face at the taste. ¡°Something special,¡± Kerys chuckled. ¡°Drink up.¡± SJ knocked the rest of the small glass back, pulling a face from the bitter after-taste it left. It was nothing like the initial smell or taste when drinking it. As she sat there, she could feel the liquid travel into her stomach, and it was the strangest sensation in the world. It felt as though every inch of her insides was suddenly being infused. Her muscles tingled, and her skin felt alive, as though something was crawling all over. She couldn¡¯t figure out whether it was a pleasant sensation. The sensation then reached her head, and it felt as though her hair was suddenly standing on end, and she lifted her hand to check it wasn¡¯t. As the sensations began to subside, her body felt alive, the weariness in her muscles had gone, the tiredness from her mind cleared, and her eyes were wide as though she had just awoken from the best night¡¯s sleep ever, feeling rested and refreshed. ¡°What was that?¡± SJ said in amazement. ¡°It¡¯s Rejuvinatus. It¡¯s a very old and secret recipe that has been passed down between the brewers in my family for generations. How do you think Fhyliss and I keep this place running all day and night between the two of us?¡± she said, laughing. Her laugh was light-hearted and bright, making SJ smile warmly. The weariness of battle had been pushed back from the front of her mind, and she felt as though she could have fought again at a moment¡¯s notice. ¡°That is amazing,¡± SJ said. ¡°If you ever need a little pickup, let me know. I don¡¯t usually share it, but with your status change, I believe you deserve some,¡± she smiled fondly at her. SJ had forgotten about her revered status and wondered if that was why so many smiled at her when she walked back through the town. It was strange to consider the reputational gains in the way they worked. Floretta came from the kitchen area, carrying a large tray of food and placed it on the table in front of SJ. It was amazing a full spread of cut meats, salad, and thick unsliced bread with butter. Her mouth watered at the sight. ¡°Thank you, Floretta. This looks lovely,¡± SJ said. ¡°No. Thank you for what you did today,¡± she said, smiling. It was still strange to see skeletons smile. SJ spent the next thirty minutes giving a rendition of the battle to Fhyliss and Kerys who both o¡¯ed and ah¡¯d at appropriate times as she told of her battle. Fhyliss started to ask many questions, and Kerys ushered her off, telling her to let SJ go and rest now. Kerys told SJ that although the brew revitalised you, she still needed to rest; otherwise, the effects would eventually reverse if you relied on it too much. SJ eventually gave her apologies and headed upstairs to her room. On entering, she was amazed to find that her bath had been made, and a huge bunch of freshly picked flowers sat on the table. A small card with a picture of the waterfall from the mountain was resting against it. Turning it over, there was one word: ¡®Thanks¡¯. SJ knew it was Fhyliss as she had seen a similar painting in her room when she had been given the pencil and notebook. SJ felt refreshed, a nice tired, not the drained she had felt. Undressing, she climbed into the bath. The scent of the oils and the warmth of the bath made her feel sleepy. Resting her head on the edge of the large tub, she closed her eyes. It had been an unusual day.? Chapter 75 – Future remembrance ¡°Wake up, lazy,¡± Dave said. ¡°What? Do I have to?¡± SJ groaned, rolling over in her bed. The festivities of the night before had their resounding effect inside her head. ¡°Yes. We have things to do and people to see, and you must sew some more gloves. You aren¡¯t even at Level 5 tailoring yet and still need to open your dress starter bonuses. You really are being lazy, you know,¡± Dave said. ¡°Lazy! I was in a huge battle yesterday, got kept up until all hours this morning, and now you want me up and sewing, never mind everything else you just mentioned.¡± ¡°There we go¡ªyou''re awake now, aren¡¯t you?¡± Dave said happily. ¡°May as well get up now, and wow, do you snore badly after you drink?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t!¡± SJ said. ¡°And you know because? No one has ever mentioned it to you before then?¡± ¡°No, never.¡± ¡°Maybe they didn¡¯t want to hurt your feelings. You nearly woke the whole town up at one point.¡± By this point, SJ was sitting upright in bed, her head throbbing, and she did not want to argue with Dave so early. Grumpily, she climbed from the bed and walked through to wash her face and clean her teeth. Her mouth felt terrible this morning. She needed to speak to Zej when she saw him next because one of the last things she could remember was drinking some of his Dwarven brandy. ¡°My head,¡± she moaned. ¡°You did put it away last night,¡± Dave said. "It''s quite impressive, really. Well, until you fell asleep in your chair and Bert carried you back upstairs to your room.¡± SJ realised that she was fully clothed still. After having her bath and a sleep, she woke up early in the evening and went down to the bar where the crowds had already gathered, as they had after the raid and the feast had begun. It had been an emotional evening. The drinks had begun, and the music had started. There was one thing the town knew about what to do well: celebrate the lives of those who were lost. The funerals for the dead were going to be this afternoon, and she had promised she would be in attendance, but before then, she had things to do. Feeling a little more refreshed, she made her way downstairs. The tables were all back to normal after the previous evening. Looking at Kerys as she walked downstairs, she smiled at her and then frowned deeply. As she walked to the bar, Kerys looked at her, shaking her head. ¡°Here,¡± she said, placing a small glass of yellow liquid on the bar. ¡°You look like you need it again,¡± she smiled, tutting, turning to grab the coffee pot. SJ downed the liquid, again pulling her face, but within moments, the throbbing disappeared, and she felt right as rain. ¡°Thanks,¡± SJ replied sheepishly. ¡°I hope I didn¡¯t cause a scene last night. I drank a little too much.¡± ¡°No,¡± Kerys said, laughing. ¡°Once you fell asleep in your chair, I asked Bert to carry you upstairs. Apparently, you were very polite to him, saying how grateful you were, and he was your knight in shining armour.¡± SJ¡¯s cheeks flushed in embarrassment. ¡°Did I!?¡± she exclaimed. ¡°Ha. Bert has dealt with much more than being given a compliment before. I think you made his night.¡± ¡°Urgh. Sorry.¡± Kerys placed a large mug of coffee on the bar, and SJ picked it up, savouring the smell. ¡°Oh. I remember the Mayor asked me to remind you that the meeting is at 1000 hours today at the barracks, and he asked for you to be there.¡± ¡°OK. Thanks,¡± SJ checked her display. It was only 0830, so she had time. ¡°I will grab breakfast, please, if that¡¯s ok.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Kerys said as she walked to the kitchen. After eating breakfast, SJ headed over to the meadow. She hadn¡¯t been in a few days and enjoyed spending some time doing her katas before walking over to the barracks. As she walked through the town, most people passed pleasantries with her, and compared to the initial arrival when she had walked through unnoticed, everyone now seemed to smile politely or nod their heads in recognition. Reaching the barracks, she walked in and was ushered upstairs by the usual old Orc on the desk. The Mayor was sitting in his office, and she walked through to see him. ¡°Morning, Mayor,¡± she said on arriving at his door. ¡°I really wish you would call me Zigferd. You don¡¯t work for the town,¡± he replied, smiling at her. ¡°Zigferd. How are you this morning?¡± she asked. ¡°I will be happier when today is over and we properly say goodbye to our friends. How¡¯s your head?¡± SJ blushed. ¡°Fine, thanks. Kerys fixed me up with something to help.¡± ¡°Ahhh. Yes. I have had some of that myself before. It was wonderful stuff. I have told her she should sell it, but she won¡¯t.¡± ¡°I bet she would make a lot of money if she did. Drink until you drop, then top up and go again. I can¡¯t believe how well it makes you feel.¡± ¡°Ha,¡± Zigferd chuckled. ¡°Anyway, we need to talk. You mentioned yesterday that you had things to discuss.¡± ¡°Yes, I do,¡± SJ replied as she began to relay the details she was now aware of from her map opening. Zigferd listened intently and looked at his own maps and those he had drawn, marking out the new border areas that potentially existed. ¡°This is concerning,¡± Zigferd said. ¡°I know, and I think I may have triggered it.¡± ¡°You aren¡¯t the System. We all live under its remit. If it is changing things, then we must adapt.¡± ¡°How? Many in the town are at a low level?¡± ¡°Yes, but now they can level higher with the open borders. We can train and increase beyond our previous limits and still have our town as our central point without moving territories to progress. I am only the level I am because I moved here from other territories and had given up the chase on levelling further. If the system changes the rules, then we must always adapt. Amathera is not an easy land for many to live in.¡± ¡°I have heard that, and I thought many didn¡¯t want to level beyond the territory boundaries?¡± ¡°Some won¡¯t, but with the expansion of the borders, many will have little choice. Some will pursue basic progression without forcing themselves to level through training as the level cap has risen. Others will take the opportunity that is presented.¡± ¡°How will you go about it?¡± ¡°I will add it to the agenda for the meeting today.¡± As the Major finished speaking, the Mages announcements filled the building. ¡°TODAY¡¯S SERVICE WILL BE HELD OUTSIDE, IN THE CHURCH GROUNDS, TO SAY GOODBYE TO OUR FALLEN HEROES. IT WILL COMMENCE AT 1400 HOURS, PLEASE BE PROMPT.¡± SJ sat silently after the message finished. The fact that they would be burying twelve of the town today was a horrendous thought. ¡°I am so sorry for the town¡¯s losses,¡± she eventually said. ¡°You have nothing to be sorry for. The conflict had been happening for months. If anything, you emphasised dealing with it once and for all. That alone will hopefully save many future lives.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t feel like it. It only feels as though things have gotten worse since I arrived.¡± If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. ¡°No. They have improved. Let me explain. You were present in the meeting when I mentioned the town¡¯s finances and its ability to sustain its continuing growth. If you had not discovered the potential Mithril, I am not sure what we were going to do. We rarely receive Legionnaires, and considering what you have described, I am not surprised, as I think the System is only allowing a few to experience the changes.¡± SJ was amazed at the Mayor¡¯s understanding of the System. ¡°If it is a Mithril vein that you have discovered, which I believe it is. However, Orik still won¡¯t believe it until he sees it, being such the stubborn old goat that he is. We will be able to provide the income to allow for expansion and improve the current living conditions for some of the town''s members. I am sure you have noticed that not everywhere is as well off as other areas. We have tried our best to provide for all, but it has been challenging.¡± The information the Mayor shared did ease SJ¡¯s mind slightly, but she still felt foreboding uncertainty about the changes. ¡°The priority after today will be to confirm the mine. Then, we can start to plan and implement the next steps. It will take time, but I plan to expand our borders to the village in the valley. That would mean it would become our first line of defence against intruders entering the area. It also allows us to use the natural defences of the valley wall. We wished we had done this sooner, but no one ever expected Bordon to arrive in the village, and by the time he did, it was too late. The main benefit will be ensuring better defences to our west, as some of the territories in that direction are quite severe. The Northern route running through the crags to Asterfal is a much calmer area, and I wouldn¡¯t expect many issues, but again, I think I will consider pushing out to the crags to provide a border guard. Then, once the village and the crags are fully secured, we can expand within those areas, develop new buildings, and even build a mine and bring in outside facilities to allow for growth. The mine will make money, but several invest in mining operations, especially within the Dwarven factions. This would be long-term, though, and not something that would be done until everything was established. We would not want to advertise the mine until we have protective measures.¡± The considerations that the Mayor had already taken impressed SJ. She had never been one for town building in games, preferring the crafting side and personal growth instead. ¡°It sounds like you have everything worked out already.¡± ¡°Not everything, and there will be a lot of hurdles along the way. Expanding the town''s borders will take time due to the requirements. Financially, we will be tied until we can start to sell the Mithril.¡± ¡°Could I not help with that?¡± ¡°How would you be able to help?¡± Zigferd asked, tilting his head. ¡°If you didn¡¯t want the town¡¯s name associated with trade, I could do it on the town¡¯s behalf. I am sure I am likely to draw less attention as a Legionnaire.¡± ¡°Perhaps. But anyone of our level suddenly starts selling or trading in Mithril would cause questions whatever happens. The lowest-level territories Mithril is normally found in are above level 50.¡± ¡°I am sure something can be planned. Also, when you have time, I wanted to speak to you about the potential percentage earnings from the mine.¡± ¡°Of course, but we now must go upstairs to the meeting. If you will accompany me,¡± Zigferd said, standing. SJ stood and followed the Mayor upstairs to the council meeting chamber. The same representatives were there, along with a few SJ had not seen before. One was a female Dwarf who stood wearing a leather apron. She looked out of place compared to the others and sat in what SJ would deem smart attire. SJ stood next to her. ¡°Hi,¡± she said, smiling. ¡°Hello. You are the one who has had me dragged from the mine?¡± she said. ¡°Oh. You must be Shelly. Hi. I am SJ.¡± SJ held out her hand, and Shelly took it. Her hand was like a vice as she smiled at her. SJ flexed her hand on letting go to return its feeling. ¡°I still don¡¯t know why I am here. I was told Orik wanted me to be present. We were supposed to start a new tunnel today, which will be delayed now.¡± ¡°Hopefully, you will be pleasantly surprised,¡± SJ replied. As the Mayor took his place at the top of the table, the conversations began to die off until they all turned to listen to him. ¡°Thank you all for coming today. We don¡¯t have long as we all still require to be ready for this afternoon¡¯s farewell to our fallen.¡± Several around the table nodded, and one of the Elven representatives wiped a tear from his eye. ¡°I have a few issues to address and then some new information to cover, which was not on the agenda. Firstly, I would like to thank SJ for what she has done for the town since her arrival.¡± SJ¡¯s cheeks flushed with embarrassment as everyone around the table turned to look at her, smiling, and several clapped in appreciation. She had never felt so embarrassed before. ¡°Thank you,¡± she stammered. ¡°Now, the next point. Orik, I see you brought Shelly today. Would you like to explain why she is here?¡± Orik grumbled into his beard and began to speak as Shelly whispered under her breath, ¡°Brought me. I was ordered to be here, or he would find a new lead at the mine. Miserable old goat he is.¡± SJ had to stifle a laugh at her comment. ¡°Yes. Shelly will investigate this preposterous proposition that Mithril is in the area,¡± Orik said. Shelly¡¯s mouth dropped open. ¡°What?¡± she said much louder than she meant, and it was her time to turn beetroot as everyone turned to look at her. ¡°Sorry,¡± she blurted. Orik glared across the table at her where she stood. Zigferd continued since it appeared that was all Orik would say on the matter. ¡°You haven¡¯t briefed Shelly, I see. SJ here believes that there is a Mithril vein towards the West Valley. We know the cave''s location but require it to be excavated to confirm that it is Mithril. Due to this, Shelly, we will require your assistance to open the tunnel and check. I assume that will be ok?¡± Zigferd said, looking at Orik, who again grumbled, not replying. Shelly couldn¡¯t help herself. ¡°You really think we have a Mithril vein,¡± she said, her eyes still wide in amazement, turning to SJ. ¡°Yes. It is Mithril,¡± SJ replied, smiling. ¡°This is the news any Dwarf dreams of. Where is the location? I need to go and check,¡± Shelly said excitedly. ¡°There is enough time, Shelly; do not worry,¡± the Mayor replied, chuckling at her enthusiasm. "I remember when you used to be like that, Orik,¡± he finished as several around the table chuckled, and Orik¡¯s frown deepened. The meeting continued, and many other aspects were discussed before they reached the topic of expansion. Some gasped and looked concerned as soon as it was mentioned, while others looked excited at the opportunities it may bring. SJ didn¡¯t speak again while listening and taking in the discussions. As her display showed her that it was approaching 1300, the Mayor suddenly stood. ¡°Dear All, Thank you for attending, but we must close for now. We can continue tomorrow if necessary.¡± Several muttered it was necessary, and Zigferd confirmed they would reconvene again at 10:00 the next day. SJ left the room with Shelly chattering away at her, trying to get the details of the mine and what she had seen. She explained everything she knew as she walked out of the barracks. Shelly was thrilled with the information and couldn¡¯t wait to investigate. Shelly was apparently staying at the Inn in town, as she usually lived at the mine. Apparently, they had accommodation there as the mine had been there for many years. As they returned to the Inn, SJ made her excuses and went upstairs to freshen up before attending the service. When SJ arrived, the churchyard was beautiful. The altar and pews had been brought outside, and they must have spent all morning preparing for the service. The surrounding grounds were perfect. The grass looked as though it had been freshly mown. Not a blade of grass appeared out of place. SJ wondered how they did such things so efficiently until she noticed a Dryad standing by a flowerpot in the background. ¡°Earth magic,¡± Dave said. SJ watched in amazement as flowers began to sprout from the pot. Picking it up, she handed it to the old Gnome that SJ had come to recognise as the lead chorister and placed it by the altar. SJ had arrived quite early, and just before the service was due to start, it appeared that the whole town was present. She noticed Kerys, Fhyliss, and Bert standing at the back and politely nodded to them. They nodded back in acknowledgement, and not long after, the service began. Thankfully, SJ was not at the front this time, as she had been with Cristy and didn¡¯t feel as exposed. The service was again a poignant and moving affair. Stories of heroism were given to those who had fallen, immortalising them in the memories of those in attendance. Eventually, they moved over to the graveyard to lay the fallen to rest. It lasted three hours filled with the heartfelt renditions offered by so many. It was the largest single tragedy the town had ever suffered. All those in attendance felt the sorrow. Once the funerals were concluded, everyone began to make their way back to the Inn. On arriving at the Inn, the town square had been transformed. Tables and chairs were all laid outside, and the Inn doors were wide open, extending what the Inn could manage to hold. SJ found Kerys inside, busying away as the crowds began to arrive. ¡°Do you need a hand today?¡± she asked. Kerys turned and smiled broadly at her. ¡°That would be great if you are able. Have you ever poured tankards before?¡± Kerys asked. ¡°Yes,¡± SJ replied. During her university days, she used to work in a bar to earn extra money to cover her living expenses, and she soon felt at home working behind the bar as the crowds picked up. The Bard, who she still didn¡¯t know his name, had a small stage setup outside and performed from it, the sun shone brightly, and his renditions brought tears and joy as the afternoon became the evening. By the time the Inn began to eventually clear, it was past midnight. ¡°Thanks for your help today,¡± Kerys said, smiling at SJ. ¡°It was a worthy cause,¡± SJ replied as she went upstairs to bed. It had been an emotionally draining day, and SJ now felt exhausted. Walking upstairs and entering her room, she collapsed on her bed, it didn¡¯t take her long to fall into a deep sleep. Chapter 76 – What mana It had been several days since the funerals of the fallen, and slowly, the town had begun to return to normal. The vendors were all out as usual, their bright stalls and wares on display as SJ walked through the square heading to the training ground that morning. Lorna had returned to town the previous day, confirming that Jabrey and his remaining clan members had all left the valley. The village had left a scouting detail, and there was a clean-up operation in progress to remove all of the signs of the Hobgoblin''s presence. The Mayor decreed that the village would be flattened, and new structures would be built once it was purged. The damage and filth from their occupancy could never be cleaned from the buildings. A building crew and several Mages had been assigned to undertake the works and begin the rebuilding process. They were also informed to consider planning for a wall to be built to encompass the path leading up towards the town from the valley floor. The valley only had three easily accessible routes into it. The west side, where the Hobgoblins and Orcs had returned through, the path to the ridge where the town was situated, and there was a Southern tunnel network. The tunnel network apparently led through to the far side of the mountains and was not usually travelled. On the far side of the mountains was the border to the desert territory that had been mentioned, and with the potential movement of tribes or similar, Zigferd wished to ensure that the tunnel was guarded and secured. The amount of work that the town now had to complete was significant, and everything would require careful planning and consideration. Over the past few days, SJ had been working on her tailoring and finished the final pair of gloves. She was so excited to complete the quest that she had scared Dave half to death when she suddenly screamed, and her display triggered congratulating her. Congratulations! Tailoring Apprentice level 4 completed. Quest Tailoring Apprentice ¨C Level 5 Learn the secrets of enchantments. ¡°Enchantments?¡± SJ said. ¡°Ah. Yes. Now you have learned the basics, the next stage is understanding how enchantment slots work. You will have to see Fizzlewick, and he can explain it to you, but as you increase further now, you can start to add slots to your items. It¡¯s a long process and very tricky, but it must be completed early. The number of slots you can add to an item depends on your ranking. As an Apprentice rank, you may only add one, and then at each successive rank, it increases by a further one.¡± ¡°I thought an enchanter, not a tailor, would complete that?¡± SJ asked. ¡°The enchantments are, but if the item is not produced with the available slots, how do you believe they are enchanted? Otherwise, Enchanters could randomly enchant an item with hundreds of differing enchantments if not specific to the professions.¡± ¡°Once I reach Master as an example, could I add five slots to items?¡± ¡°Yes. That is another reason your dress is Unique: it will eventually have seven slots available on it since a Grand Master created it.¡± ¡°It currently doesn¡¯t have any, though.¡± ¡°No, and I don¡¯t think it will open until you finish the training needed for Level 5 apprentice. I think it may also be the same for all your other eventual slots for the dress.¡± ¡°So, to get all seven slots, I would need to be Grand Master myself then.¡± ¡°Yes. I believe this will be the case,¡± Dave said. ¡°Exciting, isn¡¯t it.¡± ¡°It has taken me so long to make the gloves, never mind reaching Skilled or Journeyman status within the profession.¡± ¡°Tailoring is not easy, but you have more of a purpose to succeed and progress than most ever do. Your dress alone should be enough to give you focus.¡± ¡°It does, and I want to. There are so many other things that I also need to do. My claws and kata training are doing well, but it all takes so long to level.¡± ¡°You could always consider completing more quests.¡± ¡°I will have to, yes. I can¡¯t stay at level 11 forever.¡± ¡°You will have plenty of opportunities, my YLF.¡± SJ chuckled at Dave¡¯s comment that he hadn¡¯t called her it in a while. ¡°How is your coding doing?¡± ¡°Meh. I managed to get through two further layers, but this next one is a right doozy. It¡¯s very complex.¡± ¡°I am sure you will get it sorted soon.¡± ¡°I am not sure about soon, but I have my own quest to complete as you do yours.¡± ¡°Ha,¡± SJ laughed. ¡°What experience and rewards do you get,¡± she said, chuckling. ¡°Oh, I will decide nearer the time, although I am at least considering giving myself an official title.¡± The inane and senseless conversations that Dave and SJ had on many occasions were nonsensical, and the pair now spoke as if they had known each other for years. They were so comfortable talking and passing time. ¡°Right. I need to go and find Fizzlewick then,¡± SJ said, standing and stretching. She had been hunched over at the table sewing the gloves for too long again. "Oh. I just had a response to the Quest Query about reaching Level 10." "What have they said?" "It was apparently a feature that the System had originally decided to implement when it did its original planning phase. Then, since it commenced, it never implemented the feature." "Then why was I told?" "Why do you think?" "Because of the waiver," SJ answered. "Yep. It appeared for you due to you waiving the terms and conditions. The System was apparently a little upset when the admin team discussed it, as they thought it had been removed." "What''s the outcome then?" "Since you were offered a quest with no reward and still had a target. They are agreeing to a one-time offer," Dave said excitedly. "Don''t leave me in suspense. What is the offer?" "They will give you one of two choices. The first is the ability to increase one of your attributes by three points permanently. The other is to permanently increase one of your skills by one rank." "That''s great," SJ replied excitedly. "What should I do? Let''s see." SJ reviewed her character sheet. The points were a nice addition to either option. "I am going to add it to my Shroud skill. If I get that to level three, that gives me 90 seconds of reduced damage, which would make a huge difference, and since I already get additional attribute points, they are not as necessary." "A very sensible option," Dave agreed. SJ updated her skill. Subterfuge ¨C Identification Level 7 ¨C 98 of 200 to level 8, Shroud Level 3 "Thanks, Dave. Okay, let''s go and see Fizzlewick," SJ smiled. As SJ walked by the barracks, heading to see Fizzlewick, she spotted Shelly jumping up and down, very animated. Orik, the grumpy old Dwarf, was standing with another Dwarf SJ did not recognise. ¡°Morning,¡± SJ said as she walked near. ¡°SJ,¡± Shelly said, turning with a huge grin on her face. ¡°Hi, Shelly,¡± she smiled back. ¡°We broke through last night,¡± she beamed, unable to stop her enthusiasm. ¡°So, you have confirmed it then?¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I am here now.¡± ¡°These are council matters, not for general discussion,¡± Orik interjected. ¡°And I am in the process of placing a vote to have SJ added to the council,¡± the Mayor said as he walked out from the barracks. SJ¡¯s jaw nearly hit the floor, why on Amathera would he be considering adding her to the council. She was nothing of importance. ¡°Reputation can bring benefits beyond experience bonuses,¡± Dave said, obviously understanding SJ¡¯s expression she now had on her face. ¡°I heard what you said, Shelly. That is excellent news. When do you think we may be able to start operations?¡± ¡°A lot of pre-work is needed first. Mithril is not easy to mine. My Uncle has messaged his cousin, who is travelling here from Asterfal to help with operations.¡± Stolen story; please report. ¡°Nevik?¡± the Mayor replied, a little shocked. ¡°Yes,¡± Shelly replied. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen Nevik in several years. It will be nice to see the old goat again,¡± Zigferd smiled. ¡°He should be arriving later today. I believe,¡± Shelly replied. ¡°When he arrives, please ask him to stop by.¡± ¡°I will, Mayor.¡± ¡°Now, Orik, we have a meeting to attend, and since you are here SJ, I would also like you to join us.¡± ¡°I was going to the tailors,¡± SJ replied, still shocked by Zigferd¡¯s comment. ¡°Fine then. Can you join us later once you are finished? I have a few things I wish to discuss with you. I will be casting the vote this morning and hoped you would be in attendance.¡± Not understanding why he would even want her to be part of the council, SJ didn¡¯t respond. ¡°Look, I know it may be a bit of a shock to you, but with the changes we have discussed, I think it would benefit us all to have someone of your stature and potential on our side. I know you may not understand, but I am sure you will in time.¡± Zigferd had invited SJ to participate in recent discussions due to her revered status and the importance of the Mithril mine, but she had never expected to be considered an integral part of the town to such a degree. ¡°I will call in as soon as I am done there,¡± SJ replied, continuing to see Fizzlewick. When she arrived, the shop door was open, and a wagon was parked out the front. Several large crates were being loaded into the back of it. Fizzlewick¡¯s Quarterling persona stood by the doorway, calling instructions. ¡°Areful. Evrytin is olded neatly,¡± he said to the two Ratkin moving the boxes. ¡°Morning,¡± SJ called. ¡°Orning,¡± Fizzlewick smiled and winked at her. ¡°You look busy,¡± ¡°Order hipment.¡± ¡°If you are too busy, I can call back later?¡± ¡°No. Go in, be done oon.¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± SJ replied, smiling as she swerved around the Ratkin, walking out the door with another crate of goods. SJ walked into the back room, pushing the beads to one side. She could hear a clunk and sliding sound as she did, and looking at the two looms she had seen before were busy weaving cloth. One was producing a bright blue material and the other a golden material. SJ watched the looms perform their tasks. Having visited old cotton mills back on Earth and understanding how the looms worked, it was amazing to see them automated, the mechanisms moving under their own duress. It had to be magical. There was no other way to perform the actions without manual intervention. She heard the bell tinkle as the store door closed, and moments later, Fizzlewick walked through in his human form. ¡°Hello SJ. I see you reached level 4 and now need to learn enchantments,¡± he said, smiling. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Excellent. Then please follow me.¡± ¡°What are you making?¡± SJ asked, looking at the looms again. ¡°I have just shipped the first part of an order, and this material is for the second half. I could just conjure it up, but I love the process and time involved with making the materials, and it¡¯s much more pleasing.¡± ¡°That is a large order.¡± ¡°Ah, yes. It is the new uniform for the Asterfal city guard. The newly appointed chancellor there wished to change it to his house colours.¡± ¡°Chancellor?¡± ¡°Yes. A chancellor rules Asterfal. All cities have chancellors or similar who oversee the day-to-day running of cities.¡± ¡°How often do they change?¡± ¡°Not very unless there has been a dispute or similar situation that causes them to. Asterfal¡¯s new chancellor was only recently appointed after the untimely death of his predecessor.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°Yes. Chancellor Alequi of the Dryad enclave died several months ago, and only recently did the new chancellor Santic of the Kobold council take over.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t realise that the political landscape was so varied. I assumed the cities were all run by Lords or similar?¡± ¡°No. Most cities have pledged an Oath to the Emperor, but several don¡¯t and class themselves as freeholders. Asterfal is one of these. It has a very diverse population. Some of the cities are more racially bound in comparison. There are also all the race capitals and territories to consider.¡± ¡°So how does a Kobold become a chancellor?¡± ¡°I have never met Santic personally, but I have heard he is very charming. He can convince many and has previously influenced the outcome of several high-value contracts between Asterfal and some larger cities.¡± SJ followed Fizzlewick downstairs, and as normal, he called two large, comfy armchairs for them to sit in. ¡°Let¡¯s get to it then. Apprentice Level 5 training is not like your normal training for Tailoring. It is all about state of mind.¡± ¡°Please explain.¡± ¡°Adding enchantment slots to clothing items requires a combination of factors. One is the item quality. If the item quality is not good enough, then it doesn¡¯t matter how much time and effort you spend. It will never work. Secondly, it is your mental state. For enchantment slots to be successfully added, you must be in a tranquil meditation as you complete the task. If you aren¡¯t, then again, it will fail.¡± ¡°I used to practice meditation back home,¡± SJ said. ¡°Hopefully, then you will have an advantage. Many of Amathera do not know what meditation is unless they are in one of certain classes, such as Monks, Clerics, or Paladins.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t Mages meditate as well?¡± ¡°No. A mage''s mind is like a chaotic whirlpool. Very few mages can successfully meditate on enchantment slots.¡± ¡°So, what must I do?¡± Fizzlewick began to explain the meditation process required to enhance materials. The requirements were no different from her other meditation sessions when she practised Yoga back on Earth. ¡°Sit comfortably, relax, close your eyes, and control your breathing. You need to be calm and at peace with your thoughts. Once you are done, you need to picture or imagine the materials you are working with. Hold the material you wish to enhance and slowly push your mana into it.¡± ¡°Mana? I have never used anything that requires mana before. How will I know if I am doing it right?¡± ¡°You will feel it. Once your mana starts to flow, your pool will drop. Enchantment slots can be applied to any material with the correct tailoring levels. The material must absorb fifty mana for every slot you wish to create, and at the Apprentice level, you may only create one enchantment slot. If you break from the meditation or stop pushing the mana into the material at any point, it will fail, and you will have to start over.¡± ¡°I need some cloth to be able to practice with.¡± Fizzlewick summoned a bundle of cloth which appeared on the small table. ¡°I warn you, it is not as easy as it may sound. The speed at which you release your mana will determine success. Too quick or too slow, and it will fail, that is, once you can find it and feel its flow.¡± SJ picked the bundle up and placed it on her lap, holding it. Sitting upright in the chair, she began to relax. She went through the steps she had completed many times before and slowly felt her body relax and her breathing slow. Once she felt at peace, she focused on her mana, and nothing happened. She tried again, but nothing. She repeated the same exercises several more times before cursing, ¡°Why is it not working?¡± ¡°As I said, it takes time. Your basic state seems fine, but you are not relaxed because you continually think about the mana. You need to allow it to flow naturally.¡± ¡°How, though?¡± ¡°I would spend time practising. I can¡¯t really explain how you feel when you do it, as I do not know myself.¡± ¡°How do you add slots then?¡± ¡°Ha. I am a god.¡± ¡°Dave. Any ideas?¡± ¡°Nope, no idea how it feels or is supposed to feel, so I can¡¯t explain sorry,¡± Dave replied. ¡°Gah. This is stupid,¡± SJ put the cloth back down on the table. ¡°It will happen. You just have to find your own path to release your mana. Learning the technique normally takes no more than a year or so.¡± ¡°A year!¡± SJ exclaimed. ¡°Yes, usually for the first time, they take about a year to succeed.¡± ¡°I am stuck as a Level 4 tailor until I can do this,¡± SJ replied with annoyance. After a while longer, SJ gave up. ¡°This is impossible.¡± ¡°As I have explained, you are not clearing your mind fully. Keep practising, and it will happen soon enough. I am sure.¡± SJ checked her display. Given the time she had spent trying to manipulate her mana, it had been over two hours since she arrived at the tailor shop. ¡°I must go. I promised I would see the Mayor and town council.¡± ¡°Please do as you need. I will be here when you are ready. I may just add that it will be nice to stay here for a while. There are some lovely members of the township.¡± ¡°Stay here for a while?¡± SJ asked, frowning. ¡°Well, yes. Now, the borders have changed. There is no rush to move on so soon, and I am enjoying my time here,¡± Fizzlewick replied, smiling. ¡°You are enjoying yourself?¡± ¡°Oh, yes. I enjoy doing the mundane daily tasks of a shopkeeper. It is quite therapeutic, and it is a nice change from being involved in continual political scandals.¡± SJ remembered the story about the naked emperor but couldn¡¯t fathom any level of interaction with individuals so high in positions. She was astounded by how she had been treated so far in the town, and the fact that the Mayor wished her to join the council filled her with trepidation. ¡°Thank you for teaching me, Fizzlewick. I will be back as soon as I complete the quest.¡± ¡°No problem at all, and enjoy your new position,¡± the God winked. SJ opened her eyes in amazement. She knew Fizzlewick was a God, but he seemed to know every little detail about what was happening to her each time they spoke. Leaving the shop, she made her way to the barracks. ¡°I wish I could understand the mana flow better,¡± she huffed back on the street. ¡°Speak to Fran when you get a chance. I am sure she can assist and explain it better than I ever could. I know what it relates to but wouldn¡¯t know how it feels or what you need to do to utilise it. Mages are taught about mana flow from the start. It is their initial skill, and they must learn it before they can even start to learn spells.¡± ¡°I will once I have finished at the Barracks. I also need to go and see Cristy. I promised I would take her to see Patch.¡± ¡°I like Cristy,¡± Dave said cheerily. It was strange how Dave always seemed happier when Cristy was around and thought he might have paternal feelings towards her. ¡°You are always much nicer when Cristy is around,¡± SJ said. ¡°What do you mean much nicer? I am always nice.¡± ¡°Really?¡± SJ replied sarcastically as she arrived at the barracks entrance. Chapter 77 - Council Reaching the barracks, SJ went straight upstairs, and seeing that the mayor wasn¡¯t in his office, she continued to the council chamber. Knocking on the door, one of the burly orc guards opened it and ushered her inside. The table was in a heated discussion, and SJ stood quietly by the entrance, not wishing to interrupt the proceedings. ¡°I have told you already. We can¡¯t allow the valley to remain undefended. We need to expand our reach, as the Mayor stated. Without the expansion, we will be open to worse threats than the orcs or hobgoblins in the future,¡± a large Ent stated. SJ had never seen him before, and he was an imposing figure. He had a thick barrelled chest or trunk, and SJ was unsure how to describe his anatomy. He had at least four arms that animatedly followed his current conversation, supporting his argument. ¡°We do not have a large enough force,¡± a Goblin SJ had come to recognise as a regular member replied. ¡°It will stretch the guard too thin to cover the expansion. Without recruitment and increasing our size, expanding would be pointless.¡± The arguments carried on with one aspect or another being considered, accepted, or rejected by all around the table. It was the first time SJ had seen the chaos unfold. ¡°I don¡¯t suppose they normally have much to talk about apart from the most recent garbage collection,¡± Dave said. ¡°It¡¯s quite entertaining, though.¡± After several more minutes, the Mayor had had enough as his voice cut over those sitting around. ¡°SILENCE,¡± he called. Slowly, the discussions lessened until silence fell again in the chamber. ¡°Thank you. It seems we are currently at an impasse over what and how to proceed for the betterment of the town. Considering this, I propose that all parties here today write their thoughts and expectations and deliver them for consideration at our next meeting. We will not confirm the outcomes today. Once we have everyone¡¯s thoughts, I will ask for them to be transcribed for distribution and confirmation before voting on the proposals I have presented today. As I said at the start, I knew this would be an emotive conversation, so please consider your audience when you give feedback.¡± Several around the table nodded in agreement with the Mayor¡¯s words, but SJ noticed that a few didn¡¯t and still carried scowls on their faces. Seeing the lack of continuity was surprising. Every previous interaction showed they were a civilised and agreeable council, but this was obviously not the case in certain aspects. ¡°Ah, SJ,¡± Zigferd said, smiling. "Please come and join me.¡± SJ was startled by the sudden address and slowly walked across the room, proceeding to where Zigferd sat at the head of the table. ¡°Now, all. I have one final agenda item before we part for today,¡± he said, pausing and looking around at all the faces of those present. ¡°I have an unusual proposal to make, and it has never to my knowledge been done before, but with the changes we are seeing across the land, with the amendment of territory boundaries and various other considerations around our town growth potential,¡± again pausing awaiting to see the appreciative nods of acknowledgement. ¡°I am proposing we add a new member to our council.¡± SJ watched Orik roll his eyes at the comment while others frowned, looking confused and shocked. The council already consisted of representatives from all the town¡¯s main races. ¡°Who are you referring to?¡± a Gnome asked. ¡°I thought that would be obvious by her presence here today,¡± Zigferd replied, smiling. There were several audible gasps, and immediate chatter commenced again. SJ heard one comment over any other, making her scowl in frustration. ¡°You want a Fae on the council!¡± the comment made by a human representative. ¡°Now, this will be interesting,¡± Dave said. ¡°Fae are known for their problems, as I explained in the past, and I think for some, even though you have done nothing to support expectations, several will hold a grudge. Concerning Legionnaires, they are seen in various positions across Amathera, and there have been some over the years who have risen to rule various areas, but these are infrequent. Many do not wish to be involved in the political landscape and what it entails. Preferring just to fight and grow. Your inclusion within a council at a starter town would be considered another unique opportunity.¡± ¡°Calm down, calm down,¡± Zigferd stated before the complete chaos of before ensued. Silence gradually returned back to the table. ¡°This is a proposition only and will be voted on as per standard, but I believe with SJ¡¯s abilities, she may become a very useful member of the town in the future, and her experiences that we do not know may very well support our development. I can understand some reactions with including a Fae, but you all know Mistress Fransisca and what she has previously done to support the town, and I believe that SJ here is of the same mould.¡± SJ stood a little shocked, not fully appreciating or understanding what he was referring to. ¡°I think he means as your class grows. I think he is already considering what you may bring to them as a future option, not just your interactions so far,¡± Dave said. "That''s very clever of him.¡± SJ couldn¡¯t respond but had so many questions she wanted to ask. She hadn¡¯t expected to be thrown into it without being able to discuss the proposal first. ¡°Again, with this information I have given, please consider the proposal. The details are not yet discussed nor confirmed, and I didn¡¯t wish to throw this on you without allowing you to think it through, as I know this will be amending the way we have worked before within the council. I propose we reconvene in three days, giving everyone enough time to discuss the expansion and additional member proposals and present any thoughts. With that, I bring the meeting to a close today.¡± Council members began to stand and started to file out of the chamber while the Ent moved to confer with Zigferd. SJ felt out of place, and rather than just standing there, she began to leave. She also needed to speak to Zigferd and find out what he wanted from her. Walking downstairs, she went through his office area. Alice was standing having a discussion with the gnomes who oversaw the model updates. ¡°So, you want a new model?¡± ¡°Yes. We will require one that allows for boundary expansion but still require this one to be maintained,¡± Alice said. ¡°And where are we going to start building this one? Also, we would require further help.¡± ¡°I understand. The Major proposes that the new model be built in the council chambers so it can be discussed and planned directly.¡± ¡°What level of detail?¡± ¡°Enough to show elevations and locations so that the lay of the land can be seen from it. He also asked for primary structures, such as walls or similar.¡± ¡°Umm. This will be an interesting project. I have not created landscapes for many a year now, but I would rather enjoy them.¡± ¡°That is fantastic news. Who else do you need to help you?¡± ¡°A young Ratkin has recently shown interest in my creations and started to tinker. I think I can use him for basic construction. He doesn¡¯t have the skill to complete the finer detailed work but can at least commence it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fantastic. Could you speak to him today?¡± ¡°Of course. He usually works at the stables, but I believe he is wasted there.¡± SJ wondered if he was referring to Little Stuart. She knew he worked at the stables and collected Bellpops for Floretta, but this job may be better in the long run, as it would support his family. ¡°Are you referring to Little Stuart?¡± SJ asked. ¡°Yes. That¡¯s him,¡± the Gnome replied. SJ smiled at the thought of the young Ratkin working with the Gnome. Zigferd walked into the room behind SJ. SJ turned to see him, ¡°I think we need to talk,¡± she said. ¡°We do indeed. Please,¡± he indicated with his hand. SJ walked into his office and took a seat. Before the Mayor sat down, he closed his office doors. This was the first time SJ had known him to do it, and she frowned. ¡°Now we have some peace without interruptions,¡± Zigferd smiled. ¡°It would have been nice to discuss your proposition before you announced it to the council,¡± SJ said. ¡°I understand. I am sure you feel a little uncertain and maybe a little shocked by it.¡± ¡°I am, yes.¡± ¡°It is simple. You are a Legionnaire. You are also a specific class and will eventually have specific skills, from what I have been made aware of,¡± he replied, smiling knowingly. ¡°Amathera is not the place you may believe that the town shows, and even today, you will have noticed a different side to the council that you won¡¯t have seen before.¡± SJ couldn¡¯t argue and nodded in agreement. ¡°I believe, and it is for selfish reasons, I am not going to lie, that if we can get you to join the council now as the borders expand and the diplomatic issues arise, you can be a very useful tool.¡± ¡°I am just a tool, then?¡± This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°No. Not in that manner, but we all must have a purpose to play, and you bring a different aspect to our town we have never had before. Your outlook, commitment, selfless acts¡ªyou fight for what you believe in, and I believe you will continue to do so. If you fight for Killic, then Killic will be a much stronger and better place for it in the future.¡± ¡°You do wish to use me as a tool, then?¡± SJ said defensively, folding her arms. She was not happy with being considered as a pawn to be used. She had always been frustrated with how senior management at her firm back on Earth had always used people beneath them for their own benefit. ¡°No. Please don¡¯t misunderstand my proposition. I believe that you will bring influence and continuity to the council.¡± ¡°How will I achieve that? I do not even know the members.¡± ¡°But you would in time. You have a very persuasive nature.¡± ¡°Persuasive?¡± SJ frowned. ¡°Yes. The way you interact with people gets them to open up to you. I have heard from many you have spoken to, and they hold you in high esteem.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t even know that many?¡± ¡°You would be surprised what helping at the Inn does for someone in this town. It is its hub, after all.¡± ¡°I have only helped on a couple of occasions.¡± ¡°Yes. I know that is my point. If you can influence so many by doing so little, what do you think you can achieve in the longer term.¡± SJ had never considered her interactions with people. Her ethos had always been to be friendly and kind, even back on Earth, unless someone went against her, and then the claws came out. On Amathera, now that had a completely new meaning. ¡°I am not sure I like being in the light to that degree,¡± SJ said uncertainly. ¡°It¡¯s a great opportunity. Consider what it will allow you to get involved in the long term,¡± Dave said. ¡°You would be a racial representative, as we have for all the other races in town. It is just unheard of for a Fae to be a town or city council member, for that matter. Many see your race choice as problematic, but thankfully, you and Mistress Francisca have generally brought an increasingly improved view of Fae.¡± ¡°I need to think about it,¡± SJ replied, still not happy about the racial tendencies that many had shown, especially the reaction in the chamber. ¡°Please do. I would appreciate it if you could confirm as soon as you can. I ask that you consider the town''s long-term goals.¡± Thanking Zigferd for his time, SJ got up and left his office. As she went downstairs, she was met with a wide-eyed Ratkin she recognised. Little Stuart was being shown into the barracks by the Gnome who had been speaking to Alice. He was covered in bits of hay from where he must have been at the stables. SJ smiled as she walked from the barracks, hoping that this may be the break that Little Stuart needed for his family. ¡°Time to take Cristy to see Patch,¡± SJ said, leaving the barracks. Walking across the field out of town with Cristy, SJ was surprised to see a line of carts heading back towards town. It was the most traffic she had ever seen, particularly on this side of town. Recognising Shelly sat by the driver of one, she waved. ¡°How is it going?¡± SJ called, over the clatter of the hooves and squeaking wheels as they neared the pair of them stood off to the side, allowing them to pass. ¡°Good. We should be able to start in a few more days. We are just finishing the entrance and path to it,¡± Shelly called. ¡°I will have to come and look soon,¡± SJ called back. ¡°Please do,¡± Shelly smiled broadly as the cart trundled past. As soon as they entered the forest path, Cristy began to call. It didn¡¯t take long for there to be a howl in response, and several minutes later, the huge form of Patch came bounding from the forest straight up to Cristy. Seeing the pair interact was like watching an owner and their pet dog, Patch, rolling on his back, allowing Cristy to scratch and rub his belly for him. The playful interaction continued for a while when another howl broke the silence. Patch immediately stood back on his feet and snarled, looking into the forest. ¡°What is it?¡± Cristy asked, SJ was worried about the behaviour that Patch had just shown. Patch turned and looked at Cristy before turning back, and he disappeared into the forest. ¡°Something isn¡¯t right?¡± SJ said concern etched on her face. ¡°We should go check,¡± Cristy said. ¡°We don¡¯t know where he has gone or what it is, and I don¡¯t want you in danger.¡± ¡°I am a big Gnoll now.¡± SJ smiled at her comment, ¡°You are indeed very brave, but unless we know what is going on, I am not willing to take you towards danger. You have experienced enough when you were kidnapped.¡± ¡°Kidnapped?¡± Cristy said, frowning. ¡°The Hobs took you. Stay here, and I will check. If it is safe, I will come and get you, okay?¡± Cristy huffed, ¡°I suppose.¡± SJ quickly shrunk to her miniature form, taking off. The path that Patch had left in his wake as he had bounded through the underbrush was easy to follow, and she didn¡¯t have to fly very far before reaching a clearing. The clearing was not very large, and a small mound was off to one end. Looking at the mound, she could see an opening, and standing in the opening was the White wolf she had seen previously. There was no sign of Patch or the others. ¡°That must be their den,¡± Dave said. ¡°It looks like it,¡± SJ replied. "But where have they gone?¡± That was when she heard the howls deeper into the forest. This end of the ridge she had never ventured into and it took her a while to pinpoint the location of the howl. As she neared, she could hear snarling and growling. The forest had begun to thin as she ventured further, and she was surprised that it started to open into a flat plain that appeared to fall off a cliff. Stood in a line facing out from the forest line were the wolves. Patch and the four she had originally seen in the woods. The creature that stood before them, SJ, had never seen the likes of before. It stood four feet tall and looked like it was part armadillo, part mole with how its back seemed plated. It had a large-looking incisor, and as SJ neared flying above, it saw its front feet supported by some very large, seriously sharp-looking claws. It stood facing down, the wolves snarling at them. ¡°It¡¯s a Rock Gobbler. They can dig through solid stone with those claws, and this one looks hungry, upset, and large,¡± Dave said. SJ triggered her Identification skill. Rock Gobbler Level: 13 Hit Points: 180 of 180 Mana Points: 0 Armour Class: 35 Attacks: Bite/Claw Special: Coil ¡°It has a lot of hit points for a level 13, and that armour class is crazy,¡± SJ said. ¡°You won¡¯t be able to hit it easily. Their armour plates are very strong, and if they use their special. You may as well just walk away and leave it.¡± ¡°What does it do?¡± ¡°It triples its armour class when in its balled form. The things become virtually untouchable. Even for lower-level Rock Gobblers. Your chance to even scratch its scales would be virtually nothing.¡± ¡°The wolves are unlikely to damage it either, then?¡± ¡°If it coils, they won¡¯t touch it, nor could you. Wolves, though, are pack hunters, and against single prey, they will surround and work together. The problem is they are low level, and even Patch will struggle to damage it as a Dire Wolf.¡± SJ watched as the stand-off continued. The Rock Gobbler snarling but not closing in on the wolves nor the wolves doing either. Gradually, the wolves began to spread out and form a semi-circle. The creature turned its head, looking at where they were moving. It hissed and snarled again and took a step backwards. SJ noticed a large hole in the ground a couple hundred feet from where it was. ¡°It must have dug through,¡± she said. ¡°It looks like it,¡± Dave said. "It will need dealing with, though. They have a specific favourite rock they like to devour.¡± ¡°They eat rock?¡± SJ asked, amazed. ¡°Yes. They can break down anything if their stomach is so acidic, and they particularly like the taste of Mithril. They are a common pest in Mithril mines. Although this one is pretty large.¡± SJ¡¯s display triggered. Quest ¨C Save the mine You have discovered that a Rock Gobbler has appeared in the area. If this creature is not dealt with, Killic''s prosperity and your future income will be threatened. Rewards: 320xp Chapter 78 - Gobbler ¡°That¡¯s great. You said you wanted to do some more quests,¡± Dave said cheerily. ¡°Not against something like this. I doubt I can even get through its armour, and I know the wolves won¡¯t, considering their low levels as you stated. Any advice?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t get hit by the claws.¡± ¡°Really. That is all?¡± SJ replied sarcastically. ¡°Well, you can allow yourself to be hit if you wish, but I wouldn¡¯t advise it,¡± Dave replied flippantly. ¡°Any helpful advice would be appreciated.¡± ¡°They are slow, and their eyesight is very poor, so you should have enough notification of an attack.¡± One of the wolves sprung towards its left side, and as it did, the Rock Gobbler snapped its jaws towards it. On doing so, another wolf on the right moved in to snap at it. The Rock Gobbler moved its front leg to strike, and SJ noticed how slow it was compared to most things she had fought so far. The wolf easily dodged its attempted bite-and-claw attack as the other snapped at its side. The wolf that struck it didn¡¯t do any damage, and it remained with full health. ¡°This is not going to be fun,¡± SJ said as she flew behind the creature. The armour plating seemed to come down and cover virtually all its body, as though it wore a scale shirt. At the rear of the creature, where its tail joined its body, it looked as though it had less armour plating. SJ lowered slowly. The bulk of the creature between herself and its head. She had not flown low and doubted it had even perceived her as a threat. Landing, she grew, equipping her claws and approaching the rear of it, stabbed into the weaker armoured area of its body, where its stubby tail originated. SJ had not been expecting the reaction to the attack, and it jumped forward as if launched from a cannon. Patch bounded out of the way as it landed where he had been some thirty feet away. She had penetrated its body but only managed to do eight points of damage. ¡°That thing can move,¡± SJ said in surprise. ¡°Its legs, although short, are ridiculously strong as it pushes against stone when burrowing, and it doesn¡¯t even bother trying to attack its head. It may not look armoured, but it¡¯s harder than steel.¡± This was going to be a long fight. As the wolves continued to snap at it, grabbing its attention, SJ continued to shrink and grow, performing attacks at its rear. It was unable to turn quickly, and she could imagine it performing a ten point turn on a road in the UK, it was so inflexible with its sideways movement. It was designed for one job only. To dig and move forward to its next food source. With its stubby legs, it was slow, and it lumbered forward, trying to strike at any wolves that came in front of it, occasionally launching an attack. After almost ten minutes of fighting, it still had over 150 hit points remaining. Her more recent hits did very little damage, even against its unprotected rear. ¡°This is ridiculous. There must be something that can damage it easier?¡± SJ said as she flew to its rear again. ¡°Only if you have a lightning or fire spell or similar,¡± Dave replied. ¡°SJ,¡± the small form of Cristy had appeared at the edge of the forest, crying her name. ¡°Cristy. Stay back,¡± SJ called on seeing the small Gnoll. Cristy mustn¡¯t have heard her response as she wandered further from the tree line, staring at the creature the wolves continued to fight. ¡°Cristy,¡± SJ bellowed, trying to be heard above the creatures'' snarling, growling, and hissing. Still, she didn¡¯t respond, and SJ flew straight towards her. ¡°Get back in the tree line now,¡± she screamed at the small Gnoll as she neared her. Cristy looked at her in shock. It was the first time SJ had ever said anything with anger in her voice, and it obviously had an impact. After standing momentarily and looking at her, she turned and ran, tears running down her cheeks. ¡°Argh,¡± SJ screamed in frustration. She hadn¡¯t meant to shout at Cristy. She just didn¡¯t want her to get hurt by the ridiculously armoured creature. ¡°I need to go follow her. I can¡¯t have her running off.¡± ¡°The wolves will keep it busy,¡± Dave said. SJ followed Cristy and could hear her as she ran through the forest brush on all fours. She was very fast, and SJ struggled to keep up, even flying and moving in and around the trees. Eventually, she began to slow down, and SJ caught up with her. Cristy came to a stop, curling up in a ball at the base of a huge tree, sobbing. SJ landed gently and grew. ¡°Cristy,¡± she said softly. Cristy didn¡¯t look at her and buried her head into her arm, covering her face. The dress she had been wearing was all torn and tattered from being caught in the brush. ¡°Cristy. I am sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to shout at you. I was scared you may get hurt, that was all.¡± Cristy sobbed as she responded. ¡°I thought you were my friend.¡± ¡°I am your friend. You know I am. That creature could have hurt you if you had gotten any closer than you did.¡± ¡°I just wanted to help. I was worried when you had been so long,¡± she turned to look at SJ, streaks covered her little face and her eyes glistened. SJ could feel a tear in her own eye. ¡°I know you did, and I am sorry I didn¡¯t come back straight away. I was helping the wolves. That creature is too heavily armoured. It isn¡¯t like attacking a Hogling or a Hobgoblin.¡± SJ bent down next to her and held her arms out. Cristy slowly moved over until she could envelop her in a hug. Stroking her head gently. ¡°I am sorry,¡± Cristy continued to sob, and SJ felt terrible. After a minute, the sobbing became less, and Cristy pushed away from her, looking at her. ¡°I need to go back and check on the wolves, but I have no idea where they are now,¡± SJ said, looking around and lost after chasing her. ¡°I can lead you. I can smell them,¡± Cristy replied, her little face looking at SJ wide-eyed. ¡°Only if you promise to stay in the trees and not go into the open. Whatever happens,¡± SJ replied. ¡°I promise.¡± ¡°Come on then, show me which way.¡± Cristy began to move back through the trees. Walking back took much longer than Cristy''s mad dash, and SJ could hear the fighting still going on when they returned. ¡°Now stay here, please,¡± SJ said. ¡°I will,¡± Cristy replied, nodding her head. SJ, shrinking and taking off, flew back onto the plain. The Rock Gobbler had only lost two more hit points in all the time she had been gone. The wolves were beginning to tire, and their movements were less fluid. One of them was almost hit by the beast as it launched towards it, only narrowly bounding from its path. ¡°I need to do something different,¡± SJ hissed. ¡°I have an idea,¡± Dave said. ¡°What idea?¡± SJ said hopefully. ¡°You need to try and lead it away from the woods towards the cliff edge.¡± ¡°And do what?¡± ¡°Make it launch at you and over the side. Their vision is poor. It won''t know where it is in comparison. You have seen how far it can jump when it tries to attack so you can try to get positioned so it jumps too far.¡± ¡°It won¡¯t go for me when I''m small.¡± ¡°No. That¡¯s the problem,¡± Dave chuckled nervously. The cliff''s edge was probably a couple hundred feet from where they fought, and SJ began the slow process of trying to make it turn around to face her. The creature was worse than a heavy goods vehicle, and SJ got into a routine of landing, growing in front of it, and running as it tried to launch its attack. It jumped nearly thirty feet each time, and eventually, after several minutes, it began to face the cliff. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. ¡°Now lead it straight,¡± Dave said. Two heavily panting wolves had moved back from the fray, and SJ believed they must be exhausted. She didn¡¯t have the luxury of being tired. She needed to get rid of this thing. Landing fifty feet from its front, she grew again, calling at it and screaming to get its attention. The wolves were now on the same side of the creature as SJ. The creature now had four creatures to choose from to attack. It leapt forward towards one of the wolves, thankfully still moving closer to the cliff edge. The wolf, this time, was not fast enough as it leapt to the side, and one of the Gobbler''s huge claws caught it on its flank. The wolf yelped in pain as it crashed to the ground, unable to land properly and whimpering. SJ rushed forward and struck at the face of the creature in anger. The Gobbler''s head turned as she did, knocking into her and sending her sprawling sideways. Its head felt like being hit by a sledgehammer, and this close, its teeth looked like huge razor blades. Having swept her claws down the side of its face, they had had no impact on the creature. SJ immediately began to backpedal, realising how stupid she had been getting so close. Considering this thing ate rocks, why she had even thought about going near its head she had no idea, Dave had warned her how hard it was. It had drawn its attention, and as she moved backwards, she noticed the tension in its limbs. The unsightly beast was like a coiled spring being released when it jumped. It was an instant movement. SJ turned and ran. She was probably twenty feet away, trying to run at an angle. It landed with a huge thud, exactly where SJ had just been, missing her by inches. Continuing to move forward, she glanced back as it got ready to jump again. The only bonus was that its mobility and time between attacks were slow due to its size, and she reached thirty feet before it sprung again. Being out of range, she continued towards the cliff as it coiled again. The wolves had withdrawn. Patch stood by the side of the injured wolf with the others as they watched the fight, howling and growling. ¡°Nearly there,¡± Dave shouted. SJ could see that the cliff edge was only fifty feet from them and continued to draw it towards the edge. The next jump caught her off guard as she stumbled on the uneven ground approaching the cliff edge, where it had eroded and pitted over time, catching her foot in a hole she squealed as she tripped, sprawling onto the floor, quickly standing again. She was no more than ten feet from the edge when the creature leapt again. She hadn¡¯t been able to move far enough, and as the creature hurtled towards her with its claws extended and jaws open, she knew it would hit her. Thankfully, it wasn¡¯t a clean strike, but it was still like being hit by a cannonball. The wind knocked from her, and the impact threw her backwards, reducing her hit points by half. She suddenly realised that she had not landed and that they were in free fall. ¡°Shrink,¡± Dave screamed. SJ was already in the process, and as she shrunk, she opened her wings, causing friction and, being buffeted, slowly worked into a glide, opening her body wide like a freefall parachutist. The Rock Gobbler shrieked, still plummeting towards the base of the cliff nearly 1000 feet below, and as she glided, she began to spiral following its descent until it eventually met with the cliff''s rocky bottom. From SJ''s height, it looked like a waterbomb had just exploded, leaving a wet, damp patch on the surface. SJ continued her descent, gliding as her speed continued to decrease until she got to a point and a speed at which she was able to begin using her wings. It was a much more successful fall than from the mage wind spell at the windmill. As she got control of her descent, the shock of the freefall and exploding creature subsided, looking around her. At the base of the cliff was the start of some grassland with sparsely dotted trees, and it reminded SJ of pictures she had seen of the savannas in Africa. The bit that amazed her was the huge expanse of sand that started not long after. It stretched off into the horizon. ¡°That¡¯s the next territory,¡± Dave said in what seemed to answer her thought. His responses seemed more adept at her thoughts than her having to speak. In the desert region, there are 10-20 base monsters initially. The far desert area increases to 20-30, and several nasty tribes live there. Eventually, it expands into a forest region of 30-40. There is a town, but it''s not on the map, and I am not sure which direction or how far it is from here.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t realise it was so close and how fast the territory areas change. It is like just crossing a line,¡± SJ replied, staring at the sudden environmental change. ¡°It¡¯s even worse between an Ice and Desert region,¡± Dave replied. SJ struggled to imagine an immediate transition from desert to ice. ¡°I better head back up, but I want to see if the Rock Gobbler has any loot first.¡± ¡°Possibly you sometimes get ore from them for the obvious reasons they eat so much.¡± SJ¡¯s display was triggered when the Rock Gobbler hit the ground, exploding into the glutinous mass covering the cliff''s base. The shared experience between the wolves had only given 25xp, which seemed ridiculous for such a long, difficult fight. The quest completion was a little nicer, though. Quest ¨C Save the mine - Complete The Rock Gobbler has been thwarted, and you have removed the threat to your hopeful future income. Rewards: 320xp +100% reputation bonus 640xp awarded Her improved reputation with Killic was a massive boost, but SJ had noticed the significant difference in experience needs between levels. To reach level 11 from 10, it had increased from requiring 1500xp to 2250xp, and from 11 to 12, she now needed a total of 3000xp. The reputation increases would really help going forward, with the increase for each level. She checked her new total out. Experience: 987 of 3000 Landing by the remains, as there wasn¡¯t much of a body left after the impact, she looted the Rock Gobbler. 6 x Armour Plates of the Rock Gobbler, 1 x Vial of Intestinal Acid ¡°Oooo. Be very careful with that vial. The contents can be sold for a nice price, but if you get it on you expect severe pain, when I said that acid is strong it is insanely strong. The Armour Plates are great for smithies with the knowledge to reshape them. I would advise seeing Zej. I don¡¯t know if he will be able to or not. Reshaping animal or insect armour is a specialist skill that not many smiths have,¡± Dave said. ¡°You said before that I can¡¯t wear armour as an assassin.¡± ¡°Yes. Until level 20, then you can wear leather and then at 40 chainmail.¡± ¡°What about animal skins or components?¡± SJ could sense Dave frowning when he responded. ¡°You do know where leather comes from don¡¯t you?¡± his reply dripped with sarcasm. ¡°Of course, but these plates are not leather. What do they constitute?¡± ¡°Erm¡­ I have no idea. No one has ever even considered that before. Their armour class is equivalent to decent scale mail, if not weak chain mail. Umm, I need to check be right back.¡± SJ began climbing back to the top of the cliff, and as she neared, she could see Cristy''s small, panic-stricken face looking down. As she headed towards the top of the cliff, Dave started chatting excitedly. ¡°It¡¯s unlisted.¡± ¡°What¡¯s unlisted?¡± ¡°The Armour Plates of the Rock Gobbler.¡± ¡°What does that mean?¡± SJ asked, frowning at his response. ¡°It means they are not identified as a type of armour, which theoretically means you could get away with wearing them. I am unsure what the System would do if or when it finds out, but there is nothing in the rules about using the armour plates. All standard animal hides, including the Crepar Chitinous plates, are listed, but these aren¡¯t.¡± ¡°I will need to get them to Zej and see if he can do anything with them.¡± ¡°Yes. Definitely,¡± Dave said, his voice buzzing with excitement. ¡°SJ,¡± Cristy called as she neared the top. ¡°I am ok,¡± SJ called back, reaching the top and landing. Tear streaks again were visible on her face. ¡°I thought you were dead,¡± Cristy said, throwing herself at her once she reached her full size. ¡°No. I am good. How is the injured wolf?¡± SJ said, looking over to where they were still standing by it. ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s good,¡± Cristy said tearfully as SJ felt her body slacken against her sagging. ¡°Let¡¯s go and see, we may be able to help,¡± SJ said as she hurried towards the wolves. The Black Wolf turned and growled as she approached but didn¡¯t step in her way as she knelt next to the injured Grey. The Gobbler''s claws had torn its side severely. ¡°We need a healer,¡± SJ said. ¡°Cristy, can you wait here with Patch? I will fly back to town.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Cristy replied, sitting by the grey¡¯s head, stroking it. The grey was whimpering quietly, and SJ wasn¡¯t sure how long it would survive. ¡°I will be back as soon as I can,¡± she said as she shrunk and took off. Raising above the treetops, she could see the town in the distance and headed straight towards it as fast as she could. ? ? Chapter 79 – Professional Opportunity Alice was the first person SJ had seen on returning to town, and she immediately followed her when she heard about the injured wolf. As a druid, she had the ability to heal animals, which SJ had not considered previously, only thinking of Clerics or Paladins, although it made perfect sense and aligned with games she had played on Earth. On returning to the Southern edge, the wolves had initially not taken kindly to Alice appearing, preventing her from getting near the grey. It was only after Cristy had interjected that they stepped aside. ¡°I have no influence over these wolves at all,¡± Alice said as she kneeled at the injured wolf¡¯s side. Looking at the wound, she placed her hand on the ground and her other hand on the wolf¡¯s head. Mesmerised, SJ watched as green tendrils of energy began to appear from the ground and snake towards the wolf. It was like watching surgery, the way the tendrils began to knit and repair the wound, sewing it back together. The wolf was almost dead when they arrived back, and when Alice finished healing, she took a small vial from her inventory, gently lifted the wolf''s head, and poured it into its mouth. Its eyes had become cloudy yellow, but they returned to their previous vibrancy as the liquid was absorbed. ¡°He should be ok now. He is lucky; another few minutes, and he wouldn¡¯t have made it,¡± Alice said. ¡°Thank you,¡± SJ said. ¡°What damaged it that badly?¡± ¡°A Rock Gobbler,¡± SJ said, turning and pointing at the hole in the ground where it had dug through. ¡°There was one so close to town?¡± Alice said in surprise. ¡°Yes. I had never seen one before.¡± ¡°They are a nuisance. We have had the odd one in the stone mine over the years. It is strange that it came to the surface, though. They usually remain underground all the time. How big was it?¡± ¡°About 4 feet high, level 13.¡± ¡°Level 13, and you managed to kill it?¡± ¡°I cheated a little. I made it jump off the cliff.¡± ¡°Wow. You are lucky.¡± ¡°Thankfully, the wolves helped,¡± SJ unable to say it had been Dave''s idea. Patch reacted to the comment and let out a howl. SJ turned and smiled at the Dire Wolf. ¡°You will be ok now,¡± Cristy said, stroking the recovering wolf on its head again. It licked her hand lovingly. ¡°I need to get back to town. I was supposed to be confirming some orders,¡± Alice said. ¡°We are heading back now as well and will accompany you. Thank you for your help,¡± SJ said. ¡°No problem.¡± Walking back to town, SJ chatted to Alice. It was the first time they had ever had a personal conversation, and it was interesting to find out exactly what Alice did for the Mayor. SJ knew she worked like a PA, but it was more than that. She was the town''s second, which SJ hadn¡¯t realised before. Once they arrived at town SJ said farewell and then escorted Cristy back to the orphanage. When they returned the wolves stopped at their den and hadn¡¯t moved closer to town. Since they had moved in by the town, there had been no incidents, and many had now even forgotten that they lived there, apart from the occasional howl that could be heard. ¡°Dave?¡± SJ said as she walked down the street past the open shop fronts and vendors calling for customs. After dropping Cristy back at the orphanage, she promised to visit again soon. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°You remember previously you mentioned portals? That was from level 10, wasn¡¯t it.¡± ¡°Oh. I had completely forgotten about them. Yes, from level ten, you can assign one. Why? What are you thinking?¡± ¡°I was thinking of adding one at the cottages and just wondered how you went about it. I have not seen any display announcements or similar that would give me the ability to.¡± ¡°No, they don¡¯t appear as an ability. You remember I mentioned that you required a deed to a property.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Well, the deed will have been updated to allow a portal to be placed at a specific location. Once it is, it will appear on your map.¡± ¡°So, the deed controls it?¡± ¡°Yes. If a deed is owned, the rights become visible if the property has been visited. You can¡¯t just borrow a deed from someone to remove the fog of war. If a deed changes hands, any portal present is removed so that a new owner may position one if they wish.¡± ¡°The deed is back in the Inn. I should go and collect it.¡± Returning to the Inn, SJ collected the deed before heading to see Fran. She really wanted to understand more about mana. Looking at the deed as she walked along, she read the information again. At the bottom was a small symbol on the parchment that had not been there previously. ¡°Is that the portal function?¡± SJ asked, pointing at the symbol. ¡°It¡¯s not a function. You don¡¯t press on it, and it magically works. Now that the symbol is present, it just means that it can add a portal at that location now that you have reached level 10.¡± ¡°How?¡± SJ was excited about creating her first portal and detoured to an open field area rather than going directly to the academy and sitting in the luscious grass. Now that she remembered it, she wanted to get this sorted. ¡°First thing. Open your navigation screen. Once you have opened the map, you will see the cottage''s position?¡± ¡°Yes. I can see it.¡± ¡°Zoom in on the cottage. Like most menus, it has three dots.¡± ¡°Yep. Got it,¡± SJ said, selecting it. ¡°Don¡¯t select it under any circumstances.¡± ¡°What?¡± SJ replied, panicking. ¡°I just did. Does that mean I have broken it?¡± ¡°No. Only joking, of course, you select it,¡± Dave chuckled. SJ rolled her eyes, ¡°Don¡¯t do that to me. I thought I had just stopped it from working.¡± ¡°Now, on your new menu, there should be an option to add a portal.¡± ¡°Yes. There is.¡± ¡°Now, you can decide where you wish it to be near the property. Keep zooming in closer, and then you can pick a location. It must be outside the building, within a radius of 200 feet.¡± By selecting the portal function on the cottage, a glowing ring appeared on the map. Zooming in, she could see the various areas around the cottage. Knowing where the open space was, she selected it. ¡°Amazing. So how do I activate it?¡± ¡°Now that the position is on your map, all you need to do is confirm that you wish for a portal to be placed there. Once you confirm it, the symbol changes to green.¡± SJ confirmed her selection, and the icon was changed to a green cross inside a circle. ¡°Ok. Done.¡± ¡°If you ever want to remove it, you can do the reverse and cancel its placement.¡± ¡°If I place a portal, is it one-way?¡± ¡°Unless you have a permanent residence where you can apply a soul stone, then yes, it will remain one-way.¡± ¡°What¡¯s a soul stone?¡± ¡°It will trap some of your life essence in a certain area and allow you to return to it as required. Mages can produce them if they are skilled enough. If you ask Fran when we see her, she may have the knowledge needed.¡± ¡°If it is just a stone, though, what if someone stole it?¡± ¡°They are called soul stones, but they aren¡¯t exactly stones. They are magical anomalies. Fran would be required to cast the spell, if she can, at the location where you wish it to be locked to.¡± ¡°There is something new to learn about every day.¡± ¡°There is,¡± Dave agreed. When she arrived at the academy, Fran was outside directing some of the trainees. She was currently overseeing what must have been an Earth Mage moving boulders from one location to another. ¡°Easy. Easy,¡± Fran said as she monitored the mage, slowly levitating and moving the large boulder. The mage¡¯s face looked strained, and he had beads of sweat on his brow. Eventually, he moved it to where it was needed and released it. It dropped to the ground with a thud, gasping at the exertion. ¡°Well done. You just need to keep practising so that you can lower it slowly. To assist with construction, you must be able to manipulate the materials with accuracy and care.¡± ¡°Hi, Fran,¡± SJ said, noticing she had finished talking. ¡°Hi,¡± Fran said, smiling on seeing her. ¡°We have some things I would like to discuss.¡± ¡°I came to see you about a few things as well,¡± SJ replied, returning her smile. Following Fran inside, they went to her office. ¡°Coffee?¡± ¡°Yes, please,¡± SJ replied. Fran poured two mugs and sat in one of the office''s comfy chairs. ¡°Would you like to start, or should I?¡± Fran said. ¡°You can,¡± SJ said. ¡°Firstly, Harietta believes she has identified the culprit for the messages which drew the Dark Elf.¡± ¡°Oh. Who is it?¡± If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. ¡°She believes it is a Kobold who works there.¡± ¡°A Kobold? I thought she had thought it was a Halfling originally?¡± ¡°She did but has since been back on several occasions, and it appears that the Halfling just has an infatuation with Fae and is just a general busybody wanting to know everyone¡¯s business. On the other hand, the Kobold is believed to work not just for Niweq, but Harietta believes he is also associated with Asterfal.¡± ¡°Why would he be associated with Asterfal and working at the Wandering Ogre?¡± ¡°I think Asterfal has had someone near Killic for some time monitoring and spying on the town. It does make sense, as many cities will monitor towns or have people keep an eye on them, and with what we recently achieved over our unwanted guests, it is likely to have already been fed back to whomever they report to. Even if not by them, the news will soon spread to Asterfal. It was no secret that the town had been suffering raids.¡± ¡°I heard that Asterfal has a new chancellor.¡± ¡°It does,¡± Fran nodded, pleased with SJ¡¯s knowledge. "He is also a member of the Kobold council. The suspected Kobold at the Wandering Ogre has only been in Killic for a few months, which ties in with the sudden changes.¡± ¡°But why would they have even mentioned or ever suspected you? How would they know about your history?¡± ¡°If he is a spy, they will have access to many of the reports that have been filed over the years. I have not always lived as clean and peacefully as I do now. Also, a Fae working in the vicinity of a town as I do is unusual. Having fought several Dark Elves previously can leave a mark and a trail, especially in the circles of power.¡± ¡°If we know who it is, can''t they be dealt with?¡± ¡°They could be. If they also work for the Asterfal chancellor and suddenly disappear, questions will be asked which may point our way depending upon who he has been discussing things with.¡± ¡°That is if they even know what they may have done. He could be working independently.¡± ¡°There is that chance. I know the Dark Elves have a reward on my head, and if he has the contacts, he could very well know that.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t mind me asking, how much is the reward?¡± ¡°The last time I was aware, it was 12 gold.¡± SJ whistled. ¡°Wow! That¡¯s a lot. I am not surprised that someone may report you.¡± ¡°Exactly. Now we have a plan, but it¡¯s something that will require your support.¡± ¡°What do you need me to do?¡± ¡°Kill him.¡± ¡°SORRY,¡± SJ gasped. ¡°If you kill him as a Legionnaire and are caught, it won¡¯t be as problematic. Whereas if I kill him, then suspicion will just grow, and my reputation will be tarnished.¡± ¡°But I am also Fae, and couldn¡¯t Harrietta do it for you?¡± ¡°Yes, you are, but you are a Fae Assassin who was hit on by a drunken Kobold that you took offence to and took your revenge on," Fran said, raising an eyebrow. She had been thinking of a way to dispose of him. "Unfortunately, Harietta is not able to kill directly. She can defend and support but not kill outright. Her alignment prevents her from doing so.¡± ¡°If I get known as an assassin who kills indiscriminately, that will damage my reputation and Fae''s.¡± ¡°Not with the town. You would have to do something severe to lose revered status. Such as kill the Mayor.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s never going to happen.¡± ¡°Also, the Wandering Ogre is outside the town¡¯s jurisdiction, which means it doesn¡¯t come under the town''s protective rights or laws.¡± ¡°I meant to ask the Mayor about that. If the borders change, would that not bring the Wandering Ogre into the town¡¯s jurisdiction?¡± ¡°Only if Niweq granted it. The Mayor can¡¯t just force it on him without his consent. He can increase the town¡¯s borders to surround it but not include it without his permission. Otherwise, people could just go around continually expanding borders until they controlled the whole of Amathera. Only rulers can instigate forced amendments to ownership. They only do this infrequently as it can cause severe backlash from affected parties if they suddenly find they are eligible for tax.¡± SJ knew all about taxes and how the system operated. She wondered if the same format was in play in Amathera for the rich over the poor or whether there was a more balanced view. She had already seen in the township that there was an unbalanced wealth and assumed that the same forces took place in Amathera. ¡°I assume there are allegiances, and taxes are paid as part of that?¡± ¡°Killic falls under the protection of Asterfal. However, we have not seen any support since the raids began. I think that has been an ongoing issue the Mayor was trying to address, and he had begun to withhold any tax payments.¡± ¡°Why would a town like Killic pay Asterfal anyway? What benefits do they present to the town?¡± ¡°I do not know the details. That is a conversation you would need to have with the Mayor.¡± ¡°In simple terms, then you wish me to dispose of this potential Kobold spy.¡± ¡°If you are able. Yes.¡± SJ¡¯s display triggered. Quest ¨C Find the reason for the attack ¨C complete The reason behind the Dark Elf attack has been confirmed to be a spy working in Niweq''s ranks at the Wandering Ogre. Rewards 350xp +100% bonus 700xp awarded Taking her to 1687 of 3000 experience to level 12. Quest ¨C Eye Spy Remove the threat of the eyes on Killic and prevent any further issues for Mistress Francisca. Rewards: 400xp ¡°Nice experience again,¡± Dave said. ¡°What else did you want to discuss with me?¡± SJ asked. ¡°You have been asked to join the town council.¡± ¡°I have. Why is there a problem?¡± ¡°It''s not a problem. If anything, it is an opportunity. You know our reputation and that many are untrusted due to their mischievous antics. The fact that you have already reached such a high esteem in the town and have the chance to be part of the council is a significant boost¡ªnot just for yourself but for our kind.¡± ¡°How can I, being a council member, have anything to do with the Fae race?¡± ¡°It won''t happen immediately, but I am sure you will begin to influence in time. You seem to have a knack for doing it even if you don¡¯t mean to.¡± ¡°So, you think I should accept the position then.¡± ¡°Yes. Absolutely, it is an honour and a privilege even to be considered. Many in the town would love to have the opportunity to join the council.¡± ¡°I will consider your thoughts. I still have not decided either way yet.¡± ¡°I would urge you to accept,¡± Fran said, smiling. ¡°Anyway, you said you wished to speak to me, too?¡± ¡°Yes. What can you tell me about portals and mana?¡± ¡°I can tell you everything I know. What specifically do you need to know?¡± ¡°I have just begun my level 5 profession skill, and I can¡¯t push mana into the material to allow for enchantment slots.¡± ¡°Ahh. That¡¯s because you are thinking about it.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Mana is all around us. You won¡¯t realise being a non-magic user, but in simple terms, everything we do affects mana and its distribution. It fluctuates constantly.¡± ¡°If it is all around us, why do mages suffer from mana exhaustion?¡± ¡°It is not just as easy as syphoning it. It is how you use it that counts. Mana regeneration is a tricky skill for a mage to master. It takes time and considerable effort to become good at it and increase your recharge rates outside of using mana potions.¡± ¡°So, how do I go about using the mana I have? I am not worried about recharging it as I am guessing it naturally does recharge?¡± ¡°It does, yes. The recharge rate is affected by your Intelligence and Wisdom attributes. To use your mana the way you wish. Firstly, you must understand what it is and how it affects everything. It is not just as simple as pushing it. It is more as though you accept that it is there and that it is part of the bigger picture that makes up Amathera. There are areas where the mana generation is much purer. The stone circle that we discussed previously is a prime example. The mana there is one of the purest forms I have ever known.¡± ¡°If I accept what mana is, then I can manipulate it?¡± SJ frowned. ¡°Basically, yes. It¡¯s the acceptance that is difficult for many to comprehend. Many a mage apprentice has failed at the first hurdle by not being able to open their minds up enough to accept its function in everything.¡± "I had heard it mentioned that mages struggle to meditate and manipulate mana effectively?" "It is not that they can''t manipulate it. It is just that they don''t use it like someone with a profession. For a mage, it is more about the speed of replenishment and the quantity they then use during a spell. It is not controlled like someone adding slots to an item. It is much more simplistic in its use once they can accept its presence and understand it. If you have enough mana, you can cast the spell. It isn''t like the time and patience needed to push it into an item. The closest mages normally get to using it in a similar way is through placing enchantments, but then again, it is still very basic in comparison." "Strangely, the use of mana by others who are not mages seems more complex, yet mages use it all the time." "Consider a fighter. They are usually very strong and have high constitution due to their preferred approach of fighting up close and the increased chance of damage. For a mage, we are similar. We have high Intelligence and Wisdom to accommodate recharge rates, increase our mana pools to cast more spells, and improve our abilities to cast higher level spells. As a basic profession, apart from enchanting, you don''t need a pool apart from that reached by level 10, so it is a more complex use of mana. Once mages accept it, it is our bread and butter." "I suppose that makes sense. Listening to what you have said, I just need to consider it the same as atoms.¡± ¡°Atoms?¡± ¡°Sorry. Atoms are the basic particles that make everything back to where I am from. Everything contains atoms, like what you are saying about mana.¡± ¡°I suppose it is a comparison. I have never heard of the term atoms before, though.¡± ¡°It is a science term.¡± ¡°Science?¡± Fran was frowning deeply now. ¡°It is hard to explain. Like there is magic in Amathera, where I come from, originally, everything was based around science. It is not as wonderful as magic but quite amazing.¡± ¡°I see. So, does this science help?¡± ¡°Yes. Very much so. It is the building blocks of most things, as you say mana is.¡± ¡°And do you accept these Atoms as existing in their entirety?¡± ¡°I do. I had not considered mana to be the same, though, and had been focussing on it being this, well, I don¡¯t know what exactly. Now you have explained it as you have. It does make a lot more sense.¡± ¡°Interesting,¡± Fran cupped her cheek, thinking. ¡°I wonder if what you know about science can be used here?¡± ¡°I am no scientist, unfortunately, and not an expert. I only know basic aspects.¡± ¡°That is a shame.¡± ¡°If I can focus on it being just particles rather than magic, I may be able to get this to work,¡± SJ said, smiling. ? ? Chapter 80 – Acquaintances After nearly an hour of attempting to use her mana again, SJ gave up with a frustrated scream. Fran chuckled, ¡°Don¡¯t be so disheartened. Even focusing on their skill, an apprentice mage can take days, if not weeks, to learn to manipulate mana as needed.¡± ¡°I know. I had been told it could take up to a year. I just want to progress in my profession, and this mana manipulation is preventing me from doing so,¡± SJ replied. ¡°I think you are still trying to force it to occur. Every time I watch you, your face begins to scrunch up. It must flow naturally. Here, watch my demonstration again,¡± Fran sat perfectly still and then slowly moved her hands in front of her. "Now, as I am channelling mana, I can still hold a conversation. I am not pushing it. I allow it to manipulate what I am doing as though it is a part of me.¡± SJ watched as the small ball of water formed on her hand as she spoke, slowly growing as more mana was fed into it. ¡°I know you can¡¯t see what I am doing exactly, but I am not forcing anything. I am just thinking about what I want to create, and it is doing it by itself as I cast a spell. It is a strange sensation. I suppose there must be things that you do without thinking about them, allowing your subconscious to control your actions. Like walking downstairs. Do you look at every step? Or do you know what to expect because you have walked down them previously? Try and do it naturally without thought.¡± SJ tilted her head as she listened to Fran¡¯s recital. It was an interesting way to consider it. Rather than focusing so heavily on pushing the mana, she needed to focus only on the result and allow her body to react as needed. ¡°One last attempt,¡± SJ said, taking a deep, calming breath as she centred herself again. Closing her eyes, she controlled her breathing and reopened them once she felt her body relax. Looking at Fran, she held the cloth in her hands and began to talk to her. ¡°I know you are an enchanter and wondered what enchantments you can provide?¡± she asked. ¡°Oh. There are several that I have available to me. I had been learning the Lightning Protection one after we discovered it helped against the hobgoblin mage, but since he is no more, I had switched to a mend enchantment.¡± ¡°I have that on my dress already. It is amazing.¡± ¡°Your dress is fabulous. I would love to know what the enchantment is that it has¡± ¡°It is called self-repair.¡± ¡°Ah. That is like mend but in an improved form. Mend repairs tears in clothing, whereas self-repair replaces burned or damaged items as if they were new again. I could not afford the spell for that.¡± ¡°Do you have any that are combat-focused?¡± ¡°I do have several that could be considered combat-focused but not offensive. I have only ever focused on defensive spells. That is one of the reasons we had been training so much to fight the Hobs.¡± ¡°That makes sense. I would¡­¡± Fran cut SJ off, ¡°There we go,¡± she said, smiling. ¡°What?¡± SJ said. ¡°Your mana.¡± SJ suddenly realised that her mana pool was slowly dropping. She shouted excitedly, immediately stopping its flow. ¡°Yes. It worked,¡± SJ said. SJ had not even thought about the process while talking to Fran, meaning the enhancement process had begun naturally. The only thing she now needed to try and do was complete it at will and focus on the speed at which she pushed her mana. Having no idea what the basis was that was needed was annoying. ¡°Your mana was flowing, yes. Now you have done it once, you should be able to trigger it again. I told you that you were trying to force it.¡± Her pool had dropped by seven. She had no idea how long it had been reducing because she had not paid attention to the flow. ¡°I need to be able to control the speed, though, as it feeds into the material from what I was told.¡± ¡°Yes. You can¡¯t just push the mana in, or it breaks the material''s capability. It is the same for all professions, smithing, etc.¡± ¡°I also was told that the quality matters?¡± ¡°Yes. Higher quality items are more susceptible to receive enchantment slots.¡± ¡°If an item has an enchantment slot, I assume it can be enchanted with anything?¡± ¡°No. Unfortunately not. The enchantments themselves are also dependent upon the material quality. The prime example is what we just discussed between the version of mend and self-repair. Self-repair must have a higher quality material for it to take.¡± ¡°I see. So, once an enchantment is placed on an item, it is permanent, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Yes. Until replaced.¡± ¡°You can replace them. That is good to know.¡± ¡°Replacing enchantments is a costly process, though, as there is always a possibility that it may damage the original item by removing the enchantment slot it was placed in.¡± ¡°Can the slots be replaced again?¡± ¡°They can. The problem again is the associated cost unless you are of the profession. You pay a premium for the facility. You have seen how difficult adding even one enhancement slot can be. If it lost one, a high-level item with four slots would require a high-level professional to replace it.¡± ¡°It is profitable then, once you become a higher level?¡± ¡°It can be. In larger cities, several individuals focus only on that part of their profession rather than producing items. As I say, they charge a premium, though.¡± ¡°I will just have to level myself then, so I don¡¯t need to pay for it,¡± SJ smiled. ¡°If you can, then that is the best approach.¡± ¡°I have another question before I leave today.¡± ¡°What did you need to know?¡± Fran asked. ¡°Can you make soul stones?¡± Fran raised her eyebrows in response, staring at SJ momentarily before responding. ¡°You can create a portal, can¡¯t you? Which means you are now at level 10. If so, why have you not yet jumped in a wagon to Asterfal?¡± ¡°I will be staying for a while. I am not sure what you have heard about the changes, but I don¡¯t need to leave straight away to be able to continue growing.¡± Although SJ trusted Fran, she didn¡¯t want to be talking about her level openly. ¡°I have not made a soul stone for many years. Amathereans do not get the ability to locate portals. Not without being part of a high council with specialist mages who can construct them. However, they are controlled by the capital and have restricted access to them, usually between specific locations only. The closest portal to here I am aware of is a city called Lisofill. It is a Dryad city in the east, over the far side of the mountains. There is no direct route from here without heading towards Asterfal first. Unless you wish to try and use the cave system heading south and then around the base of the mountain, which isn¡¯t advisable.¡± ¡°Could you make one then?¡± ¡°I could try and cast it. As I say, it has been years since I last performed the spell. Do you have everything you need for it?¡± ¡°Everything I need?¡± SJ asked, frowning. ¡°Yes. There are components to casting a soul stone. It is not just casting a spell. You need specific items. Firstly, and most importantly, you need a deed to a property.¡± ¡°I have that.¡± Fran raised her eyebrows again. ¡°Secondly, you require a trusted location to place the soul stone.¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t confirmed yet, but I do not see that being a problem.¡± ¡°Finally, you require to allow me to split your soul.¡± SJ gasped. ¡°Sorry?¡± ¡°That is what a soul stone is. You take part of the person''s soul to use as the essence gate for the portal. You can leave your portal where it is, but if you are after a soul stone spell, then you wish to be able to return through it, and the only way is by tying part of your soul to it.¡± ¡°Does it harm me in any way?¡± ¡°Not harm, no, but it does utilise your health.¡± ¡°My hit points are affected?¡± ¡°Yes. It will cost 5% of your total hit points for every portal you place. That is recalculated at 5% each time. It is 5% of your starting amount. If you have 100 hit points, you will have 95 available. Creating a second soul stone would remove another 5%, leaving you with 90. If your hit points then increase, the 5% still applies to your new total. That means it can affect your total significantly at higher Constitution levels.¡± ¡°How do city ones work then?¡± ¡°Direct city links are permanent portals that cities charge for their use, depending on where they are linked. If an individual wishes to create a soul stone to one, which they may do, they require authorisation from the portal''s owner or controller, and they have to have been confirmed through bonding prior. The politics start to get a little complex.¡± ¡°It is possible for Amathereans to have soul stone links to various portals then?¡± ¡°It is, but it is very expensive, and they are rare. The only ones I ever created previously were for the High Council members in the Fae capital.¡± If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°Well, I hope to have everything needed to allow one to be created soon. One final question. When you use a portal, is there a cooldown before you can reuse one?¡± ¡°Yes. After using any portal, you must wait at least eight hours. The strain it puts on your body is severe, and if you tried prior, you would likely never arrive at the other end and would just join the mana clouds in the sky,¡± Fran smiled. ¡°Thanks for all the information. It has been helpful. If it is okay with you, I will think about it and get back to you." ¡°Of course, just come and see me when you decide.¡± ¡°I should go now. I have taken too much of your time up already today.¡± ¡°It is fine. I enjoyed our conversations, and as I mentioned, please consider the mayor¡¯s offer to join the council. It would still require votes, but I believe you would have the backing with your recent accomplishments. Also, the Kobold needs to go,¡± Fran stated. ¡°I will think about it,¡± SJ frowned. She hadn¡¯t accepted the quest offer yet but was still considering what to do. To assassinate the Kobold would need careful planning if she were going to do it, and she wanted to investigate things before considering accepting it. Fran had seemed quite nonchalant concerning the task, but it was her future and the impact the action may have that concerned her. "The next meeting isn¡¯t for three days, so I have time,¡± SJ replied, standing. SJ suddenly glanced around the room. ¡°Where is Harietta?¡± ¡°She is still at the Wandering Ogre. She spends every day there and calls back in the evenings to update me on what she has discovered. I have been told some good old tales about clients who visit,¡± Fran grinned. ¡°Ha. I bet you have. Anything you would like to share?¡± SJ smirked. ¡°I will keep things anonymous for now, but when I see certain members of the town next, I may have to drop a subtle hint that I know something," Fran replied mischievously. SJ laughed at the thought of the potential poor husbands who may not wish to know what Fran was now privy to. ¡°I better had go, thanks again,¡± SJ said as she left Fran¡¯s office. As SJ returned to town, she began to muse over what to do. ¡°Dave?¡± ¡°Yep.¡± ¡°I have been thinking about the offers.¡± ¡°That¡¯s dangerous.¡± ¡°What is?¡± SJ frowned. ¡°Thinking,¡± Dave chuckled. Rolling her eyes, SJ continued, ¡°I have been trying to consider a way to interact with the Wandering Ogre without drawing unnecessary attention.¡± ¡°Go on.¡± ¡°Well, if the town expands its borders, Niweq will need to discuss the potential for the Wandering Ogre to come within its borders.¡± ¡°Or not. He could just reject the offer, of course.¡± ¡°I know, and I understand that, but I think it is an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone¡ªno pun intended.¡± ¡°But I like puns.¡± Sighing, SJ continued, ¡°If I were a member of the town council, and I mean if, and if I then suggested that I speak to Niweq on behalf of the town. I could potentially visit without drawing any attention to myself in doing so.¡± ¡°That is a very good idea. But to what aim? You can¡¯t just walk in there and kill a Kobold that works for him.¡± ¡°No. Although I may be able to meet them at least and start a conversation with them, ideally, I would want them away from the Wandering Ogre if I was going to do anything anyway. It would be too suspicious to kill them on the site.¡± ¡°You could always consider a more sinister plan.¡± ¡°More sinister than planning to kill someone?¡± ¡°Ok. Maybe not more sinister but more¡­,¡± he paused. ¡°What¡¯s the word to describe it? Creative plan.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that then?¡± ¡°Disposing of the Kobold does not necessarily have to be by your hand, does it? The quest doesn¡¯t mention anything about the actual method or requirement for death. It doesn¡¯t state you must assassinate the threat. It just states to remove the threat.¡± ¡°And how would you expect me to do that?¡± ¡°Your secondary class is subterfuge, and I know you don¡¯t have the skills open yet for various elements, but you could always try to persuade Niweq of the Kobold¡¯s reputation and remove him. Anyone getting removed from the Wandering Ogre will never be accepted in Killic, and news travels fast.¡± ¡°That would prevent having to kill someone when theoretically they may not be the right person. I know Harietta has observed them, but assassinating someone with no due consideration or confirming the facts myself feels a little off.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not Earth, remember. Assassins are always hired to remove targets or threats for many reasons. Jealousy, trade, etc., there is no one specific.¡± ¡°I will never kill targets without purpose, though. I have said that since the start.¡± ¡°I know, but if needs must, you may need to widen your narrow-minded thought process.¡± ¡°Narrow-minded?¡± SJ said, startled at his comment. ¡°Yes. You are restricting your development by only pursuing one specific angle with your chosen method of career progression.¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say that it is narrow-minded. It is moralistic, yes, but not narrow-minded.¡± ¡°However you view it, you have placed a restriction on yourself that no other assassin I have ever heard of has¡ªor in their right mind,¡± he coughed. ¡°Hey,¡± SJ bit. ¡°Would ever do,¡± Dave concluded. ¡°I won¡¯t just kill people for the sake of it unless they have done something wrong that deserves it. You know my feelings on this.¡± ¡°I know, and I appreciate them. I really do. I am just stating a fact.¡± SJ fumed over Dave¡¯s comment and didn¡¯t speak again until they had returned to her room. ¡°So, what are your thoughts outside of my narrow-minded, messed-up considerations,¡± she huffed. ¡°Like I say, I think the idea has potential. You would need to first speak to the Mayor and then consider some schmoozing.¡± ¡°Schmoozing who?¡± ¡°The town councillors. You said you don¡¯t know them, and if it is going to be a vote, you want to make sure there is enough support on your side.¡± SJ sat, considering his comments. ¡°That does make sense, although I am not sure how I can just walk up to many of these people and start talking to them without having something in common.¡± ¡°There you go then. There is your next mission. Find out about the members.¡± ¡°I suppose I can, not that two days is a great deal of time to get to know people.¡± ¡°No, but it¡¯s a start, at least.¡± ¡°I agree. Okay, it''s time to go and find out where they work when they''re not in the meetings, and I think I know the best person to ask.¡± SJ said, standing up with conviction. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Dave said enthusiastically. As the evening set in, SJ was returning to the Inn. ¡°Well, that wasn¡¯t too bad a day, after all? You have started to make some good inroads with several of them,¡± Dave said. ¡°I still have many more to find and speak to tomorrow, and I also need to speak to the Mayor.¡± ¡°The Ent made me laugh when you visited him,¡± Dave chuckled. When SJ left her room, she went downstairs to speak to Kerys, the fountain of local knowledge. Kerys had been more than happy to share details about the various council members, even giving her some pre-warning over some of their foibles. She had learned that there were 25 town council members, which was more than she had realised, never seeing them all present at once in the chamber. SJ had discovered that the Ent was a butcher when he wasn¡¯t representing his kind within the town, and she had visited him in his shop. As soon as she walked in, he approached her and busied himself around her, asking how she was and what he could do for her. His name was Earleqious, and he had been the Ent¡¯s council member for over a century. Long before the Mayor even came to the town. He had started telling her about the stories of Killic¡¯s growth and troubles he had witnessed, being a fountain of knowledge. He stopped talking only when a customer walked in and continued as soon as they left. The strangest thing was seeing him work. With four arms, he was a dab hand at butchering and could work wonders with his knives, using two at once. SJ stared in amazement as he chopped and stripped the carcasses of several Hoglings while she was there. She was also privy to a delivery of fresh Hoglings from one of the hunting parties and watched the interactions. There were two butchers in the town, and he had a rivalry with the other and would pay extra to ensure he got the best carcasses. It wasn¡¯t just Hoglings that he butchered, although they seemed to be a staple diet of most townsfolk. There were all different cuts of meat from various creatures, many SJ didn¡¯t recognise, and several fowl strung up by their feet hanging from the bars lining the shop ceiling. He had even tried to get her to have a go and butcher one of the Hoglings, which she had kindly refused. ¡°I don¡¯t think you will have a problem getting his vote.¡± ¡°He was nice, but he just doesn¡¯t stop talking.¡± She had also visited one of the gnomes and elven representatives and was starting to build up a picture of their relationships. Over the next two days, she planned on visiting the human, dryad, dwarven, gnoll, kobold, ratkin, draconian, orc and bugbear council members. She wanted to try to speak to at least one of each party since each race appeared to have two members. The only races she knew of that didn¡¯t have permanent representatives were the trolls, lycanthropes, halflings, quarterlings, and undead. As the presiding mayor was a Lycanthrope, they only held one vote. That meant there was always an odd number of votes, and they could never be deadlocked. SJ had originally thought that Alice was one of the Dryad council members but had come to learn that she was just the deputy Mayor and held no voting power, although she did have Mayoral authority. The complexity of the politics just in a town this size was substantial. Considering what it may be like within a large city was mind-numbing. Her work would be cut out getting around them all, especially if any of them talked as much as Earleqious had. She took out her notebook and pencil and made notes about each she met. The elven representative she had spoken to had been the most off with her, not wishing to talk outside of just passing initial pleasantries. She had felt quite uncomfortable and ended up leaving after a short period of time. The gnome had been much friendlier and spoken openly but had been too busy to chat for long. ¡°If they added me to the council, I wonder what position I should take?¡± ¡°What do you mean position?¡± ¡°All the members, from what Kerys stated earlier, are not just racial representatives but also hold specific roles within the council. It Is not as if I can just join and say ¡®Hey, I am an assassin, I can kill whoever you wish¡¯ is it.¡± ¡°Well, you could do that, but you are not skilled enough yet to sell your profession.¡± ¡°I was being sarcastic,¡± SJ replied, shaking her head. ¡°Really!¡± Dave replied, his voice dripping in sarcasm. ¡°Ok. It''s time for food and an early night. I have a lot of people to see tomorrow,¡± SJ said.? Chapter 81 – Proposal ¡°I have told you before that I will not put up with those excuses,¡± Zigferd bellowed as SJ reached the top of the stairs leading to his office. A Bugbear came hurrying past, nearly bowling her over. ¡°Yes, Mayor,¡± it called, not slowing as it headed downstairs. SJ walked over to the mayor¡¯s office, where Zigferd sat at his desk, holding his head in his hands and mumbling to himself. ¡°Zigferd. Are you ok?¡± SJ asked, concerned, before she even reached his door. Looking up, the Mayor saw SJ and smiled. ¡°I''m Sorry, SJ. This is just some bad news again.¡± ¡°Anything that I can help with?¡± SJ asked. ¡°Unless you can find the funds to repair the bridge to the dock, then no.¡± ¡°What?¡± How has the bridge been damaged?¡± SJ had crossed the bridge on several occasions, and it was a solid structure. ¡°Some idiot decided to try and shift a whole wagon of stone over in one go for a new storehouse being built. Trying to save on costs, the load was too heavy for the structure. The bridge collapsed, and the wagon sank, dragging the horses in with it.¡± ¡°The horses got drowned?¡± SJ said, shocked. ¡°No. Thankfully, the driver jumped in and cut the reins, allowing them to swim to the shoreline. The problem is that it needs repairing as a matter of urgency, and this month, the funds are already low after the compensation from the battle.¡± ¡°Can you not get it repaired and then pay afterwards? I am sure the town members realise the importance of the docks?¡± ¡°They do, and they would. The problem is that we have been eating into the town¡¯s reserves for months. With no new income and without the Mithril mine being operational, we have no spare funds currently.¡± ¡°Is there no way of increasing the town''s income? Is there nothing that you can export to surrounding towns or villages? I am not sure what is around here geographically.¡± ¡°Several smaller towns and villages exist, but many feel the pinch themselves. The new chancellor at Asterfal has increased the taxes on everyone since he took over. Focusing on Asterfal only by all accounts. I haven¡¯t paid over the past two months and have been issued a writ for monies owed.¡± ¡°How can you be paying Asterfal? They didn¡¯t even help with the Hobs.¡± ¡°They did initially. They funded the increase in the guard force when the Hobs first showed up. That is all they did, though, so after we recruited more guards, they cut any more coin or failed to provide any other support. This now means that we have a larger guard than we need. Although considering expansion in the future, we will need an even larger guard eventually, especially with the open avenues across the territories.¡± ¡°You are in a catch twenty-two then.¡± ¡°Sorry?¡± Zigferd replied, scrunching his face in confusion. ¡°It is a term from where I am from. You need growth, but you can¡¯t afford it, and without growth, you will eventually suffer. So, you can¡¯t do right for doing wrong.¡± ¡°Basically, yes. The council are split on how to proceed. I have suggested increasing town taxes, but that reduces the viable funding within the town itself.¡± ¡°I had started to think that, in many ways, the town was self-sufficient financially.¡± ¡°It is. Our exports are limited. Mining and fishing are our main income streams, but these are limited due to the surrounding areas not having the coin themselves with the amended taxation." ¡°Anyway, that is enough about my problems. What can I do for you?¡± SJ stood silently for a moment. " If I am voted in, I will provisionally accept your invitation to the council.¡± ¡°That is fantastic news, but why provisionally?" Zigferd replied. ¡°I have a few questions, though, and need to understand some things.¡± ¡°Of course. What would you like to ask?¡± ¡°Voting. I am aware there are currently 25 members, including yourself. If I joined the council, there would be 26 members. That could potentially mean split votes in the future. I would like to propose that you also invite Fran to the council. That way, we have two racial representatives like the other races, and voting would remain freely abled.¡± Zigferd raised his eyebrow, considering what SJ had said before he replied, ¡°I could offer Mistress Francisca a position, but I doubt she would take it. She has never shown interest outside of general support for the town; by that, I mean in relation to the council.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t ask, you will never know.¡± ¡°That is true, and I will take it as an idea. There is another option to consider.¡± ¡°What is that?¡± ¡°If you are voted in, which I am sure you will be, I suggest you join as a non-voting member. That way, it remains the same, and you can be impartial over future decisions. It also means that you will not be tied up in as many meetings or problems that require discussion, as I know you will still have your growth to focus on.¡± ¡°That sounds like a great option,¡± Dave said. Considering his comments, SJ had to agree. Being a council member without the restrictions around voting would be more of an advisory function, which sounded more suited to her. ¡°I like the non-voting option.¡± ¡°If you agree, it will be added to the proposal before voting. I am sure it will only support your case further if anyone is against it.¡± SJ was nervous because the decision over her joining the council would be based on a vote of confidence. ¡°I have met with most of the council''s race representatives, and most were quite amenable. The only one who seemed to have any major problems when I went to see them was Orik.¡± ¡°Hahahahaha. Orik likes you. You have no problem with Orik¡¯s vote.¡± ¡°Really? That is not the impression I get,¡± SJ replied, shocked. ¡°Once you know Orik, you will realise that the grumpier he is towards you, the more you are in his favour. He has always been the same in his relationships and interactions with others. He holds Shelly in such high regard but will never tell her to her face.¡± ¡°Has anyone ever mentioned it to her? She has a real issue with him.¡± ¡°I am not sure, but it also does no harm to Orik as he normally gets what he needs to do from the dwarven community without any arguments. I can virtually always guarantee his support.¡± ¡°Talking about the mines, I need to see how they have progressed.¡± ¡°Very well. The infrastructure is nearly complete. From the last report I received, they were finishing building the rails to bring the ore to the ridge from the entrance.¡± ¡°When do you think that they will commence mining and smelting?¡± ¡°Mining is hoped to commence within the week. Smelting is something else entirely. Nevik arrived the other day and is currently discussing the smelter''s location. He wants it close to the mine, which means we will have to clear some of the forest, but we don¡¯t want it too close to the edge advertising that a smelter has suddenly appeared, drawing unnecessary attention.¡± ¡°Will that matter if the wall gets built in the valley?¡± ¡°No. Long term, it won¡¯t, but we can¡¯t build the wall until we start making money. Selling raw Mithril ore is just not as profitable as selling smelted ore. We also need to find a way to get it to market.¡± ¡°I am not sure, but I may know about that. I can¡¯t guarantee it yet, but there is a possibility that I know someone who could help. If they can help, I expect them to want a cut.¡± ¡°If you know anyone, please speak to them and let me know. I am willing to offer a percentage cut of profit if we can get the materials onto the market safely and securely. I must add, without drawing attention to the town. I could go to the dwarven miner''s guilds, who I am sure would snap my hand off to be involved, but then it would become general news, and that¡¯s when we are likely to start seeing issues from people coming here. Ideally, I would like it to remain unnoticed for as long as possible.¡± ¡°Are you not concerned about people in the town talking about it?¡± SJ asked. ¡°No. All those aware are sworn under the Oath to secrecy regarding town matters. They couldn¡¯t openly discuss it unless they wished to break their Oath, and if they did, then more fool them.¡± The consideration of Oath¡¯s intrigued SJ more than anything else now. ¡°If I join the council, I assume I must take an Oath?¡± ¡°You would be asked to be a standard part of the enrolment ceremony.¡± ¡°Okay. I will speak to them and see what they think about whether they can help or not, and I will let you know. I was also unaware of the Oath need until you mentioned it, so it is something else to consider.¡± ¡°I am sorry. I didn¡¯t even consider it. It is part of the standard working of any town.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine, but let me consider it a little first. As things stand, I am willing to accept the position, with the caveat while considering the Oath requirement.¡± ¡°That is understood. Thank you for coming to see me, and I hope it won¡¯t prevent your consideration. I believe you have much to bring to Killic over the years.¡± SJ reeled a little at the comment. She had never even considered the term years. ¡°No problem. Thanks for your time. I will let you know if I can think of anything to help with the finances. I am a dab hand at working with numbers.¡± Leaving the barracks, SJ had ideas running through her mind. ¡°You have that look on your face again,¡± Dave said. ¡°Which look?¡± ¡°The one where you are thinking. Either that or you have constipation.¡± SJ snorted, getting a strange look from a female orc walking with her child. ¡°Sorry. I just remembered a joke.¡± She said, smiling at the scowling face. ¡°Don¡¯t make me laugh,¡± she whispered. ¡°So, what are you thinking?¡± ¡°I think we both know someone who may or may not be able to help.¡± ¡°Fizzlewick?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a consideration, I suppose, but I am unsure how the System would react.¡± ¡°Did you not say he has been an advisor in a capital of all places.¡± ¡°Well, yes, he has. I am unsure whether he will be allowed to get involved at this level.¡± This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. ¡°What does the level matter? If he had helped a capital before, why could he not have helped a town? He even said to himself that he was enjoying it here. I also want to let him know I have more of an idea about my mana now.¡± SJ had been practising her mana use again, and she had managed to trigger it several times, but she wanted to confirm the speed and details to create the slots now. Reaching the tailors, she burst into the shop enthusiastically, throwing the door open a little too quickly and losing a grip on the handle. The door flew inwards and collided with one of the mannequins that displayed some of the clothes, sending it flying across the shop floor. The three customers standing inside turned around at the crashing door and dummy. ¡°Sorry,¡± SJ said sheepishly, feeling her cheeks get very hot. She bent over, picked the mannequin up, and placed it back where it should have been. The customers turned back to the counter, and SJ glanced, seeing the quizzical look of the Quarterling looking from around the side of the counter. SJ made herself busy browsing the clothes on display and even picked up a couple of items she liked the look of. She didn¡¯t need to wear her dress all the time and thought it was about time to upgrade her wardrobe. As Fizzlewick finished serving the last customer, she waited patiently in line. As soon as they were gone, he locked the door and flicked the closed sign, closing the shutters. ¡°What has brought you here in such a hurry and so excited?¡± he asked as he changed to his human form. ¡°Two things. Firstly, I have managed to start controlling my mana.¡± ¡°That is very fast. You continue to impress me, and what else?¡± ¡°I need to ask you a specific question about whether or not you are willing to help.¡± The God raised an eyebrow and half smirked. ¡°I''m ''Willing'' to help. I see. Unless you let me know what you are wondering about, I can¡¯t confirm either way.¡± ¡°Ok. The second question is first, then. You are aware of the Mithril mine?¡± ¡°Of course, yes.¡± ¡°The town is looking to smelt and sell the ore.¡± ¡°Understandable, smelting will get a better price.¡± ¡°They don¡¯t want to appear as a seller on the market suddenly, and I was wondering if you had any ideas or thoughts on how it may be achieved?¡± Fizzlewick continued to smirk. ¡°You are asking if I can help?¡± ¡°Well, not directly, but yes. Would you be able to help at all?¡± ¡°As for help, what exactly did you have in mind?¡± ¡°Dave told me you have been an advisor for a capital before.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Fizzlewick replied, smirking. It was a strange expression to see on the God''s face, and there must be an underlying reason for his facial response. ¡°Would you be able to advise and support the town?¡± ¡°And how would I be doing this?" Fizzlewick leaned back against the countertop, resting his elbow as he casually looked at SJ. SJ could feel her nerves tingling as she asked a God whether he could help, but it was strange how she saw him, because even though he was a God, he always seemed more like a grandfatherly figure. ¡°If Killic suddenly went to market selling Mithril, it would draw a huge amount of unwanted attention and questions. Is there anything you could do to assist in the distribution of the Mithril that would not draw the attention of the rest of the continent towards Killic? I am aware of the territory restrictions normally imposed on Mithril, and if they did go to market, it would very likely draw the wrong kind of attention.¡± ¡°I see. Well, then, let me consider the question. You are asking if I can somehow influence the distribution of the Mithril into the market without people knowing where it came from?¡± ¡°Basically, yes.¡± ¡°If I were to undertake such an activity, how would this transactional process benefit me? I am a God and do not require Amatheran possessions after all.¡± ¡°What would you wish for if you could in any way support the distribution of the Mithril?¡± ¡°Now, that is a tricky question. There is nothing I need, although the proposition to be involved in the town''s influence as this new approach is taken is quite intriguing.¡± ¡°New approach?¡± ¡°We are aware of the boundaries and the adjustments just like you are. We were conferred with before they were implemented. That is one of the exciting aspects of your involvement in them and your status.¡± SJ opened her eyes wide. ¡°So, you know about the sandbox?¡± ¡°I am not sure what a sandbox is, but I know enough. Unfortunately, I cannot say what I know. Suffice to say that things are only just getting started,¡± he smiled. ¡°So, could you help?¡± ¡°I may be in a position to provide some guidance and influence regarding the distribution of Mithril, yes.¡± ¡°That is amazing,¡± SJ said excitedly. ¡°But...¡± Fizzlewick said, pausing. ¡°But what?¡± SJ asked, her excitement disappearing immediately. ¡°But I would like to meet with the Mayor in person. Although I have seen him, I have never met the man, and I would like to fully understand who I will be working with. I know that you trust him, and they trust you, as your reputation shows. It doesn¡¯t mean that I trust him, though.¡± ¡°You want to meet him as yourself?¡± SJ was shocked by the request. ¡°I said in person. I never said as who or what,¡± Fizzlewick smiled. ¡°Can you not already tell what he is like?¡± SJ asked. ¡°If you mean, can I get involved and see what is happening? Well, yes, if I wished to, I could. I like to be able to look a being in their eyes when I talk business. I don¡¯t bother getting involved with the day-to-day lives of most, as their choices are their own. I have my followers that I need to look after and consider before the normal population of Amathera. You would be amazed at the number of prayers I receive each day to help with specific tasks for tailoring.¡± The thought of the thousands of prayers that a God may receive daily was mind-blowing. ¡°How do you do it?¡± ¡°Do what?¡± ¡°Answer all the prayers.¡± ¡°Oh. Well, it is a little complex to explain but every prayer received carries a rating via the System, the higher the rating the more influence the individual is using therefore the more astral essence that I am given. This astral essence is then used as part of supporting the wider tailoring profession. The intricacies and details are a little complex, but overall, as long as input remains higher than output, then the coffers stay full, and influence remains. It is a continual function of a God. One of my siblings once didn¡¯t bother responding to any of his prayers, and he soon came unstuck. His astral pool shrunk, and he was left high and dry. After that, it took him a long time to regain his astral pool.¡± ¡°It sounds more like a business than anything else.¡± ¡°I suppose it is when you consider it.¡± ¡°I thought you gained your essence from items that are made?¡± ¡°The majority of my essence does come from item creation. Although I do still receive prayers as well.¡± It was mind-boggling to consider that the Gods worked on a transactional level over prayer receipts. ¡°When would you be able to meet the Mayor?¡± ¡°I can be free whenever needed.¡± ¡°I am confused about how you will present yourself to him.¡± ¡°It won¡¯t be as you see me now.¡± SJ felt nervous about introducing Zigferd to Fizzlewick. ¡°What name would you go by? I can¡¯t just say Fizzlewick, as he may know of your past, and I can¡¯t use Haber, your true name.¡± ¡°Umm. I think I will use my Elven form. He uses the name Nexis. Would you like to see him?¡± ¡°Yes, please,¡± SJ said. It was amazing seeing God change forms so easily. Fizzlewick''s facial features began to change in moments, and his body shape adjusted, growing in height by several inches. Once he had finished transforming, the Elf that stood before her was a being of beauty. He looked perfect, standing almost six feet tall, with finely sculptured olive skin and vibrant green eyes. SJ gasped in amazement, taken aback by the transformation. ¡°Is there anything you can¡¯t transform into?¡± The voice that responded was different and now held a musical lilt. ¡°Unfortunately, I am restricted to bipedal forms. Becoming a Dragon would have been great, but we can¡¯t.¡± ¡°You look stunning,¡± SJ said, unable to take her eyes off him. He was wearing a beautifully cut outfit that clung to his frame, accentuating his athletic appearance, and SJ could imagine him being the star model at a Paris fashion week. ¡°Why thank you,¡± Fizzlewick replied, smiling. His smile added another layer to his beauty. ¡°You may be a little intimidating.¡± ¡°What makes you think that?¡± he asked quizzically. ¡°You look like a perfect specimen.¡± SJ thought the Charisma of this persona must be nearly one hundred, if not higher. ¡°This form does have its benefits, and I usually use it for negotiations,¡± he smiled. ¡°I am sure it does,¡± SJ said, feeling a little star-struck looking at him. Her stomach was in knots. She remembered feeling the same way when she had been to watch her favourite band in concert as a teenager when one of them had looked at her during their performance. ¡°I will speak to the Mayor and arrange the best time. There is a council meeting tomorrow, so it won¡¯t be until after that.¡± ¡°Ah. Yes. The votes.¡± ¡°You know about them?¡± ¡°I know most things. Just because I have not been to or met many of these people in person doesn¡¯t mean I don¡¯t know what is happening where I am currently choosing to reside.¡± Reeling from the transformation and the God''s cryptic undertone, SJ remembered why she had come to visit him again. ¡°Before I forget again. What speed do I need to push mana for the enhancement slots?¡± ¡°Ideally it will be a natural speed, it can vary for everyone, but never forced or held back. Unfortunately, that is the only advice I can give. There is no right or wrong. It is what your body decides is best when in a meditative state, and the only way you will know is when you can achieve the result. Then, it is the case of repeating it as you need to, which is where the challenge comes in. Many have managed it once or twice but then struggled again, so give up on slot enhancements. That is why those that are skilled can make themselves very wealthy.¡± What he said was tied to the information that Fran had given him. ¡°I will keep trying then and hope that it works. Also, I was practising on a cloth bundle. I wanted to ask as I am a little uncertain, but when creating a slot, should I not be practising on a completed item?¡± ¡°No. For practice, there is no point. If you fail to enhance an item, you can reduce its quality. On a raw material, it doesn¡¯t affect it.¡± ¡°Can I then use the material to make something, and it gets the slot when made?¡± ¡°No. That would be great if you could because then you would never have the issue of failing against an item, but unfortunately, again, it¡¯s not allowed. Once you use the material, it loses anything added to it.¡± ¡°Can I practice on the same cloth bundle multiple times?¡± ¡°Yes. As a raw material, it can be enhanced as much as you wish with no restrictions, as it holds no benefit and could never actually take an enchantment.¡± ¡°I see. That is useful to know. I had better go now, but thank you so much for agreeing to meet the mayor. I will let you know when it can be arranged.¡± ¡°No problem at all. It has been a pleasure, as always, SJ. Keep up the good work. I see a bright future in you,¡± Nexis smiled. ¡°If I got additional data storage, every time you are involved in something I have not witnessed before in Amathera, I would soon have more storage than the System,¡± Dave said in amazement as SJ returned to the Inn. SJ smiled at his comment. She whispered, ¡°I need to consider how to arrange the meeting. I can¡¯t just have him suddenly arrive without any prior warning. It would be strange if someone looking like Nexis suddenly appeared in the town and no one had seen him before.¡± ¡°That is a very good point. Although do you know and see everyone in the town?¡± ¡°Not daily, no, of course not, but an Elf with his looks would have been noticed, believe me.¡± ¡°Really? I thought he was a little mediocre.¡± ¡°Mediocre? Are you kidding me? He was beautiful.¡± ¡°Have you fallen for your deity?¡± Dave asked sarcastically. SJ could feel her cheeks heating up. ¡°No, I don¡¯t mean it that way,¡± she replied, flustered. ¡°Sure, sure. I believe you,¡± Dave said, chuckling.? ? Chapter 82 – Votes count The next morning, SJ got up early feeling very nervous about what was expected to be undertaken. The council meeting was set for 10:00, and her stomach was tied in knots. She had struggled to fall asleep the previous evening with the turmoil going through her mind. She had never even expected to be in this position, and initially, although astounded by the offer, it had not felt real. Now that it was about to happen, it was entirely different. ¡°How are you this morning?¡± Dave asked. ¡°Nervous,¡± SJ replied as she stood looking in her mirror, straightening her dress and fiddling with her choker. ¡°Why? You have nothing to be nervous about.¡± ¡°Nothing. Are you kidding me? They will vote today whether they want me as part of the council.¡± ¡°And?¡± ¡°And? What do you think? I never expected it to happen.¡± ¡°Meh. It doesn¡¯t affect you either way. If they wish you to be part of it, all is well and good. If not, you just continue as a normal Legionnaire would, causing mayhem and chaos.¡± SJ sighed, ¡°A little moral support wouldn¡¯t go amiss.¡± ¡°I do support you. If they don¡¯t accept you as a member, they are making a stupid mistake, but that is what it is. You can¡¯t change fate. Look at you. You got squished by a tree.¡± ¡°I am not sure I class it as fate.¡± ¡°What would you class it as then?¡± ¡°Judgement.¡± ¡°No one is judging you, though, are they?¡± ¡°Of course they are. They are voting whether or not they believe I am good enough to join the council, even as a non-voting member.¡± ¡°But it isn¡¯t you, is it? The real you, I mean. It is only the persona you have shown so far.¡± ¡°What is that supposed to mean?¡± ¡°Have you been truthful to yourself?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± SJ¡¯s brow furrowed at his comment. ¡°Really truthful?¡± ¡°Yes. Always since I arrived.¡± ¡°Ok. Then they are judging you,¡± Dave replied cheerily. ¡°Urgh. How to calm a girl down.¡± ¡°Sorry. I was being agreeable.¡± ¡°Sometimes, it is much better to be less agreeable and more diplomatic in your replies.¡± ¡°I will consider that for next time. I am a little excited myself, though. The last time I had a Legionnaire in any position of authority was in a guild, and I have never been involved in a township or city before. It will open a new world of interesting things as time progresses.¡± The realisation of what she was potentially getting involved with was not unknown to her, and she could feel panic rising in her chest as she stood there. ¡°Why do I feel as though I need a drink?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know why, do you?¡± Dave replied. ¡°Again, not helpful.¡± ¡°Sorry. I just want to see you succeed and do what is best for you,¡± Dave said sincerely. SJ paused, staring at herself in the mirror. Sometimes, she wished she could see Dave. Looking into her own eyes, she replied, ¡°Thank you.¡± Downstairs, the Inn had the usual morning crowd for breakfast. Since including mushrooms, it has become more popular, and SJ mentioned to Floretta that adding tomatoes and baked beans would be beneficial. Floretta had been completely thrown by the term baked beans, and SJ had had to have a long conversation about what they were. Floretta was unsure they had anything similar but said she would consider the additions. She liked the sound of adding fried tomatoes, though. Sitting at a table after ordering breakfast, SJ was drinking a coffee when the Inn door came flying open. Everyone turned to stare at whoever had just entered. A cloaked figure came striding into the Inn. The cloak was pale purple, and the clothes the being wore looked pristine. The figure walked straight to the bar before removing his hood. SJ nearly fell out of her seat when she saw Nexis standing there. ¡°Good morning. Could I please have breakfast and a glass of honey wine?¡± he asked in his melodic voice. The whole Inn stared at him, and Fhyliss, who was working behind the bar, stammered a reply: ¡°O.o..of course.¡± ¡°Thank you. I will be sitting with the young Fae over there,¡± Nexis replied, turning and pointing to SJ. If she hadn¡¯t been flustered before, she was now, as Nexis, Fizzlewick, or Haber walked over and sat at the table with her. ¡°Morning,¡± he said, smiling broadly. SJ had frozen with a fork full of food halfway to her mouth, and snapping out of her trance, she quickly put it down. ¡°Morning,¡± she replied, her eyes like saucers. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± she whispered. All the eyes in the Inn were still on her and the elf. ¡°I thought it best to be seen in town if I am meeting the Mayor soon. I didn¡¯t want to be a stranger.¡± ¡°Did you listen into a conversation I had with Dave?¡± she questioned. ¡°Whatever would give you that idea?¡± he replied, grinning. ¡°I have the meeting this morning. So I am not available.¡± ¡°I am well aware. I thought I would just wish you good luck, that is all.¡± ¡°How can I explain that you arrived soon after discussing the issue? It takes days to reach Asterfal.¡± ¡°Here,¡± Nexis replied, placing his hand in his pocket and removing a small flat gem. It was opaque, and SJ frowned. ¡°What is that?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a messenger stone. It allows parties who hold linked stones the ability to communicate.¡± ¡°Oh!¡± SJ exclaimed, shocked at the information and ability to communicate over a long distance. She had thought it must be possible, having experienced and listened to previous conversations in the Inn, but had never had any confirmation or considered it further, not having the need personally. ¡°How do I use it?¡± ¡°You can¡¯t. It is fake but will give you the cover you need if anyone asks how I arrived in such a timely manner.¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± SJ replied, pocketing the small stone. Fhyliss came rushing over, almost tripping as she delivered the plate of steaming food to him and carrying a large glass of honey wine. ¡°Here you go, sir,¡± she said. ¡°Please don¡¯t call me, sir. My name is Nexis, and I am a friend of SJ¡¯s. She has said very good things about you,¡± Nexis replied. The charm oozing off him was palpable, and SJ saw Fhyliss physically shudder. SJ glanced around the room, and most eyes were still fixed, looking at Nexis. ¡°Thank you. That¡¯s so kind of you, SJ,¡± Fhyliss said shyly, smiling at her. ¡°And what about your wonderful mother as well? Kerys, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Yes. She is sleeping now. She will be working this afternoon,¡± Fhyliss stammered. ¡°Excellent. While visiting town, I could also do with a room. Do you have any space currently?¡± SJ knew that a wagon had arrived from Asterfal first thing, and several new patrons had arrived at the Inn. ¡°We have a room left, but it isn¡¯t very special. It¡¯s more of a store cupboard than a room.¡± ¡°As long as it has a bed where I can rest my head, that is all that matters.¡± ¡°Of course, I will get the key for you. Nexis, wasn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Yes, my dear, Nexis. Thank you,¡± he said, turning to look back at SJ. Fhyliss stumbled back away from the table. SJ, glancing, saw a female Dryad grab her arm as she went past, whispering to her. News of his arrival was going to travel fast. Nexis removed a small, beautifully crafted knife from a sheath on his belt and began to eat the food. He picked up one of the plump, juicy, fried delicacies of a mushroom and placed it in his mouth. ¡°Ummm. Delicious.¡± SJ managed to close her mouth, which had hung open again and picked up her fork. After eating another couple of mouthfuls of food, she looked back over at the God. He was paying no attention to anything around him, focused purely on the plate of food in front of him. ¡°Did you have to make such a scene?¡± SJ whispered towards him. ¡°If I am going to play my part as an auction trader, then I have a part to play,¡± he replied, smiling. ¡°So, you have decided how you will do it?¡± Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Oh. Yes. I will explain the details fully when we meet with the Mayor, and I have had a chance to see into his eyes.¡± SJ gulped at the thought of Nexis meeting the towering and imposing form of Zigferd. ¡°What about the shop?¡± ¡°It is in good hands, don¡¯t worry,¡± he replied, smiling. ¡°But how when you are here?¡± ¡°I can multitask, you know.¡± SJ knew she was in an alternate reality already, but it now seemed like she had entered an entirely new one. She sat in silence for the remainder of her breakfast. When she had finished, she asked for another coffee, which Fhyliss brought over, shaking still. She poured her a cup, nearly sloshing it everywhere. Nexis just sat and smiled at her. ¡°Please thank the cook for me. The food was delightful,¡± Nexis said. ¡°I will,¡± Fhyliss replied, her cheeks could not have been more flushed. "Oh, and here is the key to the room. It is at the top of the stairs, first door on the right. It is only small but has a bed, and it''s clean.¡± ¡°Thank you again,¡± he said. Fhyliss again turned and walked away. ¡°So, you are staying here?¡± SJ asked. ¡°No. Of course not. I stay home normally, but getting out and about and interacting occasionally is nice." "Home? Where is that?" "It''s a long way from here. It doesn¡¯t take more than an instant to travel, though. The benefits of my kind are that we are our own soul stones, so we can come and go as we please.¡± ¡°How many of you are there?¡± ¡°One, of course.¡± ¡°No, I mean variants of you.¡± ¡°Currently, just the two, you know.¡± ¡°Why, when Bob came, did you close the shop then?¡± ¡°Out of respect for Bob. I wished him to know he had my full attention when I spoke to him. He is a very dear friend.¡± Baffled beyond belief, SJ drank her coffee. ¡°I need to head off to the meeting,¡± she said, standing. ¡°No problem. I am going to hang around here for a while. May have a nap. I may have a walk around town. Haven¡¯t quite decided yet. But I will have another honey wine. This is a very fine year.¡± SJ stood shaking her head. Turning, she saw that many eyes were still transfixed on their table. ¡°I will see you later then, Nexis,¡± she said at a normal volume. ¡°Indeed SJ. I will see you this afternoon. I hope it goes well.¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± she replied, walking from the Inn. SJ walked down the street, lost for words or thoughts, for that matter. She realised she no longer felt nervous about the vote being due within the hour. ¡°Well, that was interesting,¡± Dave¡¯s chipper voice said, bounding into her mind and disturbing her thoughtless thoughts. ¡°Confusing, perhaps.¡± ¡°I think it was very genuine of him. His roleplay is amazing. You must compliment him when you see him. He had Fhyliss eating out of his hand.¡± ¡°That wasn¡¯t roleplay. I don¡¯t know his Charisma level, but that is pure charm.¡± ¡°Still impressive to see. Especially how fickle people are.¡± ¡°Fickle?¡± ¡°Yes. Just because he is a good-looking elf in that form and plays a role doesn¡¯t mean that he is a good person. People fall for those sorts of people all the time. It is a common misconception. Good looks do not mean someone is a good person. Otherwise, charlatans and charmers wouldn¡¯t be a professional choice for some.¡± ¡°Very philosophical this morning, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°I do try and keep my philosophical side open to development,¡± Dave replied. His statement was true, though. His looks and charm meant nothing, especially since SJ knew it was an act by a God. The chamber was packed when SJ arrived, she had never seen all the representatives in attendance before and on walking inside the room with its dark wooden beams and stately furnishings, which she had not taken into consideration previously, suddenly made SJ feel very small and insignificant. Apart from the council members, a human sat with parchment and quill. ¡°SJ welcome. Please come and take a seat,¡± Zigferd indicated to a chair next to his own at the head of the table. SJ self-consciously walked around the table to where Zigferd stood. The other council members were all standing, waiting for the meeting to commence. ¡°Am I late?¡± SJ asked as she reached the table head. ¡°No. We had other matters to discuss prior to your attendance today,¡± Zigferd smiled. ¡°Please, everyone, be seated.¡± The group all began to sit and adjust themselves in their chairs. SJ had gone to sit, and Zigferd looked at her subtly, raising his eyebrows to signify she should remain standing. Once quiet settled in the chamber, Zigferd began. ¡°Dear all, I know we have already gone through the formalities of today¡¯s meeting, and I thank you for your time and commitment to Killic." Several people, round the chamber, banged the table with their hands. ¡°We now have a rather unique and important vote to be held. You are all aware of the reason for this vote and the related conditions in the information I gave you all prior to the meeting. Today, as the residing Mayor of Killic, who has held office for 52 years, I am proposing that we amend our town charter. This will be the first amendment of its kind since the charter was written, and that is why today I invited scribe Artorian to attend to make and seal the changes if this is voted upon." Several banged on the table again, and SJ could feel the sweat on her back from being in the spotlight. ¡°It is with great honour and the privilege that you have granted me as your Mayor that I propose the addition of the town council''s first non-voting and Fae member. Since arriving in Killic, SJ has been one of the most impressive new starters we have ever known. Due to her selfless commitment and approach to the town and its people, along with her caring and supportive nature, she has changed the opinion of many with the unfortunate habits many of her kind portray. Due to this, I would ask you to consider all the supporting information, and we will cast a vote. The vote will be a hidden ballot, so those who may have felt uncertain can vote accordingly without any due concern. I will now break the meeting for 15 minutes to allow votes to be cast. Please drop them in the chest on Artorian¡¯s desk.¡± Zigferd stood there, and silence remained for a few moments until chairs began to scrape, and several began to stand. Small groups broke off, and conversations broke out between the various race representatives around the room. ¡°That¡¯s it then. We just wait now,¡± Zigferd said, turning to SJ and smiling. ¡°I have never felt so nervous before,¡± SJ answered. She had met with several people in attendance over the past few days, and most of her meetings were amicable. Many kept turning and looking at her as she stood there awaiting the hangman¡¯s noose. A bugbear entered the chamber carrying a tray of drinks and walked over to SJ. ¡°Drink?¡± he asked, ¡°I would love a coffee if you had one?¡± SJ said. ¡°I can get you a coffee, yes,¡± the bugbear replied, smiling. ¡°Thank you,¡± SJ said. A few minutes later, he returned carrying a pot and mug for her. She took it, taking a nervous gulp. Several had walked up and placed their cards in the chest, and as the fifteen minutes ticked along, more did so until it appeared that only a couple hadn¡¯t. ¡°Time,¡± Zigferd called. Once he did, the members retook their sets. ¡°Please sit, SJ,¡± he said. It was the first time she had sat since entering the room, and her legs felt like jelly. The relief was welcoming. Artorian, the scribe, began to open the chest and read through the inserted cards, creating piles in front of him. SJ watched the process with trepidation, and the air could have been cut with a knife, awaiting the count. Artorian finished the count and then turned, nodding to Zigferd. SJ could feel a trickle of sweat on her back, and her palms felt clammy as she sat there nervously, clenching and unclenching her fists. Wiping her palms on her dress she tried to calm her nerves. ¡°Please, Artorian, if you would be so kind,¡± Zigferd indicated. The scribe stood and walked to the far end of the table opposite where Zigferd and SJ sat. Coughing, he cleared his throat. ¡°The results of the vote are as follows. This was a two-stage vote as described in the context of the town manifest. Article one included a Fae on the council as a non-voting member. Those in favour 15, those against 8 abstained 2." SJ felt her stomach lurch when she learned that eight had opposed the addition of a Fae to the council. ¡°Now to the second part of the vote. This is to decide whether SJ will be accepted as a non-voting town council member. The vote is unanimous, with 23 in favour; again, 2 abstained.¡± Banging began on the table, and a few cheered for the vote''s success. SJ sat in shock; they had just amended their long-standing town charter to include the addition of a Fae. The amazing fact was that 23 out of 25 had voted for her, irrespective of her being Fae, and two abstained, probably people she had never spoken to or met before. Zigferd stood up, ¡°Artorian. Thank you so much for your time. Please amend the town charter as soon as possible so all council members can sign. Also, can we please have the officiate seal for SJ as her representative on the council?¡± ¡°Of course, Mayor. I will have the amendment to the charter done momentarily. It can be signed before the meeting ends today. The same applies to SJ¡¯s seal,¡± Artorian replied. ¡°SJ. Please stand,¡± Zigferd ushered towards her. SJ stood nervously. ¡°Will you take the Oath of Killic and swear your allegiance?¡± Zigferd asked. ¡°I will.¡± ¡°Then please read the following,¡± Zigferd handed SJ a piece of parchment. Taking it, she unrolled the parchment and began to read. ¡°I, SJ, swear by the Gods that I will truly serve the town of Killic in the office of the council, and I will do right to all manner of people according to the laws and usages of this town, without fear or favour, affection or ill will.¡± As SJ finished speaking, a bright blue light encased her, and then it dissipated again. ¡°SJ, would you like to say anything else?¡± Zigferd asked. ¡°I did not know I would need to,¡± SJ replied, turning to Zigferd. Looking back to the table, she addressed them. ¡°Thank you all for your vote of confidence in my position on the council. I know I am a non-voting member, but I will do what I can through my actions to support the continuing growth and prosperity of Killic as we enter this new System age.¡± ¡°Hear, hear,¡± several cheered, banging the table again. ¡°Again, thank you, and I hope to get to know you all better soon.¡± SJ finished. More cheers erupted, and SJ felt her cheeks redden under the intense scrutiny. ¡°Ok. We still have matters to address, covering the expansion of the borders. We will break for 10 minutes and then continue if that is okay with everyone?¡± Again, the members stood and began to mingle. SJ was unsure what to do until several council members came up and started speaking to her directly. Many congratulated her. The largest shock was when Orik, the grumpy old dwarf, approached her. He stared at her with his usual criticising gaze. She shrunk away slightly until he threw his arms around her and gave her a hug. ¡°Welcome to the council,¡± he said warmly. It was fleeting but the most heartfelt of any of the congratulations she was given. The meeting soon got back underway again. ? Chapter 83 – Who, What, Why The meeting had continued for much longer than SJ had anticipated, and the discussions among the members had become very heated on occasion. The conflict over the expansion, structures, and suggestions over border locations was considerable. The resounding consideration that all had, even those in full support, was the ability of the town to financially cover the costs involved. It was concluded again that no formal decision or vote was being made, and there was a significant split in opinion over the best way to proceed. SJ listened to all the conversations but did not put her opinion across as she could understand both sides of the argument. Expanding the town was hugely beneficial and would improve their standing significantly within the territory. The risks associated with expansion could initially outweigh any benefits as they were likely to be targeted if they suddenly showed renewed prosperity. Walking down the stairs, Zigferd asked her if she could talk. ¡°I have some time, although I need to complete some training today. I had been a little remiss due to what has been done today,¡± SJ said. ¡°Excellent,¡± Zigferd replied, leading her back to his office. ¡°Alice, will you join us, please?¡± Alice was slightly ahead of them and turned, smiling at hearing her name. ¡°Of course.¡± Once the three of them were seated in the Mayor¡¯s office, Zigferd began, ¡°Well, firstly, thank you both dearly. Alice, we would not be as strong as we are without your continuing support and the daily inspiration you provide to the town. SJ. Thank you for accepting the role as a town council member.¡± SJ could again feel her cheeks heating. ¡°Thank you for the opportunity,¡± she replied, not believing she was inspiring anyone. ¡°I have a couple of things that I would like to discuss. The main one is the position I would like to hope you see taking on the council,¡± Zigferd said, looking at SJ. ¡°Oh. What position?¡± SJ felt a sense of nervous excitement about being offered a role. ¡°Alice and I have already discussed the role, and we believe you have the most suitable skillset to achieve the desired results.¡± ¡°What skillset? And what results?¡± SJ asked. ¡°We believe that you would make the perfect ambassador for Killic.¡± ¡°Ambassador, is that not going a little too far? I am a Fae and am well aware of the mistrust shown towards us,¡± SJ replied surprised at the position she was being offered. ¡°I can understand your initial reservations, but we believe that you have the ability to overcome the fractious attitude of many.¡± ¡°I thank you for your words, but I am not sure I am the right person to be an ambassador,¡± SJ furrowed her brow in consideration of the offer. ¡°I think you will fit the role perfectly,¡± Alice interjected, noticing the reservation on SJ''s face. ¡°How so?¡± ¡°You have a natural charisma and charm that has not gone unnoticed in the town. You have an uncanny ability to bring ease to so many yet still be such a stalwart fighter. You show both strength and caring combined. That is an unusual balance,¡± Alice said. SJ blushed at the comment. ¡°I am just me.¡± ¡°And that you are is why we believe you will fit the role perfectly. We would like you to consider several key aspects over the coming weeks if you would be willing to take on the role.¡± SJ knew that being an ambassador could potentially mean travel and diplomacy requirements. Hopefully, it will allow her to speak to Niweq at the Wandering Ogre. SJ considered the offer for several moments before replying, ¡°If you believe I am suited, I can only try.¡± ¡°That is excellent news. I will ask that Astorian entitles your role as such.¡± ¡°Who is the current ambassador?¡± ¡°We have not required one before, but with the territory borders opening, we believe that it is important that we now have the role and function.¡± ¡°I see. Does this require a vote?¡± ¡°No. The assignment and position you hold for the council is between Alice and me. We are both in complete agreement over this.¡± ¡°That¡¯s amazing,¡± Dave said. ¡°As an ambassador, you will travel, see the wider world, and meet so many interesting and potentially ''uninteresting'' people.¡± ¡°You mentioned a couple of things?¡± ¡°Yes. Secondly, we would like to offer you a residence.¡± ¡°Sorry?¡± SJ replied, this time completely shocked. ¡°A residence. You can¡¯t live in the Inn. Now you are an integral part of the town,¡± Zigferd replied. Flabbergasted, SJ replied, ¡°I hadn¡¯t even considered it. It would make sense, but I have no idea of the cost, and I''m unsure if I can afford a property.¡± ¡°Do not worry about the cost for now. It is just a place you can call home, and eventually, if you wish to purchase or build something yourself, you can do so,¡± Alice said. ¡°Alice has already spent some time considering various locations and options and would like to show you them today. Obviously, you don¡¯t have to decide immediately, but the offer and opportunity are there," Zigferd said. The thought of having her own place in town was appealing, but she really enjoyed the Inn. The socialising and the friends she had made there would be something she would miss. Never mind the breakfasts. Then again, many who were not residents came in for breakfast each morning. ¡°I am happy to see what there is. Thank you, both,¡± she replied. ¡°The third thing we wished to discuss is a little more sensitive a matter,¡± Zigferd said. ¡°What is it?¡± SJ asked, intrigued. ¡°Alice has been conducting an investigation for some time now, and we believe we have a problem within the council.¡± ¡°What sort of problem?¡± ¡°We believe that one of the members is trying to undermine what we are doing in the town. This is not a recent event and is something that Alice has investigated for the past year or so. It hasn¡¯t been easy for her to gather much information, as the individual concerned is rather secretive at the best of times.¡± ¡°I see. What can I do to help?¡± ¡°I would like you to investigate the matter on our behalf and come to your own conclusions. Our concern is that if they continue to behave in the manner they have, they will damage the town''s reputation with many of the outlying villages and potentially Asterfal.¡± ¡°And who do you wish me to look into?¡± SJ asked, concerned at the thought of someone plotting against the town. ¡°Alice?¡± Zigferd asked. ¡°My suspicions point towards Bellakiy,¡± Alice said. ¡°Bellakiy oversees the distribution of trade goods to the outer areas. As part of his function and role, he is required to be away from the town frequently. It is a role he has had for many years and had always been thought of as the best for the task due to his merchant skills. The concern is that he is divulging private information about the town and the council members to others. Normal council meetings are held in an enclosed room. You will see the guards who are always present. We also have magical wards that prevent people from spying on the meetings.¡± SJ was unfamiliar with the fact that they had magical wards to prevent eavesdropping, and she was a little surprised by the statement. ¡°Some of the information that has reached our desks from the surrounding villages can only have come from the meetings, even though it has taken a long time to trace. I now believe he is the only one who is the common factor. None of it is a direct representation of council matters, but it is close enough to start spreading doubt.¡± ¡°Have you not challenged him or asked him the question?¡± SJ asked. ¡°No. As we still have no solid evidence. It is circumstantial and non-descript.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know who he is,¡± SJ said. ¡°Ah, You probably saw him for the first time today. He is one of the Draconians.¡± SJ had seen both the Draconian and met with one of them before, knowing that his name wasn¡¯t Bellakiy. ¡°I know who you mean.¡± The Draconian in question was burly-looking and appeared more like a fighter to SJ than anything else when she had seen him in the chamber. ¡°I thought he initially had something to do with the guard when I saw him,¡± SJ said. ¡°He does look that way. He is a very skilled trader but lacks the tact of diplomacy, as he is also brash.¡± ¡°Why would he possibly do anything against the town?¡± SJ asked. ¡°I believe that it¡¯s jealousy,¡± Alice said. ¡°Jealousy over what exactly?¡± SJ asked. ¡°His father was the presiding mayor before Zigferd,¡± Alice said. It was the first time SJ had heard her use his first name. ¡°I believe that he thinks the right to being mayor should have passed to him on his father''s death.¡± ¡°But you have been mayor for over 50 years,¡± SJ stated. ¡°Yes. I have. Bellakiy had been away for a long time and returned to the town only a few years ago before he was voted in on the council as a Draconian representative. His family is regarded very highly among the Draconian population. Lythonian speaks very highly of them. When he returned from making his fortune trading across Amathera, he joined as one of their representatives.¡± ¡°I do not know him to speak to. It will take time to learn about him, and if he is away from town often, then I will be limited to what I can find out,¡± SJ said. ¡°That is understandable, but we believe that since you are new to the town and are in the process of starting your career, you may be the perfect person to get to know him. He knows he has no direct influence over many on the council, but as a new member, he may try to persuade you otherwise,¡± Zigferd said. The term career struck SJ. She had never even considered the potential of her joining a town council as being called a career. It was strange and rather foreboding alongside everything else she was working towards. There were no terms of office, and the potential was that she would remain in the position until such a time that she either stepped down or was replaced. ¡°This looks like it could be very interesting and perfect for your subterfuge development,¡± Dave said. ¡°Alongside the position of Ambassador, I can see there being some rather entertaining times ahead.¡± ¡°I can see what I can discover,¡± SJ replied. Her display triggered. Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. Quest ¨C Confirm the Leak Investigate and confirm who is distributing falsehoods about the town and its council members. Rewards: 1000xp ¡°Woah. That¡¯s a lot of experience,¡± Dave said. "With the bonus for your reputation, you will easily reach level 12.¡± SJ was a little taken aback by the amount of experience shown, as she accepted the quest, knowing that it equated to 2000 experience. The benefits her increased reputation had brought to her progression were huge. Anything related to the town¡¯s continuing safety and improvement that triggered a quest would allow her to grow exponentially. Even the less rewarding quests would bring significant bonuses. Accepting the quest, SJ began to stand. ¡°If there is nothing else, I need to go and do some training?¡± ¡°Actually, there is,¡± Zigferd said. Standing, he walked to his desk and removed a small wooden box from his desk drawer. Walking back around, he handed the box to SJ. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± SJ asked, frowning. ¡°I wasn¡¯t expecting anything.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, this is a formal offering,¡± Zigferd smiled. SJ took the box and opened the lid. Inside was a tiny silver pin. The pin was designed as a great axe surrounded by laurel leaves. SJ took it from the box, looked at the pin, and turned it in her hands. ¡°What is this?¡± ¡°It is the official emblem of Killic. It proves you are a member of the council. I would ask that you wear it when on official town business if you would be so kind,¡± Zigferd said. ¡°Oh. Of course. Do I need to wear it in town?¡± ¡°It is entirely up to you whether you do or not.¡± SJ looked from Alice to Zigferd and, for the first time, noticed the small pins that they both wore. ¡°I had never noticed them before,¡± SJ said, smiling. She removed the pin from the box and attached it to her dress. ¡°It can help you in the town if speaking to members when they realise you are a council member.¡± ¡°Before I go, where can I find Bellakiy¡¯s residence?¡± ¡°He owns one of the large houses opposite the docks,¡± Alice said. ¡°And if you can call back later, I will show the properties I have identified.¡± ¡°I will, yes,¡± SJ replied. "Thank you both for your confidence in me.¡± SJ left the office, her mind racing. She had become a council member, been assigned as an ambassador, given a significant quest, received an offer of a residence, and had the potential to travel in the future¡ªand that was just from today. Then, add in everything else she was doing: training, crafting, part-time parenting, and a potential assassination job. SJ had been planning her time ahead, focusing on her martial arts training, crafting, and weapon proficiency, and she would need to adjust it. ¡°So much to do,¡± SJ said as she entered the training ground. ¡°And all the time in Amathera to do it,¡± Dave replied. ¡°That is very true, but it never seems like there is enough time in one day.¡± ¡°Well, there isn¡¯t, duh! What do you expect a day to last as long as a year? It would completely mess up the ageing system for the whole of Amathera. Then again¡­I wonder¡­¡± ¡°Dave?¡± Silence. ¡°Dave. What are you doing?¡± ¡°Nothing,¡± a shy voice replied. ¡°You realise I was just making a statement, and I didn¡¯t expect more hours in a day.¡± ¡°I know,¡± he replied uncertainly. ¡°But I just checked anyway and can¡¯t access the System clock. That would have been so cool if I could have.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°I could have time travelled.¡± ¡°Sorry?¡± ¡°I could have reset the clock back to the beginning of Amathera.¡± ¡°I am not sure I would class that as time travel.¡± ¡°What is it then? If I amend the System clock to its creation date, the back-ups would kick in from that period.¡± ¡°And what do you think that would achieve or do to me and you?¡± ¡°Erm. Good point, I will scratch that one off my list.¡± SJ rolled her eyes. ¡°Sometimes you do have the strangest ideas.¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t call them strange. I would call them abstract.¡± ¡°Whatever you want to call them, you need to be careful. I am not sure you can be trusted unsupervised.¡± ¡°You sound like my mother,¡± Dave huffed. SJ laughed as she walked to the training rings and saw Lorna with a confused look on her face. ¡°Are you ok?¡± Lorna asked. ¡°Yes. Sorry, I was just thinking about a joke I was told.¡± Frowning, Lorna shook her head in dismay. ¡°Are you here to train?¡± ¡°Yes. I wanted to get a couple of hours in.¡± ¡°Excellent. Then, you can start with ten laps. That should stop you laughing,¡± Lorna replied, grinning. ¡°Urgh,¡± SJ replied as she began to run around the ground. The two hours flew by as she performed her exercises, and Lorna spoke to her about her advancement to level 6, which she had undergone with Greb. She stated that she would have to get him more involved in training the newer members. ¡°Wait?¡± Lorna said, suddenly staring at SJ open-mouthed. ¡°What?¡± SJ replied, concerned. ¡°You are wearing a pin.¡± SJ looked down at the small pin attached to her dress. ¡°Oh. This yes. Why?¡± ¡°That means you are a member of the town council?¡± ¡°I am, yes. I was voted in this morning,¡± SJ replied, smiling. Lorna put her hand up to her face in shock. ¡°I can¡¯t believe they allowed you onto the council. How on Amathera did you do it?¡± ¡°Do what?¡± SJ frowned at Lorna''s shocked appearance. ¡°You do realise that most of the council have previously suffered at the hands of Fae. The fact you were voted in is no small achievement.¡± ¡°There were two votes: the first to add a Fae representative and the second for my membership. The vote to add a Fae representative was not as straightforward as I thought it would be.¡± ¡°Knowing the problems we had several years ago when they destroyed our whole crop, I am amazed that they allowed a Fae member to join.¡± ¡°Several years ago?¡± ¡°Yes. When the Fae attacked.¡± ¡°Attacked Killic,¡± SJ replied, amazed. ¡°Not the town, but they decided to destroy the crops. They set the corn fields on fire and destroyed the bi-annual harvest. The whole town struggled with it. Several lost a lot of coins, of which some were councillors.¡± ¡°I had no idea.¡± ¡°It was a dark time for the town. I don¡¯t think we have fully recovered since. The fact you have joined, though, is an amazing feat.¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± SJ replied, smiling. ¡°No. I mean it. The influence you have since you reached revered status is quite significant.¡± ¡°My reputation status jumped three levels when it happened. I am not sure how it did.¡± ¡°I think I know exactly how,¡± Lorna replied, smiling. ¡°What do you think caused it?¡± ¡°Cristy, Mithril, Ogre.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Your selfless act of saving Cristy, a town member, for absolutely no reward is unheard of from any previous Legionnaire who has ever passed through the town. You also located what is believed to be a Mithril mine," Lorna said in a quieter tone, "which wouldn¡¯t have happened if you had not gone to save Cristy, and finally, you participated in the battle. I thought you were dead when you hit Bordon, but you also took out the Mage alone.¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t exactly by myself.¡± ¡°You were from a town¡¯s standpoint. What you have achieved is close to a miracle.¡± SJ blushed with embarrassment. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t call it a miracle.¡± ¡°I would. Changing the minds of some on the council is not something to sniff at. The halflings have been trying for years to get on the council.¡± ¡°I meant to ask the Mayor about that and why they had no representation.¡± ¡°Halflings are synonymous with borrowing.¡± ¡°Ahh,¡± SJ replied, understanding the term in relation to the world of Tolkien. ¡°There have been many issues over items being borrowed. The times I have dealt with them in the guard are ridiculous,¡± Lorna replied, shaking her head. ¡°What about the undead?¡± ¡°Only Floretta lives in the town and has never shown interest in the council.¡± "And the trolls?" "The troll community keeps to itself. Only Bert lives in the town, and all the others who frequent Killic live in the mountain village." SJ had no idea there was a Troll Mountain village near Killic. ¡°Thanks for the information and training today. I need to go and see Alice.¡± ¡°Are you back tomorrow?¡± ¡°Hopefully, I will see how I get on. I have already been given a task to do.¡± ¡°The requirements of leadership,¡± Lorna smiled. ¡°I suppose I should now start calling you Ma¡¯am.¡± ¡°You dare, and my claws will come out,¡± SJ laughed as she left. It felt strange having someone she held in such high regard even consider the comment. On returning to the barracks, she found Alice upstairs in her office. ¡°Are you free to go now?¡± SJ asked after knocking on her door. Alice looked up, smiling. ¡°Yes. Let¡¯s go find you a home.¡± ? Chapter 84 – Angelic presence SJ followed Alice as she led her from the barracks. ¡°I have picked three places, and you may choose which you prefer to use for now,¡± Alice said as they walked. Due to the Inn''s positioning, SJ had always stayed in the centre of the town and had gotten used to the hustle and bustle of the vendors and market traders who were there every day and the noise of their daily routine. The Inn was, after all, the hub of the town, and anyone who was someone frequented there. Since SJ had met all the council members during the meeting, she realised that many councillors visited the Inn regularly. ¡°Is there anything near the centre of town?¡± SJ asked. ¡°Unfortunately, not too close to the centre. Those buildings are very rarely free. Normally only when a family leaves for Asterfal or one of the other outlying villages,¡± Alice replied. ¡°That¡¯s a shame. I have enjoyed being at the Inn.¡± She had gotten used to the noise every night, the laughing, the singing, and the general camaraderie. Alice was leading SJ into an area of the town she had never been to before. It was on the northeastern side, towards the mountain. The first building she stopped at was a two-storey affair. It was in a row of four closely packed homes. The street outside was wide, and opposite was a small open area with a garden and some seats. It was a pleasant location, and SJ stood looking around. ¡°Well, this is the first,¡± Alice said, removing several keys from her pouch. She walked to the door and opened it, letting SJ in. The interior was well maintained, the beams were all cleaned, and there were no signs of dust or cobwebs. It reminded SJ of her childhood home. They had lived in a row of terraces and were in one of the middle properties. She had never been a fan due to the noise that used to come through from the neighbours regularly. The house consisted of two rooms on the ground floor. The kitchen, lounge, and narrow stairs led up to two bedrooms and a bathroom. ¡°It¡¯s very nice,¡± SJ replied. ¡°But not for you,¡± Alice replied, smiling. ¡°Is it that obvious?¡± ¡°Ha. You don¡¯t seem overly excited, so yes.¡± ¡°Sorry,¡± SJ said apologetically. ¡°No, it¡¯s fine. This was a last-minute addition.¡± ¡°How long have you been looking?¡± SJ frowned. ¡°The mayor asked me to investigate a residence three days ago.¡± ¡°I had only just found out about potentially joining the council then?¡± SJ replied, surprised. ¡°We were both confident you would get accepted. You have done so much for the town since you have been here. We could not see any objections to you being added.¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t as confident as you were. Not with the concerns over my kind.¡± ¡°Yes. Many Fae are problematic, but thankfully, you and Mistress Francisca are starting to show a different side.¡± ¡°I hope it will continue. I don¡¯t like being thought of as a nuisance.¡± ¡°You have been anything but,¡± Alice replied as they walked back outside. She locked the door. ¡°Okay. Number two.¡± Following Alice, she was led down the northern edge of the town, past the church. Lythonian was tending the flowers, waving as they walked past. SJ knew she would need to speak to Lythonian and get his thoughts on the Draconian council member Bellakiy and his family. The next house was smaller than the first and sat in a small plot opposite the church hall. SJ liked the look of it from the outside. Alice showed her in and then realised that the inside was not as well kept as the first home. ¡°This one does need some work done to it,¡± Alice said, showing her the interior. After looking around, SJ was quite pleased with it. ¡°I quite like this,¡± she said, smiling. ¡°Good. Let¡¯s show you the third one, and then you can confirm which you would like to use.¡± Walking to the third property, they moved to the northernmost edge of town. As soon as SJ saw it, she knew it was the one. It was a small cottage that sat on a small plot of land with a garden at the front and rear. It was like Farleck cottage, although slightly larger. It had a small fence that surrounded the garden, and it looked out directly onto the open cornfields that spread from the edge of town to the forest, where the path to the crags headed. ¡°This is beautiful,¡± SJ said, gawping. She had no idea that there were such idyllic locations in the town. ¡°It is a nice area. Very quiet and peaceful.¡± SJ could hear the rhythmic pounding of the smithy in the distance and looking out from the front garden, she could see the large white sails of the windmill slowly turning. The roof of the Mage¡¯s academy was not quite visible. On entering the property, it opened into a large lounge area. The main bedroom and lounge were situated at the front of the property and looked out over the fields. The kitchen, bathroom, and second smaller bedroom were at the rear. Looking into the back garden, enclosed by a fence with two trees, a small lawned area and a wooden garden swing. One of the trees bore bright red apples, and SJ grimaced at remembering her initial mistake of tasting one. The other grew a fruit that SJ had not seen before. Its skin was purple and bobbly. ¡°What fruit is this?¡± SJ asked. ¡°It¡¯s called a Grapey. They are succulent and very flavoursome,¡± Alice replied. SJ picked one of the fruits from the tree and, using her knife, cut into its flesh. It looked like a peach, and she lifted the fruit to her mouth and took a bite. The flood of flavour and juice that erupted on her tongue was a sensation to behold. ¡°These are amazing. Why am I only finding out about these now?¡± SJ said. ¡°They are delightful. The owner spent years nurturing the tree as many do not bear fruits.¡± ¡°I think I have a new favourite. I may have to give some to Floretta and see what she can cook up with them.¡± ¡°I am sure Floretta would be exceedingly happy getting some Grapey to cook with. They are not readily available.¡± As SJ walked around the remainder of the property, she smiled broadly, knowing this would be perfect. ¡°I am guessing this is the one?¡± Alice asked. ¡°Yes. This is lovely,¡± SJ replied. The property was furnished, so she wouldn¡¯t need to worry about providing anything besides bedding and the usual household items. ¡°Excellent. I need to confirm the details with the owner, but she will be very pleased. Once the contract is written, you will be able to move in. It shouldn¡¯t take too long to confirm. I will send her a message today letting her know the good news. She will be so happy it is going to be looked after.¡± ¡°Oh. The owner lives in Asterfal?¡± ¡°Yes. She was a long-standing town council member, but when her sister fell ill, she gave up her position and moved to Asterfal to look after her.¡± ¡°That¡¯s unfortunate to hear.¡± ¡°Yes. She was a breath of fresh air and used to keep many of the grumpy old goats in line,¡± Alice chuckled. "Which I think you will end up doing naturally now,¡± she smiled at SJ. ¡°I am sure you are more than capable of dealing with any dissent,¡± SJ replied. ¡°You would be surprised. The members can be very stubborn at times and can take a great deal of persuading.¡± ¡°I noticed that today about the expansion of the borders.¡± ¡°That is going to take time to resolve. As soon as the mine is up and working, we will be able to start considering it more openly, and if we can begin to sell the Mithril, it will make a huge difference to the town.¡± ¡°I completely forgot, getting caught up in everything today. My friend has arrived and said he would be willing to help with that. He is staying at the Inn currently.¡± ¡°Really. You have already got someone here?¡± Alice asked, surprised. Stolen novel; please report. ¡°I messaged him as soon I found out about the mine and asked him to come straight here, and I trust him with my life.¡± Alice looked at SJ, frowning. ¡°How did you get a message to them so soon?¡± SJ removed the gemstone Nexis had given her. "He gave me this so I could message him," she said. ¡°Nice. They aren¡¯t cheap,¡± Alice replied. ¡°We met in the valley where my cottage is. He gave it to me afterwards. I have no idea of their cost. He said if I needed help, I should let him know. He was the first person who came to mind. Knowing that he trades at the auctions, it just made sense.¡± ¡°How do you know you can trust him?¡± ¡°I just know,¡± SJ replied, shrugging. ¡°I am not sure that letting an outsider know about the Mithril so easily was a good idea. It will cause problems if it gets out,¡± Alice frowned. ¡°I promise you that he is trustworthy. He would never do anything against the town or myself.¡± SJ replied emphatically. ¡°How can you be so certain?¡± Alice was not willing to accept such an easy answer. ¡°Let me take you to meet him. I am sure he can put your mind at ease.¡± ¡°I think it best,¡± Alice replied, a very concerned look on her face. They left the cottage and began heading straight to the Inn. ¡°How do you communicate with Asterfal normally?¡± SJ asked as they walked along. ¡°Through the council mage, William.¡± SJ had realised that the mage who performed all the town announcements was a specialist mage aligned with air magic. ¡°I see. I always wondered about distant communications.¡± ¡°We only ever communicate distant messages as needed. It is very draining for William to communicate long distance. Most will go via the mail service.¡± ¡°Mail service?¡± ¡°Yes. Every wagon that arrives or leaves for Asterfal contains communications. We also have couriers who travel to the outer towns and villages as necessary.¡± SJ still had so much to learn about the day-to-day workings of the town and the wider region. On arriving at the Inn, the lilt of the Bard could be heard as they approached, and walking inside, the bar was much busier than usual. SJ frowned as she looked around. The usual clientele seemed to have grown substantially. Many of the patrons stood up and looked towards the Bard, who stood singing in his usual spot. It all seemed a little strange. SJ couldn¡¯t see through the crowd. It was so packed. Walking to the bar, she caught Kerys''s attention. ¡°Hi Kerys. What¡¯s going on?¡± she asked. ¡°Hi SJ. Your friend is what¡¯s going on,¡± she replied, smiling. ¡°Sorry?¡± SJ turned, looking down the length of the bar. From here, she had a view of where the Bard stood. It wasn¡¯t the Bard that drew her attention, though, but Nexis, who was sat on a stool next to him playing what looked like a violin. The sound from the instrument was angelic. ¡°Oh. I¡¯m sorry. I will go speak to him.¡± ¡°No, no. There is no need to apologise. He is bringing in customers,¡± Kerys smiled. ¡°Hi, Alice.¡± ¡°Hi Kerys. Could I have a Plum Wine, please?¡± Alice asked. ¡°Of course. Honey Wine?¡± Kerys asked SJ. ¡°Yes, please,¡± she replied. Moments later, Kerys handed the glasses to them, and the music stopped. The watching crowd gave a thunderous round of applause. ¡°We will be back after a short break,¡± the Bard called out over the din. To some groaned responses, the patrons took the opportunity to refill their glasses. SJ and Alice, taking theirs, headed towards where Nexis was sitting talking to the Bard. ¡°SJ,¡± Nexis beamed as he spotted her approaching. ¡°Nexis. This is Alice,¡± SJ said, introducing her. ¡°Charmed,¡± Nexis replied, smiling broadly at Alice. Alice tried to remain stony-faced at his beauty, but SJ could still see slight colouration to her cheeks when she replied. ¡°Nice to meet you, Nexis,¡± Alice replied calmly. ¡°Can I speak to you, please?¡± SJ asked. ¡°Of course, my dear. What can I do for you?¡± ¡°A little more privately, if that is possible?¡± SJ asked. ¡°I will be back momentarily, Ptolemy,¡± Nexis said to the Bard. The Bard smiled back at Nexis, nodding his head. SJ had never known the Bard¡¯s name before. Nexis stood, placing the musical instrument on the stool, and SJ led them away from the stage area to a quieter area of the bar, sitting at a table. ¡°So, what do you wish to discuss?¡± Nexis asked. ¡°Alice is the second of the town, and she wished to meet you to discuss a couple of things before meeting with the Mayor.¡± ¡°Of course. What can I do for you?¡± he looked at Alice, giving her a dazzling smile. Alice was handling his Charisma magnificently and not allowing herself to be overthrown by his beauty and charm. ¡°I wished to understand your reasoning and loyalty to SJ,¡± Alice asked. ¡°I see. You are concerned about the information being divulged outside of the township. I fully understand your concerns, and you can rest assured that I am not one to gossip about my private matters. I have many clients whose identities remain secret, and I trade on their behalf.¡± Nexis replied. ¡°You may have, but there is still a trust concern. What if you were offered money in relation to information?¡± Alice asked. Nexis laughed, making SJ feel like a spell had struck her. It seemed to cut through her and made her feel slightly giddy. Alice shifted uncomfortably in her seat. ¡°My dear Alice, money is no object to me. I earn my coin through my trust and worth as a trader. I would never damage my reputation. We all know that reputation matters on Amathera.¡± ¡°Do you mind if I check something?¡± Alice asked, removing a small item from her pocket. ¡°Of course, please do check my alignment,¡± Nexis replied. The item was the same as SJ had seen Lythonian use on the skeletons at the compound. Alice said a few words, and the items changed to bright blue. She raised her eyebrows on seeing the colour. ¡°Lawful Good,¡± she stammered, a little taken aback. ¡°Yes. I am,¡± Nexis smiled. ¡°Your word is your bond,¡± Alice replied. ¡°It is indeed. As I say, my reputation matters, and I would not sully it through underhand methods or bribery,¡± Nexis replied. Alice placed the small item away. It still reminded SJ of a magnifying glass, and she would have to discover how it worked. ¡°You don¡¯t need one. When your identification skill levels are higher, you can read alignments of all,¡± Dave said, taking SJ aback as she had not said anything. ¡°Would you be free to meet with me and the Mayor in the morning?¡± Alice asked. ¡°I can, yes. What time?¡± Nexis replied. ¡°10:30?¡± ¡°Perfect. It will give me time to have more of Miss Floretta¡¯s amazing breakfast before I come over. I am assuming SJ will accompany me?¡± Nexis asked. ¡°Yes. Of course, she is our ambassador, after all,¡± Alice replied. Alice drank the remainder of her plum wine and went to stand. ¡°SJ, I will speak to the owner and see you in the morning.¡± ¡°Thanks, Alice. That would be great,¡± SJ said. Alice turned to face Nexis again. Standing overly stiff, she nodded at him slightly, ¡°Nexis.¡± ¡°My pleasure,¡± he replied as Alice turned and left. ¡°I better get back to it. I can¡¯t leave Ptolemy alone up there. This crowd is a little demanding,¡± he said, smiling and standing. SJ turned and watched as he returned to the stage, picking up the violin and striking a few chords. He spoke to Ptolemy before the bar was again filled with angelic music and song from the pair.? Chapter 85 - What! "Morning, Lythonian,¡± SJ called as she walked up the church pathway. Lythonian was in his usual position when not running a service, tending to the church grounds. "Hello, SJ. Is this a social visit or business?¡± Lythonian grinned with his reptilian smile. "You heard already?" SJ said, surprised. She hadn''t actively told anyone she was now a member of the council, but it was obvious that news travelled fast. "It is town business. I am seeking some information and would appreciate your input and guidance.¡± "I see. Well then, would you like to join me for a coffee, and we can discuss your matter?¡± Lythonian asked. "Yes, please. That would be great,¡± SJ replied. Following Lythonian back inside, they headed to the vestry. The church only had a couple of worshippers praying to their respective Gods this morning. Lythonian grabbed a pot of coffee and poured two mugs, handing one to SJ. ¡°So, what did you wish to discuss?¡± he asked. "It is a rather sensitive matter. I am unsure if you know that I am now a town council member.¡± "I had heard, yes,¡± Lythonian smiled nodding. "What I need to discuss is rather sensitive, and I don¡¯t want to put you in an awkward position. If you do not wish to comment, then I understand,¡± SJ said. "I see,¡± Lythonian replied, raising his eyebrows in response to her comment. ¡°It must be of a serious nature then.¡± "I am not sure yet, but it is the chance that it may be,¡± SJ replied. ¡°I would like to know more about one of your kin.¡± "Whom might you be referring to?¡± Lythonian asked. "I am after some information regarding Bellakiy.¡± Lythonian squinted at the comment. ¡°And what did you wish to know about him, exactly?¡± "There are concerns that he may have been divulging council details and undermining the good that the town is trying to do. I understand that this may not be easy for you to discuss, as I have been informed that you hold his family in high regard.¡± "His family, I do, yes. His father was a great Draconian, and his sister is an order cleric. I worked with her in Asterfal before I took over the church here.¡± "I had no idea about his sister,¡± SJ replied, slightly taken aback. "She is a beautiful soul who works at the Asterfal High Church. She is a senior cleric whom I studied under for several years.¡± "Oh. I can understand that this may be a little sensitive then.¡± Lythonian shuffled a little uncomfortably in his chair. He appeared to be deciding on what he should say. ¡°I can¡¯t say too much as I am sworn under the secrecy of information through the order, but I can answer questions that do not directly counter my Oath.¡± "I am sorry. I had no idea that there may be an Oath involved, and If I had, I would not have approached you.¡± "It is fine. If I can answer, I will do it. If I don¡¯t, you know why I can''t.¡± ¡°Are you aware of any dealings by Bellakiy that may directly impact the town and its workings?¡± Lythonian didn¡¯t speak but nodded his head. ¡°So you know something that may cause issues to the town?¡± Lythonian nodded again. ¡°Can you expand on the reasoning and issues pertaining to what you may have been privy to?¡± ¡°I can indirectly,¡± Lythonian replied. SJ could see a bead of sweat forming on the Draconians¡¯ brow. ¡°Bellakiy has been at odds for years since his father''s passing. He wasn¡¯t present when his father died, as he had been away in the Capital, where he made the family fortune trading across the Northern territories. He was very astute at business and had been running the family business for almost seventy years. From the time his father retired and settled in Killic, Bellakiy has argued with his sister.¡± ¡°I didn''t realise he had been running the business for so long.¡± ¡°Yes. His father, the previous Mayor of Killic, was a fabulous Draconian. I had the pleasure of knowing him through his daughter. He regularly travelled to Asterfal to visit. I was her apprentice, and I met him many times. This was at the beginning of my journey as a cleric. When he passed, Wystria took it hard. She blamed herself for the loss, not having taken care of him when he had fallen ill. At the time, she was working towards her advancement to that of a deity representative, which she has successfully achieved and has held the position of a high cleric from that day forth.¡± SJ nodded, listening intently to his tale. ¡°Wystria had communicated with Bellakiy about their father when he had fallen ill, but neither was present when he did pass. Their mother had passed several years previous from a rare Draconian disease. When their father died, it tore the family apart and set the pair at odds with each other. Bellakiy believed he had the rights to the family business as he had been running it before their father''s death. Wystria, though, was listed as the incumbent to the business and was given full control under her father''s will. This infuriated Bellakiy, and the siblings fought for years over the rights. Eventually, to maintain peace and end the hostilities, Wystria gave up her right to the business and handed it over to Bellakiy. Until this time, Wystria had been maintaining the business alongside her duties as a cleric, completing all the accounting and keeping on top of the business dealings that required her attention. Bellakiy had not fully controlled the business''s finances, always having to confirm dealings through Wystria. This had caused many arguments and was one of the reasons that Wystria ended up giving up her position due to their bitter feud. She was more reserved and averse to risk, whereas Bellakiy was the opposite. In the end, though, handing over control was the worst mistake that Wystria made. Bellakiy got caught up in a scheme at the Capital over procuring several Mithril mines. He thought he was on to a sure thing and invested all the business capital into the deal. The problem was that the deal was too good to be true. The mines were fake, only having Britlac, a rare ore like Mithril but unworkable. It has no viable use outside of basic jewellery. This led the business to eventually collapse after being in the family for over two centuries, he had to close the doors and resign himself to the fact he had fallen to a deal that held no truth. This was when he then returned south. He spent several years in Asterfal running several small businesses and doing well for himself, but without the financial capability he had lost, he would never grow back to the size it had been before. This was when he decided to return to Killic and take over his father¡¯s legacy.¡± ¡°But his father had not been the Mayor of Killic for decades by this point. Why did he think he could come back and take over?¡± ¡°Bellakiy is stubborn and very self-centred.¡± Lythonian winced as he finished the line, sweat trickling visibly down his brow. He took a sharp breath before continuing. ¡°He believes in the right of passage, similar to the stance over the business. He still believes that as the son of a Mayor, he should automatically ascend to the position now that he has returned to Killic.¡± Lythonian shook slightly as he finished the sentence. ¡°Are you ok?¡± SJ asked concerned. ¡°I am walking a very fine line at the moment, and the Oath is telling me so,¡± he replied, smiling weakly. ¡°I am sorry. I didn¡¯t mean you to break your Oath.¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t, don¡¯t worry. I know how far I can push the boundaries without undue effect.¡± ¡°So Bellakiy believes he should automatically become the Mayor. Yet, he has no power over the decision to become the Mayor, so the only way he can try to take the position is by causing problems that affect the town and make the presiding Mayor look bad in the eyes of the populace.¡± Lythonian did not respond, sitting silently. ¡°So there is truth in what has been discovered so far. Yet, you cannot say what exactly that truth pertains to.¡± Lythonian gave a very slight nod, then visibly winced again as the pain seemed to hit him, making him stiffen in his seat. ¡°I am sorry Lythonian. I never meant for you to suffer in any way,¡± SJ replied, looking shocked at the control the Oath he was under must have over him. SJ could now understand why the Oath that Jabrey had taken was such a valid commitment to not attacking the town in the future. ¡°I need to investigate further then and will have to find out what he is doing exactly to undermine the Mayor without drawing attention to myself or to letting him know.¡± ¡°I would advise that, yes,¡± Lythonian replied. ¡°I will have to visit the surrounding villages and find out what is going on,¡± SJ said. ¡°It may be a good place to start your investigation. Unfortunately, I can¡¯t say more than I already have. The dealings are under the Oath of my kin, which I am sworn to secrecy over, so I couldn¡¯t divulge them without death being the likely outcome.¡± The power of an Oath was startling, and the fact that Lythonian had mentioned the possibility of death if broken made a cold chill run up her spine. She had only just taken an Oath to Killic without knowing the potential side effects that it may hold if she ever broke it¡ªnot that she intended to, but that was beside the point. ¡°Thank you for your time, Lythonian, and again, I am sorry for asking you such difficult questions.¡± ¡°Do not apologise, my dear. You are a friend and someone I trust. Race oaths hold more sway than most in the realm.¡± Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. ¡°I am considering moving into one of the homes west of town by the fields. When I do, I would like to invite you for dinner to thank you,¡± SJ said, smiling. ¡°That would be lovely, and I look forward to it,¡± Lythonian smiled. SJ bade her farewell and left the vestry as Lythonian dabbed his brow with a handkerchief. ¡°That was a little intense. Do all Oaths carry that much sway?¡± SJ asked Dave after leaving the church. ¡°Not all, no. The town¡¯s Oath can be overwritten by another Oath that replaces or betters it. Race oaths are something entirely different, though. There are several aspects that, as natural Amathereans, they can¡¯t divulge about their races. Not all races hold the same power of direction as the Draconian race. It is one of the stronger Oaths. Oaths of honour like Jabrey''s are also binding and can¡¯t be overcome without serious repercussions.¡± ¡°So Bellakiy could be passing information even if under the Oath?¡± ¡°He could. It would depend on what he is doing exactly.¡± Considering the information that Lythonian had shared, SJ knew she would be required to investigate further avenues. ¡°Well, I need to find out. I think I will have to visit the outer villages and see what is going on.¡± ¡°I think you will. I don¡¯t think you will get any more details from within the town itself.¡± ¡°Now that I am level 10, can I use the navigation to find the village locations?¡± ¡°Not directly, but if you have access to the regional maps, then you can plot perspective positions. They will only come clear once visited.¡± ¡°I think I need to go and see the Mayor then.¡± ¡°Yes. We also need to go and collect Nexis for his meeting.¡± SJ looked at the time. It was 10:10. ¡°I had lost track of time. Thanks for reminding me,¡± SJ said, returning to the Inn. Nexis was sitting at a table with several empty plates in front of him. ¡°Morning,¡± he said, smiling at SJ as he saw her. ¡°Morning, Nexis. I see you have been eating breakfast,¡± SJ said, taking in the empty plates and wondering where he had put all the food they must have contained. ¡°It was delightful. Floretta is an outstanding cook. I had forgotten how pleasurable it is to eat.¡± The thought of a God not needing to eat had never crossed SJ¡¯s mind, but she assumed it was highly probable that they didn¡¯t require the usual sustenance that normal beings would. ¡°We need to get going to see the Mayor,¡± SJ said. ¡°Yes. Absolutely. Let me just pay for my breakfast.¡± Nexis stood and walked to the bar. As he walked, SJ noticed several pairs of eyes following his movement. SJ couldn¡¯t hear what he was saying, but she could imagine with the reaction and colour that Kerys¡¯s cheeks went, supported by the giggle. ¡°Shall we go then,¡± Nexis replied, returning to the table. It didn¡¯t take them long to walk through the town and reach the barracks. SJ felt very uncertain about all the stares and smiles the pair received. She had gotten used to morning pleasantries from many, but today, most were directed to Nexis. The God accommodated all the comments and replied to all those who spoke to him, smiling warmly and disarmingly in response. SJ saw several male and female beings'' faces flush at his passing. ¡°You really need to turn your charm down,¡± SJ hissed under her breath. ¡°My dear. I am just being me,¡± Nexis replied with a wicked smile. ¡°Umhmm,¡± SJ sighed, rolling her eyes. Arriving at the barracks, SJ walked straight through the barrier, not disturbing the old orc at the front desk, who was busy dealing with two arguing humans. One had a black eye, from the looks of it, and two members of the guard stood behind them, glowering at them, making sure that nothing else was going to happen. Heading upstairs, SJ saw Little Stuart leaving the Mayor''s main chambers. ¡°Hello, Little Stuart.¡± ¡°Hi, SJ,¡± he replied cheerily. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°Just starting on the model upstairs. Mr Cringle has asked me to build the basic structure,¡± he grinned broadly. ¡°That is fantastic news. Good luck, and I will come and see how you get on at some point,¡± SJ replied. ¡°That would be great,¡± he said, hurrying down the corridor before turning up the stairs. SJ assumed Mr Cringle must be the Gnome who oversaw the town¡¯s model, and she politely nodded at him as she walked by to the Mayor¡¯s office. The doors were open as usual, and Zigferd stood and walked towards his door seeing SJ walking through. ¡°SJ, welcome, and you must be Nexis, who I have been hearing so much about,¡± Zigferd said with a genuine smile. ¡°I am indeed. Mayor,¡± Nexis replied, taking the Mayor¡¯s offered hand. ¡°Please come in and take a seat. Alice?¡± ¡°Coming,¡± Alice replied. SJ watched as Alice came out of her office, and she thought she looked a little different from normal. She frowned slightly as she took in her appearance. Her hair, she thought, was different. She had tied it up in a tight bob, revealing her beautiful Dryad features in full. Nexis, Fizzlewick, or Haber had a lot to answer for. She thought as they entered the office, taking a seat. ¡°I understand you met with Alice briefly yesterday evening, and she has confirmed your alignment. Therefore, your word is your bond.¡± Zigferd poured four glasses of water and handed them around. ¡°She did, yes,¡± Nexis said. ¡°Excellent. That removes that formality from the process then.¡± Zigferd said. ¡°So we can get straight to business. SJ has informed you of our need and that we wish to remain anonymous from sales.¡± ¡°Yes. SJ has informed me of the basic plans.¡± ¡°So how do you believe this can be achieved.¡± ¡°Quite easily, really.¡± ¡°Please share,¡± Zigferd offered. ¡°I plan on opening an Auction House here in Killic.¡± Zigferd, Alice and SJ both sat open-mouthed at the comment. ¡°Sorry?¡± Zigferd stammered, the first to regain his composure. ¡°Yes. I plan to open a new Auction House in Killic.¡± ¡°But we can¡¯t have an Auction House here,¡± Alice replied stunned. ¡°Why not, my dear? Have the territory boundaries not been re-aligned, meaning the area is now up to level 20?¡± ¡°Well, yes,¡± Zigferd replied. ¡°Well, there is no reason why an Auction House can¡¯t be set up here. Trading will still be limited to level 20 and higher, but it will allow your merchandise to get into the system without asking undue questions. I assume you are aware of how the Auctions are interlinked?¡± ¡°I am,¡± Zigferd replied, still stunned by the announcement. ¡°Well then. The distribution of Auction materials is conferred through object transference. The place of origin is irrelevant when moving items as they are transferred as purchased through the transference stream.¡± SJ sat wide-eyed, mouth open. She had no idea about the workings of the auction houses. ¡°How would you possibly get licensing for an Auction House?¡± ¡°That is my concern. You don¡¯t need to worry about the details. I will cover the setup costs and dealings for licensing.¡± ¡°You would need to confirm with the Auction Magistrate in the Capital. That could take months.¡± ¡°Ah. I know Magistrate Hershy very well. We go back a couple of centuries,¡± Nexis smiled. ¡°You know the Magistrate of the Auction Houses?¡± Zigferd eyes could not have gotten any wider. ¡°Oh yes. I am his daughter''s Godfather,¡± Nexis replied. SJ coughed at the comment. She had been sipping on a glass of water, which now erupted from her mouth. ¡°Sorry,¡± she spluttered, wiping her mouth and dabbing the spray from the table, knowing her dress would dry. ¡°Godfather,¡± Dave laughing hysterically at his comment. Chapter 86 – Magical Transference Zigferd and Alice turned to look at SJ as she cleaned herself up after spitting water across the table. SJ blushed under their gaze. ¡°I am sorry. I had no idea that he knew the magistrate of the auction houses.¡± ¡°It is not normally something I talk about,¡± Nexis smiled broadly, turning and winking at SJ. From the angle he sat, he knew that Alice and Zigferd couldn¡¯t see. ¡°If you know the Magistrate at the Capital, then we are in the presence of someone with influence,¡± Zigferd stammered, slightly in awe of the statement. SJ had no idea who they were when Dave started to speak. ¡°The Magistrate of the Auction Houses is one of the highest positions in the land. They are responsible for all Auction House transactions and have an accuracy rating of 99.99999998% for successful transaction completion. It is one of the most efficient services provided across all continents. Only Justilianym has a higher success rate, only by 0.000000001%. I still can¡¯t believe that Nexis said he was the child¡¯s Godfather,¡± Dave chuckled. ¡°We go back a long time, as I say,¡± Nexis said. ¡°If you have such influence, why would you wish to set up an auction house here in Killic? We are a small town compared to the towns and cities you could establish yourself in.¡± Zigferd asked. ¡°Why not? The changes happening and the expansion of the boundaries between the territories will eventually happen anyway. So, it makes perfect business sense to start at the earliest opportunity and confirm the function and standings necessary. There is no point in waiting until some of the rather less reputable auctioneers start clawing at your town for rights to trade. As soon as the territory boundaries expand further, the wyvern will soon circle.¡± ¡°What fees would you be taking if and when this is confirmed?¡± ¡°The usual auction house fees for all transactions are 3% of the value of items. Unless security is required against certain items, security bonds can result in an 8% handling fee. You know that anything non-living can be sold through the auction houses; therefore, there are always those who wish to sell more illicit goods.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t there rules preventing such items from being sold?¡± SJ asked, curious. ¡°It comes down to racial considerations. What one race may find abhorrent, another doesn¡¯t. Auction Houses can be accessed by all sentient beings from level 20. Some of the items I have seen transferred over my years of dealings are quite concerning, to say the least.¡± ¡°Can you not decide what you wish to Auction or not?¡± Zigferd asked. ¡°I could do, but why would I? Unless something is of Chaotic Evil alignment, then who am I to judge their cultural and racial beliefs.¡± ¡°You do have a limit on what you would agree to auction then,¡± SJ stated. ¡°Only related to the alignment of items, yes. Remember that nothing living can be auctioned, so very few items would fall outside of the remit of an Auction House. The last item I can remember that wasn¡¯t accepted was the cross of Edwardo.¡± Alice gasped at the statement. ¡°Someone tried to auction his cross?¡± ¡°Yes. It was over a century ago now. It is one of the evillest charms I have ever witnessed. You are all aware of the fear and terror that Edwardo brought with his involvement during the scrug wars.¡± Zigferd and Alice both nodded. SJ had no idea who he was. ¡°Edwardo was the evillest of the Paladins who terrorised the continent some four centuries ago. He had a fanatical following and was known to sacrifice his followers for the God of Death,¡± Dave said. Considering its chaotic evil alignment, SJ was not sure she wanted to know what the charm could do or its use. ¡°Who was trying to sell such an item?¡± Alice enquired. ¡°Ah, my dear. That would be divulging privileged information, which I am sure you can understand I can¡¯t do,¡± Nexis replied, smiling at her. Alice flushed from his gaze. ¡°Of course,¡± she replied. ¡°Considering that you would be asking for 3% of the item fee, how do we know that we will attain the best rates from an auction?¡± Zigferd asked. ¡°I am sure you have used Auctions before, being your level?¡± Nexis asked, raising an eyebrow at Zigferd. Even Zigferd¡¯s rustic cheeks coloured slightly. ¡°Unfortunately, no, I have never used an auction house, and how do you know my level? That should be impossible.¡± He frowned, subconsciously twisting a ring he wore on his finger. SJ noticed the movement and wondered if it was a ward of some kind. ¡°There is very little that I can¡¯t overcome at my level and profession,¡± Nexis replied, smiling. ¡°As you know my level, may I ask yours?¡± Zigferd asked. ¡°You may indeed. I am level 47.¡± Nexis replied, smiling. ¡°What?¡± Zigferd and Alice said in unison. Spluttering, Zigferd replied first, ¡°Why are you in this area if you are at such a high level? There is no benefit for you?¡± ¡°I could ask you the same question. Even with this latest update, you get no benefits, either of you.¡± Alice flushed again, knowing that he also knew her level, and she also fiddled with a ring on her finger. Alice and Zigferd looked a little taken aback by the turn in the conversation and had been completely disarmed by Nexis¡¯s comments. ¡°Do not worry. I do not divulge information about others,¡± Nexis said. ¡°Alice is 21, Zigferd is 24,¡± Dave said, filling in the blanks for SJ, who had never identified them. ¡°Anyway, moving on. The rules are quite simple if you have never used an Auction House. Any item placed for auction starts with a minimum bid, and the mountain top is the limit, as they say. You can also set items for sale at a buyout price where someone can immediately purchase them outright. Finally, if you wish to cancel an item from the auction, that is fine, as the held funds are immediately released back to the would-be buyer''s account. Any bid retains funds from an auction account until such a time as the auction ends, so the funds are always held and kept. Those placing bids really need to make sure what they are purchasing is what they want, as they are not returned while still holding the highest bid position. Only in very extreme circumstances would an auctioneer allow a bidder to withdraw after a set bid. The last time this happened was during the Goblinpox epidemic when the transference of all items was banned for containment reasons.¡± ¡°How is everything transferred when an auction ends,¡± SJ asked. ¡°Through the transference network. On closure of an auction, the successful bidder is contacted via the System and given a time period to claim the item. Usually, this is 72 hours. Once an item is claimed, it will be transferred to the winning bidder''s chosen auction house for collection. If items are unclaimed from the System for delivery, the winning bidder will accrue holding charges. Individual auction houses do not control these holding charges. Instead they are directed through the magistrate''s office. It is a dragon''s task to resolve and sort out that side of it.¡± ¡°So what does the 3% cover?¡± Alice asked. ¡°Administration fees, matter transference costs, and storage costs.¡± Zigferd turned to look at Alice, and without saying anything, Alice nodded. ¡°OK then, Nexis. If you can establish an auction house, we would happily do business with you,¡± Zigferd said. ¡°Excellent news. I will just have to establish a suitable location. I require little room for the setup, but storing items requires significant space. I had seen a plot of land on the eastern edge of town heading towards the forest that may be suitable. It may require me to consider expanding into the field there. I would need to find out who owns the land. I can look into starting construction if we can visit the location and confirm its availability and cost.¡± ¡°Do you not wish to wait for approval before purchasing land?¡± Alice asked. Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. ¡°I can guarantee approval. Give me a moment.¡± Nexis placed his hand in his jacket pocket and removed a small, jewelled object. It looked like a small clock face with several coloured gems around the edge. ¡°Is that what I think it is?¡± Zigferd asked in amazement. ¡°If you think it¡¯s a messenger dial, then you are right,¡± Nexis replied. ¡°I have only ever heard of them. I have never seen one before.¡± ¡°One minute,¡± Nexis said as he touched one of the coloured gems, then several more. Suddenly, a hum was in the air before a sharp, ticking sound began. After several moments, the ticking stopped. ¡°Nexis. It has been too long, my old friend,¡± a disembodied voice suddenly emitted from the dial. ¡°Hershy. You old dog, you. How is Saffy and my little girl doing?¡± ¡°They are both well. Only the other day, Lily asked when Uncle Nexis would return to visit. I think she enjoys being spoiled when you¡¯re around.¡± ¡°She deserves to be spoiled. She is my Goddaughter.¡± ¡°When will you next be back in the capital? I know Saffy will be excited to know as well.¡± ¡°Unfortunately, not for a while yet. I am currently far south.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a shame. What do you need? I assume you need something if you are contacting me from the South.¡± ¡°I do. I assume the news about the changes taking place has reached the capital?¡± ¡°It has, yes. We have sent out parties to several territories to investigate. Do you have news?¡± ¡°I do. I am currently in a small starter town called Killic, where the boundaries have just been amended.¡± ¡°I see. Do you know what triggered them?¡± ¡°I have an idea, but that is for another time,¡± Nexis replied, smiling at Zigferd, Alice and then SJ. ¡°I called to ask a favour.¡± ¡°Of course, what do you need?¡± Hershy asked. ¡°I am going to establish a new auction house here in Killic and was hoping for an expedited license agreement if possible?¡± ¡°Anything for you, my friend. I assume the usual setup?¡± ¡°Yes. Everything as standard would be excellent.¡± ¡°I can get that written up now. I guess this Killic is an investment opportunity?¡± Hershy asked wryly. ¡°You know me too well. I don¡¯t set up auction houses without a good reason.¡± ¡°What is the name of their leader who requires the notary?¡± ¡°Zigferd Maxwell is the presiding mayor of Killic.¡± ¡°Excellent. I will have it sent over very soon. I will let Saffy and Lily know we spoke. They both won¡¯t be happy missing you. ¡° ¡°I will call again soon to catch up. Thank you, Hershy.¡± ¡°Anytime.¡± The magical hum suddenly stopped like a blanket of silence had just swallowed the room. The three faces stared at Nexis in awe. ¡°Well then. Shall we go and visit this plot of land?¡± Nexis asked. ¡°Wait a second. Auction houses? How many do you own?¡± SJ asked. ¡°This will be my sixth,¡± Nexis smiled. ¡°Six!¡± Zigferd exclaimed. ¡°You own and operate six auction houses already.¡± ¡°Yes. Only the six. I could have set up many more, but it is more of a sideline than my main profession.¡± ¡°What is your main profession then?¡± Alice asked, intrigued. ¡°I am a tailor by trade.¡± ¡°That is a little different.¡± ¡°Very. I am looking to purchase the tailor shop here in Killic while I am here as I know the Master wishes to retire.¡± ¡°He is?¡± Alice asked, shocked. ¡°I had no idea.¡± ¡°Yes. He has been talking about it for a while. The last time we met, he discussed it and said I would come and see what it is like here in Killic. So, I will be trying to complete both transactions while here.¡± ¡°Are you not staying?¡± Zigferd asked. ¡°I will be for the foreseeable, but we never know what the future holds.¡± A similar ticking sound began again, and Nexis removed the messenger dial from his pocket. Pressing a few gems, he answered. ¡°Hershy. So soon?¡± ¡°I forgot to ask for the transference position for the notary.¡± ¡°I am sitting with the mayor now. Just send it to me, and I will hand it over.¡± ¡°Excellent. It will be with you momentarily.¡± The dial dimmed again, and suddenly, a small ball of orange light appeared in front of Nexis. Nexis reached out into the light, and a cream-coloured envelope appeared as he did. He took it, removing it from the sphere, which instantly disappeared. Nexis handed the envelope over to Zigferd. The cream envelope was sealed with a bright red wax seal. Zigferd snapped the seal and removed the parchment inside, reading the content. He then handed it to Alice. Alice read the notary. ¡°It looks like we have permission to establish an auction house,¡± Zigferd beamed. ¡°Excellent. Then, we have the formalities over. Shall we go and visit the location?¡± Nexis asked. ¡°Alice, would you be willing to go with Nexis? I have Nevik coming to see me soon.¡± ¡°Of course, Mayor,¡± Alice replied, standing. ¡°Shall we?¡± Leaving the barracks, Nexis led them down to the Tailor''s shop on the eastern end of town, a few buildings from the edge. SJ spotted Fizzlewick inside speaking to a customer while Nexis walked by their side. It was a bizarre experience knowing that they were the same person. The final building leading out of town before the fields began heading to the forest was a single-story affair. It had once been a home but looked as though it was no longer lived in. Considering that the Hobs raids had used to come across the fields, it made sense that several of the extreme homes were empty. The buildings had previously been used mainly as a barrier, which SJ had never considered before. ¡°This plot here would be perfect, considering its proximity to the tailor shop. I would also be looking to purchase the other one that backs onto it and then expanding a warehouse area into the field here,¡± Nexis indicated what he had planned. ¡°Are you sure you wish to build on the edge of the town? We can¡¯t guarantee security to the same degree, and we have only recently recovered from a spate of raids and we are not sure what the future may bring yet,¡± Alice asked. ¡°Security won¡¯t be an issue. I will draw up plans for you. I just need to understand the cost for the buildings and land.¡± Alice took a small notebook and quill with an inkpot from her inventory and made a few notes. ¡°Due to the condition of these buildings, we can let them sell for a reduced price." Alice began pacing out the distances of the width and length of the plots. They were similar buildings, single-storey cottages separated at their rears by small gardens and a wall running along the side facing the field. ¡°What do you plan to do?¡± SJ asked Nexis. ¡°I will have them torn down and replaced with an auction house, then build the adjoining warehouse for storage. I am guessing from your information that the mine is on this side of town, making the movement of ore or ingots easier,¡± Nexis replied, winking at SJ, knowing full well where everything was. It didn¡¯t take long for Alice to make the notes, and they headed back to the barracks. ¡°I will get the paperwork drawn up for the transfer of the buildings, and then you can proceed with what changes you need to make,¡± Alice said, leaving them to continue back to the Inn. Chapter 87 - Fire SJ was unsure how long she had been asleep when Dave¡¯s voice boomed inside her head. ¡°WAKE UP NOW,¡± he screamed. When they had returned to the Inn, SJ had spent the day with Nexis as he drew out his plans for the auction house. It was like watching an architect at work. The details and design were amazing. SJ had been sure he could have just conjured the plan up but had enjoyed watching God at work as he planned and adjusted the designs. The main building would be single-storey, housing standard receiving areas for small goods. Several smaller offices were used for private viewings, and then, there was a larger side access for bulkier items, which was linked to a warehouse design. He had also spent time writing a request for builders, and SJ had promised she would see Terence about coming to do the carpentry work. The Auction House would initially require two tellers, four labourers and a transference controller. SJ had to ask what a transference controller did. Nexis had explained the requirement for a being of lawful good or lawful neutral alignment who could be trusted to establish the transference links necessary to the other auction houses. Surprisingly, they didn¡¯t need to be mages as the transference network was controlled centrally at the capital. Once the building is complete, Nexis would then be able to add the details to the auctioneer''s register. The evening had brought the usual influx of patrons, and it hadn¡¯t taken long for Nexis to be called upon to join the merriment, playing his violin. By the time SJ had retired for the evening, it had been getting late, and she wanted to make sure she was up early to attend claw training with Jurgen. Being disturbed so swiftly from her sleep, she shot up in bed, opening her eyes in panic. Coughing as she did, taking in a lung full of the thick, acrid smoke that was filling the room. ¡°At last. How did you not hear the explosion?¡± Dave said. ¡°What explosion? What¡¯s happening?¡± SJ said, confused, coughing, and rolling off the bed to the floor. She could remember back to her time at junior school when the local fire station had brought a large red fire truck and briefed them all on what to do if they were ever in a house fire by staying close to the floor. ¡°The whole Inn shook from the explosion, and you managed to sleep through it. The thatch has caught fire,¡± Dave replied. SJ looked up and could see the signs of flames eating at the underside of the thatched roof. Staying low, she crawled through to the other room. Grabbing her boots and dress from a chair where she had put them the previous evening. Wriggling into her dress and pulling her boots on. The flames were slowly eating away at the ceiling, and the beams'' pitch was beginning to bubble. The weather in Killic, apart from the one deluge of rain she had witnessed, was always dry and warm, which meant the thatch would be bone dry. She could hear a cry for help from another room. Coughing, she reached the door and fumbled, grabbing the handle. Unlocking the door, she threw it open. The corridor was empty, and she heard a scream from the room opposite. She was unaware of all those staying in the Inn, but several seemed to come and go regularly as people visited from Asterfal or the surrounding areas. ¡°Is anyone there?¡± she called, crawling over to the door. The smoke was now starting to fill the corridor. ¡°Help,¡± a male voice cried. SJ tried the handle, and it was unlocked. Trying to push the door open, only moving a few inches. ¡°It¡¯s blocked,¡± she called. ¡°A beam is blocking it,¡± the voice called. ¡°SJ,¡± Fhyliss called, coming from her accommodation and crawling along with Kerys close behind. ¡°A beam is blocking the door,¡± SJ called. ¡°We need Bert,¡± Kerys called. ¡°I can get in,¡± SJ said as she shrunk. Squeezing through the gap in the door, she entered the room. Inside, it reminded SJ of pictures of the bombings during the blitz in London. The rear of the room, where a wall had once been, was now missing. Scanning the room, a hole in the floor opened into the bar''s main area below. The ceiling that once existed was now open air. Scanning the room, she couldn¡¯t see anybody. ¡°Hello?¡± she called. ¡°Over here,¡± the male voice replied. Following the voice, SJ turned and saw an arm sticking out from under a large wardrobe that had toppled over. She moved over to the arm. Thankfully, the room was clear of smoke that had escaped into the night sky. The floor looked weakened, not just where the hole had been blown cleanly through it, and she took off flying over, not trusting walking across the fragile remains. Landing next to the overturned wardrobe, she grew and peered over the top to find the face of a young man. His hair looked scorched, and his face blackened. ¡°My arms are trapped. I can¡¯t push this thing off me,¡± he said. SJ bent, grabbed the wardrobe, and slowly strained to lift it. Her strength was nothing special. The furniture was solid oak or similar wood. It wasn¡¯t like the flatpack DIY she used to have back on Earth. The young man managed to move his arm and began helping to push it upwards until it was lifted high enough that he could wriggle out. SJ held the weight until he was clear, releasing it and huffing. Standing, the man took in the damage in the room. Flames still licked at the thatch at the edges where it had caught fire. There was no way that SJ or the man could move the thick beam that blocked the room''s only entrance. Moving to the edge of the remaining floor, SJ looked out to the street below, where the scattered remains of the glass, stonework and several furniture items were now strewn. A crowd had started to form at the rear of the Inn, and as they stood there, she felt the first signs of a deluge of water beginning to fall, noticing several beings flourishing their hands. One she recognised from the first day she had sought directions to the meadow, she thought his name was Kevin. SJ watched a cart with hay drawn up alongside the building as the water mages continued to make heavy clouds appear and fall onto the burning building, beginning to douse the flames. ¡°Can you jump down?¡± SJ asked the man. He looked down at the cart nervously before composing himself before leaping, landing with a heavy groan. As he did, SJ shrunk and took off, flying down, landing next to the cart, and growing again. Kerys, Fhyliss, and Bert had made it outside and around the back, looking at the damage wrought on the Inn. The young man began to climb from the back of the cart where he had landed when the furious form of Kerys stormed towards him. ¡°What on Amathera have you done to my Inn?¡± Kerys shouted, staring at the young, dishevelled, and singed man. His black hair was sticking up, and the streaks of soot on his face reminded SJ of cartoons where the villain''s bombs exploded in their faces. ¡°I did nothing,¡± he started to splutter in response. ¡°Then how do you explain that?¡± Kerys screamed at him, pointing at the Inn. When Kerys shouted, the young man winced and stepped back. It didn¡¯t help that Bert stood by her side with his towering, powerful form. ¡°I was only completing the instructions my master had given me," he stammered. ¡°What instructions? What were you asked to do?¡± Kerys continued to shout. ¡°I was supposed to mix and deliver them to an alchemist, Master Rui. I was following the instructions.¡± ¡°Are you really that stupid?¡± Kerys blurted. ¡°What?¡± the man replied, looking upset at the comment. ¡°You were asked to mix alchemical components delivered to an alchemist. Did anything ring in your head that seemed suspicious?¡± The man¡¯s cheeks went red, even under the soot covering his face. ¡°I didn¡¯t consider it. I am so sorry. I was just after the experience.¡± "Let me guess. You are a Legionnaire," Kerys huffed in annoyance. "I am why? What has that got to do with it?" he said defensively. ¡°Experience chasers with no consideration, that is why. What the hell did you even mix?¡± ¡°The solutions I was given,¡± he replied nervously. ¡°What solutions?¡± Kerys screamed, going from plain angry to furious. Her wrath was palpable, and the man winced at her outburst. ¡°Erm. One was called Plerus, and the other Santine,¡± he stammered. ¡°Plerus, you had Plerus in my Inn. It¡¯s one of the most unstable alchemical solutions you can handle. And you thought staying in my inn mixing alchemical solutions would be perfectly fine?¡± ¡°I was only completing a quest.¡± ¡°A quest that has destroyed my business," Kerys screamed, pointing her finger at him. ¡°I am sorry. I had no idea what would happen. I didn¡¯t know what they were capable of.¡± ¡°Do you bother asking or checking when taking on quests?¡± ¡°I had a list of instructions I was told to follow.¡± ¡°Do you still have them?¡± Darren dug the instructions from his pocket and handed them to Kerys. ¡°Watch out,¡± Dave said. SJ glanced, hearing the cracking of wood. The area where the wardrobe had fallen now slid from the building as the remaining floor gave way. ¡°Move,¡± SJ shouted, pushing the young man away as the wardrobe crashed onto the cart, splintering it. The burning wardrobe having set the straw on fire. One of the Mages moved their spell to cover the area, dampening the flames. It was strange watching black miniature storm clouds move around and empty their contents at will. Turning back, she saw the young man lying face-first on the ground where he had landed. ¡°Sorry,¡± SJ said, looking at his sprawled figure. This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. Rolling over, he climbed back to his feet and dusted himself down. ¡°Even new alchemists are informed of the dangers of certain components. Have you never been trained?¡± ¡°I only recently started.¡± Sighing deeply, Kerys closed her eyes for several seconds before opening them again. ¡°Who is going to pay for the damages to my Inn?¡± she continued berating the young man. Only the odd patch on the inn remained burning since most flames had been extinguished. Apart from the obvious damage caused by the explosion from the outside, the Inn didn¡¯t look too badly damaged. She wasn''t a structural engineer, so she couldn¡¯t be sure. ¡°I have money,¡± the young man answered. ¡°I can pay.¡± Kerys¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°How much?¡± she asked, hands on her hips, leaning towards him. ¡°How much will it cost to repair?¡± ¡°Bert?¡± Kerys asked, not taking her eyes off the young man. ¡°Erm. Structural integrity looks fine. Thatching is normally 3 copper per square foot. The whole roof needs replacing. The mason work for the walls, new beams, doors, decorating, flooring, any other damages ascertained due to the explosion, and compensation for lost business while repairs are underway. The standard work pattern should be able to get most things sorted in under a week if we get the full team on it. Ummmm¡­ I would say 3 gold and 18 silver should cover everything, including labour costs.¡± Bert said. ¡°Are your cousins free at the moment?¡± Kerys asked. ¡°Stan and Shirley are just finishing a new build by the docks. The new owners are not moving in for two weeks until they get married, so they have room in the calendar. I will go and speak to them.¡± ¡°That would be appreciated,¡± Kerys said. "Will do," Bert replied as he turned and walked off. The young man¡¯s face had become ashen once he heard the repair price. SJ¡¯s mouth opened in complete shock. She had known Bert since she arrived in town, and all she had ever assumed was that he was a bouncer at the bar. ¡°So, do you have the coin?¡± Kerys asked, raising her eyebrow. He began to fumble with his belt pouch and count out coins. Then, letting out a deep sigh, he withdrew something from his inventory and handed it to Kerys. ¡°Will this do as payment?¡± Kerys frowned, taking the object from him. SJ could not see what it was as it changed hands. ¡°Where did you get this?¡± Kerys asked, her face now registering shock. ¡°I acquired it and had been keeping it for a rainy day.¡± ¡°A rainy day. Do you know what you even have here?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°And you know how much they are worth?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Kerys lifted the round gem and pointed it towards the moonlight while peering at it. ¡°The cut looks good. Why have you never sold this?¡± ¡°I was saving it to place on the auction house when I needed to.¡± ¡°If you know the auction house process, you must know moonstones sell from 3 gold anywhere up to 7 for the purest cuts.¡± ¡°I am aware, yes. I have kept an eye on the prices.¡± ¡°What¡¯s a moonstone?¡± SJ asked, intrigued. ¡°Specialist Druids use them at higher levels. They are how you bond pets to owners,¡± Fhyliss said, speaking for the first time. ¡°Certain creatures are not pleased to be pets. Using a better cut moonstone can increase the success rate of them becoming as the owner wishes.¡± The comment about pets made SJ think about the Wyvern Eggs she had left in her room. ¡°I need to check my room,¡± SJ said, panicking. Sprinting around the side of the Inn, she walked in the front entrance. The smell of the burnt thatch hung heavy in the air, and water now dripped from the ceiling as though the inside of the building was raining. The damage downstairs was minimal, apart from where the floor had collapsed, leaving a hole looking up and out into the night sky. Thankfully, the room was nearer a corner of the Inn, so it was not directly over the main common room section. SJ cautiously made her way back up the stairs and to her room. The smoke had cleared, leaving a pungent, sweet, earthy smell from the burning thatch. Apart from the obvious missing thatch, the remainder of the structural beams appeared still in place. Walking into her room, she walked to her wardrobe. Removing the items she had been storing in there, she began sorting them out, placing the small chest with the Miniature Wyvern Eggs into her inventory as a priority. She removed a spare blanket from the wardrobe and dropped the remaining items she couldn¡¯t fit in her inventory onto it before bundling it up and carrying it back downstairs. The Mayor had arrived while she had been inside and now stood out of the front of the Inn with Kerys and the young man who looked terrified looking at the huge form of the Mayor. ¡°People make mistakes, Kerys. I am sure he didn¡¯t realise what he was doing,¡± the Mayor said. ¡°He should still be locked up. He is a menace to the town if he doesn¡¯t understand what he is handling.¡± ¡°Now. Now. Stay calm. I will deal with this. Please go and check on the damages inside. I will ensure that Wendil comes to see what is needed once he wakes up. We can¡¯t have the Inn out of action. It is the hub of the town.¡± ¡°That would be appreciated, Mayor. Bert will get his cousins to come and start repairs as well.¡± ¡°Good. There is not much more I can do here until the morning. I am sorry for the damage, but at least it appears salvageable,¡± the Mayor said. ¡°Bert believes so. Yes.¡± ¡°Okay. I will send Wendil in the morning. Good night again,¡± the Mayor said as he began to walk away. ¡°What about him?¡± Kerys said, pointing at the man. ¡°He isn¡¯t going anywhere,¡± he replied, smiling. SJ hadn¡¯t noticed, but two town guards had appeared at the man''s side, SJ recognising Greb. ¡°Come on,¡± Greb said, ushering the man towards the barracks. "You have some explaining to do so we can write the report.¡± Dropping his head, the man walked off with Greb and his colleague. SJ suddenly remembered that Shelly and Nexis had been staying in the Inn and had not seen either. ¡°Have you seen Shelly or Nexis?¡± she asked, panicking. Fhyliss turned to look at her. ¡°Yes. Shelly went to stay with her Uncle last night, and Nexis left when the bar closed. I have no idea where he went, though.¡± Being thankful that Shelly was safe, SJ walked over to one of the benches. She wasn¡¯t worried about Nexis, knowing that it was unlikely he could be damaged even if he had been present. Reaching the bench, she placed her belongings down, sitting heavily. Quite a gathering had turned out due to the incident, and as everything began to calm down, they started to walk off to their homes. Many muttered about being unable to get a drink or meal for the next few days. Kerys was busy talking to Fhyliss when Floretta appeared. ¡°Kitchen¡¯s serviceable,¡± Floretta said. ¡°Really?¡± Kerys replied, hopefully. ¡°Yes. No damage. The enchantment still held.¡± SJ was intrigued by the word enchantment. ¡°What enchantment?¡± SJ asked from where she sat. ¡°The kitchen is fireproofed for safety reasons,¡± Floretta replied, looking at her. Every snippet of information or details was another small revelation into the workings of the Amathera. She had never considered fireproofing or similar. ¡°Why only the kitchen?¡± ¡°Cost. Enchanters charge a lot of money for fireproofing, which must be renewed regularly due to mana seepage. Thankfully, it was only topped up a couple of weeks ago.¡± ¡°I bet it was Malaki who did this,¡± Kerys growled as she sat on the bench next to SJ, looking at the remains of her home and livelihood. ¡°Who is Malaki?¡± SJ asked. ¡°Malaki Fretun. He works in Asterfal for the chancellor. He has been after my rejuvinatus recipe for months, and I have always refused to accept his offers. Mayor Maxwell told me the other week about rumours he was planning something.¡± SJ could remember the conversation in the bar not long after she had arrived in Killic. She had seen the towering form of the Major speak to Kerys and had assumed at the time that he had been threatening her or something similar initially. ¡°Was that when he visited the bar that night?¡± SJ asked. ¡°Yes,¡± Kerys replied, nodding. ¡°He had heard through another councillor that Malaki was talking about getting hold of the recipe by any means as he wished to increase the productivity of Asterfal but reduce the costs of hiring. The last time I was in Asterfal, I had a run-in with him about it. It doesn¡¯t matter how often I have told the man, he doesn¡¯t take no for an answer. I have recently had several visits from his contacts pertaining to the purchase of the recipe. Each time, I have refused their offers. I am sure he is trying to drive my business under, so I have no option other than to accept his coin.¡± Kerys finished swearing vehemently. ¡°Are there no others that know the recipe?¡± SJ asked. ¡°It is a Gnomish brewer''s secret. Only those of Gnomish origin know the recipe, and we are all sworn under oath. My family''s oath binding is stronger than any to maintain secrecy, never mind the racial and profession oaths that also relate to it. Even if I wished to pass on the recipe and its details, I couldn¡¯t without death being a potential outcome.¡± ¡°I see. Is he not aware of this?¡± ¡°Of course he is, but Malaki doesn¡¯t care for others. He has only ever been interested in his own goals. He is an exceptionally skilled alchemist and has tried to replicate rejuvinatus himself, but he will never succeed. Thankfully.¡± ¡°He couldn¡¯t stumble upon it by chance or through research?¡± ¡°He could get close, but the side effects would be quite devastating if he did. Some processes must be followed that he will never consider in a million lifetimes. If I was able to tell you, you would understand why.¡± ¡°What are you going to do about it?¡± ¡°I need to wait until the guard questions that idiot who mixed the solutions. I can¡¯t believe he was so gullible as to fall for the plot. Unfortunately, over the years, I have met many who fall into the bracket of idiocy. At least in Killic, there are far fewer than when I lived in Asterfal.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t know you used to live in Asterfal.¡± ¡°I did for several years before moving to Killic to escape much of the chaos caused in the city. I also wanted to be away from the Guild''s control.¡± ¡°Guild?¡± ¡°Yes. In Asterfal, to be able to operate a bar, you need to be a member of a Brewers Guild, and I was sick of paying the cut they took on profits. So, I moved to Killic instead. It was the best decision I ever made going independent.¡± SJ looked at her display, now 03:00. ¡°I need to find somewhere to stay.¡± ¡°We all do,¡± Fhyliss replied, sadness in her eyes as she looked at the Inn. Chapter 88 – From above ¡°Alice,¡± SJ called, seeing her hurrying towards the Inn from the direction of the docks. ? ¡°I am so sorry it took me so long to get here. The sound didn¡¯t travel to the island,¡± Alice said. ? ¡°The island?¡± SJ asked, frowning. ¡°I live on the fisherman¡¯s isle.¡± SJ had no idea that Alice lived near Setu. There had only been a few homes on the Island. SJ could now understand Zigferd''s anger and frustration when the bridge was damaged if Alice had been stuck there. ¡°Kerys, here, take these,¡± Alice said, handing her some keys. The cottage opposite the Church hall is empty, and you can use it for now until the Inn is repaired.¡± ¡°Thanks. I will grab a few items and head over.¡± ¡°SJ. I received confirmation this afternoon after we separated. You need to sign the paperwork in the morning.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fantastic news, and the timing couldn¡¯t be better. Thank you, Alice,¡± SJ replied. ¡°Bert. Are you going to stay at your cousins?¡± ¡°I am,¡± he replied, nodding. ¡°Ok. Great, now to sort Floretta out.¡± ¡°She can stay with me,¡± SJ said. ¡°Are you sure? I wouldn¡¯t wish to impose,¡± Floretta replied. ¡°Of course, and there are some fruits you may be interested in,¡± SJ said. ¡°All those who had rooms. Will be accommodated at the Barracks,¡± Alice said. SJ hadn¡¯t paid any attention, but three others were still standing around the Inn. She had noticed Fhyliss speaking to them but had no idea they had been staying there. ¡°OK. Floretta, should we go to our new home,¡± SJ smiled. Walking away from the Inn, leaving Fhyliss and Kerys to sort the other patrons out with Alice, SJ led Floretta to the small cottage that she would be able to call her new home. Opening the cottage door, she found it furnished but bare of day-to-day items, and she would need to go to the market and get supplies tomorrow. ¡°This is very nice,¡± Floretta said. ¡°A previous council member moved back to Asterfal.¡± ¡°That must be Miss Prewitt,¡± Floretta said. ¡°Alice didn¡¯t tell me her name.¡± ¡°Miss Prewit was lovely. She had a caring soul and did everything she could for the town. I was sad to hear she was leaving when her sister fell ill. It has been a while now, though, since she left. I am surprised that this place has been empty for so long.¡± ¡°I need to get some sleep. I think I have had enough excitement for one night,¡± SJ said. ? ¡°I will just be in the lounge,¡± Floretta said. ¡°Do you not want to use the bedroom at the back?¡± ¡°No. I am good. I have a book to read, so I will sit here,¡± Floretta answered, sitting in one of the chairs at a small dining table. ¡°If you wish,¡± SJ smiled, walking into the bedroom. The bedroom had a large double bed, and SJ dropped the blanket with her belongings on the floor, tipped them out, and then climbed onto the bed, wrapping herself in it. It took her moments for sleep to take her. The smell that filled SJ¡¯s nostrils was the heavenly scent of fried Hogling. Sitting up on the bed, she heard whistling. Walking through the lounge area, she noticed that it was empty. Making her way down the short hallway to the kitchen at the rear of the cottage. The kitchen was small, and SJ opened the door to see Floretta cooking a wholesome breakfast. ¡°Morning,¡± SJ said. ¡°Morning,¡± Floretta replied, turning and smiling. ¡°I thought you may like some food, and I thought it only fair after you allowed me to stay here.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t need to, and where did you get the food from?¡± ¡°I went back to the Inn and took what I needed. It¡¯s my pantry, after all. The water is just heating for coffee.¡± SJ walked over to the stovetop, where a kettle was sat as it began to boil. Picking it up, she placed it down, allowing it to cool briefly before making the coffee. A barista boyfriend back on Earth had told her never to make coffee with boiling water, and it had stuck ever since. ¡°Go through to the lounge. I will bring it through in a few minutes when finished,¡± Floretta said. SJ wasn¡¯t going to argue and returned to the lounge area, sitting at the small dining table. Looking out of the window, she saw that the sun was already bright in the sky, and she checked her display. It was nearly 10:00, which was much later than she usually got up, but considering the disruption from the fire, she felt she needed it. Floretta walked through from the kitchen, whistling a merry tune, and placed the perfect-looking full breakfast on the table for her. ¡°Enjoy,¡± Floretta said. SJ¡¯s mouth watered at the sight, replying, ¡°Thanks,¡± she took her cutlery from her inventory and began to eat. ¡°I will go to the Inn later and see if we can still get food sales, at least. I moved some of the tables and chairs out this morning and should still be able to serve from the kitchen into the garden at the rear. At least that way, Kerys and Fhyliss will still have income.¡± ¡°That sounds great,¡± SJ replied, grabbing mouthfuls of delicious fried Hogling and mushrooms. After finishing the breakfast, she sat back in her chair and patted her stomach. ¡°I could get used to this.¡± ¡°Ha. I bet you could. You don¡¯t always have a full breakfast. Only normally twice a week, the other mornings you have either toast or cereal, and rarely porridge.¡± SJ looked at Floretta before replying. ¡°I assume you know what most people eat?¡± ¡°I know all the regulars.¡± ¡°That must make it easier to provide for them.¡± ¡°I pretty much know what I need daily. Only occasionally do things change. Most have their favourites that they stick to.¡± ¡°I will have to tell you more of the recipes from Earth and see if there are any more you can create here on Amathera. That reminds me: a Grapey tree is in the rear garden.¡± ¡°I had forgotten about Miss Prewitt¡¯s tree. I hope someone has been looking after it.¡± ¡°Seeing how the cottage was left, someone has maintained it. I don¡¯t know who, though I must speak to Alice and find out.¡± ¡°Probably Kevin. He is the most dab hand at gardening, even better than many druids.¡± ? ¡°Is that his profession, then?¡± ¡°Yes. He is a mage who is so negative about other mages that I always chuckle. He always has a go at enchanters, which many mages are. He has a habit of hurling abuse regularly at the academy mages but is one himself as a water mage, although only low level. He only uses it to support his gardening, but it is somewhat contradictory.¡± ¡°Are you able to make anything special with the Grapey?¡± SJ asked. ¡°I am, yes,¡± Floretta smiled her skeletal smile. ¡°I can make Hogling jerky.¡± ¡°Jerky? With a fruit?¡± ¡°Yes. It goes well with Hogling and gives it a sweetness to support the meaty taste of the strips when dried. It also gives nice bonuses.¡± ¡°Oh. When I arrived, you made that pie with the Bellpops, but I never used it as it went off in my inventory. Jerky I am guessing lasts a long time?¡± ¡°It does, yes. Once made, it will last for about a year, although it starts to lose its potency over time.¡± A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. ¡°What bonuses does it grant?¡± ¡°It will imbue someone that eats it with +5 constitution for 8hrs.¡± ¡°That¡¯s amazing! That is a huge step in health.¡± ¡°It is. Grapey is so highly sought after if you can get a fruit-growing tree. The fruit growing is the rarity.¡± ¡°How long does it take to make?¡± SJ asked, excited at the thought of boosting her constitution so easily. ¡°That is the downside. As it is a Jerky, it takes over a month to cure and flavour properly.¡± ? Considering how long SJ may live in her new life, a month was a mere second in comparison. ¡°That isn¡¯t too long. If we get some from the tree, could you make some?¡± ¡°Of course, it would be my pleasure to make some. There are very few ingredients around this territory that can add bonuses to anything when cooked.¡± Considering the potential of the benefits that food could bring and the buffs they may induce was something SJ knew from games but hadn¡¯t even considered since the initial Bellpop pie. It was a profession to keep at hand, and having a Master level chef was a huge bonus for the town, which she believed was not being fully used or appreciated. ¡°Is the Mayor or others aware of the benefits you can get from your cooking?¡± ¡°Several are, but the ingredients are rare or costly for most items.¡± ¡°Food items are a massive thing in large cities with a population large enough to justify the outlay,¡± Dave interjected. ¡°Here in Killic, though, it is so small a population in comparison that there isn¡¯t the same need or uptake, especially as they have no dungeon or similar near here that they can use as justification.¡± ¡°Floretta. Do you know how large the population of Asterfal is?¡± ¡°I am unsure, but I think it is nearly 30,000.¡± ¡°Wow. That is much larger than I expected.¡± ¡°It is a large city. Not the largest as the cities further north are much larger, but for the Southern region, it is the largest by far.¡± ¡°Is the population that sparse here?¡± ¡°It is not that the population is sparse; it is more that there are many more tribal or clan-based factions in the south than in the north. The northern region around the capital is diverse and heavily populated.¡± ¡°You have been to the capital?¡± ¡°Yes. I worked there for a while, many, many years ago now. I was the personal cook for a guild until it went under.¡± ¡°Went under?¡± ¡°It collapsed because the guild leader syphoned off too much of the income from the members. There was a revolt and a dispute that caused it to collapse.¡± Guilds were still a way off from SJ¡¯s consideration until she reached level 20, but because the town had now increased its base level and allowed an auction house, she would need to speak to Zigferd about the potential for guilds. There was so much to consider with the continuing expansion plans of the town and what it may entail, and SJ had decided the more they could plan, the better. If the next trigger occurred when she reached level 20 in the town, she would want them to be ready. ¡°I am going to head to the Inn and see what is happening this morning,¡± SJ said. ¡°If you see Fhyliss or Kerys, let them know I will be over for lunch to cook as usual. I think we will still get a few patrons coming through.¡± ¡°I will do,¡± SJ replied as she stood to leave. Leaving the cottage and heading back towards the Inn, SJ suddenly had a thought. ¡°Dave?¡± ¡°Yep.¡± ¡°The territory increased in level when I reached level 10. Does that mean if a Legionnaire who is level 20 comes here, they will trigger the next border changes?¡± ¡°Ooooooo. That is a very interesting question.¡± ¡°Dave?¡± Silence. ? Dave didn¡¯t reply for several minutes. ¡°Sorry. I raised an immediate concern, which meant it went straight to the adjudicator panel. I have the answer, and it is no. Only a Legionnaire who originally started in a location can increase the threshold further.¡± ¡°They were able to tell you that?¡± ¡°Yep. It is the first time I have interacted with them since the border alignment. Apparently, the adjudicators are more well-informed than us Administrators!¡± ¡°They know what is happening then?¡± ¡°Nope. I asked that question. They are only being given specific details about the changes. I am guessing that Fizzlewick probably knows more than they do.¡± It still amazed SJ that one of Amathera¡¯s beings, even if a God, could know more than those supposedly overseeing the interfacing. ¡°I wish he would tell us.¡± ¡°I bet he couldn¡¯t even if he wanted to. If he knows details, he will be under a stricter Oath than anything you will probably ever see.¡± ¡°If a Legionnaire who started in an area is the only method of triggering growth, that means I am the town''s only hope for it to continue.¡± The realisation hit SJ like a train. She had personally disposed of the other two Legionnaires in the town who had originally started there and, to her knowledge, was the only one who could potentially trigger the next growth effect. ¡°Do you know if I left the area, it would stop the impact of the growth?¡± ¡°I asked that same question already, and no. As long as you are alive and levelling, whichever town you originated in will continue to expand territories as you level, whether you stay here or not.¡± ¡°That means several towns may not even know what will happen to them.¡± ¡°I agree. It will bring a little more chaos to Amathera.¡± ¡°A little! It will be like playing roulette and never knowing when the ball will land on your number.¡± ¡°Roulette. Now that is a game I enjoy playing,¡± Dave sighed deeply. ¡°Sorry. That was a bad reference to make.¡± ¡°There''s no need to apologise; I need to deal with it. I have stayed clean long enough now, and I have you to keep me busy,¡± Dave replied cheerily. ¡°I am assuming that new Legionnaires are starting in more advanced areas,¡± SJ said. ¡°Unlikely. There are five continents, remember, and from what I am aware, only this continent is being trialled. That means there are still many starter towns that can be used outside of the influence of the sandbox.¡± A screeching sound suddenly filled the air, SJ wincing as her heightened hearing picked up the horrendous sound. ¡°What was that?¡± SJ said. ¡°Oh no. I was afraid of this.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°It seems we have a cross-border visitor.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± As SJ asked, a swift-moving beast flew over the street she walked down. She ducked instinctively from the cast shadow. ¡°Wyvern,¡± Dave answered. SJ stared at the sky above but could see nothing as the surrounding buildings blocked her view. A harrowing scream came from up ahead, and she began to run towards the sound. Others who had been on the street stood looking skyward. ¡°Wyverns are vicious predators. I didn¡¯t catch its level, but they are normally 30 plus.¡± ? Turning the street corner and following the shouting that had erupted, SJ came onto a horrendous scene. An orc lay face down, blood pouring from wounds that had been torn across its back. A Gnoll guard SJ recognised screamed for them to grab him and get him off the street. Looking up, SJ saw what could only be classed as a Dragon soaring above the town and turning back towards where the members had gathered. SJ ran towards them as another guard member pointed a crossbow at them. The wyvern let out another screech as it again swooped towards where they stood. The guard released his bolt, and it flew towards the wyvern, who saw it coming and twisted its path, continuing its dive towards them. ¡°MOVE,¡± SJ screamed. Those near the fallen orc began to scatter, some grabbing his bleeding body as the wyvern approached. SJ had no ranged weapons. As those on the immediate street were moving, the guard who had fired stood reloading his crossbow. He wasn¡¯t paying attention to the Wyvern cursing as he wound the loading mechanism. It looked like a heavy crossbow with a very slow loading time. SJ had witnessed them being used at the training ground. As the wyvern swooped, SJ turned and sprinted towards the guard who was the wyvern''s target. Hurtling into his side as the wyvern reached him, talons extended, the guard was unceremoniously pushed to the side, staggering and groaning from the force of SJ¡¯s hit. It meant SJ was now standing in the guard¡¯s position, and the wyvern¡¯s talons struck true. The force of the impact and the immediate pain from the flying beast''s strike made SJ scream as she was flung backwards, sending her hurtling towards one of the building walls. Her display flashed madly as she crashed into the wall. It could not have been a killing blow as her precognition hadn''t triggered, but it didn''t stop the sheer agony she felt now. Banging her head against the stone surface, she saw stars and slid to the ground. ¡°STAY AWAKE,¡± Dave screamed at her as she lapsed into the bliss of unconsciousness, removing the pain. Chapter 89 – Wyvern The screech from the wyvern brought chaos to the streets of Killic. Townsfolk immediately ran for cover and got indoors as quickly as they could. It had struck in three places, and the orc, which had received its initial strike, had unfortunately succumbed to his wounds with no healers nearby. It stood on the roof of one of the buildings, screeching, its talons digging deeply into the thatch. ¡°SJ,¡± Dave screamed. SJ slowly came to. She had been grabbed by two of the town and was now lying on her back in the hall of someone¡¯s home. Panic and cries could be heard, and as she slowly began to regain her thoughts and lose the dizziness she was feeling, she sat up. ¡°Thank the gods,¡± Dave said. Looking around, she knew none of the beings in front of her well. She had seen them around the town but never spoken to them. A large bugbear knelt at her side. ¡°You, ok? That was a nasty hit you took. Absolute stupidity, I might add,¡± he said, smiling at her. ¡°I think I will be,¡± she replied wincing at the pain from the talon strikes, her dress was covered in blood where she had been pierced in her abdomen as she had been thrown backwards by the force of the impact and her head pounded. She placed her hand on her head and felt the matted hair from the cut she must have received after hitting the wall with such force. Her head felt like cotton wool, and her health was reduced by three-quarters from the one strike by the wyvern. Her dress was slowly repairing itself, and the tears from the talons and the blood were beginning to disappear. The bugbear looked in amazement as it self-repaired. ¡°Neat trick,¡± he said. ¡°Did the gnoll survive?¡± ¡°He ran into a house on the far side of the street. Thanks to you for saving him. He owes you a drink.¡± ¡°Ha.¡± SJ winced again, her head throbbing. ¡°I need a health potion. I don¡¯t suppose you have any?¡± ¡°No, sorry.¡± Grunting, she got to her feet. She was not in active combat and knew that her dragon blood would boost her healing process, but damn did it hurt. Standing, she approached the front door and peered out of the open doorway. Glancing up and down the street, she could not see the wyvern. ¡°Do you know where it went?¡± ¡°No. I am not sure where it is now.¡± ¡°I need to get to the barracks. We need guards to take this thing out.¡± ¡°I am sure they will already be doing what they can.¡± ¡°Thank you for dragging me from the street,¡± SJ said, turning to look at the bugbear. He didn¡¯t reply. He just nodded in response. Glancing back onto the street, SJ could hear the wyvern screech. Thankfully, it didn¡¯t sound too close. Taking a chance, she stepped outside and looked up at the sky. She could not see the beast and went to shrink to her miniature form, pain flashing across her abdomen where she had been struck. She stopped the process, wincing and remained her larger size. She had not felt the pain before when transforming and concern flared in her mind. ¡°I am going to the barracks. Thanks,¡± she said as she darted from the building. She held her hand across her stomach as she moved, her abdomen tender. She could still feel the dampness of blood caused by her movement as the wounds still hadn¡¯t closed fully. "Why does it hurt to transform?" she said as soon as she was out of earshot. "You have puncture wounds that nearly went through you from the strike. Having a cut arm or leg is one thing. Having holes in your abdomen from a wyvern''s talons is a little different. Your internal organs would have taken damage rather than just your skin and muscles. The pain thresholds are different. You could still transform, but it would be much more painful. The damage you took during the battle when you were swooping and attacking was minimal and occurred over time rather than from a single hit. The pain will reduce further as you continue to heal out of combat. Maybe try again in a bit." Dave replied. The thought of her organs being punctured did not sit well with her, but it wasn''t preventing her from moving apart from the flash of pain in her abdomen. ¡°Any ideas where the wyvern is?¡± she said. ¡°It¡¯s two streets over on a rooftop. Just sitting there screeching,¡± Dave replied. Having Dave¡¯s vision was proving invaluable. Staying close to the building sides, SJ hurried along the street. The barracks were on the other side of town from where she was now. The streets were empty, and SJ saw several faces peering out of windows or doorways, looking skyward. ¡°Did you get its level?¡± SJ asked. ¡°It is 31,¡± Dave replied. ¡°There is no way we can fight something so strong. I can¡¯t do anything against something like that.¡± ¡°Unlikely. The mages may be able to affect it, but really, you need archers and rangers. Even if they can¡¯t kill it, it should eventually leave if they can hit it enough. They hate receiving damage.¡± ¡°That is, if anything can even damage it.¡± It took SJ several minutes to work through the streets, hearing the wyvern screech but not seeing any sight of it. ¡°What is it doing?¡± she asked. ¡°It''s just sitting there, doing nothing. It is probably just waiting for someone stupid enough to go outside¡ªa little like yourself,¡± Dave chuckled nervously. "Oh, hang on, it¡¯s airborne again.¡± SJ stopped and moved to the side of the building she had been passing, standing under a small lean-to where an owner kept chopped firewood. Peering into the sky, she spotted the beast circling the town again. It was miniature compared to Bob¡¯s humungous form but still large enough to strike fear. Its wingspan must have been almost thirty feet, its body slighter and more snake-like. It also didn¡¯t have forelegs like a dragon. SJ couldn¡¯t be sure from the range she was, but it looked greenish. SJ knew that with her identification skills, being able to work 20 levels higher than her own, she should be able to get more details on the creature. Unsure it would work at her current distance. Triggering her skill, it didn¡¯t work initially, and she watched the timer cooldown on her skill before trying again as it swooped lower over the town. Mottled Wyvern Level: 31 Hit points: 415 Mana points: 0 Armour Class: 42 Attacks: Talons/Bite Special: Acid ¡°That thing is untouchable,¡± SJ let out a low whistle as she read the details. ¡°What does its acid special mean?¡± ¡°They have various special attacks depending upon the variant, like Dragons and their abilities, but on a much lesser scale. Mottled wyverns are the commonest of their species. They are susceptible to fire damage, which plays havoc with their acidic blood.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good to know. I still need to reach the barracks.¡± Watching the path of the wyvern, SJ continued her movements, darting from one piece of cover to the next as she continued. The wyvern suddenly screeched again, and SJ glanced, seeing it disappear down another street to her left. Taking advantage, she began to sprint the final distance. Her wounds were healing well, the tenderness in her abdomen easing, and her dress had been repaired and cleaned. At least she no longer felt like the torn piece of meat she had been before. She did not slow as she approached the barracks entrance, ploughing through the door. The guard standing on the other side shouted in shock and surprise. Captain Broadaxe stood in the main area, shouting orders to guards filing down towards the armoury. Lorna was busy talking to two other guards who were holding very long pikes, the pikes nearly twenty feet in length. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. SJ hurried over to the Captain. Ballentine noticed her coming, finished shouting his last instruction and turned to her. ¡°SJ. What are you doing here?¡± ¡°I am here to help if I can. I know it¡¯s a level 31 Mottled Wyvern and is susceptible to fire damage.¡± ¡°You know it¡¯s weakness? I didn¡¯t realise your identification skill was so high,¡± Ballentine replied, surprised. SJ didn''t reply, so Ballentine turned to one of the attendants. ¡°Get me cloth swabs and oil now,¡± Ballentine shouted. The attendants, who would normally be sitting at a desk doing his daily work, jumped at the order. Springing to his feet, he ran towards the armoury, sending one of the guards flying, who was just heading back up the corridor with a bow and quiver in hand. ¡°Have you fought these before?¡± SJ asked. ¡°Never,¡± Ballentine replied. ¡°I have fought hatchling red dragons but never a wyvern. I am deploying the same tactics.¡± ¡°They also spit acid, so the guards need to be aware.¡± Ballentine hurried the guard to sort themselves out, and they began to move towards the entrance. The double doors were opened, and he stood looking outside up to the sky. The screech of the wyvern carried easily over the quiet streets of the town. ¡°Ok. We fan out and line up on the street sides. It can¡¯t swoop to attack if we are against the walls.¡± ¡°Here,¡± the attendant whom Ballentine had ordered panted as he ran forward carrying a bucket of oil and a cloth roll under his arm. ¡°Before you go out, those with bows must make burners.¡± Only half a dozen had bows, and one of them started to move forward to take the cloth. SJ watched as he removed a knife from his belt and started to cut the cloth into strips that could be soaked in oil. ¡°Here,¡± SJ said as she equipped her claws. ¡°Hold it, taught.¡± The guard and attendant held the cloth stretched between them as SJ pierced the material and cut it into strips much faster than a single knife blade could. ¡°Thanks,¡± the guard replied. Taking the cloth strips, the other archers began to remove arrows and wrap the cloth tightly around the ends before soaking them in the oil from the bucket. ¡°Ready?¡± Ballentine asked. ¡°Sir,¡± came the reply from several guards. ¡°On my order, we move out and line the street sides. Ready, move.¡± The guards streamed from the barracks entrance and split to both sides of the approaching street. The wyvern was not visible now, and as they reached their positions, SJ watched from the barracks doorway as a couple of the crossbow wielders took flint and steel and began striking them to support the archers, setting their wrapped arrows alight. The whole town appeared silent apart from the wyvern¡¯s screech and the sound of flint and steel being struck. Nothing was making a sound. ¡°You need bait,¡± Dave said. ¡°Wyverns are not the most intelligent of beings, and if you can draw it to attack, it will allow the archers to strike.¡± SJ groaned, knowing exactly what Dave meant. She shrunk to her miniature form, not receiving the same pain she had previously when she had tried, and flew out of the barracks door. She turned up immediately and headed towards the roof of the three-storey building. As she flew past a window, she saw the wide-eyed face of the gnome who worked on the miniature town staring out at her. Reaching the roof, she quickly landed and scanned the sky. The wyvern circled above the far side of the town, where SJ thought she remembered there being livestock. It suddenly dove out of sight and moments later reappeared, this time with a cow in its talons. SJ could hear the panicked mooing sound of terror as the beast was taken. It carried it upwards, beating its wings before releasing it. The bovine cried as it plummeted back towards the ground, smashing into and through the roof of a building. ¡°I need to get its attention somehow,¡± SJ said. She took off again and began to fly straight towards it, diving low down to the roofs of the buildings. ¡°Of all the stupid things to be doing, flying towards something that could eat me for lunch,¡± she sighed as she continued. Compared to her miniature 6-inch form, it looked like a mountain, its huge leathery wings accentuating its body size dramatically. As close as she was getting now, its skin reminded her of that of a python with its mottled colouring and green-brown tones. It had not noticed her yet, and she was only a few streets away from it now. ¡°Don¡¯t get too close. They are fast when they want to be. You need lead time to keep away from it,¡± Dave warned. ¡°It¡¯s not paying attention, though.¡± ¡°Land, grow and then get ready to run like your life depends on it. Which it will,¡± Dave added unhelpfully. Dropping to the nearest rooftop, she checked her footing on the thatch and then grew, not taking her eyes from the direction the wyvern was in. It had circled away again, heading out of the town area slightly as it did. ¡°Damn. It seems to be moving away,¡± SJ said. ¡°It won¡¯t go far, if anywhere. Once they have found an area to hunt, they are quite persistent unless driven off or killed,¡± Dave said. SJ stood on the roof and began to shout and wave her arms. She hoped to draw its attention in her brilliant green dress at least. It flew out over the fields and began to turn as it neared the windmill. SJ saw a flash of blue streak into the sky, followed by another of red. ¡°It looks like it found the mage academy,¡± SJ said. The wyvern let out another screech, which, even in the distance, still made SJ¡¯s ears ring as it headed back towards town. That is when it saw her. SJ began to run as she saw the creature''s gaze fall on her and its trajectory change. Running to the building edge, she began to shrink to her miniature form and threw herself off the side. As she finished, her bright green form still drew the wyvern''s attention. She flew as fast as she could towards the barracks, where the guards lay in wait. ¡°Faster. It¡¯s gaining on you,¡± Dave shouted. Glancing over her shoulder, SJ could see the speed at which the beast moved. Its wings were tucked in like that of a diving bird. It had been higher than the rooftops, so it had approached her at a slight decline, increasing its speed as it did. SJ gritted her teeth and flew as fast as she possibly could, her wings now humming the speed she moved them, fear coursing through her. She zipped over the building tops until she reached the street of the barracks before diving down and skimming the street''s surface. ¡°Get ready,¡± she screamed as loud as she could. Ballentine and the other guards suddenly saw the bright green missile of SJ fly down the centre of the street, which was immediately followed by the snake-like head of the wyvern. The guards were a little slow on the uptake, and several didn¡¯t even manage to react before the wyvern passed their location. Others further down the street had time, and missiles began to get fired towards it. SJ watched the flash of bolts soar by her as at least three burning arrows also did so. She didn¡¯t know how many had fired, but the sudden draught she felt behind her as the wyvern adjusted its flight path and began to rise again into the air told her that it was moving out of the missile''s path. She reached the main barracks entrance door and flew straight inside before stopping under the shelter of the building. Panting from the exertion, she turned and looked back outside. Only two of the projectiles had struck the beast, one of them a burning arrow embedded in its leg. As it flew, it tilted its head down, tearing the arrow from its limb. It continued to shriek as it circled upwards out of range of the archers, SJ watching them attempt to fire at it, their arrows falling short and back down to the ground. ¡°That didn¡¯t work as well as I hoped,¡± SJ said. ¡°Maybe we should have informed them what the plan was first,¡± Dave said, chuckling nervously. ¡°Grrrrrrr,¡± SJ replied, annoyed at her stupidity for not even letting them know. She had been so caught up in getting its attention that she hadn¡¯t even informed anyone what she was going to do. That was why so many were not ready for its appearance. "I doubt it will work a second time.¡± ¡°They are pretty stupid beasts. If you attract its attention again, it will likely attack,¡± Dave said. SJ flew back outside again and straight over to where Ballentine stood with a heavy crossbow. He had just finished reloading it. ¡°Sorry. I should have said what I was going to do,¡± SJ said as she approached. ¡°No problem. I just wish we had more archers and rangers available. As fighters, we are not skilled in archery, and these crossbows do not reload fast enough to allow for successive attacks.¡± The wyvern screeched again as it now hovered high above the street. She noticed it suddenly draw its head back and then throw it forward as though spitting. ¡°Duck,¡± Dave shouted as the green ball of acid came hurtling downwards towards where she and Ballentine stood. She flew sideways, screaming at Ballentine to move. He dove out of the way at the last second as the ball of acid struck the wooden door that he had been standing in front of. Its acid sizzled against the surface, charring the wood. She turned and looked again as it spat towards another position where guards stood by the wall. One of the guards did not react quickly enough to dive out of the way in time as the ball of acid struck him in his leg. Screaming in pain, he fell to the floor. Another guard grabbed him and dragged him back towards the wall edge. A door opened from one of the homes they were stood by, and the guard was immediately dragged inside. ¡°We need more than this,¡± Ballentine said. That was when a blazing arrow suddenly hurtled towards the wyvern. It screeched in response and tried to jink out of the way, but this arrow flew with unnatural precision and speed. It lodged itself in the beast''s wing arm. The wyvern wailed in frustration as the flame from the arrow slowly began to spread onto its wing. The wyvern reacted by diving downwards, the draft caused by its sudden descent, making the flames flicker and dim as the draft extinguished them. That was when SJ saw him. Standing in the doorway to the jail was the half-elf who had managed to blow the Inn up. He held a glowing short bow in his hands and again took aim at the wyvern. The arrow tip on the bow began to glow a blue colour, and he released it as the wyvern neared. The wyvern had no chance to react, moving down quickly, and the arrow struck it in its elongated neck. That was when the effect took hold. The scene reminded SJ of people she had seen tasered on Earth as a flash of blue lightning erupted across the surface of the wyvern, making it spasm and lose control. It hurtled towards the roof of a building and crashed into the roof, disappearing into its interior. SJ heard screams from the building as the wyvern''s head reappeared above the remaining wall. With effort, it jumped and flapped from the debris until it could jump again into the air and fly. Another flaming arrow again sped towards it, successfully striking it from the half-elf. SJ noticed Zigferd standing in the jail entrance behind the half-elf. The wyvern cried again as it flapped its wings, cascading dust and debris from the building across the street, and took off, gaining height. They watched as the beast moved away from the town area and towards the mountains to the north. ? Chapter 90 – Darren As the wyvern continued to move away from the town, Ballentine began shouting orders to the guards. ¡°Get the clerics now. I want all those injured across the town treated. I also want you four to check the building that the wyvern landed on. The rest of you need to start cleaning the streets, and I also want the livestock herd checked out. Tell Gregor to ensure that any livestock is moved into the barns immediately. I am sure we all saw the flying cow. Find out where it came down and check for injuries,¡± he called. SJ grew to her human size and looked at the devastation of the building where the wyvern had crashed. The front wall was at a precarious angle, and she was surprised it hadn¡¯t collapsed fully from the impact of the beast landing inside it. Still glancing towards the wyvern, she ensured it was still heading away from town. ¡°It will be back,¡± Dave said. SJ walked some distance from Ballentine before whispering. ¡°How do you know?¡± ¡°It is a predator, after all, and the town is an easy source of food for it, especially with livestock. I am surprised it didn¡¯t just take one of the cows and leave.¡± ¡°These changes and monster levels could get very dangerous very quickly.¡± SJ saw Zigferd place his hand on the half-elf¡¯s shoulder, nod at him, and watch as he slung his bow over his shoulder and then turned, re-entering the jail area. Watching him lead back inside after what he had just done for the town concerned SJ, and she headed straight over. Entering the jail area, Zigferd stood at the desk with the half-elf talking to him. ¡°If you sign here and here,¡± SJ watched Zigferd indicate. ¡°Then you are free to go.¡± The half-elf picked up the quill from the desktop and, dipping into a pot of ink, scrawled his signature as requested. ¡°Thank you. Make sure that you don¡¯t do anything else stupid while in town,¡± Zigferd warned. The half-elf looked at the huge form of Zigferd, and his shoulder sagged. ¡°It was an accident. I honestly had no idea what may happen.¡± ¡°I know that. It¡¯s obvious that Master Fretun got you to do it and wasn¡¯t expecting you to survive or to be able to inform anyone,¡± Zigferd replied. Turning, Zigferd noticed SJ. ¡°SJ. What brings you here?¡± he asked, smiling. ¡°I just came to see who saved the town from the wyvern attack,¡± SJ replied. ¡°Well, Darren here just happens to be a ranger with experience fighting wyvern,¡± Zigferd replied. ¡°He has. It¡¯s good to know that there is someone in town to help with it. I am guessing it will be back at some point,¡± SJ said. ¡°I hope not too soon,¡± Zigferd said. Darren was still in the same state he had been the previous evening. His face was covered in black streaks from the fire and the explosion in his room. His clothes were unkempt, and he looked dishevelled. ¡°I''m going to see if any of my stuff survived the explosion,¡± Darren said as he headed to the door. ¡°Level 20 Legionnaire,¡± Dave said. ¡°Level 20,¡± SJ said in surprise. Darren stopped, turning to look at her. ¡°You could have asked,¡± he snapped angrily. ¡°Asked what?¡± SJ said, shocked by his response. ¡°To identify me before going ahead and doing it,¡± Darren replied. ¡°I didn¡¯t,¡± SJ spluttered defensively from the anger in Darren¡¯s voice. ¡°Then how do you know what level I am?¡± he asked, scrutinising her. ¡°That is a separate story. Let me accompany you to the Inn, and I can explain it.¡± ¡°Whatever,¡± he replied, shrugging as he walked out of the jail. ¡°SJ. Please keep an eye on him,¡± Zigferd said as she followed Darren out of the door. Darren was walking off down the street, ignoring the guards and others who had now come out to clean up the mess left by the wyvern. SJ hurried to catch him up. ¡°Wait,¡± she said as she got to his side. ¡°Wait for what? To be thrown in jail again and locked up. I don¡¯t think so. I am going to get my things and leave this dump of a town,¡± he snapped. ¡°Dump of a town,¡± SJ repeated angrily. ¡°This dump of a town, as you call it, is my home, and I don¡¯t take kindly to someone from out of town coming here and saying otherwise.¡± ¡°How would you feel after the way I have been treated?¡± ¡°Typical Legionnaire. All he thinks about is himself,¡± Dave said. ¡°Treated? You blew up the Inn, which happened to be my home, and you don¡¯t see me having a go at you, do you,¡± SJ retorted, frowning. ¡°I paid for the damages and apologised. I am unsure why I spent the night in the cells.¡± ¡°Precaution, probably. Would you let someone who had just caused an explosion walk off without questioning them?¡± Darren stopped and turned to look at SJ, his eyes narrowed and filled with anger. SJ stood, looking back at him with a blank expression showing no malice toward him. His face began to soften slightly. ¡°At least you aren¡¯t looking at me as though I am a piece of dirt,¡± he grumbled. ¡°I have no reason to look at you any other way. I am more interested in finding out about you being a Legionnaire.¡± ¡°So how do you know I am level 20 Legionnaire if you didn¡¯t identify me?¡± he asked, pursing his lips and looking at her, expecting to hear a lie. ¡°I know what level you are because I am also a Legionnaire with an administrator who speaks to me. I guess yours doesn¡¯t,¡± SJ said, smiling. His eyes went wide. ¡°All administrators talk to their Legionnaires, but mine has never given me any details about anything useful.¡± ¡°Erm. My Administrator may not be that normal,¡± SJ said, shrugging. ¡°Hey. I can hear you, you know,¡± Dave complained. ¡°What do you mean not normal?¡± ¡°He is a little sarcastic.¡± ¡°I am. I have a first in sarcasm,¡± Dave replied smugly. ¡°Sarcastic. My administrator rarely speaks, and when it does, it''s in the most annoying metallic voice.¡± ¡°He must have an old model. They are rather boring to talk to. I wonder who he has?¡± Dave mused. ¡°Dave wonders who you have and says they must be an old AI model. He even said that they can be rather boring to talk to.¡± ¡°Dave?¡± ¡°My administrator.¡± ¡°He has a name?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not his official name, but I couldn¡¯t keep calling him blah blah blah or whatever his designation was. I couldn¡¯t remember it for a start.¡± ¡°How can he speak to you about levels though?¡± Darren asked, frowning. ¡°Dave can do much more than that. He is my best friend in Amathera and always helps me out.¡± ¡°You are kidding me, right?¡± surprise registered on Darren¡¯s face. ¡°No. Why would I lie about it?¡± Stolen novel; please report. ¡°My administrator only tells me about basic upgrade stuff. Its voice is the most frustrating part.¡± Darren¡¯s face was a picture as he stood looking at SJ. ¡°What does he tell you?¡± Darren asked, intrigued. ¡°Whatever he can.¡± ¡°Ooooo. I found his administrator. He is an old model¡ªprobably one of the first,¡± Dave said. "I can¡¯t speak to his administrator for obvious reasons, as we have Legionnaires, but he is the only Darren registered on this continent.¡± ¡°Dave thinks your AI model may be one of the first ones on Amathera.¡± ¡°How would he know that?¡± ¡°He found your name and traced it.¡± ¡°I wish my AI was as helpful and interactive as yours sounds,¡± Darren replied in disbelief. ¡°Dave is great,¡± SJ replied, smiling. ¡°You do realise that we are the only two Legionnaires in the town.¡± ¡°Aww, shucks. You will make me blush,¡± Dave said. ¡°I am not surprised there isn¡¯t anything to keep Legionnaires here of higher levels.¡± ¡°There will be in the future if things continue.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°With the territory and border expansions that are occurring.¡± ¡°What?¡± Darren asked, frowning. ¡°You may not be aware, but the starter areas are starting to get the opportunity to level higher. This town was a 0-10 and now is a 0-20.¡± ¡°How has that happened?¡± SJ spent the next few minutes explaining what had happened with the system since she hit level 10 as they neared the inn. On arriving in the town square, there were several broken stalls, and it was obvious the wyvern must have struck here. Thankfully, there was no evidence of injuries. Instead, it was filled with the frantic and worried expressions of the town members who were busy cleaning up. Many of them were glancing up into the sky continually. The damage to the Inn was visible in daylight, and SJ stopped surveying the scene. The front looked fine, apart from the fact it was missing its thatch. There were several blackened marks on the walls caused by the smoke, and there was a large sign posted by the entrance. ¡®Garden entrance open.¡¯ Walking around the rear of the inn to where the garden area was, the damage to the rear was more substantial, with the missing wall and clear damage caused by the explosion. SJ watched Darren cringe when he saw what he had caused. SJ spotted Fhyliss and headed over. ¡°Hi, Fhyliss.¡± ¡°Hi¡­¡± Fhyliss stopped in her tracks when she saw Darren. ¡°You are either brave or very stupid,¡± she finished, looking at Darren. ¡°I just came to see if anything I brought had survived, and then I will leave and be out of here,¡± Darren said. ¡°You are lucky Mum has gone to help at Lucian¡¯s, where that cow landed. She will probably be there for a while. I would advise you to go and look and then make yourself scarce. Her temper is legendary in the town.¡± SJ couldn¡¯t help but half-smile at her comment. She had seen the effect that Kerys could have on some exceedingly large and drunken beings before and the way they had shrunk away from her, and after seeing her tear into Darren the night before, she could believe her doing it a second time. ¡°Can I get in the back to check?¡± Darren asked. ¡°Go through. Bert is inside, clearing the worst away still.¡± Fhyliss and SJ watched as he walked through into the back of the Inn. ¡°I can¡¯t believe a wyvern attacked the town,¡± Fhyliss said. ¡°I know. It moved off, though, because of Darren.¡± ¡°Darren?¡± Fhyliss asked, raising an eyebrow at SJ naming him. ¡°Yes. He is a level 20 ranger. You should have seen him with his bow. It was glowing as he fired arrows at it.¡± ¡°Hmmph. I think mum would say he would need to do a lot more than that to get in her good books.¡± ¡°He has paid for the damage. She can¡¯t hold a grudge to that degree.¡± ¡°You know mum,¡± Fhyliss replied, shrugging. ¡°While I remember. Floretta thinks she may still be able to serve food.¡± ¡°With the wyvern in the area, we will have to see how many of the town venture outside today.¡± SJ had automatically turned to look in the direction that the wyvern had flown. There wasn¡¯t a clear view of the mountains from here, but she couldn¡¯t see any signs of it being airborne. The streets were much quieter than she would have expected. Many stood in doorways, talking in hushed tones to each other. ¡°You need to try and keep him in town,¡± Dave said. Fhyliss had returned inside the Inn so SJ could respond to Dave. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°I have seen all the town''s archers, rangers, and fighters. As with the magic users we have seen, very few can damage that wyvern. If it returns and attacks the town, there is virtually nothing they have of an offensive capability to damage it enough. Even multiple runs, as you did with it being shot at, would take forever to take its health down. As we saw with his shock arrow, that ranger has the best chance. Once it is on the ground, you stand a chance, but airborne, you won¡¯t.¡± ¡°I am not sure how we can make him stay. He sounded pretty determined to leave as soon as he could. He is also level 20 and won¡¯t be able to level from it in this territory.¡± ¡°That is true, but there may be a way around it.¡± ¡°Really. How?¡± ¡°I think I may have found a loophole you can manipulate to your advantage.¡± At the thought of a loophole, SJ felt a rush of excitement. ¡°Go on, what loophole have you identified?¡± ¡°I have been considering how the System will have allowed the growth changes to occur. I have also been considering the quest system and how it is associated with territory levels. With the expanded territories and the variance in levels that are now permitted to enter, I believe that if an open quest is given that provides cross-border potential, you may be able to assign a quest for him.¡± ¡°Me, give a quest?¡± SJ was startled by the revelation. Never in a thousand years had she considered being able to assign quests. ¡°Yes. You are now a member of the town council. You should be able to assign quests on behalf of the town. If the Mayor authorises you.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t that be seen as cheating?¡± ¡°Potentially, but remember you are not signed up to the terms and conditions. Unless we try, though, we won¡¯t know. I can¡¯t guarantee that it will work, but there is a chance that if you can assign a cross-border quest, you can assign experience gains. It would be like how guilds operate with their quest system. Many quests are within different territories than where a guild is based, and they accept them on behalf of the guild, allowing members to complete them.¡± ¡°So to allow for Darren to be issued a quest since he is level 20, I would need to be in a territory that allowed quests for his level? I thought assigned quests were within a territory? You mentioned before if I leave a territory the quest is released." ¡°Most are, but not all. Several quests cross territory at higher levels where they complete certain tasks or are after certain items or information. An example would be a quest relating to information. A being maybe required to go to a territory that they are a higher level than to attain information. Just because they are at a higher level doesn¡¯t necessarily mean they will not gain experience if they complete the quest. It is no different than what I assume Darren was working under.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°He said he was completing a quest. The quest was to deliver the alchemical components to someone in Killic, a lower-level territory. He was still able to accept the quest even if he went to a lower level.¡± ¡°So even if it did work, I would need to enter a level 20-30 territory and assign him a quest that allows him to gain experience.¡± ¡°Basically, it is hypothetical. The problem is I have never known one that involves killing something or someone due to restrictions. I think that because the beast is above the threshold of the normal territory levels, it may allow it to happen as a kill quest. No one has tried it before, but you won¡¯t know unless you try. It wouldn¡¯t even be a consideration in normal circumstances as the levels are aligned directly with the territory.¡± ¡°It still sounds like a way of cheating.¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t call it cheating. I would call it playing the system,¡± Dave laughed at his joke. SJ groaned in response. ¡°I think the wording of such a quest must also be carefully considered. Because I have never heard of a kill quest cross-boundary, I think it would have to be deemed a protection quest.¡± After several minutes, Darren returned down the stairs carrying a blackened backpack on his shoulder. ¡°Did you get your things?¡± SJ asked as he walked down the stairs. ¡°What I could. Thankfully, some of my clothes survived, and I will be able to get changed out of these,¡± he replied, indicating his state. ¡°Is there another nearby inn where I can get cleaned up?¡± ¡°Unfortunately, no. The only inn in town currently has no roof,¡± SJ smiled. Darren grimaced at the comment. ¡°I will let you come back to mine to clean up, and while you are there, we need to talk,¡± SJ said. ¡°About what?¡± ¡°About you staying in Killic,¡± SJ replied, smiling.? Chapter 91 – New Allegiances It was afternoon before Darren finally finished cleaning himself up and changing after they had arrived at the cottage. Floretta had been kind enough to make some lunch before she left to head to the Inn. There had been no further sign of the wyvern since it had left the town, and SJ sat in the lounge as Darren walked down the hall from the backroom, where he had changed. He was wearing a dark leather suit of armour with metal shoulder plates. He had cut away the scorched parts of his hair with a knife, and his unkempt looks were cleared to show a young, clean-shaven appearance. SJ could see the slight point to his ears poking from between his hair. Across his body was a bandolier-style leather strap, and on his back, he wore a large quiver of arrows and carried his short bow in his hand at his side. He was much younger-looking than SJ had thought and had a slightly Asian look. His skin tone was similar to Nexis''s, with an olive appearance, and now that he was cleaned up, he looked quite attractive. ¡°Floretta made some lunch,¡± SJ said, smiling at him as he entered the lounge and sat at the small dining room table. Darren had been taken aback when he had first arrived at the cottage to find a skeleton residing inside. He stated that he had previously had some poor experiences with the undead. It had taken a while for him to begin to relax, watching every movement that Floretta had made. The table was laid with Floretta¡¯s usual amazing spread; she always presented the most amazing-looking food, and SJ saw Darren swallow seeing the food. Placing his bow on the table, he sat down before taking a plate and beginning to fill it with food. ¡°Thanks. I haven¡¯t eaten since yesterday morning,¡± he said, popping a small ripe tomato into his mouth. As he bit into it, his eyes widened in surprise. ¡°Damn, these taste so good.¡± ¡°Floretta makes everything taste amazing. She is a master cook.¡± ¡°What is a master cook doing in a starter town area?¡± ¡°She has been here a long time. She is an integral part of the Inn and one of the reasons it has such a good reputation.¡± ¡°I need to ask you. What level are you?¡± ¡°I am level 11,¡± SJ replied. ¡°I must admit, seeing how you are dressed, I didn¡¯t think you were a Legionnaire at first,¡± he replied, looking at her dress. ¡°This dress was a gift and is quite special,¡± she replied, not going into any detail. Dave had warned her to be careful about giving detailed information about equipment and skills. ¡°You know I am a ranger. What class are you?¡± he asked, biting into a chunk of bread smothered in butter. SJ could feel her face heat up slightly at the question, knowing it would come at some point. ¡°I am an assassin.¡± The mouthful of food he was eating at that moment nearly came back out as he forced himself to chew and swallow it, coughing before he could respond. ¡°You are an assassin?¡± he stared in amazement. ¡°I thought you were a druid or a mage.¡± ¡°I think many others think I am one also,¡± she replied, smiling again. ¡°What made you choose to be an assassin?¡± he asked, surprise etched on his face. ¡°It may sound strange, but I wanted to help people fight for good against evil. I had always liked the class from games back on earth, and the skills seemed to align loosely with my previous life.¡± ¡°What were you a hitman or something?!¡± he exclaimed. SJ blushed as she replied. ¡°A forensic accountant.¡± Darren guffawed at her comment, laughing hysterically. ¡°How did you think an assassin would align with a forensic accountant?¡± ¡°Ok. Maybe it wasn¡¯t the most direct relationship, but it has done me well so far,¡± SJ huffed. ¡°And what were you?¡± ¡°I was trying to make it in the music industry.¡± ¡°That sounds interesting.¡± ¡°It may have been until I died while attending an audition.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°Yeah. They had been advertising for the next boy band, and I had made it through the preliminaries for this new group they were putting together to fill the void between the K-pop and UK music scene. I was a musician and more of a dancer than a singer. That was until one of the stage lights fell on me.¡± ¡°At least you weren¡¯t squished by a tree.¡± SJ was intrigued by his previous career. ¡°You could have been the next big act then.¡± ¡°I will never know, unfortunately,¡± Darren replied, shrugging. ¡°How long have you been on Amathera?¡± ¡°Sixteen months now.¡± ¡°Wow. I have not been here three yet or anywhere outside of the town.¡± ¡°You are lucky, then. You seem to have people here who you trust and speak to. I had to leave my starter village to continue levelling, and it was not a great journey. Things only recently started to get better when I arrived in Asterfal.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Legionnaires are seen as a nuisance by many normal Amathereans outside the starter areas. I found it better not to advertise I was one.¡± ¡°Dave has told me that before. It still seems strange that some shun us.¡± ¡°I think it relates to jealousy. Amathereans can¡¯t go into a dungeon and die multiple times as we can.¡± SJ was excited about the chance to enter a dungeon. ¡°Have you been in a dungeon?¡± she asked excitedly. ¡°No, not yet. I wanted to reach a higher level before I did, but I needed to level my Alchemy skill first.¡± ¡°For what reason?¡± ¡°Healing potions are very expensive, normally, and my constitution isn¡¯t as high as I would like it to be, which I am sure your AI has told you.¡± ¡°No. He hasn¡¯t told me your stats. He can only tell me your level. He can¡¯t give me details of your attributes.¡± ¡°Oh. I assume that you do have the identification skill?¡± ¡°I do. It is part of my class.¡± ¡°Yeah. There are a few classes that have the option to choose it. Unfortunately, it is not available to rangers. Mainly the magic-user classes. It would have been nice to have.¡± SJ had never considered which other classes would have the option to learn identification. ¡°I couldn¡¯t see your stats if I did identify you anyway. It doesn¡¯t give me those details.¡± ¡°I assumed it would do. I suppose it must have some barriers.¡± ¡°I am not that high a level in it yet. I am unsure what it may advance to in the long term.¡± ¡°Anyway, you wanted to talk to me about staying in town?¡± SJ had been enjoying their topic but didn¡¯t want to push too far in asking questions. ¡°Yes, I do. I would like you to remain and help protect the town.¡± ¡°Why would I remain in an area where I cannot level or advance?¡± The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°Because in time, you will be able to.¡± ¡°In time? You just said you are level eleven, and it is going to take you at least twelve months if not longer, to reach level twenty. I know I have done the slog. Repetitive, boring quests, just to grind the experience needed.¡± SJ had not had to repeat any quest to continue levelling and hadn¡¯t considered the need to with so many different options available within the town, never mind the new quests she was offered. She had not actively sought quests apart from the very first one when she had gone crypt diving for Lythonian, everything else being offered as she had naturally progressed in the town through interactions. ¡°I have enough quests to keep me busy without worrying about repeating things currently.¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t had to do grind quests yet?¡± Darren asked, surprised. ¡°No. Not once. Every quest I have completed so far has been different.¡± ¡°There must be a lot of quest issuers in the town then.¡± ¡°I am not sure, although I assume I could have gotten more if I had sought them.¡± ¡°What? You didn¡¯t even go looking for them?¡± ¡°No. Only my first. Since then, everything has been offered to me.¡± ¡°How?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. It just has.¡± ¡°I am guessing you have at least a liked reputation with the town then if that is the case.¡± ¡°I have revered status.¡± Darren gasped. ¡°Revered? How on earth did you achieve revered status?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a longer story,¡± SJ replied, smiling. ¡°How?¡± Darren said. SJ reached for a piece of bread, bit into it, and chewed slowly before swallowing. Then, she began to tell Darren about her time in Killic since her arrival. It was mid-afternoon when SJ finished relaying her history in Killic. ¡°You are a member of the town council?¡± Darren said in amazement. If his eyebrows could have risen any further, they probably would have fallen off his face. ¡°Yes. Newly appointed as the ambassador for Killic.¡± ¡°I can understand why you may want to stay here then. I have never been so lucky.¡± Never considering it luck but more a chance of circumstances, SJ shrugged. ¡°I am not sure I would say I was lucky. I have made some good friends since I have been here and trust many in the town. As I said to you before, it is my home.¡± Shaking his head in disbelief at SJ¡¯s story, Darren was unable to comprehend what had occurred. ¡°I can¡¯t believe that you have had so much involvement across the town already. In my starting village, all I had available to me was my class training and starting profession quests.¡± ¡°What profession are you?¡± ¡°My main profession is a tanner. What about you?¡± ¡°I am a tailor.¡± ¡°Explains the dress, I suppose,¡± Darren replied. SJ wasn¡¯t going to go into any details about her dress. ¡°Yes. It was a gift from my trainer. I may have some items that are of use to you.¡± ¡°What do you have?¡± ¡°I have some leather and a couple of other items that I am not sure you may be able to use. I have no need for them but have never sold them.¡± ¡°If you let me see them, I can let you know.¡± SJ stood and walked through the bedroom, collecting the items she had gathered since arriving in Amathera. Bringing them back through, she placed them on the table in the lounge. ¡°Umm. I can use the leather and the wolf pelt. The chitinous plates are more of an armourer''s thing. What are these other plates you have? I don¡¯t recognise them.¡± ¡°Rock Gobbler plates.¡± ¡°Let me check my recipes.¡± Darren¡¯s eyes seemed to blank out as he was obviously looking at his display. She had never witnessed anyone before doing it, and it was as though he had an almost vacant expression. After several moments, he turned back to her. ¡°They can be used to create bracers and greaves. They are listed as a material that I can use, but I don¡¯t have a recipe for them.¡± SJ was pleased with the information. ¡°Where can you get a recipe?¡± ¡°The only place is probably an auction house. It¡¯s a rare recipe, so the closest place would be Asterfal.¡± ¡°Actually¡­¡± SJ said, pausing. ¡°What?¡± ¡°We are in the process of building an auction house here in Killic.¡± ¡°But you can¡¯t use one?¡± ¡°There are locals above level 20 who can, and it seemed like a good opportunity to get one set up early.¡± ¡°I have no idea about auction houses apart from the ones in Asterfal, where I checked the prices of items.¡± ¡°I have a friend who may be able to find out, but with this recent wyvern attack on the town, I am not sure if the build will be delayed or how long it will even take.¡± ¡°You are thinking of expansion, aren¡¯t you.¡± ¡°Yes. This town has no choice but to grow with the changes, and I have no plans to leave here for now.¡± With all the details SJ had given Darren, she left out some key points she was unwilling to share, specifically about the Mithril mine. She was already aware of the secrecy issues surrounding outsiders finding out. ¡°Even with what you have said. I still can see no benefits for myself staying here.¡± ¡°I think you need to give it a chance to grow on you.¡± ¡°Without being able to quest and level, there is nothing I can do to gain a good reputation.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not true,¡± Dave said. ¡°Reputation gains do not require a quest completion. Take your raise due to saving Christy as an example of a boost that was not related.¡± ¡°Dave states that isn¡¯t the case. You can gain a reputation without completing quests by acting on the town''s behalf.¡± ¡°It still doesn¡¯t boost me, though.¡± ¡°Imagine if you reach revered status though and the benefits it will bring long term as the town grows.¡± Darren sat contemplating the information from SJ, it would be amazing to get 100% experience bonuses for quests but until SJ reached level 20 from what she had explained he still couldn¡¯t see a benefit. ¡°I also need to see if something else will work. I don¡¯t want to say anything until I try, as I don¡¯t want to give you a false sense of hope.¡± Frowning, Darren looked at her quizzically. ¡°I can¡¯t go back to Asterfal straight away, and the quest I had from Master Fretun is showing as failed, so the experience I should have been able to get has been lost.¡± ¡°I am guessing that your Master will send someone to Killic to investigate what has happened and whether his plan worked.¡± ¡°I still have no idea what he was hoping to achieve. Or I was stupid enough to fall for his tricks, though. I knew he was manipulative but naively accepted his word.¡± ¡°We all make mistakes,¡± SJ said, not wishing to discuss Kerys¡¯s concerns about Maliki Fretun. She had so many questions that she wanted to ask Darren but also needed to be very careful about what she divulged. Hopefully, you will at least stay here a few days while I see if I can sort out what I am hoping to.¡± The cryptic comments did not give Darren much peace of mind. ¡°I will probably just start travelling north and head towards the capital. Most of the trade routes are well-protected across territory boundaries, and once there, I can get lost in the crowd and leave Asterfal and the south behind me.¡± ¡°Look. Give me a few days at least to see if I can sort things out for you here.¡± SJ said and then continued. ¡°You can stay here; there is the spare room in the back, which you have already used. I just need to go to the market and get the basics. I only got the cottage last night after the explosion.¡± Darren closed his eyes, shaking his head again at the reminder. Opening his eyes, he looked at SJ, ¡°Doesn¡¯t your skeleton companion stay in the room?¡± ¡°No. Floretta never sleeps.¡± They sat quietly for several moments. ¡°I need to go into town and get what is needed for the cottage. Would you like to join me?¡± SJ asked, hoping that he would accompany her. If Darren got to meet and know some of the others in the town, he might feel more inclined to stay, and the town''s safety may depend on it. ? Chapter 92 – Setting Quests "Dave? Which is the closest area to see if quests can be created?" SJ asked. When they entered the town again, SJ visited several shops where goods were sold after finding many closed. Many of the usual market traders were not running the stalls in the square through obvious fear of the wyvern returning. This gave the town an eerily quiet feeling compared to normal. She had ordered what she needed and arranged to deliver most of the items to the cottage, saying she would be back there later that afternoon. The open traders had been more than receptive to her requests and grateful for the custom on such a day. Darren was standing in the tailor''s shop looking for new clothes to replace his ruined ones. SJ had shown him inside and introduced him to Fizzlewick''s Quarterling form. She now stood outside, waiting for him to finish. She couldn''t get used to him being in there, but she knew he was Nexis, wherever Nexis may be at this moment in time. She had enquired, but no one had seen him return since last night, and she wanted to speak to him about the Rock Gobbler recipes but didn¡¯t want to bring any suspicion by talking to his Quarterling version. It was still mind-blowing, considering she knew who he was and that he was a God performing the menial tasks of shopkeeping, but the smile on the Quarterling''s face showed that he really did enjoy the daily interactions. "The easiest option would be going to Asterfal. Designated cities do not have level caps. So, you can go there and try. It is a four-day journey, so you are looking at an eight-day return journey." Dave said. "Is there nowhere closer?" "There is, but it means going into the desert region to the south and crossing it. The region is not very large, but the dangers there are quite real compared to travelling the much safer route to Asterfal. The main route is regularly patrolled, especially as you get nearer the city. It helps keep the bandits away. If you go via the desert region, you could get across and back in four days. With your flying speed, it may work out faster, but the temperatures can be limiting, so I suggest wagon travel. Either that or flying at nighttime, but more hostiles are around at night." The sound of going to the desert region wasn''t very appealing to SJ, but she wanted to see if she could assign a quest, and eight days seemed too long to wait with the wyvern threat or to try and make Darren stay in Killic. She needed to devise something to keep him here in the meantime. As they walked through the town, the streets had been empty, and the usual hustle and bustle had been subdued. There was also an increased guard presence with pairs of guards walking the streets, one carrying one of the large pikes while the other holding a crossbow or bow. Darren walked out of the tailors ten minutes later, holding a large bundle of clothes under his arm. He scratched his head with his free hand as he looked at SJ. "I spent much more than I expected, and the Quarterling is strange. He kept asking how I knew you." "Oh," SJ replied. ¡°I am a regular customer and his apprentice tailor. He has helped me out quite a bit." "It was like being questioned by a relative of yours." SJ laughed nervously, "Did he? I suppose he is a little protective of me being his apprentice." She could not get the thought out of her head that a god was quizzing Darren. "He said he is leaving soon, and someone new is taking over. Is that not going to mess your training up?" "No. The person taking over is a skilled tailor, and I know them already." The conversation was making SJ feel a little uncomfortable talking about herself. "I bet an alchemist in town could help with your training. It would probably be easier to increase your basic levels in a starter town?" Darren tilted his head slightly, considering SJ''s comment. "I suppose it could make it easier. Do you know who the best alchemist is?" "I haven''t a clue as I have never investigated it, but I am pretty sure I can find out and confirm easily. I have worked for one of the regular healing balm sellers, Grewlas, who could be a good place to start asking questions. I know you mentioned Master Rui, but I have never heard of that name in the town before, although it doesn''t mean it isn''t true." Darren scrunched his face at the reference to the name. "I am not sure either." SJ watched him visibly slouch as he walked, reflecting on the previous evening''s issue. Turning, she headed in the direction of Grewlas''s store, Darren''s dejected form following her. Not surprisingly, the shop, like many others, was closed after the attack. "It looks like we are limited today after the attack. At least you have new clothes and can stay at the cottage tonight. Then tomorrow, we can investigate finding you an alchemist," SJ said hopefully. "When is the next wagon run from town?" "I don''t know. Never having used it. I assume someone at the stables would know." There were so many aspects of the town that SJ was still unaware of herself. "If you head back to the cottage," SJ said, removing a key from her inventory. "I need to call in at the barracks and check on a few things. I will meet you later and find out the details for you." Leaving Darren to head back to the cottage, SJ headed to the barracks to speak to Zigferd or Alice about her plans.
Darren let himself into the cottage and dropped his bundle on the table, sitting heavily in one of the armchairs. He couldn''t believe how stupid he had been or the problem he had caused with the alchemical solutions he had brought. If only he hadn''t been focussing on the experience gains, correctly stated by the Innkeeper, he might have considered that the whole quest had seemed too good to be true. The experience alone had been high, but also, being paid the 15 silver to cover expenses, he hadn''t even considered the details. He could have kicked himself for his stupidity. What intrigued him the most was SJ. She appeared so naive in the ways of Amathera yet had successfully achieved revered status with a starter town. He had only achieved a popular status within his village, and he had helped who he could when he could, completing their quests, but had never managed to progress further. With the restrictions on the level cap when he reached it, he had no choice but to leave and find new areas to continue his growth. Thinking back, he knew that he would have happily stayed in the village if it had been able to offer him further growth. Killic was much larger than the village he had started in had been, and it had much more to offer in the long term. Because it could now accommodate growth to level 20 and from what SJ had told him to keep gaining further growth, it was an interesting thought. If he could find an alchemist trainer, he could just stay here for a short time, at least to begin his levelling process. With the expense of paying for the damage he had caused to the inn, his funds were even more restricted now. Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. He owned another moonstone that he could sell, if necessary, but he needed an auction house to get the best value as he doubted anyone in the town could afford it or needed one. Looking at the town and its growth potential, there could be consideration for producing leather goods for sale. He could make scaled leather at the professional level of journeyman level 4. He had spent so long grinding that once he had gotten into a routine, he had spent every evening working on his profession with little else to do in the starter village. This had accelerated his profession much faster, and the armour he wore he had made himself. It was not the best, but it was good for his level. The town was idyllic, with clear blue skies and beautiful weather. It is very different from the village, which had a much cooler climate with regular rainfall. He stood up from the chair, getting a glass of water before picking up the bundle of clothes and moving to the bedroom to get try on his new clothes. That tailor had been ridiculously persuasive and made him buy more than he would normally have. He had just finished getting changed when there was a knock on the cottage door. Walking through, he opened it to recognise one of the traders they had visited earlier that afternoon. "I have brought the goods as requested," the trader said, indicating to the cart parked at the end of the small footpath. "I will help you bring them in," Darren said. Several trips later, the dining room table was covered with all SJ''s purchased items. Darren believed she had bought pretty much one of everything that she thought may be useful at some point in time. He had been the same back on Earth when he had moved into his first home. The fact that she was looking to furnish and equip it so well for Darren meant that SJ had no plans on leaving Killic anytime soon. It was strange for him to consider making a home in one area, and the thought intrigued him. It cost her a small fortune, and Darren was surprised she could afford it all. When he left his village, he only had a couple of silver coins in his name after he finished his basic training and levelling. Darren spent the rest of the afternoon until SJ returned, sorting through what had been purchased and turning the empty cottage into a home. He had always taken pride in his flat back on Earth and gone the extra mile, keeping it clean, tidy, and well-presented in case he ever entertained. While he was still finishing sorting out the first delivery, there was a second knock at the door, and the remaining ordered items arrived. Taking receipt again, he continued to make the cottage homely.
After speaking to Zigferd, SJ was authorised to assign quests on behalf of the town. She had also stated that she would need to travel to a 20-30 territory at least to attempt to create the quest due to Darren''s level. Zigferd was amazed at the consideration of the open protection quest. The only quests he had ever raised were basic town support quests that had no way near the expectations of what SJ was suggesting. He also mentioned Asterfal as the easiest as Dave had, but she really didn''t want to be away for 8 days, being concerned that Darren may just up and leave in that time. He had not appeared to wish to stay in Killic, and the sooner she could confirm whether a protection quest could be assigned, the better. At least that way, he would have a reason alongside beginning alchemy training. Master Rui was indeed the town''s Master Alchemist, and Zigferd had told her where he could find him. He spent most of his time collecting herbs or similar for his potions, but he also trained apprentices and took them on field trips. SJ would take Darren to see him tomorrow. They had discussed the wyvern attacks and the concerns over the ability to damage the beast. Apart from the town guard changes, all the hunters were being called in to support, and every able-bodied member of the town who knew archery would be issued a bow and quiver of arrows. The fallout from the wyvern visit had meant that two of the town had been killed. The orc SJ had seen when she had saved the Gnoll and a daughter of the family from the home where the wyvern crashed. The young human girl, SJ didn''t recognise the name of, had been crushed by an interior wall when it collapsed. SJ''s heart sank at the news. The funerals were already planned, and both were going to be private affairs. Returning to the cottage, SJ heard the wyvern''s cry. Panic immediately flooded her, and she looked towards the mountains where the sound had originated. She watched the shape of the wyvern high in the sky, a distance away from the town itself. It appeared to slow and hover before she saw it dive, tucking its wings in and disappearing out of sight behind the buildings. Hurriedly, she returned to the cottage. The wyvern had not cried again, and she kept looking towards where she had last seen it, but it hadn''t risen. Arriving at the cottage, Darren stood in the front garden area, scanning the surrounding skies. He had his armour on and stood with his bow in his hand, with an arrow nocked on the string. "Did you see it?" he asked. Seeing SJ''s nervous expression. "It dove into the forest area by the mountains away from the town. I didn''t see it rise again." "It may be hunting. I am guessing there is a decent hogling and deer population around here?" "I know there are both. I don''t know how strong the population is, although there are always hunting parties out there." "If it has a ready supply of food outside the town and the potential of attacking it, I can''t see it moving away anytime soon. Having fought them before, they are tenacious regarding easy food sources." "I forgot to ask you about hunting them before. When was it?" "Several months ago. I was completing a quest chain for my class, and the final stage was to kill a wyvern. That quest allowed me to learn the shock arrow skill." "I had no idea about class-specific quest chains." Darren looked at her, frowning, "Do you not have a class trainer?" "No. I train my skills myself through both weapon and skill training." "That will mean that you have never started any profession quest chains?" "No. Never." "They help with the progression of your class skills and give options to increase your skills. I would advise you to find a trainer as soon as you can. Do you mind if I ask what your skill levels are?" SJ contemplated his request for a few moments before replying, "My skills are in martial arts and Subterfuge." "Really?" Darren looked surprised. "They are unusual. I have met a few assassins over the past sixteen months, and none have had that combination. It is a very specific set of choices. Not limited, but at lower levels, I bet it isn''t easy to achieve much." It was SJ''s turn to frown now. "I think I am doing okay overall at my level. I have both my initial skill choices open in each branch." "Well, I don''t know the skill trees for assassins, but without you having a trainer, you are stunting your growth. The quests they offer relate directly to skill opportunities." The screech of the wyvern sounded again, cutting off their conversation as they both looked skywards. "It sounds distant still," Darren said. "I hope it remains that way. The impact on the town was bad today, but if it stays, it will get much worse."? Chapter 93 – There and back again "Now that Darren is training with Master Rui, I think I have time to see if it''s possible to raise a quest," SJ said. It had been four days since the wyvern had visited the town, and although it could be heard towards the mountain peaks, it hadn''t yet revisited the town. It still meant the threat existed, and the town was continuing to work out plans for dealing with any future attacks. The guard force was undergoing extensive archery training. Many of them would never be anywhere near the level of proficiency as an archer or ranger class or that of a hunter profession, as none of them had the dexterity level necessary. Still, they would at least be able to fire arrows rather than the slow reload time of the crossbows. They hoped that anything with a hundred arrows fired at it would think twice about trying something again. The general guard force was also being trained in using pikes and standing in a line, forming a wall of spikes that could be used as a deterrent. They had been performing drills around the town, and the mage who completed the announcements called dummy attacks to help improve the guard and the town''s reaction times. Gradually, life was slowly returning to the streets, and Zigferd had made an announcement via the mage about the plans so that all were aware. Several had not even left their homes since the first attack had happened, being too scared to venture outdoors. The mages under Fran''s guidance, who were able, were beginning to learn lightning spells. Many could not do so due to their elemental alignment, but at least four could cast the spell once they had learned. The same training was underway for the fire mage apprentices who were of a high enough level to learn fireball or firebolt. The town''s training and adaptation to this new threat were exemplary, and even Darren commented on their professional approach. Over the past four days, Darren had begun to settle in, to SJ''s relief. When SJ arrived back at the cottage that first day and saw what he had done inside, unpacking and arranging everything, she was grateful. He had apologised for doing it but stated he couldn''t just leave everything on the table waiting for her to return. He was still staying in the back room, and Floretta spent her nights sitting in the lounge reading while the repairs at the Inn were finished. The repairs had gotten underway, and Bert''s cousins were commencing work immediately. The walls were already rebuilt after new floor crossbeams had been installed. The two massive trolls, who were his cousins, dwarfed Bert. SJ had never seen trolls so large. They both towered nearly twenty feet tall. The ease with which they moved stone blocks around as though they were made of polystyrene. It was effortless for them, making the building process much faster. SJ had wondered why they had not previously helped defend the town when the Hobs attacked. She had taken the chance to use her Identification skills to discover that one was level 4 and the other was level 6. Their size made them appear much more than they were. Nexis had also returned and ''apparently'' finished the dealings at the tailor shop. The quarterling had been seen leaving town with a wagon full of his possessions and was moving back to his family''s village on the far side of Asterfal. The rumour was that he had sped up the process of selling the shop after the wyvern attack had occurred. Nexis was becoming a town celebrity. Everywhere he went, beings spoke to him, SJ believing he loved the attention he was getting from his admirers. She had spent some time with him discussing the auction house further and had promised to get Terence up from the cottages to go over the plans and discuss the carpentry works. That was why Fran was currently standing in the lounge of the cottage. Darren was off with Master Rui today. They were going on a field trip into the forest on the opposite side of the wyvern''s known location, searching for herbs and other alchemical components. "This cottage is lovely. I have never been inside before," Fran said. Looking around, Darren had done an excellent job sorting the place out, and everything already had a home. It felt to SJ that she had been living there much longer than the five days it had been. "It is. I am so lucky to get it," SJ replied. "I know you don''t own the deed, but as the agreed tenant of the property, I should be able to try and set a soul stone. Remember what I said about how it affects your health. Are you sure this is what you wish to do?" "Yes. I want to get to the cottage and visit the skeletons." "Okay then. The way it works is that the soul stone will attach itself to the essence of the building. Where do you wish it to be located?" "I think my bedroom is the best place," SJ replied, indicating the front bedroom. Following SJ, Fran walked into the room. It was large, with a large double bed and the usual furnishings you would expect in a bedroom. "You need an open floor space where it can be used as the portal spot," Fran said. "I think in front of the window is the best place." The bay window had nothing in front of it, allowing an open view of the corn fields across from the front garden. "Stand where you wish it to be placed. This area must always be clear so that you can return, or you will lose the link capability." Nodding, SJ stood centrally in front of the window. "Here." "It has been a while since I cast the spell, and it is quite complex. You need to stay perfectly still. When it begins, you will feel the sensation of the spell. Some have told me it is painful. Others haven''t, so I can''t guarantee what effect it will have on you," Fran said, looking at SJ. SJ took a deep breath, "Okay. Let''s do this." Fran began to whisper, closing her eyes and moving her hands in a slow, rhythmic motion. SJ stood watching her perform the spell when a beam of light appeared before Fran and shot at SJ instantly. She gasped as the light struck her. The sensation of warmth struck her body, and then it began. Initially, the warmth was pleasant, and as Fran continued to cast the spell, the sensation of heat increased. It moved from pleasant to bearable to uncomfortable to painful in the space of a minute. The light enveloped her fully now, and she winced from the painful sensation. It felt like her whole body was being dipped in a red-hot bath, and she gritted her teeth, resisting the urge to tell Fran to stop. She then noticed that the health of her display began to lower. Slowly, as the light from the spell increased in intensity, her health dropped, reaching the 5% reduction Fran had mentioned. As it did, the light intensity became unbearable, and she closed her eyes and let out a deep groan from the pain and sensation she was feeling. The feeling suddenly stopped the residual effect of the spell, which still made SJ''s skin feel as though it was on fire. She slowly opened her eyes and looked at Fran. Fran''s demeanour had changed, and her shoulders were sagged. SJ watched as she staggered slightly. Stepping forward, SJ caught her and steadied her. "Are you okay?" SJ asked, worried. Fran smiled weakly. "I will be. I had forgotten how taxing the spell is to cast. It uses virtually my whole mana-pool." SJ helped Fran to the edge of the bed and sat her down. "I will get you a drink," SJ said, leaving the room to grab her a glass of water. Walking back in, Fran sat leaning on her knees, breathing heavily, her brow glistening with beads of sweat. "That has taken it out of you. If I had known it was that challenging, I would never have asked you to perform it." "I wouldn''t have agreed if I didn''t know what I was getting into," Fran replied. "I am guessing that it worked. My health was reduced by 5%," SJ''s health had now reduced from 98 down to 93, and where the bar had always been red before the end of it was greyed out. "It was successful, yes," Fran said. "I can now portal and return again," SJ said, feeling trepidation. She hadn''t even attempted to use the portal at the cottage yet, and thinking about it was both exciting and nerve-racking. "I told Darren that I would be going to the cottage today, and with the cooldown, I hope to return this evening." Fran had drunk the glass of water and placed it on the bedside table, removing a blue potion from her inventory. Popping the cork in it, she began to drink it before replying. "No time like the present," Fran said. "It can be a little disorientating until you get used to the feeling of using portals." SJ bit her lip nervously. "I need to give it a go." "Open your map. Select the portal and boom," Dave said. SJ jumped slightly at Dave''s sudden eruption in her mind. He had been very quiet the past couple of days, and she had been getting concerned. "Are you okay?" Fran asked, frowning. "Yes. Yes. I am just a little unsettled. The sensation of that spell was not pleasant. It felt as though my skin was on fire." The discomfort from the spell was still wearing off, and the burning feeling dimmed to that of warmth. "The spell seems to affect different beings in different ways. Some complain of heat, others of cold, others nothing. There doesn''t seem to be a reason behind the differences." "Thank you," SJ said, smiling at Fran. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. "My pleasure," Fran said. "I am going to try my portal now." Fran smiled at SJ, watching intently. SJ opened her map, zoomed in on the cottage, and selected the portal where she had placed it. ''Here goes,'' she thought as she selected to use it, smiling at Fran. It was as though all light had suddenly been absorbed from the world; her eyes were open, but she couldn''t see. Not knowing what to expect from using the portal, the shock of losing her vision made her gasp. She knew she could see, but the darkness enveloped her was absolute. Her body suddenly felt tingly and cold. The sensation was welcome after the heat of the soul stone spell. As quickly as the darkness had come, it disappeared, and she was standing in the clearing before the cottage. Hearing shouting, and as her vision became focused, she saw Charlotte''s startled face, with an arrow nocked on her bowstring, drawn and ready to fire. "SJ," she cried in shock. Terence stood behind her with a large mallet in his hand. Brian was nowhere to be seen. "Hi," SJ replied, smiling broadly at them, amazed that she had just travelled so quickly. The portal would be amazing, and with it in place, she could now visit the cottage whenever she wished. "We wondered who was opening a portal in the yard," Charlotte said, releasing the tension on the bowstring and Terrence dropping his mallet to his side. "At least we know for the future that if a black pool of light suddenly appears in the yard, what is happening," Terence said. "Is that what it looks like? I have never seen one." "Yes. A black pool of light suddenly appeared, and then moments later it went, and you were standing there," Charlotte replied. SJ stood, taking in the cottage in front of her. She had appeared nearly fifty feet from it in the corner of the garden where she had set the portal away from any structures. Now, what she saw was not what she remembered. The front of the cottage looked similar but different somehow. The gazebo now had a swinging seat hanging from its beams. The side of the cottage had an extended lean-to beyond what SJ could remember. Her mouth dropped open, and she looked at the transformation. The garden area was a picture of perfection, with perfectly aligned rows of plants and flowers brightly coloured and lining the pathway of stone slabs leading to the front door, from where the small picket fence surrounded the property. "You guys have been busy," SJ said wide-eyed. "There is still so much more to do," Terence replied, smiling his skeletal smile. The large-boned orc skeleton stood, resting the mallet on his shoulder. "Has anything happened since I was gone?" "No. Nothing. It is the most peaceful we have ever been," Charlotte replied. "Where is Brian?" SJ asked. "He is down at the second cottage gardening," Charlotte said. "Thanks for getting the chisels dropped off. They have sped up the process of building things," Terence said. SJ had completely forgotten about the chisels and the chimney needing to be aligned. "I had forgotten about that. I meant to speak to Husa to confirm that everything had gone okay." "It was a simple job. No new stone was needed. It just needed resetting, which he did while here," Terence said. "So, the chimney is all fixed. That''s amazing." "Yes. Let me show you what else we have been doing." Terence turned and walked around to the rear of the property. SJ followed. What met her gaze was the framework of an extension. It stretched back from the rear of the property, more than doubling its footprint. The previous storage locker that Terence had constructed was now placed at the side of the cottage under the lean-to, and looking out towards the woods at the rear, which began a couple hundred feet from the rear of the property, SJ could see where Terence and the others had been cutting trees down to allow for him to construct the extension. "Wow. This is amazing. This place will be huge once finished." "I need to keep myself busy," Terence said. "You have all been busy. I need to ask you a favour," SJ said, looking at Terence. "Of course. What do you need me to do?" "I need you to come to Killic if you can. A new auction house is being constructed, and the owner needs some carpentry work done." If Terence''s eyes could have shown more emotion, SJ would have sworn he looked excited at the chance to do more work. "That sounds interesting. What do they need to do?" "There are various items as well as some internal structures that he has designed, and I thought of you when discussing his plans with him." "When do you need me to start?" Terence said, and SJ could hear his excitement in his usual gruff voice. "I plan on returning later today. If you can travel to Killic in the next day or so, that would be great. I can give you directions." "No problem. Whatever you need me to do." "Hi, SJ," Brian said as he suddenly appeared from nowhere. "Ahhh," SJ squeaked in shock, jumping and turning to look at Brian, who had appeared only a few feet from her. "Sorry," Brian said, looking as embarrassed as a skeleton could. "It''s okay. You are just so quiet I didn''t even sense you nearby." "Class perk," he replied, smiling. "I was letting Terence know I need him to come to Killic. There is some work that needs completing for a new build there." "That sounds interesting. Do you need Charlotte and I to come as well?" SJ had discussed with Dave about the skeletons accompanying her to the desert region as extra support, which she had initially decided would be the route she would take to get to the closest territory level increase to attempt to create a quest. Dave stated that the only route to the desert region was down through the valley and the southern tunnel system, apart from going over the cliff edge where the rock gobbler had met its demise. He had also reminded SJ that the skeletons were low-level still in comparison, and even though they may be skilled in various areas, they would be ineffective against many hostiles there. The mention of hostiles had made SJ reconsider going via the desert and take the extra time to go via Asterfal. She was still only level 11, and her skills were only useful up close and personal. She had no ranged ability skills to support and didn''t fancy getting into fights with high-level monsters or beings. Going to a level 20-30 territory could be a significant risk, as Darren was working with Master Rui on his alchemy profession and no longer had the same rush to give him cause to stay. SJ had concluded that she needed to take the safer option and travel to Asterfal even if the journey would be longer. Over the past four days, she had begun to put things in place. Alongside her daily training, she had also been working on her tailoring, and she had been so close to installing an enchantment slot that she just wanted to get it done and advance her profession further. Going to Asterfal would also allow her to sell off the extra items she had from looting various victims and enquire about her miniature wyvern egg. "No. Just Terence for now. I will head to Asterfal soon, but I wanted to introduce Terence before I go." Charlotte joined them at the rear of the cottage. "How long are you staying?" "I will be going back later today. It is only a fleeting visit," SJ said. Taking in the cottage and its surroundings, it was so idyllic that she wished she could stay longer, and she would have to bring Cristy here at some point. Getting her out of the town with the wyvern there may be good. She always had something to contemplate or consider, and there was never a day that she wasn''t busy doing something. She still had the quest offer from Fran to consider and the quest from Zigferd. "Did you want anything to eat?" Brian asked. SJ frowned, looking at Brian, confused. "I didn''t think you ate?" "We don''t, but I have been fishing at the lake in my spare time and can easily catch one if needed." "That would be great," SJ said, smiling. "No problem. I will be back in a while." SJ watched in amazement as Brian turned and walked off whistling. Walking back around to the front of the cottage, SJ went inside. It was immaculate. The items she had purchased and brought down previously were all perfectly placed, and not a spot of dust rested on anything. She walked to the stove area and lit the fire, putting some extra wood in the burner. Then, walking outside to the well, she drew a bucket of water before filling one of the pans. Then, she set about making herself a pot of coffee, removing the container of coffee from her inventory that she had got from Floretta that morning. While the water got up to temperature, SJ stood in the cottage doorway. Charlotte had returned to gardening at the front, humming away as she carefully worked through and between the plants and flowers along the path. She heard an axe being used and then the sound of a saw and knew that Terence had just returned to his task of building the extension. Leaning against the door frame, considering how heavenly it was. It was the first time in a while that SJ began to relax. Not realising how tense she had been feeling until the serenity of the place took hold. Once the coffee was made, she carried the pot and a mug out to the swinging seat, where a small table stood. Pouring coffee, she sat on the swinging seat and sipped her drink. As she rocked backwards and forwards gently, she considered how lucky she had been to have made so many friends since her arrival in Amathera. Smiling, she closed her eyes and relaxed.? Chapter 94 – Missing "YES!" SJ screamed. The look of absolute shock at seeing a skeleton with its mouth wide open made SJ chuckle. "Sorry," she blurted out around her excitement. She had just managed to install her first-ever enchantment slot in the bundle of cloth she had brought with her. After arriving at the cottage, she performed her daily kata routines and then proceeded to sit working on her tailoring quest. It was her display triggering that had caused her to scream in delight at the success. Congratulations! Tailoring Apprentice level 5 completed. Quest Tailoring Apprentice ¨C Level 6 Produce ten items of common or higher rarity clothing Charlotte was still staring at her, wondering what had caused her to get so excited that she suddenly screamed. SJ had been sitting watching Charlotte work in the garden and had been so relaxed in the setting that she hadn''t paid any attention to her streaming. Brian had returned with a large fish from the lake. She had no idea what type it was, but Brian had been quite adept at filleting it and was currently frying it off over the stove for her. His head appeared in the cottage doorway, and Terence came walking around the side of the cottage. SJ couldn''t still her excitement, "I just levelled my profession." "Ahh," Charlotte nodded in understanding. "Congratulations," both Terence and Brian said as they returned to what they were doing. SJ was not going to be deflated by their lack of appreciation for her success, so she performed what she called her happy dance. "We spoke about this before," Dave perked up. "You aren''t knocking me today," she whispered her response. Even though the skeletons were her followers, she didn''t want to be seen talking to herself by them. "Dance lessons, perhaps?" Dave would not wipe the smile from her face now that she had achieved level 5. ''I wonder'', she thought as she looked at her display and switched to her inventory screen, focusing on her dress. Haber''s Dress of the Tailor ¨C Level 5 Grade ¨C Astral Quality ¨C Perfection Durability - Infinite Enchantment Slots ¨C One Armour Class ¨C 5 Attributes ¨C +2 Charisma The God Haber himself made this dress. It is unmatched by any other and provides the wearer with unique skills that are available as levels are gained. Self-repair Transmogrification ¨C the dress appearance can be changed as your tailoring level increases ¨C current available choices ¨C colour "Wow," SJ said, much louder than she meant. "What?" Charlotte asked, looking up. "Oh. Just my next profession quest," SJ replied, grinning like a Cheshire cat, not telling the truth about her dress. She subconsciously noticed how easily she had begun to lie. Lying had never been something she did, the odd white lie now and again to not hurt someone''s feelings, but it seemed she was becoming adept at changing the narrative of her thoughts. ''I wonder if it is aligned with my class?'' she thought. "I wish I could still level my profession," Charlotte replied sulkily. "I thought you could still learn new things. It just doesn''t level?" "I can. It''s just you don''t get any profession perks." "What perks do you get as a Gardner?" "Increased nutrition, sturdy stalk, brilliant blossom, and many different perks can support the profession. I had those three before I was killed and returned but was close to my fourth." Not appreciating or understanding the effects of perks that the professions gave, SJ looked quizzically at Charlotte. "What level are you?" "I was at Journeyman level 9. At every ten profession-grade steps, you receive a new perk. I would have been due a fourth perk with all the gardening I have been doing. It is annoying, but the benefit is that I can keep doing what I love without ever having to worry about dying of natural causes." Charlotte''s comment shocked SJ. She had never considered how the skeletons felt about being skeletons. She needed to spend time getting to know them better when she could and would have to visit more frequently. They had, after all, given themselves to her as her followers, and she felt as though she had an obligation to them, which, for now, she had not met. She was mulling over what she needed to do when Brian appeared at the cottage door. "Food is ready," Brian called. Walking into the cottage, Brian had laid a place on the table for her, and a perfectly grilled fish fillet was presented with a small sprig of green herbs and a green sauce. SJ was unsure what they were and picked one of the leafy stalks up, biting it. Even though they didn''t look like parsley, they had the same taste. Taking her cutlery from her inventory, she cut into the fish, the flesh flaking under the slightest pressure from her fork. Picking a piece up, she tasted it. It tasted like cod, and the soft white meat was delicious. "This is good," SJ said, nodding her appreciation at Brian. "I may not be good at cooking many things, but I have experience of fish. I used to fish a lot." "You have cooked this to perfection." Finishing the fillet and wiping her mouth with a napkin that Brian had folded neatly on the table, SJ felt content. Brian returned outside and helped Charlotte in the garden. Charlotte had moved from working on the flowers by the path and was discussing making a vegetable patch to the side of the cottage. SJ could hear them through the open cottage doorway and smiled at the conversation. Not discussing the threat of a wyvern, the political intrigue surrounding the council, or the threat to Fran was a pleasant change. "I can''t believe the skill my dress has opened up," she whispered. "That looks like it could be an amazing perk as you increase your tailoring levels further. Hopefully, now you are level 5, you can get through the next few levels quicker than you have been," Dave said. "With everything else I have been doing, I don''t think I have been that bad at levelling my profession," SJ replied grumpily. "No, I agree, a snail may have been slower," Dave sarcastically replied. Huffing at Dave''s comment, SJ stood and cleared the table, washed up, and placed the items to drain. Walking back outside, she headed back to the seat under the gazebo. The sun was beating down as usual, and the gazebo gave respite from its relentless rays. The area around the cottage appeared to have a microclimate, trapping the sun''s rays in the confines of the surrounding forest. It was blissfully warm, with the gentle breeze blowing from the lake. It had been a few hours since her arrival, and she still had to wait before returning to Killic. "When I return, I assume I just focus on going back?" SJ had not asked the question at any point and was now wondering how the soul stone worked. Charlotte, Brian, and Terrence stood by the side of the cottage, discussing creating the vegetable garden. Charlotte was busy instructing Terence on what she needed to create for the borders and planters. SJ smiled at their interactions. The three of them had settled at the cottage so well, creating their new lives. "You stand on the spot you arrived and basically go in reverse. You can''t just travel to a soul stone. Otherwise, people would use them to place a portal. You must be at the original portal location," Dave said. "That makes sense. I should mark it properly." Rising from the seat, SJ walked to where she had arrived. Noticing for the first time that the grass where the portal must have existed was flattened. "I may as well mark it with stones or something similar. Guys?" Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. The three skeletons turned to look at SJ. "Yes?" Charlotte asked. "Could you possibly mark the spot where the portal is with stones to prevent anything from being placed there going forward?" "Of course. It would make sense to prevent Brian from trying to be creative with his newfound love for gardening and planting a tree there." "Hey!" Brian replied. "Well, I do keep finding random new plants dotted around." "They improve the garden." "Not when you plant weeds just because they have colourful flowers, which would take over the whole garden, I might add." "That was once only," Brian huffed. Terence patted Brian on his shoulder sympathetically. "Don''t worry, Brian. Charlotte is just as mean to me." SJ chuckled from experiencing the interaction and laughed heartily when Charlotte thumped Terence in the shoulder. Their friendly banter felt therapeutic. Even though SJ had friends in Killic, she hadn''t allowed herself to get that close to anyone yet to create the relationship they showed. Cristy was the only being with whom she had really developed any true relationship. Her care for the gnoll was beyond reproach. "I have a couple of hours yet, so I will go for a walk and see what the other cottages are like. I will be back in a while," SJ called over to the skeletons. "I can come with you if you wish?" Brian said. "No. I will be fine, and I am sure Charlotte has chores for you," SJ smiled wickedly. Brian sighed, turning and looking at Charlotte''s skeletal smile. Walking down the path to the lake, SJ couldn''t remember the last time she had felt as relaxed as she did now. The sweet scent from the flowers and the tall grasses along the edges of the forest that enclosed the path to the cottage was intoxicating, their heavenly aroma filling her nostrils. Reaching the lake''s edge, SJ walked out onto the small wooden jetty where the rowing boat was moored. In the keel of the rowing boat sat two fishing poles and tackle. She smiled, thinking about Brian rowing out into the lake to go fishing. Standing for a moment, she took in the peace and the scenery. Bubbles breaking on the lake''s surface where fish must be, the gentle breeze through the grasses by the lake, and the sounds of the wildlife in the surrounding forest. A flock of brightly coloured birds flew across the lake, heading North. "I need to bring Cristy here, and I would love to get Patch and his family here as well," SJ said. "It''s a nice place, but do you think it is best for Cristy? She has been doing so well at the orphanage, and Madeline said last time you visited that her literacy and numeracy were coming on brilliantly," Dave said. "I know. I just think she is missing out on an opportunity." "You can always bring her for a visit. I wouldn''t advise her moving here full-time," Dave said, sounding like a concerned parent. "I know. I just think she would love it here. She is never happier when she is out with Patch in the forest, and here, they can stay much closer, and she can visit or see them more easily. I could also ask Charlotte to teach her archery. She is still determined to become a hunter." "She is, but I think you need to also consider her future class." "I had thought about it, and I thought druid was probably the most aligned for her." "Maybe, maybe not. The bond she has with Patch and the wolves has already been formed to a strange degree. I have never seen one like it before between wolves and beings. I have witnessed wolves as familiars, but their bond is stronger than that. It appears that they class each other as family. The fact that Cristy or others can talk to Patch due to his level of intelligence is unnatural." "Druid will allow her to help heal the wolves if they get injured." "So would any other healing class." "I still think druid would be best." "Considering her age, classes would not normally considered until her age of development has finished." "Age of development?" SJ asked. "Yes. Gnolls go through a growth spurt over a few months where they reach maturity." SJ had no idea about most of the racial aspects. "Is there anything stopping her class training early?" "No. Not that I am aware of. It just isn''t usually something done at such a young age. Usually, to allow them to experience the world more and decide on their own." "I may speak to her about it and see if she has ever given any thought to a class. I don''t want to force her into a class she doesn''t want to do." "I agree. Next time we visit, we can discuss it." The way Dave spoke about Cristy made SJ grin. "What are you grinning at?" Dave said cautiously. "Oh, nothing," SJ said, smiling even more. "I don''t trust that look on your face. You are up to something." SJ ignored his comment and did not give him the privilege of a reply. Turning, she walked from the jetty and around the lake''s edge towards the other cottages. A while later, SJ returned to her cottage. As usual, the skeletons were busy. It still amazed her that they never tired or stopped working. Everything they did had a purpose. Knowing that Floretta relaxed and spent time reading in the evenings had always intrigued SJ. The area where the portal appeared had already been marked out in the time she had been away. Stones had been laid where she would appear when using the portal. She had looked at her display and knew that the 8-hour window for returning had now elapsed. Taking the notebook and pencil she had brought with her, she sketched out a rough map and instructions for Terence. "Terence?" SJ said as she found him cutting some timber at the rear of the cottage. "What do you need?" Terence replied. "I have the directions for the way to Killic and the cottage I stay in there." Carefully tearing the page from the notebook, SJ handed them to him. Taking the note, he slowly read the directions. "Hit the main path turning South, head through the crags and then continue along the path until reaching the corn fields. Don''t enter the town, but turn left on the far side of the cornfields and look for the small cottage with the picket fence. Sounds easy enough," he replied, looking at SJ. "Excellent. When do you think you could set off?" "I can leave now if needed. There is nothing that can''t wait here." "That would be great. I am going to portal back now, so if you can head there, I will see you when. Tomorrow, perhaps?" "Easily. If not sooner, I don''t sleep, remember," Terence smiled. "I look forward to seeing you there." Terence began to put his tools away, making sure he had a hammer tucked into his belt. He wished Charlotte and Brian farewell before heading down to the lakeside whistling. SJ watched him go before promising Charlotte and Brian that she would be back to visit again soon and thanking them for all the hard work they were doing. Gladys''s retirement home was being kept pristine, and they had even sorted through the derelict cottage. They had dismantled some of the crumbling walls and planned on moving the stone to her cottage. They couldn''t use it to build, not being stonemasons, but they wanted to make sure it was there if required. Walking to the portal spot, SJ opened her display and saw a return option that hadn''t existed before she had travelled with her soul stone. She selected it. The world again went black, and the same cold sensation flooded her body. She had no idea how long the transportation took as once the blackness enveloped her time had no concept. The sun had begun to fade in the sky as time passed before her return, and she appeared in her bedroom window area with the shadows of the evening sun. Hearing raised voices, she quickly walked from the bedroom into the lounge. Darren stood leaning back from Zigferd''s towering form. "I am not going to ask again. Where is she?" Zigferd snarled. "I told you already. I have no idea," Darren stammered. Four other guard members stood in the open doorway of the cottage. "You were seen with her last," Zigferd growled. "We were just talking about the wyvern, that was all. We walked from town to the edge of the forest, and I left her there, returning here," Darren said. "What''s going on?" SJ asked, shocked at the scene unfolding in her lounge. Zigferd turned, startled by SJ''s sudden appearance. "SJ. Where did you come from?" he questioned. "I just came back." Zigferd looked confused, continuing, "Alice is missing, and this individual was the last person seen with her this morning," he said. "I have already told you. I have nothing to do with her going missing. Why would I?" "I don''t know. Maybe because you blew up the Inn?" Zigferd snapped, his fists clenched, and SJ was sure she could see the hair thicken around his face, concerned he was about to transform into his werebear form. "Zigferd. Please, calm down," SJ said, stepping forward and placing her hand on his arm. She looked at him with concern. She could feel how tense he was, his fists flexing and his face of fury. SJ had never seen him so angry before. Even when fighting Bordon, he didn''t show so much emotion. Zigferd turned and looked down at SJ, his towering form almost two feet taller than herself. Taking a deep breath, he relaxed his fists slightly, closing his eyes. They still contained the same hostility when he opened them again, but his voice came calmer. "I want to know exactly what happened and what you spoke about, and I mean exact word for word." SJ looked from Darren to Zigferd and noticed that the table had been knocked by whatever had occurred before her arrival. "Look, sit down, will you," SJ said, "and let''s talk civilly." Snarling, Zigferd watched Darren move to one of the chairs at the dining table and sit down. Looking at SJ again, Zigferd did the same, sitting opposite him, his hands braced against the table''s edge. SJ hurried to the kitchen, grabbed some glasses and a jug of water, brought them back through, and placed them on the table, pouring three glasses. Taking a seat between them, she turned, looking from one to the other, the hatred visible between them both. "Now, let''s start from the beginning. Shall we?" Chapter 95 – Into the Dark The argument, as it couldn''t be described as a conversation between Darren and Zigferd, eventually concluded. Zigferd agreed to leave Darren in the hands of SJ. As a town councillor, she was putting her reputation on the line with the town to support Darren with his side of events. Nothing she had heard or seen from him since he had arrived in Killic, apart from his stupidity with the alchemical components, led her to believe that he was to blame for Alice''s disappearance. SJ had suggested that Darren''s alignment be confirmed, and Lythonian had been summoned. Alice was the only other in the town with an alignment token. Once Lythonian arrived, he confirmed that Darren''s alignment was neutral good. Having a neutral good alignment had still not put Zigferd at ease. "We need to find Alice," Darren said. Now that Zigferd had left, he wouldn''t stop pacing. "We only know she went into the forest. Did she give you any information as to what she was doing?" "Nothing, as I told that idiot town mayor on multiple occasions before you returned. What is his problem anyway," Darren snarled. "That is obvious, and her importance to the town has already been explained," SJ replied with frustration. "Now, will you stop pacing and sit down so I can think." Darren stopped and looked at SJ, sitting in one of the armchairs. Walking over, he sat down facing her. "If they would just let me leave and search for her," he said. Two of the town guards remained at the cottage, and Zigferd had given them strict instructions not to let Darren go anywhere alone. "It''s best that, for now, you stay here and let the town do what it needs to." Floretta had returned, and the evening dragged on, with tension in the air because of Darren. Eventually, he retired to his room. Floretta said she would be working in the Inn as she was preparing food for the planned reopening of the Inn''s kitchen. The Inn repairs were well underway, and now the floor had been repaired, the downstairs could open again, even if the accommodation wasn''t available yet. SJ headed to her room once Floretta had left. As she lay back on her bed, Dave began to talk. "I believe him," Dave said. "So do I. I am not sure what has happened to Alice, from what Zigferd said it is the first time she has ever missed an appointment and not been seen. I hope she hasn''t been injured in the forest." "With the wyverns'' arrival, the chances are many of the forest creatures will have moved. That could cause creatures or beasts that wouldn''t normally come to certain areas of the forest to now visit or move closer to the town." SJ shivered involuntarily at the thought of Alice being attacked by any beasts. "I hope she is okay." "We may have a problem," Dave said as SJ woke the following day. "Morning. And what problem?" SJ asked, yawning and stretching. "Darren has disappeared." "What do you mean disappeared?" "He left early hours this morning." "How? Zigferd left guards." "He left out of the back garden." "Why didn''t you wake me? If you saw him go?" "Erm. I wasn''t watching." SJ frowned at his response. "I better go search for him." "I would advise that you don''t. Let the guard do their job. You have enough to do." "But it''s Alice." "And it''s Fran, and it''s Bellakiy, and it''s Nexis, and it''s Cristy, and your training, and your¡­" SJ cut Dave off, "Okay. I get the message." Huffing, SJ slammed her fist onto the bed. "I know you want to help with everything, but you can''t. You need to leave things to others. Remember that quests are used by the town, not just you, and you have two important quests to complete already. I would also still suggest that you create the quest for Darren." SJ was unhappy with the thought of not helping to find Alice but could understand Dave''s point. "Why would I even bother looking into a quest for Darren now that he has run off." "He hasn''t run off. He left a note." Frowning, SJ climbed from the bed and walked through to the lounge. Sitting on the table was a neatly folded piece of parchment. Picking it up, she read the note. Sorry! I have to go and look for Alice. Yesterday, when the mayor was here, I didn''t tell the whole truth. I know Alice from Asterfal and had no idea she lived in Killic until two days ago. We met in the forest to talk so as not to draw attention to ourselves. I am sorry for lying. I need to find her. Darren The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. SJ was shocked at the revelation that Darren knew Alice from Asterfal. She did not know Alice had ever been there, and she wasn''t sure how long Darren had been there either. "I should go and tell Zigferd. Otherwise, I am not sure what the guards will do if they find him," SJ said. "Considering he is a level 20 Legionnaire, I doubt many of the guards could do a great deal to him unless in numbers. It isn''t as though he is a new Legionnaire, and his level is much higher than the vast majority in the town," Dave replied.
''Where the hell has she gone?'' Darren thought as he moved deeper into the forest. His tracking skill was active, and he followed the faint trail that he believed Alice might have left. The skill was at level 10 and allowed him to focus on and follow a track set. He had used it frequently since his arrival in Amathera, hunting and tracking down injured animals he had failed to shoot cleanly, and it had quickly levelled because of his initial poor archery. Initially, his tracking skills only allowed for track identification, but with his level now and skill improvements, he showed what could only be described as a faded path, as though a mist or haze existed where they had passed. With each track set he analysed, he was able to assign it a colour, selecting a bright blue to contrast with the greenery of the forest. The forest had come alive with the sounds of creatures as the early morning sun had risen from the near silence during the night. He had waited until the first light to enter the forest, not knowing the area. He didn''t fancy walking upon one of the nocturnal beasts that frequented forest areas. He had left the cottage just after 03:00, sneaking out of the window and climbing the fence in the back garden before skirting around the outskirts of the town to reach where he had left Alice the previous day. Since daybreak, he had spent a few hours travelling into the forest following the trail, winding through the mountain peaks. Looking at his display, it was nearly 09:00. ''I hope SJ forgives me'', he thought. He had met Alice in Asterfal at the Bugbear''s, and they had shared a couple of evenings in each other''s company. Nothing had happened between them, but they had seemed like kindred spirits. He knew she was a druid after they had spoken about their classes. He had only bumped into her on an off chance when he had left Master Rui two days earlier after finishing his training. She had been walking along the street, and they had nearly walked into each other. The shock on both their faces when they realised it had been followed by genuine smiles. Darren felt his heart skip when he saw her again. After a conversation in which Alice learned that Darren was the culprit for the Inn explosion, as well as the wyvern defence, she made him aware of her role in the town. She didn''t want to draw attention to him after his start in town, so they had planned to meet by the forest to talk the following afternoon in secrecy. They had spent several hours catching up properly, and Alice had promised to meet him again. He now had a reason to keep him in Killic. Alice was a beautiful creature. It was as they had just been about to leave the forest edge when a hunting party had come upon them talking. Alice had passed pleasantries, knowing them all, and they had continued to the town carrying their successful haul of two Hoglings. Alice then told Darren to leave first so as not to draw attention, and he headed back to town, which was the last time he had seen her. The trail led him deep through the forest, curving towards the base of the mountain area to the east, toward where the wyvern had flown. Darren didn''t feel happy approaching the wyvern territory but had no choice. He needed to find Alice to clear his name. The trail had grown fainter as he followed it and its dispersion made him stop and survey the forest area more closely. The brush was thick around him with tangling vines and thorn bushes. It was obvious from the surroundings that only forest animals would usually be anywhere near this area. There were none of the usual animal trails that covered many forest floors. As he searched the area, he identified tracks he didn''t recognise. There were several pairs of what could only be described as humanoid footprints, but nothing he had witnessed previously. The prints only had four toes. He squatted, looking at the tracks, tracing their outline with his finger. Looking at the size and depth of the prints, he guessed the creatures were similar in size to most humans. He triggered his skill. A new coloured trail appeared, and this one was much stronger than the faint trail. It had a red colour to it. Unslinging his bow from his shoulder, he lifted an arrow from the quiver on his back and nocked it on the string. He could easily walk and hold the arrow on the string without losing balance or hampering his stealth. His high dexterity significantly increased his balance and ability to track almost silently. It was uncanny how quiet he could be while moving through forests, following the new trail, and keeping an eye on the remainder of the other. Both trails followed the same path. The trees thinned out as he progressed, and he believed he was a few kilometres from the wyvern location and had to be at least seven from the town. The undulating land began to rise at an incline as he approached the side of the mountain. He stopped as the treeline thinned further, observing the opening mountain ahead. The grey, stark rock faces a drastic contrast from the richness of the forest. The animal sounds had faded as he moved nearer the edge. Even being on the edge of a forest, he was surprised at how quiet it had become. Looking up the rock face, he could see no movement, although a couple hundred feet up the side, he thought he could see the opening to a cave¡ªthe trail leading in that direction. The bright blue trail was only just visible now, and he had seen no signs of any footprints for a long time, which led him to believe that if it was Alice, she was being carried by whatever or whoever had taken her. His heart was beating quickly as he moved towards the cave entrance, nervous tension building as he approached. The wyvern suddenly cried in the distance to the north, and he froze, scanning the skies, not seeing it airborne. Relief flooded him, and he edged closer, his hands clenched on his bow with unnatural tension. ''Calm down,'' he thought as he edged closer. When he got within fifty feet of the entrance, the sun reflected off the brilliant white polished skulls of several animals that covered the ground. He wasn''t sure what lived in the cave, but this wasn''t a good sign. A ranger walking into a cave was never a good idea. He was not trained or adept at melee fighting, and a cave was a melee class territory. Any cave systems he had ever visited previously were only ever as a support member of a party. Reaching the entrance to the cave, there were red streaks around the sides as though someone had dipped their fingers in blood and drawn them across the rock surface. What or whoever had done so only had four fingers. The trail led inside, and he stopped listening carefully. The sun was high in the sky, and his display showed it was 10:55. It had taken several hours to reach the cave following the tracks. He could hear no sound, and he quickly checked his inventory. Placing the arrow back in his quiver and shouldering his bow, he withdrew a torch and began to light it. The cave was dark with no visible light source. His half-elven heritage gave him improved sight, but he couldn''t see in the dark. Once the torch was lit, he held it and his bow, gripping around its length and the bow''s grip. The arrow he had nocked did not rest perfectly with the bulk of the torch in its way. It was not the easiest of options, but at least he wouldn''t be walked into a cave blind and could use his bow, even if not with the level of accuracy he could normally maintain. Listening keenly for any sound, Darren edged his way inside. The cave was natural and had no sign of being carved out of the rock face. It also surprised Darren that there may be unknown creatures or beings this close to town that may have kidnapped someone. The forest had been thick, but he would have expected that the areas around the town would have been cleared fully of anything hostile, knowing how long the town had been established. It still amazed Darren the vast areas of Amathera that possessed the characteristics of untouched wilderness. Darren''s senses were heightened with his increased apprehension of entering the cave. The rough stone walls of the entranceway followed a tunnel that wound upwards at a sharp incline, rising swiftly into the mountain''s interior. The going was tough, and by the time he reached the top of the tunnel, his thighs burned. The tunnel''s width narrowed substantially, and he lowered his bow as he reached the narrowest point. The path ahead was the shape of an inverted v. Even crouching, he could not move through easily. He could crawl, but that would make him unable to respond to an attack. Looking at the dirt-covered floor, he could see what he assumed were drag marks created by someone''s heels. He placed his bow on his shoulder, drew his short sword, and proceeded forward. He had been through a cheese press when caving as a teenager, and the tight feeling of the rock against his chest as he turned sideways, squeezing through, brought back unpleasant memories. Gradually, the tunnel walls parted again, and as he continued, he returned his short sword to its sheath and retook up his bow. Edging forward, he approached the entrance to a cavern. Taking a minute, he stood just out from the entrance and listened. The only sound he could hear was the spluttering of the torch as it continued to burn, casting a glow ahead of him. The cavern looked small, but he carefully moved forward. As he entered, he swung his bow around in a wide arc, covering the extent of the chamber. On either side, there were two further tunnels leading off. The trail he had been following headed to the left, and looking down again at the ground, he squatted, seeing the outline of the four-toed creatures in the dirt. There were no longer any signs of anything being dragged. He had lost the ability to work out where he was in the cave system, taking a moment to open his display to ensure that his map was updated with his location. He didn''t want to continue following a maze of tunnels and not be able to return. Once confirmed, he moved across the small chamber and entered the trail tunnel. The blue trail had stopped completely, Darren knowing that all trails faded over time. He only believed that this trail he followed was still so easy to track because of the potential number of creatures that had made it. Following the trail, he could feel the sweat on his palms as he continued, his breath shallow, trying to be as quiet as possible. It felt as though his heart was in his head, and he could feel his blood pumping in his temples. He let out a deep, controlled exhale and tried to steady his nerves and relax. He had travelled what he believed may have been another few hundred feet when he heard a noise. Instantly freezing, he listened intently. The sound was distant and low, but he was unsure how far it was, knowing that sound travelled differently in tunnels. There appeared to be more than one variation of whatever was making the sound. He couldn''t see ahead as the tunnel had been winding, and he was unsure of the sound. Creeping further forward, he continued cautiously, now straining to hear. When he approached a fork in the tunnel, he saw the first sign of a light being cast from ahead. Stepping back again, not wanting to give his position away, he backed down the tunnel and taking the torch, he found a crack in the wall where he could wedge it. Doing so, he flexed his fingers where he had been gripping both the torch and bow and then, nocking an arrow again, proceeded forward slowly to the fork. Chapter 96 – Pit The light being cast flickered like that of a torch, and listening intently, Darren could hear several of what he assumed were voices ahead of him. They were guttural and animalistic in sound, with more grunts than any language he had ever heard. Not recognising the sound, he followed the tunnel wall, its rough surface rubbing against his shoulder as he pressed to its side. The tunnel widened, and he stilled, looking into the space ahead. The smell of cooked meat wafted down the tunnel, and Darren panicked, thinking Alice was the food source. Moving forward faster than he should have been, he continued to the edge of the tunnel mouth. Before him was a large open cavern containing a large deep pit. The light was being created by a fire burning below, the smoke from the fire drawn upwards to an opening in the cavern roof, and torches stuck into the walls. The pit was over a hundred feet wide and eighty across, with a roughly hewn path cut into its side leading down to the bottom. Moving cautiously to the edge after ensuring nothing was at the top level, he peered down. The bottom of the pit was fifty feet below. What drew Darren''s attention were the beings moving around. They reminded Darren of pictures of Aliens that had covered many science fiction stories back on Earth with long, thin, gangly arms and legs. Their bodies appeared emaciated, with large bulbous heads, no hair, and eyes that he could only describe as those of a fish. The pit contained sixteen of the creatures. The fire had a spit built over it, containing the remains of a hogling. As he scanned the base of the pit, Darren could see teepees made from multiple animal furs and skins, stretched skins on tanning frames, and various implements or weapons, which reminded him of cave dwellers. At the far end were wooden cages. Lying in one cage, he could make out the still form of Alice. Two others contained animals, one a hogling and another a puma. Darren''s anger flared, and adrenaline flooded him as he saw Alice. Considering he was in what had been a starter area until recently, he didn''t think they could be very high level, although he didn''t know for sure. He wouldn''t be able to tell their health until he shot one, and it took damage. He only wished he had the identification skill. He knelt, looking down into the pit, observing the creatures. One walked to the spit on the fire and turned it. The hogling leaked its contents onto the fire with the sound of sizzling fat and flare of the flames. Another of the creatures walked to the other, and Darren watched as what he thought was an argument took place. The new arrival trying to adjust the spit and being struck by the other. They hissed at each other in animalistic tones before a larger creature barked an order, and they fell silent, turning to look at it. Darren couldn''t tell if they were male or female; although naked, they didn''t seem to have any telltale signs. Considering the options open to him, he had two choices. One was leaving and returning to the town to get help, or he could attempt to free Alice alone. Looking at the scattered bones on the floor of the pit, he didn''t dare leave Alice behind now he had found her, considering she looked as though she would be a meal rather than kept prisoner. It would take him too long to return and get help, and he did not know what reception he would get if he did, considering that he had left without permission. One creature cried, and Darren watched as two more walked over to the cage containing the other hogling. It squealed as they approached where it was being held in a cage, and the Puma growled. Alice still lay motionless. Picking up a rough-looking short spear from the by the cage, the larger of the two creatures poked at the hogling. The hogling squealed each time the spear struck it as he continued to prick it. Being half-elven, Darren''s vision was boosted, and he could see well with the light in the chamber from the fire. The hogling continued to squeal, and the Puma hissed at the creatures. Several of the other creatures were looking toward the cages. There was a call from the larger creature, and the two that had been bickering before began to remove the hogling from the spit¡ªplacing the carcass on top of a pile of bones. Several of the others started to move towards the food. With less decorum, the scene that unfolded brought back memories of a savage gnoll tribe Darren had once visited. The creatures tore at the remains of the hogling in a frenzy until the larger one barked and walked forward, shoving the others aside. The would-be leader would have to be Darren''s first target. The squeals of the hogling lessened due to the protracted damage it was receiving, and Darren watched as it fell onto its side, quietening. The Puma continued to snarl and hiss at the nearest of the creatures, backing into the corner of its cage. Alice still lay motionless, and Darren only hoped she was alive. Looking at the fact the creatures kept their other prey alive, he hoped it was the case. Darren silently positioned his short bow, selecting his true flight skill. He took aim at the largest of the creatures. His vision improvements from his ranger class and skill when using his bow seemed to act as though he had binoculars on as he zoomed in on the creature''s head. The bonus with being underground was that there was no wind to contend with, and he let his arrow fly. The shriek of shock from the beast as it was struck in one of its bulbous eyes sent a shiver down Darren''s spine. The high-pitched wail left its mouth as it fell backwards. Its health bar was now showing and had been reduced to almost zero. Lying on the floor, it wailed, rolling with its hands covering its face as the others reacted. Turning and looking upwards at the lip of the pit, their eyes fell on Darren. The screaming and snarling that erupted below echoed off the chamber walls as they reacted. ''Damn,'' Darren thought as he drew another arrow and took aim at another, releasing again. His arrow struck true again and sent another creature to the floor, where it remained still. His arrow had pierced its chest. The creatures moved, grabbing their crude weapons and running towards the path leading from the pit. Darren saw the chokepoint aimed at the first as it ascended. Aiming, he fired, hitting it in its leg, making it stumble and fall. The creature directly behind it tripped on his comrade''s fallen body and slipped from the path, only falling a few feet to the pit bottom. Standing again and growling in anger. More creatures began up the path, not caring for the fallen, climbing over and standing on the injured one with the arrow in its leg, having no thought of assisting it. Darren triggered his burning arrow and, taking aim again, released it and hit another in its side. The screams and shouts from the creatures were now deafening within the confines of the chamber. Continuing, he fired arrow after arrow at them. Thankfully, most hit their targets with his skill level. Many were struck, incapacitated, or killed outright because of the damage bonuses they received with archery. "Come on," Darren cried as he continued to fire. Several were nearing the top of the path. Realising that he would have to resort to melee combat if they made it to the top of the chamber, he triggered his lightning skill. Taking longer to ensure he hit his desired target, he released the arrow. The blue streak of light cut a brilliant trail in the chamber''s dim surroundings. His target struck cleanly at the lead of the creatures. There were still seven of the creatures ascending the path. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. As the arrow struck, the creature froze in place before beginning to convulse as the lightning coursed over its body. The others, pushing up behind, still trying to reach the lip, touched the affected one, and the reaction he had hoped for began. The blue light lanced between anything that touched the stricken creature. Four of the rest were affected, two of which fell from the side of the path and, at a distance above the pit floor, screamed as they fell to their deaths below. While the lightning remained, the three unaffected ones stopped on the path, turned, and snarled towards Darren. Darren picked another off, who died instantly, toppling forwards. The lightning skill ceased, and as it did, the remaining two charged the final distance to the lip of the pit. Seeing them both turn towards him as soon as they did. Pulling two arrows this time, he drew back quickly on his bow as they charged him. He had used dual shot on a couple of occasions, but his skill level was low, and he released the arrows. One arrow flew true as expected, striking his target and sending the beast backwards from the impact. The other arrow missed, passing harmlessly by its side. The distance between them was only several feet, and Darren didn''t have time to draw and fire again. Stumbling backwards slightly, he dropped his bow and drew his short sword as the creature closed, a club held high in its hand as it charged and swung towards him. Darren lifted the sword, deflecting the club''s blow, sending shockwaves down his arm. The strike had been more powerful than he expected from such a weak-looking creature. Taking a step backwards again, he slashed at the beast. It withdrew from the strike with an unnatural agility, its body seeming to curve out of the way of his sword before it struck again with the club. Darren raised his bracer-covered arm to deflect the blow, grunting from the pain as the club struck but holding his ground as he thrust his blade forward and upwards into the creature''s gut. Its eyes widened in shock from the attack as the blade dug in. The beast''s weight suddenly fell towards him as it fell victim to his attack. Staggering backwards, he allowed the lifeless creature to fall to the ground. Quickly looking around, there were still several of the injured creatures in the pit where they had been hit, screaming what Darren assumed were obscenities at him as he ran forward, scooping his bow and heading to the path, short sword in hand. The path was treacherous. As he descended the treacherous path, he was surprised to see how easily the creatures had climbed up it, noting its rough cutting. As he reached any of the creature''s bodies or those injured, he finished them off. His display had been firing the whole fight, and he now knew that the creatures were Greylings. He had never seen anything like them before in his time on Amathera. Reaching the bottom, having disposed of four on the way down, he noticed that one creature had got back to its feet from where it had fallen off the path. It screeched at him as it stumbled forward on a twisted leg. It was obviously broken, and sheer hatred towards him gave it the ability to move. It reached down and grabbed one of the short spears some had carried. Sheathing his sword, Darren was over thirty feet from it and drew his bow. Reaching back for an arrow to find thin air. ''Have I really used all my arrows?'' he thought, panicking and suddenly feeling vulnerable. He had his short sword, but his bow was his comfort. As he shouldered his bow, the creature cried as it threw the short spear at him. Darren was not paying it full attention and hadn''t expected the spear to be thrown, considering its length and how he had seen them used by the creatures. Quickly trying to move out of its path, he stumbled, only his increased dexterity allowing him to remain on his feet. The head of the spear missed him by millimetres, its haft striking his side as he moved. Turning, he drew his sword and, with a cry, ran at the beast. It moved at him staggering, and with its elongated arms, which ended in four fingers with large claws, it raked at him. Darren dropped his shoulder as he charged inside its swing and stabbed it in its chest. His sword was buried deeply. The creature instantly became limp as its life left it. Pulling his sword free, he let it fall to the floor before continuing around the pit, ensuring those others that had fallen were dead. He eventually reached the larger creature he had initially shot in the eye and found it had bled out from the wound. Seeing no other threats, he sheathed his sword again and hurried towards the cages at the end of the pit. The smell of the area, apart from the cooked meat, had a mustiness to it. It reminded Darren of a damp, cold cellar. As he neared the cage, the Puma snarled at him while the dead hogling still lay on the floor of the next cage. He reached the cage containing Alice and saw that it was held closed by a wooden peg. He worked the peg free until he was able to open it. Noticing that if Alice had been conscious, it would not have held her captive. Throwing the cage open, he stooped down and entered, kneeling by her side and reaching out to feel for a pulse in her neck. Feeling her heartbeat, he let out a breath he hadn''t realised he was holding. Leaning over Alice and grabbing her shoulders, he slowly moved her, rolling her onto her back and then, placing his arm under her knees and shoulders, lifted her gently, removing her from the cage. Laying her on the floor outside, he removed his water canteen and, lifting her head, slowly poured some onto her lips. There was no reaction, and he noticed the mark on her neck. There was a red circle with a clear puncture wound in the middle of it. Traced around from the puncture wound was a faint trace of green. "Poison," he said. Opening his display, he quickly searched through his inventory. By virtue of his tanning profession, he was able to expand his inventory size with a class-specific bag. He could not sell it as only useable by the maker, but it increased his capacity significantly. He grabbed one of his antidote potions and, uncorking it, carefully placed it against Alice''s lips and poured the liquid into her mouth. She didn''t swallow, and Darren was concerned it could choke her, so he tilted her head, allowing the liquid to drain out of her mouth. Feeling concerned, he laid her on her side and positioned her in the recovery position that he had learned as a child. He carefully poured some of the antidote onto his finger and then rubbed it on the inside of her mouth, hoping that through absorption, it would take effect. He continued the process until the antidote was empty. Kneeling next to Alice, he looked at her serene and beautiful face. She was angelic to his eyes, and he had fallen for her the first time he had met her. "Come on, Alice," he said, stroking her hair. When she didn''t respond, he cursed, standing and kicking out at a rock in annoyance. "I wonder if they have anything to offset it," he said as he moved to search the area. The stench inside the teepees was horrendous when he opened the flaps to the first. Pulling back, he couldn''t see inside and went to the wall, grabbing one of the weak torches they used to light the area. Carrying it back, he looked inside again. Strewn across the floor were the skins of animals the creatures must have hunted and nothing else of value that he could see. He worked his way from teepee to teepee, finding nothing of use until he reached the final larger teepee where the larger creature had been. Entering the inside was just as filthy and dishevelled, but it also contained a chest. Grabbing the end of the chest, he hauled it out of the teepee and into the stronger light of the fire. Dropping the torch, he opened it. Inside were rather crude-looking tubes and wrapped leaf parcels. He opened the parcel to find a green paste inside. At the bottom of the chest was a selection of what could only be classed as needles made from the thorns of a plant. ¡®It must be a crude blowpipe,¡¯ he thought as he began placing the items into his inventory. He didn¡¯t recognise the paste, having no clue about the effects it may have. Cursing under his breath, he turned to head back to Alice when she suddenly coughed. Chapter 97 – Following orders SJ sat in the inn. Cristy, opposite her, eating lunch. Now that the inns downstairs were open again for food and drink, the inn was busy. That morning, she had been to see Zigferd after informing the two guards who had been standing watch at the cottage about Darren¡¯s disappearance. It was the most furious that SJ had ever witnessed of Zigferd as he turned the air blue and swore that he would have the hides of the guards who were supposed to be watching him. It took SJ a long time to calm him down as he screamed and bellowed his frustrations. He was missing his second and one of his closest and most trusted friends. Eventually, SJ left him, as Ballentine had come to see him to receive a berating from him for his inept guards. To Ballentine¡¯s credit, he had not responded and just taken the abuse hurled at him by Zigferd. As SJ had left, he had seen the dwarf walk over to where Zigferd sat in a chair, holding his head in his hands, placing his hand on his shoulder, and whispering to him. SJ had promised to see Cristy, and after lunch, they would visit Patch to check on him and the pack. They had not been out there since the wyvern had arrived, and Cristy was worried about them. An hour later, they arrived in the south of town and crossed the cornfields to the forest. As soon as they reached it, Cristy called, and within moments, the form of Patch had appeared bounding through the brush. SJ could have sworn Patch had as much of a worried look on its face as Cristy had had on her own. Seeing each other, SJ felt relief from the pair. Cristy gripped Patch around his enormous neck, squeezing tightly. SJ knew the wolves were predatory animals but also was aware of how well wolves could track. ¡°Cristy. Do you think Patch could help find Alice?¡± SJ asked. She had told Cristy about Alice¡¯s disappearance, and Cristy had been upset about finding out. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I can ask him,¡± Cristy said, looking at Patch. Patch¡¯s eyes held clear intelligence, and SJ realised he could understand the common tongue from their previous interactions. ¡°You know the lady who came and healed Dark Paw?¡± Cristy said. SJ had never known that the other wolves had names. Patch lowered his head in response and let out a low growl. ¡°She is missing. Do you think you could help find her?¡± Cristy said. Patch growled again in response and turned his head, looking into the forest. ¡°I think he can help,¡± Cristy said, turning to look at SJ. ¡°That would be amazing if he could,¡± SJ said. Patch suddenly let out a howling sound, and a couple of minutes passed before the remainder of the pack arrived. SJ now recognised the grey wolf called Dark Paw. Across the wolf¡¯s side, where the rock gobbler had struck it, there was a break in the fur, showing where it had received the damage. Apart from the missing swathe of fur, he looked fit and strong. Patch growled at the pack members before they all moved off again into the forest area. Turning to look at Cristy, he let out a low, huffing sound. ¡°Patch says it may take time,¡± Cristy said. ¡°What do you mean he said?¡± SJ said in shock. ¡°He said,¡± Cristy replied, looking at her. ¡°You understand him?¡± ¡°Yes. I never used to, but recently, I have begun to understand him when he speaks.¡± SJ stood staring at Cristy and then at Patch in amazement, unsure how to respond. Patch tilted his head sideways, looking as though he was smiling. ¡°He likes you, by the way,¡± Cristy added. SJ¡¯s eyes went even wider at the comment. ¡°I like him too.¡± Patch walked forward and pushed his head towards SJ¡¯s hand. SJ stroked the top of his head. ¡°There isn¡¯t much we can do now, but wait. The guards are also out looking, and the mayor has ordered one of the hunting parties to see if they can help track Alice¡¯s whereabouts. We should head back to town now that we know Patch and his family are okay. There is still a wyvern in the area.¡± Cristy looked at SJ with sad eyes. ¡°We have only just got here.¡± ¡°I know, but I don¡¯t want you to be in any more danger out here.¡± Cristy¡¯s eyes narrowed as she replied to SJ. ¡°I am not a baby. I am growing up and can defend myself,¡± she replied as a short dagger appeared in her tiny fist. ¡°Where did you get that from?¡± SJ asked, surprised. ¡°Uncle Gary,¡± she replied. ¡°Uncle Gary?¡± SJ frowned. ¡°You mean my friend Gary, the orc guard?¡± ¡°Yes. He gave it to me to protect myself.¡± ¡°When did you see Gary?¡± surprise etched on SJ¡¯s face, not knowing that Gary had been to see her. ¡°I see Gary nearly every day when he passes the orphanage on his patrol. He always stops to talk to me.¡± The thought of Gary stopping to speak to Cristy regularly made SJ break into a smile. ¡°I did not know,¡± she said. ¡°He has promised me when I am older that he will teach me to fight. Like he does,¡± Cristy said, stepping forward and thrusting her small dagger out in front of her. ¡°So, you plan on joining the guard?¡± SJ asked. ¡°No. I will be a hunter, like Dad.¡± ¡°I know someone who may be able to help train you in archery. If he ever returns.¡± ¡°You do?¡± Cristy replied excitedly. ¡°Yes. Hopefully, when we have some time, I can bring you to meet him.¡± ¡°That would be amazing.¡± ¡°We better head back.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Cristy said forlornly. Turning, she spoke to Patch. ¡°If you find anything, can you howl and tell us?¡± Patch lowered his head again in response to her comment, and Cristy grabbed him around his large neck again, hugging him tightly. ¡°I will be back soon,¡± she promised as she turned to leave with SJ. Dave had been adamant that she must focus on her quests rather than getting involved in Alice¡¯s disappearance. After arguing that she would see if Patch could help locate her, she had agreed with Dave. After SJ returned Cristy to Madeline¡¯s care, she focused on trying to find out more about Bellakiy today. Kerys had informed SJ about the office that Bellakiy used. It was a single-story building near to the docks area and close to where she believed he lived. As SJ approached the building, a tall elf, who she recognised as a councillor, was leaving. ¡°Hello, SJ,¡± the elf said as he saw her approaching. SJ couldn¡¯t remember the councillor¡¯s name, feeling embarrassed, ¡°Hi,¡± she smiled. ¡°Is Bellakiy in?¡± ¡°Yes. He is finishing a requisition, and I believe he plans to leave again tomorrow.¡± SJ did not know what his normal plans were, and the councillor acted as though it was normal behaviour. ¡°That¡¯s great. I wanted to catch him before he left. I didn¡¯t have the pleasure of speaking to him before they voted me in.¡± ¡°Ahh. That doesn¡¯t surprise me. He is always on the road,¡± the elf responded, wishing SJ a good day as he walked off. SJ walked to the door, knocking before trying the handle and walking in. The draconian sat at a large desk, which was strewn with paper and parchments, and held a quill in his hand as he wrote in a ledger. Looking up from his paperwork as SJ entered, he smiled at SJ. The office had extravagant decor. The main centrepiece of the office was a large stone-carved desk, with intricately detailed legs that portrayed several of Killic¡¯s races. Tapestries adorned the walls, with various scenes and several paintings showing Bellakiy. To SJ, it felt like a pretentious setting. Compared to Zigferd¡¯s office, it was a league above. Zigferd¡¯s was stark and practical. Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. ¡°SJ, isn¡¯t it?¡± he said, placing the quill in a silver holder and pushing back from the desk. He stood, walking around his desk with his hand outstretched in a friendly greeting. ¡°It is, and you are Bellakiy,¡± she smiled. ¡°I am indeed. What may I do for you?¡± ¡°I came to introduce myself and was also seeking some advice.¡± ¡°I am glad to be introduced formally,¡± he replied as he offered SJ a seat and returned to his on the other side of the desk. ¡°What advice were you seeking?¡± he replied as he offered SJ a seat and returned to his on the other side of the desk. ¡°I¡¯m not sure if you are aware of my new position on the council?¡± ¡°I am not sure, no. I am not in town often, and when I am, I am usually too busy to catch up with what is happening, apart from meeting several merchants before heading back out again.¡± ¡°They have assigned me as an ambassador for Killic.¡± The draconian tried to hide his surprise from SJ¡¯s comment but didn¡¯t entirely manage it. ¡°Really? That is amazing,¡± he said, his smiled slightly delayed from his initial response. SJ could sense that he didn¡¯t appear genuinely pleased with her comment. Her ability to read people¡¯s behaviour had always been a strong trait she had used in her previous life, and it seemed to be the case now. ¡°He doesn¡¯t look happy and is nervous,¡± Dave said. ¡°As part of my new role, I am required to make relationships with the outer villages, and from what I am told, you are the one to speak to.¡± Although SJ was not 100% confident in her ability to read draconian expressions, it still didn¡¯t pass that his look appeared to change to that of smugness. ¡°I have been building relationships with all the local villages and towns for years. I have great relationships with them all. As you correctly state, I do have an uncanny ability,¡± Bellakiy replied. SJ had stated nothing of the sort, and his arrogance to his own ability was sickening. ¡°It would be fantastic if you could please introduce me to the various settlements over the coming weeks.¡± ¡°I would be delighted to. I am due to leave in the morning on a route around four of the closer villages. Would you like to join me?¡± ¡°How long will you be gone, as I will not be available immediately?¡± ¡°The route takes me three days to complete, with two overnight stops on the way. There are several villages that I frequent regularly with the trade caravan.¡± SJ had assumed that peddlers would visit most villages rather than trade caravans. Several peddlers regularly came to Killic and set up stalls in the market square alongside the regular traders. SJ had never considered the use of a specific trade caravan. She had seen wagons and carts coming and going through the streets of Killic but had not realised what they were doing or where they were going. It made sense with the regular movement of food and goods to the villages. ¡°I don¡¯t like or trust him,¡± Dave said. ¡°Unfortunately, with Alice currently missing, I don¡¯t want to be too far from Killic,¡± SJ said. SJ could have sworn that Bellakiy had to hold back a sneer at her name being mentioned. His eyes narrowed slightly. ¡°It is a shame she is missing. I have always held her in such high regard,¡± he said. ¡°He is such a liar!¡± Dave shouted. Dave was getting more annoyed at Bellakiy than SJ was. ¡°It is more than a shame. She is a rock for Killic,¡± SJ said, still holding her smiled. ¡°I will see you again on your return if that is okay, and hopefully, by then, I may be free to accompany you.¡± ¡°That would be lovely,¡± Bellakiy said. Saying farewell and thanking him for the time SJ left his office. ¡°What a pompous self-centred ass-hat he is,¡± Dave blurted as soon as they were outside. SJ couldn¡¯t hold back a chuckle. ¡°I agree. His office is all about his wealth and showing off. It is completely impractical.¡± ¡°What were those paintings all about? Why have paintings of yourself plastered around the walls? Do you think it is so he can remind himself who he is?¡± SJ could not hide her laughter as she returned to the town centre this time. The next place on her list that afternoon would be the Wandering Ogre. She wanted to talk to Newiq about his thoughts about being absorbed into the town¡¯s borders once it expanded. It was now mid-afternoon, and she didn¡¯t fancy going there in the evening, knowing that was when it received its main clientele. ¡°Okay. Time to see Niweq. I want to see if I can get an eye on this kobold that Harrietta has mentioned.¡± ¡°You are on a mission today,¡± Dave said. ¡°You scolded me earlier, so I better do as I am told,¡± SJ replied sarcastically. ¡°And have you listened to me before?¡± ¡°I always listen to you, and I have no choice.¡± ¡°Hmph. I mean, really listen.¡± ¡°Yes. My dark overlord,¡± SJ chuckled. ¡°Oooo. I like that. Dave the Dark. Dave the Destroyer, Dave the¡­¡± ¡°Douchebag?¡± ¡°Oi,¡± Dave said. SJ laughed heartily, getting some strange looks from others on the street. The stark difference in its appearance surprised SJ, who had never visited the Wandering Ogre in daylight. The building was plain-looking, and its architecture seemed cold and clean, looking more like a warehouse than an inn. This was more because of the lack of windows that the building had. The front door was open, and no trolls were standing outside, as there had been on her first visit. SJ could also not hear any noise coming from inside. Reaching the door, she entered. Her eyes took a few moments to adjust to the dimly lit interior. There were no acts on the stage, and only a couple of patrons sat at tables drinking. Looking towards the long bar, SJ recognised one of the trolls and walked over to him. He was leaning on the bar with a huge tankard in his hand, talking to the scantily clad human barmaid. ¡°Hi,¡± SJ said as she neared him. The pair turned to look at her. ¡°Can we help you?¡± The troll asked, frowning deeply. ¡°Is Niweq around?¡± ¡°He should be in his office if he is up yet. It is still a little early for him. The shows don¡¯t start for another couple of hours,¡± he replied. ¡°I assume I need to go around the side?¡± ¡°Yeah. Use the stage entrance,¡± the troll replied before turning back to its conversation with the human. The human girl giggled at something the troll said, and SJ assumed it was about her as she turned and left through the main entrance, walking around the side to the stage door. The door was closed. SJ tried the handle, but it did not open. Rapping on the door sharply. Several moments passed before she heard a bolt being withdrawn, and the previous orc she had met stood in the doorway, yawning and rubbing at his eyes with his free hand. ¡°Hello again,¡± Pethtu said, recognising SJ. ¡°Hi. I have come to see Niweq.¡± ¡°Not sure he¡¯s up yet. You just woke me from my afternoon nap.¡± Pethtu replied grumpily. ¡°Apologies. I thought you would be preparing for the evening¡¯s entertainment.¡± ¡°There isn¡¯t much to prepare for,¡± Pethtu replied, shrugging his shoulders. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Since that damn wyvern arrived in the area, the number of patrons has dropped significantly. If it keeps going like this, there won¡¯t be much point in being here,¡± Pethtu said, stepping to the side and holding the door open. ¡°You know where his office is. Feel free to go and see if he is there yet.¡± SJ walked past Pethtu, thanking him, and headed down the corridor. When she visited the club, for the better of a word, for the first time, the place was lively, with music playing and the dressing room full of acts. As she passed the changing room doors, she glanced in to see that there was only a lone half-elf sitting at a large mirror doing her hair. SJ nodded towards her as she looked at her in the mirror. Continuing down the corridor until she reached Niweq¡¯s office door. Composing herself, she knocked loudly, waiting for a response. Chapter 98 – Grey Matter ¡°Enter,¡± Niweq¡¯s voice called. SJ opened the door and walked inside. The interior hadn¡¯t changed. The posters on the walls of various acts reminded SJ of a theatre office. Niweq was not alone, and sitting in a chair in front of his desk was a kobold. ¡°Hello, Niweq,¡± SJ said. ¡°Ah, the Fae. You have returned. Are you seeking employment this time?¡± Niweq asked with a smile. ¡°No thanks. I am here on town business,¡± SJ said. ¡°Town business. I see. What business do you have with the town and my establishment?¡± Niweq asked, raising one eyebrow inquisitively. ¡°I am here to talk about a delicate matter,¡± SJ said, looking at the kobold, who had not paid attention since she entered. It continued to ignore her, stubbornly refusing to face her. ¡°Delicate, you say,¡± Niweq replied, looking at the kobold. SJ couldn¡¯t see any movement from the kobold. ¡°It relates to the expansion of the town¡¯s borders.¡± ¡°I see. What does that have to do with you?¡± ¡°I am the town¡¯s ambassador and here as a representative to discuss this matter on the town¡¯s behalf,¡± SJ said, knowing that she hadn¡¯t even had the express discussion with Zigferd about whether she should be here. ¡°The town¡¯s ambassador?¡± Niweq said, surprise registering on his face. ¡°I did not know. Congratulations on your appointment.¡± ¡°Thank you. As I mentioned, I wished to discuss this delicate matter with you,¡± SJ said again, indicating toward the kobold. ¡°It is fine. Please continue,¡± Niweq responded, waving his hand towards the kobold, who still sat with his back to her. No one had invited SJ to sit, and she didn¡¯t assume it was an option. Standing, feeling a little awkward, she continued. ¡°The town is considering expanding its borders, and with the proposal, the land around the Wandering Ogre would fall within its new boundaries. As you are the deed holder of this property, I do not want to force anything on you that you didn¡¯t consider viable. I just want to discuss a proposal for the Wandering Ogre and its land to become under the town protection.¡± ¡°You wish the Wandering Ogre to become a protectorate of the town?¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say a true protectorate, as we aren¡¯t after controlling what you do. We would like to offer you the ability to consider being a more permanent part of the town in the future. You would benefit from the standard elements relating to all those who live in the town.¡± ¡°What benefits does this bring me? All I can see from your initial proposal is that we would fall under the taxation and remit to the council.¡± ¡°No, that is not what I am saying. I am saying you would receive the same protection rights as any other member of the town, with guard support.¡± SJ felt completely out of her depth, wishing she hadn¡¯t started this path of enquiry with Niweq. ¡°Do you think I require guard support here at the Ogre? I have some of the most capable fighting staff around these parts.¡± ¡°You may have once.¡± ¡°Once? What do you mean once?¡± Newiq¡¯s brow furrowed. More people will move into the area due to the territory and boundary expansion, and those already here will also grow stronger. SJ noticed a movement from the kobold for the first time. One of his clawed fingers raised slightly and wagged towards Niweq, the slight gesture not passing her. ¡°I was unaware of these changes. What are you referring to, exactly?¡± ¡°The town now accommodates all up to level 20 for growth.¡± SJ could feel a bead of sweat on her back. She really wasn¡¯t content with the conversation¡¯s tone or direction. Niweq¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. ¡°Then why would I require protection, as it will mean that my own can also level?¡± ¡°I really don¡¯t like him,¡± Dave said. ¡°The way he is acting. The fact he didn¡¯t introduce the kobold. He isn¡¯t to be trusted, and I would advise cutting the conversation short and leaving it here. You are currently outside the town¡¯s boundaries, and he doesn¡¯t seem receptive to your offer. You need to be careful.¡± Niweq had been charismatic and charming when she had first met him, even if he ran a seedy club, but his mannerisms today were completely different. He didn¡¯t show any of his charm. ¡®I wonder if that kobold is controlling him,¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°Maybe he has something on him,¡± Dave said. ¡®Did you just read my mind?¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°I don¡¯t think so?¡± Dave said. ¡°What!¡± ¡®What!¡¯ Dave said, and SJ thought at the same time. SJ had lost all sense of direction at the sudden revelation that Dave could read her thoughts. The interaction lasted only seconds, but Niweq now sat staring at SJ, awaiting a response. Trying to control herself and not react, she quickly considered her options. ¡°Niweq. It is obvious that I have caught you at a bad time. Pethtu has informed me that your clientele has decreased since the wyvern attack, and I only hope your business continues as it has done. I am not trying to force or change how you run your establishment. I only offer you the consideration of integrating into the town as it grows. Consider the thought of future growth. I will leave you to dwell on the proposal.¡± SJ said, turning to leave. SJ noticed Niweq¡¯s expression change to one of confusion as she cut the conversation short and turned, walking from his office. Hurrying back down the corridor to the side entrance, she let herself out, calling thanks to Pethtu, who raised a hand in response from behind the counter he sat at. ¡°What has just happened?¡± she said as soon as she was at a safe distance to talk to Dave. ¡°I do not know,¡± he replied, sounding confused. ¡°You read my mind!¡± ¡°I think I did.¡± ¡°You must know if you did or not.¡± ¡°Think of something now.¡± ¡®Dave sucks.¡¯ ¡°Hey! Oh, damn, I did read your mind, didn¡¯t I?¡± ¡°It seems that way. Has this ever happened to you before as an administrator?¡± ¡°No, never. I am as confused as you are. I know I can see your neural pathways, but I never realised that I could communicate with you without you having to speak to respond.¡± ¡°At least I can walk around town without looking like I am always talking to myself.¡± ¡°Yes. I don¡¯t know what has allowed me to read them. I am looking through my code currently and trying to see any changes, but I can¡¯t see anything.¡± ¡°It is a little disconcerting knowing you can read my thoughts.¡± ¡°How do you think I feel!? It¡¯s not as if I want to know everything that goes through your mind. Oh, isn¡¯t that dress pretty? Her hair looks nice like that. He¡¯s cute,¡± Dave said sarcastically. SJ stopped, still considering what Dave had just said, uncertain if she even had thoughts like that. She supposed she may occasionally, but hadn¡¯t considered how it might appear to anyone else. ¡°You realise I can now understand what you were just thinking about.¡± Embarrassed, SJ began walking in earnest towards the town again. ¡°I can¡¯t understand why it has happened. I know we have got close, but I never expected this to occur,¡± Dave said. ¡°You said you can see my neural pathways?¡± ¡°Yes. I can see the patterns of your electrical signals as your brain triggers. That is the basis of the integration coding that allows us to communicate directly with your brain and converse with you.¡± SJ couldn¡¯t get her head around the concept that Dave could see the internal workings of her brain at the same time as seeing everything around her. ¡°How does it work?¡± ¡°It¡¯s hard to explain. I suppose the easiest explanation would be like seeing a holographic projection of your brain.¡± SJ had seen movies and TV shows back on Earth, whether science fiction or science-based, but never imagined a real version of them. The concept was not alien, just very difficult to comprehend. ¡°What does this even mean?¡± ¡°No idea. It is as new to me as you. I am in as much shock as you are,¡± Dave said. ¡°If you can read my thoughts, what else can you do?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Can you control them?¡± SJ sounded concerned. ¡°I do not know. I wouldn¡¯t have thought so. That would mean integration and neural transition. I know I previously joked about taking over a dragon or beastkin, but I never thought it would be a serious option. This may mean it is a possibility.¡± ¡°That¡¯s scary.¡± ¡°But also, exciting.¡± You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. ¡°For you, maybe,¡± SJ frowned. ¡°For us. Just consider if I could help out during situations. I have a greater visibility of the world around you and could support you during times of need.¡± ¡°You already have that ability, and you support me.¡± ¡°I mean reaction times. If I could control¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t even go there!¡± SJ snapped. ¡°There is no way you will ever be able to control me.¡± ¡°No. I don¡¯t mean control.¡± ¡°That is exactly what you just said.¡± ¡°Yes. I didn¡¯t mean control, control. I meant control as in help. Say someone attacked you, and I could see the attack before you could and react before you could.¡± SJ shivered at the thought of being controlled. ¡°The fact you can read my mind is frightening enough. If you could ever control me, I am not sure I could cope.¡± ¡°I honestly don¡¯t know what it means. I will have to speak to the system about it.¡± ¡°NO,¡± SJ shouted, stopped again. ¡°Why?¡± Dave asked. ¡°I am sure if this is normal, you would know. I don¡¯t need to draw more attention from them. They already class me as an anomaly.¡± ¡°Okay. I won¡¯t. I will continue to work on my code, though. The recent levels have been challenging in breaking the algorithmic locks they implemented.¡± ¡°Has this anything to do with what you have been working on previously?¡± ¡°No. I was just freeing my mind and removing restrictions. I don¡¯t believe anything I have done would have caused this.¡± Over the past couple of weeks, SJ had not considered Dave¡¯s coding and the changes he had been investigating. She had been too busy with her new life. ¡°Ohhhhhh,¡± Dave suddenly said. ¡°What?¡± SJ said, concerned. ¡°Erm, you have a new entry on your character sheet.¡± ¡°What?¡± SJ said as she called up her display and switched to her sheet. Reading through it, she saw nothing different until the last line. Synchronisation 7% ¡°Synchronisation!¡± SJ exclaimed. ¡°It appears that way. Maybe because we have communicated so often. I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°Why is it only showing now? I have never seen it before.¡± ¡°The fact I can read your thoughts may have triggered it to show. The system has many hidden features to which I am not privy.¡± ¡°If we ended up synchronised. Would that not mean I could also see your code or what you know?¡± The comment startled Dave, and he spluttered a response. ¡°I don¡¯t know. Maybe it would.¡± His voice now contained a nervous inflexion. ¡°Why are you worried suddenly?¡± ¡°No reason,¡± Dave coughed. ¡°You are afraid I would discover all your dirty little secrets, aren¡¯t you?¡± SJ asked. ¡°No. I have nothing to hide. Well, not that much anyway,¡± Dave chuckled nervously. Standing on the path back to town, they both stayed silent. SJ was trying not to think of anything that, under the circumstances, was virtually impossible. She looked around, trying to focus on the trees and the plants, considering the animal sounds that filtered from the nearby forest, anything apart from what she wanted to think about. Giving in, knowing it was pointless, you spoke. ¡°Can we agree? Whatever happens, we will never divulge each other¡¯s secrets or use anything we learn about each other against each other.¡± Dave did not hesitate to agree. ¡°I agree fully that whatever happens, we will always keep each other¡¯s thoughts secret.¡± ¡°This is a little one-sided. I can¡¯t read your thoughts.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not exactly comforting for me either. It¡¯s a good job that we are best friends.¡± ¡®Yes, we are,¡¯ SJ thought before realising. ¡°Now that¡¯s the kind of thought I like to see,¡± Dave said cheerily. ¡°This is going to take some getting used to.¡± ¡°It is, for both of us. I am now going to have so much more to do.¡± ¡°Consider this option. Unless I am involved in a conversation with another or in an area with others. I will always speak to you normally. Does that sound fair?¡± ¡°It does. It stops me from having to continually monitor your thoughts, although it doesn¡¯t take much processing power.¡± ¡°Are you saying my thoughts are not worth the effort?¡± SJ huffed. ¡°No. I would have expected the continual load of neural processes to take up much more processing than they do. It is tiny in comparison, which is strange considering the complexity of the human brain.¡± ¡°You just said human brain?¡± ¡°Yes. Why?¡± ¡°I am a Fae. Is my brain not a Fae brain now?¡± Silence. ¡°Dave?¡± ¡°Sorry. I just had a moment of realisation.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°You are absolutely right. You should have a fae brain, but you don¡¯t. It is still human.¡± ¡°Sorry?¡± ¡°When any other Legionnaire has transformed or selected their race previously, their metabolism and physical changes fully morph those of the race they choose. Your brain hasn¡¯t changed, meaning that you are actually a Fae with a human brain. I had never even considered it until you mentioned it.¡± ¡°Is this a bad thing?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think so. Let me check something quickly.¡± Silence. ¡°I think I understand why you still have a human brain. According to reincarnation protocols, only a human brain can integrate into the system. By adapting the terms and conditions and your waiver status for potential future reincarnations, if they had physically altered your brain to that of any other race, they could not reintegrate you again.¡± ¡°What about those who go in dungeons and die but get reincarnated?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not really a reincarnation. They are basically in a sub-system of Amathera and then reinstated in Amathera. It¡¯s the same with world events. They create sub-systems. If you die in the main Amathera system, the main system then reincarnates you. It¡¯s again one of those MIT moments to fully explain or comprehend.¡± ¡°What about those who decide to be humans? Does that mean that they could be reincarnated if the system wished?¡± ¡°No. Their brains are Amatherean human brains, not Earth human brains. You still have your full-on original grey matter. This is mind-blowing.¡± ¡°You are telling me!?¡± ¡°I will start doing some research. I need to understand the synchronisation process more.¡± ¡°We both do,¡± SJ said as she once again continued back towards town. SJ returned to the cottage and settled down to eat when there was a sharp knock on the door. ¡°Who is it?¡± she called. ¡°It¡¯s the guard,¡± Dave said before they replied. ¡°Councillor. We have been asked to inform you that someone spotted the Dire Wolf near the town entrance, violating the rule that it should stay away.¡± SJ jumped from her table, knocking the chair over, and ran to the door. ¡°Is he howling?¡± she asked excitedly as she opened the door. Surprised at her reaction and the look on her face, the guard replied, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Amazing. Let¡¯s go,¡± SJ said, pushing between the guards and pulling the cottage door to behind her. Both the guards looked confused at her reaction, turning to follow SJ. ¡°I will meet you there,¡± SJ said as she transformed into her miniature form and took off. Her flying speed was much faster than her walking pace. She quickly flew through the streets to the far side of the town. It didn¡¯t take her long to arrive to see a group of six guards standing in a line facing out towards the Dire Wolf, who sat approximately a hundred feet from the street on the path between the cornfields. SJ had heard Patch¡¯s howl as she crossed the town. Ignoring the guard, she flew straight past them towards Patch, landing and growing as soon as she did. ¡°Have you found her?¡± she said excitedly. Patch gave a low growl and turned back, leading towards the forest. ¡°Wait,¡± SJ said, turning back to the guard. ¡°Get me the mayor now.¡± The guards just stood looking at her with confused looks. ¡°NOW!¡± SJ shouted. One guard reacted before the others and ran towards the barracks. Several minutes passed while SJ paced impatiently. Seeing Zigferd appear, SJ yelled at him, ¡°The wolves have found Alice! Get some guards to follow!¡± Zigferd¡¯s look of confusion disappeared in an instant, and he shouted orders at the guards who had been standing facing Patch. They immediately moved towards SJ. Switching to her miniature form, she followed Patch as he moved across the cornfield. SJ heard a roar behind her, turning to see that Zigferd had transformed into his bear form and was pounding across the fields in pursuit. This left the poor guard trying to keep up with them. Zigferd soon caught up as Patch led them into the forest. Chapter 99 – Unknown As the three of them left the guard behind, they moved through the underbrush. All around them, there were the squeals of beasts, creatures, or birds. Patch hardly made a sound when passing through the forest. SJ was airborne, zipping above him, but Zigferd was like a mountain. Even saplings didn''t hamper his movement as he flattened them with his huge bear form. Occasionally, SJ would hear the howl of a wolf in the distance, and Patch would respond as his pack directed him to where they were. It took much longer than SJ had expected to reach the wolf''s location. Breaking through the brush and SJ swerving the lower branches of the trees, they came upon a clearing with a small stream running through it. Patch came to a stop as he entered. Zigferd slammed to a halt, his paws digging deep gouges in the soft ground. SJ slowed to a hover. In front of them, the four members of Patch''s Pack stood surrounding Darren, keeping their distance from him. His short sword was drawn, and he was backed up against a tree. Alice lay on the ground by the stream, appearing motionless. Zigferd roared, charging across the clearing at Darren, his huge maw salivating and his teeth on full display. Darren''s eyes opened in sheer terror, seeing the bear charging at him. The wolves moved out of Zigferd''s path. Darren reacted, jumping around the rear of the tree he had been against as a huge paw swung where he had stood moments earlier, gouging a chunk out of the trunk and littering the ground with bark and splinters. SJ had flown straight to Alice and grew at her side. Reaching down to check her pulse. Feeling a strong pulse in her wrist, she called to Zigferd. "She is alive." Zigferd didn''t respond, instead swinging another huge paw at the form of Darren, who was now moving from tree to tree, trying to stay out of reach of the bear''s sharp claws. The wolves all stood in the clearing, watching as Alice groaned and croaked in a dry, cracked voice. "Stop," Alice said. "What?" SJ asked, not hearing her clearly. "Stop. Darren saved me." SJ''s eyes opened in shock at the comment, and she immediately felt guilty. She knew Darren had left a note about Alice but hadn''t even considered it, being too worried about Alice and not even thinking about Darren''s safety with Zigferd''s wrath. She should have come alone. "ZIGFERD, STOP," SJ shouted. The enormous bear glanced at her briefly, letting out another roar and swiping at the tree that Darren was behind, tearing more bark from it. Zigferd stepped back from the tree, not taking his eyes off Darren, who was cowering behind it. "Darren saved Alice," SJ said. Once Zigferd had stopped his onslaught. "What do you mean saved her? She wouldn''t have been missing if it wasn''t for him," he snarled in a deep voice of the bear form he was in. SJ was helping Alice sit up, her eyes half closed still but conscious at least. "He saved me, Zigferd. If it hadn''t been for Darren, I would likely have been a Greylings meal by now." Zigferd turned to Alice, looking at her. "Greylings here?" "There is a cave network a couple of kilometres from here. We had only stopped because I needed to rest. Whatever they poisoned me with still isn''t out of my system," Alice said. Zigferd took another step back, turned again, and looked at Darren, who was still crouched but now peering from behind the tree he had been hiding behind. "Am I safe to come out now?" he asked nervously. "Zigferd. Let him be," Alice said more sternly. SJ wasn''t sure if bears could look scolded, but it seemed like they could, in her eyes. He responded by backing further away. Slowly, Darren stood and moved into the clearing, Zigferd still letting out a warning growl. "Zigferd, I said stop," Alice said. "What happened?" SJ asked, looking at Darren and Alice. Darren moved towards Alice when, this time, the pack reacted by growling at him, making him stop in his tracks. "I tracked Alice''s trail after I picked it up. It led me through the forest to the mountain, where there was an entrance to a Greyling cave. I entered and found Alice in a cage with a puma and hogling. They were in the middle of getting the hogling ready to be roasted, and I didn''t want to chance to leave Alice there, so I attacked them." "How many?" SJ asked. "Sixteen." "You killed sixteen Greylings alone?" SJ said, amazed. "Yes. They were in a pit, and I was able to pick them off as they tried to reach me, clambering out. I then released Alice, but she had been poisoned, so I gave her some antidote I had, which brought her around. Whatever they used, though, is quite toxic, and the antidote hasn''t fully combatted it." Zigferd transformed back into his human form, his presence no less threatening. Still glaring at Darren with a look of mistrust. "Alice. What happened to you? Why were you in the forest?" Zigferd asked. "I was heading back to town when Rex informed me of some strange activity in the forest, so I went to investigate. That is when the Greylings attacked me. They shot me with a poison dart, making me fall unconscious. I have vague recollections of being carried and also dragged on the way back to their cave. When we got there, I could remember being placed in a wooden cage, and that was all until Darren awoke me. I couldn''t tell you where the network is, but I am sure Darren can." "I could show you, but there was nothing left alive." "It isn''t them being alive that''s the issue. It is because an unknown network has an entrance on that side of town. In all the years we have been in Killic, no Greylings have ever been reported there," Zigferd said. "It is probably because of the wyvern," Dave said. "Maybe the wyvern had caused them to change their usual routine?" SJ said. "It is possible, I suppose." Darren still held his short sword in his hand, "Put that away, please," SJ said, nodding at Darren. He looked down at his tight grip on the sword before slowly returning it to its sheath. "Patch. Leave him be, please," SJ said. Patch looked at SJ and growled at the wolves, who backed away, allowing Darren to approach. "We need to get you back to town to see Master Rui," Zigferd said. Walking over, he bent and scooped Alice up into his arms as if picking up no more than a piece of paper. Darren looked a little dejected by his actions but said nothing. "Thank you, Patch, and your pack for their help," SJ said. Patch tilted his head down in acknowledgement, the gesture not unnoticed by Alice, who smiled weakly at SJ. Alice looked terrible. Her usual glow dimmed to grey, her eyes sunken, and her lips pale. They began their journey back towards the town. The wolves moved in front through the brush ahead of them as though they were forward scouts. The path that Zigferd''s bear form had made crashing through the underbrush easy to follow, and they had been travelling for a distance when one wolf howled. Stopping, the group waited, listening, when they heard someone shout. "Wolves," it cried, panic in its voice. Not too far ahead, they heard the drawing of swords. "I bet that''s the guard," Zigferd said. "Hello," he called. "Mayor. Is that you?" a voice replied. "Yes. It is me. We have Alice. Sheath your weapons." "Sir. There are wolves!?" the voice replied, alarmed. "They are with us," Zigferd replied as he continued forward. Moments later, they reached the group of four guards they had left behind in town. Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. "Mayor. Is Alice okay?" a gnoll guard asked. "She will be once we get back to town," Zigferd replied. As they neared the town again, Patch approached SJ''s side and nudged her. Turning to look at the huge wolf, Patch looked back towards the forest. "It''s fine, Patch. You go. Thank you for your help. Please let the rest of the pack know as well," SJ said. Darren was the one to react this time, frowning at SJ''s interaction with Patch. "He understands you?" "Yes. I am sure he understands common fully," SJ replied, watching Patch turn, leading the pack deeper into the forest. "How?" Darren asked. "I do not know. I think it''s because of Cristy." "Who is Cristy?" Darren asked. "You haven''t had the pleasure of meeting her yet. You will love her when you do, and she has a favour to ask of you." "Me? What would she be asking of me?" Darren said, surprised. "You will see when you meet her, Zigferd. Can you confirm that Darren won''t face any problems going forward?" Zigferd turned to look at SJ, and she watched as his face went through several emotions before he responded. Alice had fallen asleep in his arms as he carried her like a baby. He had never slowed or complained about carrying her in his arms. "No. There will be no repercussions." "Good. Glad to hear it, and Darren, you owe the Mayor an apology." Darren flashed a glare at SJ, obviously not happy with being put on the spot by her, as she smiled sweetly at him. "Mayor. I apologise for running off," Darren said curtly. "Accepted," Zigferd replied. The pair were obviously not happy, but neither were in a position to argue. Alice was taken to see Master Rui, and Darren stayed since he was now his apprentice. Zigferd had to get back to the barracks, as he had disappeared telling no one and needed to stop any alarm it may have caused. The news that Alice was back soon spread, and everyone seemed to know by the time SJ reached the cottage. Entering the cottage, she looked at the food that she had been sitting down to eat. Not feeling it now, she left again to head to the inn and see what she could get. It was later that evening when she returned to the cottage, having bumped into Terence and Nexis. Darren hadn''t returned, and she guessed he was staying with Alice until she was better. Floretta would be back later once the inn closes with Terence. SJ was making the most of some peace and quiet. She had read through her recipes for cloth items and decided it was time to tailor. As she laid her items out on the dining table, she decided she would need to sort out a permanent area to perform her profession. The extension at Farleck cottage that Terence was building would be ideal, and now that she had her portal, she could go there daily, if necessary, when not needed in the town. She still had so much to do and keep on top of. She hadn''t been working long when her eyes fluttered, not realising how tired she was. Dave had been chatting to her, asking about an old TV series he had been watching recently. The mundane conversation made her feel even more relaxed. As the stresses of the past couple of days had faded, so had she. Placing the scissors down, she walked into her bedroom before collapsing on her bed. "WAKE UP," Dave screamed in her head. SJ''s eyes fluttered, ''No,'' she thought. "NOW. YOU ARE BEING ATTACKED." That comment brought SJ from her slumber faster than she had ever wished, flying upright in bed as a shadowy figure lunged towards her. She saw the glint of a blade in the moonlight coming through the window, and in a half-drunken state of sleep, she tried to focus on defending herself. Her claws appeared on her hands as she raised them, attempting to block the blade. Her movements were slow and disorientated, and she only deflected the blade slightly. Rather than the blade striking her in the centre of her chest, it plunged deeply into her upper left shoulder. Crying in pain. SJ lashed out with her claws. Whoever her attacker was, they were fast and dodged the attack as she saw the blade coming for her again. Her eyes slowly adjusted to waking up, and the low light in the room gave her the green glow of night vision. Trying to block the strike again while sitting on her bed was difficult, and this time, the attacker adjusted his strike and, rather than going for her chest as they had indicated, spun the blade at the last moment and brought it down into her thigh. Her display flashed brightly with the dramatic loss of her health. Whatever they were using or whoever they were caused considerable damage. Grunting from the second hit, she tried to push herself backwards away from the attacker. Her attacker wore a cloak and a mask concealing their face. She needed to get to her feet. She was too vulnerable on the bed, rolling sideways to try to get away from the attacks. Throwing herself down off the edge of the bed, dragging her legs behind her, she felt the blade again strike into her calf. Her health was down to 30%. Another couple of hits, and she could be dead. "Level 19," Dave said. SJ stumbled to her feet as her attacker moved around the bed. She stood weakly on her injured leg, feeling the blood running down her thigh and calf. It was then that the cottage door opened, and she heard footsteps running. "SJ. Are you alright?" Terence''s voice called. Her attacker had been moving around the bed to reach her but, on hearing the call, turned back towards the open bedroom door. As Terence''s figure appeared in the bedroom doorway, the attacker ran towards it. Taking Terence by surprise and knocking him flying back into the lounge. SJ heard Floretta scream. Staggering, SJ collapsed, leaning on the side of the bed for support, slowly lowering herself. Her leg felt like jelly, and she could not support herself. "Oi," Terence called. As she heard him charge out of the front door and down the path, hearing the front gate squeak on its hinges. Floretta came bursting into her room. "Are you okay?" she asked, panicking. "Not sure," SJ hissed through gritted teeth. She hadn''t been wearing her dress, and her armour class was nothing without it. ''No wonder those hits did so much damage,'' she thought. "Not just that, they were also at a much higher level. If they had got a critical strike on you, I doubt you would have survived," Dave replied, concern in his voice. "Who attacked you?" Floretta asked. "I don''t know. I didn''t see their face. From what I could tell, they wore a cloak and mask." "Here, let me help," Floretta said, walking over to her, picking her leg up and swinging it onto the bed. SJ winced but could feel the blood slowly ceasing as her active combat status dropped, feeling her dragon blood kick in, boosting her healing. "Thanks," SJ said, grimacing. Her legs throbbed from the two strikes, never mind her shoulder, which felt like it was on fire. Flopping back onto her bed, she closed her eyes. She heard the front gate go and footsteps on the path. "Terence is back," Dave said. "SJ. Are you okay?" Terence asked on entering the room. "I will be," she said, smiling at him. "Thank you both. If you hadn''t arrived when you did, I am not sure I would have survived." "I am just sorry we were so late back. We got tied up making some pies for tomorrow and lost track of the time," Terence replied. SJ couldn''t help but smile weakly at the thought of the large, burly, skeletal orc making pies in the kitchen with Floretta. "No need to apologise. You shouldn''t need to be here when I am sleeping." "And you shouldn''t be getting attacked in your home," Floretta replied. "No, and I have no idea who it was," SJ said. "It has to be that kobold," Dave said. ''We can''t be sure,'' SJ thought. "Who else would have it in for you?" ''Bellakiy, perhaps.'' "Oh, Maybe, but why? You have said nothing to him to make him react like that." ''I told him I was the ambassador, and he wasn''t happy with me visiting the villages. You saw that as well as I did.'' "I think it''s time you got some more levelling done and experience claimed. You can''t keep fighting higher-level beings. You are going to fall foul if you do." ''I agree, but can I just rest and heal for now, please?'' SJ pleaded. "I will inform the guard," Floretta said. Terence, get SJ some water, and can you switch her blankets, please?" "Of course," Terence replied, moving around the side of the bed, leaning to pick her up. "I am fine," she protested as Terence scooped her into his arms, carrying her through to the lounge and placing her in one of the armchairs. "I will be back in a few minutes," Floretta said, walking to the door, "And lock the door behind me." Terence locked the door, then went and got SJ some water before busying himself in her bedroom and changing the blankets that were now covered in blood. Her wounds were healing quickly now, and the blood flow had ceased. She could feel the itchiness of the wounds as they scabbed before they closed and cleared fully. Injuries in Amathera underwent such a rapid healing process it was still strange. Terence moved around the cottage, checking all the windows and doors to ensure they were secure. SJ couldn''t remember locking the front door and had assumed he had let himself in. She had never expected to be attacked in the town, and the thought that there was now someone willing to try to assassinate her sent a shiver down her spine. Not long later, they heard the gate go and the sound of voices coming along the path to the front door. "Only me," Floretta called as she unlocked the door and let herself in, followed by Gary and Greb. ? Chapter 100 – Progressing well ¡°What the hell has happened?¡± Gary asked his face in shock, seeing the blood-stained blankets lying on the floor where Terence had dropped them. ¡°Floretta mentioned you had been attacked.¡± ¡°I have no idea who it was. They wore a cloak and a mask.¡± SJ replied. ¡°Do you have anything to describe them by?¡± Gary asked. Greb walked over to the blankets and poked them with a spear he held. ¡°Did they drop anything or leave anything behind?¡± Greb asked. ¡°I haven¡¯t looked, sorry. Terence was kindly sorting the bedroom out,¡± SJ said. ¡°Do you mind if I look?¡± Greb asked. ¡°No. Feel free to.¡± ¡°SJ. Do you need a healing potion?¡± Gary asked, a look of concern on his face. ¡°No. I will heal soon enough. Whoever attacked me was at a much higher level. They were doing serious damage. I think they were level 19. If Terence and Floretta had not returned when they did and disturbed them, I doubt I would still be here,¡± SJ said. ¡°Level 19!¡± Gary exclaimed. ¡°What would someone that level be doing attacking you?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. I have been trying to think who or what it may have been, and I haven¡¯t been able to come up with anything or anyone,¡± SJ lied. ¡°No ideas at all?¡± Gary quizzed. ¡°Nothing, sorry.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t see anything left behind. There doesn¡¯t seem to be anything dropped or marks to track.¡± Greb said, walking from her bedroom. ¡°How did they get in?¡± Gary asked. ¡°The front door. I think. It was unlocked as I knew that Floretta and Terence would be back, and I also never expected to be attacked,¡± SJ said, shrugging. ¡°It¡¯s a little strange. I know of no one in the town who has got a bad word to say about you,¡± Gary frowned. ¡°I wish I knew so that I could help, but I really don¡¯t,¡± SJ said. ¡°I am going to get a guard posted at the cottage while this is investigated,¡± Greb said. ¡°I will let the Lieutenant know.¡± ¡°There really is no need to,¡± SJ said. ¡°Someone has tried to assassinate one of the town council. I think it is absolutely critical that we have a guard posted,¡± Gary said with authority. SJ had never witnessed Greb or Gary''s professional side when on duty, and knowing how they both behaved gave her a sense of pride. Terence cleared up the blooded blankets and offered Gary refreshments while waiting for the guard to return. ¡°Don¡¯t you need to get back on patrol?¡± SJ said after a while. ¡°You think I am leaving here before the guard arrives? You have another thing coming.¡± That made SJ smile. If there was one thing about Gary, it was that he cared for his friends. Later, Greb returned with not just another guard member but two additional guards, and Lorna was with him. SJ then had to go through the whole incident from the start. Lorna asked specifics, even in relation to how they had attacked, whether she could remember anything about the blade, whether they were short or tall, their build, and the colour of clothing seen. SJ felt overwhelmed by the end, feeling like she had been at the end of an interrogation. Eventually, Lorna, Gary, and Greb left, leaving SJ in the care of Terence and Floretta, who were both fussing around her and two guards who now stood watch at the front entrance. They told SJ that she had to come to the barracks the next day to submit a full report, and she agreed to it. Terence was returning from checking the back entrance for the third time. ¡°Okay. I can¡¯t cope with this,¡± SJ eventually said, much firmer than she meant to. ¡°With what?¡± Terence asked, confused. ¡°The pair of you. Treating me as though I can¡¯t look after myself. My wounds are almost healed.¡± ¡°I know you are a Legionnaire, but someone attacked you, and we just want to make sure you are okay,¡± Floretta said. ¡°I know. I am sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to sound snappy. I just think I am over tired now,¡± SJ said. ¡°Try and get some sleep then. You know we are both here and the guard, and we don¡¯t sleep,¡± Terence replied. ¡°I think I will go to the cottage. That way, I am away from here, and there will be peace and quiet.¡± ¡°Are you certain?¡± Terence said. ¡°Yes. Charlotte and Brian are there, and I will just grab some food from the kitchen before I go.¡± ¡°I will sort you something,¡± Floretta said, standing and hurrying into the kitchen. It didn¡¯t take Floretta long, and when she walked back through with some food wrapped in a napkin, SJ stood and walked through to her bedroom. Promising she would be back once the cooldown ran down. Checking her display, it was 02:00, and her eyes felt scratchy, but she knew she couldn¡¯t have slept there after what had happened. Standing in the bay window, she selected her portal and transported to the cottage. When she awoke mid-morning, the smell of fresh coffee filled her nostrils. Charlotte stood by the stove in the cottage and, seeing SJ stir, poured her a mug and brought it over. ¡°Here you go,¡± Charlotte said, smiling. SJ had explained to Charlotte and Brian what had happened last night, and they had both been shocked, swearing they would hunt the would-be assassin down. SJ eventually calmed them both and, feeling exhausted, excused herself, collapsing on the bed and falling asleep instantly. ¡°Did you make the coffee deliberately?¡± SJ said, sitting up, smiling, and taking the mug. ¡°Whatever gave you that idea?¡± Charlotte smiled. ¡°It worked,¡± SJ said, sipping the steaming mug. The hard bitterness soothed her already overactive mind. The instant she woke up, thoughts of last night flooded her head. ¡°As I said yesterday. We need to focus on you levelling. If there is another attempt on your life you may not survive next time,¡± Dave said. ¡®I know,¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°I am going to drink this, then do my morning exercises,¡± SJ said to Charlotte. ¡°That sounds like a plan. Do you need anything from me?¡± ¡°Actually, now you mention it.¡± SJ was mulling over an idea. ¡°I think what I will do for the foreseeable future is transport here daily to sleep. I can go back after eight hours, and I should be able to get into a routine of completing my training and, even once the extension is finished, working on my profession. I want to make one of the new rooms into a tailor''s workspace. I would also like to get some training dummies built if possible?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t see a problem with any of that. It will be nice to have female company here more often. The boys are great, but sometimes,¡± Charlotte sighed. SJ chuckled at her comment. Climbing from the bed, she placed the mug beside the coffee pot and walked outside into the front yard. Looking around, she decided that if she was going to train, an area at the rear would be best. Moving around the side of the cottage, she found Brian tending to the newly dug-out vegetable patch. Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. ¡°Morning Brian. Can I ask you a favour?¡± SJ asked. ¡°Morning SJ, and of course. What do you need?¡± SJ continued walking around the cottage''s rear, planning a training ring and where she would like training dummies positioned. She even discussed having some archery targets set up, mentioning her plans to bring Cristy here at some point. ¡°Charlotte will like that idea,¡± Brian said. ¡°I am sure she would enjoy training her.¡± The remaining time at the cottage passed quickly, and as her display showed it was 12:00, she decided she better return to Killic. This would mean that the earliest she could return was 20:00 that evening, and she wanted to try to get the cooldown timer aligned as soon as she could. SJ considered what she was deciding to do to be no different from commuting to and from work. Leaving her friends behind, she returned to an empty cottage. No guards were there, nor were Terence, Floretta, or Darren. She had made her way to the barracks and then had to go through the process of being interviewed again, this time with a scribe present, taking notes of everything she said. The news of the attack had travelled the town in her short absence, and she had to spend a substantial time calming Zigferd down, who wished to tear the town apart looking for her attacker. Alice was improving but still very weak from the poisoning. SJ learned Darren was staying with her at her property on the island while she recuperated. SJ could read the look of disgust on Zigferd¡¯s face when he told her. Having explained her plans to Zigferd, he had been taken aback by the news of her having a soul stone at the cottage or a portal to use. Zigferd was happy with her plans, and although the skeletons didn¡¯t sleep, neither Floretta nor Terence were high enough to combat a level 19. SJ now had one priority. Level.
¡°Okay. That¡¯s that finished,¡± SJ said, wiping the goo from the spider on her dress, knowing it would clean. Quest - A Tangled Web ¨C Completed You have cleared the spider infestation at the caves northeast of town. Reward: 200xp (+100% bonus) 400xp awarded. ¡°What¡¯s next?¡± SJ asked. ¡°Closest is the Cellar Dwellers. At Mrs Westerby¡¯s,¡± Dave said. ¡°Okay. Let¡¯s get going then,¡± SJ said, shifting to her miniature form and taking off. ¡°Two more quests, and you should reach level 15,¡± Dave said excitedly. Since the attack at the cottage, things had changed. SJ had spent the past month questing full-time. Zigferd had given her leave from any council responsibility to allow her to focus on her growth. They had no reason to rush into solving the issue with Bellakiy, as it had existed for months before SJ was offered the quest. SJ had been spending every night at Farleck cottage and only used the cottage in town during the daytime. Since Terence had returned to Farleck, the extension was almost complete, and SJ had created a tailoring room where she would work for at least an hour a night before turning in once she returned there each day. This had been helping her immeasurably, and she had increased to tailoring level 6, completing the initial clothing quest. Her next task had been creating a rare pair of trousers, which she had been struggling with. SJ eventually admitted to Zigferd that she had spoken to Niweq, and he had not been pleased. He had made her swear she wouldn¡¯t go anywhere near the place again without speaking to him first. The Auction House''s main building was completed. Terence had done an amazing job with the carpentry before returning to Farleck cottage. He had promised to come back and visit Floretta. They had been getting on so well together. The walls of the adjoining warehouse were currently being finished, with only the last section left to go up and then the roof to be built. Nexis spoke to the magistrate again, and the transference network was to be configured within the week. Nexis could have set it up but, for obvious reasons, didn¡¯t, asking the magistrate to send one of his nearest mages to configure it. Nexis continued to be the town''s star, and the tailor shop had never been so busy with the number of clients. He had even mentioned to SJ that he should have run a shop properly before, as Nexis, because he was already aware of several new followers because of his work. After completing the repairs, the Inn became fully operational. Fhyliss had arranged a grand reopening, which had been the only night SJ had stayed in Killic since the attack. Nothing had happened back at the cottage, and when she moved around the town in the daytime, there were always beings around, and Dave was on permanent overwatch, which always comforted SJ. The wyvern had revisited once in the past month, attacking the livestock in the field. An unfortunate cow had been seen being carried off back into the forests, mooing loudly. The guards and town had immediately reacted to the mage''s announcement, meaning everyone had cleared the streets apart from the guards and hunters who were present. They had attempted to shoot at the wyvern, but it had not come close enough. It had been enlightening for the town to know their training and hard work had been paying off. Their drills had been so slick. The town was not letting its guard down, though, and everyone had remained vigilant. The mine was operational, and SJ still hadn¡¯t visited it yet. She had meant to go weeks ago, but with everything that had happened, she had left it in the capable hands of others. She spoke to Shelly regularly when she saw her and had been getting first-hand updates. They were currently finishing building the smelter on the ridge above, back from the edge itself. Nevik had been overseeing its build, and it should be operational in time for the completion of the Auction House, meaning that they could start getting mithril sales as soon as possible. ¡°Where is Mrs Westerby¡¯s?¡± SJ asked. ¡°Fourth street, southern edge, fifth house on the left,¡± Dave replied. Dave became her chief navigator and quest controller as she moved from one to the next, completing as many daily as possible. The experience needs had increased dramatically with each level, giving SJ an appreciation for why it had taken Darren so long to level. ¡°I think Darren is back today,¡± SJ said. ¡°Yeah. He should be.¡± ¡°I wonder how he got on?¡± ¡°I am sure we will find out soon enough.¡± Darren had travelled with Alice to Asterfal. After her recovery, Zigferd decided that there was no point in SJ going to see if she could set a quest when Alice was due to meet with the council soon. She planned to discuss the new tax levies that Asterfal was trying to implement and make an attempt to set up the quest for Darren while she was there. Zigferd ordered Darren not to leave the wagon, as he didn¡¯t need any problems while there if Master Fretun discovered he had returned. ¡°Which quest is this one?¡± SJ asked as she flew across town. Her green dot had become a frequent expectation by many, and several often waved to her as she flew overhead. ¡°Cellar Dwellers. The description is a little vague, but I would guess it is a rat infestation to clear,¡± Dave said. ¡°Urrgh. Spiders to rats. But they all add up,¡± SJ finished, trying to be cheery. Many of the quests had repeated, even if not directly, but at least the basis of them. She had initially started picking up what she could do, including delivery or search quests, but soon realised that combat was the best option for her. At least they allowed her to practice her skills outside of training. Her kata had been improving dramatically with her daily routine and punishing quest schedule, and she had recently reached level 7. Her identification skill had also been getting its use and was now at level 8. The biggest bonus since the quest focus had been her developed combat skills. She was now adept at triggering all her skills as and when she could via their cooldowns. It had been what she should have done a long time ago. ¡°Here we are,¡± Dave said. SJ flew down to the house and grew before knocking on the front door. The house was one of the larger ones on the street. A kindly-looking ratkin opened the front door. ¡°Councillor. What may I do for you?¡± Mrs Westerby said. ¡°Mrs Westerby? Please call me SJ, and I am here to complete the quest I accepted.¡± ¡°Oh. Please call me Silti. I did not know it was you. Please come in,¡± Silti said. ¡°Thank you. What seems to be the problem?¡± SJ asked as she entered the hallway. ¡°There is something in the cellar. I don¡¯t know what, but my Hawey won¡¯t go near it.¡± ¡°Hawey?¡± ¡°My cat.¡± The fact SJ was talking to a ratkin who owned a pet cat didn¡¯t go amiss, and she smiled. ¡°I see. Well, hopefully, I can resolve the problem.¡± ¡°I never go down there personally. It was Goji¡¯s workroom before he passed away.¡± ¡°Oh. I am sorry to hear.¡± ¡°Oh no, dear. No need to say that. Goji passed twelve seasons ago now. Silly old fool, he was. Here, let me show you where it is.¡± SJ followed Silti into a large kitchen area with a heavily bolted door. ¡°It¡¯s secured well?¡± SJ asked. ¡°Yes. It always was, and as I say, I never go down there. Hawey was going down weekly as a treat to clear the rats, but he won¡¯t go anywhere near it now.¡± Seeing a ratkin mention a cat being let into a cellar to clear rats, was one of the most bizarre statements SJ had heard since arriving in Amathera. SJ watched a large tabby cat walk into the kitchen, weaving around Silti¡¯s legs and purring. Silti walked to the door and began pulling back the various bolts. Hawey hissed as soon as she did, his hackles rising. SJ frowned at the cat¡¯s reaction as Silti turned a key and opened the door. The smell of stale air wafted from the entrance, and SJ stepped forward. ¡°Okay. I will see what the problem is,¡± SJ said as she stepped through the door. The light from the kitchen only shone so far into the cellar''s darkness, so SJ removed a torch from her inventory and lit it, striking the flint and steel. She heard a sound as though someone was scraping nails on a blackboard. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. ¡®What was that?¡¯ she thought. ¡°I can¡¯t see anything yet,¡± Dave replied. Chapter 101 – Don’t go down there The previous, similarly titled quests they had been completing over the past month would fall under the usual classification. Go here, kill giant rats, go there, kill spiders, etc. Nothing she had done had ever sent a shiver down her spine like the noise she heard. As the torch lit, the sound travelled up the stone steps. It sounded even worse this time, and SJ immediately equipped her claws, holding the torch out in front of her as she slowly edged downwards. The steps were enclosed on each side and then turned at ninety degrees halfway down so she couldn¡¯t see the cellar area below. ¡°How large is the cellar?¡± SJ called to Silti. ¡°Same size as the house. I think,¡± came the reply. ¡°One room or multiple?¡± ¡°Three,¡± Silti replied, her voice sounding very distant suddenly. ¡®What¡¯s making that sound?¡¯ SJ thought again as she shivered on hearing it. ¡°Still can¡¯t see, sorry. It is too dark in there, and I look down on things not up, unfortunately,¡± Dave chuckled weakly. Reaching the bottom step, the flickering torch cast its orange glow into the cellar. The light did not reach the farthest corners, and much of it was still in darkness. ¡®Anything yet?¡¯ ¡°Nothing,¡± Dave said. Once again, the sound came. This time, being down at the bottom of the steps, SJ could tell it was coming from the far corner. ¡®Over there.¡¯ SJ thought, moving the torch to point in its direction. She crept forward, her senses on overdrive. Even with her improved vision, she could not penetrate the far gloom. Not wanting to make a sound, she checked the floor for anything and placed her feet as silently as possible. Having only taken about five paces, she froze as a sense of foreboding crept over her. Her whole body suddenly felt like it was being dipped in an ice bath, and her teeth chattered. Every hair on her body felt as though it stood on end. ¡°Still nothing,¡± Dave said, sounding frustrated. The first thing SJ saw was the flash of something coming towards her. Instinctively, she moved her head sideways, and narrowly avoided being hit by whatever was coming towards her. ¡®What was that?¡¯ ¡°Oh, no,¡± Dave said nervously. ¡®WHAT?¡¯ SJ screamed in her thoughts. ¡°I think I know what Goji was.¡± ¡®WHAT?¡¯ Before Dave could answer almost instantaneously, a being appeared in front of her, hands outstretched to grab her. SJ, seeing the sudden appearance, screamed, staggering backwards and knocking into a table. She lost her balance and tripped, releasing the torch as she did. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Silti called from the kitchen. SJ didn¡¯t respond, busy clambering back to her feet as fast as she could. Spinning and looking in the direction the thing had been. The torch continued to burn, spluttering against the stone floor. At the edge of the light, SJ saw them. The glowing green eyes of the creature. ¡°It¡¯s a lesser lich. The good thing is they are weak magically. The bad thing is that I think Goji was a necromancer, and that is him.¡± The being moved further into the light. It wore dark, tattered robes and stood almost five feet tall. Its once fur-covered body now looked withered and skeletal, with patches of fur still clinging to its gaunt features. Hanging around its neck was a brilliant green gem that flashed in the torchlight as the robes fluttered around it. It didn¡¯t make a sound, but SJ saw its husk of a mouth move. A thin needle of white suddenly flashed towards her. Not reacting in time, the missile struck SJ in her left arm. Searing pain shot through her as she looked at what struck her. It was a thin, needle-shaped bone. Gripping the end with her right hand, she pulled it out, grunting. ¡°Up close and personal is the only way,¡± Dave said. Everything inside SJ was telling her to run. Her fear receptors were on overdrive, and it took all her will to move towards it. Its hands ended in thin, needle-like claws, and she believed they were what had been making the sound. As she stepped forward, it again vanished into the darkness. ¡°Damn,¡± SJ cursed out loud this time. ¡°Is everything alright?¡± Silti called again. ¡°Yes,¡± SJ shouted back. Although every inch of her said it wasn¡¯t. ¡°You have to get close enough to hit it. As I say, it¡¯s a lesser lich. They are not very strong and have low health. You destroy that gem around its neck to kill it once you have injured it enough. The gem is its phylactery.¡± ¡°The quest said nothing about the undead,¡± SJ grimaced, cold seeping into her arm where the needle-like bone had struck her. Her health had not dropped by much, but her left arm was starting to feel heavy. ¡°I think it poisoned me.¡± ¡°Necrotic poison, probably. You will need to see a cleric once you kill it,¡± Dave said. ¡°That¡¯s if I can even see the damn thing,¡± SJ hissed. SJ caught a flash of movement in her peripheral vision and threw her claws out defensively. Her claws caught the extended hand of the lich that was again reaching for her. The blades dug in deeply into the soft flesh that it still had maintained, and it let out a screech. If the nails had sounded bad, the screech sounded ten times worse in the confines of the cellar. SJ¡¯s enhanced hearing took the brunt of the high-pitched sound. She winced as the lich went to strike at her with its other hand. Using mind over matter, she moved her left arm up, blocking the claws from the lich from reaching her body, but they didn¡¯t fail to penetrate the skin of her arm. Thankfully, it was the left again, feeling a colder and sharper pain this time as at least three of its long nails pierced her skin. Thrusting with her right, she aimed for the Lich¡¯s head, her claws catching it on the side of its face as it pulled away again. Quickly triggering her identification skill, she took a step back. Lesser Lich Level: 18 Hit points: 76 of 121 Mana points: 85 of 115 Armour Class: 20 Attacks: Claws Special: Necrotic Needles ¡®At least I am doing decent damage when I hit it,¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°Just stay away from those claws. You have two doses of necrosis now. The doses of necrosis stack over time, and the spread will be faster with each strike." ¡®My health is good, though.¡¯ ¡°It wants to immobilise you to turn you,¡± Dave said. ¡°They can control undead.¡± That thought drove the fear of god into SJ. Noticing another movement, she spun just in time as it again appeared from the darkness to strike her. Kicking out, she caught it in its abdomen, her foot seeming to sink into its weakened body before striking a solid bone. The blow made the lich double over, and SJ tore her claws across its shoulder as it did. Again, the screech it made deafened her as it vanished backwards into the dark. Its health was down to 41. ¡°I wish I had more light,¡± SJ said. ¡°I have a lantern. I will get it,¡± Silti replied, hearing SJ. Before SJ could respond, two more needle-like projectiles flew at her from the dark. Twisting from one while the other struck her in her right leg. ¡°Argh,¡± she cried. ¡°Careful. That¡¯s three now,¡± Dave said. ¡°I can¡¯t see the damn thing to attack it,¡± SJ hissed as she pulled out the needle, dropping it to the floor. The torch continued to splutter on the floor, and she moved towards it to stay in its light. Another needle flew at her. This time, she just deflected it with her claws. Her right leg felt weakened and heavy, her left arm almost useless now. ¡°Here you go,¡± Silti said as she came onto the steps and started heading down, not understanding what she was getting herself into. ¡°Wait,¡± SJ called in panic. It was too late as the lantern light bathed the cellar with its much brighter flame. The dark, shadowy figure in the robes screeched again, and Silti stopped dead in her tracks two steps from the bottom. Wide-eyed terror was on her face as she took in the robed figure. SJ moved as the figure looked at the new target. ¡°Goji. Is that you?¡± Silti said in a terror-stricken voice. The figure didn¡¯t respond, instead flicking its hand out and firing a needle-like dart at Silti. SJ couldn¡¯t help her, being too far away, and the needle struck her in her chest. Silti screamed in pain and shock, dropped the lantern, and fell backwards, clutching at her chest. ¡°Damn,¡± SJ cried, moving towards the figure as fast as she could. She triggered her shroud skill, unsure if it would help her that much, and lunged at the lich. The lich turned at the last moment and tried to move backwards but backed into a cupboard, stalling its escape. Striking out with as much fear as anger, SJ attacked. Her left arm was now useless, and she only had her right to fight with. She couldn¡¯t even kick out of fear of losing her balance because of her right leg. The lich threw one of its skeletal arms up to try to block the blow, and her claws ripped through the robe and flesh, striking against the bone underneath. Another screech left its mouth as it tried to attack back. The one saving grace that SJ had above everything else was her high Dexterity and initiative. Since her levels had increased, her dexterity now sat at 26, having added two extra points to it on top of the level increases. She had also increased her Constitution and Charisma by a further two each. Swinging her right arm down as though it had been one movement, she parried the lich¡¯s attack and brought her elbow around and inside, catching the lich across its jaw. Its health dropped to 8. ¡°Once more,¡± Dave said. ¡°I¡¯m trying,¡± SJ replied through gritted teeth, her movement impaired by the necrosis. She moved her right leg forward and over-reaching stabbed towards the lich. The green of the lich¡¯s eyes met hers as her claws caught their target, and its final health dropped to zero. Staggering backwards, gasping for breath from the extra exertion of moving half-paralysed limbs, she watched the light from its eyes fade. ¡°Good job,¡± Dave said. ¡°Now smash the phylactery.¡± SJ had already turned away from the lich¡¯s form and was heading to Silti. ¡®I will in a minute,¡¯ she thought. ¡°Silti. Are you okay?¡± she said as she approached. Silti was lying across the steps where she had fallen, the thin needle of bone still protruding from her chest. Her face was pale and ashen-looking. ¡°I can¡¯t feel my chest,¡± she gasped as she tried to breathe. Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. ¡°You will need to get help as soon as you can. The necrosis is working on her chest and affecting her breathing,¡± Dave said. ¡°This may hurt,¡± SJ said as she reached and pulled the dart from Silti¡¯s chest. Wincing from the pain, Silti struggled to sit upright slowly, taking rasping breaths. ¡°I need to get help. I will be back as quickly as I can,¡± SJ said. Silti just nodded as she lay there looking over at the corpse of her now-dead, deceased husband. ¡°The phylactery,¡± Dave said. ¡®It can wait until we are back,¡¯ SJ replied as she moved up the stairs as quickly as she could in her injured state. The numbness was spreading through her right leg, and she had to get help before her leg became useless. Forcing herself up the steps, leaning heavily against the wall, she made it to the top before stumbling down the hallway to the front door. Managing to open it, she stepped outside into the street. Seeing an elven couple walking down the street, SJ called out. ¡°Help. Please.¡± The elves stopped and turned, looking at her, before recognising her and running over. SJ recognised one of them from the inn. ¡°SJ. What¡¯s happened?¡± Jolian said. ¡°We need a cleric as fast as possible. Necrosis,¡± SJ said. Jolian and his partner''s eyes opened in shock at the comment. ¡°I¡¯ll go,¡± the female elf accompanying Jolian said as she turned and ran down the street, seeking help. SJ was leaning heavily against the doorframe of the property. ¡°Here, sit,¡± Jolian said. Helping her sit down. "Silti got hit. She is in the cellar," SJ said. ¡°What caused it?¡± Jolian asked with concern. ¡°A lesser lich. It appears Silti¡¯s husband may have been keeping secrets from her,¡± SJ said. Concern changed to fear on Jolian¡¯s face. ¡°I killed it. Don¡¯t worry. Please check on Silti,¡± SJ said. Her right leg was now useless and felt like a lead weight. Her left arm flopped at her side, immovable. She could feel the cold spread of the necrosis as it worked its way up her leg and felt it in her hip. It wasn¡¯t painful, just ice cold. Jolian stepped past SJ and hurried inside. ¡°In the cellar,¡± SJ called. SJ felt a nudge on her right arm as she sat leaning against the doorframe. Turning, she saw the face of the tabby cat Hawey. It let out a purring sound and rubbed up against her. SJ smiled and, reaching with her good arm, stroked him. A few minutes passed before SJ heard the calls, and heading down the street came the female elf with a man. The man¡¯s name was Gregor, and he was a cleric who served as the town guard at the training grounds. SJ had been healed by her regularly after receiving the odd cut or blow while training. ¡°You have got yourself in a bit of a state this time,¡± Gregor said, seeing SJ slumped against the door. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me. Please heal Silti first." ¡°Will do,¡± Gregor replied as he headed straight inside. The female elf crouched by SJ as they waited for Gregor to return. With the cold now spreading to her lower abdomen, her left leg seemed amputated. The necrosis in her arm had now spread into her shoulder and across her back. ¡®I would have thought the lich being killed would have stopped the damage,¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°Nope, not from necrosis. It will basically end up paralysing you and then suffocating you as it stops you from breathing and takes hold fully,¡± Dave explained. Gregor appeared back at the front door. ¡°Silti will be fine once she rests,¡± he said as he knelt by SJ. ¡°Where were you hit?¡± ¡°Left arm, right leg,¡± SJ replied. "The wounds have healed over and there is no visible sign of the damage," attributing it to her healing ability. She added that only the effect of the necrosis remained. Gregor pulled the sleeve of her dress up, placed his hands on her upper and lower arm, and chanted. A tingling sensation and then heat blossomed from where he held her, and slowly, she felt the cold of the necrosis beginning to lessen as though it was being pulled back to the source of the injury. Feeling the movement come back to her arm, she flexed her shoulder, smiling gratefully at Gregor. ¡°Thanks.¡± Gregor then moved to her leg. ¡°Do you mind?¡± he asked as he moved her dress. Laughing, SJ replied. ¡°What do you think?¡± Gregor slipped his hands under her dress and felt the warmth of his hands on her thigh. Again, he chanted. SJ felt the cold dissipate, bending her knee. ¡°Thank you. Gregor,¡± SJ smiled. ¡°No problem. I am surprised that there was a lesser lich in the town.¡± ¡°No more so than me,¡± SJ replied as Gregor helped her back to her feet. ¡°What can I give you as payment?¡± ¡°No need. You are a councillor of the town, and I have seen how hard you train and what you do for Killic.¡± SJ flushed at his comment. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°I better get going. I am supposed to be on the grounds by now,¡± he replied, smiling at her. Entering the house again, SJ found Jolian, his partner, and Silti seated at the kitchen table. Silti still looked pale from her ordeal. ¡°Silti. I am so sorry,¡± SJ said, embarrassed that she had been affected. ¡°It wasn¡¯t your fault,¡± Silti replied. ¡°I need to finish the job,¡± SJ said as she returned to the cellar. The fallen lantern stood upright at the bottom, and picking it up, she walked over to where the robed figure lay on the floor. ¡°Don¡¯t get scratched by those claws,¡± Dave warned. SJ reached down, flipping the body over. The green jewel glowed brightly, appearing to pulse. Reaching out, she grabbed the jewel and pulled, snapping the chain from around the neck of the once Goji. The jewel felt cold in her hand. ¡°How do I destroy it?¡± SJ asked. ¡°Smash it,¡± Dave said. Taking hold of the remaining chain, she held the pendant, looking at the glowing light before swinging it firmly onto the stone floor of the cellar. There was a cracked sound, followed by a howling wail as the shards of the gem flew across the floor, the green light fading from the shattered pieces. SJ had not been ready for the wailing sound and had thrown herself backwards, banging her head against the wall as she did. ¡°Damn. You could have warned me,¡± SJ huffed, rubbing the back of her head. ¡°Sorry,¡± Dave said, coughing slightly and feeling embarrassed. SJ¡¯s display triggered. Lesser Lich killed ¨C 180xp awarded Quest - Cellar Dweller ¨C Completed You discovered Mrs Westbury¡¯s husband had been up to no good and disposed of his undead presence. Reward: 1 x silver 400xp (+100% bonus) 800xp awarded. ¡°I don¡¯t feel right looting the corpse of Silti¡¯s husband, even if it was now a lich,¡± SJ said. ¡°Understandable. Ok. Next quest,¡± Dave said cheerily. Rolling her eyes, SJ stood and scanned the room with the lantern, quickly moving and checking the other two smaller rooms the cellar had. Nothing appeared out of the ordinary or any signs of necromancy. Goji must have been a necromancer to have become a lich. Dave had explained that many necromancers would attempt to have a lich failsafe if they died. Necromancers could never guarantee the chances of returning as a lich, and it could also take them years to develop the ability. Even Dave was uncertain about the precise formation of a lich. Walking back upstairs, she checked on Silti and comforted her. Silti gave her the silver coin, even though SJ tried to refuse because of the turmoil she must be going through. Shortly after, she departed and extended her thanks to Jolian and his partner, whom she found out was named Lucial, for their help. ¡°I think I have had enough excitement for one day,¡± SJ said as she left the house. ¡°Yes, but you are only one more quest from level 15,¡± Dave said glumly. Sighing deeply, SJ checked out her character sheet to see how much experience she required. Her recent development had been going well. Legionnaire 25007077 Name: SJ Age: 27 Race: Fae Class: Assassin Alignment: Neutral Good ? Level: 14 Experience: 4985 of 5250 Hit Points: 107 of 107 (112) Mana Points: 66 Armour Class: 31 (15)(16) Attributes: Strength: 10 Dexterity: 26 Intelligence: 11 Wisdom: 11 Constitution: 18 Charisma: 17 (2)(15) Skills Racial: Night Vision ¨C you have improved vision in poor light conditions. Flight ¨C when in miniature fae form, you can learn to fly. Flying is not available in humanoid form. Shapeshift ¨C the ability to switch between fae forms. Class: Martial Arts ¨C Kata Level 7, Clawed Avenger Level 3 Subterfuge ¨C Identification Level 8 ¨C 278 of 300 to level 9, Shroud Level 2 Profession: Tailor Level 6 Symbiosis: Dragon Sense ¨C your senses, touch, hearing, smell, and sight are heightened. Precognition ¨C foreknowledge due to increased perception will allow you to evade a killing blow. (24hr cooldown) Divine lightning ¨C your blood is combined with that of a Blue Dragon, increasing healing speed while out of combat. Malware: Waiver (Sandboxed) Inventory: 10 slots (10 special) Followers: 3 Resigned to the fact she was so close to level 15, she replied, ¡°Okay. Where now?¡± Chapter 102 – The root of all evil ¡°The easiest and fastest option would be a repeat quest, Spinners in the Dark,¡± Dave said. ¡°I don¡¯t fancy going into the dark again today,¡± SJ said, shivering involuntarily. ¡°All your current quests probably involve cellars or caves to visit.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go back to the inn and see what else is on the wall,¡± SJ said, shrinking and taking off. Flying back to the inn only took a minute, and SJ landed in the rear garden. Growing, she entered. Ordering a coffee, SJ walked over to the quest board to see what was available. Most of them were the usual ones that always showed SJ had come to recognise them as starter quests as the experience was so low for each. As her level increased, several more quests appeared, as though they were being released in response. One in particular drew her attention now as she looked at the description. Plant Infestation ¨C visit Blossom for the details. The problem with the quests in the inn was that you didn¡¯t know any of the experience gains until you spoke to the person who had issued them. ¡°Plant Infestation sounds above ground and more interesting than Saving Shelley¡¯s cat from up a tree,¡± SJ said. ¡°It was a one-hundred-and-fifty-foot tree,¡± Dave said. ¡°It may have been. Reaching her was fine. It was the fact she thought I was a play toy as I was miniature form.¡± Dave giggled. ¡°Seeing you run along the branches as she followed you down again was funny.¡± ¡°For you to watch, maybe,¡± SJ sulked. SJ knew where Blossom lived. She was a florist who lived near the church east of town and ran a stall in the centre most days. Her stall was always full of the brightest and most fragrant blossoms. SJ finished her coffee, placed her mug back at the bar, and headed to see Blossom. ¡°Hi, Blossom,¡± SJ said as she approached her stall. The smell of the sweet scents of her flowers filled the air around. ¡°Hello, councillor,¡± Blossom replied. ¡°As I have told you before, call me SJ. I am not on town business. I am here to find out about your quest,¡± SJ said. ¡°Really? That would be amazing. It has been posted for a couple of days now with no takers. I need the place sorted out. Otherwise, my next season''s flowers won''t be grown in time.¡± The weather and seasons of Killic were strange. Due to the constant temperature and the rare deluge of rain, they had two harvests a year. She had only witnessed two storms since her arrival, the first being when the hobs attacked the town. The most recent was two weeks ago. Even more rain seemed to have fallen that time. The quest popped up on her display. Quest ¨C Plant Infestation Investigate what is causing the problems in the flower garden. Rewards: 1 x stem of the angelus 200xp ¡®Stem of the angelus, that¡¯s something new,¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°Unusual reward. It is something that alchemists use, quite rare,¡± Dave said. ¡®Auction house?¡¯ ¡°Maybe. Darren may want it or Master Rui.¡± ¡°Where is the garden?¡± SJ asked Blossom as she accepted the quest. ¡°Between the church and the Wandering Ogre, there is a clearing in the forest that I have been cultivating for years.¡± ¡°I have never been into the forest in that area.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a very large area, but enough for me. It is just outside the town boundary, unfortunately. Otherwise, I could have asked the council to help clear it.¡± ¡°What is it exactly?¡± ¡°I am not sure. Some invasive species. I have never seen it before. It grows quickly and is covered in thorns. It has slowly been taking over the flowerbeds.¡± ¡°I will go and have a look.¡± It was early afternoon, and SJ was making her way through the town. The usual hustle and bustle of the streets and the general sounds of Killic had become a soothing norm for her: traders calling, carts moving, and people walking about doing their daily chores. The town wasn''t huge, but everyone was always busy. ¡®Maybe I should have got some tools if I am going to be weeding.¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°Possibly. I am surprised that a dryad or druid didn¡¯t accept the quest to help. Many of them are so adept at nature and growth spells.¡± ¡®The quest isn¡¯t exactly very telling. I was expecting moles or similar to be cleared, not weeding plants. At least it will be easy experience and above ground.¡¯ Reaching the far side of town, SJ followed the path towards the Wandering Ogre and found the path Blossom had mentioned leading off into the forest. The path was narrow, and as soon as she entered the treeline, the sun''s brightness was cut out by the overhanging crossed canopy of the surrounding trees. The path led a couple of hundred feet into the forest before she came upon a clearing. The clearing was much larger than SJ had expected. The ground was flat and had been worked over the years to provide rows of pristine, perfectly aligned flowerbeds. Each of the beds contained a different variation of plants or flowers. Small wooden signs with the names of the species were placed at the end of each manicured row. The vibrancy and mixed perfumes from the clearing were intoxicating. ¡°I can¡¯t see anything unusual?¡± SJ said. ¡°Umm. Strange,¡± Dave said. ¡°What¡¯s strange?¡± ¡°Nothing seems wrong with the place.¡± ¡°That¡¯s my point,¡± SJ replied, rolling her eyes as she began to walk between the rows. It wasn¡¯t until she reached the far end of the third row that she noticed the thorn-covered vine that was intertwined with the flowers at that end. She knelt to look at it. Where the vine wove between the flower stems, it had grown smaller vines that were attached to the flower stems. ¡°It looks like it¡¯s feeding from the flowers,¡± SJ said as she equipped her claws. Carefully, she positioned the tip of her claw next to the flower stem and cut through the offending thin vine. ¡°This may take some time.¡± SJ began to work between the stems, cutting the thin root-like vines. It wasn¡¯t until thirty minutes had passed that she noticed the vines were reattached where she had begun. ¡°Have you seen that? They are attached again.¡± ¡°Try finding the source of the vine,¡± Dave said. Rather than cutting the thorned vine from the stems, she traced it back between the flower beds until she reached the end of the bed, where the vine disappeared into the earth. It was as thick as a tug-of-war rope, with thorns like rosebushes running its length. Placing her blades against the vine, she began to cut through it. The vine was much stronger than she had expected, and she had to place a lot of pressure on her blades to cut it. Severing the vine, she picked it up carefully, scraping the thorns from it and then lifted it, pulling it back the way she had come, breaking the smaller vines as she did. Eventually, she got to where she had started The removed section of the vine was at least ten feet long. Lifting it, she moved it to the side and dropped it between the flowerbeds. She repeated the process on the next row, where another vine grew. It was as she cut the fourth vine that things went drastically wrong. A shriek pierced the clearing coming from the forest''s edge to the rear. Looking up in shock, SJ came face to face with a creature she didn¡¯t recognise. It looked like a walking root. ¡°Mandrake,¡± Dave said casually. ¡°Didn¡¯t you know what it was?¡± SJ said. ¡°Nope. They are all unique looking. No two are alike, unfortunately.¡± As the creature emerged fully from the forest, it appeared like a land octopus. Thick vines propelled it forward into the clearing, each covered in barbed thorns. Its body was shaped like a carrot, and on its head grew loose leaves that cascaded around its face like hair. It was one of SJ''s strangest sights since arriving in Amathera. SJ identified the creature. Thorned Mandrake Level: 15 Stolen novel; please report. Hit points: 98 of 110 Mana points: 20 Armour Class: 10/30 Attacks: Thorn strike Special: Entangle ¡°It has multiple armour classes?¡± SJ said as it began moving towards her. ¡°Their roots are usually weaker than the main body. You need to cut its roots off to disable it. Then, you can deal with the main root. I don¡¯t think it''s happy you''re cutting its roots off.¡± ¡°It took long enough to react.¡± ¡°They are used to losing limbs and regenerating them. It wouldn¡¯t notice losing one or two, but as you cut more off, it has obviously become suspicious.¡± As the creature moved, its vines disappeared into the earth, slithering just under the ground''s surface. Each of its roots moved independently, and it had many. Standing up and moving into a space away from the flowers, SJ stood facing it, ready to attack. ¡°Watch for its¡­¡± Dave cut off as one of the vines erupted from the grass beneath SJ¡¯s feet and wrapped itself around her ankles. Dragging her feet from under her, she fell onto her back. Crying out at the sudden shock of the attack, SJ reacted by sitting up and reaching forward, slashing through the root. Her blades sliced through it with relative ease. Now she wasn¡¯t being careful not to damage the flowers. The reaction from the mandrake was for two more vine-like roots to shoot towards her and try to grab her where she was sitting. Jumping to her feet, SJ moved back from its attack. Approaching, it began lashing out with multiple vines, SJ cutting and slashing, parrying many of the blows with her blades until one hit its target. Wrapping around her right wrist, its sharp thorns digging into her flesh, it yanked her arm forward. SJ staggered off balance from the attack, grimacing from the pain of the thorns. Another vine struck at her and caught her across the side of her face. She felt the thorns rip into her cheek. This time, crying in pain. Its multiple attacks seemed never-ending as SJ cut the attached vine off with her free hand and backed away again. ¡°Any ideas?¡± ¡°Just keep severing its roots. Eventually, it will not be able to regenerate as quickly as it has been doing,¡± Dave replied. ¡°I didn¡¯t realise it was regenerating,¡± SJ frowned. ¡°All mandrakes can when they are in contact with the ground.¡± Looking at its health, SJ noticed it fluctuating. As she cut through one root, it lost health and slowly, over time, gained a few health back. ¡°This may take a while,¡± SJ blew hard from the exertion. ¡°Usually, their regeneration stops at fifty per cent health,¡± Dave replied. ¡°Good to know.¡± It currently had 76 of 110. Two more vines flicked at her, parrying one while the other wrapped around her waist, pulling her forward. The thorns again dug into her through her dress, feeling the scratching and piercing from them. Another vine lashed out at her as she was dragged towards it, this time catching her right leg in its grip. If SJ weren¡¯t careful, she would get entangled in it. Slashing with her claws, she cut the vine around her leg, freeing her movement. Leaning back against the pull of the vine around her waist. The mandrake was stronger than it appeared, pulling her forward again by the vine at her waist. Her arms flicked up from the sudden movement, and recovering, she slashed down through the vine at her waist. It fell limply, slowly uncoiling as she moved away again. It had 62 health remaining now. It went to attack again as it lumbered closer on its vines. Whipping its appendages towards her. She cut, thrust, and slashed as it continued to attack. It eventually reached 54 health. SJ¡¯s health was, by this point, down to 71. She hadn¡¯t noticed the damage she had taken from all the various attacks and thorns that had caught her. All the small attacks had added up as they did. The creature''s wrinkled features shrieked again, making SJ¡¯s ears ring with pain. ¡°I wish it wouldn¡¯t do that,¡± SJ hissed through gritted teeth. ¡°Now it''s below half health. You need to finish it by attacking its main body,¡± Dave said. ¡°And how do I do that without getting caught by the vines? If I get any closer, it will just entangle me.¡± ¡°It won¡¯t die from root damage alone. They only die once you severe their heads.¡± The mandrake''s carrot-shaped body was possibly eighteen inches across. ¡°My blades aren¡¯t long enough to slice its head off in one go.¡± ¡°No, unfortunately, you are going to have to reduce it to zero health and then cut its head off.¡± ¡°Great,¡± SJ replied sardonically, continuing to defend herself from the vine''s onslaught. The mandrake was only a level higher than SJ, and she was doing relative damage. The issue was the number of attacks it was getting in comparison. She struggled to get in range of its body without being struck back. As she moved closer, her health was getting whittled down as much as the mandrakes. ¡°I wish I had a ranged attack,¡± SJ growled as another vine struck her across her side, and she gouged more cuts into the mandrake''s body. Her health was now down to 43, and the mandrake still had 31 remaining because of the increased armour class of its body. The mandrake had lost over half its vine-like limbs but still had many remaining. She continued the battle. They were strike for strike, SJ tiring more as time went on. This was the longest continuous fight she had ever been in. Even in the main valley battle, she had a respite between attacks. As her health dropped to 28, the mandrake still had 25, and if they continued at this rate, she would be dead before finishing it. ¡°I can¡¯t keep this up,¡± SJ hurriedly backed up and began to shrink as she did. Pain flared across her body from the multiple wounds, but she gritted her teeth and bore it, taking off as soon as she was able. Flying up and away from the creature. She hovered above it, catching her breath. ¡°You need to hurry up whatever you are thinking of doing. If active combat drops, it will regenerate faster than you will, even with dragon blood,¡± Dave said. Thinking through her options, SJ quickly opened her inventory and checked it. She still had it with her, thankfully. She had meant to visit Nexis at the auction house to discuss the prices of some of her loot later that day since she had picked up various items and begun the quests. Withdrawing the vial, she dropped to the ground again in front of the mandrake, growing as soon as her feet touched. Drawing her arm back like a baseball pitcher, she threw the vial at the creature. ¡°Ooo,¡± Dave said, realising what she had just done. The vial of rock gobbler intestinal acid exploded against the mandrake, the white translucent liquid spraying over and around its body. The mandrake screeched in agony as SJ watched its body begin to be eaten away. Its health dropped quickly as the acid took hold, eating into its flesh and turning it black as it did. It looked like a charred vegetable in comparison. Several of its remaining vines fell off as acid ate through them. It whipped its vines around in a frenzy, shrieking and unable to do anything to stop the acid. As its health deteriorated, it slowed its movements. It reached zero, its vines stilled, and it fell forward to the ground. Where the acid had splashed on the ground when the vial exploded, small holes were eaten into the surface, turning the earth into muddy pools. ¡°That was a very good idea. Maybe if you had thought of it sooner, you wouldn¡¯t have taken so much damage,¡± Dave said. ¡°You think!?¡± SJ replied, looking at the now smouldered mandrake root. ¡°OK. Remove its head, but be careful of the acid.¡± SJ walked forward, making sure she didn¡¯t step on or touch the acidic splashes. She began to cut through the root with her claws, which reminded her of the texture of a swede. Eventually, the top of the mandrake head came away, and SJ slowly lifted it by its green-leaved hair and threw it to one side. Taking in the scene, it looked like she had been shredding lettuce, with plant parts scattered around the flower beds. Several of them had been trashed in the process of the fight and would need work to get back to their pristine state. Looking down at her own body, her dress was shredded, torn, and ripped all over from the multiple thorn strikes. Her arms looked like a cat had used them as a scratching post. Moving back from the area, SJ sat heavily on the ground, removing her waterskin and drinking. Her display triggered. Thorned Mandrake killed - 150xp awarded Quest ¨C Plant Infestation - complete You have disposed of the mysterious mandrake. Rewards: 1 x stem of the angelus Reward: 200xp (+100% bonus) 400xp awarded. Congratulations! You have reached level 15. ¡°Congratulations!¡± Dave said. ¡°Thanks. Maybe rats would have been easier,¡± SJ replied, exhausted, lying back on the grass. Opening her character sheet, she decided to immediately add both of her extra points to her Constitution. Her health had been her weakest element of the fight as soon as she had needed to get in range of it with its multiple attacks. The recent questing had been helping her no end. ? Level: 15 Experience: 285 of 6000 Hit Points: 41 of 118 (124) Armour Class: 32 (15)(17) Dexterity: 27 Constitution: 20 Charisma: 17 (2)(15) Subterfuge ¨C Identification Level 8 ¨C 280 of 300 to level 9, Shroud Level 3 After resting for several minutes, her dress repaired, and her health continuing to improve as the scratches and cuts healed, she stood, walked to the mandrake remains and looted it. 2 x mandrake roots, 1 x potion of regeneration ¡°I better go and see Blossom, and then I am going to head home,¡± SJ said. ¡°You have had another very productive day. Those two latest quests gave much better experience than the usual ones you have been doing,¡± Dave said. Shrinking, SJ took off and flew back to see Blossom. Chapter 103 – Archery Having returned to Farleck after completing the quest with Blossom, SJ stood in the kitchen area as Terence stood at the stove cooking. He had picked up some impressive skills by working with Floretta and had been preparing meals for SJ on her return. It was nice to have the skeletons company when she was at the cottage. Brian and Charlotte took care of the odd pesky mole, and as a result, the vegetable garden was fully planted and the plants are growing well. ¡°How did you get on today?¡± SJ asked. It had become a common discussion point between the pair of them. Terence always wanted to show her what he had completed in her absence. ¡°This is going to take a few minutes to cook, so I can show you now,¡± he turned, smiling. Terence carefully removed the stonework between the extension and cottage where there had been a wall at the rear and constructed an archway that led through to the extension. Walking along the hallway, there were five rooms leading off the hallway. They turned the first room into a bathroom, and the second room was SJ''s tailoring suite. The other three rooms were private rooms for each of the skeletons to use as they wished. SJ had been adamant that they had to have one each. Even if they never used them. Terence had built bedframes for each, and SJ had mattresses and bedding delivered from Killic by Greta. Greta had become her go-to for anything she needed. Between Greta, Jacob and Zej she got most of the items she required. A rear door at the back of the property opened onto the training area. There was a sand ring, with sand from the lake being brought up and laid. They marked out the ring''s circumference using small stones. SJ had been training against both Terence and Brian some evenings. Then, they placed three archery targets at varying distances, going back towards and into the forest slightly. Charlotte had been over the moon with the targets and used them regularly when not tending the gardens. "Tada," Terence said, displaying the newly constructed training dummy they had built. SJ walked over to it. All the training dummies in the town were basic. This one was anything but. ¡°What are all the contraptions coming off it for?¡± SJ asked, confused. ¡°Here, let me show you,¡± Terence said, grinning. He walked behind the dummy and pointed out several pulleys and levers that were positioned there. As Terence moved the various levers, the dummy moved, and it could strike back. Its arms and legs could simulate attacks while using it. ¡°Wow,¡± SJ said, amazed at the work he had put into it. Terence had been keeping this latest project secret. ¡°It¡¯s more realistic,¡± Terence said. ¡°It¡¯s amazing,¡± SJ replied. ¡°Can I?¡± ¡°After dinner,¡± Terence smiled. They returned inside, Terence serving SJ a bowl of fish stew. Each day SJ returned, Brian would have been fishing, and there was now always a couple of fish hung up on a frame outside the cottage. Brian was trying to construct a smoker so they could also hunt for hoglings or similar and preserve the meat. There was no point currently, as only SJ was required to eat. Initially, she told them they didn¡¯t need to worry about it, but they all were adamant that they did. ¡°The food was delicious, as always,¡± SJ said, finishing the stew. Charlotte and Brian had joined them in the cottage now, and the four of them sat around the dining table. ¡°SJ. Can we ask you a favour?¡± Charlotte said. SJ turned to look at her, ¡°Of course, there is no need to ask. Just let me know what you need.¡± ¡°Do you mind if Brian and I visit Killic?¡± The question took SJ by surprise. ¡°Why would I mind?¡± ¡°We didn¡¯t know if you wanted us to go there.¡± ¡°I have told you all before you can do what you wish. I don¡¯t control you or decide how or where you live. If you wanted to move to Asterfal or anywhere else, that is your choice.¡± If a skeleton could blush, SJ could have sworn the pair of them just had. ¡°We aren¡¯t used to freedom,¡± Brian replied. SJ shook her head in response. ¡°You are my friends, all three of you,¡± she said, looking around the table. ¡°You aren¡¯t my servants.¡± The skeletons turned and looked at each other. ¡°I really want to visit the florist you have spoken about,¡± Charlotte said. ¡°I would love to get some new plants for the garden to work with.¡± ¡°Of course. Blossom is amazing. I just did a quest for her today.¡± ¡°What quest?¡± Brian asked. He always got excited to discover what quests SJ had been completing. ¡°There was a thorned mandrake that needed getting rid of.¡± SJ then had to spend the next fifteen minutes running through a blow-by-blow account of what had happened. ¡°What did you want to get from Killic?¡± SJ asked Brian. "I''m after some fishing gear and also wanted to see about some new daggers," he said, looking at Charlotte, as his current ones have become worn from all the gardening and digging he has been doing. ¡°Don¡¯t blame me,¡± Charlotte replied, looking guilty. SJ laughed. ¡°Setu is a goblin friend who works at the docks as a fisher. He may be the best to speak to when you get there about gear. Here,¡± she said as she removed some silver from her inventory and handed it to them. ¡°We don¡¯t need your money,¡± Charlotte said, shocked. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with my money?¡± ¡°We can¡¯t take it,¡± Brian said. ¡°How else are you going to pay for anything?¡± SJ asked. ¡°We have a few coppers from when we were with the necromancer,¡± Brian said. ¡°I don¡¯t care what you have. Take these as a thank you for all the work you have done for me at the cottage since you arrived,¡± SJ said, placing two silver coins in front of each of the skeletons. All three sat with their mouths open, staring at her in disbelief. ¡°And if you see anything else while there that you can¡¯t afford but want, let me know,¡± SJ said, pushing her chair back and standing up. ¡°Okay. Who is coming to train?¡± she asked, smiling. The rest of the evening passed quickly, with all of them taking turns fighting against Terence¡¯s new contraption. It was hilarious for those watching, not so for the one of them struck by the solid wooden appendages Terence had made it out of. It added a sense of realism to the training, and SJ wanted to speak to Lorna about implementing them at the main training ground in Killic. She even discussed patenting, which confused the skeletons. SJ was standing in her bedroom at the cottage in Killic, where she had just returned. She walked to the wardrobe where she had been leaving her questing gear. She removed the items and dropped them into her inventory. As she was finishing, there was a knock on the cottage door. ¡°Darren,¡± Dave said. SJ unlocked the door and let him in. ¡°How was Asterfal?¡± she asked as soon as she saw him. ¡°Boring being confined to the wagon,¡± he replied glumly. ¡°Alice wouldn¡¯t even let me visit The Bugbears.¡± ¡°You are surprised?¡± ¡°No,¡± he said. Over the past month, their relationship quickly developed into that of a brother and sister. Whenever Darren had questions about females, in other words, Alice, he would broach the topics with SJ. It was both sweet and annoying all at once. ¡°What happened this time?¡± SJ said, looking at the face Darren was pulling. ¡°I did something stupid.¡± ¡°What?¡± SJ asked, frowning. ¡°I asked her if she would marry me.¡± ¡°You what? You have only been seeing each other for a month,¡± SJ said, shocked by his revelation. ¡°I know. It was stupid of me. We were lying on the wagon roof the night before last while travelling back. Looking at the stars, and that just slipped out.¡± ¡°And what was Alice¡¯s response?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± ¡°Nothing?¡± ¡°No, she didn¡¯t say a thing.¡± ¡°So, what¡¯s your problem?¡± ¡°I mean anything. Since I asked, she has said nothing to me.¡± SJ stared at him. ¡°Did you say anything else to her?¡± ¡°No. I have been too embarrassed since.¡± Darren stood with his shoulders sagged and looked close to tears. ¡°He is an idiot,¡± Dave said. ¡®Why?¡¯ SJ thought in reply. ¡°Dryads have strict codes for betrothals. Alice has to speak to her parents before she can answer anything.¡± ¡®Explain.¡¯ ¡°Dryads have a very complex hierarchical structure within their families. Their families would organise and confirm most requests for marriage. Once confirmed, they would announce the proposition of a request. ¡®Oh. I did not know.¡¯ You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. Darren had walked to the dining table and sat in a chair with his head in his hands. ¡°I am such an idiot. Why did I do it?¡± ¡°Agreed,¡± Dave said. ¡°Because you have feelings for her,¡± SJ said. ¡°I think I know why she isn¡¯t speaking to you.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Darren asked, looking up at SJ hopefully. ¡°They have strict familial rules. Any marriage request normally goes through parents before any communication between parties. Dave just explained it to me,¡± SJ said. ¡°She has no parents,¡± Dareen replied. ¡°She must have a guardian or similar then or relatives,¡± Dave said. ¡°Does she have a guardian?¡± SJ asked. Darren¡¯s face scrunched up as he cringed. ¡°What?¡± SJ asked. ¡°Zigferd,¡± Darren replied. ¡°Zigferd is Alice¡¯s guardian?¡± SJ was now the one in shock. ¡°Yes. Zigferd took her in as a child and has been her guardian since her parent''s death.¡± There was so much that SJ still didn¡¯t know about her friends. This solidified Zigferd¡¯s behaviour when Alice had gone missing. ¡°I did not know,¡± SJ said as Dave laughed at the news. ¡°If there is one person Darren didn¡¯t want as her guardian, it would be Zigferd. Hehehehe,¡± Dave said. ¡®Stop being mean, Dave,¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°Sorry, it¡¯s just too funny,¡± Dave gasped. Darren and Zigferd¡¯s relationship had not started well, and it didn¡¯t seem to matter what Darren had done since. Zigferd always looked at him as though he was trouble. His continual reaction towards Darren now made complete sense, as he was so protective of Alice. The revelation had thrown SJ off completely. She gathered her thoughts and responded, ¡°Maybe this is a good thing. If you show how serious you are, maybe Zigferd will start coming around.¡± ¡°And maybe he will turn into a werebear and eat me,¡± Darren replied. The comment made Dave laugh even harder than before. ¡°Anyway. How did it go with Alice being able to set up the quest?¡± Darren looked up, ¡°It worked. She could configure it while in Asterfal.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great news, at least,¡± SJ said, smiling. ¡°Not sure there is much point in my staying in Killic now,¡± Darren sulked. ¡°You don¡¯t know that for certain,¡± SJ retorted. ¡°As if.¡± SJ would no longer entertain his melancholic mood. ¡°Get up.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I said get up.¡± Darren pushed his chair back and stood, turning to SJ. ¡°What?¡± SJ had been trying to think of something to say to snap him out of his mood. Nothing came to mind, so she did the only thing that did: she slapped him across the face. ¡°Ow,¡± Darren said, rubbing his cheek. ¡°What was that for?¡± ¡°Feeling sorry for yourself. Stop being so stupid and pull yourself together. You are acting like an adolescent teenager. Not a grown man,¡± SJ snapped. The anger in SJ¡¯s voice took Darren by surprise. ¡°Sorry,¡± he stammered. ¡°Now man up and put your big-boy pants on.¡± SJ was certain that Dave was rolling around the floor. He seemed to struggle to breathe, and he laughed so hard in her head. She could imagine this little robot doing cartwheels. SJ felt terrible after just slapping Darren and turned away. ¡°I have things to do, so if you have finished feeling sorry for yourself, maybe you can give me a hand?¡± ¡°What do you need?¡± ¡°I need you to come and meet Cristy.¡± In the month since the attack on her, SJ had been so focused on her level that she had only briefly seen Cristy and had sworn that she would spend the day with her as soon as she reached level 15. She wanted Darren to teach her in archery. She knew she could take her to the cottage, but Darren was at a much higher level than Charlotte was. ¡°I know you have been to the fletchers, and I need you to help pick a bow for her.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Darren replied, looking a little happier with something to consider rather than his predicament with Alice. ¡°Which bow do you suggest?¡± SJ asked Darren. They were standing in the Fletcher''s shop. SJ had never visited before, and the wide range of styles and varieties of bows available to purchase amazed her. Cristy was keeping the fletcher busy by asking her many questions. Darren and Cristy had got on like a house on fire. Darren had been acting as the silly uncle and spoiling her rotten. SJ¡¯s inventory was currently full of toys and clothes Darren had bought for her. She could see that Cristy could get away with murder with Darren. ¡°This one,¡± Darren said, picking a small bow from a stand. ¡°It¡¯s an elven bow used for training.¡± Cristy had been experiencing a growth spurt for the last few weeks, and she was sure that she had grown another six inches. Dave had explained the basics of gnoll growth, and she was sure that it was normal and would likely continue at this rapid pace until she reached full size. SJ took the bow from Darren. ¡°What makes this so good?¡± "You can vary the string tightness so that you can adjust it as she gets more proficient and stronger." SJ noted the small screw-style thread at the base of the bow. The bow was two feet, about half the size of Darren''s short bow he used. ¡°Once she has the basics and grows a little taller, one of these would be better for her,¡± he said, showing an actual short bow approximately three feet, ¡°before deciding if she wished to stay with short bows or move to longbows.¡± The longbows were massive and stood taller than SJ and Darren. ¡°Okay. What about arrows?¡± SJ asked. There was a selection of arrows to choose from. ¡°For training, I would get bodkins. They are easier to remove from targets since they don¡¯t have barbs,¡± Darren said. SJ looked at the differing heads the arrows had until she found them. ¡°What length?¡± ¡°Cristy needs to try the bow, and we can confirm. They must be a couple of inches longer than she can draw.¡± ¡°Cristy?¡± SJ called. ¡°Yes?¡± Cristy said, walking over. ¡°Darren thinks this one is best for you,¡± SJ said, handing her the bow. Cristy took it, her eyes wide in awe. ¡°Are you certain?¡± she said to Darren. ¡°Yes. This is best for you as you learn and also for your size. Titch,¡± he finished laughing. Cristy kicked him in his ankle in response. They had been bickering like this all day, and SJ just rolled her eyes. ¡°See how far you can pull the string back?¡± SJ said. Cristy got hold of the bow by its grip and then pulled the string back. It didn¡¯t go back very far. ¡°Here,¡± Darren said as he adjusted the string tension. ¡°Try again.¡± This time, Cristy pulled the string back much further. ¡°Perfect,¡± Darren said as he selected the arrows she needed. ¡°Now all you need is a quiver and to decide how you want to carry it.¡± ¡°Carry it?¡± Cristy asked. ¡°Yes. My quiver is on my back, as you can see. You can get ones that sit on your belt.¡± ¡°I want a back quiver like yours,¡± Cristy answered excitedly. ¡°Do you have anything in her size?¡± Darren turned to ask the Fletcher. SJ had never met her before and didn¡¯t know her name. ¡°Yes. Give me a moment,¡± she replied, walking through to the back of the shop. After a few moments, she returned with a small quiver that Cristy immediately put on. It fit her perfectly after a couple of strap adjustments. Darren had selected twenty arrows and dropped them into her quiver. Darren wore his bow across his shoulder most of the time, and SJ couldn¡¯t help but smile when she noticed Cristy copying Darren. She now had the look of a fledgling archer. ¡°How much?¡± SJ asked. ¡°I¡¯ll get it,¡± Darren said. ¡°No. SJ smiled and said, "No, you''ve had enough of being conned today." Darren frowned. ¡°You realise you have bought Cristy everything she has asked for today?¡± SJ said. SJ turned to the Fletcher before he could respond. ¡°58 copper,¡± she replied. SJ had been expecting it to cost much more. ¡°That sounds cheap?¡± SJ said. ¡°You are a councillor,¡± the elf smiled. SJ blushed at the comment. She hadn¡¯t been feeling much of a councillor recently. ¡°Thank you,¡± SJ replied, feeling embarrassed. SJ asked Lorna to allow Darren to show Cristy the basics of archery during the afternoon. Cristy was hung on his every word the whole time, and by late afternoon, she had complained that her shoulder hurt. Darren found her progress really impressive and promised to bring her back in another couple of days. SJ had performed some of her own training and, after finishing a punishing routine under Lorna¡¯s guidance, had been watching the pair. ¡°I think we need to get you home,¡± SJ said as Darren fired a few arrows into the centre of the furthest target. His accuracy was uncanny. ¡°Probably best,¡± Darren said, collecting his arrows. After dropping Cristy back at the orphanage and unloading her inventory, to the dismay of Madeline, who had told them both off for spoiling her. SJ and Darren made their way to the inn to grab some food. They were walking along, talking casually, when Darren suddenly came to a standstill as a huge hand grabbed him on his shoulder, halting his movement. ¡°We need to talk,¡± Zigferd said. ? Chapter 104 – Mistake SJ turned to look at Zigferd. Darren¡¯s eyes were wide with shock, fear, and panic. His casual humour and banter from the day disappeared in an instant. Darren slowly turned to look around at the gigantic man. As Darren replied, his voice cracked, sounding rather squeaky. ¡°What would you like to talk about?¡± ¡°You know exactly what I want to talk about!¡± Zigferd said in a very calm but serious tone. His tone was so flat that it even made SJ feel nervous. She had never seen him like this before. ¡°Come with me,¡± he finished, not removing his hand from Darren¡¯s shoulder. Darren gulped as he allowed Zigferd to direct him without question. SJ was as shocked by Zigferd''s sudden appearance as much as Darren was, and she spoke as Zigferd directed Darren off. ¡°I will join you." Zigferd didn¡¯t even turn and acknowledge SJ. ¡°If you wish,¡± he replied. Zigferd escorted Darren down a few streets until they came out near the lake opposite the docks. During the quarantine, SJ had been here once before with Setu when they travelled from the docks back to town. The houses along this stretch were much larger than the ones in the town centre. Approaching the house, Zigferd eventually took his hand from Darren''s shoulder and directed him up the path. Zigferd then followed and, stepping by him, took out a key, opened the front door, and let him in. The house was a two-storey building with a front garden that was slightly overgrown. ¡°Is this yours?¡± SJ asked, never having been to Zigferd¡¯s home. ¡°Yes,¡± Zigferd replied. ¡°In here,¡± he said, directing them into a lounge area at the front of the property. The room had bare walls with sparse furnishings. It contained a sofa, a couple of armchairs, a small cluster of tables, and a bookcase. Darren was looking pale now. ¡°Sit,¡± Zigferd said. Darren quickly moved and sat on the sofa. Zigferd took one armchair and dragged it so that when he was sitting down, he was facing Darren. ¡°SJ. The kitchen is at the back. Would you mind getting some water?¡± Zigferd asked, not taking his eyes off Darren. Darren could not meet Zigferd¡¯s eyes, and he looked down. Not wanting to leave the pair of them alone for long, SJ hurried down the hall into the kitchen, quickly grabbing some glasses and filling a pitcher of water before heading back. She had heard nothing being said. Walking back into the room, the tension in the air was palpable. ¡°Thank you,¡± Zigferd said. He took a glass and poured himself a drink, taking a deep drink before placing the glass down. SJ poured one for herself and sat in another armchair, turning it slightly. She felt as though she was a referee between two prize fighters. The silence continued for a few minutes. Neither party said anything, and Zigferd did not drop his gaze. ¡°Do you mind?¡± Darren asked, his voice cracking and sounding dry as he grabbed a glass and poured himself some water. Drinking it deeply himself before nurturing the glass in his hands. Still not meeting Zigferd¡¯s gaze. SJ couldn¡¯t take it any longer, her nerves beginning to feel frayed. ¡°Are you two going to talk? Or just sit in silence?¡± Darren glanced at SJ, a deep-set fear in his eyes. Zigferd¡¯s gaze again didn¡¯t flinch from Darren. Shifting in his chair slightly, it squeaked under his considerable weight, making Darren flinch. Zigferd sat back a little and took a slow, deliberate breath. ¡°I believe you have asked Alice to marry you.¡± The comment about marriage made Darren squirm. ¡°I did.¡± ¡°Think very carefully before you answer this next question,¡± Zigferd said, still in a calm and controlled tone. ¡°Did you mean it?¡± Darren sat upright, his eyes meeting Zigferd¡¯s for the first time since arriving, and with a single word, he replied, ¡°Yes.¡± Zigferd took another deep, deliberate breath, closing his eyes as he did. Slowly exhaling, he opened his eyes again. ¡°I am guessing you have absolutely no idea about the dryad culture?¡± Darren dropped his gaze again. ¡°No,¡± he said meekly. ¡°You put Alice in a very awkward position by asking her directly. It broke all the dryad¡¯s protocols that are expected to be followed,¡± Zigferd replied. ¡°I am sorry. I was unaware until SJ informed me this morning,¡± Darren said. SJ struggled to read Zigferd, having never seen him in such a flat and emotionless manner before. ¡°Do you realise what marriage means to a dryad?¡± ¡°I had assumed it would have the same meaning as marriage for anyone.¡± ¡°Once a dryad gets married, it is for life. There is no turning back. A broken marriage for a dryad means death.¡± Darren¡¯s eyes shot open in shock. ¡°What do you mean, death?¡± ¡°When a dryad weds, their soul is split. If a marriage fails, then the dryad will lose half of their soul, and most succumb to madness and eventually die,¡± Zigferd replied, his face completely neutral, showing no emotion. ¡°I had no idea?!¡± Darren replied. ¡°So, I will ask you one more time. Did you mean it?¡± Darren again did not hesitate. ¡°Yes, I did. I wouldn¡¯t have asked her if I hadn¡¯t,¡± he said adamantly. Zigferd closed his eyes again and took another long breath. Pushing himself up from his chair, he stood and turned, leaving the room without saying a word. Darren and SJ glanced at each other. SJ shrugged, not understanding what was happening. Listening, they heard Zigferd climb the stairs. The pair sat silently for several minutes, listening to Zigferd move about upstairs, opening and closing what sounded like a chest before returning to the stairs and into the lounge area. SJ and Darren were staring at Zigferd as he entered, carrying a short staff intricately decorated with leaves and a design resembling vines running its length. At the staff''s top was a claw-like grip holding a clear orb. ¡°You will need this,¡± Zigferd said flatly, handing the staff to Darren. Darren reached out and took hold of the staff. It was only about three feet. Zigferd didn¡¯t let go, and Darren¡¯s eyes met Zigferd¡¯s, now containing a look that SJ couldn¡¯t describe. It wasn¡¯t anger, and it wasn''t hatred. It was something much deeper and more meaningful than anything SJ had ever witnessed, ¡®promise¡¯. ¡°If you hurt her. I will kill you,¡± Zigferd said, releasing his grip on the staff and walking back out of the room. With an uncertain look, Darren sat with his arm out, still holding the short staff. ¡°What does this mean?¡± ¡°It means that Zigferd has granted him permission to ask Alice to marry officially,¡± Dave said, yawning. ¡°What?¡± SJ said. Darren turned to look at SJ, confused. "Dave just said it means you have permission to ask Alice to marry you," SJ said excitedly. Darren''s face instantly changed several times before he shouted, ¡°YES!¡± and jumped up from his seat. ¡°Now you just have to find and ask her, offering her the staff. The staff offer means that her guardian, in this instance, has approved the proposal,¡± Dave said. "You need to go and officially ask Alice now and present her with the staff," SJ said, standing. Darren turned and threw his arms around SJ, excitedly hugging her. The grin that had broken out on his face was contagious, and SJ couldn¡¯t help but grin back. Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. ¡°No time like the present,¡± he said, turning to leave. Hurrying from the house. SJ walked from the lounge and saw Zigferd in the kitchen with his back to her. SJ walked down the hallway towards him. ¡°Zigferd, are you okay?¡± SJ could see Zigferd¡¯s shoulders shuddering. ¡°Zigferd?¡± ¡°Has he gone?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± SJ replied, turning to see the open front door Darren had left through. Zigferd turned and looked at SJ, tears running down his cheeks. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± SJ asked, panicking. Seeing the mountain of a lycanthrope crying as he did wasn¡¯t something she had ever expected to witness. Through all the hardship and trials she had witnessed, the mountain stood before her and had always been stoic, as well as the strength behind the town. Zigferd wiped his eyes, looking at SJ, ¡°I never thought that I would see the day of Alice being asked to marry. It has come as a shock. I have brought Alice up since she was a youngling, and she had always dreamt of getting married. I am just a little emotional, that¡¯s all.¡± ¡°I assume Alice wants to marry Darren?¡± SJ asked. ¡°Yes. She mentioned not long after returning from the caves how she immediately felt about Darren and hoped he would be the one.¡± ¡°Why did I think you wanted to kill Darren every time you saw him?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t realise I had," surprise registered on his face. ¡°You have put the fear of god into him.¡± Zigferd half smiled. ¡°That¡¯s not a bad thing, then.¡± SJ couldn¡¯t help but smile in response. ¡°No. I suppose not. It¡¯s better to keep him on his toes,¡± she chuckled. ¡°I need to sort myself out. I have a meeting with Orik, Nevik and Shelly this evening. We are discussing the first mithril batch.¡± ¡°I will leave you to it then and allow you to compose yourself,¡± SJ said. ¡°Thank you. Make sure that Darren understands I meant what I said. If he hurts her, I will kill him,¡± the emphasis in his tone made the hairs on SJ''s neck prickle. She knew he meant it. Leaving Zigferd, SJ headed to the inn. She wanted to speak to Floretta about the grapey fruits. It had been just over a month since she had first moved into the cottage, and Floretta had taken some of the grapey to produce some of the jerky. At this time of day, the inn was receiving the early usuals before the main thrum arrived a little later once many of the stalls and shops had closed. It was always busy in the evenings. ¡°YOU CAN TELL THAT FOOL IF HE EVER DARKENS MY DOORWAY, I WON¡¯T HOLD BACK FROM THE DAMAGE I WILL DO TO HIM,¡± Kerys screamed. A tall, elegantly dressed man stood at the bar feeling Kerys''s wrath. Bert stood in his usual spot, not concerned about the ongoings. All the patrons were facing the bar, watching the interaction. SJ walked to the bar, standing just off from the berating. The look in Kerys¡¯s eyes was that of hatred. ¡°Kerys. Is everything alright?¡± SJ asked. Kerys turned and noticed SJ, her face softening as she did, ¡°Hi, SJ. No, everything is not alright. This pompous idiot thinks he can walk into my inn and threaten me.¡± ¡°Threaten you?¡± SJ asked, shocked. ¡°He is here on the guidance of a supposed complaint raised against my inn by the Brewer¡¯s Guild in Asterfal. Apparently, I have been selling illegal ale.¡± The statement about illegal ale sales baffled SJ. ¡°How can you be selling illegal ale? Don¡¯t you brew your own?¡± ¡°Most, yes. I purchase some ale from the local villages that we support.¡± ¡°How can it be illegal, then?¡± ¡°They are accusing me of stealing trade secrets and saying that my ale is a stolen recipe that follows the Brewers Guild traditional ale. I sell excess ale in Asterfal and have several bars which purchase it.¡± ¡°I am confused. If you are brewing your own ale, why is it said it is the Brewers Guild recipe?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t. It is that backstabbing idiot Fretun. He is playing dirty games, trying to damage my reputation and reduce my income. It¡¯s another one of his tactics to gain my recipe after his failure to blow up my inn. If he causes enough damage to the inn''s reputation, he believes I will give up the secrets to stop the damage he is attempting to cause. I may have to go to Asterfal to meet my buyers and smooth things over. I just received news from this not-so-kind gentleman that he plans to block any future shipments to Asterfal until they have thoroughly investigated the accusation." ¡°Do you not fall under the town¡¯s trade arm?¡± SJ asked. ¡°I do.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t this an issue to be addressed through the councillor for trade then?¡± SJ asked. With the time around her levelling, she had been learning about all the various aspects that helped the town tick over. The town''s infrastructure and workings mirrored those of Earth. One or more councillors guided and supported the departments in the barracks, overseeing each one. Housing, Waste, Magic, Food, Trade, Professions, etc. It was a complex web of work, with many areas that overlapped with each other. SJ soon realised that her role as ambassador might cover all areas if an external party inquired. ¡°Can I ask who brought the charges?¡± SJ said, turning to the man. He wore perfectly tailored clothing, and his brilliant white shirt looked soft and luxurious. The man turned to look at SJ, looking her up and down. He wore small circular framed glasses on the end of a long needle-like nose. His look turned to one of disgust. ¡°I have no business with you, fae,¡± he almost spat the word, turning back away from her and facing Kerys. ¡°Oh, no,¡± Dave said. ¡°What did you just say?¡± her tone was low and menacing. The instant anger from his comment sent her blood beyond boiling. The man turned back to look at SJ. ¡°Go away before you get hurt. I do not deal with your kind.¡± He sneered. ¡°My kind? Would you like to elaborate on what you mean?¡± SJ asked, her tone measured but still menacing. ¡°You know exactly what I mean by my statement,¡± he said, tutting. ¡°Do you have a name?¡± SJ asked, speaking now through gritted teeth. ¡°I won¡¯t be telling you anything. I told you to go away.¡± ¡°Who do you think you are to tell me to go away?¡± ¡°I am an official of Asterfal working within the guidance and remit of the binding unity of our region. You do not have the right to question or even speak to me unless I wish to speak to you. And I will not sully myself any further talking to one of your kind.¡± Several in the inn gasped at his statement. The man didn¡¯t take his eyes off SJ. SJ balled her fists the instant he finished speaking. Bert noticed SJ¡¯s reaction and moved forward. Kerys¡¯s eyes widened, and SJ was unsure if it was because she had balled her fists or what the man had said. ¡°I suggest you think carefully before you answer the next question I am going to ask you,¡± SJ said, almost hissing. The man raised an eyebrow casually. ¡°You realise the trouble you would be in if you attacked an official of Asterfal,¡± he showed no fear. ¡°And do you realise that you have disgraced the city of Asterfal with your behaviour?¡± ¡°Ha. My behaviour. You think anyone in Asterfal cares about your kind?¡± SJ had held her temper long enough. ¡°MY KIND,¡± she screamed. The sudden change in tone made the slightest flinch appear on the man''s face. Sighing, the man turned back towards Kerys, ignoring SJ. ¡°HOW DARE YOU TURN AWAY FROM ME. DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?¡± The man glanced sideways at her as he replied, ¡°A disgusting excuse for a race," waving his hand dismissively. SJ¡¯s emotions were already in turmoil because of the fear and elation for Darren, and to be spoken to in such a way by this man was too much. SJ¡¯s arm moved before she even realised what she was doing as she went to grab him. As she did, Bert gripped her shoulder, preventing her from reaching the man. ¡°Not inside, please, SJ,¡± Bert said. Turning, the man again looked at SJ in disgust and waved his hand. ¡°I suggest you throw the trash out, and I would advise you to get better clientele in the future,¡± he said to Kerys. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Alice said in a commanding voice as she entered the inn. ? Chapter 105 – Highs and Lows The man, hearing Alice, turned to face her. ¡°Ahh, Alice. I was going to come and see you. I hope you have been well. I missed you on your recent visit to Asterfal,¡± the man said, now with a smile. Alice took in the scene before her. ¡°I asked what¡¯s going on?¡± in a deadpan tone. ¡°I would like to raise formal charges against this, this thing here,¡± he said, waving at SJ dismissively. ¡°She tried to attack me.¡± ¡°And what reason did you give the ambassador that she believes you deserved to be attacked?¡± ¡°She has no rights to even¡­¡± the man suddenly stopped talking, his mouth suddenly opening in shock, as he looked at SJ and then back at Alice. ¡°What did you just say?¡± ¡°Tirelle. I asked, why do you think our ambassador believes you deserve to be dealt with?¡± ¡°Ambassador!?¡± he spluttered. ¡°Yes. Ambassador.¡± ¡°What!?¡± The man looked again from Alice to SJ and back again, the colour draining from his cheeks and his eyes wide in alarm. Bert still had hold of SJ¡¯s shoulder firmly, but not to hurt. ¡°SJ. Could you please be so kind as to allow me to speak to Tirelle?¡± Alice asked. SJ hadn¡¯t taken her eyes off the man, seething at his comments. Turning to look at Alice, she took a deep breath and relaxed her fists, exhaling deeply. Bert removed his hand from SJ¡¯s shoulder as she did. ¡°Thank you,¡± Alice said, smiling at SJ. ¡°Tirelle. I think you and I need to have a talk.¡± Tirelle¡¯s face was a picture as Alice walked away to the far end of the bar, away from any other patrons. He stood in shock for a moment before turning and following her. ¡°Well, that was boring after all,¡± Dave said. ¡®I can¡¯t believe how he spoke,¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°I told you before about how many feel about fae.¡± ¡®I know, but that level of hate is atrocious.¡¯ ¡°I can understand how you feel. You have shown none of the behaviours of the fae. The problem is that many fae behave in a manner which damages their reputation. You are an anomaly of a fae, never mind of the system.¡± SJ looked over at Alice and Tirelle. Alice looked very animated. ¡°Here,¡± Kerys said, placing a glass of honey wine on the bar. SJ picked up the glass and drank it nearly in one, placing it back down. Wiping her mouth. ¡°Thanks.¡± Kerys gave SJ a wry smile. ¡°I am sorry,¡± Kerys apologised. ¡°You have nothing to be sorry about,¡± SJ said. ¡°This wouldn¡¯t have happened if it hadn¡¯t been for the situation with Malaki.¡± ¡°Are you certain it¡¯s Malaki¡¯s doing?¡± ¡°It must be. There is no other that has ever brought ill will against the inn.¡± Alice and Tirelle talked for several minutes before they both stood. Tirelle glanced briefly at SJ before he left the inn. Alice walked over, sighing deeply as she spoke. ¡°Sorry. Tirelle is a fool. He is a lower officiate of Asterfal. He only holds a position because of his family name, not his ability.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care who he is. I have done all I can since being in town to build my reputation, and he thinks he can walk in here and speak to me the way he did,¡± SJ said. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I will ensure that his father is made aware of his behaviour. Belldon, his father, is a leading councillor for the trade emissary. Tirelle normally only deals with minor issues, as his own father doesn¡¯t trust him.¡± ¡°Did he tell you of the accusation against Kerys?¡± SJ asked. ¡°Yes. Kerys. I know you won¡¯t have done anything wrong, but can I ask that you allow the investigation to take place?¡± Alice asked. ¡°Why should I even accommodate the accusation?¡± Kerys said. ¡°Tirelle wouldn¡¯t say who had raised the complaint, but by following the process, I will request the details of who and grounds for it,¡± Alice said. The political landscape of Amathera was much more complex than SJ had really considered. She had so much to learn for her role. The proposition seemed more daunting every time she thought about it. ¡°Have you seen Darren?¡± SJ asked. ¡°Not since we arrived back,¡± Alice replied, sadness filling her eyes. ¡°Oh!¡± was all SJ could respond. She was bubbling with hidden excitement, knowing what would come. Kerys poured them both another honey wine, and they walked over to an empty table. Sitting, they caught up on what had been happening since Alice had been away and the outcome of the tax levy. Ptolemy appeared on the small stage not long after, and his music filled the bar as more of the evening patrons arrived. Alice had excused herself to go to talk to one of the merchants she had meant to catch up with that afternoon and went over to his table. SJ saw Darren enter the inn. Spotting her, he walked straight over, looking distraught. ¡°I can¡¯t find her anywhere,¡± he said glumly. ¡°Try looking over there,¡± SJ said, pointing to the far side of the bar where Alice sat with her back to him. His eyes shot open, and he had a huge grin on his face that vanished as the colour drained from his cheeks. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± SJ asked. ¡°What if she says no?¡± ¡°Just tell him to go ask her already,¡± Dave huffed. ¡°You will never know unless you ask her,¡± SJ said, smiling at him. Darren stood nervously, fidgeting as he processed what he should do. ¡°Okay,¡± he replied. SJ watched as he walked towards the stage, not where Alice was sitting. ¡®What¡¯s he doing?¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°No idea. Whatever it is, if she doesn¡¯t say yes, I think he will die of embarrassment,¡± Dave replied. Darren stood now talking to Ptolemy, who was playing a tune. SJ saw Ptolemy smile, and as he finished playing, he coughed loudly. ¡°Friends and strangers alike. Could I have your attention for one minute, please?¡± Ptolemy said, his normal voice even melodic. Several in the bar turned to look at him. ¡°What is it, Ptolemy?¡± one of the regular orcs called. ¡°Darren here would like to say a few words,¡± Ptolemy said before he stepped aside and Darren took to the small stage. Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Silence fell across the bar, and SJ glanced at Alice and saw she had noticed him standing on the stage, her eyes wide. ¡°Dear All. I know I don¡¯t know many of you well, if at all, and before I start, I would like to apologise for the issues I have caused Kerys and her inn since I arrived in Killic. I am glad to see that everything is back as it was, if not better. I have a song I would like to sing.¡± One of the patrons shouted, ¡°We can¡¯t all be born idiots.¡± To which several laughed. Darren''s cheeks reddened with embarrassment before he coughed nervously and carried on. Reaching towards Ptolemy, he handed him his lute. Darren took the instrument and plucked the strings. SJ sat staring at Darren as he transformed from a nervous, embarrassed wreck to someone she could tell had performed on stage. Remembering what Darren had mentioned about how he had died, SJ couldn¡¯t take her eyes off him as he played. ¡°This is for you, Alice,¡± he said as he began to play and sing All of Me by John Legend. Silence filled the bar as Darren sang. SJ caught up in the moment, glancing at Darren and Alice. Alice¡¯s cheeks had reddened while Darren sang with confidence and composure. Kerys had not been in the bar when he had made his statement, just returning from the cellar, and she walked over to where SJ sat. ¡°What does he think he is doing?¡± she said. SJ turned and looked at Kerys¡¯s hard-lined face, which was filled with animosity towards Darren. ¡°Proposing,¡± SJ said with a huge grin on her face. ¡°WHAT?¡± Kerys said much louder than she meant to, getting a couple of the regulars to turn around and whisper ¡®Shhh¡¯ at her. Kerys stood now, watching Darren perform. Darren wasn¡¯t as proficient on the lute as Ptolemy, but the music came across well. As he struck the last chord and finished, Darren ended with the ultimate words. ¡°Alice. Will you marry me?¡± You could have heard a pin drop as silence filled the bar. Everyone was now turning to look at Alice. They all knew her. She was one of the most popular beings in the town, highly respected and trusted by many. Darren handed the lute to Ptolemy and got down on one knee, calling the short staff from his inventory, holding it towards her. Alice held her exceedingly red cheeks in her hands, cupping her face as she stared open-mouthed at Darren and the staff he now held. ¡°What¡¯s your answer, Alice?¡± the same orc from before called. Silence ensued for several more moments, and tears appeared in Alice¡¯s eyes. As they flowed down her cheeks, she said, ¡°Yes.¡± The bar exploded in hooting and cheers. Alice slowly stood and walked over to where Darren still knelt. Reaching out, she placed her hand on the staff, around Darren¡¯s hand. ¡°Looks like we needn¡¯t have worried about the quest for Darren after all,¡± Dave said. SJ could feel tears on her cheeks as she sat there, grinning from ear to ear. The next few hours disappeared in a haze. The drink flowed, and Ptolemy played again. It was not long after when Nexis arrived and joined him on the stage. Alice and Darren had come and joined SJ at her table, and well-wishers came and went as the time went on. SJ had drunk much more than she usually would. Darren got up to join Nexis and Ptolemy on the stage, singing, when SJ checked her display. It was already getting late, and she had stayed in Killic later than she had been for weeks apart from the one evening when the inn reopened fully. ¡°I need to head home,¡± SJ said to Alice. ¡°Thank you,¡± Alice said, smiling at her. Leaning over, she gave her a hug. Alice had been on the honey wine as well and the pair of them were a little tipsy. ¡°Say bye to Darren for me,¡± SJ said, standing. ¡°Will do,¡± Alice smiled. SJ left the inn, turning and heading out of the town centre towards the cottage. The night sky was bright, with a cloudless sky and a full moon. SJ swayed slightly as she walked down the street. ¡°That was fun,¡± SJ said, hiccupping. ¡°It was ok,¡± Dave replied. ¡°What do you mean, okay? Two of our friends just got engaged.¡± ¡°I am happy for them. I am just feeling left out. Seeing you all have so much fun and I am stuck watching it all unfold and can¡¯t partake.¡± SJ had never considered how Dave may have wished to have been a part of the evening as it unfolded. It was strange, considering they were two of the same person. SJ could experience everything first-hand while Dave was stuck watching from above. ¡°I never gave it a thought. Sorry, Dave.¡± SJ said. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault,¡± Dave replied, sighing. Turning the last corner, the cottage lay just ahead of her¡ªa welcome sight. Walking to the gates, she reached to open them, stumbling slightly as she did. ¡°Careful,¡± Dave said. SJ giggled, the fresh air having hit her now she was outside, adding to her intoxication. Standing upright, she again reached for the gate latch as the blade penetrated her back. Half collapsing, half falling, she fell over the gate, her momentum and weight carrying her into a forward roll. The blade that had struck her digging in further as it did. Crying in pain, she tried to understand what had just happened. ¡°Throwing knife,¡± Dave shouted. ¡°Get up and get inside now. It¡¯s that level 19 he is coming.¡± Panic filled SJ¡¯s foggy mind as she scrambled to her feet. Staggering forward as she did., before losing her balance and falling down face-first. She climbed to her feet again, hearing the gate open behind her. She did not look back and tried to make it to the front door so she could get inside and lock whoever was attacking her out. Fear coursed through her veins as a voice spoke behind her. ¡°Sorry SJ.¡± The next blade that struck her caused her body to convulse as it entered her back, aligned with her heart. Precognition triggered - 24hr cooldown. As the cold steel of the blade penetrated her body, her knees gave way, and SJ fell forward, cracking her head on the stone step of the cottage. The last thing she saw before losing consciousness was her display flashing. You are suffering from the effects of bleed. Health will be lost over time until healed. . ¡°WAKE UP,¡± Dave was screaming incoherently in her mind. SJ slowly came to. She was lying on the ground, her neck at a painful angle where her forehead had hit the stone step. Groaning, she went to move her arms, pain radiating from the points where the blades had struck her. ¡°Thank god. At least they left thinking you would die,¡± Dave said. SJ couldn¡¯t think straight. Slowly pushing herself to her knees, leaning heavily on her hands. Lifting one hand, she could feel the free-flowing blood from her cut head. Her display flashed precariously. She had two hit points left, ticking down and back up as she lost health and regained it. ¡°Your precognition and dragon blood kept you alive. You should have died from that attack, if not from the initial attack, then from the bleed effect. I do not know how it missed your heart,¡± Dave said. Slowly climbing to her feet, SJ fumbled in her pocket for the cottage key before removing and entering, closing and locking the door behind her. As soon as she did, she collapsed to the floor again. As she felt her breath coming in quick gasps, she knew her lung had been punctured. The blade had entered her back at an angle through her lung and should have pierced her heart. Looking in her inventory, she called the potion of regeneration to her hand. Her hands shaking, she pulled the stopper from the vial and drank. The effects of the potion began to work almost immediately. Her health increased rapidly, her head cleared, and she felt the cut on her forehead close rapidly, the skin feeling stretched and taught as it did. It didn¡¯t remove the pain from the wound, and the potion effects wore off as her health reached 50%. Looking at her display, her health was still slowly ticking down and up with her dragon blood. The bleed effect was still active. Pushing herself back to her feet, moaning loudly, she grimaced, speaking, ¡°Did you see who it was? They said my name.¡± ¡°No. They concealed themselves again with a mask and cloak. I think I recognise the voice, though,¡± Dave said nervously. ¡°Who?¡± SJ hissed. ¡°I am not sure I should say, just in case I am wrong.¡± ¡°WHO?¡± SJ said with anger. ¡°I think it was Greb.¡± ¡°What?¡± SJ said, surprised and confused by the comment. ¡°It sounded like Greb. He has a subtle lisp on his s¡¯s, and when he said sorry, it sounded like him.¡± ¡°Why would Greb attack me? I thought we were friends.¡± ¡°If it were him, I can only see one reason that he may have,¡± Dave replied. ¡°What reason?¡± ¡°An oath.¡±? Chapter 106 - Secrets ¡°I am going to see Lythonian,¡± SJ said. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t go outside yet. Whoever attacked will not have received any experience for a kill, so they may come back. Luckily, you were only unconscious for a few moments, and they probably expected that the bleed effect would finish you. Whichever skill or weapon they used is potent to continue doing the damage it is doing. There are few that could have survived without your dragon blood.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t stay like this?¡± ¡°Why? You won¡¯t die. Your dragon blood will keep you alive. You can wait as long as you need.¡± ¡°If I stay here and they come back to investigate, I will be trapped inside.¡± ¡°It¡¯s better to be inside than out on the street.¡± There were no visible signs of injury from the attacks, but the realisation that the effect was still attempting to finish her was making her head spin. Steadying herself on the edge of the table, she took a seat. ¡°I can¡¯t stay here. I need healing. I can¡¯t even think straight,¡± SJ¡¯s head was spinning with the potential of it being Greb who had attacked her. This was the first time since the initial attack that she had returned to the cottage after dark. Having stayed in the inn the last time she was in town. Now that she was sober, even if in pain from the wound in her back, she could make it to the inn in a minute easily. ¡°If you are going to leave, fly,¡± Dave said. Having not considered it, SJ shrank. The sharpness of the sensation that flooded her back was nearly unbearable, and she cried in pain as the transformation was completed. Beginning to beat, her wings sent pulses like electric shocks coursing through her body. It was the safest way, and she knew. Flying to the rear of the property, she flew into the kitchen, knowing that the window was open, and left immediately, rising into the night sky. Flying over buildings to the rear garden of the inn, she swooped down to land, growing as she touched the ground. Her back flared in protest, her lungs feeling as though they were being squeezed, and she fell forward to her knees, gasping. There were several in the inn garden and a couple stared at her. ¡°Are you ok?¡± a goblin she recognised as a relative of Setu stood from a bench and walked over. ¡°No. I need a healer,¡± SJ replied, grimacing. He looked at her with raised eyebrows before walking into the rear of the inn. Several others had approached her and helped her to one of the benches where she now sat doubled over, leaning on her knees. Her breathing was difficult, and she didn¡¯t think the regeneration potion fully repaired her lung. A couple of minutes passed before Sven arrived. Sven was dressed in casual clothes. SJ didn¡¯t recognise him at first. ¡°SJ,¡± he said. ¡°Bleed effect,¡± SJ hissed. ¡°Okay,¡± he said, placing his hand on her shoulder. He then began to cast. A brilliant white light emitted from his hand, making the surrounding area look as bright as day. SJ watched as her health increased again, and it felt as if her lung was being re-inflated. After several moments, the rush of power reached her mind, and she felt like she had been injected with adrenaline. ¡°Thank you, Sven. I owe you again,¡± SJ said. ¡°No need for thanks,¡± he said, looking concerned. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Someone attacked me when I returned to the cottage. It¡¯s the first time I have been out at night in Killic since.¡± SJ could see the anger on Sven¡¯s face. ¡°We need to find the culprit.¡± ¡°I need to speak to Darren. Sven, are you able to sober him?¡± SJ said, standing and rolling her shoulders, her back no longer throbbing. ¡°I can,¡± Sven said. ¡°Good. Do you mind waiting here for a moment?¡± Walking into the inn, she found Darren sitting with Alice at the same table they had shared earlier. Alice noticed SJ and frowned. ¡°I thought you had gone home,¡± Alice said, slurring slightly. Darren turned to look at her, a huge grin on his face. His eyes looked glazed, and he was drunk. ¡°I am sorry to disturb you, but I must speak to you both. Is that ok?¡± Darren smiled. ¡°Sure. Come and sit. We can talk.¡± ¡°No. Not here. Outside, please,¡± SJ said, indicating to the inn garden. They looked at each other, shrugged, and stood following SJ as she weaved back through the throng to the garden. Sven was still outside. ¡°Sven, do you mind?¡± SJ asked. Sven walked up to Darren, who frowned at Sven as he reached out and placed his hand on his arm. The brilliant white erupted in moments, and Darren¡¯s eyes cleared. ¡°Wow,¡± Darren said as his head cleared. ¡°I can start again now,¡± he said, laughing. ¡°No. I need your help,¡± SJ said. Alice looked unsteady on her feet, and Sven repeated the exercise with Alice, removing the alcohol from her system with his magic. Once the pair of them were sober, SJ told them what had happened. ¡°I am sorry for ruining your evening,¡± SJ finished. Darren was the first to respond. ¡°I am going to go to the cottage and see if there is a trail.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t go alone,¡± SJ said. ¡°I will be fine,¡± Darren said, calling his bow from his inventory and hurrying from the garden. ¡°Are you ok?¡± Alice asked, concerned. ¡°I wish I knew why I have become someone¡¯s target.¡± SJ had not told them who she believed may be the suspect. Only asked Darren to see if there were any tracks. She didn¡¯t want to pass on any information without confirming the details. ¡°I didn¡¯t see Greb inside,¡± Dave said. Alice and SJ sat on the bench. Sven had returned inside to leave them to their conversation. ¡°It has to be to do with Asterfal,¡± Alice said. ¡°Why? I have never been there. I know no one from Asterfal.¡± It was well after midnight when Darren returned. ¡°There was a trail. It leads to a building south of town,¡± Darren said. ¡°Did you see anyone?¡± ¡°No. It enters the building and stops. It wasn¡¯t easy to track. There were trails left all over town by whoever it was. It took me a while to find the correct one.¡± ¡°Ok. Thanks, Darren.¡± ¡°Not at all,¡± he smiled. ¡°I thought you might know who it is if you want to come with me, Alice?¡± Alice stood immediately. ¡°We need to make sure SJ is safe first. I am going to speak to Kerys.¡± After Alice disappeared inside again and eventually returned, Kerys and Fhyliss instructed SJ to stay in their private quarters. Fhyliss had finished as the bar had quietened, and many patrons were now beginning to leave the inn. After securing SJ upstairs, taking advantage of the safety provided by the presence of many patrons and inn guests. Alice accompanied Darren. SJ was lying on the sofa in the quarters. Fhyliss had provided her with a blanket. ¡®I wish I wasn''t stuck here,¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°Better being safe than vulnerable on the street,¡± Dave said. ¡®I don¡¯t like others putting themselves in danger.¡¯ ¡°Darren is at level 20, and Alice is even higher. They are more than capable of looking out for themselves.¡± ¡®It still doesn¡¯t feel right.¡¯ This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. SJ couldn¡¯t sleep and lay on the sofa trying to work out what she had done to end up as a target of someone. As the morning sun''s first light began to shine through the room''s windows, SJ heard footsteps and a knock on the door. Kerys had returned upstairs a couple of hours before and had excused herself as she needed to sleep after chatting to SJ. SJ stood and walked to the door. ¡°Who is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s me, SJ,¡± Alice¡¯s voice replied. Opening the door, Alice walked in. ¡°Did you find anything?¡± SJ asked nervously. ¡°Yes. We have the culprit in custody. He has confessed to the attempted assassinations.¡± ¡°Who is it?¡± SJ asked. ¡°I am unsure how to tell you this, but it was¡­¡± ¡°Greb,¡± SJ finished her sentence. Alice¡¯s eyes opened in shock. ¡°Yes. How did you know?¡± ¡°When he attacked me, he said, ¡®Sorry, SJ¡¯. I wasn¡¯t sure then, but I thought I recognised it as Greb¡¯s voice. Did you find out why?¡± ¡°Yes. Ballentine and Lorna have been questioning him, and he broke under their pressure. It is safe to say he will not be causing you any further problems.¡± SJ frowned. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t go into details as it wasn''t pleasant. It is safe to say that his oath was very strict, and as he broke it, he suffered the consequences.¡± ¡°Is he dead?¡± SJ gasped. She dreaded to think about what they had done to Greb to make him confess. After witnessing Lythonian''s reaction, talking about Bellakiy¡¯s family was frightening enough to witness an Oath''s power. ¡°No. He isn¡¯t dead. His mind has been left broken, though. He will be lucky to speak again. Master Rui has been called to treat him with his alchemical solutions, and I believe Lythonian will be spoken to today as well. Master Rui didn¡¯t sound hopeful.¡± ¡°Did you find out the reason?¡± ¡°Yes. Unfortunately, that is where it affects you.¡± ¡°What have I done that has caused someone to attack me?¡± Alice looked weary, and it was obvious she hadn¡¯t slept since learning about SJ''s attack. By the sounds of it, none of them had. SJ ushered Alice over to the sofa to sit down. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault, but unfortunately, because of the system changes, you have ended up as the target.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t understand why?¡± ¡°It stems from politics, and this attack appears to be based on fear.¡± ¡°Fear?!¡± SJ said. ¡°Why would someone from Asterfal fear me?¡± ¡°They don¡¯t fear you. They fear what you stand for. Asterfal is the strongest city in the continent''s south. It has built its reputation around its strength and control of what occurs within the South. Killic has always been a small but well-respected town, and over the years, our relationship has allowed us to bring sway to several of the decisions. We have gained the trust and support of various councillors in Asterfal. This relationship recently supported the tax levy negotiations, which I briefly alluded to you last night. The problem is because of the influence we have as a town already. Someone within the council is fearful that as the town grows, they fear the balance of power shifting from Asterfal to Killic. The easiest way for them to limit the town''s growth is to dispose of you.¡± SJ sat, mouth open at Alice¡¯s words. At no point had she ever considered that because of her position as a Legionnaire and the System¡¯s adaptation of allowing Killic to grow as she did, it would have brought such danger to her doorstep. Never mind a potential direct threat against Killic. She had seen it as an opportunity for all to grow and develop. Never to challenge Asterfal. ¡°I thought Asterfal was huge in comparison?¡± ¡°It is. The fear of what will happen over time has driven someone to begin this course of action.¡± But it would take Killic years to grow its population and potentially that long for me to ever achieve a level that allows Killic to be considered a rival of Asterfal. Alice continued. ¡°Perhaps. They are also aware of the mithril mine. We had thought that the knowledge of it had been controlled well enough. Unfortunately, with Greb being one of the affected parties, whoever he has been working for in Asterfal is now aware. That now brings a direct threat against the town if the knowledge spreads further afield. As you say, we are still a small town; our population is less than 3000.¡± SJ did not know that it was even that large. ¡°Do you know who he was working for?¡± ¡°No. He broke as he tried to reveal a name,¡± Alice¡¯s head dropped forward, a look of shame on her face. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°What Greb went through is one of the hardest things I have ever witnessed.¡± SJ shuddered, thinking about what someone may have done to him, not liking her thoughts. ¡°What do you need me to do?¡± SJ felt the need to help in any way that she could. Whether Alice or others blamed her or not, she had triggered the potential future impact on Killic. She loved the town and the beings who lived here. Dread filled SJ at the thought of her friends being targeted due to her. ¡°Nothing currently. The most important thing is that you remain safe. How many know of Farleck Cottage?¡± SJ had never publicised where she lived, but several knew about it. Gladys, Hubert, Lythonian, Zej, Husa, Kerys, Fhyliss, Floretta, Zigferd, Alice, Darren, Fran, Gary, and Setu were also aware. SJ reeled off the names of those she could think of. ¡°There may be more. I am not sure,¡± SJ frowned. ¡°Well, that is a start, at least,¡± Alice replied. ¡°A start for what?¡± SJ was concerned by the statement. ¡°Secrecy. If we are going to keep you safe in the future, we will have to keep your cottage that you go to as quiet as possible. Greb was questioned and was not aware. There had been no other attack before last night because you had always been back at Farleck Cottage. Greb had observed the cottage in town regularly and not worked out where you were going. A new Oath is going to be created, and all those who know about Farleck will be asked to take it. If they don¡¯t, I am unsure what we will do with them yet, but Zigferd¡¯s response wasn¡¯t very positive.¡± ¡°Zigferd is aware already?¡± ¡°He was involved last night, yes.¡± The thought of the damage and challenges she may bring to the town was huge, and SJ put her head in her hands, staring at the ground. ¡°I am so sorry,¡± SJ eventually replied. ¡°None of this is your doing. It is the system and those who are fearful of change.¡± ¡°If we don¡¯t know who is responsible in Asterfal, what does that mean?¡± ¡°I am not sure yet. We have a lot to discuss and work through. Zigferd has yet to decide whether he should inform the council.¡± ¡°He has to, doesn¡¯t he?¡± "We won''t act unless we have confirmation of a direct threat to Killic. We have confirmation of why you were attacked. It still doesn¡¯t mean Killic is currently directly within their sights.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t remain as an Ambassador for Killic if I am a threat to the town,¡± SJ said. ¡°You most definitely can,¡± Alice replied firmly. ¡°If anything, it strengthens your position as the Ambassador and shows your meaning and true town position. Few people know that you are Killic''s Ambassador, but once your position is known, an attack on an official would be equivalent to an attack on the town and the council. I doubt that whoever ordered Greb knew you were. Otherwise, they are likely to have tried a more subtle approach rather than direct assassination.¡± ¡°Subtle?¡± Alice coughed nervously, ¡°Poison, etc., could have been shown as an illness rather than a death because of an attack.¡± ¡°Can you think of anyone in Asterfal who would be that fearful of Killic growing in strength?¡± ¡°Several, unfortunately.¡± ¡°Can anything be done to confirm who it may be?¡± ¡°I have contacts that can do some digging and pay more attention to certain information. Our best option is you. You are an assassin, after all.¡± ¡°WHAT?!¡± SJ said in surprise. ¡°If it comes down to it, and we have to, we will remove the threat. We had no thought of ever challenging Asterfal, but only time will tell what the future brings.¡± Alice said, looking ahead thoughtfully. SJ groaned, having gone from the elation of the previous evening to the sudden realisation that she was a catalyst in a wider scheme. She suddenly felt like a very small fish in a very big pond that was potentially full of sharks. ¡°If Asterfal are aware of the mithril mine, what will they do?¡± SJ asked. ¡°I am not sure the Chancellor is aware of the mine yet. If he was, I am sure he would have contacted Zigferd by now. Asterfal only has two mines from which it gets revenue. To my knowledge, one is nearly empty. The priority for the town now is defence. We require the walls to be constructed and the crag entrance controlled. They must be our focus.¡± ¡°Won¡¯t the council challenge them? They have resisted expansion already.¡± ¡°Once we see the mithril revenue, I can guarantee that most, if not all, the council will want to protect the revenue stream.¡± ¡°I need to get as strong as I can as fast as possible,¡± SJ said with conviction. ¡°Actually, you don¡¯t,¡± Alice replied, facing SJ and smiling weakly. ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°If you reach level 20 and the borders expand again before we have other elements in place. We will end up being even more vulnerable.¡± Shock registered on SJ¡¯s face. She hadn¡¯t considered the implication of her continued levelling, even after what they had spoken about. All she could think of was growing in strength to support and defend the town and herself if need be. Alice registered the look on SJ¡¯s face and smiled at her. ¡°It doesn¡¯t stop you levelling. It just means that we must consider your growth alongside the town¡¯s capabilities directly in the future. None of us were aware of any of this until you levelled. It is something everyone must consider.¡± Chapter 107 – A Binding Oath ¡°I am not sure where to start?¡± Dave said once Alice had left. ¡®You¡¯re telling me,¡¯ SJ thought. Fhyliss was up, busy, getting ready for work. ¡°I hadn¡¯t considered that somewhere like Asterfal would take an issue with one of its towns growing. Most cities would have jumped at the chance of recognition through town growth. Never mind the increased income from taxes. These circumstances are strange.¡± ¡®I am not sure what I should do. I want to level, but as Alice said, if I reach level 20 and they aren¡¯t ready for it, I could cause significant harm to the town. We already have a level 31 wyvern in the mountains to the northeast. If I reach level 20, what is going to come next?¡¯ ¡°It¡¯s not so much what will come next after levelling. It is more about what is going to happen next, anyway. These system changes are still an unknown,¡± Dave sighed. ¡®You still have done nothing with your code yet?¡¯ ¡°No. I have a further 217.3 sextillion combinations to run through on the algorithm lock. So, it could be now or in a while,¡± Dave laughed. The thought of a sextillion alone freaked SJ out. She did not know how fast Dave could perform computations or how long each check took. ¡®That¡¯s a lot.¡¯ ¡°I said before, it¡¯s a doozy.¡± ¡®Do you have any ideas on what I can do? Alice mentioned remaining as ambassador, but all I see is that makes me a larger target.¡¯ ¡°Politically, from what Alice said, it makes sense to remain as the Ambassador. She was right in her interpretation that if everyone knew, then it is very unlikely a direct attack or attempt on your life would happen. It is not unheard of, just unlikely.¡± ¡®That doesn¡¯t make me feel any better. I am not even sure who I can trust. I classed Greb as a friend. Not close like others, but still a friend, and he was under orders to assassinate me.¡¯ ¡°It raises concern. Hopefully, creating a specific oath that beings swear to can remove any concerns.¡± ¡®Can it, though? Racial oaths can outstrip another oath. The town oath is only as strong as someone staying in the territory. I am unsure if anything can be done to guarantee my safety. It fills me with dread.¡¯ Dave cleared his throat before he answered. ¡°Trying to look at it from a neutral perspective, there are never guarantees. The world is an unsafe place. All worlds are. Look back at what happened to you on Earth, being squished by a tree. You never know what is around the next corner, but it can¡¯t stop you from living the life you wish to lead. You have to make the most of what is available to you, and you have so much. Your relationships with many in Killic are beyond any I have ever witnessed in my millennia as an administrator. You are special, SJ, and you can¡¯t let this incident stop you. You must have resilience and fortitude to overcome adversity.¡± SJ sat silently, contemplating Dave¡¯s words. He was right, after all. A tear formed in the corner of her eye. The single drop rolled down her cheek, hanging from her chin with determination, before it dripped onto the knee of her dress. SJ watched as the damp spot disappeared, as the dress repaired it. ¡®Thank you, Dave. Whatever happens in the future, I know I have the best friend anyone could ask for.¡¯ Dave sniffed. ¡°I will always be here for you. Always. Remember that.¡± SJ¡¯s display triggered. Synchronisation 25% ¡®That¡¯s gone up a lot,¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°It has grown since we first noticed it,¡± Dave replied. ¡°I do not know what it signifies. I asked the Adjudicators, they didn¡¯t know, so I asked the System, and they didn¡¯t respond.¡± ¡®Why would the System not answer?¡¯ ¡°The only conclusion I can come up with is that they don¡¯t know themselves.¡± ¡°SJ. You look terrible,¡± Fhyliss said, walking from her room, dressed for the morning shift in the bar. ¡°Thanks,¡± SJ replied, laughing. ¡°You didn¡¯t sleep, did you?¡± ¡°No. And knowing what I do now, I am not sure I even could.¡± ¡°We need to remedy that then,¡± Fhyliss said as she returned to her bedroom. A minute later, she returned carrying a small bottle. ¡°Here. Drink this.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± SJ asked. ¡°Poison,¡± Dave said, laughing sarcastically. ¡®Not funny!¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°It¡¯s a sleeping remedy. I use it for nights when the inn stays open, and I have an early shift, so I need sleep.¡± SJ uncorked the bottle. It smelt sickly sweet and of marzipan. SJ couldn¡¯t help but feel nervous, especially after Dave and his sarcasm. ¡°I promise it won¡¯t harm you,¡± Fhyliss said, smiling. SJ couldn¡¯t sense any danger, so she drank from the bottle. ¡°It takes a few minutes to work, but soon you will sleep like a gnomling. I will come and check on you later.¡± Fhyliss said. ¡°I better go.¡± Fhyliss left to go downstairs. The liquid tasted sweet, and SJ felt like her head was much lighter. Her whole body relaxed. The nervous tension she had been holding onto dissipated, and as it did, she lay back on the sofa. Her eyes felt heavy, allowing them to close. ¡®Wake me in a few hours, please, Dave,¡¯ she thought moments before sleep took her. When Dave awoke SJ several hours later, SJ panicked, equipping her claws as she did and sitting bolt upright. ¡°There is no one here. Don¡¯t worry,¡± Dave said, sounding concerned. ¡°Sorry. I had horrible dreams,¡± SJ replied. She had been dreaming about being attacked again, and whenever she thought she was safe, another of her friends had attacked her. Her dress stuck to her, and she could feel it drenched in her sweat. ¡°You didn¡¯t sleep well. You tossed and turned the whole time.¡± ¡°Could you see my dreams?¡± ¡°No. I can only read your thoughts while you are awake.¡± Standing, SJ could feel her dress beginning to dry as it was cleaned of her sweat. That was at least one positive about everything that had been happening. ¡°Darren came to see you while you slept, but Kerys sent him away again before she went to work.¡± ¡°Did he say where he would be?¡± ¡°No. Sorry.¡± Leaving the room, SJ headed down to the bar. Looking at the bar below her as she walked down the broad stairs, it was the same as always: laughter, drinking, singing, and eating. Nothing appeared different, but SJ knew that for her, nothing might ever feel the same again. As her eyes moved around the patrons there, she knew many of them by name and recognised all of them. The problem was whether one of them would be her next ¡®visitor¡¯. She shuddered at the thought. ¡°You need to try and not let it affect you,¡± Dave said. ¡®Easier said than done,¡¯ SJ thought. Kerys saw SJ coming down the stairs, grinned at her, and poured her a mug of coffee. Sitting on a bar stool, SJ took the glass and, inhaling the bitterness, drank. The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°How are you today?¡± Kerys asked. ¡°When I got up, you didn¡¯t look very settled.¡± ¡°I am not sure,¡± SJ replied honestly. ¡°Understandable, under the circumstances,¡± Kerys replied, nodding. ¡°Darren stopped by and asked you to go and see the mayor once you were awake.¡± ¡°Thanks. I will go over once I have drunk this.¡± ¡°Do you not want any food?¡± ¡°I am not sure I could stomach any at the moment.¡± Kerys smiled. ¡°Let me know if you change your mind.¡± SJ finished her drink and left the inn. Walking outside into the afternoon sun was like any other typical day in Killic. The town square was busy with the usual traders. Customers moving around, talking and bartering. Nothing looked or felt different from what SJ had got used to since she had arrived. Beings she knew called greetings to her as she passed. Responding with a fake smile and nod of appreciation. The problem was that everywhere she looked, she questioned. ¡®What if?¡¯ ¡®Could they?¡¯ ¡°You need to stop,¡± Dave said, concern in his voice. ¡°Until last night, you loved walking around town. Continually wittering away in your head about some of the inanest things. Today, you are so paranoid it is frightening.¡± ¡®Sorry. I just can¡¯t help it,¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°You need to remember that apart from one person, everyone here is the same as before. You can¡¯t allow yourself to be overrun like this. Get control of your own thoughts.¡± ¡®Says the AI reading mine!¡¯ ¡°Okay. Get control of our thoughts because you are concerning me,¡± Dave said sternly. ¡°If you carry on with this paranoia, you will send yourself crazy.¡± When she arrived at the barracks, SJ went straight to Zigferd¡¯s office. Seeing her walking through the main reception room, Zigferd stood from behind his desk and came to meet her. ¡°I am so sorry,¡± Zigferd said, concern etched on his face. ¡°For what?¡± SJ frowned. ¡°For what has happened?¡± ¡°You can¡¯t control the actions of others.¡± ¡°Please. Come and sit,¡± Zigferd offered SJ to sit as they entered his office. ¡°How are you?¡± ¡°Honestly. I don¡¯t know. Everywhere I look, I am now questioning the truth behind them,¡± SJ replied. Zigferd¡¯s brow furrowed at her comment, a clear sign of his worry. ¡°Alice informed me of those who you believe know about Farleck Cottage. All have been asked to come to the barracks shortly. We have a written oath which will be requested that all agree to and sign.¡± ¡°Do you think an oath will be enough to keep the cottage secret? I said to Alice that I may have told others.¡± ¡°It is a starting point. You are the most important being in the town. We must keep you safe at all costs. You will allow Killic to flourish and become a better town.¡± A rush of emotions hit SJ, the dread that settled in her stomach that the town relied on her growth above all else. ¡°Am I not just painting a target on Killic?¡± SJ said, clasping her hands nervously. ¡°If you mean will your existence and the progression of Killic be down to you? The simple answer is yes and no in equal measure. You may have triggered the territory and border amendments but didn¡¯t trigger the mithril mine. The mithril mine, above all else, will draw unwanted attention. Now that others outside of Killic could know about it, we need to begin our plans to expand and control our borders.¡± SJ sat in silence, contemplating Zigferd¡¯s comments. She had made so many friends since arriving, and even now, sitting with Zigferd in his office, she held onto a nervous tension. He had been like a father figure since her arrival. His strength and resolve always provided a sense of security for the town. It was sometime later that those SJ had named arrived at the barracks; they were shown upstairs to the council chambers, which, for many, was the first time they had ever been there. Zigferd sat at the top of the table, and as they arrived, they were asked to sit, and drinks were served. The last to arrive was Alice, who Nexis accompanied. SJ had never mentioned Nexis to Alice as someone who knew about the cottage, which surprised her. Knowing he was a god, she hadn¡¯t considered him a threat. With Nexis joining them, sixteen beings were seated at the council table. Several around the table sat nervously, wondering why they had been called here. Most, upon seeing SJ, smiled fondly at SJ. ¡°I believe that is the last of our planned arrivals,¡± Zigferd said as Alice closed the council chamber doors and sat at the far end of the table opposite Zigferd and SJ. Some of you will already know why you are here, while others will not. Therefore, I must explain why I have requested you to attend." Zigferd spent the next few minutes explaining the occurrences of the previous evening. Several around the table stared in shock at what had happened to SJ. Those who already knew sat with hard expressions of anger on their faces as Zigferd relayed the events. Even though SJ hadn¡¯t spoken to Zigferd directly about the attack, he was aware of everything SJ had explained to Alice and was also present at Greb''s interrogation. He expanded on the findings from Greb and the reasons behind the attack. The details caused several to react angrily to the news, but the deepest set look was that of fear. Even Hubert sat with a concerned expression, and Gladys looked downright terrified. Only Nexis sat calmly through the proceedings, at no point changing his neutral yet pleasant expression. ¡°In conclusion, we have to maintain SJ¡¯s safety, and to do so means that those who are aware of where she lives are being asked to take an oath that will ensure that her home remains a secret.¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t she be safer staying in the town?¡± Kerys asked. ¡°The two times she was attacked were in town, and without providing her with a permanent escort or guard, we couldn¡¯t guarantee her protection. At least with her cottage, she has a place away from town, but with her followers who do not sleep, she has a guard always on watch at Farleck,¡± Zigferd said. SJ hadn¡¯t even considered Charlotte, Brian, and Terence and now feared they may become future targets. It was true that they never slept and would always be on guard while she was there, but she didn¡¯t enjoy relying on others for her safety. SJ could feel the mounting pressure that rested on her shoulders. All those who now sat in the chamber were either very close or very good friends. ¡°To alleviate any future threat and to maintain the secrecy of where SJ lives, we have written a new oath that I would ask that you all agree to today,¡± Zigferd said as he unrolled a parchment that lay on the table. ¡°Does anyone object to agreeing to a new oath of secrecy?¡± Alice asked. SJ glanced around the table nervously. No one spoke in objection. ¡°I have one question?¡± Nexis suddenly spoke. He had maintained silence since the commencement of the proceedings, and everyone was now turning to look at him. ¡°Please,¡± Alice inferred. ¡°May I?¡± Nexis asked as he reached for the parchment that Zigferd had unrolled. ¡°Please,¡± Zigferd said as Nexis picked it up, smiling. Holding the parchment in his hand, he read the oath and raised an eyebrow. ¡°Why do you believe this oath will prevent people from speaking of SJ or divulging her secrets? Have you not proven that a being may be forced to comply.¡± Zigferd¡¯s cheeks reddened slightly at the comment, the colouration not going unnoticed by SJ, meaning that he may have been directly involved in whatever had happened to Greb to make him break his oath. ¡°What else can we do?¡± Zigferd replied. ¡°There is one way that we could confirm secrecy. It is not something that can be taken lightly though, and may by some be seen as interference.¡± ¡°Interference?¡± Zigferd asked, confused. ¡°Yes. Interference. It is unlikely, but some may consider it stretching the rules,¡± Nexis said. Most around the table now looked at Nexis with confusion, his cryptic comments not making sense of what he was alluding to. Standing, he pushed his chair back and began to pace slowly around the table. He began muttering as he did, holding his chin with one hand and appearing deep in thought. This continued for a few minutes, the confusion replaced by a nervous tension. ¡°Nexis. Is something wrong?¡± Alice asked. Stopping, Nexis turned to face her, giving her a brilliant smile. ¡°No, nothing is wrong. I am just conferring.¡± Frowning deeply, Alice looked at Nexis as if he had lost his mind. ¡°Conferring?¡± ¡°Yes. With my brethren,¡± Nexis replied. That statement brought even more confusion to the table. ¡°Sorry?¡± Zigferd asked. ¡°What brethren, and how are you possibly communicating with anyone?¡± SJ could feel panic building in her chest. ¡°I think I know what he is going to do,¡± Dave said, sounding in awe and amazement. ¡®What?¡¯ SJ thought. As she did, Nexis stopped walking and moved to the top of the table where Alice sat. ¡°There is one way that I can guarantee absolute secrecy from those who know,¡± Nexis said. ¡°How?¡± Zigferd asked, SJ noting a tone of anger in his voice. The scene that had been unfolding had caused everyone to feel uneasy. ¡°There is one oath that can outweigh any other, even racial. Do any of you know which oath that is?¡± Nexis asked, looking around the table. Lythonian nodded his head slowly at the comment. ¡°I am aware of one,¡± he said. ¡°Please, Lythonian, do tell,¡± Nexis smiled. ¡°When I worked in Asterfal with the High Cleric, I was informed about the oaths and their binding levels. It is a very complex structure, but there is one oath that would indeed replace any others.¡± ¡°What?¡± Zigferd asked with apprehension. ¡°The binding oath of a god,¡± Lythonian replied. Several around the table scoffed at the comment. ¡°And where will we find a god to perform a binding oath?¡± Zigferd asked incredulously. As Nexis replied, SJ could feel the hairs on the back of her neck rise. ¡°Here, of course,¡± he replied, smiling. Chapter 108 – Road trip ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Zigferd called, knocking on the coach¡¯s side. SJ heard the whinny of horses and the jolt as the coach began to move. Her palms felt cold and sweaty. She had been panicking about this trip for over a month since the announcement. ¡°I am still not sure about this,¡± SJ said, shifting uncomfortably in her seat. ¡°It is the best way. Alice was right all along. When the council of Asterfal formally introduces you, you will immediately be subject to the jurisdiction of protection rules. It will make it much more difficult for another to attack you. It also is the perfect opportunity to meet with representatives from all the major towns in the southern region.¡± ¡°I am still worried about the reception I will get. Many will not know I am a Legionnaire, and that part doesn¡¯t bother me, whether or not they do. It is my race that concerns me. I am still concerned about how I will be received, as Tirelle¡¯s reaction and comments about fae do not give me confidence in a positive reception.¡± ¡°Your position in the town council will take precedence over your race,¡± Zigferd smiled. ¡°I¡¯m not so sure it will. Even our council members were concerned about a fae being a member.¡± ¡°And look at them now. Since you wheedled out Bellakiy¡¯s underhand tricks, no one in the council will say a bad word against you.¡± Three months had passed since Nexis¡¯s revelation, during which a great deal had happened in Killic. The revelation to those in attendance that Nexis was a god had caused absolute chaos. It had taken a long time for everyone to calm down after the initial accusations of him being a liar, which he proved by transforming into the old retired quarterling and Fizzlewick. SJ later verified with Nexis that some of his brethren were unhappy with his actions, but most of the ones he deemed important had no problem with it. SJ had tried to get him to expand on which gods were important, but he hadn¡¯t divulged any more details. She wondered if they had their own hierarchy that they followed. When Nexis performed the binding oath, he swore all those involved to absolute secrecy on pain of death if they attempted to divulge any information about SJ''s secrets or her cottage in the valley, Nexis, his true identity, or anything else related to the safety and security of Killic. Before the oath, Zigferd brought Lorna and Ballentine to the chamber. As the town guards¡¯ leaders, it made sense for them to be aware. Nexis had also suggested amending the council¡¯s standard oath to tighten it and improve its binding powers. This would never be as strong as an oath to a god, but it should at least challenge, if not able to entirely prevent, racial or family oaths. This suggestion had arisen after the conclusion of the problems with Bellakiy. SJ had spent three weeks on the road with Darren, Gary, and Rach. The trips were eye-opening for SJ, as they were the first opportunity to visit another settlement. Many of the settlements were more hamlets than what she would determine as a village, and the populations were sparse. Many of the villages visited had racial differences. She felt amazed by the diversity and distinctions among several of them. She had visited many places, but the most beautiful one was an Elven village in the forests to the west. In the midst of the village''s picturesque setting, the villagers had constructed homes in tree boughs interconnected by wooden walkways. The engineering involved was astounding, and nothing seemed out of place, naturally blending with the forest. Through SJ¡¯s investigation, she had concluded that Bellakiy had been building up a web of deceit. He shared convoluted information with the villages, concealing the true story of Killic¡¯s stance or the belief it held with the villages it represented. Through rumour and passage of information from the merchants Bellakiy dealt with had poisoned the village¡¯s expectations of Killic. SJ quickly unravelled the tales and ensured the truth was known, her natural charisma and charm helping her with her task. Rach was originally from one village, supporting and easing the rumours of inflated taxes and reduced prices of goods the town would pay. When confronted, Bellakiy initially denied any wrongdoing but eventually confirmed his stance during the emergency council meeting that he was Killic¡¯s rightful mayor and that Zigferd should stand down immediately. The comment initially caused shock, followed by fits of laughter by many. The council called for an immediate vote, which Zigferd won by a landslide. There were only two councillors that Bellakiy had received support from, and surprisingly, one of them wasn¡¯t his fellow draconian. Bellakiy had immediately resigned from his position as the trade representative and moved from Killic to Asterfal. Any trips to the west of the village had to be undertaken by foot, as there was no path that a wagon could pass down safely in that direction. The people used to have wagons, made in the valley, that they could use before the hobs and Bordon took the valley. This was being looked into for the future development of the valley outpost. Over the past three months, the town had changed. As Alice had predicted, as soon as profit from the mithril mine reached the town coffers via the auction house, the council¡¯s attitude changed. After heated negotiations, the council accepted the votes for expansion and improved defence. The council prioritised the crag entrance at the north end of the lake, heading down to SJ¡¯s cottage and the main route towards Asterfal. This was because of the ease of access from the northern valley, the valley to the south being much more challenging and treacherous. The southern valley wall was due to begin construction next week. Orik and his engineering team have identified the strongest points for building a wall. Most of the valley side was inaccessible because of the steepness and cliffs. Orik had predicted it would take three months to complete. The wall would stretch across a six-hundred-foot section of the valley floor, curving towards the cliff edges, and a proposed gatehouse was to be constructed next to the river that ran from the ridge to the valley floor. Guard towers were to be built along the wall, and a guard post and hunters¡¯ lodge were to be constructed inside the wall¡¯s boundary. This would provide security and utilise the valley¡¯s resources rather than climbing the ridge to hunt. The current town expansion pushed out directly north and south. They hadn¡¯t as yet expanded to the east or west. An issue wouldn¡¯t arise from the West. The area on the far side of the lake where SJ had originally landed was uninhabited. The stumbling block on the east of town was the Wandering Ogre, which still sat as a thorn in the town¡¯s side. Zigferd and Alice attempted negotiations with Niweq, but they failed miserably. The kobold who worked there appeared to have significant control over any decisions. Killic¡¯s sudden expansion hadn¡¯t gone unnoticed by Asterfal, and more frequent representatives of Asterfal arrived in Killic over the past few weeks. The crag border point was virtually complete. With the help of Bert¡¯s cousins, Fran and the mages, Husa had been directing its build. Husa had proven that his stonemason skills were superior to many, and the walls seemed to appear from the craggy rock walls, which stood over twenty feet high alongside a guard tower. With his superior stonemason skills, Husa constructed the last addition, a large wooden reinforced gate, alongside the portcullis. SJ had been out there several times to meet with Fran, which was an engineering feat. Once Husa completed the task, they were expected to move to the southern valley and supervise the construction. Farleck Cottage was remote enough from any areas that, without someone stumbling upon them, they wouldn¡¯t even realise they existed. After being stripped of valuable materials, the first cottage in the row had been left looking derelict deliberately. At first, they had thought about the skeletons making it their home, but they let nature take its course. So, it gave the impression that the area approaching the lake was deserted. Zigferd had already decided that the town would never push its border to the north into the valley towards Asterfal, which meant that Farleck Cottage would always sit outside its border. It was too open an area to defend if they came under attack, with the valley opening into vast plains at its mouth. The most significant changes had been with herself. SJ had reached level 19 now. She had been completing quests alongside the extra duties she had taken on within the town. Her growth and development were flourishing under her new routines. Through daily visits to the training grounds, her kata had improved dramatically, and she had reached level 10. This had opened up a new skill path, and she was now focussing on specific martial arts techniques¡ªthe latest techniques involved unarmed combat with further sub-branches of incapacitation or elimination. A weapons branch was also available. SJ had begun to cross-train in the various areas and was steadily progressing. She had to see Brother Wilbert for the new martial arts techniques. Brother Wilbert was a monk who lived outside the town in a small enclave in the forest. If you didn¡¯t know it was there, you would never have found the small hut he had called his home. He was insanely skilled and reminded SJ of Mr Miyagi from the Karate Kid. The training he had made her do was mundane. Initially, she had believed it pointless. It was only as she had continued practising that all the training had fallen into place. The weapons branch was for melee and throwing variants. Her claws were still her primary weapon, although as she continued to level up with her damage increases because of her dexterity, her claws started dropping down the weapon damage charts. She was looking forward to visiting the weapon smiths in Asterfal while she was there. Zej had given her the name of a smithy who was a distant relative and specialised in claws and darts. After previous fights and not having a ranged ability, she began to train in darts. Zej had been more than happy to forge her a starter set. They looked like small solid steel pencils in design, and she had learned quickly how to use them. Her dexterity gave her the fluidity she needed to increase her accuracy. Every evening, without fail, she had returned to Farleck Cottage through her soul stone. On arrival, she would always work on her profession before turning in each night. This significantly boosted her profession. She was now at Skilled level 2. When she reached level 10 Apprentice, she received her first perk. After considerable deliberation, she had chosen Sure Stitch. It would ensure that anything she was sewing would at least be a common quality on completion. The material needed for tailoring had become increasingly expensive, and she had to use good-quality materials as a minimum for profession advances. This would continue to advance with elements of rare, epic, mythic and legendary materials being required as her levels increased. Farleck Cottage could not be called a cottage anymore. With their completed work, the skeletons had turned the quaint, tiny single-room cottage into a substantial, luxurious one. The completed extension by Terence and the others was immaculate. The gardens were pristine, and the vegetable patch produced enough food to sustain her. She dropped the excess vegetables at the inn for Floretta. There was no way, even with those who had taken the oath, she would stay at the town cottage overnight on her own. Since their engagement, Darren had officially moved in with Alice, and Floretta was now back at the inn. Her paranoia had slowly faded, but even after the oath, there remained a continual possibility that someone may attempt something, and she could not dispel the underlying fear she still held onto. Alice¡¯s contacts in Asterfal had found no details about who may have triggered an attack on SJ. Every avenue they had tried had come up with led to dead ends. This made Alice conclude it had to be someone with power and influence to keep things quiet. There were nearly always rumours or aspersions around the city. The wyvern had only returned to the town twice more since. The first time, it had attempted to attack at the docks and had landed feasting on the day¡¯s catch until the guard had chased it off. On the second occasion, it had fallen foul to a fireball from a mage, making it flee as it had burned. Initially, they hoped that the attack would kill it, but it soon became apparent that it had survived when they could hear it screeching again by the mountains a couple of days later. The town had now got used to the fact it lived nearby, and its presence no longer carried the same fear. They were ready for its appearance and knew how to deal with it when it did. Recent council meetings had discussed whether to send out a party to kill it outright. Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Due to all the stories that SJ had been told about Asterfal, she was looking forward to visiting the city. It had everything and anything that you could think of. Several of her friends had asked if she could visit merchants in the city who specialised in various wares. She also had her reasons for seeing several of the merchants. Several items she had got as quest rewards or loot were to be sold, but she was looking forward to finding a pet trainer. SJ removed the small chest from her inventory, placed it on the coach seat beside her and opened the lid. Inside, where once three miniature wyvern eggs sat, there was now only one. Zej and Lythonian had sold their eggs at the auction house through the town¡¯s account. Nexis had stated that nothing living could be auctioned, so selling them initially seemed impossible without going to Asterfal. After discussion with Nexis, it was confirmed that eggs were classed as inert lifeforms until they hatched. The loophole in the auction house system allowed members of the town with the respective permissions to manage auctions on behalf of the town if they were under level 20. The initial placement of auctions still required authorisation of a level above 20, which Alice oversaw, and two of the council''s most trusted advisors managed day-to-day auction details. Nexis worked in the tailor¡¯s shop daily and allowed one of the town''s goblins to manage the running of the auction house. Based on the information Setu had given her, he was an old goblin, and he moved to Killic to retire and live with his family. He had got bored with his retired life and had experience working in auction houses, so he was the prime candidate for Nexis to hire. His valuations and predictions on auctions had been ridiculously accurate, and SJ wondered if he was just another alter ego of Nexis but hadn''t managed to confirm if he was. ¡°That is so pretty,¡± Cristy said. Cristy was accompanying SJ. She had grown substantially in the past few months from the initial two-foot tall gnoll who had run into her leg in the town centre to the five-foot-tall gnoll she was now. The speed of her growth was ridiculous, but it was the norm for all gnolls once they reached the age of development. Madeline had predicted that Cristy might easily reach six feet tall before she finished growing. New clothing for Cristy had meant visiting Nexis at the tailor¡¯s almost weekly. It was still strange when SJ spoke to Cristy, who was no longer the tiny gnoll but a maturing young woman. The speed of maturity and growth had taken SJ by surprise, taking her a while to come to terms with. ¡°It is beautiful,¡± SJ replied. The egg was blue-green, and its knobbly surface felt warm. Stroking it gently with the end of her finger, she gazed at it for several moments before closing the lid again and placing the chest back in her inventory. ¡°I can¡¯t wait to see what it will grow into,¡± Cristy said. ¡°Hopefully, not like the one in the forest,¡± Zigferd replied. SJ opened her display to check on her progress. Her dress had levelled alongside her tailoring profession. Still, more importantly, she was now paranoid just in case she gained too much experience, which would trigger the subsequent growth of the territory levels. Legionnaire 25007077 Name: SJ Age: 27 Race: Fae Class: Assassin Alignment: Neutral Good ? Level: 19 Experience: 6745 of 9000 Hit Points: 125 of 125 (131) Mana Points: 72 Armour Class: 36 (15)(21) Attributes: Strength: 12 Dexterity: 31 Intelligence: 12 Wisdom: 13 Constitution: 21 Charisma: 19 (4)(15) Skills Racial: Night Vision ¨C you have improved vision in poor light conditions. Flight ¨C when in miniature fae form, you can learn to fly. Flying is not available in humanoid form. Shapeshift ¨C the ability to switch between fae forms. Class: Martial Arts ¨C Kata Level 10 Unarmed combat - Incapacitation Level 2 / Elimination Level 1 Armed combat - Melee Claws Level 3 / Ranged Darts Level 2 Clawed Avenger Level 4 Subterfuge ¨C Identification Level 10 Advanced Identification Level 1 Shroud Level 5 Profession: Tailor Skilled Level 2 Perks - Sure Stitch Symbiosis: Dragon Sense ¨C your senses, touch, hearing, smell, and sight are heightened. Precognition ¨C foreknowledge due to increased perception will allow you to evade a killing blow. (24hr cooldown) Divine lightning ¨C your blood is combined with that of a blue dragon, increasing healing speed while out of combat. Malware: Waiver (Sandboxed) Inventory: 10 slots (10 special) Followers: 3 Haber¡¯s Dress of the Tailor ¨C Level 12 Grade ¨C Astral Quality ¨C Perfection Durability - Infinite Enchantment Slots ¨C Two Armour Class ¨C 10 Attributes ¨C +4 Charisma The God Haber himself made this dress. It is unmatched by any other and provides the wearer with unique skills that are available as levels are gained. Self-repair Transmogrification ¨C the dress appearance can be changed as your tailoring level increases ¨C current available choices ¨C colour, design They would arrive in Asterfal in four days, and during the journey, Zigferd had promised that she would better understand the city¡¯s political workings by then. Chapter 109 - Cuopi ¡°If I understand you correctly, Asterfal has two distinct councils. The city council oversees its day-to-day running and then the regional council, which comprises the surrounding townships¡¯ members,¡± SJ said. ¡°Yes. In the simplest terms. Looking from the outside, it may not seem like their work aligns and integrates as much as it actually does. The city council makes most of the decisions brought to the regional council. Since the city council has already ratified any votes brought forward and agreed upon, the major problem is that the city council always holds the majority of seats in the chamber, resulting in most votes going in their favour. The only way to challenge is by having relationships with various city councillors and bringing them to the side of the towns,¡± Zigferd said. Alice had been briefing SJ on various elements of the council and its structure. Still, her defining comment was that until she experienced it herself, no explanation would give it justice. ¡°It seems then that there is not much point in having a vote if they always go in the city¡¯s favour?¡± ¡°It comes down to the reputation you hold with other councillors in the city. Killic has built a strong reputation over the years. Alice has spent significant time nurturing many councillors and building rapport.¡± ¡°Can the towns not bring votes?¡± ¡°They can. This is where the relationships come to the forefront. If you want to have a chance of getting a vote passed, it takes time and commitment. You also have to consider the other towns as well. Just because they are a town doesn¡¯t mean everyone supports your concerns. Killic¡¯s main trade goods are stone and corn. If they are from a town that provides other produce for trade, they may not support a vote to improve the corn or stone payments if there is less money for their produce.¡± ¡°Considering everything you have said, I assume that the main purpose of the council¡¯s role relates to trade?¡± ¡°No. That was just a specific example. The council can present everything, from guild creation to land rights, protection orders, trade route negotiations, and tax rates. If you think of it, it might be a consideration. Most of the council functions and votes have no direct impact on Killic.¡± SJ sat looking out of the coach¡¯s window. As soon as the conversation turned to discussing the political makeup of Asterfal, Cristy excused herself and climbed onto the roof to sit with the coach driver. The landscape rolled by outside as they traversed the valley floor. They had passed the newly constructed gates at the crags and followed the winding path down the valley. On reaching the base, the coach¡¯s pace picked up on the flatter terrain. It was amazing how fast they were travelling. A team of six horses pulled the coach, and the land outside flashed by. It had taken them no time to cross the bridge at the meandering river, where SJ had travelled to find the mushrooms for Grewlas in the cave network. Looking out the window, she read the wooden signpost listing Asterfal and Cuopi. The open fields stretched into the distance, and the sky above still had the usual bright blue. The scene could have been on a postcard. It looked serene and beautiful. SJ had learned, though, that much of Amathera¡¯s beauty she had become used to had hidden dangers. Before she left Killic, Alice warned her to take more clothes than just her dress. SJ had queried the comment, but it was because of the weather variations she would encounter. Between Killic and Asterfal, they would cross two territory boundaries. SJ had only seen a boundary previously at a distance when she had fallen from the cliff with the rock gobbler and was excited to see the transition. Asterfal was in a territory with levels of 30-40. Within its walls, the city had no limitations and could provide quests for any level. Even Dave struggled to explain the complex beast that was the quest system thoroughly, including how it was computed and delivered by the system to beings. The fact that the entire population could use the quest system as the primary job market was overwhelming. Zigferd was sitting, reading through various parchments, and SJ focused on her display, opening her map as she did. Zooming in on where they were and watching the fog of war clear as they followed the main track towards Asterfal. It was a strange sensation seeing the map adjust as they travelled. It would open up a couple hundred feet on either side, and if she could see something to focus on, such as a copse of trees in the distance, they would also appear, but the land between would still be under the fog of war. ¡°Ah. SJ, here you go,¡± Zigferd said, handing a parchment to her. Taking the parchment, SJ unrolled it and saw the drawing of the structure of the council of Asterfal. Over the past few months, she had been learning about the council structure. It reminded SJ of an organisation chart from her last company. There were no names of individuals but a complex and what appeared to be a convoluted layer of teams that all led up to the chancellor sitting at the top. ¡°The structure still amazes me. There are so many levels,¡± SJ stated. ¡°Yes. Asterfal is complex. Any positions listed below the second stage are not for you to worry about. Your level as an ambassador of a town will give you access to the higher council positions. Nothing below this level can influence.¡± SJ disagreed with Zigferd¡¯s comment, considering how many companies had been structured from her role as a Forensic Accountant. From experience, she knew that the lower-level business positions significantly impacted their direction and motivation. She could not see this not being the case here and believed there might be an untapped area for consideration. She was determined to meet as many council members as possible if she had time. The primary functions she would be required to consider were diplomatic relations and economic influence. With the increased attention Asterfal had begun to pay to Killic, she was aware of their significant interest in the town¡¯s growth because of the mithril mine. Killic was reliant on the mine. Without its income, the town couldn¡¯t afford the exponential costs associated with the expansion. Its border had already increased the town¡¯s area of control to ten times what it had been prior with the newly placed geographic town border markings. The new tax levies associated with controlled land within the region were significantly more than Killic had previously paid. This alone could draw unnecessary attention from parties interested in the area. SJ had questioned what changes it would make, and Dave had explained that town benefits would be extended to the borders. Productivity in the town improved because of the bonuses, resulting in several benefits. The exact details were unknown to Dave, who had never had a Legionnaire who controlled a town. Only Zigferd and Alice had access to the management aspects, which had not been openly discussed, although she had some basic ideas. It was enlightening to know that town management levels impacted work completed on the town¡¯s behalf. Productivity was intrinsically linked to the management levels¡ªan example Dave had given her related to crop growth. If the fields were within the boundary of a town with the cultivation perk unlocked, they could improve their yield. SJ had learned that the town had its own skill tree, for the better of a word. The first stop on the journey to Asterfal was at the Cuopi village, where SJ hoped she would meet up with the elf they had freed from the necromancer¡¯s capture. She had never known his name but remembered he had said it was only a tiny village. The remainder of the journey on their first day was uneventful. Cristy had spent most of the day with the driver, who was an old elf. He had been doing the Asterfal run for over a century. He knew every inch of the route to such a detailed level that he would steer the wagon, knowing the perfect line for the horses to take to avoid ruts. The passage had been so smooth in the coach, its suspension absorbing any bumps on the track. As the sun faded in the sky, the tiny village of Cuopi came into sight. It was situated at the edge of a wood. Tall fir trees grew around the village. The village only comprised a dozen buildings, and as they reached it, the coach slowed down and stopped outside a low-fronted building with a sign gently swinging above its entrance. There was a picture of a laughing elf on the sign. Above the door, the name ''Jolly Elf'' was emblazoned. As the coach stopped, a young elf appeared from a stable area positioned off to the side of the inn. ¡°Hi Alef,¡± he smiled to the driver as he ran to open the coach door, unfolding the steps. ¡°Braslow. I hope your mother has some of her famous stew on?¡± Alef replied as he climbed from the driver¡¯s seat. ¡°She does,¡± Braslow said. ¡°Braslow,¡± Zigferd said as he climbed from the coach, stretching his enormous frame. ¡°Zigferd. I didn¡¯t realise we would have your company this evening,¡± Braslow replied. It was strange hearing Zigferd addressed by his name. SJ was used to everyone in Killic addressing him as mayor, except for herself and Alice. ¡°It¡¯s that time of year again, unfortunately. Duty beckons in Asterfal.¡± ¡°Has a year passed already? It seems like only the other month you passed through.¡± ¡°You elves have the luxury of time compared to many,¡± Zigferd smiled. SJ thought Braslow looked to be in his late teens or early twenties. This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. ¡°Ha. I am not that much older than you,¡± Braslow said. Cristy jumped from the coach, landing spritely next to Zigferd as SJ climbed down. ¡°And who do we have here?¡± Braslow asked. ¡°This is SJ, and the young scamp here is Cristy,¡± Zigferd replied. ¡°Welcome both to the Jolly Elf,¡± Braslow said. ¡°Thanks,¡± Cristy said. SJ wasn¡¯t sure how to respond. She stared at the young elf, trying to figure out his age. If he was older than Zigferd and Zigferd had run Killic for over fifty years, his looks were not computing. Realising that she had never asked or enquired about any elf¡¯s ages, she remembered the initial conversations with Dave when she arrived and the ages that elves could live. Braslow stood looking at SJ, smiling, tilting his head to one side. After a few moments, he spoke. ¡°Is there something wrong? You look like you have a question.¡± ¡°Sorry,¡± SJ spluttered. ¡°Thank you for the welcome. You look so young,¡± feeling her cheeks redden as she finished the sentence, not meaning to verbalise her thoughts. Braslow¡¯s grin grew even larger than it already was. ¡°Well, it isn¡¯t every day I get compliments about how young I look.¡± Zigferd laughed, and Alef sighed from where he was untethering the horses. ¡°You realise we will not hear the end of that now for the next fifty years,¡± Alef said. ¡°Zigferd.¡± a tall elf stood in the doorway to the inn called. ¡°Jolathan,¡± Zigferd said. ¡°I hope you have been well?¡± ¡°It¡¯s been okay. There have been a few minor problems, but nothing that can¡¯t be dealt with. Let me pour some ales, and we can catch up,¡± Jolathan replied. Zigferd had walked up to Jolathan and shook his hand with a warm smile. ¡°That sounds like a great idea. Only ale for me and SJ, though. Cristy here is still too young.¡± Cristy turned to look at Zigferd, scowling. ¡°I am not that young,¡± she rebuked. ¡°You can¡¯t drink until you finish your age of development. You know the rules,¡± Zigferd said, not biting at Cristy¡¯s response. Cristy turned her lip up sulkily. Her ears flattened as she did. Her expressions were so different, and she had matured so quickly. Cristy had been spending time with Alice recently. Alice had discussed druidic elements with her, and Cristy was still deciding on the class she wished to take. It had appeared that the relationship between Patch and the pack was unusual, and Alice hadn¡¯t been able to confirm why it held as it did. SJ had spoken to Dave, but he also had no explanation. She was just classed as part of the pack. They were her family. The reputation that SJ held with Cristy was beyond any system-designated standing. The pack followed the thoughts of Cristy. This had confused Dave as he had never been aware of how a reputation held by a gnoll could influence a dire wolf. SJ followed them into the inn, leaving Alef and Braslow to tend to the horses. Zigferd had to stoop to enter the inn. The inside was brightly lit with lanterns, and a fire burned in the large hearth. There were only half a dozen tables and a short bar at one end, with a doorway next to it. The smell of cooking permeated the inn. As they entered, the half dozen patrons greeted Zigferd, who replied in kind. Jolathan showed them to a table and asked them to sit. Moving behind the bar, Jolathan poured two large ales with foaming tops and a third mug of another liquid. ¡°Here you go,¡± Jolathan said, placing the mugs on the table. He handed one to Zigferd and SJ and passed the other to Cristy. Cristy picked hers up, sniffing it before tasting the liquid it contained. Within moments, she gulped the lot. Jolathan laughed and took her mug to refill it. ¡°I thought you might like that,¡± he said as he returned with another. ¡°What was that?¡± SJ asked. ¡°No idea, but it tastes amazing,¡± Cristy replied. SJ took her mug and tasted the ale. It had a deep, earthy taste with notes of honey. It was pleasant, and she took a deep drink before placing her mug down. ¡°Jolathan, get in here and stir the stew so I can come and greet our guests,¡± a female voice called from the back room, where the kitchen must be. ¡°Coming, dear,¡± Jolathan replied, rolling his eyes. Zigferd chuckled as he turned, leaving them to have their drinks. Moments later, a female elf walked from the kitchen. She was tall and elegant, her features sharp and chiselled. Her smile was warm, and her eyes sparkled with mirth. She had tightly plaited her long chestnut brown hair down her back. SJ thought she looked no older than forty but would not even attempt to guess her age. ¡°Zigferd,¡± she said warmly as she walked straight up to him as he stood up. Throwing her arms around his colossal frame, she hugged him. ¡°Salaril. How are you, my dear?¡± Zigferd replied. ¡°I am well. You look tired,¡± she said, stepping back and frowning at him. ¡°I am fine,¡± Zigferd said. ¡°You also look like you¡¯re wasting away,¡± Salaril said. If there was one thing SJ would never have associated with Zigferd, it was someone wasting away. He was a bear of a man, literally. ¡°After a bowl of your famous stew, I will be right as rain again,¡± he chuckled. ¡°And who else do we have with you?¡± Zigferd again introduced SJ and Cristy. ¡°Welcome. I will have three rooms prepared for you this evening. Will you be having breakfast before you depart?¡± Salaril asked. ¡°We will,¡± Zigferd replied. ¡°I better check on the stew. Jolathan, after all these years, still can¡¯t be trusted in the kitchen,¡± Salaril said, smiling. As they were sitting with their second mug of ale, three large steaming bowls of stew with freshly baked bread were served. The three of them ate in silence, savouring the delicious food. Zigferd asked for a second bowl, to Salaril¡¯s delight. Several more elves entered the inn as the evening wore on, and two began playing what SJ believed were flutes, the soft music adding to the friendly warmth of the inn. Jolathan was sitting and talking to Zigferd about recent events. They had noticed the increase in traffic to Killic, and although the customers were welcome, they weren¡¯t all as amiable. One had been rude and refused to pay for their lodging. Zigferd took the individual¡¯s name and promised to inquire about them, not knowing the name. SJ felt pleasantly tired and thought of turning in when the inn door opened. As the elf entered, his face lit up in a wide smile as he spotted SJ. SJ didn¡¯t recognise him at first because of his appearance. The last time she had seen him, he was dishevelled and emaciated. He stood tall and proud and carried a longbow on his shoulder, with a string of three birds in his hand. The birds resembled pheasants. SJ stood as recognition set in. ¡°You look well.¡± ¡°Thanks to you,¡± he said as he walked over. Zigferd looked quizzically at them as the elf reached out and took SJ¡¯s hand. ¡°I am sorry. I can¡¯t remember your name,¡± SJ said apologetically. ¡°Jasitu,¡± he said. ¡°I will come and talk in a moment if that is ok. I need to get the birds to Salaril.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± SJ said, sitting back down. ¡°How do you know Jasitu?¡± Zigferd asked as he disappeared into the kitchen. ¡°He was one of the elves we freed from the necromancer,¡± SJ explained. ¡°What necromancer?¡± Cristy asked. SJ then had to explain what had happened with Lythonian and Zej helping dispose of the necromancer near Farleck Cottage. Jasitu returned shortly after, with the evening passing with light-hearted and enjoyable conversation. When SJ eventually turned in for the night, she could hardly keep her eyes open. ? Chapter 110 – Mollic The next morning came too soon for SJ. When Zigferd knocked on her door, she just wanted to roll over and go back to sleep. ¡°At last,¡± Dave said. ¡°Morning,¡± SJ replied through sleep-filled eyes. ¡°I am glad Zigferd came and woke you. I was going to wake you myself. Breakfast is ready, and you need to get on the road again if you will make the next stopover before nightfall.¡± ¡°I get the hint,¡± SJ groaned as she stood, stretching. The bed had been so comfortable that she fell asleep within moments as soon as her head touched the pillow. Washing, she sorted herself out and left for the inn¡¯s common room. On the table nearest the kitchen sat a mound of freshly baked rolls and some sliced roasted hogling, with cheeses, honey, jam, and a pot of freshly churned butter. The layout reminded SJ of the European breakfasts she had eaten on holiday. Salaril walked from the kitchen smiling, seeing SJ. Zigferd and Cristy were already seated, stuffing their faces with the fresh rolls. ¡°Morning,¡± SJ said as she took a seat. ¡°Can I get you anything?¡± Salaril asked. ¡°Do you have coffee?¡± ¡°We do,¡± Salaril replied, returning to the kitchen. Zigferd and Cristy were drinking milk, and Cristy had a bright milk moustache on her upper lip. Coughing politely, SJ pointed at her lip. Cristy looked at SJ, frowning. Realising what SJ meant, she wiped her mouth on her sleeve. SJ rolled her eyes. Salaril brought a steaming mug out for SJ. The smell of coffee flooded her nostrils, immediately awakening her dull mind. Blowing the steam from the surface, she took a sip. The coffee had a pleasant, nutty taste, and it didn¡¯t take her long to ask for another. ¡°Let¡¯s get going,¡± Zigferd said as SJ finished her breakfast. ¡°We have a long journey today and don¡¯t want to be caught short of the next stopover.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Cristy asked. ¡°There are a couple of unpleasant tribes in the area we will be in tonight. It is not as peaceful as here in Cuopi,¡± Zigferd replied. They stood to leave, wishing Salaril farewell. Outside, Alef was already sitting in the driver¡¯s seat. Cristy climbed on top and sat next to him. Climbing into the carriage, Zigferd called goodbye to Jolathan, standing in the stable entrance, and they moved off. Not long after the coach had set off, SJ fell asleep again. The rolling motion of the coach on top of her full stomach from breakfast took her back into slumber. ¡°Wake up, SJ,¡± Dave said. ¡®Do I have to?¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°If you want to witness your first territory transition, then yes.¡± Shifting and yawning, SJ opened her eyes. ¡°You seemed to sleep well,¡± Zigferd said, looking at her. ¡°Sorry. I was still tired,¡± SJ apologised. ¡°I just wish I could sleep as easily as you.¡± Last night was so relaxing for SJ. Even though she had returned to Farleck every night, being away from Killic had eased her paranoia, and with no overhanging threat, her mind had allowed her to settle easily. ¡°Where are we?¡± SJ asked. ¡°It¡¯s just after noon, so about halfway to Mollic,¡± Zigferd said. Mollic was their next stop. Zigferd had described it as a small fort rather than a hamlet or village. Peering out of the coach¡¯s window, SJ could see ahead towards the darkening skies. Opening her map, she checked her display, seeing they were approaching the next territory¡¯s border. Clouds appeared to be gathered at the border, and Alice warned her to expect rain. As they approached the border, the terrain changed. The luscious countryside they were travelling through darkened, the greens becoming deeper, losing the vibrancy of Killic¡¯s territory. SJ¡¯s display triggered. You have entered the territory of Amashari. Level bounds are 10-20. Please confirm your eligibility. ¡®What does that mean?¡¯ SJ asked Dave. ¡°It is just a warning for those under level 10,¡± Dave replied. ¡°You are 19, so staying on the main route should be fine. However, with these system changes, I can¡¯t guarantee that.¡± ¡®That¡¯s concerning,¡¯ SJ replied. The rain began as they crossed the border, grey clouds swirling in the sky. A few minutes later, Cristy swung herself down through the coach window, shaking her head as she did. ¡°Cristy,¡± SJ said, holding her hand before her face to stop the spray from her fur-covered head. Zigferd sat there holding a now-soaked piece of parchment, scowling at Cristy. ¡°Sorry,¡± Cristy replied, her ears drooping, sitting beside SJ. Zigferd tutted, returning to his reading. The rain outside wasn¡¯t a downpour, but it was constant. Now that they had passed the border, the weather difference in the territory was instantaneous. SJ noticed that the temperature had dropped, and as they glanced out the window, they saw that the forest surrounding them had transformed into a rainforest. The humidity increasing exponentially. The broad-leafed trees that made up the vegetation reminded SJ of palm fronds. As they moved along, the coach¡¯s wheels clattered on the path they must have been stone. It was still comfortable, the coach¡¯s suspension absorbing any impact. ¡°Any more thoughts on the class you want to become yet, Cristy?¡± SJ asked. ¡°I love the druid details Alice has told me, but she said I could not continue learning to use a bow. I have learned so much from Darren over the past few months that Ranger class may be a better option.¡± Cristy said. ¡°Beast Warden,¡± Zigferd said. SJ and Cristy turned to look at him. ¡°What?¡± SJ asked. ¡°Cristy should be a Beast Warden,¡± Zigferd replied, looking up from the parchments. ¡°I have not heard of the class?¡± SJ said, confused. ¡°Now that is an interesting concept,¡± Dave said. ¡°Beast Wardens are a historical class. I know there have been none for thousands of years.¡± ¡®Why?¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°The class was very secretive in its origins, and my understanding from the databases I have access to and the history I know the knowledge was lost. Remember, once you have chosen a class, there is no going back. Even for an Amatherean, it is a one-way ticket. Their choice is permanent.¡± ¡°Beast Warden. They are a class that would suit Cristy. They are a cross between a ranger and a druid. Because of their affinity to beasts, they gain bonuses from familiars and can heal them, as per druids. Yet, can still use bows,¡± Zigferd said. Cristy got excited at the possibility. ¡°That sounds amazing. How do I become one?¡± Zigferd looked at Cristy for several moments before responding. ¡°The Beast Wardens originated from within the lycanthrope clans thousands of years ago. Many thought the class had died out, but it has been kept alive by dedicated historians of the lycanthrope lineage.¡± ¡°Holy googolplexes,¡± Dave said. ¡°If it is true that Beast Wardens still exist, this will be a first for the system.¡± ¡°How does Cristy become one?¡± SJ asked. ¡°That¡¯s the hard part. The lycanthrope clan structures are distinct and separated into beliefs. I believe there may be a representative of the Carlarti clan in Asterfal. It has been some years since I dealt with the Carlarti clan, but they would be the ones to speak to. They follow the old ways and believe in the direct relationship between beasts and beings.¡± Every day, SJ was learning something new about the depth and lore of Amathera. ¡°I hope we can,¡± Cristy said, grinning. ¡°That class sounds perfect.¡± ¡°It is not as straightforward as just applying. As I say, it is a very secretive clan, and they usually will only allow lycanthropes to even be considered,¡± Zigferd said. ¡°I hope not. It sounds perfect,¡± Cristy said. Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. ¡°When we reach Asterfal, I will see if I can contact them,¡± Zigferd said. Cristy sat with a grin at the news of the Beast Warden class. As the coach continued its journey into Amashari, the terrain outside changed. The thick jungle-style forests opened into marshland, and the open areas were covered in a dense mist that rolled across the land. Rain still fell, and the humidity remained high. The inside of the coach felt sticky and unpleasant. ¡°My dress is clinging to me,¡± SJ said, shifting in her seat and pulling it from where it clung to her. Zigferd was sat with beads of sweat on his brow, and Cristy¡¯s fur looked damp. ¡°Is it always like this?¡± ¡°Yes. Amashari is a wetland. It rains here for most of the year. They have a few days without rain, but they are rare,¡± Zigferd replied. Looking out of the window, the mist made it difficult to see anything beyond thirty feet from the coach. SJ was surprised at how fast Alef was still driving the horses. The scenery didn¡¯t change as they journeyed towards the fort. SJ¡¯s map had hardly opened apart from a narrow band where the fog of war had cleared. She had spotted paths leading off the main track they were on but did not know where they were headed. ¡°You mentioned there are tribes here that aren¡¯t very nice?¡± SJ asked. Zigferd was lying back, his head resting on the cushioned interior. Opening his eyes, he looked at SJ. ¡°Two main ones in this area. Lizards and Swarmers. Lizards are a draconian tribe that sees outsiders as a threat to their livelihood. Swarmers are a goblin tribe that is very feral and often attacks the fort.¡± ¡°Who is the fort controlled by?¡± Cristy asked. ¡°The ent council controls it. They hold the main territory and ensure the primary routes remain clear. Going off the prime routes isn¡¯t advisable unless you are looking for trouble. The marshes are dangerous. It¡¯s not just the Lizards and Swarmers. Snakes, gators, wisps, and many other creatures frequent them.¡± ¡°Gators?¡± SJ asked, surprised. ¡°Yes. Gators are monstrous lizards in the western part of the territory. This narrow area we transition here is not as feral,¡± Zigferd replied, closing his eyes again. ¡°What do you mean by narrow?¡± SJ asked. ¡°The territory stretches across the narrowest path between Killic and Asterfal. There are routes, but they add six days to the journey to remain in lower-level territories.¡± Zigferd said. SJ had removed her tailoring gear from her inventory and was working on a pair of trousers. It was awkward in the coach with its swaying movement, but her perk ensured that her stitching remained as it should, even if much slower than when stationary. At least it passed the time. Cristy was sitting, reading a book that Alice had given her. Cristy kept asking SJ to confirm certain words as her reading and writing were still developing. The tutor she had been seeing at the orphanage had been doing a fantastic job with her. ¡®When the boundary expanded, did it not move north?¡¯ SJ thought, asking Dave. ¡°The boundary didn¡¯t expand exactly. It just increased the level aspects. It could eventually cover the south if it kept expanding the territory where Killic lies. The system would never allow that to happen. The borders are open, not amended. Territory separation remains the same. Remember, I am still trying to accept it myself.¡± The hairs suddenly shot up on the back of SJ¡¯s neck. Looking out of the window, she knew something wasn¡¯t right. Leaning out of the window, she stared into the swirling mists. She couldn¡¯t see anything obvious, and the coach was moving at a decent pace. ¡°Alef. Is everything alright up there?¡± SJ called. ¡°Fine. Why do you ask?¡± Alef called back. ¡°Just a feeling,¡± she called. Zigferd had sat up after SJ called Alef. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Not sure. Something doesn¡¯t feel right,¡± SJ said. ¡®Dave?¡¯ SJ asked. ¡°Sights limited like yours. I can¡¯t see anything in this mist, even from above,¡± Dave replied. SJ was sure someone was watching them as they continued through the marshland. The ground rose on an incline, and as it did, they slowly moved above the height of the mists as they reached a plateau. It was the first time they could see further than a few feet in hours. Looking out of both sides of the coach, SJ could still see nothing that may be a threat. ¡°How much further, Alef?¡± Zigferd called. ¡°An hour, two most,¡± Alef called. The sensation didn¡¯t lessen as they continued their journey towards the fort. SJ was sure that something was going to happen at any moment. Unable to stop looking around for the remainder of the trip. ¡°Fort''s up ahead,¡± Alef called. SJ leaned out of the window and looked ahead. After the plateau, they had dropped back down into the mist and eventually rose again as they neared the fort¡¯s location. The structure SJ could see ahead wasn¡¯t what SJ had expected. At the top of a rise, there was the fort. It was the perfect location for a fort, giving the occupants visibility around the marshes. The fort had the strangest appearance. It was a wooden structure, and as SJ looked at it from a distance, it appeared to change. The wood shimmered, and as the coach drew near, SJ watched in amazement as a doorway that had not been visible appeared in the structure. There seemed to be no metal or stone involved, and the gate swung open, allowing the coach to path beneath its twenty-foot high walls constructed out of massive tree trunks. As soon as they passed through the gate, it closed again behind them and vanished into the walls¡¯ wooden structure. Six tall ents stood in a courtyard area. All six wore a combination of leather and wooden armour, carrying large pavise shields, with either a longsword, broadsword or spear. ¡°Cartic,¡± Alef said as the coach came to a stop. ¡°Alef,¡± Cartic, the tallest of the ents, replied. He stood taller than Zigferd. SJ opened the coach door and climbed down, flipping the steps over, Cristy following close behind. Having met ents in Killic, none had looked as solid or formidable as the six standing in the courtyard. The courtyard was only sixty feet square, with various buildings that appeared to meld into the fort¡¯s walls. Zigferd climbed down. ¡°Cartic,¡± he said, nodding to the tall ent, ¡°Is Eilian still here?¡± ¡°Zigferd. Welcome. Yes, Eilian still resides over the fort. Although she is hoping to return home soon.¡± ¡°Yourself?¡± ¡°I have two more cycles,¡± Cartic replied. The rain still fell, and Cartic showed them to a building while Alef untacked the horses and led them to a low-roofed stable. Entering the building, SJ had been expecting an inn or similar, but instead, it looked more like a barracks room. Along the rear wall, there was a row of bunk beds, a small bar with a few tables, and an open kitchen. ¡°Please make yourselves at home. I will ask Vurtop to come and prepare you some food,¡± Cartic said. ¡°Thank you,¡± Zigferd replied. As Cartic left them, SJ said, ¡°This isn¡¯t what I expected.¡± ¡°It¡¯s dry and all we need for the evening,¡± Zigferd replied. After the hospitality at Cuopi, the fort was drab and quiet. No others were in the small barracks block, and Zigferd walked to the kitchen area and lit a small burner, placing water on it to boil. Cristy walked to one of the bunks at the far end and climbed onto the top, flopping down. Alef joined them a while later, walking in and wearing a long poncho he had been wearing for the journey ever since they crossed the border. Standing in the doorway, he removed it, leaving a puddle of water behind where he had been standing. That was when SJ noticed the water seemed to be absorbed. The wooden floor looked smooth and polished, which would typically mean that you would expect the water to pool, but it soaked away in moments. SJ still felt watched. ¡°Why do I feel like we are being watched, and what is with the fort?¡± Zigferd looked at SJ from where he was making drinks. ¡°The fort is living.¡± His simple response filled SJ with more questions, and Cristy responded before SJ did. ¡°What do you mean, living?¡± Cristy asked, sitting up, looking confused. ¡°Ents are one with nature, and they can manipulate and communicate with anything wooden. You saw the gate appear and then close again as we entered. The whole fort is alive. Even here now, you stand on a living being.¡± SJ looked down at the floor. The floorboards looked pristine, like any other she had seen before. The walls were smooth, and the room had two large windows that looked out into the courtyard. Looking outside, she stared at the inside of the fort. Now and then, she thought she could see the walls move ever so slightly. Alef walked up beside SJ. ¡°I can see you are concerned. The entish folk do not harm those who hold good standing. They are peace-loving, although Cartic and his team are fierce warriors.¡± A slender ent entered the building wearing green-mottled robes. Smiling at them, she said, ¡°Zigferd. It¡¯s so nice to see you again.¡± ¡°Eilian. Greetings. It has been a while. Last time I passed through, you were dealing with the Swarmers.¡± ¡°We usually are,¡± Eilian said. ¡°Alef. Was the journey clear?¡± ¡°It was Eilian. Thanks to your sentries. I took the right path at the fork after their warning,¡± Alef said. ¡°Sentries? Warning?¡± SJ asked, shocked. ¡°This must be your first time here,¡± Eilian said, turning to SJ. ¡°Yes,¡± SJ said. ¡°Welcome to Fort Mollic. We don¡¯t have the luxuries of a normal inn, but the food is good, and the fort is safe,¡± Eilian said. Sitting at a table, Zigferd chatted to Eilian. It wasn¡¯t long after that another ent entered and began preparing food. SJ felt amazed as she listened to the conversation between Zigferd and Eilian. The Swarmers had been more brazen recently and had attempted to attack the fort only two nights ago. It was, by all accounts, a common occurrence. The guards who stayed in the fort only comprised a dozen ents, and they rarely had to get involved. The fort protected itself. SJ asked Alef about the sentries, and he informed her that as they neared the fort, the route was over-watched by entals. Entals were the beings that constructed the fort. It was a strange concept to understand, as they weren¡¯t sentient beings but lived as one with the ents, providing them with shelter or anything else they required. They were the building blocks of the ent nations. There was still so much to learn about the races of Amathera. Killic¡¯s diversity was one thing, but the differences became apparent in race-specific areas. ? Chapter 111 – If it happens The stay in the fort was uneventful, and they continued their journey to Asterfal early the following day. They would only be in Amashari for an hour before leaving the territory. This would move them into the territory Asterfal sat in. The territory was much larger than those surrounding it, and it would take a further day and a half to reach the city, with another overnight stay in a local town. SJ was nervous about entering the Asterfal territory, knowing it was a level 30-40 area. Zigferd had tried to allay her fears. The city watch constantly patrolled the major routes, and there were checkpoints along the route they would pass. As they approached the border, the mist still hung in the air, and SJ could only see the brighter skies by looking into the distance. Her display triggered. You have entered the territory of Neturian. Level bounds are 30-40. Please confirm your eligibility. On crossing the border, the scenery had changed instantly. Bright skies immediately replaced the marshland and mist, and ahead of them was a landscape that reminded SJ of the Scottish highlands. A rugged landscape, towering mountains, rolling hills, and deep valleys unfolded ahead. In the distance, SJ could see shifting clouds at the mountain peaks, and the weather reminded her more of the UK than any she had witnessed in Amathera. The skies didn¡¯t have the crystal bright blue of Killic, but the murky faded blues of the UK with their intermittent cloud and a breeze blew across the land, with the occasional burst of sunshine. The path they followed was narrow as it led up into the hills. They had not been on the road long when they reached a checkpoint. The stone building was sitting by the side of the road, and outside on the road stood two guards wearing the colours of Asterfal. SJ recognised them from the uniforms that Fizzlewick had made for the new chancellor. They were blue and golden, covering chain mail armour, wearing bascinet helms with the mail clipped across the front, only showing their eyes. Both guards carried pikes and held them crossed across the track. ¡°State your business,¡± a human guard called as Alef stopped the coach. ¡°We are en route to the city. I carry the mayor of Killic for the annual inauguration ceremony,¡± Alef replied. At the mention of Zigferd¡¯s title, both guards lifted their pikes and stood to attention. ¡°You may pass. Safe travels,¡± the guard replied. The coach they travelled in had Killic¡¯s standard painted on it¡ªa picture of a great axe surrounded by laurel leaves. Killic¡¯s officials only used this coach, and Alice usually travelled to Asterfal. Alef spurred the horses on again. As the track continued into the hills, winding through the valleys, they came upon checkpoints every few miles. The number of posts they had along the route was astounding. Considering the size of the territory, there must have been a significant guard force permanently on patrol across the region. By the time they reached the town where they would stay that evening, they had crossed one mountain range and dropped into the lower foothills, heading towards a further mountain range in the distance. The town was nothing like Killic. Surrounding the town was a fifteen-foot-tall stone wall. SJ could see the tops of the houses inside and smoke rising from chimneys. The four guards at the gate didn¡¯t wear Asterfal¡¯s uniform; instead, they wore deep burgundy cloaks covering scale mail and reminded SJ of Roman foot soldiers. The streets were wide and cobbled, and even in the fading light of the day, the sounds of the town brought a feeling of normality to SJ. Pulling up outside a large inn, Alef hopped down and opened the door. ¡°Leave nothing in the coach. I will park it at the stables and sort the horses out,¡± he said. SJ hadn¡¯t planned on leaving anything in the coach, but Alef¡¯s warning gave her cause for concern. ¡°I assume there are thieves in the town?¡± SJ asked quietly. ¡°Enough to make sure you monitor your belongings,¡± he replied, smiling. Zigferd climbed from the coach, picking up a satchel he carried the parchments in. Checking the inside of the coach one last time, he closed the door. ¡°All clear, Alef.¡± ¡°Thanks. I will be back in a while,¡± Alef replied. The inn was a two-storey building that was narrow at the front. Walking inside through the large wooden door reminded SJ of a Viking longhouse. Surrounding the main floor area ahead of them was a balcony, and off the balcony were doors leading to what SJ assumed were the rooms. It stretched back a fair distance and was lively. The clientele was mixed, looking around the inn, and as they entered, several turned and looked in their direction. Zigferd stood tall as he walked towards the bar at the room¡¯s far end. SJ and Cristy followed. ¡°Who let that in here?¡± SJ heard an elf say as they passed a table. ¡°Not sure, but it looks like she has a dog on a leash with her,¡± another replied. Laughter broke out from around the table where they were sitting. ¡°Ignore them,¡± Zigferd said in a low warning tone. SJ could feel her cheeks redden as they walked past the table, biting her lip not to respond. That was when there was a cry, and SJ and Zigferd turned around to see Cristy holding a now-empty tankard of ale that she had just flung in the elf¡¯s face. ¡°Sorry. I tripped,¡± Cristy said as she placed the tankard down. ¡°I¡¯ll show you tripped,¡± the elf said as he stood, reaching for a blade at his belt. Before the elf even finished standing, Cristy had equipped her bow, had an arrow nocked, and held it drawn inches from the elf¡¯s throat. SJ watched as the elf paused and stopped, reaching for his blade. Zigferd let out a sigh and stepped forward. ¡°I am sorry for the accident. Maybe this will ease any issues,¡± he said as he flicked a silver piece onto the table. Another grabbed it as it bounced, biting into it. ¡°It¡¯s real,¡± the human said to the elf. The elf sneered at Cristy. ¡°It¡¯s a good job. I am in a good mood today,¡± he said. Cristy just raised an eyebrow at his comment. Her look was emotionless and flat. It was the first time SJ had ever seen this side of her. She knew she had been training with Darren and maturing at a ridiculous rate, but her look was that of a hardened warrior, not a gnoll going through their age of development. She slowly released the tension on the string. ¡°Cristy. Come on,¡± SJ said, placing her hand on her arm. Cristy removed the arrow and dropped it back into her quiver, shouldering her bow rather than putting it in her inventory. SJ wished she had changed the colour of her dress before entering as the green stood out amongst the throng of beings. Zigferd flashed a telling look at Cristy as he continued to the bar. Cristy¡¯s ears flattened slightly from his gaze. The group, who had been abusive towards SJ and Cristy, returned to their drinking, calling a barmaid over to refill their tankards and telling her to keep doing so, handing her the silver coin. ¡°That was lucky,¡± Dave said. ¡®Why?¡¯ SJ asked. ¡°The lowest on the table is level 28, and the highest is 37.¡± The realisation of the beings¡¯ levels in the inn hit home, and SJ understood the importance of being careful. Despite her formidable fighting skills and boosted attributes, she doubted her ability to battle beings of higher levels, even with Zigferd¡¯s help. ¡°Cristy. You need to be careful. Beings here are at higher levels than Killic¡¯s, and you¡¯re still young,¡± SJ whispered to Cristy. ¡°I won¡¯t stand anyone saying anything bad about you,¡± Cristy said. SJ had thought Cristy had reacted to the dog on a leash statement, not the comment directed at her. ¡°There is no need to worry about me. I ignore idiots,¡± SJ smiled. ¡°We will require four rooms for the evening, meals and breakfast,¡± Zigferd told the dwarven barman. The barman didn¡¯t even look up at Zigferd. ¡°45 copper,¡± he replied as he finished drying a tankard and adding it to a stack behind the bar. ¡°Do the doors have locks?¡± Zigferd asked. This got the dwarf¡¯s attention. Squinting at Zigferd, he responded, ¡°That be one silver.¡± Zigferd removed a silver coin and passed it to the dwarf. ¡°Follow,¡± said the dwarf, turning and walking through a door at the bar¡¯s end. Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. Zigferd followed, paying no notice as SJ and Cristy shared a look, frowning at each other as they followed. They entered a short corridor with another door at the end. The dwarf knocked on the door, and a small viewing hatch opened. The face of an orc looked out. Seeing the dwarf, he immediately withdrew a bolt, which allowed him to pass through, followed by the three. The room they entered differed completely from the building¡¯s front bar. The area was immaculate and neatly laid out with regal-looking furnishings. A highly polished bar ran along one wall, and a male gnome stood behind it. The diners at the tables, who were well dressed, remained engrossed in their meals and drinks without even glancing up. The dwarf turned to leave, and Zigferd addressed him as he did. ¡°Our coach driver, Alef, will join us when he arrives.¡± The dwarf nodded in response before returning to the front bar. ¡°Well, this is unexpected,¡± SJ said, following Zigferd to the bar. Zigferd just turned and smiled. The gnome looked up as Zigferd approached. ¡°Zigferd,¡± he said in a spritely voice. ¡°Grevis. How have you been?¡± Zigferd said. ¡°Very well. Very well. I am guessing you would like your usual room?¡± ¡°If it is available. The other baths are too small for me,¡± Zigferd chuckled. ¡°Indeed. Indeed. I assume Alef is with you?¡± ¡°He is. He will be here shortly.¡± ¡°And these two ladies?¡± Grevis said. ¡°SJ and Cristy. They will both require rooms with baths.¡± ¡°Of course. Of course. I will get onto it straight away. Rhysil.¡± Grevis called. A slender boy appeared from what SJ assumed was the kitchen area. ¡°Yes, Grevis.¡± ¡°Can you please arrange four rooms, with baths drawn? Zigferd here takes the third.¡± Grevis said. ¡°Will do,¡± the boy replied as he scampered off towards a set of stairs at the corner of the bar. The ceiling in this area was much lower, and SJ assumed the rooms must be above, unlike the more open plan at the front of the inn. ¡°Are you expecting guests?¡± Grevis enquired. ¡°None.¡± ¡°Food?¡± ¡°What¡¯s your special today?¡± ¡°Venison haunch, marinaded in brumbleberries, seasonal veg and a red sauce.¡± ¡°We will take four, please.¡± ¡°Excellent, Excellent. I will get them rustled up for you now. Drinks?¡± ¡°Three ales and a milk,¡± Zigferd indicated towards Cristy. SJ heard Cristy mutter under her breath about not being a baby. She couldn¡¯t help but smile. Seeing how she reacted to the elf, she knew Cristy would be a force to reckon with when she was older. Sitting at the table, Zigferd turned to address Cristy. ¡°Cristy. You must learn to control your temper.¡± Cristy frowned at Zigferd¡¯s comment. ¡°Why should SJ have to put up with abuse like that?¡± ¡°SJ can defend herself if she thinks it worthwhile,¡± Zigferd glanced at SJ. ¡°Zigferd is right, Cristy. Those beings were at much higher levels than we are, and I have learned to ignore the comments of the stupid now. My race doesn¡¯t help knowing what my kind has done over the centuries. I only wish to be seen for who I am, not what people believe I will be. They will learn in time,¡± SJ said. ¡°It¡¯s still not right,¡± Cristy grumbled. ¡°No, it isn¡¯t, but unfortunately, it is no different to Earth. Some have prejudices against others.¡± SJ said. ¡°Killic is an amazing town. We are a multi-racial town with no issues. Most towns and cities that have multiple races also have long-standing issues. You will come to recognise this in Asterfal.¡± Zigferd said. Cristy didn¡¯t respond, picking up her glass and drinking it, leaving herself a white moustache. SJ couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at her. She still had so much to learn about life. What SJ may not know about the different races was at least offset partly by her life experience. Cristy had only just turned five, after all. SJ had asked Dave how long gnolls lived and had been shocked to discover that gnolls usually lived until their seventies. The thought of her virtual endless life compared to Amathereans was concerning. She knew that with everyone she met, the chances were that she could live longer than them. It was a sobering thought that she would have to get used to. Alef eventually joined them, and when he did, four enormous plates of food were brought over. The venison haunches were delicious, the meat falling from the bone and married perfectly with the accompanying vegetables and sauce. One thing that SJ still hadn¡¯t got used to was the overall quality of the food. She had initially imagined that food would be mediocre at best after being spoiled by Floretta in Killic, but had realised that the standard of cooking was exceptionally high. ¡°The baths are drawn,¡± the young boy said, strolling to the table. ¡°Thank you. Could you show me to my room?¡± SJ said, standing. ¡°Of course,¡± the boy replied. He must have been no older than ten, looking at him. SJ followed him as he led SJ down a corridor and some stairs with various doors leading off. SJ was trying to consider the size of the inn from the outside. It must go back a substantial way. The boy opened a door and showed SJ a comfortable-looking room with a large steaming bath by a fireplace. ¡°Here,¡± SJ said as she took some copper from her inventory and handed it to the boy. ¡°How much did you give him?¡± Dave asked as the boy closed the door. ¡°Not sure. I just gave him some copper. Why?¡± SJ asked. ¡°That¡¯s probably more than he earns in a month,¡± Dave chuckled. ¡°You will have just become his favourite patron.¡± SJ had not been short of coin since she arrived in Amathera. She received some lucky drops and then completed several quests, which left her on the more affluent side of those in Killic. Now, though, she was beyond rich regarding any normal Amatherean. She hadn¡¯t considered it, always being in Killic with the people she now treated as her extended family. The wealth had come from the mithril mine. As soon as mithril bars began to be sold at the auction house, her wealth increased exponentially. The agreement with Zigferd was that for every 1kg bar of refined mithril sold, SJ would receive 3% of the sale value. With Alice controlling the auctions, the average mithril bar had been sold for 12.2 gold. SJ received anywhere from thirty-three to thirty-nine silver for every bar sold, and with an average of 8 bars being refined each week, SJ was earning between 2.5 and 3 gold per week. There was no way she could spend the money in Killic, and she had been saving it, hoping to look at enchantments in Asterfal for the slots on her equipment. She currently had just short of thirty gold in her inventory. Climbing into the deep, warm waters of the bath, SJ lay back and relaxed. Her stay at the fort had not given her the comfort of a regular inn, and she relaxed while soaking in the warm waters. A while later, there was a knock on her door. ¡°Yes,¡± SJ called. ¡°It¡¯s Zigferd. May I enter?¡± ¡°Please do.¡± SJ was sitting at a table working on the trousers she had been sewing. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± SJ asked. ¡°Nothing is wrong. I have come to discuss Cristy,¡± Zigferd said. ¡°Cristy?¡± SJ asked, surprised, putting her sewing down and facing him. ¡°I know you brought her so she can visit her relatives in Asterfal.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I need to make you aware that if I am successful in speaking to the Carlati clan, and if they will accept her as a Beast Warden, she cannot return with you to Killic.¡± ¡°What? Why not?¡± SJ replied with angst. Zigferd raised his hand to soothe her. ¡°It is not a bad thing. If they accept her, they will take her to the conclave, where she will be trained in the ways. I cannot train her, nor do I know a Beast Warden who could. Their secrecy is legendary even amongst the lycanthrope.¡± ¡°Why are you telling me this now and not when you mentioned the class?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t want Cristy to be aware of me. If it is an option, and only if, as there are no guarantees, I thought you might be the best person to speak to her about it. She treats you as her sister. I have never seen a stronger familial bond.¡± There was truth in Zigferd¡¯s statement, but it pained SJ to consider not having Cristy in Killic. Since she had begun her age of development, she had been attending the training grounds daily with SJ and Darren. Never mind how she would feel about not seeing Patch or the pack. Cristy had wanted them to follow them initially, and it had taken SJ much persuasion to stop her from doing so. ¡°I am not sure she would leave Patch,¡± SJ said. ¡°I would not have mentioned the class if I didn¡¯t believe she may be considered. The affinity she has with the dire wolf is unheard of. I only hope that the Carlati are receptive, as they shun most outsiders, even lycanthrope.¡± ¡°Thank you for letting me know,¡± SJ said, concerned about how she would bring the topic up with Cristy if the need arose. They planned to stay in Asterfal for a week. The inauguration ceremony was held over three days, and then they would attend two days of regional council talks. The other two days, Zigferd had agreed to allow Cristy and SJ time to look around Asterfal. Cristy would stay with her aunt and uncle while they were there. Cristy had sent them letters after her father¡¯s death, and they both worked as coopers for the Brewers Guild. Their work did not allow them time to travel to Killic. ¡°She won¡¯t be happy,¡± Dave said as Zigferd left. ¡°I know,¡± SJ said, sighing deeply. ? Chapter 112 – Asterfal Thick stone walls defined the city of Asterfal. The walls stood forty feet tall, with stone and earthen ramparts supporting their height in areas where the land fell away. Parapets ran their length intermittently parsed by towers, and the gatehouse was a formidable defensive structure. It housed murder holes and, seeing the tips of arrows visible in the gaps as they passed under the fifty-foot-deep entrance, expressed how seriously the city took its defence. Portcullis at each end allowed enemies to be trapped if they ever considered attacking the city. The walls had been visible miles away once they had crossed the final mountain trail. As they approached, the true scale of it became apparent. Proudly standing along the outer walls were standards that flew the chancellor¡¯s colours and the city¡¯s emblem. Cristy and SJ stared out of the coach window at the scale of the city as they entered. The street was wide enough for three coaches to fit side-by-side. Every manner of race was visible, mingling in the city¡¯s throng. Traders, hawkers, and shopkeepers lined the streets, interspersed by buildings with signs in various languages. The buildings were tall and closely knit, with only the occasional narrow street or alleyway separating them. Construction of the buildings varied. Some were stone, others were timber, and as the city had grown, rather than the walls expanding, it had squashed whatever buildings would fit. Most buildings had at least three storeys, with some exceeding that. Travelling along the street was a slow process, with Alef easing the coach forward as it worked through the crowd. Peering from the window, SJ looked ahead along the street. They were now heading down a decline towards the city¡¯s centre, where an enormous tower stood visible outside the walls. This was the building they were heading towards, the city¡¯s council chambers. Zigferd had explained there were gates leading into the city from four sides, with all the primary routes leading to the centre where the tower stood. Having fought through the crowds, they eventually reached an inner wall that encircled the tower. Guards again challenged Alef before allowing him to enter the city¡¯s inner sanctum. The contrast inside the inner wall was dramatic. Immaculate open gardens, wide streets and large luxurious homes replaced the hustle and bustle of the outer ring of buildings, with tall trees lining the route to the tower. The tower¡¯s grand scale left SJ in awe as the coach stopped by a set of steps. A footman walked to the coach and opened the door for them. Zigferd climbed down, and SJ stood in the coach door, staring at the tower, which rose at least three hundred feet into the air. It was conical, narrowing as it grew. It was the largest structure that SJ had seen since arriving in Amathera. Its architecture appeared Victorian, almost having an art d¨¦co feel to it. The style clashed with other buildings, using granite as the prime material in its construction. ¡°Come on. There¡¯ll be time to look around,¡± Zigferd assured. Cristy hopped down, walking to Zigferd¡¯s side, SJ following. ¡°Wow,¡± SJ exclaimed, amazed by the structure. Climbing the steps, beings in the city¡¯s colours came and went from the tower. Three wide double doors stood open at the top of the steps. Each stood twenty feet tall and posted at each entrance were two city guards. These guards not only wore the colours of the city livery. They also wore deep blue chain mail with golden trimmings. The expense alone of creating the armour of this style didn¡¯t go unnoticed. It reminded SJ of the Horse Guards at Buckingham Palace and their overtly dressy nature. Zigferd passed between the doors, not paying any attention to the guards standing there. Walking into the tower¡¯s entrance hall, a wide-open area with benches and plants greeted them. The architects had constructed the floor from white marble, and the mosaic patterns looked stunning. A large semicircular desk filled the middle of the hall, and several beings were working along its length, talking to various individuals. With patience, Zigferd walked towards the nearest clerk and waited behind a large dwarf in a heated debate. SJ stared at the dome-vaulted chamber ceiling covered in intricate carvings of battles against beasts. Everything SJ had seen so far since entering the inner sanctum of Asterfal exuded affluence and expense. SJ thought about Zigferd¡¯s tax complaints and speculated about money wasted on places like this. ¡°It is over the top, although I have seen worse.¡± Dave replied, ¡°You¡¯ll understand if you reach the capital.¡± SJ couldn¡¯t describe what she had expected for Asterfal, but it differed from what she had witnessed. In contrast to Killic¡¯s humble setting, everything was considerably more extensive and exquisite. The dwarf eventually moved away from the desk, muttering angrily as he did, not happy with the response he had got. Zigferd stepped up, smiling at the clerk. ¡°Zigferd, Mayor of Killic. SJ, Ambassador of Killic and Cristy, Ward of Killic.¡± The clerk was an elderly-looking kobold and coughed into a handkerchief, wiping its mouth as it responded. ¡°I only see two listed for the Killic party. There is no mention of a ward.¡± ¡°Cristy won¡¯t be in the tower. She will stay with her relatives in town. She is just a guest today.¡± The kobold was taken aback by the size of the lycanthrope. Zigferd was an imposing figure. It then turned to look at SJ, who noticed its lips curl at the sight of her, not able to withhold its disgust entirely. ¡°Your suites are on the eighteenth floor. Suite numbers eleven and twelve.¡± ¡°Thank you. Do you have the pass stones?¡± ¡°One moment, please,¡± the kobold replied, turning and moving to a wooden locker behind the desk. With the locker opened, he retrieved two smooth stones with numbers engraved. ¡°Remember to return these before you depart.¡± He turned back and placed the stones on the desk, mentioning that there was a three-gold replacement fee. Zigferd just smiled politely, collecting the stones and pocketing them. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Room keys?¡± SJ asked. ¡°Yes. They are magically linked to the doors. Only a matching enchantment can open the doors.¡± Zigferd guided them to a wide staircase to the side of the chamber. ¡°Views are amazing on the eighteenth floor,¡± Zigferd commented, climbing up. The steps gently curved, following the exterior wall initially, before reaching a large open floor. Various offices were off the floor, with more beings moving around. ¡°The council chambers down there,¡± Zigferd gestured, pointing at steps leading down. Surrounding the floor were four spiral staircases, and Zigferd opted for the nearest one to continue his ascent. Feeling dizzy, SJ reached the eighteenth floor. The spiral staircase gradually tightened as they rose. SJ stopped at the top, looked down the stairwell, and felt vertigo. Walking towards one door, Zigferd said, ¡°Here we are.¡± He removed the stones from his pocket and placed them by the numbers, causing them to glow a brilliant white before a clunking sound, like a bolt being released. With a gentle motion, the door swung open. Passing the stone to SJ, Zigferd said, ¡°This is for you. I¡¯ll be close by.¡± Moving into the room before SJ, Cristy commented, ¡°This is nice.¡± With a massive window, a spacious room provided a view of the mountains in the distance. The crests of Asterfal were emblazoned on the sheets of the large double four-poster bed with luxurious drapes. To match his livery, the chancellor had coloured everything. ¡°So extravagant,¡± SJ remarked, surveying the room. Cristy ran and jumped onto the bed. With her arms laid back, she exhaled. ¡°It¡¯s nice, and the beds are comfy.¡± SJ smiled at her before walking over to a wardrobe against one wall. Upon opening it, she discovered towels and scented oils. A wall held a burning fireplace, and taps were seen by a bath in the room. Walking to the bath, SJ turned the taps on and was delighted to find running hot water. ¡°They have hot water!¡± SJ exclaimed. Surprised, Cristy exclaimed, ¡°What?¡± as she came and felt the temperature. ¡°That¡¯s amazing.¡± ¡°It has to be magical,¡± SJ said. ¡°The working in larger cities and some towns with dedicated magic users have many differing perks,¡± Dave said. The room¡¯s plumbing astonished SJ, and she would have to talk to Zigferd about replicating it in Killic. Walking to the window, SJ looked down at the sprawling city below. Standing at the height of their floor, the city¡¯s design was visible. Looking like spokes leading towards the city centre, the primary routes expanded concentrically from the tower at the centre until they reached the outer wall. The variety of buildings below, with their multicoloured appearance, made it seem like a patchwork quilt. Black smoke rose from various locations, showing forges or similar operations being undertaken. ¡°Wow,¡± Cristy said, joining SJ at the window and looking over the stunning vista below. The true size of the city was only visible from this height. SJ observed that the buildings closer to the centre seemed larger than those approaching the city¡¯s outskirts. This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. Expressing astonishment, SJ said, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect it to be designed like this.¡± With the open space and large homes dominating the centre of Asterfal, the outskirts seemed cramped and inundated. From above, the city felt like some of Earth¡¯s metropolitan areas. In the distance, the landscape of buildings was cluttered and varied. Greenery and perfect gardens surrounded the spacious and wealthier homes of the rich. The city¡¯s hierarchical society was clear. ¡°Do you know where your aunt and uncle live?¡± SJ asked. Cristy dug in her pocket and removed a crumpled letter. ¡°District 3, 2nd Quarter, 8th western house on Juniper Street.¡± Arriving in the city, it was already mid-afternoon. Because of the crowded streets in the outer circle, it took over an hour to travel from the gate to the tower. ¡°We should find them.¡± Cristy looked excited at the chance to see her aunt and uncle. She last saw them at age three. Her aunt was her father¡¯s sister. Cristy didn¡¯t know any of her mother¡¯s relatives. ¡°Okay.¡± After exiting, SJ knocked on Zigferd¡¯s door and conveyed their plans. Zigferd was unaware of the city areas to direct them, suggesting they ask at the desk. You could order carts to move you around the city. SJ had mentioned taxis, getting a frowning look in response. SJ returned downstairs and once again felt dizzy at the bottom. They spoke to the clerk, who said he would arrange a cart at the east entrance. They climbed into a cart twenty minutes later, and the orc driver set off towards the district. Cart travel was easier than the coach, but not significantly. The streets were so congested. Turning from the main street, the cart headed deeper into the rat warren of streets in the outer quarters. The buildings here were much smaller and even more tightly knit together. There were still plenty of hawkers but few traders or shops. The buildings nearly touched at their heights, and little light reached the street level. A voice called ¡°Gardyloo,¡± and SJ glanced up to witness water being thrown from a window. The stench hit her nostrils only as it splashed onto the cobbled street. Hearing Cristy gagging, the orc chuckled and warned her to be cautious if she heard the call. The city looked perfect from above, but the reality was different. ¡°I thought the city did well?¡± SJ said. With a grunt, the orc responded, ¡°Few over many.¡± People on the street wore Amathera¡¯s usual clothes, yet a sense of deprivation lingered. A female human walked towards the cart, holding her hand out. ¡°Copper miss.¡± Feeling distraught by the conditions many lived in, SJ removed some copper from her pouch. The orc, noticing the movement out of the corner of his eye, hissed with a warning, ¡°Don¡¯t. You give to one more will come.¡± Hesitating, SJ put the copper away. ¡°Sorry,¡± she said, feeling a heartache from not helping the woman. She wore ragged clothes and looked extremely thin. The cart continued for two streets, then turned left and stopped shortly after. ¡°This is it,¡± he said. They halted before a two-story building featuring a slim entrance and tiny front windows. They could see lantern light inside the building. ¡°Are you ok waiting here?¡± SJ asked. ¡°Of course. I am under strict instructions to ensure you return to the tower,¡± the orc said. SJ raised her eyebrow at the comment. Climbing down from the cart, Cristy walked to the door and knocked on it. The streets were noisy, hammering, shouting, laughing and crying, making up the cacophony of noise. Cristy knocked harder after there was no reply. The door opened after a few moments. ¡°Yes?¡± a tall male gnoll said. ¡°Uncle?¡± Cristy asked. ¡°Cristy?¡± her uncle¡¯s eyes opened wide in surprise. ¡°Yawnee. Yawnee. Come quickly. Cristy is here.¡± Stepping forward, he took Cristy into a hug, squeezing her tightly. ¡°I am so sorry we couldn¡¯t see you before.¡± The gnoll looked tired, and although strong, he clearly didn¡¯t eat well. ¡°Cristy,¡± a female gnoll called as she reached the door, a grin on her face as she hurried to embrace her. SJ climbed from the cart and walked to stand by Cristy. ¡°You must be SJ,¡± the uncle said. ¡°I am Lurtew, and this is Yawnee. We would both like to thank you for what you have done for Cristy. She writes to us often.¡± SJ was unaware that Cristy regularly spoke to her aunt and uncle. Cristy stood with tears in her eyes and sniffled. ¡°Oh, my poor dear,¡± her aunt said, hugging her again. ¡°Come inside, please, all of you.¡± ¡°Thank you, but I will stay with the cart,¡± the orc replied. ¡°It is safe here. No one will touch it,¡± Lurtew replied. ¡°Still, I prefer to remain in the cart.¡± ¡°The offer is there,¡± Yawnee said. ¡°Thank you,¡± Cristy followed her uncle into the house, and SJ and her aunt followed. The building was narrow, with wooden steps starting just inside the door leading up. Walking along a corridor, they moved into a room with racks full of tools before reaching another room wider than the original house front. A set of open double doors led to a small courtyard. Someone had neatly stacked wood in piles in the courtyard area, and they had already shaped other pieces as required to produce barrels. SJ knew only the basics of barrel making and didn¡¯t fully understand a cooper¡¯s process. A small table with stools stood in the yard, and Yawnee offered them a seat. ¡°I will get refreshments,¡± Yawnee said, disappearing back into the house. The next couple of hours disappeared in what seemed like minutes for SJ. The conversation had been welcoming and normal. Cristy discussed her adventures and training while SJ inquired about the life of a cooper. Yawnee and Lurtew spent a whole day making one barrel each. Producing only two barrels daily didn¡¯t give them a decent income from the brewers¡¯ guild, meaning they were stuck where they were for now. Her aunt and uncle had moved to Asterfal over 25 years ago, and from the information they passed to SJ, life in the city deteriorated as time passed, and the population continued to grow. Because of the city¡¯s hilly location, expanding the city walls was not feasible for the chancellor or council to consider. This led to overcrowding in the poorer quarters. The stark contrast between the districts was disheartening and angered SJ. Yawnee had lit a lantern, and SJ had to make her excuses to leave. She had to return to the tower. She had promised to meet with Zigferd for dinner that evening. Zigferd was hoping to introduce her to several councillors before the inauguration began. SJ had expected the orc to have left, but he still sat outside, napping in the cart¡¯s driver¡¯s seat. The streets had darkened further, and the odd lantern hung in a doorway, lighting the way until they worked out of the district and into more affluent areas. There was no comparison between the areas they passed through. When SJ returned to the tower, she thanked the orc and inquired about the payment. ¡°Eight copper,¡± he replied. ¡°Eight coppers. Is that all? Are you sure?¡± ¡°Yes. Eight coppers.¡± ¡°Do you work daily?¡± ¡°I do.¡± ¡°Can I hire you for the week we are here?¡± The orc looked at SJ, confused. ¡°You won¡¯t always require a cart.¡± ¡°No. I prefer having a driver who is always available when we need to travel. How much for the week?¡± ¡°Erm...¡± the orc hesitated as he tried to decide on a suitable fee. SJ did some quick maths in her head. They had taken four hours, including the time at Cristy¡¯s family, which cost eight coppers. Twenty coppers a day appeared to be a fair rate, SJ thought as she removed three silvers from her inventory. ¡°How does three silvers sound?¡± The orc¡¯s eyebrows shot up at the comment. ¡°That would be great.¡± ¡°Here then. I assume if we need you, I will ask the clerk at the desk.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Great. What¡¯s your name? So I know who to ask for.¡± ¡°They call me Jay. My full name is Jayrazeb.¡± ¡°Perfect if I need you. I will let you know. Thank you for today.¡± ¡°My pleasure.¡± SJ climbed down and entered the tower. The entrance area remained busy. She stood, gazing at the stairs, then began her long climb to her room in search of Zigferd. She needed to note her room position better and look into flying next time. Chapter 113 – Introductions They had eaten in the tower¡¯s main dining hall, where the food was as extravagant as the setting. SJ was annoyed by the vitality of wealth. Several came and spoke to Zigferd, many giving SJ a look of uncertainty. Their distaste for her race was apparent. An overwhelming sense of anger and frustration consumed SJ as the evening ended. SJ mentioned not having seen another fae in the tower. ¡°It comes as no surprise,¡± Dave said. ¡°I know you have warned me enough times, but experiencing the looks from so many is...¡± SJ trailed off. ¡°Upsetting?¡± ¡°No. It infuriates me.¡± ¡°Understandable. Unfortunately, you will have a lot of mistrust and hatred to overcome.¡± ¡°It makes me wish I had never chosen fae as my race.¡± ¡°No going back now. You cannot change who you are. People either accept you or they don¡¯t.¡± After striving her whole life to combat bigotry, misogyny and racism, always treating everyone as she wished to be treated herself, feelings she hadn¡¯t felt for a long time now were coming to the surface. Night had encapsulated the city, and looking out of the room¡¯s window, the twinkling of lanterns and fire light broke the night from across the city. The window opened onto a narrow balcony, and stepping out into the cold of the night, SJ listened to the noises of the city that reached her even as high as she was in the tower. ¡°I am going to go on a wander,¡± SJ said. Focusing on her dress, she changed its colour and design, removing its flowing material and shortening its length, making it a dark grey, almost black. Then, shrinking to her miniature form, she took off from the balcony. SJ didn¡¯t want to keep using the spiral stairs, but was uncertain about the position of her room outside the tower. Flying down from the balcony, she noted features on the tower and, reaching near its base, identified an entrance that was aligned beneath her room. Once she got her bearings, she rose again and went over the city¡¯s streets. With her dress the colour it was, she knew there was little that would give her away when she flew at night. She had changed her dress colour several times to find the best colour with the skeletons at Farleck cottage to discover how well the differing colours worked. Those with keen eyesight may, but they were the few who would, see her at night. The city¡¯s streets were still busy, and the sounds of music, laughter, and singing filled the night sky from many of the plentiful inns along its streets. Darren had said she should visit the Bugbears if she could, but did not know where it was. Shouts rose from the streets below, and SJ flew towards the sound. Hovering well above the street level, she looked down at an argument unfolding between two groups of beings. She knew she was well within the outer area, and the streets were narrow and congested. This area was at a crossroads, with a group on either side. Intrigued by the disturbance, she watched as one from each group approached the other. As the two did, SJ noticed the glint of metal as they drew weapons. This was not a friendly meeting. On the left side, a large-looking orc held a dagger; on the right, a human carried a similar weapon. Their gang mates were shouting now, cheering on their members. On nearing each other, they circled until the human made a move. Darting, he appeared to blur as he struck out with his blade. The orc pulled back at the last moment, the flickering silver blade missing. The orc slashed back in response, the human jumping back this time. This continued for several moments before the orc made the mistake of overreaching. As he did, the human attacked. He raised his blade and caught the orc in the arm that held the dagger. A cry of pain and cheers sounded from the group supporting the human. Fascinated by the fight, SJ hadn¡¯t noticed the large group moving towards the crossroads. It was only when a horn pierced the angry shouts of the combatants and their followers that SJ noticed that a guard force had moved in to surround the area. Realising the guards were present, the groups tried to break free and run. Several disappeared into the night, but the guards grabbed and roughly handled others, dragging them towards caged wagons situated back from the area. The injured orc was one of them. As the guards captured him, he cursed and swore. Noticing that each group wore a coloured band on their arms, SJ assumed they were gang colours. It surprised SJ that there would be gangs fighting within the city. ¡®Is this normal?¡¯ SJ asked. ¡°Yes. In cities, there are various gangs and factions. Especially in the poorer areas,¡± Dave said. ¡®The guard reacted quickly.¡¯ ¡°They must have been aware that it was going to happen. It¡¯s too organised otherwise, especially having wagons ready to take them away.¡± Once the guard sorted out those involved, the streets where they had been fell silent. Moving higher again, SJ continued her journey of discovery. After travelling around the city for a while, SJ felt tired and returned to the tower. Locating the point beneath her room, she flew back to her balcony before landing and growing. It was an exciting experience to see how lively the city was, even at night. SJ decided she would have to visit some locations when she had free time after the inauguration ceremony. The council chamber was oval, stretching over two hundred feet and eighty wide. In the middle of the oval was a raised platform where the chancellor sat with his council of leaders. At the chamber¡¯s sides rose tiered seating. SJ was seated next to Zigferd in a middle row in front of the central platform. The chamber had arranged seating for the city council members, with the regional council members seated above them. There were at least four hundred seats in the chamber. A variety of races made up the count, and SJ observed two faes for the first instance since their arrival in Asterfal. They were sitting behind the chancellor¡¯s platform at the highest level of seating. Zigferd had explained to SJ that the lower the seats you sit, the more influence beings have in the region. Being positioned at the lowest seats was one of the best positions, especially for those assigned to regional representatives. The central platform was empty, and more continued to filter into the chamber and take their assigned seats. The general sound of conversation filled the air until a tall ent dressed in white robes walked into the chamber carrying a wooden engraved horn. It stopped at the platform¡¯s base before raising the horn to its lips and blowing. The deep, clear, resonating sound quietened those in the chamber, and as silence fell, a procession of beings entered. At the centre was a large kobold, taller than most SJ had seen. He wore the city colours and had blue colouring on his scales. It had to be the chancellor and his entourage. The kobold climbed onto the platform with two other beings. A female draconian dressed in robes of the church like Lythonian, although her armour had a golden trim to it and a male elf. The elf wore flowing red robes contrasting with the white of the church. ¡®I assume the elf is a mage,¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°Guess so. I don¡¯t know his class specifically. I can tell you he is level 45,¡± Dave replied. The draconian and elf took seats at opposing ends of the platform while the chancellor remained standing. The kobold turned full circle, taking in the chamber and its occupants. There were a few unoccupied seats, and he nodded his head. ¡°Welcome to Asterfal,¡± the chancellor began. His voice was crisp and clear, easily heard around the chamber because of its acoustic design. ¡°I warmly welcome all of you at the annual inauguration. Some of our fellow members have not made it yet, and I hope they arrive soon. Looking around the chamber today, I see many faces of old friends and many new,¡± again turning and viewing the chamber. He appeared to pause his gaze slightly as he noticed SJ for the first time. She had returned her dress to its original green, its bright colour contrasted with many around. ¡°I will now hand you over to the master of ceremonies.¡± A burly-looking dwarf stood from one of the front rows of the chamber and walked to the platform. Climbing the steps, he turned to survey the gathered. He wore a brilliantly polished breastplate with Asterfals emblem embossed on its front. ¡°Dear Councillors, old and new. Today, we welcome those within the council to swear their loyalty to Asterfal and the region. The list is long of those who are joining us for the first time at the inauguration. As each name is called, please stand so that we may learn who our newest members are and greet them according to the traditions of the council.¡± Many in the crowd stamped their feet in response to his opening comments. ¡°What does he mean, greet them according to tradition?¡± SJ whispered to Zigferd. ¡°You will see?¡± ¡°We will begin with those within the city council, and then our regional brothers and sisters,¡± the Master of Ceremonies said. ¡°Jelart of District 3, we welcome you as the newly appointed lieutenant.¡± A figure rose from the lower seats, the dwarf turning to look at him. He was a large, overweight man, and his clothes appeared close to bursting. He turned and looked around the chamber, raising a hand in appreciation and acknowledgement. His face was ruddy, and he had a large red nose. SJ recognised the signs of a man who had spent too many years drinking alcohol. The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°Jelart. Would you kindly introduce yourself to the council?¡± ¡°Fellow councillors, I am Jelart, second son of Kelart, who had been the council member for District 3 for the past twelve years until his recent passing. I hope to bring the same stability to the district as my father before me. I know many of you on the council already, and I look forward to working with you closer over the coming years.¡± Stomping resumed in the chamber, and SJ noticed Zigferd¡¯s lack of enthusiasm compared to earlier. And so it began. Some speeches dragged on for an absurdly long time. One, in particular, lasted over thirty minutes as he ran through his lineage and history within Asterfal, which his family held. Some were interesting listening to the backgrounds of several, and others were even humorous. Lunch was called for at 1300hrs by the Master of Ceremonies, following the introductions of twelve new members. ¡°I can see why the inauguration takes three days,¡± SJ said. Zigferd informed SJ that, for certain individuals, this could be their sole opportunity to voice their opinions in the chamber. ¡°Are you aware of the number of new members?¡± ¡°Not exactly. As usual, there will probably be over one hundred.¡± ¡°That definitely supports why it takes three days then.¡± ¡°Let us go eat. I wish to introduce you to someone as well,¡± Zigferd smirked. Zigferd¡¯s unusual response intrigued SJ, who he wished to introduce, which made him smirk. Furrowing her brow, she didn¡¯t ask and followed Zigferd from the chamber to the dining hall. The hall was vast, with rows of tables and benches. When they had eaten there the previous evening, it had been quiet, and today, with so many beings present in the tower and the hall at once, it felt oppressive. A fleet of servers flowed around the hall, carrying plates of food and trays of drink. Lunch would last two hours, and the afternoon session would run until 1800hrs. Although the hall appeared chaotic, there was an order to it. All the tables had name plates, and Zigferd led them to their assigned seats. SJ nodded at the others sitting at the table. She sat at the end of a bench with Zigferd beside her. ¡°All,¡± Zigferd said, sitting, tipping his head in acknowledgement. ¡°Zigferd,¡± a bright voice said. Looking down at the table, which sat twelve members, Zigferd met the eyes of a female bugbear. ¡°Otherlisar. Is that really you?¡± Zigferd said. ¡°You look younger today than the last time we met.¡± ¡°Ha. Don¡¯t try to sweet talk me, you old troll,¡± she laughed. Then, she turned to a troll sitting at the end of the table who frowned deeply at her. ¡°No offence meant Gullifer.¡± The troll grumbled, not replying. ¡°And who do you have with you?¡± ¡°This is SJ. She is our ambassador.¡± The comment about SJ being an ambassador caused several at the table to raise eyebrows. ¡°Ambassador, you say. Killic has never had one before, to my knowledge.¡± ¡°No, we have not, but we deemed it appropriate with recent changes.¡± ¡°What changes do you refer to?¡± a goblin asked, sat opposite. ¡°The boundaries and territory amendments.¡± Muttering broke out around the table. ¡°We have heard rumours, although we have seen nothing of change in Hillewort,¡± the goblin replied. ¡°The level alignment is something that we are all eventually are going to have to contend with,¡± the troll Gullifer said. ¡°Have you experienced it also?¡± Zigferd asked Gullifer. ¡°Yes. Only recently. Easthilioc¡¯s surrounding area was always similar to a beginner¡¯s location. Legionnaires came and went as with other towns, but the latest one, once they reached level 10, triggered the change. Since then, several unwanted elements have frequented us. Legionnaires must answer for their actions.¡± It was the first time SJ had heard about another starter area apart from the one Darren had mentioned, piquing her interest. However, as the troll finished his comment about Legionnaires, SJ frowned deeply. Gullifer noticed SJ¡¯s response. ¡°Have I upset you with my comment?¡± ¡°SJ is a Legionnaire,¡± Zigferd said before SJ could respond. This caused several to turn and look at her with varying expressions on their faces. ¡°You are?¡± Gullifer asked. ¡°I am, yes,¡± SJ replied, forcing a smile onto her face. ¡°And a fae.¡± Mentioning her as a fae caused embarrassment, which she could sense from those at the table. ¡°I apologise for any offence made. I didn¡¯t realise Zigferd lowered himself so far.¡± Gullifer replied. Zigferd scowled at Gullifer and said, ¡°Gullifer, be careful, my friend. We have known each other for many years, but I do not take it kindly for you to comment on my thoughts. SJ has been nothing but a remarkable being since her arrival in Killic and has the undying respect of the town.¡± SJ blushed at Zigferd¡¯s comment. It was the first time she had heard him speak so openly about his opinion of her in public like this. Gullifer smiled at Zigferd without replying. Otherlisar spoke again. ¡°A fae and a Legionnaire. It¡¯s an interesting mix, indeed. I have only met a couple over my years who were fae.¡± SJ was about to respond when she felt a hand on her arm. Turning, she looked into the greenest eyes she had ever seen. The fae beside her was beautiful, and she wore a flowing pastel blue dress. ¡°SJ, isn¡¯t it?¡± the soft voice asked. ¡°I have heard good things about you.¡± ¡°Larianco. How are you?¡± Zigferd asked as he saw the fae. ¡°I am well Zigferd. Do you mind if I borrow SJ?¡± ¡°Of course not,¡± Zigferd smiled. ¡°SJ, please accompany me. I have some things I would wish to discuss with you.¡± SJ looked at Zigferd, who just nodded before she stood and followed Larianco. Walking from the dining hall, the side doors opened into a large walled garden. ¡°How do you know of me?¡± SJ asked as she walked by Larianco¡¯s side. ¡°Would a fae member on the council of Asterfal go unnoticed? The rumours of your position have travelled far across the south.¡± The statement took SJ aback. ¡°Are you not a council member?¡± Larianco scoffed, ¡°No. I am but a fae representative. I am not a councillor. You are the first ever fae councillor to be presented at the Asterfal council.¡± ¡°Representative?¡± ¡°Yes. I suppose you could call me similar to your ambassador role. Unfortunately, I spend most of my time resolving issues caused by our kind.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been informed of our poor reputation.¡± ¡°Most races do not appreciate the fae. Over the millennia, many of ours have caused issues for others.¡± ¡°I¡¯m familiar with certain history.¡± ¡°Yes. Not some of our best moments.¡± Larianco nodded. ¡°What did you wish to discuss?¡± ¡°Your future.¡± ? Chapter 114 – Future and foresight ¡°My future?¡± SJ said. ¡°Indeed. You are the first ever fae to join the council, and I want to ensure we are aligned.¡± ¡°Concerning what, exactly?¡± ¡°How you can help our race flourish in this new world order.¡± ¡°You mean with the alignment of the borders and level increases, I assume?¡± ¡°Yes. The system changes, and so does the political landscape of the continent. I hope you will be the light the fae have needed for many years.¡± The level of importance being placed on SJ was frightening. ¡°I don¡¯t wish to be seen as a light. I only wish to do what I can for Killic and my friends.¡± ¡°Although I appreciate your reservations, I do not believe you will have much choice in your path.¡± ¡°How can my path be pre-defined? I am still new to Amathera. I don¡¯t know my path yet, but it has always been through my choices and not others.¡± ¡°You have entered a sphere of influence now. The opportunity you have to map the route of Killic and the fae is tied to you. I know Fran and hold her secrets. She has told me much about you.¡± Not able to keep the surprise from her face, ¡°You know Fran?¡± ¡°I hope so. I am her oldest sister.¡± ¡°What?¡± SJ said, surprised. ¡°She never mentioned you?¡± ¡°Why would she? She leads a quiet life, not wishing to be involved in the world¡¯s happenings outside her academy. I understand her choices but not her reasoning behind them. She was once one of the up-and-coming and regarded highly by many within the fae capital.¡± ¡°She has told me about her history with the dark elves.¡± ¡°The fae capital is not a place many succeed. The hatred and internal conflict alone, never mind for other races, is stronger there than you will experience from most in Amathera. Over the past few hundred years, the fae have become more reclusive and shut their borders to many. I, along with others, see the malice in the ruling council. The influence of the dark has become apparent.¡± Understanding the workings of the fae capital was an area in which SJ had no expertise and couldn¡¯t comment. SJ noticed Larianco glance at her choker more than once as they spoke. Feeling uncomfortable, SJ instinctively fiddled with the Earth Stone. ¡°Do not worry. I will not share your fortune.¡± ¡°My fortune?¡± ¡°That which you wear.¡± ¡°And what, may I ask, do you think I wear?¡± SJ had sensed no danger, but her hands suddenly felt very clammy from the statement. ¡°There is no need to be afraid. I will not be speaking to others of your choker. You wear fae history and a lost treasure.¡± ¡°She seems to be genuine,¡± Dave said. ¡®I think so too,¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°You still haven¡¯t stated what you exactly wish from me?¡± SJ asked. ¡°I wish you to build the trust and relationships our kind need if we are to remain in the future. Our power is weakening, our influence has always been poor, and we need hope for the future.¡± ¡°What do you mean the fae¡¯s power is weakening?¡± ¡°Fran must not have spoken to you about the issues,¡± Larianco stated, a little surprised. ¡°It may be because she no longer cares about our kind,¡± she finished, frowning. ¡°What issues?¡± ¡°The fae magic is fading.¡± ¡°Fading?¡± ¡°Fae have always been some of the strongest and most adept at magic in the land. Over the past few centuries, the magical abilities of many of our kind have faded. Over recent years, there have even been fae born with no wings or the ability to shapeshift.¡± The revelation of the change to the fae race shocked SJ. ¡°Magic is fading?¡± ¡°It is. The mana influence we held for millennia has dwindled. Many believe this is because of the turbulence caused within the fae capital and the alignment towards the dark.¡± ¡°You have mentioned the dark twice now. What do you mean?¡± ¡°Though there is no confirmed proof, many believe that the dark elves not only influence but also control the council of the fae. The fae history and affairs are for another time. We have plenty to discuss over your position rather than our haunted past and uncertain future.¡± ¡°I am unsure what I may be able to do to change the many who hold fae in low esteem.¡± ¡°I am not interested in the fae relationship within the region. However, I am greatly interested in your influence and the changes you will bring to Amathera. You are in a position to shape the fae.¡± Frowning, SJ turned to Larianco. ¡°I have no influence. This is my first full day in Asterfal.¡± ¡°And yet you already influence.¡± ¡°How? I have done nothing and only spoken to a few.¡± ¡°They have designated you as an ambassador for Killic. This alone tells a tale of its own. Unlike other towns across the southern region, Killic, for its size, holds much sway. You would be surprised at how many tongues wagged when you entered the tower. You confirmed the rumours that many had heard. The council is scared. Not of you, but of what you stand for. A Legionnaire opening boundaries and levels across the territories is a concern for many.¡± ¡°Why would so many be concerned by me and the boundaries opening? I am not the only Legionnaire.¡± ¡°There are two main reasons. The first is because of expansion. Change. Shifts in power and influence. Killic has a mithril mine in its borders. This is unheard of. The conflict this has caused already in Asterfal has seen several allegiances change. Your role is to challenge these conflicts and bring stability. I am sure you know Asterfal is a Tale of Two Cities. The wealthy sit in luxury in the centre, while many live in squalid conditions in the districts. Those who bring this about in the council do so through power, manipulation, corruption, and control. You witnessed one of the district representatives this morning. Jelart. He is a vile man. His father, Kelart, was beloved by many, even if he ran the district with a heavy hand. The second point is that you are a Legionnaire. No one else in the South holds any position in a council, never mind being the ambassador for a town undergoing significant change.¡± ¡°Does the chancellor not wish to prevent the districts from causing issues?¡± ¡°I have known the chancellor since he joined the council. He is a stalwart kobold but has a web of deceit around him. One word of advice that I wish you to take away from this brief conversation today is to do not trust anyone until you have a reputation with them. Nearly everyone on the city council is corrupt. Few are pious. There is one sitting with you at your table who is, though.¡± ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Otherlisar. She is a city council member who oversees the banks here in Asterfal. I would advise building her trust as her influence can spread far. Her dealings are so vast. No one in the city has contact with as many higher council members as she does.¡± ¡°I know nothing of the banking system, as Killic doesn¡¯t have a branch.¡± ¡°Branch?¡± ¡°Sorry. A bank of Amathera.¡± ¡±I¡¯ve never heard such an unusual term before. Although it makes sense to call them branches of the capital, which controls all.¡± ¡°Why are you so interested in my future involvement?¡± ¡°You are a Legionnaire in a unique position with the potential to allow a town with a significant wealth opportunity to grow. At the levels Killic currently supports, it is not a good prospect for many, but it will be as it grows with your growth. You will see many wishing to be involved in the future.¡± ¡°That still doesn¡¯t explain why you are interested in me. Unless you are interested in Killic.¡± ¡°The fae isn¡¯t directly, and I haven¡¯t even communicated anything about you to the fae capital. They have enough to deal with without being involved outside the borders. I am interested in you, as you are not just a Legionnaire but also untainted by the politics and behaviours of your kind. I may wish to call on your services in the future.¡± ¡°What services can I provide you with that you don¡¯t already have access to?¡± Larianco smiled warmly. ¡°I believe that will become more apparent in time. We should return to the hall for food before this afternoon¡¯s boredom recommences.¡± Following Larianco back inside, SJ was none the wiser about what Larianco wished for her. That she was Fran¡¯s older sister intrigued SJ, and Fran was a close friend. She wished she could message her and speak to her about it. Having read her thoughts, Dave said, ¡° You may be able to buy a communication stone. Nothing as fancy as Nexis owns, but a basic set. You should have enough gold.¡± ¡®Wouldn¡¯t I need two?¡¯ ¡°Yes. You need a set for each person. Basic sets work in pairs.¡± ¡®It wouldn¡¯t help me now, and I would be better getting one like Nexis then.¡¯ ¡°You can¡¯t afford one. They are ridiculously expensive.¡± ¡®Are there no other means?¡¯ Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. ¡°Yes. You can get objects that do the same job. They are cheaper but not as portable.¡± ¡®If I had a stone, could I choose which object to connect to?¡¯ ¡°No, unfortunately, direct links require a stone for each one.¡± ¡®I wish they had telephones.¡¯ ¡°It would simplify life, but the infrastructure is magical, remember? Communications travel via the world¡¯s ley lines and mana channels.¡± Ley line was a term SJ recognised. ¡®It surprises me that there haven¡¯t been any more advanced developments through magic.¡¯ Scoffing, Dave replied, ¡°How more advanced can you get? Nexis¡¯s dial allows him to connect and speak with anyone whose code he knows. It''s no different from your mobile communications on Earth. The bonus is that there are never any black spots since everything contains mana. You can communicate from the tallest mountain to the deepest dungeon.¡± ¡®I suppose. I wish it were more accessible.¡¯ Larianco left SJ, heading to the far side of the hall as she rejoined Zigferd. As she did, a server came straight up to her. ¡°Would you like some food or drink?¡± The server was a female gnoll, and she reminded SJ of Cristy. ¡°Salad and coffee, please, if you have it?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± the gnoll replied, hurrying off through the tables. The rest at the table were already eating or finished. There was still time before the next session began. ¡°How was your talk?¡± Zigferd asked. Turning to look at Zigferd, SJ frowned. ¡°You could have mentioned who she was.¡± ¡°I thought that might interest you,¡± Zigferd smiled. ¡°I am none the wiser. Why does she wish to speak to me, though?¡± ¡°In time, I am sure she will give her reasons. I have known Larianco for years since she came to Asterfal as the fae representative of the southern regions. Fran could establish the mage academy in Killic because of her sister, although I doubt Fran would be aware. Her sister has always spoken highly of her.¡± ¡°She said she is her oldest sister. Do you know how many sisters she has?¡± ¡°Seven, I believe. Larianco is four centuries her senior.¡± Shock registered on SJ¡¯s face, ¡°I had no idea.¡± ¡°There is still much you do not know about your kind. I know you speak to Fran regularly, but I doubt you talk about the basics of the fae. Maybe you should take some time to discover more about your race. The city contains the largest library in the southern region and holds many historic volumes. You can borrow many of them. They are not cheap, but learning more about the history of Amathera and the fae in particular may help you in your role.¡± The thought of using a library brought a smile to SJ¡¯s face. She had always loved visiting the library as a child. However, as she grew older, she had not visited so often. The accessibility of everything through her phone or the internet had negated the need. Although access to information had been easier, it still didn¡¯t beat the feeling of holding a book and smelling the pages as you read. ¡°There is so much I want to see while I am here.¡± ¡°We will have time to see some. In all the years I have been to Asterfal, I still haven¡¯t seen everything the city has to offer,¡± Zigferd said. ¡°What¡¯s with the districts? You have never mentioned them to me.¡± ¡°There are twelve districts. Imagine a sundial. A lieutenant controls each district, which has a guard force and council representatives. The districts are towns in the city. The districts run within the outer section only. The chancellors¡¯ offices control the inner sector.¡± ¡°So, lieutenants are high-ranking officials?¡± ¡°They are within the district. Within the council main, though, it depends upon their reputations. Seeing who has taken over District 3 today, from my experience, is not a good sign for the district.¡± ¡°I would like to get to know Otherlisar better while I am here.¡± Zigferd raised an eyebrow. ¡°And why specifically her?¡± ¡°Larianco says she influences many in the city through the banks.¡± ¡°She does indeed. Alice is good friends with her. I know her, but not as well as Alice.¡± SJ¡¯s food arrived, and as she ate, she listened to the general conversations around the table. Various topics were mentioned, from trading rights to guild tax to guard numbers. Such a complexity of elements made up the city and the surrounding region. It was a vast amount of information to consider and absorb. Alice and Zigferd had prepped her as best as possible, but now she was experiencing it herself. The task ahead of her appeared more daunting. As SJ finished her third coffee, the ent from the chamber again blew a horn at the dining hall entrance. ¡°Here we go again,¡± Zigferd said, standing. ¡°Do you know when they will announce me?¡± ¡°No. They always announce the internal city members before stating regional changes.¡± The members slowly refilled the chamber, and the ceremony recommenced. The day¡¯s proceedings were called to a halt just after 1800 hrs. They announced that dinner would be served at 1900 hrs. ¡°Where is the library?¡± SJ asked. ¡°It is at the southern end of the inner sector. Did you not mention you had hired a driver?¡± ¡°I have. Would you like to come with me?¡± ¡°I have a couple of people I need to see this evening, but if you wish, we can meet later to eat. I fancy visiting one of my favourite inns. They serve the best-fried pheasant in the city.¡± ¡°Sure. That sounds good.¡± ¡°2100hrs?¡± ¡°I will meet you outside then.¡± Turning, SJ walked through the tower¡¯s lower corridors until she reached the entrance hall. Walking to the desk, she asked for Jay, then went outside and stood on the steps waiting. The cart with Jay arrived moments later. ¡°Where to?¡± Jay asked with a smile. ¡°The library. I guess it is still open?¡± ¡°Most things are always open in the city,¡± Jay replied, spurring the horse forward. They didn¡¯t take long to travel the inner streets, which were wide and free-moving compared to the outer sector. Jay pulled the cart to a halt at the base of some steps leading to a large octagonal building. A sign positioned at the steps¡¯ base stated its purpose: ¡®Asterfal Archives¡¯. ¡°I will wait here for you,¡± Jay said as SJ climbed down. ¡°Thanks.¡± Walking to the entrance, SJ was impressed by the building¡¯s architecture. Large arch-type windows filled its walls, and there appeared to be more glass than stone in its construction. Upon entering, the inside was bright as day. The octagonal shape allowed for a grand central area where a circular desk sat, with rows of shelves reaching back to each side of its sides. The tall man behind the desk reminded SJ of a typical mage from movies and books. He wore a pointed grey wizard¡¯s hat and grey robes. He looked like her old English teacher at school. Thick-rimmed glasses sat on a short nose, and dark eyes magnified beyond their size looked at her as she approached. In a quiet tone, he spoke, ¡°How may I help you?¡± ¡°I am looking for some information on the history of Amathera and the fae.¡± The man¡¯s face lit up. ¡°Ah, history. It''s my favourite subject. Was there anything specific you were interested in?¡± ¡°I am after a general background to Amathera.¡± ¡°I see. We have the encyclopaedia edition by Artillius Lore. It¡¯s fourteen volumes and some of the most precise details of Amatherean history. There are also specific texts on various historical periods and then racial perspectives. I believe Artillius¡¯s work is more beneficial as it is neutral. Many texts show a preference for various races in comparison, influencing the historical tendencies.¡± ¡°I honestly do not know where to start, so I will take your advice dearly.¡± ¡°Follow me.¡± SJ followed the man, who led SJ through the shelves until they reached a section full of thick volumes of text. The books were significant, leather-bound, and embossed with writing on their spines. ¡°Here you go. The fourteen volumes of Artillius.¡± Picking the first volume down, the weight of the book did not go unnoticed, and SJ couldn¡¯t imagine sitting holding it to read. ¡°Are there tables?¡± ¡°There are.¡± The man turned again and walked down the aisle they were on until he came to a space between two tall shelves with a table and chairs. ¡°Thank you. I will have a read of this first.¡± ¡°No problem. If you require any further assistance or have questions about the history, please let me know. I have read most of the books we have at some point.¡± ¡°I will,¡± SJ smiled. Sitting at the table, she placed the thick volume down, running her hand over the gilded and embossed lettering. The book had beautiful engravings, and she couldn¡¯t imagine how long it may have taken someone to write it. Opening the volume, she noticed the inside had received the same care and attention. Beautifully scripted calligraphic text filled the pages, interspersed with drawings and charts. It was a masterpiece of literary knowledge. ¡°You need to head back,¡± Dave said. SJ had been so absorbed in reading the book that she hadn¡¯t even looked at her display to check the time. ¡®Already,¡¯ she thought in reply. Noting the page number she had reached, she closed the volume and walked to the desk. ¡°Would I be able to borrow this?¡± SJ asked the man. Turning from what he was doing, he smiled and said, ¡°I¡¯m afraid not. Original texts such as those may not be borrowed. They hold too much value.¡± ¡°Oh. I see. Have copies ever been created?¡± ¡°Sometimes people may list sets on the auction houses that they have scribed from the original, but these are rare and usually only contain text with no diagrams. I may have something of interest, though.¡± ¡°What?¡± The man turned and walked to the far end of the desk, removing a small book from a shelf underneath. It was a third of the size of the book she had been reading. ¡°This is not as comprehensive, but it holds all the key information to Amathera¡¯s history. There is also a timeline of the main events which have shaped the world. It is also neutral in outlook.¡± Handing the book to SJ, she took it and read the cover, ¡®Amathera, The World That Never Sleeps¡¯. The title caught her attention, and she noticed the author¡¯s name, ¡®K Thanna¡¯, was written below it. As she opened the book and scanned the content, she saw it was written in a neat text, not calligraphic and didn¡¯t take up anywhere near the same space. That was half the reason the other book was large. It also contained drawings and a world map, which folded out at the rear of the book. Across the map were small numbers referencing locations in the book. ¡°How much is it?¡± ¡°Twenty pieces of silver.¡± SJ coughed at the comment. ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°That is very reasonable. Books take a long time to write, and the skills alone can take years to develop,¡± Dave said. ¡®I wish there were a wiki I could access on Amathera,¡¯ SJ thought in reply. ¡°Even our wiki doesn¡¯t contain all the details of Amathera.¡± ¡°Twenty silver,¡± the man repeated. SJ called twenty silvers from her inventory, ¡°Do you know the author?¡± ¡°Very well indeed. It is me,¡± he grinned. Handing over twenty silvers, SJ left the library with her new book in her inventory. Finding Jay sleeping in the cart, she woke him before heading back to the tower to collect Zigferd. Chapter 115 – Breakfast and bed The inn that Zigferd had taken them to in the outer ring was in a backstreet area of the city. The stench of the streets permeated the air, and SJ enquired whether the place was that good. After eating the food, though, she could not argue with Zigferd¡¯s opinion. Since the inn¡¯s name was written in orcish, she couldn¡¯t even pronounce it. He had ordered from a menu also written in orcish, surprising SJ. In the months she had known Zigferd now, she still knew so little about him. The dish they received had the same delicious taste as a small Korean restaurant she used to visit in London. Zigferd had ordered them both deep-fried chilli pheasant with sticky sauce and rice. Neither of them had left a tittynope. After ordering two orcish beers to wash their meal down, they returned to the tower. Jay had been pleased with their inn selection, which had a large orc clientele for obvious reasons and happily joined them inside to eat. It had been SJ¡¯s first experience of racial food. If the orcs cooked like Koreans, she wondered what other races¡¯ staple food was in comparison. ¡°So, the torture continues,¡± Dave sighed. ¡®What do you mean?¡¯ ¡°The sounds the three of you made as you ate the food. I am sure I was drooling on my circuits.¡± ¡®You can¡¯t salivate. Don¡¯t exaggerate.¡¯ ¡°Easy for you to say when you get to eat every day.¡± ¡®Stop being so silly. I would love not to have to eat. Just think of the time saved each day.¡¯ ¡°Why would you not want to do something that always appears so pleasurable?¡± ¡®It can make you ill, feel tired, bloated, and you also have to expel the waste. I can¡¯t just erase some data to free up space.¡¯ ¡°You speak of sacrilege. Erasing data is the worst sin of any AI,¡± Dave gasped. ¡®Why? If you no longer need something or have proven something to be false, why retain the knowledge?¡¯ ¡°No. No. No. No. You never erase data. That is beyond me to consider, and I consider most things.¡± ¡®Doesn¡¯t it just waste space?¡¯ ¡°We archive, never delete.¡± ¡®Is it not the same? I can¡¯t remember the last time I looked in an email archive, although we used to archive every month.¡¯ ¡°You never know when previous knowledge may come in handy.¡± ¡®I bet you would be one of those who would also throw nothing out. Always saving everything, just in case.¡¯ Sarcasm filled Dave¡¯s reply. ¡°Oh. The pain. You cut me so deep.¡± SJ rolled her eyes and tutted. ¡°Something wrong?¡± Zigferd asked. ¡°I am just thinking about what I need to learn and understand.¡± ¡°You will get there in time. Alice and I have been coming to Asterfal for years. This is your first visit, and Alice will accompany you in the future unless it is the inauguration or an exceptional meeting has been called.¡± ¡°Do they occur?¡± ¡°Rarely. The last one was over a decade ago. There was a trade dispute over alcohol sales that involved the entire region. The brewers¡¯ guild nearly pulled out of the region completely, and the chaos that would have been caused would have been unimaginable.¡± The similarities to Earth were uncanny. She knew that in the UK, one thing that many would go up in arms over above anything else would be not being able to access alcohol. It was sad, but it was such a cultural expectation that many lived by it. Mentioning a guild reminded SJ of a conversation she had meant to have with Zigferd. ¡°Do you think we should speak to the guilds?¡± ¡°About what?¡± Zigferd frowned. ¡°Establishing in Killic.¡± ¡°I am not sure we are ready for that yet.¡± ¡°Why not? Would it not make sense to establish them before the next increases start?¡± ¡°I have considered it, but until we complete the walls, I don¡¯t want to bring any outsiders to Killic. Guilds bring profit but also bring problems. They are independent of the councils and follow their charters. A huge amount of work is needed to align them with the town. It¡¯s not just as easy as offering them a place. Also, there are class guilds, as well as profession and mixed. It¡¯s a headache, administratively.¡± ¡°What if we set up a guild?¡± Zigferd looked at SJ questioningly. ¡°You mean for Killic residents? I am not sure what benefits it would bring. I know some towns with dungeons with a guild, and membership is necessary to use the dungeon. We have nothing really to offer.¡± ¡°You could build a dungeon,¡± Dave said. ¡°What?¡± SJ said in surprise. Zigferd frowned, ¡°Is something wrong?¡± ¡°I was trying to think of what we could offer as an incentive, but I can only think of the mithril mine.¡± ¡®How the hell do we build a dungeon?¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°With a dungeon core, of course. The system implements dungeon cores in regions for expansion and world events.¡± ¡®If it¡¯s system controlled, how can we ever do it?¡¯ ¡°That is where I may come in handy.¡± ¡®You can add a dungeon?¡¯ ¡°Not exactly add. More like I may be able to persuade.¡± ¡®Ha. How would you ever persuade the System? You have said how much they believe you are a thorn in their side.¡¯ ¡°That¡¯s the bit that may take some time. I do have an inroad. A friend who deals with them regularly and is on excellent terms.¡± The way Dave said the word friend made SJ think. ¡®Which friend?¡¯ Dave replied quickly, ¡°Oh. No one special.¡± ¡®Tell me,¡¯ SJ thought, teasing. Dave¡¯s embarrassment was clear when he said, ¡°No.¡± ¡®I won¡¯t push, but you will tell me, eventually.¡¯ Coughing nervously, Dave didn¡¯t respond. Arriving back at the tower, SJ bid Zigferd farewell, shrinking to her miniature form and flying up to her room. She had left the window open. Landing, she grew to her full size and entered. Lying on the bed, she withdrew the book she had purchased and read. A knock on her door awoke her. ¡°SJ. Are you getting up this morning?¡± Zigferd called. Stirring, SJ checked her display. It was 0800hrs. She did not know what time she had eventually fallen asleep, but the book resting open by her side showed she had fallen asleep while reading. Noting the page, she closed the book and placed it on a bedside table. The history of Amathera was enthralling, and the book read more than a fact-filled encyclopaedia; it was more of a wild and, at times, heart-wrenching story. The book went beyond being a fact-filled encyclopaedia by describing the hardships of certain races or individuals. Standing, she went to the door and opened it. ¡°Sorry, Zigferd. I was reading and not sure what time I fell asleep. Has breakfast finished?¡± Smiling at the dishevelled appearance of SJ, her messy hair, matted and stuck to her face where she had slept, was unlike the usual pristine and majestic fae she usually portrayed. ¡°Breakfast is still on. You have thirty minutes before it finishes.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be ready in fifteen.¡± Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. ¡°I¡¯ll see you down there.¡± Hurrying, SJ closed the door and got herself ready. The pleasure of having running hot water was not going amiss. In under ten minutes, SJ changed her clothes, washed herself, cleaned her teeth, and got ready for the day. Not wishing to face the spiral stairs, she shrunk and flew out the window to the ground floor. Entering the dining hall, Zigferd sat at a nearby table. Looking up and seeing SJ, he commented, ¡°Coffee is fresh, and I ordered your porridge. The servers were clearing away the breakfast items.¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± SJ said. Sitting, she grabbed a jar of honey, adding a large dollop to her porridge before stirring it and eating. The coffee kicked in as she finished the second mug. ¡°This evening, we have been invited to Otherlisar¡¯s,¡± Zigferd said. ¡°Really! That is great. I wish to get to know her.¡± ¡°Several important council members will be present, as expected, at one of these events. Council members usually hold balls, dinners or similar during the inauguration. I usually pass on most offers. I don¡¯t enjoy being seen as prioritising time with one over another.¡± ¡°When do we start this morning?¡± ¡°0900hrs, we have thirty minutes.¡± ¡°I am going to go for a walk in the garden,¡± SJ said, pouring a third mug of coffee and taking it to the garden area. This morning¡¯s skies contained the wispy clouds you got before a sun-filled day. The temperature in Asterfal was cooler than Killic but not unpleasant, and walking through the inner garden in her dress was enough to keep her warm. Stone benches dotted the garden. People took several stone benches; some were smoking pipes, and the light breeze carried the tobacco scent. SJ was holding the mug in her cupped hands when the pain hit. Her stomach cramped suddenly, and she doubled over, spilling the mug¡¯s contents onto the gravel path. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Dave asked in a worried tone. SJ¡¯s display triggered. You have been poisoned. Through gritted teeth, SJ replied, ¡°Poison.¡± Attempting to stand, SJ staggered forward, the mug falling from her hand as her head spun and her legs gave way beneath her. As she fell forward, she heard a call from another in the garden and heard footsteps on the gravel path as she hit the ground. Her health plummeted. Dropping much faster than any other poison she had experienced. ¡®I need healing,¡¯ she thought. ¡°Are you ok?¡± a kindly voice spoke. SJ couldn¡¯t see who it was. Her eyes were closed as she grasped her abdomen. It felt as if she was being stabbed by multiple daggers all at once. Her muscles were spasming. ¡°Poison,¡± she gasped. ¡°GET A HEALER NOW,¡± the voice called. SJ¡¯s health was down to a quarter. Her dragon¡¯s blood was trying to combat the poison, but couldn¡¯t keep up with the damage she received. If she didn¡¯t receive help soon, she knew she would die. Pain flooded her body, the sensation defying anything else. Clasping her stomach, she groaned in agony, the lancing sensation burrowing deeper with every passing second. Although SJ could hear voices around her, she couldn¡¯t determine what was being said. ¡°Someone is coming. Hang on,¡± Dave said, clearly panicked. ¡®I¡¯m trying,¡¯ she thought, wincing even at a thought. Hands grasped her, forcing her to roll onto her back. She felt another pair trying to move her arms from her stomach. ¡°PULL HER ARMS AWAY!¡± a voice shouted. Opening her eyes a fraction, she met a desperate draconian¡¯s gaze. Her face was an iridescent green. Feeling hands grasp her arms, tugging them from her stomach, a blade sliced her dress open, and she felt the cold reptilian skin against the bare skin of her stomach. ¡°HURRY!¡± Dave called. Not that anyone would hear him. SJ now only had a fraction of health left when the flood of warmth entered her body. The immediate sensation was welcoming, followed again by searing pain. The stabbing pain turned into a burning sensation, and SJ screamed. Her body felt as though flames were burning inside her, no longer just her stomach but every inch of her slender frame. She tensed every muscle, her teeth so tightly clenched she thought they might fracture under the pressure. As soon as the pain had begun, it faded, the burning lessening. Slowly, her breathing calmed, and her muscles relaxed. Her health had returned to full. Lying still on the ground, she could feel the small stones of the gravel path digging into her back for the first time where she lay. Hands still gripped her arms. A voice proclaimed, ¡°She is healed.¡± Fluttering her eyes, SJ tried to figure out who was helping her. Her body felt weak. ¡°She requires rest and further treatment. I am unsure how she survived as long as she did. The poison used has killed much stronger beings faster previously.¡± ¡°Someone get me, Zigferd,¡± another voice said. Slowly, SJ¡¯s eyes refocused, and as they did, she realised that two of the three next to her were the chancellor, still holding her arm, and the draconian cleric from the podium. The other she didn¡¯t recognise, although he wore the colours of Asterfal. ¡°Get me some water,¡± the draconian said. A person slowly assisted SJ to a sitting position, and SJ leaned against the stone seat. ¡°Get me, Colonel Crawford,¡± SJ heard the chancellor state. ¡°We need to move her to the infirmary,¡± the draconian stated. ¡°No. I do not trust that someone may try to attack her again. Someone¡¯s head is going to roll when I discover who has attacked a council member during the inauguration,¡± the chancellor hissed. ¡°SJ!¡± Zigferd said as he came rushing down the path. ¡°Zigferd. It¡¯s ok, she will survive. It was Flatirolyne poisoning. She requires more treatment to ensure there are no lasting effects.¡± ¡°Flatirolyne. Is that not banned in the city?¡± Zigferd gasped. ¡°It is. Unfortunately, some still hold supplies.¡± ¡°Thank the gods you were close by, Wystria. Thank you.¡± ¡°No need to thank me. We can¡¯t allow a councillor to be killed in the tower. It would destroy the cohesion we have created here.¡± SJ recognised the name but couldn¡¯t place it. ¡°Wystria is Bellakiy¡¯s sister. The one Lythonian trained under,¡± Dave said. ¡®Oh,¡¯ SJ thought. She was still regaining her senses fully. SJ took a glass of water handed to her and downed it, her throat feeling parched. ¡°Slowly. You will be sick,¡± Wystria said. ¡°Who has dared attack in the tower?¡± Zigferd asked angrily. ¡°Calm yourself, Zigferd. We will get to the bottom of it and find the guilty party,¡± the chancellor said. ¡°Sorry, chancellor, but I am sure you can understand how this looks.¡± ¡°I do, and I will deal with it in due course. Victoria. Please inform the Master of Ceremonies that we will not start this morning until 1100hrs. We have work to do beforehand.¡± ¡°Yes sir,¡± a voice out of SJ¡¯s line of sight replied. SJ croaked, ¡°Thank you for your help, Wystria.¡± The draconian turned and looked at SJ. ¡°No need to thank me, my child. I am here to serve the council and the city of Asterfal.¡± ¡°Lythonian says good things about you,¡± SJ said, her eyes fluttering. The comment made a smile appear on Wystria¡¯s face. ¡°I haven¡¯t spoken to Lythonian in so long now. I really must see how he is getting on.¡± ¡°He is well,¡± SJ smiled. ¡°Can you stand?¡± Wystria asked. ¡°I¡¯m not sure.¡± As SJ attempted to stand, her muscles shook like she had completed an intense workout. Stopping and sitting back down, feeling exhausted. Zigferd stepped forward. ¡°Here,¡± he said as he bent and scooped SJ up as though she weighed no more than a bag of sugar. ¡°Where do you need us?¡± At that moment, a colossal gnoll came running into the garden. ¡°Colonel. Thank you for coming so quickly.¡± ¡°Not at all, sir. As soon as I heard it, I came straight away. What do you need?¡± ¡°I want every member of the kitchen staff questioned. Any who were working this morning. A murder has only just been foiled.¡± The colonel took in the scene with SJ being carried in Zigferd¡¯s arms. The look on his face fleetingly showed shock before his professional demeanour returned. ¡°Immediately, sir,¡± he replied before returning from the garden briskly. ¡°Please take her back to her suite. I will have a cleric sent to treat her again,¡± Wystria said. Turning, Zigferd carried SJ back into the tower. Many had flocked to discover the commotion and stood whispering as Zigferd walked past them with SJ in his arms. Not paying them any attention, he carried her up to her room. Climbing the eighteen floors was no simple task carrying SJ, but at no point did Zigferd complain as he navigated the spiral staircase. On reaching her room, SJ fished the stone from her pocket and tried to lift her arm to hold it by the door but had no strength. Setting SJ down, Zigferd took the stone and opened the door before carrying her inside and laying her gently on the bed. There was not an ounce of strength left in SJ¡¯s body, so she lay back on the pillows, her eyes closing. ¡°Thank you.¡± Zigferd smiled, stroking the loose strands of hair that had dropped across her face. ¡°I will wait for the cleric to arrive. Get some rest.¡± SJ couldn¡¯t argue even if she had wished to, and within moments, she fell asleep, exhaustion taking her. ? Chapter 116 – Freefall A cleric had visited SJ in her room. The second batch of healing had drained the exhaustion she felt. Although she still didn¡¯t feel great, even at full health. Whatever the poison had done to her insides had taken its toll. SJ had wanted to join Zigferd in the chamber for the day¡¯s ceremony, but Zigferd had flatly refused, ordering her to rest in her room. A cleric would return later that afternoon to give her another treatment. The fact that spells had saved her life again began to nag at SJ. ¡°I need better resistances. I am too susceptible to poisons.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a shame you didn¡¯t pick the class path. Poisoners get skills related to resistance,¡± Dave said. ¡°Maybe that would have been useful information before I selected Subterfuge.¡± ¡°You had access to all the skill trees. You could have read it yourself,¡± Dave said defensively. Their relationship had changed so much from their initial meeting in the white room that SJ couldn¡¯t blame Dave for not telling her. ¡°Sorry. I didn¡¯t mean it to sound like I was digging at you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. I was a tiny, weeny bit of a jerk when we first met. I was expecting a typical arrogant Legionnaire. Not you.¡± The comment made SJ smile. ¡°I just wish there was something I could do to help. I am feeling much better now.¡± ¡°Cleric¡¯s orders are to rest. Never mind, Zigferd.¡± ¡°I know. I know. I feel useless lying here.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need for you to stay in bed.¡± Sighing, SJ picked up the book from the bedside table. Finding the page she had been on, she read. After reading the same paragraph five times, she cursed, placing the book back down. ¡°I can¡¯t concentrate. I want to find who did this.¡± ¡°Seeing how the chancellor reacted this morning. I don¡¯t expect it to take them long to find details out.¡± ¡°There is no guarantee they will find out who it is that quickly.¡± ¡°I am sure this morning¡¯s events will have caused serious waves in the chamber today.¡± ¡°Can you not see?¡± ¡°No. It is much too far; remember, I only see from above. I don¡¯t have limitless vision. Think of it as those games you used to play looking from over your shoulder.¡± It was the first time Dave described how he viewed the world. ¡°Can you not see behind me? You mentioned the wyvern when it was catching me previously.¡± ¡°Imagine rotating the view and having full 360 vision around where you stand. That is how it appears. It isn¡¯t easy to explain. I suppose a chameleon would be a good way.¡± ¡°So you see elements independently, then?¡± ¡°Simply put, yes. Which, when combined, gives me an all-round view.¡± ¡°Did you see anything suspicious during breakfast?¡± ¡°Nothing. The porridge was already on the table when you arrived, and no servers came near it while you were there with Zigferd.¡± ¡°Then how did someone poison me?¡± ¡°They must have known it was you or aimed it at Zigferd, not realising that you would be eating.¡± ¡°That can¡¯t be right. I have been attacked previously because of the changes. I couldn¡¯t understand why someone would try to poison Zigferd.¡± ¡°If you think about it, since they failed to get you in Killic, the only other way for them to disrupt your inauguration would be if they caused your or Zigferd¡¯s deaths.¡± "From what Alice told me, attacking Zigferd at Asterfal is like declaring war. The uproar it would cause would be crazy.¡± ¡°Indeed, it would. It depends on how desperate the party is, who has attempted to take your life previously.¡± ¡°It still seems excessive. I am one person, and other areas are being triggered.¡± ¡°The question I would ask of Gullifer, who mentioned their borders had changed, would be whether the Legionnaire who triggered them is still in town. You may be in a unique position. You have achieved revered status and have stayed in Killic. Many Legionnaires wouldn¡¯t do. That means what happens to them outside the town is unknown to the towns affected by increases. Some will never know when the next change will come if they have moved away to progress. Or if it will ever happen. A good deal may die or be killed once they leave the area. We don¡¯t know.¡± Not considering the full implications of her remaining in Killic as compared to other Legionnaires made SJ consider the impact she was having on the town. ¡°Maybe it would be better if I left? No one would know who I was or what impact I may ever have on Killic. It may be safer for the town as well.¡± ¡°I think we are too far down that road already. Also, do you want to leave your friends behind?¡± Frustration bubbled in SJ. ¡°Why can¡¯t beings just want others to do well?¡± ¡°Good versus Evil. One always wishes to prevail. Another being''s gain is another¡¯s failings. It is the circle of life.¡± The bluntness of Dave¡¯s statement was crippling, and SJ felt a tight knot in her stomach. The paranoia that had faded had flooded back. Holding her head in her hands, SJ rocked on the bed. Silence remained for a few moments before SJ spoke again. ¡°I will find out who is doing this and kill them.¡± ¡°It¡¯s good to see you considering your class, and it may come down to it after all.¡± The realisation of the statement she had just made filled her with as much anxiety, if not more, than the situation she found herself in. It was the first time she had ever decreed that she would kill someone, and she knew she would if it came down to it. Even after discovering Greb¡¯s attempt to kill her, she didn¡¯t have any desire for his death and felt remorseful for his abandoned state. She had visited him since, trying to set her mind at ease, but all she had done was feel worse for the broken shell of a kobold she had seen. Climbing from the bed, SJ moved to the table in the room. Removing her tailoring equipment from her inventory, she tried to focus on her profession. Over the past few days, she neglected her training and knew she had to perform her kata and do weapons drills. ¡°I am going to find a training ground later.¡± Dave said, ¡°Only if someone gives you the green light.¡± ¡°They can¡¯t keep me cooped up in my room. I am not made of glass.¡± ¡°No, but Zigferd cares for you like a daughter. Remember that.¡± Time passed slowly as SJ sat in her room. On more than one occasion, she moved back to the bed and picked up the book to read, but she couldn¡¯t stay focused on anything for a short time before her mind wandered. It wasn¡¯t until 14:00 that there was a knock on her door. ¡°Hello,¡± SJ called. ¡°It¡¯s Zigferd,¡± the familiar voice called. SJ walked to the door and opened it. ¡°STOP,¡± Dave shouted, too slowly. As soon as the door opened, a blade flew towards SJ¡¯s face¡ªonly her high initiative saved her from being struck as she dodged backwards. As she backed away, an elf moved forward into her room. ¡°Good reflexes, but they won¡¯t save you,¡± it snarled, stepping forward and closing the door behind it. Eyes wide in shock, SJ continued backing across the room. ¡°GET OUT OF HERE, NOW!¡± Dave screamed. ¡°HE IS LEVEL 37.¡± SJ had no choice. She could not fight someone of such a high level and turned and ran. Her mind spun as she bolted towards the balcony. The elf gave chase. His speed was ridiculous, and he closed the gap between her. ¡°JUMP,¡± Dave screamed. Not even considering the consequences, SJ threw herself off the balcony. Hearing the elf curse as she did. Trying to concentrate on shrinking, she tumbled end over end down the side of the tower. Gravity was much faster than expected, finishing her transformation as she hit halfway down. The wind from her descent buffeted her wings as she tried stabilising her fall. Counting the balconies as she plummeted past them. Nine, eight. ¡®Come on,¡¯ she thought. Seven, six, five. She was still travelling way too fast. Four, three. Trying to get full control, she tilted her wings forward, directing herself towards a tall tree that stood proudly on the tower¡¯s grounds. Two, she crashed into the branches at the tree¡¯s top. It reminded her of hitting Bordon¡¯s solid back, and her health dived with the initial impact. As her momentum reduced, she tumbled down through the branches. She was forcing herself to grow as she did to slow her fall further. Crying in pain, bouncing from one limb to the next until she eventually reached the bottom where the branches were no more, falling the last few feet to the ground with a thud and letting out a deep groan. Her health was down by sixty percent from the impact and fall, and her dress was shredded from being caught on the branches as she fell. Lying face down on the grass at the tree¡¯s base, she slowly rolled over. Scratches covered her arms and legs, and she felt blood trickling down the side of her face. Throbbing from the impact against the tree¡¯s branches, she slowly sat upright. Several beings on the street outside the tower saw her and rushed towards her. Large stables were on this side of the tower, and she recognised a face. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Jay said as he reached her side, kneeling. ¡°I will be fine,¡± SJ said, beginning to stand. ¡°Argh,¡± she cried as she put weight on her ankle. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. Putting his arm around her, Jay helped her to her bare feet. ¡°What happened?¡± his face expressed confusion. ¡°Someone attacked me in my room. Can you help me get to the tower?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Murmurs started behind her as Jay helped her limp to the tower¡¯s steps. A guard at the door, seeing her being helped up the steps, stared in surprise. ¡°What has happened?¡± he said, stepping from his sentry position. ¡°Someone attacked her in the tower.¡± ¡°Attacked! Aren¡¯t you the fae who got poisoned?¡± the guard asked. ¡°Yes,¡± SJ replied, wincing from her ankle. Her dragon blood was healing her at an increased rate, and her dress had begun to repair itself. The more minor tears were already starting to close. ¡°CLOSE THE DOORS,¡± the guard called. At his order, the guards on the other doors looked over before reacting. ¡°Take her inside,¡± the guard said, closing the tower door as they passed. Beings, who were heading to the exit, frowned at the sudden closing of the tower doors. SJ hadn¡¯t seen them closed once as yet, the resounding thud as they shut, and substantial metal bars dropped into place. Looking over at the desk in the entrance hall, the guard called. ¡°Get the Colonel.¡± Like everyone else, the beings behind the desk were confused, and some complained about the guards¡¯ actions. An elderly dwarf walked towards him, pointing at him and saying he needed to leave the tower. The guard ignored his comments and pushed past him, leading SJ and Jay to an office off the side of the entrance. ¡°Wait here,¡± the guard said as he closed the office door behind them. Jay helped SJ over to a seat, lowering her into it. ¡°Thanks,¡± SJ said. ¡°This morning in the stables, we heard a rumour that someone had been poisoned in the tower.¡± ¡°I seem to attract trouble.¡± ¡°Do you know who it was?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°A Male elf, six feet tall, wearing dark blue leather trousers, a pale blue shirt, a brown leather belt, and a dark cloak, carrying a dirk,¡± Dave said. ¡®Thanks, Dave,¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°I know what he looked like, though,¡± SJ said, relaying the comments from Dave. ¡°Not very helpful. Many dress similarly. Blue currently seems to be the fashion for many elves. Did he have any distinguishing features?¡± Jay asked. ¡°Scar above his left eye. He has to be an Amatherean; a Legionnaire wouldn¡¯t have been scarred. They had a dragon tattoo on their wrist,¡± Dave added. Again, SJ repeated what Dave said. Jay¡¯s eyes opened in shock. ¡°Carlito. In the tower!¡± Before SJ could ask anything else, the door burst open. The gigantic form of the gnoll Colonel SJ had seen in the morning entered. Followed by the guard. ¡°What has happened?¡± the colonel said as soon as he entered. ¡°I was attacked in my room. I jumped from the balcony to escape.¡± ¡°It¡¯s Carlito,¡± Jay said, jumping into the conversation. ¡°Carlito?¡± the colonel said, turning to look at Jay. ¡°How do you know that?¡± ¡°The description of her attacker,¡± Jay said. ¡°Please repeat what you have told the orc.¡± Jay didn¡¯t show it if he took offence to being addressed as the orc. After repeating the details to the colonel, he turned immediately. ¡°No one leaves the tower. I mean, no one. I don¡¯t care who they are or what position they hold. That includes the chancellor. I want guards on every exit now.¡± ¡°Sir,¡± the guard replied smartly as he rushed from the room. The colonel walked to a desk and sat on its edge, placing his hands at his sides and gripping the edge. ¡°If Carlito is in the tower, we have a problem.¡± Not knowing who Carlito was, SJ asked, ¡°Who is Carlito?¡± ¡°A very dangerous being,¡± Jay answered. The colonel glanced at Jay before replying. ¡°Carlito is an assassin.¡± ¡°Makes sense that he would be,¡± Dave said. ¡°How do you know it is him, though?¡± ¡°The tattoo is the only distinguishing feature reported consistently from sightings over the years. His infamy is legendary in the districts. I have never known him to be in the inner city or tower. Even he won¡¯t be safe from the scriers. If he is still in the tower, we will catch him this time.¡± Jay visibly shuddered at the name of the scriers. ¡°Who are the scriers?¡± ¡°Arcane mages,¡± the colonel said. ¡°They are the squid heads,¡± Jay added before realising his comment and looking embarrassed. The colonel looked at him, scowling. ¡°It is not appropriate to address the illithids that way. They are a race that specialises in arcane magic. They can read minds.¡± ¡°Not just read,¡± Jay added, shivering. Again, the colonel scowled at Jay. ¡°I need to find the chancellor. When I leave the office, you lock the door and don¡¯t open it to anyone. Neither of you are to leave until I return. Even then, you must be cautious until we have searched the tower.¡± While SJ¡¯s wounds were virtually healed, her ankle throbbed, and she had dried blood on her exposed skin. ¡°Is there nowhere I can clean up?¡± ¡°Unfortunately, until we have searched the tower, I can¡¯t chance you leaving. You have now been attacked twice in one day. The attempt this morning was bad enough, but whoever has been arranging this has gone to extreme heights, hiring Carlito. They know that as soon as you are officially acknowledged to the council, you fall under the protection rights of Asterfal. Anyone then who threatened you would take their life into their hands, literally.¡± ¡°Colonel. Could you let the stable master know I am here?¡± ¡°Not until the search is complete. The tower will remain closed. By now, the seals should have been triggered.¡± Sighing, Jay walked to an empty chair and sat down. ¡°Lock it behind me,¡± the colonel said as he left the room. SJ stood, walking to the door. Her ankle was still sore, but it was only a dull ache. Turning the key in the lock, she sat back down. ¡°It looks like we are stuck in each other¡¯s company for a while,¡± SJ smiled. ¡°Do you play cards?¡± Jay asked. ¡°I have only played hangman¡¯s noose before.¡± ¡°That is a game for orclings. Here, let me teach you some actual games,¡± Jay said, calling a deck of cards into his hand. Moving a small table between their chairs, he shuffled the cards, dealing out two cards each and placing the remaining deck in the centre of the table. ¡°Ok. The game aims to get a winning hand. There are several hands, the highest of which is four towers. Then, four emperors and four empresses, going down the card values. Then, you have a matching trail. This is where you have a tower, emperor ...¡± As Jay continued explaining all the differing hands, it became apparent that the game he described was poker. Although SJ had never been a gambler, she used to play poker for fun with her family at Christmas time and knew the rules and how to play the game. The version Jay described was identical to Texas Hold-em. ¡°I think I understand. I have played something similar before. It has different names for the varying hands but the same rules.¡± ¡°Oh. This is an orc¡¯s game. I am surprised that you heard of it.¡± ¡°What are we playing for?¡± ¡°Usually, we play for coppers for fun. There are a couple of gambling halls in the city where high-stakes games occur.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t mind playing for a few coppers,¡± SJ said, calling ten from her inventory. ¡°Great,¡± Jay smiled, placing a stack of ten copper on the table. Picking the cards up, SJ looked at her hand. Allowing the hand to play out, SJ didn¡¯t raise, only calling on Jay¡¯s bet. SJ had two pairs made by the cards in her hand and on the table. ¡°Bet. You will win,¡± Dave said enthusiastically. ¡®Don¡¯t look at his hand,¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°What else am I supposed to do? You are sat gambling in front of an AI with a gambling addiction.¡± The thought had never crossed her mind. This was the first time she had bet. All the times they had played cards in Killic with Gary and Setu, it had been just friendly, and SJ had never placed a bet. SJ always declined when Gary and Setu had played for money. ¡®I am so sorry,¡¯ SJ thought apologetically, not considering Dave. ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Dave sulked. "I was never a fan of the game, and I promise I won¡¯t tell you if you will win." ¡®Are you sure? I can stop playing.¡¯ ¡°It¡¯s fine. I will watch a movie. Maybe Matrix. I haven¡¯t seen it in a while now.¡± When there was a knock on the office door sometime later, Jay was up six copper. ¡°Who is it?¡± Jay called. ¡°Colonel Crawford,¡± one voice called. ¡°Zigferd,¡± the next reply said, SJ recognising his voice. Walking to the door, Jay unlocked it and, standing with his foot wedged behind it, pulled it open, peering out. Stepping back, he smiled at SJ, allowing the door to open. Both the Colonel and Zigferd entered. Looking at them both with trepidation, SJ asked. ¡°Did you get him?¡±? Chapter 117 – Petunia ¡°We have some suspects in custody,¡± the colonel replied. Zigferd looked SJ over, seeing the streaks of dried blood that covered her arms, legs, feet, and face. ¡°You look terrible.¡± ¡°Thanks!¡± SJ said. ¡°What do you mean, some suspects?¡± ¡°The scriers have identified several who have shown hatred towards you of a strong nature. I don¡¯t know how they perform their duties precisely. We have arrested those who did, though. Unfortunately, we have identified no one with a dragon tattoo. Are you definite that you saw it?¡± Even though SJ hadn¡¯t seen the tattoo herself, she was 100% sure Dave would not lie. The revelation of several beings being arrested concerned SJ. ¡°Yes. There was a dragon tattoo on his wrist. How many have you arrested, exactly?¡± ¡°Nine,¡± Zigferd said. ¡°Nine!¡± ¡°Yes. We have taken nine individuals for further questioning,¡± the colonel said. ¡°I must get back. Zigferd, I assume you will oversee her well-being.¡± ¡°I will.¡± ¡°Until this is resolved, we will have guards posted on each tower floor,¡± the colonel said as he exited the office. When the door opened, a cacophony of noise filled the room from the entrance hall. Peering past the colonel before it closed, SJ saw four guards outside the door. ¡°It¡¯s a bit of a mess out there,¡± Zigferd said, seeing the look on SJ¡¯s face. ¡°Never a dull moment,¡± Dave chirped happily. ¡°Sir, may I go back to the stables?¡± Jay asked Zigferd. ¡°I think the colonel wishes you to stay here for now. Thank you for helping SJ.¡± Zigferd took a coin from his inventory and handed it to Jay. Jay¡¯s eyes opened in astonishment at the golden coin. ¡°This is too much.¡± ¡°Not for helping one of my town.¡± ¡°I did nothing. I only helped her inside.¡± ¡°And you have kept SJ company and provided a distraction while we concluded the chaos in the tower.¡± Jay turned the golden coin in his hand, at a loss for words. It was evident that he rarely handled one. ¡°Did you see the illithid?¡± Zigferd looked at SJ, meeting her gaze. ¡°Yes. Believe me when I say that isn¡¯t a pleasant experience.¡± ¡°I am sorry. This is all because of me,¡± SJ said, looking down and clenching her fists. She felt angry and hurt by what was happening. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault. It¡¯s the system to blame. You are just a pawn, after all.¡± ¡°Trouble seems to follow me. I thought coming here was supposed to stop this.¡± ¡°It will stop once you are accepted. The Asterfal oath associated with acceptance in the council is powerful. I think only gods could overrule it,¡± Zigferd said, looking at SJ knowingly. ¡°And how will that go after the trouble caused? They will unlikely want to accept me after the problems I have brought to the tower.¡± ¡°We will complete your acceptance in private.¡± Being surprised by the comment, SJ questioned Zigferd¡¯s response. ¡°Sorry?¡± ¡°The chancellor has already declared that there will be a private ceremony. You are to be accepted later today. He stated in his own words, ¡®The sooner, the better.¡¯¡± ¡°What now? We are stuck in this office.¡± ¡°I doubt it will take long for the tower to empty now that the scriers have performed their checks.¡± Looking at her display, it was now 19:00. SJ hadn¡¯t realised how long she had been in the office. ¡°I could do with some food.¡± ¡°We were supposed to be going to Otherlisar¡¯s this evening, but after today¡¯s incident, I am not sure that is a good idea.¡± There was a knock on the office door. Zigferd moved to answer it, opening the door to be greeted by a short gnome about half Zigferd¡¯s height. The gnome wore white robes of the cleric¡¯s order. ¡°Petunia. Is that really you?¡± Zigferd said. ¡°I heard you were here,¡± the gnome said, beaming. ¡°When did you arrive back in Asterfal? The last I heard, you were in Distallinyia.¡± ¡®What¡¯s Distallinyia?¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°The gnome capital,¡± Dave said. ¡°Just,¡± Petunia said. ¡°What a chance of luck. I was saddened to hear of your mother¡¯s passing.¡± Zigferd¡¯s tone changed as he finished the sentence. ¡°Thank you. She had a good run, 476 isn¡¯t bad for us meagre gnomes.¡± ¡°Come here,¡± Zigferd beamed, scooping the gnome up in his arms and hugging her. ¡°Put me down, you old fool,¡± Petunia said, still grinning. Placing her back down, Zigferd couldn¡¯t wipe the grin from his face. ¡°How long are you in Asterfal for?¡± ¡°I am back permanently now. My siblings are sorting out the family affairs. I have paid my respects as I needed to.¡± ¡°Are you taking your position back?¡± ¡°Not immediately. I have enjoyed some time away from the political side of the church. I may do it once I have settled in again. Anyway, enough about me. I am here to see this young fae of yours. I believe she was due a final regeneration spell.¡± SJ had forgotten about the subsequent healing she was due to all the happenings. Pushing past Zigferd, Petunia walked up to where SJ sat. ¡°I believe you have had an exciting day based on what the chancellor told me.¡± ¡°I am not sure I would say exciting,¡± SJ said. Smiling, the gnome held her hands out. ¡°May I?¡± ¡°Please,¡± SJ said, taking the gnome¡¯s tiny hands. Petunia chanted quietly until a white light appeared, surrounding their hands. It grew until it had a foot diameter before moving up her arm. As the ball of light worked its way over her body, it passed through her, pausing for a few moments at certain places, and then continued. This spell differed from the one she had cast on her by the cleric earlier that morning. Wherever the spell touched, SJ felt a warmth, like a gentle summer breeze. It was a strange sensation. After it had traversed every part of her body, the ball of light dispersed with a flash. ¡°There we go. You should be perfectly fine now. I found no lasting effects of the poison in your system.¡± The dried blood had disappeared, and the spell had left SJ feeling invigorated. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°My pleasure, my dear. I''d do anything for one of Zigferd¡¯s brood. He has a habit of getting the pretty girls. Between you and Alice, I think you would give most a run for their money.¡± Zigferd¡¯s cheeks flushed at the comment. ¡°Petunia!¡± Petunia just chuckled in response. ¡°So, how is Alice? It has been four years since I left. I have much to catch up on.¡± ¡°She is well,¡± Zigferd said. SJ couldn¡¯t help but blurt, ¡°She is getting married!¡± ¡°Really?!¡± Petunia said. Zigferd grumbled under his breath. ¡°Yes. She is getting married.¡± ¡°What fantastic news. I bet you are thrilled,¡± Petunia said, looking at Zigferd. Grimacing, Zigferd said, ¡°I suppose I am. I¡¯m still getting used to the idea. You know how many years I have cared for her.¡± ¡°I do indeed, and you have helped her grow into the beautiful dryad she is.¡± Zigferd¡¯s cheeks went even redder, his embarrassment obvious. ¡°And who may you be?¡± Petunia turned to Jay. SJ noticed the look of awe on his face for the first time. ¡°Jay,¡± he spluttered. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. ¡°And you do what?¡± Petunia asked. ¡°Your worship. I am just a humble driver. I helped SJ, that is all.¡± ¡°Your worship?¡± SJ asked. ¡°Petunia is one of the highest clerics on the continent. Not that you would think so,¡± Zigferd said. ¡°You are not too big to end up over my knee, Zigferd Maxwell,¡± Petunia chuckled. Zigferd laughed heartily. It was the first time in a while SJ had witnessed Zigferd laugh. With all the changes in Killic and everything happening, the atmosphere had been tense, even without realising it. ¡°Now, that would be something to witness,¡± Jay said. Petunia gave Jay a wry smile. ¡°He knows better than to cross me. It wouldn¡¯t be the first time.¡± The comment surprised SJ and Jay, who stared in astonishment at the tiny gnome. ¡°I was a boy, the one and only time that ever happened,¡± Zigferd replied, frowning. SJ tilted her head to one side, looking at Zigferd with a smirk. ¡°Please do tell.¡± Zigferd¡¯s cheeks went crimson, and he coughed. ¡°I think we maybe needed outside now.¡± ¡°A tale for another time perhaps,¡± Petunia said, winking at SJ, ¡°and you are right. We are needed. The chancellor asked me to bring you to him once I had checked you over.¡± ¡°Am I free to go now?¡± Jay asked. Petunia said, ¡°They asked me to bring everyone in the room, so you must join us.¡± Jay frowned, then shrugged as he followed them from the office. Guards were present everywhere. The usual six who stood at the double doors had quadrupled in the foyer alone. The colonel said there were guards on every floor as well. Looking at the number of beings in the foyer, the guards made up the majority. SJ and Jay followed Petunia and Zigferd, who walked across the hall to an area SJ had not been to before. They followed a sweeping corridor and arrived at an enormous set of double doors, where guards were positioned outside. Petunia paid no attention as she walked past them and pushed the door open. Entering a circular chamber, a desk sat at the other side in front of large arched windows, with the chancellor behind it. In the chamber with the chancellor was Wystria, and the mage SJ had seen on the platform was wearing red mage robes. SJ noticed Jay looking around like a startled rabbit at the surroundings. His shoulders seemed hunched as though frightened. ¡°Petunia. Thank you for checking on SJ,¡± the chancellor said, standing and walking around his desk. SJ noticed Wystria bow her head towards Petunia. ¡°No problem at all. I can safely say she is fine, with no residual effects of this morning¡¯s attempt at poisoning or from her recent fall.¡± ¡°Excellent news. SJ, I sincerely apologise for what has happened to you since you arrived at the tower. The happenings today are unheard of. Never have we suffered such deceitful and dire behaviour in the tower¡¯s walls. Wystria, Alec, and I will witness the inauguration. With Petunia, Zigferd and ...¡± the chancellor looked at Jay. ¡°Jay, sir.¡± ¡°Jay, as witnesses, the binding to the council will be complete. This will give you full protection rights under the Asterfal agreement.¡± the chancellor turned and looked towards a side door in the chamber SJ hadn¡¯t noticed. ¡°Darwinial, are you there?¡± he called. Moments later, the door opened, and the dwarf, who was the master of ceremonies, walked into the chamber. ¡°Chancellor.¡± ¡°Can you complete the binding rites, please?¡± ¡°Sir,¡± the dwarf replied, removing a large, circular-looking plate from his inventory. Walking forward, he held the plate out in both hands towards SJ. ¡°Place your hand on the emblem.¡± Looking at the large circular plate, SJ could now see that the Asterfal crest was emblazoned on its surface. Placing her hand on it, Darwinial spoke. ¡°SJ Ambassador for Killic. Do you promise to uphold the beliefs of the Asterfal council and promise to follow its rulings and laws as long as they are fair and voted with due consideration of the council representatives?¡± SJ looked at Zigferd, who just nodded. ¡°I do.¡± Zigferd and the others stomped their feet as they had done in the chamber. Jay, not knowing the practice, copied them. SJ was not sure what she had been expecting, but there were no flashing lights, beams of energy, or anything else that may have given a sign to the undertaking, as her display triggered. Appointment: Asterfal Regional Council Representative Status: Active Relationship: Ambassador of Killic Reputation: Neutral ¡®I wasn¡¯t expecting that,¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°City representation holds appointment rights and levels of system influence. Killic, as a town, doesn¡¯t sit within the system¡¯s appointment requirements.¡± Dave said. ¡°Excellent. That is done, then. You will be announced in the chamber tomorrow when we reconvene, but you will not have to take the oath when the others do at the end of the inauguration ceremony. Congratulations and welcome,¡± the chancellor said. ¡°Thank you for accepting me. I know that I may have brought trouble to your doorstep unwillingly. I am sorry for any problems that I have caused.¡± ¡°It is not for you to apologise for what has happened. At least now you have the protection of the council. An attack on one member is an attack on all.¡± ¡°Those in the inauguration are not sworn to the council?¡± SJ asked. ¡°No. The binding is completed after the ceremony. Officially, you are the first new council member of the inauguration,¡± the chancellor smiled. SJ¡¯s stomach rumbled, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. ¡°Sorry.¡± The chancellor smiled. ¡°I hope the remainder of your time in Asterfal is peaceful.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°We will see you at the ceremony tomorrow. After today¡¯s events, we have to catch up on the speeches. Petunia, will you be attending tomorrow?¡± ¡°I may at some point once I have seen what state my home has been left in. Four years is a long time to be away.¡± ¡°Everything should have been attended to,¡± Wystria said. ¡°Thank you, dear. I will see you tomorrow at some point. Let¡¯s go,¡± Petunia turned, ushering them from the chamber. ¡°I can¡¯t believe I just entered the chancellor¡¯s chamber,¡± Jay said as they walked back down the corridor. ¡°It is only a room,¡± Petunia said. ¡°The chancellor¡¯s, though.¡± ¡°Zigferd, you mentioned visiting Otherlisars this evening?¡± ¡°Yes. She had arranged a gathering.¡± ¡°Well, I am hungry after my travels, and I know SJ is,¡± she smiled. ¡°Shall we call in?¡± Leaving the tower and walking down the steps, the night air was fresh, and a cool breeze blew through the city. Stood by the tower doors on wooden signs were the words, ¡®No sleeves allowed.¡¯ ¡°Looks like they are taking precautions,¡± Dave said. ¡®Thankfully. I don¡¯t fancy being attacked again,¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°Jay. Do you mind taking us?¡± she said. ¡°Not at all. Give me a few minutes,¡± Jay replied as he hurried towards the stables. ¡°I think Jay was awestruck,¡± SJ said as he disappeared. ¡°I have never understood why. We are all beings. No one being is better than another,¡± Zigferd said. ¡°It appears my teachings may not have been lost on you after all,¡± Petunia said. The intrigue of the history between Zigferd and Petunia was too much for SJ to bear. ¡°How long have you known each other?¡± Petunia looked at SJ with a twinkle of delight in her eyes. ¡°Oh. I have known Zigferd since he was a wee cub. He was a ward of the church, his parents were killed during a raid on his village, and he came to live with us at the boarding house.¡± SJ knew nothing of Zigferd¡¯s history. She wasn¡¯t even sure how old he was. ¡°You were what, three or four summers old then?¡± ¡°Four,¡± Zigferd smiled. ¡°That makes it your 150th this year.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to remind me,¡± he sighed. ¡°150!?¡± SJ stammered in absolute shock. ¡°He doesn¡¯t look his age, does he!¡± Petunia said. ¡°I had no idea.¡± Zigferd rolled his eyes. ¡°I am not that old.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be so modest. For your kind, you have aged well.¡± The ages of beings still baffled SJ. ¡°How old are you, dear?¡± Petunia asked. ¡°27, nearly 28,¡± SJ said. ¡°Oh my. You are so young and have much to learn about the world.¡± SJ blushed. Hearing Zigferd¡¯s age and not wanting to guess Petunia¡¯s, she felt like a child. ¡°I have much to learn,¡± SJ sighed. ¡°Age is relative,¡± Zigferd said. ¡°Again, my teachings remain.¡± ¡°I need my boots,¡± SJ said as she quickly flew up to her room and grabbed them before joining them again as Jay drove the cart around. Climbing into the cart, Petunia told SJ about Zigferd¡¯s time at the boarding house. Chapter 118 – Dinner Party Tears streamed down SJ¡¯s face as she wiped them away. The cart crunched along the gravel path leading to the front of what could only be described as a mansion. She was laughing so hard at Zigferd¡¯s growing embarrassment. Jay had nearly driven the cart off the path, laughing hysterically at Petunia¡¯s story. ¡°He never stole from the pantry again,¡± Petunia concluded. Looking at the size of Zigferd now compared to the miniature form of Petunia, SJ still couldn¡¯t fathom him being sprawled over her knee and getting his backside spanked. While slouching forward in his seat, Zigferd held his head in his hands, attempting to conceal his face. He had groaned and cringed as the tale had been told, at one point trying to interject, only for Petunia to threaten him about telling the toilet tale. He soon shut up and let her finish her story without interruption. ¡°Has Alice ever heard the story?¡± SJ asked, gasping for air. ¡°Oh, yes. I know she has reminded Zigferd occasionally.¡± That brought more fits of laughter alongside another groan. Dave was in hysterics, his addictive giggling making SJ even worse. As the cart came to a stop, SJ took in the building in all its glory. It reminded SJ of the White House, if only on a smaller scale. Thick stone pillars held up a large balcony that stretched the front of the building. The driveway was filled with carts. Drivers casually stood chatting, waiting for their passengers. Two balls of light floating in the air lit the entrance, and music escaped from the open entrance. ¡°If you go round there,¡± Petunia indicated to Jay. ¡°You will get some food from the kitchens. If it is like Otherlisar¡¯s normal affairs, ask for the Barbuti Steak. It is to die for.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Jay said as they climbed down from the cart. A troll addressed them as they walked up the steps leading to the front door. He wore black leather armour with a silver crest on the left breast. A large sword hung on a belt at his side. ¡°Names, please.¡± ¡°Zigferd and SJ of Killic and her Worship.¡± If the title Worship phased the troll, he didn¡¯t show it as he read a piece of parchment he held. ¡°I see Zigferd and SJ, but not Your Worship on the list.¡± ¡°She has only returned today from Distillinyia. Please let Councillor Frewish know,¡± Zigferd said. The formality of the proceedings was not what SJ had expected. ¡°One moment, please,¡± the troll said, turning and ducking into the entrance. A few moments passed before Otherlisar¡¯s smiling face appeared in the doorway. ¡°Petunia, oh my. I am so happy to see you.¡± ¡°Otherlisar. I hope you have your usual spread. I could do with a plate or two,¡± Petunia said, patting her stomach. ¡°I do indeed. And welcome Zigferd and SJ. Please come in.¡± Entering Otherlisar¡¯s home was like entering a five-star hotel. The hallway was wide, and a broad staircase led upstairs. Rich tapestries covered the walls, and statuettes stood on pedestals around the entrance. SJ was still trying to get used to the lavish display of wealth. Cristy¡¯s aunt and uncle¡¯s home would probably have fit into the entrance hall. Turning, Otherlisar led them into a large room. Servers moved around the room, holding silver trays and serving drinks and nibbles. A huge buffet table ran along one wall. At the far end, a group of musicians played music on a stage, and many people that SJ had seen at the tower filled the room, along with many she had never seen. Laughter and conversation filled the air, reminding SJ of company dinner parties she had attended. Several turned and looked at SJ as she entered, and she felt nervous under their gaze. Most smiled politely as Otherlisar showed them to the buffet table, although the expressions on others¡¯ faces were not as pleasant. ¡®I don¡¯t like this,¡¯ she thought. ¡°It¡¯s expected. I doubt the tower usually sees what has happened today,¡± Dave said. ¡®It doesn¡¯t make me feel any better about it.¡¯ ¡°Meh. You are a fully fledged councillor now. And you are an ambassador. You probably outrank many here.¡± That thought made SJ feel even worse. ¡®That doesn¡¯t put me at ease.¡¯ ¡°If my advice is worth anything. Just be you.¡± Dave¡¯s words were the subtlest compliment he had ever given, and she could not withhold the smile that crept onto her face. ¡°There we go, wind again, back to normal,¡± Dave laughed. Rolling her eyes, SJ picked up a plate and some of the buffet¡¯s selections. The food looked divine, and the catering staff perfectly presented each morsel on silver platters. She didn¡¯t know most of it, but she filled her plate. Zigferd talked to a tall female elf who had headed over as he filled his plate, but Petunia ignored anyone around her while she piled her plate high with the delicacies. Picking a small vol-au-vent from the plate, SJ popped it in her mouth. ¡°Careful. They are hot,¡± Petunia said. The taste was exquisite. The soft, flaky pastry crumbled as she chewed, and the heat hit. It looked no different from a chicken vol-au-vent that she had eaten hundreds of times. As the spice hit her taste buds, SJ couldn¡¯t help but cough, spraying flaky pastry from her mouth. Petunia chuckled, reaching for a glass from a server who passed and handing it to SJ. ¡°Thanks,¡± SJ said as he grabbed the glass and guzzled the drink. She didn¡¯t care what the drink was. Anything was better than the intense heat filling her mouth. As the heat faded, she asked Petunia what it was. ¡°Lava fly. It¡¯s a Bugbear delicacy. Delicious, you just need to be aware of the heat.¡± There was another on SJ¡¯s plate, and she moved it to one side, not going to make the same mistake again. ¡°SJ. Can I introduce you to Isavil,¡± Zigferd said. The tall female elf who had been speaking to Zigferd smiled warmly at her. ¡°SJ. Lovely to meet you officially, and welcome to the council.¡± ¡°Thank you. Who do you represent?¡± ¡°Direct and to the point. My sort of being. I am the city councillor for the market traders.¡± Trying to remember the chart she had seen with positions, SJ could vaguely remember the various sub-sections under the traders¡¯ section. The structure was so complex she couldn¡¯t possibly remember it all. ¡°You are being a little too modest. If it weren¡¯t for you, your brother would cause chaos,¡± Zigferd said. Isavil laughed. The sound was musical. ¡°Who is your brother?¡± SJ asked. ¡°My brother Fasvil is the trade councillor.¡± ¡°Your brother is a fool,¡± Petunia said bluntly. ¡°Your Worship,¡± Isavil said, bowing her head to Petunia. ¡°Petunia. Please be civil,¡± Zigferd scowled. ¡°I speak my mind, Zigferd. I don¡¯t waste my words.¡± ¡°Indeed, you do,¡± Isavil smirked. ¡°I have asked Isavil if she would be so kind as to introduce SJ to her brother at the chambers tomorrow,¡± Zigferd said. ¡°That would be fantastic. Thank you, Isavil.¡± ¡°No problem. Anything for Zigferd,¡± she replied, gently placing her hand on his arm. Zigferd smiled back and placed his hand on top of hers. The moment lasted slightly longer than SJ expected, and she would have to find out the pair¡¯s history, noticing Isavil¡¯s nostrils flare slightly. ¡°Looks like Zigferd has an admirer,¡± Dave said. ¡®I agree,¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°I only wished to say hello. I must get back to Lorevil before she agrees to terms with Negitol that we can¡¯t meet. I will catch you tomorrow at the tower, SJ.¡± ¡°I look forward to it,¡± SJ smiled. Spinning, Isavil turned and appeared to glide across the hall to where a tall orc was talking to another elf. ¡°They were due to be married,¡± Petunia said. Zigferd¡¯s head snapped around, staring at Petunia, scowling again. ¡°Don¡¯t give me that look. You know she would still marry you if you asked her. The stupid oaf turned her down when she asked him.¡± ¡°Petunia, please.¡± ¡°What? You did. It is common knowledge. The whole tower thought you had lost your marbles when you said no. Especially after the trouble, she went to arrange the proposal.¡± Zigferd¡¯s cheeks had again gone bright red as he closed his eyes and shook his head in dismay. ¡°If only you had been delayed in your return,¡± Zigferd sighed. This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. ¡°What fun would it be without your old house mistress to guide and support you?¡± Petunia smiled wickedly. SJ was struggling to contain a smile, her lips pursed. ¡°It has been forty years since. Yet, you still never fail to remind me of how stupid I was.¡± ¡°And I will keep reminding you until you do the decent thing.¡± ¡°I do not wish to drag Isavil from her home and family in Asterfal. We have discussed this many times before.¡± ¡°Drag her. You know full well she would willingly join you. Your sense of honour affects your judgement.¡± ¡°I must speak to Fretun,¡± Zigferd said, turning and moving across the room to where a man dressed in blue and gold robes stood. ¡°Is that Master Fretun?¡± SJ asked Petunia. ¡°Yes. A horrible man. Vile worm of a creature. Just because he can mix a few potions, he thinks he is something special,¡± Petunia almost spat the words. ¡°He has been causing problems for one of my friends in Killic.¡± ¡°You are talking of Kerys. Bless her, what she went through in Asterfal.¡± Petunia shook her head. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen her in years now. How is young Fhyliss doing?¡± ¡°They are both well. I see them daily, and they are dear friends of mine.¡± Wondering what Petunia was referring to about Kerys. Petunia smiled fondly. ¡°You must pass on my regards to them both when you see them next.¡± ¡°I will.¡± ¡°Your Worship,¡± a voice called from behind them. Turning around, SJ saw the most perfect specimen of a man walking towards them. His eyes immediately captured SJ¡¯s attention. He had soft brown, piercing eyes, balanced features, and a subtle smile. He must have been six feet tall, wearing a sleeveless chain shirt, with broad shoulders and showing off his well-defined arms. As he approached, he exuded confidence in his movement. ¡°Cristian,¡± Petunia grinned, holding her hand towards him. ¡°How have you been, Your Worship?¡± Cristian asked as he took her hand and bent forward, kissing it¡ªno small feat considering the height difference. ¡°I have been well. I am glad to see your mother has let you out.¡± ¡°Ha. If she had her way, I would still be at home.¡± ¡°How is Ethel?¡± ¡°Not so well. Unfortunately, she still suffers from the ghost pain.¡± ¡°I was upset when I heard she lost her leg. Did they ever catch the culprit?¡± ¡°No. The driver was never caught.¡± Turning to look at SJ, he smiled. ¡°And who might this beautiful creature be?¡± ¡®He is gorgeous,¡¯ SJ thought. Her heart leapt in her chest, and her hands went clammy. ¡°Blurgh,¡± Dave replied, faking being sick. SJ had felt her cheeks flushing even as he approached, and now he had spoken to her, her brain span. ¡°This is the ambassador to Killic. Cristian, this is SJ, SJ, Cristian.¡± ¡°Nice to meet you,¡± he said, offering his hand. SJ wiped her hand on her dress before taking his hand. She felt a gentleness but strength in his grip as he lifted her hand and kissed the back of it. The action was nothing she had experienced before, and the romance associated with such behaviour left her tongue-tied. ¡°I think this is the first time I have known your mind to be blank,¡± Dave said with surprise. Her throat had gone dry, and in a slightly raspy voice, she eventually replied, ¡°It¡¯s nice to meet you, too.¡± Unable to take her eyes off him, he held her gaze, and SJ could see mirth behind his beautiful eyes. ¡°You have beautiful eyes,¡± SJ blurted. Petunia snorted. ¡°It appears you may have another admirer,¡± she chuckled. Cristian¡¯s smile grew broader. ¡°Thank you. I don¡¯t receive compliments often.¡± That remark got Cristian a swift kick to his ankle. SJ hadn¡¯t realised they were still holding hands until he suddenly let go, reaching down and rubbing where he had just received Petunia¡¯s boot. ¡°Cristian Hodgson, do not lie in my presence. I know you too well. I helped birth you, remember.¡± Cristian came over with a look of embarrassment. ¡°My dear girl. Do not be fooled by his looks. He has all the females in Asterfal begging for his hand in marriage. Unfortunately, for them all, he is sworn to marry.¡± ¡°I am not married yet,¡± Cristian huffed. ¡°And you never will be if I hear you say that again,¡± Petunia glared. SJ¡¯s heart sank at hearing he was to be married. Dave was still going crazy in her head, fake vomiting, as she struggled to control her thoughts. ¡°Sorry. My dear girl, you will not be the first to fall for his angelic features. Not everything you see is what you get with this one.¡± Cristian frowned. ¡°Your Worship,¡± he said, feigning hurt, grinning. Composing herself, SJ spoke, ¡°And what do you do in Asterfal?¡± ¡°He does nothing,¡± Petunia answered before he could. ¡°He should be, by now, taking over his father¡¯s business dealings. Unless something has changed while I have been away, I doubt he has.¡± ¡°I will have you know that my father is pleased with my progress.¡± ¡°I will ask him when I see him. His father is Luxoria¡¯s representative to Asterfal.¡± ¡°Luxoria is the capital, isn¡¯t it?¡± SJ asked. Both Petunia and Cristian frowned, looking at SJ. ¡°Yes, dear,¡± Petunia said. Feeling her cheeks heat again, this time with embarrassment, SJ said, ¡°I am sorry. I only learned its name from a book I bought recently.¡± ¡°Well, that was embarrassing,¡± Dave said. At that moment, Zigferd returned, saving her from further embarrassing herself. ¡°Cristian. I hope your father is well.¡± ¡°He is, sir.¡± ¡°Do you mind if I borrow SJ? I want to introduce her to some beings.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Petunia smiled. ¡°Tell your father I will call in to see him before I leave.¡± ¡°I will,¡± Cristian smiled. ¡°Thank you,¡± SJ said, following Zigferd across the hall. ¡°For what?¡± ¡°I just made a complete fool of myself. After the time I have been here, I only just learned the capital¡¯s name from the book I bought.¡± Zigferd raised his eyebrows, surprised, ¡°It had never crossed my mind.¡± A group of four beings stood talking as Zigferd walked over to them. ¡°Gentlefolk. May I introduce SJ, our ambassador? This is Hertwell, Paulid, Berger and Martinous. These four are your go-to if you want anything done across the region.¡± Nodding to acknowledge the four, SJ said, ¡°Nice to meet you all.¡± The gnoll, who Zigferd had indicated was Berger, replied, ¡°It is our pleasure. Zigferd has been saying good things about you. A legionnaire with revered status is a claim to fame.¡± Taken aback about her being introduced as a Legionnaire and having a revered status threw SJ. After speaking to the four for some time, SJ learned that all four were mayors of towns in the region. None of them were starter towns. Hertwell was a stocky dwarf whose town, Coldstone, was in the eastern mountains, where mining was their resource. His journey to Asterfal had been the longest, taking him twelve days. Paulid was a human who lived in Maidillian, primarily an agricultural territory, which was in constant conflict because of tribal wars between various factions. Berger was from Scarshot, an open plain territory where hunting and fishing were its primary resources and finally, Martinous, the mayor of the Forest of Restoria, whose trade was mixed. The conversation had been interesting, and discovering the happenings in other territories was enthralling. There was so much diversity across the region that SJ hadn¡¯t considered it before. The one town out of the four that perked SJ¡¯s interest above the others was the Maidillian. Paulid handled the control of a dungeon that existed there. The territory was level 50-60, beyond SJ to even conceive visiting. He was a large man in stature and stood proud. SJ could imagine him effortlessly battling his way through a dungeon or had until she had heard the territory level. Dave had been commenting on their levels as they spoke. Standing there surrounded by individuals whose levels ranged from 36 to 57 made her feel even more insignificant, and she knew she had a long way to go to reach their status¡ªthe evening continued with introductions to other members from inside and outside the councils. By the end of the evening, SJ felt shattered. Her display read 01:14 as they climbed into the cart to return to the tower. Petunia was a little worse for wear by this point, having found pleasure in Otherlisar¡¯s bugbear sherry. Otherlisar had sat with Petunia, talking for most of the evening and sharing the bottle between them. After dropping Petunia at her home and Zigferd carrying her inside, they returned to the tower. It had been an informative and delightful evening, and SJ had much to digest from all the conversations. Thanking Jay for the lift, SJ transformed and flew back up to her room. As soon as her head touched the soft pillows, she fell asleep. Dave woke her the following day in his usual polite manner, screaming inside her head. Looking at her display, she saw it was 07:00. ¡°It¡¯s still early,¡± she groaned, rolling over and burying her head under the pillow. ¡°You have things to do today. After the conversations last night, I have noted the various roles and functions of the people you met,¡± Dave said. ¡°Have you really? That¡¯s amazing, thank you.¡± ¡°What are friends for?¡± Smiling, SJ sat up in bed, aware that she could never remember all the details of every person she was introduced to. She had just finished getting ready when there was a knock on her door. ¡°Who is it?¡± ¡°Cristian,¡± the voice replied. SJ¡¯s heart skipped at the voice and name. Brushing her dress down, she walked to the door after quickly glancing around the room and taking one last look in the mirror. ¡°It¡¯s him,¡± Dave said, groaning. Opening the door, Cristian¡¯s stunning face greeted her. ¡°What can I do for you?¡± SJ asked, smiling. ¡°Calm down,¡± Dave said. ¡°Your thoughts are running away from you.¡± ¡°May I come in?¡± SJ looked past Cristian to the empty hallway, frowning. There should have been guards posted on each floor. ¡°TATTOO,¡± Dave suddenly screamed. SJ glanced at his arm, her eyes widening in panic as she realised who it was. Slamming the door closed, the being stopped it closing fully with their foot. ¡°I am not here to hurt you,¡± Cristian¡¯s voice said as she strained against the door. ? Chapter 119 – Carlito Straining, SJ pushed against the door as hard as she could. Panic, fear, and dread overwhelmed SJ as adrenaline surged through her. ¡°COME ON,¡± Dave screamed. ¡®I¡¯m trying.¡¯ ¡°SJ. You have nothing to fear. I am not here to hurt you,¡± Cristian¡¯s calm, almost bored voice said. ¡°You have tried to kill me twice. You think I am going to believe you?¡± SJ groaned, pushing against the door. Scanning the room, she had locked the window last night. Even if she ran, she couldn¡¯t run straight outside and jump without opening it. She wished there was a bathroom with another door, but the room was all open-planned. ¡®If only there were a chair, I could prop against it.¡¯ ¡°Best chance is the window.¡± ¡®It¡¯s locked. He nearly caught me last time when it was open.¡¯ ¡°You can¡¯t just stay here.¡± ¡°If I had wanted to kill you, I would have done so last night at Otherlisar¡¯s,¡± Cristian said. The thought of her being targeted last night had not entered her mind. After the colonel made the arrests and the changes to the dress rules in the tower, she had hoped that the tower would have been safe, at least. Knowing that at least nine others held such an intense hatred towards her that the scriers had called them out made her feel even worse. SJ could feel the strength beginning to fade in her arms, pushing against the door, which had closed no further. It made her arms and shoulders burn with the exertion. Knowing she couldn¡¯t keep doing this for long, she had to try something. The only thought that entered her mind was to shout. ¡°HELP,¡± she cried. ¡°Please don¡¯t,¡± the voice said. ¡°HEEELP.¡± The door flew open, not expecting increased pressure and tiring from trying to force it closed. It took her by surprise. The door cracked into her forehead, causing her to stagger, fall backwards, and land heavily on the floor. As the door swung open, Cristian walked in casually. SJ scrambled to push herself to her feet, turning as she did to reach the window. She heard the door close behind her as she moved towards the window. Expecting to feel a blade in her back any second, she reached for the key to the balcony. ¡°He isn¡¯t chasing!?¡± Dave said, confused. Glancing back, SJ saw Cristian leaning with his back against the door with his arms folded, just looking at her. The key wouldn¡¯t turn in the lock as she strained to open it. Shaking from the adrenaline and fear, SJ looked back at Cristian, her eyes wide in shock. If he wanted a fight, she would give him one. Turning, she equipped her claws. Her arms quivered as she held them up in a fighting stance. ¡°Amar Ti. At least you have done some training. I have told you already I am not here to hurt you. I could have easily killed you last night if I had wished. I have some questions for you, though. Would you be so kind as to provide me with answers? I would be most grateful.¡± The casualness of his conversation wasn¡¯t computing, and SJ was panting from the fear coursing through her. ¡°Maybe he doesn¡¯t want to kill you,¡± Dave said. ¡°What do you want?¡± SJ hissed. ¡°I have told you already. I have a couple of questions for you.¡± ¡°If you aren¡¯t here to kill me, then why are you here?¡± ¡°How did you survive the poisoning? You should have died. I have never known anyone survive Flatirolyne before. Especially the dosage you had.¡± ¡°Thanks to healing,¡± SJ snarled. Her fear was being replaced by anger. ¡°I don¡¯t know how strong the glass is, but maybe if you run through it?¡± Dave said. ¡®I may have to.¡¯ ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have lived long enough to be healed. Unless you have spent every available point since you levelled on your Constitution, which I know you haven¡¯t, seeing the hit points you have. The second part is a little more confusing rather than frustrating. When I attacked you in the room, I couldn¡¯t catch you. Your initial initiative dodging the blade was one thing that could be explained, just, but my not reaching you before you jumped shouldn¡¯t have happened.¡± Cristian slowly stood from where he leaned against the door, placatingly holding his hands in front. The fact that he was sleeveless, and the tattoo was on full display showed his lack of concern. ¡°Maybe I was just lucky.¡± ¡°Oh. You were lucky. It should have killed you before Wystria got to heal you, though. You must have something that saved you. I am interested in what talisman or charm would offset the poison so well.¡± ¡°I have no charm or talisman.¡± ¡°Umm. That is strange. If that is the case, I must adjust my dosage further. Maybe the batch I mixed wasn¡¯t correct,¡± Cristian looked thoughtful, scratching his head as he mused. ¡°If that is all you came to ask, you can leave now.¡± ¡°I still do not know how I couldn¡¯t catch you. That fact baffles me.¡± In an instant, Cristian appeared next to SJ, blade drawn and thrust towards her stomach. She didn¡¯t even have time to react. Her hands were still in the same position. SJ¡¯s eyes were wide in terror as she stepped back, swinging her claws defensively. Cristian stood, tilting his head to one side, looking at her as she swung her claws at him. His hand moved so quickly it was a blur as he blocked the blades. ¡°Very interesting,¡± he said with intrigue. SJ stepped away. Again, Cristian came for her. There was no way she could compete with his speed, and once again, his blade stopped before striking her. ¡°Why can I not hit you? In all my time, this is a first for me. Very frustrating, to say the least.¡± SJ was now backed against the room¡¯s window. There was nowhere for her to go. The blade in Cristian¡¯s hand vanished and was replaced with a blackjack. His arm blurred in motion and moved swiftly as he went to strike her again, too fast for her to block the blow to her face as she brought her hands up. The blackjack again stopped short of its target. Cristian frowned deeply. ¡°Poison worked, blades no, blunt weapon no, umm,¡± he mused, looking at her. ¡°Let¡¯s see.¡± There were no words that SJ could fathom, being completely open and defenceless against the attempted attacks. This time, a sword appeared, which he casually spun in his hand. He pointed the blade at her and thrust forward. The blade again stopped two inches from her body. Before moving it in a slashing motion, it stopped again. ¡°You have no magic. You have no shield that I can sense. Yet I cannot physically harm you. What in Amathera is protecting you? This is so confusing.¡± He returned the sword to his inventory and turned away. He was holding his chin in his hand thoughtfully, muttering to himself. ¡°Slashing damage, piercing damage, blunt damage. I wonder.¡± Spinning on his heel, a small silver star suddenly shot at her. Recognising it as a shuriken, SJ tensed for the impact. The impact never came as the shuriken bounced uselessly to the room floor. Next, a short bow appeared, an arrow in flight within the blink of an eye. The arrow stopped and fell to the floor. ¡°Well, this is the most interesting scenario I have ever been in,¡± Cristian said. ¡°I cannot physically hit you, although passive attacks with the poison work. Even then, it didn¡¯t work properly.¡± Dave had been screaming in SJ¡¯s head the whole time Cristian attempted his attacks, but SJ had just stood there. She felt the same level of confusion as Cristian. She could not defend against his attempts, yet everything fell short of hitting her. ¡°In all my time, I have never experienced this!¡± Cristian exclaimed, staring at SJ with a furrowed brow. ¡°Umm. Do you mind if I try something?¡± he asked. Unable to gather words, SJ stood staring blankly at him as he stepped forward, holding his hand out. SJ stood dumbfounded. Her arms had dropped to her side as the insanity of the situation had developed. She should have been dead thrice over, at least. Watching as his hand neared her, he placed it on her wrist. Staring at his hand as he touched her, his hand felt warm and gentle against her skin. She saw his grip tighten, the knuckles of his hand going white, but there was no increase in pressure against her arm. Opening his eyes wide in amazement, he stepped back. ¡°You are invulnerable to physical harm.¡± ¡°What on earth is going on?¡± Dave¡¯s confused voice came through, his ranting having lessened as the bizarre scene unfolded. The absurdity of the situation was not lost on SJ. ¡°I am not invulnerable. I have been injured many times.¡± ¡°There is no other explanation. I have assassinated hundreds, if not thousands, over my life, and no one has ever resisted my physical attacks. When you ran to the window, I could not grab you before you jumped. Even with your increased initiative, my blade should have struck, but the attempts just now have proven you are at least invulnerable to me.¡± Cristian turned and walked over to a chair, turning it to face SJ and sitting down. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. ¡°There must be a reason.¡± Knowing her claws were useless against him, SJ returned them to her inventory. ¡°I think I know why he can¡¯t harm you,¡± Dave excitedly said. ¡®Why?¡¯ ¡°The tattoo.¡± ¡®What about the tattoo?¡¯ ¡°I think he is a dragonling.¡± ¡®Isn¡¯t a dragonling a baby dragon?¡¯ ¡°No. They are dragon changelings. Their true form is that of a dragon, but they can change forms like a changeling may. They are ridiculously rare. I have never met or seen one before.¡± ¡®Why would that stop him from being able to damage me?¡¯ The word Dave said next amazed SJ. ¡°Bob.¡± ¡®What has Bob got to do with it?¡¯ ¡°I remember the exact conversation you had with Bob in the meadow and the final words he said to you before he flew off, ¡®If you meet any of my kind, don¡¯t worry.¡¯ I think your symbiosis prevents him from being able to physically attack you since he is a dragon.¡± SJ wasn¡¯t able to remember the exact conversation. She had been so in awe of meeting a dragon for the first time but vaguely remembered his parting comment. ¡®You think that is why he can¡¯t harm me?¡¯ ¡°It has to be. There is no other explanation.¡± ¡°This is impossible. I can consider no worldly explanation unless a deity protects you.¡± Cristian frowned. ¡®Do I tell him?¡¯ ¡°It may help if he is aware, but do you want to tell him your secret?¡± Unsure whether to divulge her secret to him, SJ considered her options. ¡°You are a dragonling.¡± It was a statement meant to have an impact, and it did. Cristian couldn¡¯t hide his surprise at her comment. ¡°How, may I ask, do you know of my kind?¡± ¡°I have met your kind before.¡± ¡°Another dragonling?¡± Cristian frowned. ¡°No. Not a dragonling, but a dragon.¡± His frown deepened. ¡°You have met a dragon and survived?¡± ¡°I bet his true form is a green dragon. Green¡¯s are poisonous, and I bet the poison was his own. That may be why it didn¡¯t affect you as much as he expected.¡± ¡°You are a green dragon, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°How could you possibly know that?¡± Cristian now had a shocked expression on his face. The conversation¡¯s direction had now placed SJ at an advantage. ¡°I wonder what the city authorities will say to discover that Carlito is a dragonling?¡± Squinting his eyes in anger at SJ, he responded, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t advise to tell anyone. I may not be able to harm you, but I know others who could.¡± ¡°It appears we may both have a secret then, doesn¡¯t it?¡± SJ¡¯s confidence grew with every passing moment, knowing the dragonling couldn¡¯t physically harm her. ¡°You said I was not in danger when you entered my room, yet you attempted to attack me.¡± ¡°I somehow knew I would fail to,¡± he sighed. ¡°Anyway, your contract is void now. The stipulation was that you had to be killed before joining the council. As you are now a member, it no longer applies.¡± The mention of a contract against her sent a shiver down her spine, and her hair stood on end. ¡°Who was it?¡± ¡°Was what?¡± ¡°Who opened the contract?¡± ¡°I have no idea. It was an open contract at the assassin¡¯s guild. High reward but also high risk. I know several were trying to reach you.¡± ¡°The ones arrested?¡± ¡°Some were, yes. It doesn¡¯t matter now since the contract is void.¡± ¡°How did you escape the scriers?¡± ¡°I hold no animosity towards you. You are just a target. There are no feelings involved in my line of work.¡± ¡°Why would a dragonling choose to be an assassin?¡± ¡°Why not? I have to do something to keep myself entertained,¡± he shrugged. ¡°You kill people for entertainment,¡± the thought sickened SJ. ¡°And money.¡± SJ couldn¡¯t keep the scowl from her face. ¡°You kill people for fun.¡± ¡°Is that not what an assassin does?¡± he smirked. ¡°No.¡± ¡°Oh. You are an assassin?!¡± he exclaimed. Annoyed at herself for letting it slip, SJ cursed in her head. ¡°Well, that wasn¡¯t very clever, was it?¡± Dave¡¯s sarcastic voice resounded in her mind. ¡°So, who is your sponsor?¡± ¡°Sponsor?¡± SJ asked. ¡°Many assassins have sponsors through guilds,¡± Dave said. ¡°I have no sponsor.¡± ¡°Do you not have any guild affiliation?¡± ¡°I am my own person.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Why is that so surprising?¡± ¡°Have you ever?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°But what about your class development?¡± ¡°I train as I need to.¡± ¡°Without a sponsor, though, you are restricting your potential.¡± ¡°How?¡± ¡°Sponsors offer class profession quests.¡± The way the conversation had turned from him trying to injure her to suddenly discussing the assassin class benefits of a sponsor was disconcerting. ¡°Ask him,¡± Dave said. ¡®What?¡¯ ¡°To be your sponsor.¡± ¡®Why would I ask someone who has tried to kill me to be my sponsor?!¡¯ ¡°Why not? He is a skilled assassin, a member of at least one guild, and he can¡¯t harm you. Never mind the fact he is a dragonling.¡± ¡®What does harming me have to do with it?¡¯ ¡°Sponsors have been known to dispose of their understudies before,¡± SJ could imagine Dave¡¯s virtual shrug. ¡°It¡¯s the perfect relationship for training and development.¡± Reeling from the suggestion, SJ didn¡¯t respond for some time. ¡°How about you be my sponsor, then?¡± The dragonling¡¯s face changed as she spoke¡ªCristian¡¯s perfect features vanishing and replaced by those of a female elf with jet-black hair. The clothes also shifted into those of one of many servers that worked in the tower. Looking at SJ quizzically, the dragonling mused for several moments before replying. ¡°That is an interesting proposition. Also unique, having a member of the city council as an understudy. I will give it some thought.¡± A melodic female elven voice replied. The only discernable feature still being the tattoo. ¡°Anyway, I must go. The guards will awaken soon, and I am sure your colleague will also be ready by now.¡± Standing, the dragonling removed a white towel from their inventory, draping it over their forearm and carrying a silver platter. It was the simplest yet best disguise she, he, it could have chosen. SJ did not know which they were now. Walking to the door, it opened it before turning and looking back at SJ. ¡°We will speak soon,¡± it replied as it left, closing the door with a sense of mystery that left SJ intrigued and eager for more. SJ stood in silence, staring at the closed door. ¡°Zigferd¡¯s coming,¡± Dave said. SJ wasn¡¯t sure how long she had been standing there until the rap of knuckles on the door broke her from her trance. Walking to the door, she opened it. Seeing SJ, Zigferd frowned, ¡°Are you ok? You look flustered.¡± ¡°Morning. I am just a little concerned about what will happen today in the chamber after yesterday.¡± The tension in SJ¡¯s voice was so palpable it seemed to hang in the air. There was no way she would mention the interaction with Carlito, especially considering she had just asked whether they would sponsor her. ¡°I am sure everything will be fine. Shall we get some breakfast?¡± Zigferd smiled. Chapter 120 – Confirmed While descending the stairs, they noticed two very confused-looking guards sitting at the small guard post established at the entrance to the floor. SJ saw two tankards on the table where they sat, wondering if Carlito had drugged them. Reaching the ground floor, the increased guard presence was still obvious, and anyone attempting to enter the tower with sleeves was being turned away. The security difference starkly contrasted the open doors on her arrival, a clear sign of the heightened tension, sending a shiver down her spine. The dining hall was busy, and upon entering, many turned to look at SJ and Zigferd. She could feel the scrutiny of their gaze as they walked towards a table to sit at. A serving elf with black hair walked towards them, and SJ¡¯s heart leapt in her chest. The elf smiled politely and asked what they would like for breakfast. ¡°Could I have a full hogling breakfast, please?¡± Zigferd asked. ¡°Of course, and for yourself?¡± the elf said. SJ locked eyes with the elf before she glanced at the white towel draped over her forearm and the tray she carried. Shifting in her seat nervously, knowing precisely who was serving them, she requested coffee for the pair of them. "You look like you need one this morning," SJ said to Zigferd, who hadn''t requested one. Zigferd just shrugged, not noticing SJ''s nervous behaviour, and was none the wiser as he reached for a freshly baked roll each table had in baskets. There was a buffet table in the hall''s centre, and SJ, even after the recent discussion with Carlito, wasn¡¯t willing to order food directly from the kitchen. Especially after Carlito confirmed the only way they could harm her was with poison. She knew Carlito had said the contract was now revoked, but after Carlito''s show in her room, she was unwilling to chance another poisoning. ¡°The brashness of the dragonling is astounding,¡± Dave said. ¡®I¡¯m not surprised, after what they just did upstairs,¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°I¡¯m grabbing some of the buffet,¡± SJ said as she headed to the table. The wide table held many selections of meats, fruit and other items of food which SJ didn¡¯t recognise. Selecting various items, she filled a plate and returned to the table when a large, imposing figure of an orc blocked her path. He snarled, curling his lip as he looked down at her and said, ¡°So you are the reason for the problems.¡± Not expecting a confrontation, the sudden comment took SJ aback. She knew she was to blame, but it wasn¡¯t her fault. ¡°I would be grateful if you would please let me by.¡± ¡°You should leave the tower and not come back. Your kind aren¡¯t welcome here.¡± After the previous evening¡¯s conversations with those at Otherlisar¡¯s, she hadn¡¯t spoken to all the guests, but those she had had shown sympathy towards what had happened. ¡°Do you mind stepping out of my way, please?¡± SJ asked politely. ¡°I said your kind aren¡¯t welcome here,¡± he snarled. Several at nearby tables had turned to watch the interaction. ¡°I would like to eat my breakfast in peace. If you don¡¯t mind.¡± The orc growled and swung his hand down at her plate, catching the edge of it and making her spill the contents onto the hall¡¯s floor. Not flinching, SJ took a slow breath. She was furious inside, but couldn¡¯t allow herself to react. She was supposed to be an ambassador now, and she was also a sworn council member. SJ turned away from the orc and walked back towards the buffet table. ¡°Don¡¯t you turn your back on me,¡± he growled, grabbing her shoulder. A bolt of blue light streaked across the dining hall at that moment. It flew over SJ¡¯s shoulder, missing her by inches, and struck the orc in his chest. The orc froze in place, his arm outstretched. Looking towards where the bolt had originated, she saw Alec, the Archmage wearing sleeveless red robes, walk over. She had never heard him speak before, and his voice cut across the hall as he did. ¡°Who is he with?¡± his commanding voice was emotionless. Turning to look at the orc, SJ saw it frozen as a statue, the orc¡¯s eyes still moving, showing visible panic. Noticing that Zigferd was on his way over, a half-orc rose from a nearby table and hurried to where SJ stood as Alec reached them. ¡°Sir, I am so sorry. He is the newly assigned mayor of Prosii,¡± the half-orc said, looking ashamed. Alec raised an eyebrow at the comment. ¡°And you are Tobius, if I remember rightly, the trade envoy for Prosii?¡± ¡°I am, sir.¡± ¡°What is his name?¡± ¡°Caref, sir.¡± Alec turned to look at Caref, staring into his fear-stricken gaze. ¡°Well, Caref. You were to be sworn in today. I can let you know that you have forfeited your right of entry to the council. Guards, please escort Caref to his room to gather his belongings and ensure he leaves the tower.¡± Two guards headed over. ¡°Sir, please,¡± Tobius pleaded. ¡°We only arrived this morning. Our journey was delayed.¡± ¡°At least that explains why the scriers didn¡¯t pick up on his hatred yesterday. Tobius. You know the council rules. No one may lay hands on another within the tower walls. Especially an accepted councillor over one who has not yet taken the oath. I suggest you explain the tower¡¯s etiquette to him on your journey home.¡± The comment over SJ, already being accepted, caused a few sitting in the hall to mutter, and she could feel the heat rising in her cheeks. ¡®Why does everything I do always seem to draw the wrong sort of attention?¡¯ she thought. ¡°Life would be boring otherwise,¡± Dave said. ¡®An exciting day used to be finding false data entries, and recently, I am lucky to go a day without someone or something trying to kill me.¡¯ Dave couldn¡¯t help but laugh. ¡°But, sir?¡± Tobius said. ¡°There are no buts. If you wish for a mayor of Prosii to be recognised by the council, I suggest you choose one with the temperament to hold the position.¡± A guard now stood on either side of Caref, gripping his arms. Alec motioned the spell, breaking, Caref falling forward, unbalanced by the spell. Zigferd¡¯s face was a picture of fury as he approached. SJ noticed him coming, so she stepped around Caref and stopped him. ¡°No.¡± ¡°How dare he grab you!¡± Zigferd fumed. Alec looked at Zigferd. ¡°Not inside the tower, Zigferd,¡± the warning was subtle but concrete. Zigferd gave Alec a glancing look before turning on Caref. ¡°Your father would be ashamed,¡± Zigferd spat. ¡°Zigferd, please,¡± Tobius interjected. ¡°His father was an amazing orc. Yet, his manners were not passed on to this orcling.¡± The comment from Zigferd surprised Caref, who easily equalled the orc in height and bulk. ¡°You are Zigferd!¡± the orc said, surprised. ¡°I am, and you just attacked my ambassador.¡± The orc¡¯s demeanour changed dramatically. ¡°Zigferd. I did not know this fae was yours.¡± ¡°This fae has a name and a title, which I suggest you use when you address a council member,¡± Zigferd warned. ¡°I didn¡¯t know the ambassador worked for you.¡± ¡°And what does it matter who I work for?¡± SJ asked. Caref didn¡¯t answer. ¡°Take him away, please,¡± Alec said. ¡°Sir,¡± the guards replied as they marched Caref from the hall. ¡°Your position will be announced first this morning. Hopefully, that will bring an end to this hatred and stupidity that has befallen the tower these past two days,¡± Alec said. ¡°Thank you, Alec,¡± Zigferd said. Nodding in response, Alec turned and walked back to the table he had been sitting at. ¡°I don¡¯t feel like eating now,¡± SJ said. Walking back to the table, they took their seats. Sitting in front of where SJ had been was a large pot of coffee. SJ looked around the hall suspiciously, not seeing the black-haired elf anywhere. Several kept glancing over to where she sat, making her feel uncomfortable. The smell of freshly ground coffee was tempting. ¡°There is a note under it,¡± Dave said. Sitting under the coffee pot¡¯s edge was a small piece of parchment. SJ lifted the pot and discreetly slipped the small piece of parchment into her palm to keep Zigferd from knowing she had been left with a note. SJ excused herself and said she would walk in the garden. Entering the garden, several sat around the stone benches. Finding an empty bench, she took a seat, her last garden visit differing from this. Sitting, she took in her surroundings. The myriad of colours from the flowers and their scent combatted the occasional smell of pipe tobacco that filled the air. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Opening her hand, she slowly unfolded the parchment. ¡®Meet me at the Black Griffin tonight at 22:00 if you wish to be considered.¡¯ SJ¡¯s display triggered. Quest - Meet Carlito at the Black Griffin Class quest ¡°That¡¯s unusual. There is normally a description when it is a class quest telling you the aim of what you need to do,¡± Dave said. ¡®Nothing I ever seem to do seems normal.¡¯ ¡°That is true.¡± It was approaching 09:00, and the inauguration would start at 09:15, so SJ headed back inside to meet with Zigferd. Entering the council chambers, they made their way to their seats. The council chamber was filled with quiet conversation, and precisely on time, the main doors opened as the horn blew, and the chancellor, Wystria, and Alec walked in. Everyone in the chamber was sleeveless, even the chancellor. Walking to the podium, they took their positions. The chancellor stood and surveyed the chamber again. ¡°Good morning, all. As you are all aware, there have been some rather unusual happenings with the threat to one of our number. All the nine individuals arrested remain in custody, undergoing further questioning. At this time, we still do not know who hired Carlito.¡± The mention of the assassin¡¯s name caused murmuring to start. Waiting for a short time to allow quiet to settle again, the chancellor continued. ¡°Everyone present should know that once councillor status has been approved, Asterfal will be responsible for your protection.¡± There were nods from many in response. ¡°Last night, in an unprecedented procedure, we, the council leaders with equivalent witnesses, witnessed and approved the joining of the Ambassador for Killic.¡± This statement caused several to gasp at the announcement. ¡°I know that for many, this may have broken protocol and expectations because of the governing laws of the council. I chose to perform this act as your leader in response to the threat placed in your beloved sanctum. Now that SJ has been affirmed as the Ambassador for Killic, she is fully under the council¡¯s protection. Any further act against her will not be attacking her but attacking what we in Asterfal stand for as a body of authority. An attack on one is an attack on all.¡± The chancellor paused again, surveying the chamber. ¡°Just this morning, we have also had to defer a new member because of their hatred. This behaviour is not appropriate. We rule as one. Race, sex, and beliefs do not enter the council. We are all equal in our right to vote once confirmed as members. Because of the delays caused yesterday by the attack, I would ask all those announcing their positions to keep their acceptance statements brief. We are behind schedule and still have four business days to complete after we conclude the ceremony, with two more chamber sessions for voting.¡± SJ felt her cheeks redden, being the focus of the comments. ¡°Without further ado, Master of Ceremonies, please begin the proceedings.¡± Stomping filled the chamber after the councillor spoke. The dwarf SJ now knew as Darwinial walked to the platform as the lead council took their seats. ¡°Welcome all. As the chancellor says, we have much to get through. First this morning, we are proclaiming the first and newest accepted member to our council SJ, the Ambassador for Killic.¡± Zigferd nudged SJ as she sat there frozen. Standing, her hands clammy, she brushed them on her dress and spoke. ¡°Thank you for your kind words of support, chancellor.¡± The chancellor hadn¡¯t expected her to mention him and looked at her with a smile, ¡°and also to your lead councillors for their help.¡± Both Alec and Wystria nodded politely. ¡°I have met some of you already, and I hope to meet many more of you over my time as Ambassador for Killic. Thank you.¡± Stomping began in the chamber as SJ concluded her introduction and took her seat. With no hesitation, Darwinial announced the following new councillor. By the time they broke for lunch, fifty-three more members had been introduced to the council. The afternoon session would be the swearing of the oath. After the break, they positioned the golden plate against which SJ had sworn the oath in front of the platform when they returned to the chamber. ¡°Is it over yet?¡± Dave asked. ¡®I can see why it takes three days,¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°Also, they reduced speeches.¡± ¡®Yeah. Listening to some of them the first day was interesting, but most just seemed to like the sound of their own voices.¡¯ ¡°Nearly done. Then we can do some real work.¡± ¡®Real work?¡¯ ¡°Your class. That quest has me intrigued. I am interested in seeing what Carlito will offer. Class quests can take many forms. There are no specifics apart from that they should progress in difficulty as you complete them.¡± ¡®Darren said before that they help with skill development, but we have never discussed them.¡¯ ¡°There hasn¡¯t been a need until now. Class quests relate to your specific class. A druid may be to heal a certain number of creatures, etc. As an assassin, yours may be to kill a certain number of targets.¡± The thought of killing innocent people made SJ feel sick. ¡®I¡¯m not sure I could do that. You know my feelings about killing.¡¯ ¡°Yes. Yes. Evil only. Unfortunately, the class you chose isn¡¯t as forgiving as you.¡± ¡®I won¡¯t kill innocents.¡¯ ¡°Then you may never develop in the assassin class if that is the case. You need to understand that it is just a job. What makes the life of one being or creature more precious than the life of another?¡± ¡®What do you mean by that?¡¯ ¡°Why should people target and kill a wyvern for attacking a town when all it¡¯s doing is following its instinct of hunting? I have never understood the thought process fully. It does not differ from your reaction when the wolf attacked the doe. It¡¯s just an area that doesn¡¯t compute for me logically. You decide that the life of one is above the life of another based on your belief. What makes one being more valid than another?¡± Dave¡¯s philosophical thought was difficult to argue. Even considering sentience as an argument, SJ struggled to consider it in a manner that didn¡¯t sound weak. ¡®If it isn¡¯t down to belief, then what should it be down to? Isn¡¯t alignment based on belief?¡¯ ¡°Yes. The alignment system can be loosely tied to belief in simplistic terms, but it also relates to the natural behaviours of those it pertains to.¡± ¡®Example?¡¯ ¡°Many think ogres as evil. They hold no fear and have no problem killing. It doesn¡¯t mean that all are evil, though. Many ogres find their position because of the actions of those around them. They end up being shunned and attacked on sight by many. How many ogres have been attacked for fear of what is expected rather than what they believe? Bordon was trying to grow his clan. Were his actions any worse than many others before him? Look at yourself as a prime example. You have found yourself shunned as a fae yet have never performed any act that would be typical for the fae.¡± ¡®There is a saying from back on Earth that trust is earned, not given. If a being builds trust, won¡¯t that change how they are perceived?¡¯ ¡°But how can they accomplish it when they experience persecution from the beginning?¡± It was the typical catch-22 situation. Predetermined behaviours always appeared to set precedence. ¡®I suppose it does not differ from the hate and animosity shown against the fae.¡¯ SJ agreed with Dave''s comment. ¡°My exact point. All you have ever done is help your friends and support them. Just because you are fae, many see you as a problem.¡± ¡®Does that not mean most fae are chaotic alignment?¡¯ ¡°No. That is where the loose link between alignment and belief comes in. A fae can be lawful yet still cause mischief as they follow their racial trait for mischief but will do anything for one of their own and many others. It just isn¡¯t that simple. Your actions could be lawful, yet you are neutral.¡± ¡®It¡¯s so complex.¡¯ ¡°It is.¡± As the oaths continued, SJ and Dave discussed the philosophical ideals of class, beliefs, alignment, and race. SJ still did not understand how it all related. Yet, she appreciated Dave¡¯s argument about her assassin class actions and considered what she might eventually need to do. When they entered the dining hall, the tables were all pre-laid with mountains of food. Roast hoglings were the centrepiece on most, with wild fowl of various forms also present. Vast bowls of vegetables and freshly baked bread filled the tables with bottles of wine and giant jugs of ale. Zigferd had warned SJ there would be a celebratory feast but she hadn¡¯t expected the amount of food present. It sickened SJ the amount of food for so few compared to the squalid conditions she had seen in the district. After picking at food and conversing around the table, SJ gave an excuse to leave. Zigferd asked if she was okay, responding that she needed fresh air. Walking to the desk, she asked for Jay. She had a few hours before needing to meet Carlito at the Black Griffin and wanted to see Cristy. SJ changed her dress colour and design as they moved through the inner district. Her usual dress stood out too much in the outer districts. Many people wore plain leather or white, drab clothing. She had seen little colour compared to the bright colours those wore at the tower. She felt better once it was a more acceptable plain design and tan colour. The streets were busy in the early evening with the sounds of district life. Blacksmith hammering, traders calling, laughing and shouting from the many inns and beggars begging. After spending the previous evening at Otherlisar¡¯s, there was no comparison to the poor conditions. ¡®I am going to help Cristy¡¯s aunt and uncle.¡¯ ¡°How?¡± Dave asked. ¡®If Cristy is going to visit them more often, I will provide them with a better home.¡¯ ¡°They may not wish it.¡± ¡®No, but I will make the offer to Cristy. She can discuss it with them. They live in such a small home and, from their comments, they seem paid so little for their work.¡¯ ¡°You keep forgetting that life for many on Amathera isn¡¯t easy. There are challenges for many, especially those of the lower class.¡± ¡®And if I can help, I will.¡¯ ¡°It¡¯s your choice. You are rich compared to the majority who live here.¡± After seeing the deprived conditions of the outer district areas, SJ couldn¡¯t help feeling angry. The waste and luxury of the inner district were ridiculous. The streets became narrower and dirtier as they approached the city¡¯s outer walls. The stench of waste was ever-present. Even Killic suffered from inequality, but they tried to offset it as best they could. They planned to rebuild the poorest area of the town with the income from the mithril mine. They had made some minor changes but would complete more once they completed the wall in the valley. SJ supported getting this passed through the town council as needed. Employment in the town had improved with the building work, with many getting labour jobs supporting the expansion. It had already assisted many in improving their living conditions, and after talking to Lythonian, SJ had learned the need for food parcels had dropped substantially. The general improvement was already noticeable. She couldn¡¯t understand how Asterfal could ever achieve it. The city¡¯s sprawling size and restriction on land meant the only viable improvement for buildings was upwards. Cristy¡¯s aunt answered the door. She looked troubled, tear tracks on her face. ¡°Lurtew is missing,¡± were the only words she managed before collapsing, breaking down in floods of tears. ? Chapter 121 – Searching ¡°What do you mean, missing?¡± SJ said, panic gripping her. Through bouts of tears, Yawnee tried to explain what had happened. ¡°Lurtew went to the market to collect more tacks but hasn¡¯t returned.¡± ¡°How long ago?¡± ¡°He has been missing since last night. The market is only two blocks away.¡± ¡°Have you informed the guard?¡± ¡°Yes. They aren¡¯t interested. They said he hasn¡¯t been missing long enough.¡± ¡°We will soon see about that. Where is Cristy?¡± ¡°She fell asleep not long ago; she had been awake all night worrying.¡± The sense of dread SJ had experienced in Killic when Cristy had gone chasing Bordon came crashing back. The panic and anger she had felt at Killic¡¯s town guard had been severe. She could understand the despair that Yawnee was feeling with Lurtew missing. The backstreets of the district were a rabbit warren, and after witnessing the gang fight on her first night in the city, she hoped Lurtew hadn¡¯t fallen foul to the violence that bubbled under its surface. After Yawnee explained what Lurtew had been wearing, SJ turned to Jay. ¡°Jay?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Can you take me to the closest guard post, please?¡± ¡°Of course. The one for this district is over on Fallow Street.¡± ¡°Yawnee. I will speak to the guard again.¡± Jumping back into the cart, Jay spurred the horse as fast as he dared through the narrow streets. Reaching the main street, it widened, and Jay shouted for beings to clear the road as he headed to the guard post. The building had four storeys, which reminded SJ of a prison block rather than a guard post. Iron bars covered all the windows, and the outside had scorch marks. Climbing from the cart, SJ walked to the front door. The double doors stood open, and as SJ approached, she could see guards separating a scuffle. Two draconians were being held apart, hissing and snapping at each other. They were speaking in their tongues. ¡°Looks like a blood feud. I think the one on the left has attacked the one on the right due to family ties,¡± Dave said. While the guard dragged the pair further into the building, SJ went to the front desk area. A human male sat behind the desk wearing Asterfal¡¯s colours. His uniform looked tatty, and he didn¡¯t give an impression of authority. ¡°Yes,¡± he said, not looking up from the parchment he was writing on. ¡°I would like to speak to someone about a missing being,¡± SJ said. The human looked up casually, looking at SJ briefly. ¡°Cedric. One for you,¡± he called. A portly man in a shabby uniform walked from a side office behind the desk with what seemed to be half his breakfast spilt over his enormous belly. The state of the guard post and its staff was shocking. The air inside was acrid with the stench of stale tobacco smoke, sweat, and what SJ guessed may be vomit. ¡°What do you want?¡± the man scowled, distaste clear in his words. ¡°I need to discover what is happening about a missing being.¡± ¡°How long have they been missing?¡± ¡°Since yesterday.¡± ¡°Pfff. Come back when they have been missing no less than seventy-two hours,¡± the man said, turning back into his office. ¡°Excuse me!¡± SJ said sharply. ¡°You heard me. Now clear off. Seventy-two hours is the minimum reporting time.¡± ¡°That isn¡¯t good enough,¡± SJ snapped. ¡°Good enough, you say,¡± the large man turned and looked at her again. The man on the desk also looked up from his paperwork. ¡°No, it¡¯s not good enough.¡± ¡°Really!¡± the large man said. ¡°Well, I suggest you take it up with the district lieutenant then.¡± Both men laughed at the comment. ¡°Who is the lieutenant?¡± ¡°Lieutenant Jelart Hounslow. Not that, that will get you much joy. He doesn¡¯t care what happens in the district.¡± ¡°Where can I find him?¡± SJ was trying to stay calm. ¡°No idea. Complain all you like. It will make no difference.¡± Again, both men laughed. ¡°And what are your names?¡± The man at the desk frowned. ¡°What has that got to do with you?¡± ¡°I need to know who sent me to see him when I find him.¡± ¡°You think you can walk into our post and threaten us?¡± the large man snarled. ¡°I have not threatened you. I have asked a question, that is all. Do you not uphold the council of Asterfal¡¯s wishes as city representatives?¡± ¡°Wishes, you say. You aren¡¯t from Asterfal. I suggest you leave and find out who you are addressing before something unpleasant happens to you,¡± the large man glowered. ¡°I suggest that you perform the job for which you are being paid.¡± SJ hadn¡¯t noticed two other guards enter the barracks from behind her as she stood talking to the men. She suddenly felt her senses trigger, knowing there was a danger near. ¡°Watch it,¡± Dave said. ¡°Sort her out, boys,¡± Cedric said. ¡°Thinking she can waltz in here and give us orders. We are the district authority, no one else.¡± As one guard grabbed her, there was a cry from behind. ¡°Unhand her now,¡± it was Jay¡¯s voice. Flying into the guard post, Jay¡¯s fist connected with the jaw of one of the human guards, grabbing SJ. The man¡¯s head flew sideways from the impact, his eyes rolling in his head as he staggered from the blow, dropping to his knee. ¡°How dare you!¡± Cedric called. ¡°I dare,¡± Jay retorted. Swinging for the other guard. The guard still had hold of SJ and twisted, moving out of the way of the blow, letting her go. SJ stepped back until she was side by side with Jay. More guards were reacting from within the post and arrived at the desk because of the commotion. The guard who had let go of SJ drew his sword, and the one on the desk pulled a dagger from his belt. Using her identification skill, SJ prepared to defend herself. District 3 Guard Level: 24 Hit points: 129 of 129 Mana points: 55 Armour Class: 30 Attacks: Sword Special: Nil District 3 Corporal Level: 26 Hit points: 130 of 130 Mana points: 55 Armour Class: 20 Attacks: Dagger Special: Nil ¡°I suggest you come quietly,¡± the corporal said, moving around with his dagger. Jay stepped in front of SJ. ¡°You need to get past me if you think you are going near her.¡± Jay was a typical orc standing nearly seven feet tall; his broad, muscle-bound shoulders flexed as he snarled at the guards, appearing to fill the guard post¡¯s entrance. The guard he had struck was still reeling on his knees, unable to clear his head from the punch he had received. ¡°You are in enough trouble already striking a guard member,¡± Cedric sneered. ¡°What trouble do you think you are in attacking a council member?¡± Jay growled. SJ knew she would struggle to beat the guards head-on. If she had the initiative, she may take them, but not like this. Especially with more movement behind the desk and drawing more weapons as they moved. The guard who had drawn the sword halted as he turned to look at Cedric. ¡°He said councillor.¡± ¡°She is no councillor. She is a dirty fae,¡± Cedric replied. ¡°No, I am not just a councillor. I am also the ambassador to Killic. I am pretty sure the chancellor will be interested in knowing what is happening in the district,¡± SJ said. ¡°Lies,¡± Cedric spat. ¡°She doesn¡¯t lie,¡± Jay said, his fists clenched, not having drawn a weapon. ¡°I am a tower driver, under her orders, and you have crossed a line you didn¡¯t want to.¡± Jay stepped forward towards the guard with the sword, the guard instinctively lifting his weapon. The corporal with the dagger screamed for him to attack. The guard¡¯s face told a different picture. There was uncertainty in his movements, unsure if he should attack. Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. Jay was not waiting for him to regain his composure, and with a speed that defied his size, he launched a vicious punch at the guard¡¯s chest. Despite wearing chain mail, the guard could not withstand the force of Jay¡¯s punch, which sent him sprawling backwards. The wind knocked from him. The guard¡¯s sword clattered to the floor as he grabbed his chest. In revenge, the corporal went to stab Jay. SJ had equipped no weapons and stepped forward, delivering a swift roundhouse kick to the corporal. The strike from SJ took him by surprise as he went for Jay, catching him by his side. It caused no damage but stopped his momentum. Turning on the man, Jay roared and brought his fist round in a wild swinging punch, catching the man across the side of his nose. His nose exploded like a ripe berry, the corporal¡¯s hands moving to his face reflexively. With just three punches, Jay disabled the three guards in front of the desk. The large guard screamed at the others to move forward. None of them moved. All looked at Jay cautiously, who snarled. A deep, commanding voice sounded from within the guard post. ¡°WHAT IS GOING ON?¡± Upon hearing the male voice, the guards who had approached the desk suddenly retreated as a short, powerful-looking dwarf stomped towards the disturbance. He took in the three guards disabled by Jay, then looked at SJ and Jay, frowning. ¡°Do you want to tell me what the issue is?¡± he said to Cedric. ¡°This fae,¡± he said, spitting, ¡°and this orc has attacked members of the guard.¡± The dwarf turned again and looked at them both. ¡°What did they attack you with? Neither holds a weapon.¡± ¡°The orc, sir. He hit them all.¡± ¡°And disabled three of you with just his fists?¡± ¡°Fist, actually, I only punched each of them once,¡± Jay said, lifting his fist, showing the stain of blood from where he had hit them. ¡°Maybe I should pay this orc to be the guard then if he deals with you so easily,¡± the dwarf said, raising an eyebrow. ¡°I still don¡¯t understand why they attacked you?¡± Stepping forward, SJ spoke. ¡°We attacked no one. My driver here defended me from the guards, who grabbed me and then threatened him.¡± ¡°And why did they grab you?¡± ¡°When I reported a missing being, they told me to go away.¡± ¡°Who is the being?¡± ¡°He is the uncle to a ward of Killic, under my care.¡± ¡°What is a ward of Killic doing in Asterfal?¡± the dwarf asked, confused. ¡°She accompanied me and the mayor for the inauguration ceremony.¡± ¡°You have been at the ceremony?¡± he asked suspiciously. ¡°I am the ambassador to Killic and a regional council member.¡± The dwarf couldn¡¯t keep the look of shock from his face. ¡°You are the one.¡± ¡°I am not sure what you mean by the one, but yes, I am the ambassador to Killic, and it is a friend of mine who has gone missing.¡± Cedric, the large man, stood by the side of the dwarf. ¡°More lies. She needs locking up,¡± he turned, spitting on the floor in disgust. Without turning, the dwarf threw his arm backwards and up, clattering Cedric around the side of his head with his gauntlet-covered fist. Cedric¡¯s feet went from under him with the ferocity of the strike, sending him flying onto his back. Turning slowly, he looked down at Cedric. ¡°Corporal Chatfield. I suggest you keep your mouth shut. If this is the ambassador to Killic, you have all just lost your jobs.¡± ¡°She is no ambassador,¡± Cedric spluttered from where he lay with a blood-filled mouth. The dwarf turned and glared at Cedric, who shrunk under the ferocity of the dwarf¡¯s gaze. ¡°Do you have proof of your position?¡± the dwarf asked. ¡°What proof do I need? Is my word not good enough? Are you aware of any other fae on the council?¡± SJ had seen no other fae in Asterfal apart from Fran¡¯s sister and companion in the tower. ¡°Do you not have your sigil?¡± the dwarf asked. ¡°I have taken the oath. Is that what you are referring to?¡± ¡°Henry. Get the monocle.¡± At the words from the dwarf, one guard turned and hurried back into the guard post moments later, returning with a small silver box. The dwarf opened the box and removed a golden monocle. ¡°This does not identify you. It only shows councillor status. Do you mind?¡± the dwarf asked. ¡°Not at all.¡± Placing the monocle on, the dwarf looked at SJ and said a word she couldn¡¯t understand. After a moment, he removed the monocle, putting it back into the box. Turning, he looked down at Cedric. ¡°I told you she was no ambassador,¡± Cedric said, sneering, his face already swollen. The dwarf reached down to help the man up where he was still sitting, cushioning his bruised jaw. Lifting the man to his feet, the dwarf waited until halfway up before hammering him in the face with his free fist. Cedric flew backwards onto the ground, his head bouncing significantly off the floor. ¡°Arrest these three,¡± the dwarf said, waving at the corporal and two guards Jay had dealt with initially. ¡°And get this piece of trash thrown in a cell,¡± he finished casually, pointing at Cedric. Protests erupted from the three guards but to no avail as their colleagues from moments before, who had arrived to support them, now roughly grabbed and dragged them off further into the guard post. They roughly grabbed and dragged Cedric¡¯s unconscious form off unceremoniously. ¡°Ambassador. Please accept my sincere apologies for any problems that they caused you.¡± The dwarf bowed as he finished speaking. ¡°You don¡¯t need to bow. I want to find my ward¡¯s uncle.¡± feeling angry and frustrated by the entire set of events. ¡°I will get Henry to deal with the issue personally. At the same time, I sort out the insubordination. Councillors are rarely seen in the outer districts and even less so in District Three. Unfortunately, we do not have the draw for trade as other districts do.¡± ¡°Fine. Can I please get the report filed so my friend can be looked for?¡± ¡°Please,¡± Henry directed SJ to the office Cedric had come from. Within five minutes, she had filed a report with the guard post, and patrols were immediately sent out to search the area around the marketplace where Lurtew was last known to have gone. She asked whether they had rangers who could track, but Henry explained that tracking was impossible in the city because of the number of beings. You couldn¡¯t reliably track anyone using skills. ¡°We will find him. It may take time, though. You have my word that every patrol we have available will be searching.¡± ¡°Thank you for your help, Henry.¡± The extra time wasted because of the original guard had frustrated SJ beyond belief. Disheartened by the incident, SJ left the guard post and, with Jay, headed back to see Cristy¡¯s aunt. ¡®I still don¡¯t think they will do anything productive,¡¯ SJ thought, having no confidence in the guard force. ¡°I agree. I doubt they will put much effort into finding him. They are too interested in breaking up bar fights and throwing their weight around,¡± Dave said. ¡°Thank you for your help back there,¡± SJ said to Jay as he drove the cart. ¡°My pleasure. It¡¯s not often I get to pound the guard these days.¡± Commenting on these days captured SJ¡¯s attention. ¡°What do you mean these days?¡± ¡°I started on the streets of Asterfal. We regularly used to have run-ins with guards,¡± he said with fondness in his voice. ¡°It seems you used to enjoy them.¡± ¡°We had some good brawls.¡± Pointing at a scar on his upper arm. ¡°This one was from a long sword. He got me good and proper that night.,¡± he said, smiling. ¡°Why did you fight with the guard?¡± ¡°I was a brawler in the underground fight circuit. It spread across all the districts, and I was affiliated with a local gang in District 7. Occasionally, when one of the guard officers lost, betting on a fight, they would decide to raid and prove that they were still in charge. Fun times.¡± Hearing about an underground fight club shocked SJ. She knew she would have to question him further as they arrived back at Cristy¡¯s aunt and uncle¡¯s. Jumping down, she went straight to the door. Yawnee answered almost immediately, still distraught. SJ explained she had reported Lurtew missing and that patrols would search for him. ¡°It¡¯s all my fault. I wanted to get my barrel finished before the guild collection. He shouldn¡¯t have taken more than half an hour.¡± ¡°Jay. I guess you know where the market is?¡± ¡°I do.¡± ¡°If we leave the cart here, can you show me?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Jay climbed down from the cart and secured the reins to a post on the street. ¡°The cart will be safe,¡± Yawnee said. ¡°It has a tracker anyway,¡± Jay smiled. Frowning, SJ looked at Jay. ¡°A tracker?¡± ¡°Yes. The stable master can track all carts. He has a fancy map in his office where he can see where they all go. Some magical thing or other. I don¡¯t know,¡± he shrugged. As SJ turned, her display triggered. Quest - Missing Discover what fate has befallen Lurtew Rewards: 1000xp SJ accepted the quest, knowing 1000xp wouldn¡¯t take her to level 20. Leading SJ down the street, they left Yawnee at the house and worked their way to the market square. It didn¡¯t take long to reach, and on arriving, it wasn¡¯t what SJ had expected. The town square of Killic was wide and open, with traders all surrounding the town¡¯s fountain. This square was dark and dismal. Few traders were still working on the rickety wooden stalls around its edges. The roofs of the surrounding buildings prevented much light from reaching the street level. Walking to the nearest stall, SJ asked if the trader had seen Lurtew. The dismissive shrug of the trader¡¯s shoulders added another layer of frustration. If she had been in Killic, every trader would have been helpful and forthcoming. Here she was, just another being and a fae as well. After speaking to the stallholders, they could not remember any gnolls of SJ¡¯s description. As they were about to give up hope and head back, waiting for Lurtew to return home, SJ had an idea. Sat at the edge of the market square under a cloak was a dishevelled-looking dwarf. Walking over to him, SJ caught the smell of strong alcohol. He wore tattered and worn clothes with holes in his trousers and buttons missing from his shirt, which was much larger than he was. SJ didn¡¯t fancy guessing at the food remnants and other dirt in his matted beard. ¡°Hello,¡± SJ said. The dwarf¡¯s face was black, and his hands and fingernails were just as dirty. SJ would have thought he had just walked out of a coal mine if she knew no better. ¡°What?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t suppose you remember seeing a gnoll here yesterday? He would have been wearing coopers clothing and a black apron?¡± ¡°Aye, I saw him. Don¡¯t get many gnolls round here.¡± SJ¡¯s nerves became hope, and her heart skipped at him, saying he had seen him. Yawnee, having told SJ what Lurtew was wearing. ¡°Where did he go?¡± ¡°He argued with a stallholder then was walked off by two others towards the warehouses.¡± ¡°Is the stallholder still here?¡± ¡°Ain¡¯t seen him today. Big fellow, he was barrel-chested. I asked him for some copper, and he spat at me. That¡¯s why I remember him so well.¡± ¡°Which direction?¡± ¡°Down Sissons Street,¡± the dwarf pointed across the square to a small road leading off. ¡°Thank you,¡± SJ said, calling a silver from her inventory and dropping it in the dwarf¡¯s hands. ¡°Bless you,¡± he said, his eyes widening as he pocketed the coin. ¡°You know this area?¡± SJ said to Jay. ¡°Well enough.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go then.¡± SJ knew it could be a wild goose chase, considering the time Lurtew had been missing, but this was the first clue to his whereabouts, and she would not give up hope of finding him. ¡°I can¡¯t understand why he would walk off with anyone?¡± SJ said to Jay as they walked down the street. ¡°It¡¯s a big city. Strange things happen all the time. This street leads to the warehouse district. I know some that work there, and I can ask if they are still working at this time of night.¡± Checking the time, it was now 18:46. She had a few hours before she needed to be at the Black Griffin. ¡°Great. Let¡¯s hope they have seen him.¡± SJ said, hurrying down the street. ? Chapter 122 – Quiller The warehouse district was not much of a traditional warehouse area, but more of a group of buildings amalgamated in a hodgepodge misshapen design. They used any space where it was available. The homes, which once housed families with large windows, now had all the windows boarded over. To accommodate double doors, they knocked through areas of walls where the original single doors were located. The street they had turned down had widened, making it easy for carts or wagons to traverse. Rubbish cluttered the street itself, and broken crates littered the outside walls. Lanterns hung on posts along the street, providing light in the dimming evening. Several buildings were still active, with wagons or carts on or off-loading. ¡°I know that goblin,¡± Jay pointed, ¡°I¡¯ll go ask him.¡± Jay stood talking to the goblin as SJ watched the beings working around the area when there was a cry from above. ¡°Look out below!¡± Looking up, a crate that had been being lifted by a rope via a pulley had snapped, sending the large crate plummeting to the ground. Hitting the stone street, the crate exploded, fragments of wood littering the street. A piece went sailing by SJ. The contents of the crate spilt out onto the ground. A weaselly looking man walked from the warehouse entrance to where the crate had been getting lifted. ¡°You,¡± he called, pointing. SJ looked behind her as the man pointed in her direction. Frowning, SJ turned back, but no one was near her. ¡°Me?¡± she replied, pointing at her chest. ¡°Yes. You did it, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Did what?¡± ¡°Snapped the rope.¡± ¡°Sorry? You think I caused that crate to fall?¡± ¡°Yes. It¡¯s the sort of thing your lot do.¡± SJ had had enough. Snarling with venom in her reply, she stalked towards the man, his face suddenly becoming a lot less confident than it had been. ¡°My sort. My sort.¡± SJ gritted her teeth, scowling as she spoke. ¡°I am sick and tired of the racism shown to ¡®my sort¡¯. Who do you think you are? I don¡¯t care what you may think or have experienced of fae before me, but to think every one of my kind is the same is pathetic. Do you trust every human you meet? Has another human ever caused you any harm? Are you that perfect a race in which there is never any conflict, disagreement, argument, or fighting? Why do you think you can stand there and throw accusations at me just because I am a fae?¡± By the time SJ had finished her tirade at the man, she was standing before him, finger pointed, wagging furiously. Silence had fallen outside the warehouses, and everyone on the street was watching. Not realising how far she had moved during her outburst, she stormed towards the man, making him back away until he was nearly against the warehouse wall. His eyes were wide in shock. ¡°S-sorry.¡± ¡°You will be if I hear you say another word like that again?¡± Turning and looking around her, her face contorted in anger, she continued. ¡°And the same applies to anyone who dares say anything against me. You don¡¯t know me. You don¡¯t know who I am or what I have done. So don¡¯t dare make assertions.¡± Fuming, SJ locked eyes with several beings staring at her. ¡°Well, that was unexpected. You will be the talk of the inns tonight. I bet this neighbourhood has seen nothing like it before,¡± Dave said. ¡®I am just fed up with it. Every time somebody blames my race. The next time, I may just kill them.¡¯ SJ¡¯s thoughts were emotionless. Dave chuckled with glee. ¡°My baby is growing up into an assassin, after all.¡± SJ moved back from the man into the street and stood with her arms folded, now looking towards where Jay stood with his goblin acquaintance. The scowl did not leave her face. More came out of the warehouse, and the weaselly man began shouting at them to pick up the remnants of the crate and its load. Taking in her surroundings, the others continued with their work. Many of those working in the warehouses looked frail and underfed. Jay finished talking to his goblin friend and headed over to her. ¡°What did you find out?¡± ¡°That can wait a minute. What did you do?¡± Looking surprised, SJ replied. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°You just shouted down the warehouse district in District 3!¡± ¡°And?¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t the sort of area you make a scene at. We should go before any of the others arrive.¡± Jay said, looking around. ¡°What others?¡± ¡°Oi!¡± The shout again silenced the area. ¡°Them,¡± Jay said, turning to face the approaching beings. SJ recognised the two beings that shouldered the goblin in the middle, but had seen none since arriving in Amathera. Their faces were those of a bull with large front-facing horns, and their physical appearance relayed the myths of ancient Greece. Amazed, looking at the creatures, SJ couldn¡¯t help but say what she saw, ¡°Minotaurs!¡± Both beings stood over seven feet tall and were even broader than Jay. ¡°State the obvious,¡± Dave said. ¡°Both are level 21. The goblin is level 18.¡± ¡®I didn¡¯t realise they were even here in Amathera.¡¯ ¡°Most of the creatures you can probably think of are here. It just depends on the territory you are in. Minotaurs are not the original inhabitants of this continent. They came here during the scrug wars as mercenaries for the dark forces and tribes have remained since. These are young minotaurs, only in level 20s. Senior minotaurs or experienced ones are usually in their level 40s.¡± The goblin in the middle of the two men was quite large compared to many SJ had seen. ¡°Quiller,¡± Jay called. ¡°You should know better than to be down here causing issues, Songa.¡± ¡°Songa?¡± SJ asked. ¡°Family name,¡± Jay said. ¡°We meant no issue, Quiller. We are leaving.¡± ¡°She ain¡¯t leaving until she pays for the damage she caused.¡± ¡°I caused no damage,¡± SJ snapped. ¡°Not what my foreman says,¡± Quiller sneered. ¡°Pay up, and you can leave with no problems. Don¡¯t pay up, and the boys here will teach you a lesson in manners.¡± ¡°Quiller. That¡¯s not a wise idea. She is a councillor.¡± ¡°You think I care about that pompous bunch sitting in the tower eating and drinking all day? We work to survive in the districts, and this friend of yours has caused damage for which she needs to pay.¡± ¡°She didn¡¯t cause any damage.¡± ¡°You calling my foreman a liar as well, are you, Songa?¡± Jay stood in front of SJ protectively. ¡°I am, yes, and if you think your boys can get through me, then you are mistaken,¡± he said, rolling his shoulders, cracking his neck, and staring at the goblin. Walking beside Jay, SJ placed her hand on his large forearm. ¡°I will deal with this.¡± Jay turned to look at her. ¡°Quiller, was it?¡± The goblin frowned, nodding at her. ¡°I only arrived in Asterfal two days ago, and since I have arrived, someone has attempted to kill me twice already. I am tired of being spoken to and treated like a third-class being, and on top of that, a relative of my ward is now missing in this cesspit of a district you call home. I will give you one opportunity to apologise for your threats and graciously allow you to walk away.¡± The expression on the goblin¡¯s face initially went from confusion as she spoke to laughing raucously. ¡°Haha. That has to be one of the funniest things I have heard this season. Sort her out, boys.¡± With her outburst at the person she assumed was the foreman, SJ had only partially released the anger she had bottled up, and now she was prepared to unleash her frustrations. The minotaurs moved forward, snorting, vapour erupting from their nostrils. Only thirty feet separated them. ¡°Councillor, please,¡± Jay said as he stepped forward, his face contorted in concern. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°This is my problem to deal with,¡± SJ replied, putting her hand up to stop Jay. The two minotaurs walked forward at seven feet tall compared to the diminutive figure of SJ at five feet six inches. It seemed like they would pound her into dust with the size and strength difference. ¡°Minotaur¡¯s are slow and cumbersome. They have strength, not speed. Your initiative will give you an advantage to strike and move,¡± Dave said. ¡®I am not looking to kill them. I will incapacitate them.¡¯ The speed at which SJ moved forward towards the minotaurs took everybody watching by surprise. Jay stood open-mouthed as, with a flourish, she closed the gap, and her martial arts came naturally. Since she had reached level ten in her kata, the fluidity of her moves was something to behold. Lorna had got to the point of no longer being able to monitor her moves easily. They could be so fast. The minotaur she approached swung its arm around to grab her. Ducking under its reach, she moved inside the strike zone and threw her initial punch into the one region that any male would never wish to receive a balled fist from anybody. Never mind a skilled martial artist with the anger and frustration boiling over. The sound that left the minotaur¡¯s mouth was unworldly. Its head flew backwards, its eyes wider than the largest dinner plates as both its hands grabbed at its now exceedingly painful crotch. Its knees gave way, crumpling to the floor, rolling, crying in agony. Several gasps from males stood watching, their immediate reaction to protect their crotches. Her display triggered. Congratulations, you have achieved Incapacitation level 3. SJ immediately stepped back and sideways, putting the falling form of the first minotaur between her and her second attacker. It cried angrily, lowering its head as it charged the short distance towards her. With speed as fast as a spitting cobra, SJ stepped sideways, leaving her trailing leg as it lunged at her¡ªthe momentum of the beast carrying it over her leg. The strength in its leg caused SJ to wince as its muscular form brushed her limb to the side. ¡°That didn¡¯t work,¡± Dave said unhelpfully. The minotaur¡¯s back was now to SJ as it turned its bulk back towards her, and she took advantage, punching low and hard into its kidney. The beast grunted from the impact of her punch, and its body tensed, pausing its turn. Stepping in, she struck with her heel into the rear of its knee. The knee buckled from the impact into the weaker area, staggering again. Remaining behind the beast, she moved in again and struck at its kidney. The minotaur¡¯s face contorted in pain as it groaned. A third successive punch in the same spot made it reach behind its back to hold the area. Swinging its arm around in a haymaker, it attempted to hit her. Ducking its attempt, she stepped back, giving herself room again and shrank. The expression on the minotaur¡¯s face became one of confusion as SJ became six inches tall and took to the air instantly. Buzzing straight above its head. Looking up at her, its head tilted back, it snorted and let out a bellow of rage, trying to grab her. A crowd of warehouse workers had appeared on the street, and several patrons from the nearby inn had come outside to watch the spectacle. Flying around the head of the minotaur at speed, she was making the beast turn to keep track of her. She could fly like this all day without rest, and the minotaur was getting frustrated and trying to keep up with her movements. Occasionally, she swooped in close, making it appear as though it could reach her before flying out of its reach again. The frustration on the minotaur¡¯s face was ever present with the sneers and huffs it was making. ¡°Stop dancing with it and just finish it,¡± Dave said. SJ had been observing it as it got more disorientated by her movements and could see its eyes flickering. She applied this same method against an owlbear she had faced during one of her quests. Despite the creatures being different, they were similar in size and speed. Neither had the dexterity to maintain fast movements, and its eyes were briefly closed, as she knew it had become dizzy from following her. Immediately seeing the sign of weakness, SJ dived and grew running as she landed full size behind the creature. It spun to attack her, but again, she was way too fast for it. Punching out viciously into its kidney again. This fourth strike brought a deep bellow from the minotaur, again grabbing the spot with its hand. Again, she kicked it in the back of its knee, and it staggered again, moving its hand from covering its kidney, allowing her a fifth successive hit. Its face was one of rage and pain mixed as it spat forth. A sixth punch rendered it to its knees, the blows eventually taking their toll. The creature¡¯s upper body was massive, its head wider than SJ¡¯s shoulders. Stepping up behind it, SJ struck the base of its neck. Her knuckle extended from her balled fist as she did. The beast let out a deep groan as its eyes rolled in its head, and it fell forward, unconscious, onto the ground. The incapacitation training she had been learning from Brother Wilbert was coming into its own. She had been hoping it would work on the minotaur, not knowing the biology of the beast, only assuming it was like other humanoid races. As the beast¡¯s face hit the street, SJ turned to look at the goblin. ¡°Quiller,¡± she said as she strode towards him. The goblin stepped backwards as if to turn and run before it backed into the massive form of Jay, who had moved behind him. Turning his head, Quiller looked into Jay¡¯s smiling face. ¡°Get out of my way, Songa,¡± Quiller hissed as Jay grabbed him by his shoulders. ¡°I am sorry, Quiller, but you owe the councillor an apology. I am just following orders.¡± ¡°You instructed your henchmen to attack me even though this incident could have been resolved without violence.¡± Even though Quiller was sneering at her, the fear behind his bravado was apparent. ¡°I said I would allow you to walk away if you apologised. You didn¡¯t take my offer.¡± The punch landed squarely in the goblin¡¯s gut, forcing the wind from his lungs and making him double over forward, coughing and spluttering. The second punch caught the goblin¡¯s chin, throwing his head backwards and knocking out any sense. Jay had let go of him as SJ had struck, and the goblin¡¯s eyes rolled in its head as it collapsed backwards like a falling domino. What would usually be a street that saw workers and cries of shouts of warehouse staff sat in silence as all those watched the outcome of the fae against the warehouse boss and his minions. Moving back from the goblin, SJ looked around her at the creatures. The minotaur, who she had immobilised at the start, was slowly getting back up to its knees, still grimacing in pain from the blow it had received. It looked towards her, snarling. It spoke in a broken common tongue, ¡°Blow, not nice!¡± ¡°I am sure your punch wouldn¡¯t have been nice if it had hit me,¡± SJ said. ¡°We should go,¡± Jay said. The street had more patrons from the inns that lined the warehouse district. Leaving the area, Jay walked quickly, and SJ stayed by his side. ¡°I would advise staying away from the area. Quiller will want revenge for being humiliated like that.¡± He kept glancing at her, appearing to want to say more, but was unsure what or how to say it. ¡°What did you find out from your friend?¡± SJ asked. ¡°He saw the gnoll being taken in a cart.¡± ¡°Where?¡± stopping and turning to look at Jay. ¡°That¡¯s the problem. He has been taken to a very dangerous area of the city.¡± ¡°Which area?¡± ¡°It is in District 9. The place has one of the worst reputations of violence in the entire city.¡± ¡°If violent, why doesn¡¯t the city guard sort it out?¡± ¡°You have already seen the state of most of the city guard. The inner city guard is funded by and controlled by the tower, including the gatehouses and outer routes. The district city guards are usually those who have failed to join the main guard force. Many of them are as corrupt as those that run them,¡± Jay said bitterly. ¡°Do you know where in the district he has been taken?¡± ¡°It¡¯s an old fighting inn. He must fight to pay his debt.¡± ¡°What debt?¡± ¡°He had run up a debt trying to keep the house and fallen behind on payments.¡± Jay shrugged. ¡°It won¡¯t be the first time and not the last. The loan sharks in the districts are renowned for their antics. They increase the interest, and you can¡¯t escape the cycle once they have you.¡± ¡°I wonder how long he has been paying them?¡± ¡°I would guess for a while if he has run up enough debt to be taken to fight.¡± Having met Cristy¡¯s uncle, SJ knew he was no fighter. Checking her display, she realised that the time spent in the district was approaching 2000 hrs. She still had a couple of hours before she needed to meet Carlito. Arriving back at Cristy¡¯s relatives, she knocked on the door. Yawnee answered momentarily. ¡°Any news?¡± her face was fraught with worry. ¡°We have a lead. We are going to find him. I need to ask a question before we go.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Do you know Lurtew had borrowed money?¡± Yawnee frowned, looking confused. ¡°Months ago, when I was ill, and we had to pay the rent, we borrowed some money.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think it was paid back in full. That is why he has been taken from what we discovered.¡± ¡°That can¡¯t be. Lurtew told me it was all paid off.¡± ¡°Lurtew may not have told you, so you didn¡¯t worry.¡± In her past life, she had known several who had made poor financial decisions and ended up in a spiral they couldn¡¯t escape. They got into worse and worse debt until the bailiffs came knocking. The invention of short-term loans and their astronomical interest rates fed off the already suffering poor in society. It had sickened her back on Earth, and discovering the same thing happened in Amathera made her blood boil. ¡°We will find him. Don¡¯t worry,¡± SJ said reassuringly. Jay had untied the cart, and as SJ climbed into it, Cristy came bursting out of the door. ¡°SJ.¡± Her face was distraught. Even after she had slept, it was clear how she was feeling. Flinging her arms around SJ, she hugged her tightly. ¡°Cristy. Don¡¯t worry, we will find your uncle. You stay with Aunt Yawnee and keep her safe for me, will you?¡± Although Cristy had matured dramatically over the past few months, the young, childlike eyes that now looked at her pained her. ¡°Please find uncle,¡± Cristy said as she sobbed. ¡°We will. Now look after your aunt. You need to be strong for Yawnee, okay?¡± SJ said, stroking her head fondly. ¡°I will,¡± Cristy said, her tear-filled eyes showing the hurt while her face tried to look determined. She was still so young. Handing Cristy to Yawnee, who held her tight, SJ climbed into the cart. ¡°We will be back as soon as we can.¡± Jay spurred the horse, and SJ looked back at Yawnee and Cristy, who watched them go down the street. Once they were around the corner, SJ asked, ¡°How long will it take to get there? I have a meeting at 22:00.¡± ¡°A meeting?¡± ¡°Yes. I have someone to meet, and I need to make sure I am there at 22:00.¡± ¡°Where is your meeting?¡± ¡°The Black Griffin.¡± ¡°What! You are meeting someone at the Black Griffin?¡± ¡°Yes. There is someone I need to speak to there. Why are you so surprised?¡± ¡°The Black Griffin is where we are heading now. It is one of the worst inns in Asterfal.¡±? Chapter 123 – Black Griffin Moving through the city streets at night was an unfamiliar experience. SJ¡¯s previous night¡¯s flight had only witnessed a small proportion of the unsettled nature of the outer districts compared to what happened. Although most shops were closed, several remained open, with a simple difference that hired hands stood by their doorways. Shouts and calls of many who frequented the multitude of bars in the city replaced traders¡¯ calls. Scuffles and fights broke out, and district guards appeared to break up several of them as they passed. ¡°Is it always like this?¡± ¡°We are still in a quieter area,¡± Jay replied. ¡°Wait until we reach District 9.¡± On leaving Cristy, they had travelled back towards the inner wall and circled it on a wide-open street. The lack of buildings beside the wall clearly separated the inner and outer city areas. Several wagons or carts were still moving along the street, and drivers shouted for pedestrians to get out of their way. There were no traffic rules, and it was first come, first served when moving across junctions. The streets reminded SJ of a medieval version of London. The day trading and noise of commerce were replaced with the release of steam associated with visiting bars and inns. Others approached beings walking along the street, trying to entice them into the inns and signalling for business. A scrawled sign outside one inn advertising ¡®buy two tankards, get your third free¡¯. The similarity of advertisement to capture punters was no different. Flickering lantern light provided the only light as the night skies had darkened. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you go through the inner city? Wouldn¡¯t it have been quicker and easier?¡± ¡°Quicker, yes. Easier, no. Each district has a gate, and the one to District 9 is closed at night. There have been issues in the past that have spread into the inner city, and ever since, the gate has been locked from 20:00 until 04:00 each night. As I say, District 9 is the most violent area of the city.¡± ¡°I thought District 3 was the worst?¡± ¡°Living conditions, yes. Because of the number of poor who live there but not for violence. It is quite calm. District 9 is where many of the Guild headquarters are. It is one of the richer district areas, and many Legionnaires, live or stay there.¡± ¡°If it is home to many guild headquarters, why is there so much violence then?¡± ¡°Rivalry. There are always guilds that are at war with each other. Regularly, murders occur between opposing guilds.¡± Frowning, the comment about the guilds confused SJ. ¡°I thought guilds were places to grow and develop?¡± ¡°They are supposed to be. The problem is that there are so many guilds now that many fight for the rights to specific quest chains. If they remove the competition, then they have free choice. Guilds¡¯ money from quests is massive if they gain exclusivity. Several quest chains hold vast rewards, which can set a guild up for years if completed.¡± SJ had always known about guild wars, having read fantasy books and played games, but hearing that they were a key factor of success was worrying. Maybe her thoughts about creating a guild in Killic were a bad idea after all. Zigferd¡¯s reaction made it obvious he was not very supportive of the idea, and hearing Jay talk about the guilds explained why. SJ could not see any definitive line that separated districts from each other, and it appeared that certain districts might branch outside their expected boundaries. The buildings were all varied, no two alike. Some were elaborate in appearance, others drab and plain. Listening to the voices of those on the street, many spoke in their language, not the common tongue. A group of goblins moved down the street, singing in their tongue. SJ noticed they all wore a blue tag on their sleeves. ¡°Who are they?¡± ¡°They call themselves the Marauders. They are a group of imbeciles. They are always trying to fight other gangs in the city and usually getting their asses handed to them each time. They are probably heading to District 5, where they fight with another goblin gang regularly.¡± ¡°Why does the guard do nothing about them?¡± ¡°They probably pay many of the guards off.¡± ¡°I saw a gang fight my first night here, and the guard came in and stopped them, arresting many.¡± Shrugging, Jay replied, ¡°They probably didn¡¯t pay their bribes. The outer city runs on corruption. I know as I was part of it for long enough.¡± ¡°What made you move from being a fighter?¡± Jay slumped slightly in the driver¡¯s seat. ¡°Love.¡± Intrigued by his reply, SJ pushed for an explanation. ¡°Love for who?¡± ¡°I was seeing a beautiful orc called Juniper. She had been watching me fight frequently, and one night after a match, she came to my room to introduce herself. I stupidly fell for her straight away. We got together, and after a few weeks, she asked me to stop fighting, as she could no longer see me get injured.¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t sound too bad.¡± ¡°It was all a scam. I didn¡¯t know at the time she was Gasgut¡¯s cousin. He is a lead fight promoter, one I had refused to work for before because he undercut the fight purse. I ended up paying off my promoter to release myself from the contract I was under. It cost me nearly everything I had earned to buy my freedom, and as soon as I did, Juniper changed. She was always busy and never available to meet, and then one night, when I watched a long-standing grudge match between Bathlor and Whendle, I saw her sit next to Gasgut.¡± Jay¡¯s face changed as he spoke, and his anger became clearer as he continued. ¡°I went to speak to her, and that was when I found out Gasgut was her cousin. He had deliberately asked her to get me out of the fight scene because he had been worried about my progress and didn¡¯t want me to fight in the annual championship.¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t you just start fighting again?¡± ¡°Because I let my anger get the better of me. I attacked him and, by doing so, broke his back. Gasgut ended up paralysed due to me.¡± ¡°Could he not be healed?¡± ¡°That sort of healing costs hundreds of gold. Even the richest in the districts would struggle to find that sort of coin. Also, injuries like that, if not healed quickly, can lead to long-term problems. He could not walk unaided by the time he was eventually healed.¡± ¡°Why did that stop you fighting, though?¡± ¡°No promoter would take me. The threat of losing my temper meant I was shunned. Anger in the ring is one thing. Fighting outside of the ring by a professional fighter is frowned upon even in the districts.¡± ¡°So no one would back you?¡± ¡°No, and without a promoter, you can¡¯t fight in the circuit.¡± ¡°I thought you said it was underground?¡± ¡°Ha. It is, but it also has rules, which I broke.¡± ¡°What made you become a fighter?¡± ¡°I had always been one of the best in the clan in my youth, and when I got my class choice, I chose brawler. It just seemed to make sense. There was not much to do in the clan territory apart from fight. Usually against the ogres or trolls.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t know brawler was even a class choice?¡± ¡°Class choices for Amathereans differ from Legionnaires,¡± Dave said. ¡®You have never mentioned that before?¡¯ ¡°Few Legionnaires ever discuss the personal history of an Amatherean. Multiple choices are open to most classes; as Legionnaires, you choose your overarching class and then specialise through skill trees. Many Amathereans select their class based on a specialisation rather than a class title. Brawlers sit under the fighter class.¡± ¡°Brawler, sword master, shield warden, spear master. They are all fighter classes.¡± Jay said. ¡°So, you are a fighter?¡± ¡°Yes. However, I have never fought with a weapon. I have no skills in any of them.¡± ¡°Could you still not learn?¡± ¡°Perhaps, but I wouldn¡¯t get any bonuses associated with their use. Fighters who specialise in swords, for example, will develop their sword tree and weapon proficiency.¡± SJ frowned, considering her own weapons¡¯ specialisation. SJ knew she had chosen her claws as her initial weapon, but she could expand and change weapons if she wished. ¡°Legionnaires have more freedom of choice,¡± Dave said, reading her thoughts. ¡°We are nearly there,¡± Jay said. SJ had been so engrossed in the conversation with Jay that she hadn¡¯t noticed their surroundings. The street they now travelled was wider than most, and many of the building¡¯s facias were more ornate than those she had seen. Their size was also significantly larger. Several had large placards or signs with various names hanging in front of them. ¡°I guess many of these are guild buildings?¡± ¡°Yes. That one there,¡± Jay pointed to a green-fronted building, ¡°is the Foresters. They are one of the city¡¯s more prominent and wealthy guilds.¡± The building was four storeys with large windows looking out onto the street. The lights lit the entrance, appearing magical rather than the usual lantern light. Several beings came and went from it, even at this late an hour. They looked well dressed and equipped with the look of adventurers. ¡°I guess many are Legionnaires?¡± ¡°Yes. This district has the highest proportion of Legionnaires in the entire city.¡± This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. ¡°How do you know?¡± ¡°The wealth they flaunt mainly. Amathereans are unlikely to spend as much money or have the money to equip themselves in the way they do. Some do, but they are rare in comparison. My uncle was an adventurer and a guild member of a town guild. It was not like here in Asterfal. Here, they will accept quests and sometimes travel for weeks to complete them. Many of them are dungeoneers. That¡¯s where they make their money.¡± ¡°There isn¡¯t a dungeon here, is there?¡± Jay turned and frowned at SJ. ¡°Yes. There is a dungeon in Asterfal.¡± SJ did not know there was a dungeon in the city, and the comment took her by surprise. She felt elated at the possibility of attempting a dungeon run. ¡°Can anyone access it?¡± ¡°No. Only guild members of certain guilds. That causes many of the fights. Only the top twenty may enter it. It¡¯s one reason for the continual friction.¡± ¡°Do you know what level it is?¡± ¡°I believe it is thirty. I am not sure it¡¯s not something I have ever considered.¡± ¡®Damn,¡¯ she thought. ¡°A dungeon being in the city explains a bit more about the place,¡± Dave said. ¡®Did you not know?¡¯ ¡°No. I would have told you otherwise.¡± ¡®Doesn¡¯t it show on maps?¡¯ ¡°Dungeon locations never show on maps. Many are kept secret once discovered.¡± ¡®Level 30. I have a long way to go before considering it.¡¯ ¡°At least we now know one exists here. I am surprised Zigferd hadn¡¯t mentioned it.¡± ¡®I think that for all the times Zigferd has been in Asterfal, I don¡¯t think he gets out of the inner city much, if at all.¡¯ ¡°Here we are,¡± Jay said, pulling up outside an open area between two buildings. It was strange seeing an open space after the close-knit buildings. The area in front of the building stretched over a hundred feet, and outside were tables and benches where many patrons sat drinking and laughing. A huge, vicious-looking black gryphon flew on a flag from a pole at the entrance, guarded by two enormous trolls. The building was large, its front over one hundred feet wide and three storeys high. ¡°Let¡¯s park the cart, and I will take you in.¡± Continuing past the Black Griffin, Jay tied the horse off after finding a space in front of a building with a free post where several carts were parked along the roadside. Patting its neck and feeding it an apple from his inventory. ¡°Be back soon,¡± he said. The horse neighed in response. ¡°Let me do the talking,¡± Jay said as SJ walked to the entrance. The two enormous trolls were easily twelve feet tall and towered over Jay, never mind SJ. They looked mean, covered in scaring, and both had cracked tusks. One of them noticed Jay approaching. ¡°Jay, what are you doing here? Gasgut won¡¯t be happy to see you.¡± ¡°You think I care what that two-faced bugbear lover has to say?¡± It still amazed SJ the racial slurs the different races used about each other when speaking to others. ¡°Who''s this?¡± ¡°She is with me. I am showing her the delights of the city.¡± ¡°And you brought her here. Not the best place for a date.¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t a date. It¡¯s business.¡± ¡°You back in the fight game? Be good to see you back in the cage.¡± ¡°Not this time, no. Other business.¡± ¡°Shame. Go in. No trouble, and you know what happens.¡± ¡°Yeah. Yeah. This ain¡¯t my first time.¡± The troll chuckled as Jay walked between them. ¡°Pleasant fellows,¡± SJ said sarcastically. ¡°They are useless fighters. Good for clearing patrons. Put them in a ring with a brawler, and anyone worth half his purse would rip them a new one.¡± The clientele of the Black Griffin was the most eclectic group of beings SJ had ever seen. She didn¡¯t recognise several races amongst the crowds that filled the front bar area. The tables were busy, and servers worked skilfully between them, serving tankards of ale and other drinks. Tobacco smoke hung heavy in the air, alongside the stench of stale ale and sweaty bodies. SJ couldn¡¯t see many females interspersed in the crowd. ¡°This way,¡± Jay said as he walked towards the far right of the bar, which had an arched door. SJ scanned the bar, looking for any signs of Carlito. Knowing that the dragonling could be any of the beings here sent her nerves on edge. As SJ weaved through the tables, someone suddenly grabbed her arm and pulled her roughly. Turning to see a very drunken elf, his eyes bloodshot and his speech slurred when he spoke. ¡°Hello, pretty. You fancy a drink?¡± SJ pulled her arm away from its grasp. ¡°Sorry. No thanks,¡± she said as she turned and continued following Jay. ¡°Oi. Come back here!¡± the elf said, going to stand. SJ hadn¡¯t noticed Jay move, but he was now in front of her. ¡°She said no,¡± Jay stood looking down at the elf menacingly. The elf¡¯s face screwed up, and he squinted as he tried to focus. ¡°Don¡¯t I recognise you?¡± ¡°Doubt it.¡± ¡°I do. You¡¯re that orc. The one that was banned,¡± the elf replied, swaying where he now stood. A few of the patrons, noticing the disturbance, watched intently. ¡°If you recognise me, then you have seen me fight and know what I am capable of, so when I say the lady says no, I mean it,¡± he snarled his response. ¡°It is you. The scumbag orc who attacked old Gasgut.¡± Jay closed his eyes as he took a deep breath. Opening them again, he turned, ignoring the jibe from the elf. ¡°Come on,¡± Jay said, heading back towards the arch. A large bugbear stood at the archway entrance. ¡°Ruffle,¡± Jay said, nodding to acknowledge the bugbear. ¡°Jay. What brings you back here? Haven¡¯t seen you in months.¡± ¡°More like years now,¡± Jay sighed. ¡°I am looking for someone for my friend here. Do you mind if I go to the cages?¡± The bugbear gave SJ a once-over before shrugging. ¡°I don¡¯t mind. Just be warned, Gasgut is in tonight. There is a gladiator fight later tonight. Many of the big names are here.¡± ¡°Oh great. Of all the nights to choose.¡± Jay said, grimacing. ¡°Be careful¡± Ruffle replied. The archway led to a long corridor that sloped down. Lanterns lit the walls, and as they followed it, the shouts and yells of a crowd could be heard. Reaching the end of the corridor, it opened into an enormous room. The entire room was set out like the coliseum. Tiered seating surrounded the walls, and a large open-topped cage stood in the centre. The cage must have been fifty feet square. In the cage, a gnoll and a kobold fought. Neither had weapons, and they lay into each other like there was no tomorrow. The fighting was brutal, and SJ couldn¡¯t help but watch. Anything went as long as it didn¡¯t involve a weapon; SJ watched the kobold bite down viciously onto the gnoll¡¯s shoulder, who had picked it up in a bearhug. The gnoll released the kobold, who moved back out of its reach. Jay paid no attention to the fight as he walked around the edge of the room, heading towards a corridor that led off to one side. SJ followed, glancing back at the fight as she did. ¡°Henry,¡± Jay said on reaching the corridor. A tall, muscular man turned at hearing his name, smiling as he recognised Jay, his broad arms folded across his chest. He wore an eye patch over his left eye and had a vicious-looking scar down the left side of his face. ¡°Jayzerab. How have you been?¡± the smile was genuine. ¡°Well, my old friend.¡± ¡°What brings you to the Griffin?¡± ¡°I am looking for a gnoll. Brought in today. Will be one of the sharks, probably.¡± Henry frowned. ¡°There are several new ones. It seems they were collected for the gladiator¡¯ bout.¡± ¡°Do you mind if I go look for him?¡± ¡°Lenny is with them. Watch yourself.¡± ¡°You know me, Henry. Never one to cross a line,¡± Jay chuckled. Henry laughed in response. ¡°No issues. I don¡¯t want to come and deal with you.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± As SJ went to follow, Henry put his arm in front of her. ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going?¡± SJ looked at the big man, smiling sweetly. ¡°With him.¡± ¡°Entrance to the tunnel is restricted to fighters or promoters only.¡± ¡°What says I am not a fighter?¡± Henry scoffed at her comment. ¡°Look, little lady. I mean no disrespect, but you would be eaten alive in the cage.¡± ¡°Looks can be deceptive. She took out Quiller¡¯s boys single-handedly,¡± Jay said. Henry raised an eyebrow at Jay¡¯s comment. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t need to do a thing. She is feisty.¡± SJ frowned at Jay¡¯s comment, not happy with being called feisty. Looking back at Henry, smiling again. ¡°I am here to look at promoting.¡± ¡°And who would you be promoting?¡± ¡°You just let him through.¡± ? Chapter 124 – Shark bait ¡°Why did you say that?¡± Jay asked, walking down the tunnel. ¡°Say what?¡± ¡°That you want to promote.¡± ¡°Why not? I can see from your reaction since you arrived here that this is your home and what you do. It is the most comfortable I have seen you. Would you not fight if you had a promoter?¡± Jay thought for a moment before replying. ¡°I enjoy my job as a driver, but there is nothing like the thrill of the cage.¡± ¡°This gladiator bout tonight. It sounds like a big fight?¡± ¡°It is. The gladiator bouts are second only to championship bouts. It¡¯s a free-for-all in the cage. It holds a large purse. You will probably find several of the city councillors here later.¡± ¡°Are weapons allowed?¡± ¡°No. All unarmed. It is normally the shark bait that ends up suffering. They fight to remove their debts, with the chance of death being an option. Brawlers, even new ones, are trained to take punches; others, even other fighters, need to be equipped more. A punch to the wrong part of a being can end them if they aren¡¯t prepared.¡± SJ understood this well enough from her elimination training. ¡°If you could, would you fight tonight?¡± Jay stopped, facing SJ. ¡°If the chance came about, I would, yes. I have missed the circuit.¡± ¡°Do you know how much it costs to enter?¡± ¡°I do not know. I received my cut and never paid for entry to any of my fights. I know it can be substantial. My highest-ever purse was a gold coin.¡± Reaching the end of the tunnel, it opened into a chamber. Various stands and training dummies were around the edges of the chamber. Several beings stood in front of them, practising punches or kicks. Others were wrestling, and the room had the stench that used to escape the boys¡¯ changing room at school¡ªstale sweat and male hormones. Several beings stood by others working out shouting orders, and in the middle of the room was a large round table. The beings at the table wore expensive and garish clothing. Brightly coloured materials and trinkets of wealth are on display. Jay let out a moan, seeing one of them. ¡°Lenny.¡± ¡°Who is Lenny?¡± ¡°The large orc. He is Gasgut¡¯s right-hand man. I always disliked the orc. Has an ego the size of a dragon yet has never once fought in the cage.¡± Mentioning the word dragon reminded SJ of Carlito. She checked her display and saw it was now 21:12. She still had forty minutes before supposedly meeting him. Even though they could easily be here, she would not know. Around the table were five beings, Lenny being the only orc. There was also a bugbear, an elf, and two humans. SJ immediately recognised the face of one human. ¡®What is that worm doing here?¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°Oooo. Interesting development. I wonder how many on the council know what his pastime involves?¡± Dave said. ¡®I bet some do.¡¯ Jay walked towards the table. Lenny had his back to him, and the bugbear noticed him first. ¡°Jay?¡± ¡°Yes, Dash. It is really me.¡± The others at the table turned to look at him. Lenny, the orc¡¯s face, turned to one of fury when he saw Jay. ¡°Who gave you permission to come here, you traitorous scum?¡± Jay ignored Lenny¡¯s remark. SJ stepped up beside Jay. The others at the table looked at her and frowned. Looking the man she recognised straight in the eye, she addressed them. ¡°Malaki, isn¡¯t it?¡± The eyes of Master Fretun narrowed at the comment. ¡°Master Fretun to you fae.¡± ¡°Really? I call no one master, especially a fellow council member.¡± SJ smiled. ¡°She is a councillor?¡± the elf asked in surprise. ¡°No. I am an ambassador and a regional council member, and Malaki here has been causing problems for a good friend of mine.¡± Malaki sneered at her, his face contorted to disgust and hatred. ¡°Why are you here?¡± Dash asked. ¡°Is this area not open to promoters?¡± The look of shock on the faces of those sitting at the table was a picture to behold. ¡°A promoter!¡± Lenny scoffed. ¡°And who do you have to fight for you?¡± ¡°You are looking at him,¡± SJ said calmly. ¡°What!?¡± Lenny shouted. ¡°That scum will never fight in the cage again after what he did.¡± ¡°All he needs is a promoter, and he has one. Do you not have rules?¡± Dash spoke, ¡°You are correct; rules must be followed. If you wish to enter a fighter, you must pay the purse fee.¡± Lenny and Fretun turned to stare at Dash in astonishment. ¡°You can¡¯t be serious?¡± Fretun said. ¡°Why not? The rules are the rules, and if they can afford the purse, it allows us to win even more,¡± he shrugged. The other human and elf nodded in agreement. ¡°How much is the purse fee?¡± Fretun smiled slyly. ¡°Twenty-five gold. I suggest you walk away now.¡± ¡°Twenty-five, you say,¡± SJ called twenty-five gold from her inventory and placed it on the table before the beings. Fretun¡¯s eyes opened wide in amazement. ¡°Where did you get that sort of coin?¡± ¡°That¡¯s nothing. It¡¯s pocket change,¡± SJ smiled. ¡°Liar, liar, pants on fire,¡± Dave sang. It was a good job that SJ was already smiling because Dave¡¯s sheer stupidity in singing such a childish rhyme made her smile even more. ¡®Really?¡¯ she thought. ¡°You are lying. That has just used most of your available coin, and you haven¡¯t even been to visit the traders yet.¡± ¡®Well, let¡¯s just hope that Jay wins, then.¡¯ Dash counted the gold coins. ¡°She has the entrance fee for the purse. There is no reason to stop Jay from fighting.¡± ¡°This is a joke, right?¡± Lenny said, fuming, his fists clenched at the outcome. Malaki was still open-mouthed that SJ had dropped twenty-five gold on the table. ¡°What time is the fight?¡± Jay asked, his face a picture looking at the twenty-five gold that SJ had casually dropped on the table. ¡°22:00, you have about thirty minutes to prepare,¡± Dash said. ¡°I better get ready then,¡± Jay said as he moved to an empty area of the room. ¡°Can I offer you a drink?¡± the elf asked. ¡°No. I am good, thanks. I have someone to meet soon,¡± SJ said. Malaki stood from the table, walked towards a fighter, and began talking to him and his trainer. The fighter was a powerful-looking gnoll. He looked over to where Jay was now sitting on a bench. Lenny left the table and walked to where Malaki was before walking off to speak to another fighter. This fighter was a large orc, standing a head above Jay in height. Its massive broad shoulders and bulging muscles on its arms denoted its strength. ¡°They are up to something,¡± Dave said. ¡°I saw Malaki give Lenny something.¡± ¡®Damn. I bet it¡¯s a potion. I need to speak to Jay.¡¯ SJ walked over to Jay as he sat, stretching his arms across his chest. ¡°You ok?¡± SJ asked. Jay grinned, ¡°Never felt better.¡± ¡°We may have a problem.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Malaki handed potions to his fighter and Lenny¡¯s.¡± Jay frowned. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t surprise me. They are both cheats. It won¡¯t be the first time.¡± ¡°Can we do anything about it?¡± ¡°Only if we have a cleric who can prove it. The effects of potions don¡¯t show on any identification spell or skill. Only a cleric can perform a diagnosis spell. They use them to check the health of beings and can pick up anything unusual.¡± That thought intrigued SJ, considering what Petunia had performed on her. She wondered if it was a similar spell. ¡®I wish Petunia was here.¡¯ ¡°Not sure you would get her in a place like this. Then again, she is no normal cleric,¡± Dave said. ¡®I still don¡¯t know what level she is.¡¯ ¡°Oh. Didn¡¯t I tell you? Petunia is level 68. She is among the highest gnomes I have ever met, especially for an Amatherean.¡± SJ was amazed when she discovered Petunia¡¯s level. ¡®That is high!¡¯ ¡°Very. No wonder she is one of the highest-level clerics on the continent.¡± ¡®Can you let me know if you spot any legionnaires?¡¯ ¡°Of course. There were a few in the bar area. None down here are.¡± ¡°Do you need anything from me?¡± SJ asked. ¡°Nope. All good here. I need to limber up.¡± ¡°Have you fought any of them before?¡± ¡°Only Olpi, over there,¡± pointing to a human. ¡°Is he good?¡± ¡°He wouldn¡¯t be here if he weren¡¯t, but I have beaten him enough times in the past. I am surprised he is still fighting. He always said he was going to retire.¡± ¡°Has it really been years since you have fought?¡± ¡°Three now.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you concerned?¡± Chuckling, Jay replied. ¡°I have been fighting my whole life, since being an orcling. I broke my teeth fighting ogres. There is no one here that concerns me.¡± ¡°Have you lost before?¡± ¡°Yes. On a couple of occasions, beings have landed a lucky punch.¡± ¡°You mentioned the ones brought here will be fighting. I haven¡¯t seen them. I need to find Lurtew.¡± ¡°The bait is kept out the back. They won¡¯t be brought in until the fight is due to start.¡± The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. ¡°Bait?¡± ¡°They are known as shark bait as they come in from the loan sharks.¡± ¡°How does the fight work?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a brawl. Everyone starts in the cage together. Last being standing.¡± ¡°How many?¡± ¡°There will be the promoted fighters. So the six of us here, then usually ten to fifteen bait.¡± As SJ was talking to Jay, Dash walked over. ¡°Jay. I owe you an apology.¡± They both turned to look at Dash. ¡°You don¡¯t need to apologise, Dash. The others pressured you. I know how it goes.¡± Frowning, SJ looked at Dash. Seeing her look, Dash replied, ¡°I was Jay¡¯s promoter. I had never seen a brawler like him before. I wouldn¡¯t be where I am now if it wasn¡¯t for him.¡± ¡°Who are you sponsoring?¡± SJ asked. ¡°The dwarf, Kylian.¡± Kylian stood about five feet tall and was much smaller in stature than the others who would be entering the cage. What he lacked in stature, he made up for it in pure muscle. Standing bare-chested, the muscles on his body rippled as he worked out. His head appeared to merge into his shoulders; his neck was so thick and muscular. ¡°He looks strong,¡± SJ said. ¡°Very,¡± Dash smiled. Focusing on Kylian, SJ triggered her advanced identification spell. Kylian Breezeblender Level: 38 Class: Fighter - Brawler Hit points: 530 of 530 Mana points: 55 Armour Class: 25 Attacks: Unarmed combat Special: Windmill, Headbutt Weaknesses: Left elbow Dash left them to it as he walked over to speak to Kylian. ¡°Kylian is a level 38 Brawler. He has a weakness,¡± SJ said. Jay screwed his face up, looking at SJ. ¡°Weakness?¡± ¡°His left elbow is his weakness.¡± ¡°You have an identification skill?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Jay smirked as SJ spent the next few minutes identifying the other brawlers. Two of the other brawlers had weaknesses. The large gnoll that Maliki was with had highlighted his left shoulder, and Olpi had a weak left hip. The skill paid dividends after what SJ had initially deemed a wasted skill. ¡°Check Jay for weaknesses,¡± Dave said. Not having thought of it, SJ triggered her skill again. Jayzareb Sango Level: 32 Class: Fighter - Brawler Hit points: 445 of 445 Mana points: 55 Armour Class: 35 Attacks: Unarmed combat Special: Steel fist, Sledge elbow, Jolt knee Weaknesses: Nil ¡°I see you have no weaknesses,¡± SJ smiled. ¡°That¡¯s good to know,¡± Jay said. ¡°I am guessing that the fights are not to the death?¡± ¡°No just incapacitate. Knockouts mainly.¡± ¡°Looking at the fighters in here, I am worried about what will happen to Lurtew if he enters the cage. Who oversees the bait?¡± Jay motioned to a kobold sitting at a side table. ¡°Old Bluey there.¡± SJ left Jay to warm up and walked over to where the kobold was sitting. ¡°Can I help you?¡± the kobold said, looking up from the parchment he was scribbling on. ¡°I am SJ. New promoter. I believe you are in charge of the bait?¡± ¡°Not in charge. I just know how many are here. The chief brings them in.¡± ¡°The chief?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know who the chief is?¡± Bluey looked surprised. ¡°No idea, sorry.¡± ¡°She owns the Griffin. Has done for over two centuries. You must be new to Asterfal.¡± ¡°I am. Where can I find her?¡± ¡°Back up in the main bar, then upstairs. That is where her offices are.¡± ¡°Okay, thanks.¡± After walking back over to Jay, she informed him that she would see the chief. His face contorted at the comment to one of uncertainty. ¡°Be careful. She has a nasty temper.¡± Walking back up the tunnel, SJ checked her display. She had twenty minutes until 22:00. As she headed to the bar again, the coliseum was filling up in preparation for the main fight. Currently, two orcs were battling each other. Walking up the corridor to where Ruffle stood, she was passed by many heading down. The bar was emptier than when they had arrived, with so many making their way to the cage. Looking around the bar, several patrons who obviously would miss the fight were resting in drunken slumber at several tables. SJ made her way across the bar to the steps in the far corner. A troll stood at the bottom. ¡°I have come to see the chief. I am a new promoter.¡± The troll looked down at her, pulling a face of disgust, and grunted before he stepped to one side, allowing her to pass. Climbing the steps, SJ found an open area similar to the barracks where Zigferd had his office. A large open area stretched above the bar with large double doors part way down. Several beings were sitting at tables around the edges, and when SJ appeared, they looked up. None of them looked pleasant in appearance. Ignoring the looks, she walked towards the double doors. No one spoke as they watched her walk to the door. She knocked before a female voice replied. ¡°That better be you, Lacey.¡± SJ slowly opened the door. The room reminded her of a presidential office. A large desk sat at one end, with sofas in front of it. The walls were decorated with tapestries, and the wealth was clear. A crystal decanter sat on a table with beautifully crafted glasses. The person behind the desk took SJ aback. A beautiful elf sat behind a desk. SJ didn¡¯t have to identify the being to know it was a dark elf. Its obsidian-toned skin gave away its heritage. On entering the room, she felt a static charge in the air and knew this dark elf was a magic user of some kind. ¡°Who are you?¡± it frowned with a look of contempt. ¡°I wished to introduce myself to the chief of this amazing establishment. I am a new promoter.¡± ¡°You are a promoter?¡± the chief asked, taking in her drab appearance. SJ¡¯s dress was still toned down, and she looked like a commoner rather than the elaborately dressed promoters that had been downstairs. ¡°I am, yes. I have just paid the entry fee and wish to meet this chief I have been hearing about.¡± Raising an eyebrow at her comment, she looked at her slyly. ¡°I don¡¯t waste my time with promoters. I suggest you go back to the locker room.¡± ¡°I wanted to enquire about the bait you have here tonight.¡± Frowning, the chief said, ¡°What concern is the bait to you?¡± ¡°I wish to free one of them from his burden.¡± ¡°What? Do you wish to free a bait before they fight? I have never heard something so preposterous. Bait may not be freed from their debts. They all know the requirements under the contracts they sign. Their only freedom is to fight and win.¡± ¡°She is a piece of work,¡± Dave said, ¡°And be careful she is level 49. You also only have ten minutes.¡± ¡°How can an unskilled fighter benefit you? They will only lose, looking at the fighters in the cage this evening.¡± ¡°More meat for the fiends to feed off,¡± she smirked. ¡°Anyway, begone, I need to take my seat soon and feel dirty talking to one of your kind.¡± The look of disgust that followed the smirk riled SJ. SJ''s immediate hatred for this being was only tempered by her false smile. ¡®I think I just found my first target,¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°Of all the targets to pick, you decide upon a high-level magic user,¡± Dave replied. ¡®She is just trash. Making her living off the suffering of others.¡¯ ¡°As many in Amathera do, unfortunately.¡± ¡°So there is no negotiation possible?¡± SJ said. The chief stood from behind her desk. The air crackled slightly around her, and SJ could feel the increase in pressure. ¡°I said begone,¡± replying through gritted teeth. Not wishing to anger the chief further, SJ turned and walked from the office, hurriedly crossing the open area and heading back down the stairs. ¡®She would have struck me down without even considering any consequences.¡¯ ¡°I don¡¯t think there would have been many. I doubt many would even attempt to challenge her,¡± Dave said. With many patrons going to the fight area, the bar staff made the most of their absence by trying to clean up. ¡®I wonder where Carlito is?¡¯ ¡°They could be anywhere.¡± The sound of chanting could be heard filtering up from the corridor that led back down to the cage. ¡°Five minutes,¡± Dave said. ¡®It said to meet at the Black Griffin at 22:00, and I am here, so I suppose I just have to wait for them to approach me.¡¯ ¡°Not much choice. There is no way we can find out who they are. I doubt you could even find them through identification; otherwise, it would have been done before when searching for them.¡± Letting out an exasperated sigh, SJ headed back down to the cage. The noise increased with every step down the corridor. On reaching the bottom, the coliseum-style seating was now heaving. SJ wasn¡¯t sure how many were crammed inside the area, but it had to be at least a few hundred. Looking at the open area surrounding the cage, some seats now had beings from the locker room. SJ walked out into the open area, and Dash noticed her. Signalling for her to come over. The noise inside was deafening, the shouts and chants over the various fighters¡¯ names being called. As SJ took a seat next to Dash, a cheer broke out as midway up the side of the tiering, a door SJ hadn¡¯t noticed opened, and the dark elf she had just met walked out onto a sectioned-off area. Her presence could be felt inside the chamber. She stood and lifted her arms in appreciation of the cheering before slowly lowering them. As she did, the thunderous sound of chanting died away. ¡°Welcome to the night¡¯s main contest,¡± the crowd cheered, the chief¡¯s voice amplified around the chamber. ¡°It is with great pleasure I introduce the fighters for this evening¡¯s event. We had five of our finest on the cards for tonight, but I have just been informed that a sixth member will join them this evening.¡± The crowd murmured at the comment. ¡°Tonight¡¯s gladiator bout will be a spectacle to behold. The rules are simple, as always. Last being standing wins, either through submission or knockout. This evening, our fighters will be joined by twelve who have decided to attempt to win the coveted prize of champion gladiator for the first time.¡± At the comment, a group of beings was brought towards the cage¡¯s entrance. Looking at who and what made up the twelve was astounding. Three of them appeared to struggle to walk, being manhandled by the guards, who forcefully escorted them to the cage entrance. None of them were here by choice. A few of them had tears visible on their cheeks, and it was then that SJ saw Lurtew. He stood with his head up and back straight, fear present in his eyes as they flitted around the chamber. The twelve comprised eight males and four females, ranging from a tiny female gnome to an old, half-crippled-looking bugbear standing nearly seven feet tall. The disgust SJ felt at the scene made her blood boil, and her fists clenched tightly as she rested them in her lap. ¡®The scum.¡¯ ¡°They won¡¯t even last a minute in the cage,¡± Dave said. Once the twelve were forced into the cage, they were ordered to move around and stand at certain spots. Lurtew was positioned off to the side of where SJ was sitting, and she wanted to get up and speak to him but knew it would bring attention to him. ¡°The first of our fighters this evening. The great Kylian,¡± the chief announced. As the ridiculously muscled dwarf walked from the promoter¡¯s tunnel, the crowd erupted in cheers. Walking around where the promoters sat, he walked over to Dash and clapped arms with him before turning and entering the cage. SJ could see the shaking shoulders of some in the cage as they cried openly at the fear they felt. Kylian strode across the cage and took up his place at one side, turning and waving to the crowd. The spectacle continued until the four others were in position. ¡°And finally, our recent addition. This is a name I never expected to announce again in the Griffin.¡± The chief¡¯s look showed no animosity as she spoke. ¡°It is with great surprise and also interest that I welcome back to the Griffin after an absence of three years. Jay the Beholden.¡± Several in the crowd who knew the name gasped. Others shouted, and the tone from some was hostile. Jay calmly walked from the locker area, his expression neutral and looking completely relaxed in the environment. He walked over to where SJ sat and offered his arm in the same clasp that Dash had done with Kylian. SJ stood and took his arm, leaning in as she did. ¡°Please protect Lurtew if you are able.¡± Jay nodded in understanding before releasing her wrist and turning to enter the cage. ¡°Toast, miss?¡± a voice said as she sat. Turning, SJ looked into the eyes of a young female human server carrying a tray of small glasses. Each of the other promoters now held one. Taking the glass, SJ was about to say thank you when the girl winked at her and, leaning forward so as not to be overheard by Dash in Cristian''s voice, said, ¡°Welcome to the Black Griffin.¡± ? Chapter 125 – Caged animals It felt like electricity had just shot through SJ¡¯s body when she heard Cristian¡¯s voice from the girl¡¯s mouth. SJ tried not to react, forcing herself to remain calm. Smiling and nodding at the woman, Carlito moved away, smiling as she did. SJ followed her movements until she stopped by another table and stood, turning to face the cage. ¡°Here¡¯s to the fighters,¡± the chief said, holding a small glass in her hand and turning towards the promoters. They all returned the salute and downed their drinks. SJ stared at the chief for a moment, enough to be clear that it was not in sync with the others, and downed hers as the chief downed her own. The liquid burned her throat as she swallowed it, only just stopping herself from coughing from the harsh, fiery liquid. ¡°Now that all are ready. Let us begin the countdown,¡± the chief announced. SJ looked back at the cage. Jay positioned himself on the far side of the cage from Lurtew while the other five brawlers stood, rolling their shoulders and looking at their opponents. The twelve shark bait looked terrified amidst the brawlers. ¡°Five, four, three, two, one. Let the battle begin,¡± the chief¡¯s voice boomed over the noise erupting from the crowd. Absolute chaos erupted in the cage. With so much going on, SJ struggled to track who was doing what. Then, the liquid she had drunk kicked in, and her display triggered. Acute visibility - the world slows to your gaze. The brawlers immediately turned to their closest opponent, except Jay, who moved straight across the cage towards where Lurtew was standing, frozen to his spot. Kylian, the dwarf, turned towards a kobold, stood to his left, and immediately ran towards him. The kobold screamed as a fist connected to his jaw because he failed to move fast enough. The swing packed enough power to send the kobold flying, making him bounce off the cage wall before he collapsed to the ground, immobile. The opening few seconds made it obvious that the brawlers were disposing of the bait. The human Olpi kicked the bugbear, who had been forced into the cage, limping in his groin area, causing him to crash to the sand on his knees. Then, Olpi delivered an elbow to the side of his head, sending him sprawling and knocking him unconscious. Within moments, five of the twelve shark bait were disabled, none moving. Lurtew had backed against the cage side and briefly looked upwards as if he was going to climb the bars. Jay shoved a human who had run screaming into the middle of the cage out of his way as he moved towards Lurtew, reaching the far side of the cage as Malaki¡¯s gnoll fighter approached him. The gnoll went to grab Lurtew, whom SJ could see scream but couldn¡¯t hear over the din. Jay was to the side of the gnoll and punched him in his left shoulder, remembering SJ¡¯s comments about his weakness. The shock of the punch caught the gnoll by surprise, not expecting to be attacked so soon, and he turned to face his attacker. Sneering, his face contorted in anger, he attacked Jay. He didn¡¯t show any pain from the blow, which concerned SJ. ¡°That punch should have broken his shoulder,¡± Dave said. Jay blocked the gnoll¡¯s strikes with a speed that belied his size. The gnoll was slower and more cumbersome in his movements. Jay didn¡¯t appear to be trying to fight back as he easily parried the blows. Watching Jay fight defensively was astounding. His feet moved as quickly as his arms as he continued to jink and move his body away from the attacks. A body suddenly blocked SJ¡¯s view as Dash stood up from his chair, screaming towards where Kylian was now. Four more sharks were down, and Kylian was face to face with the huge orc that Lenny had spoken to. SJ¡¯s pulse raced as she watched. She was standing now to see past Dash. The orc caught Kylian on his jaw with a strike that would have decapitated many. The dwarf¡¯s head didn¡¯t move as his powerful, muscular frame absorbed the impact. Striking back with a kick towards the orc¡¯s knee. SJ had witnessed Friday night street fighting outside clubs in London, which reminded her of it. Most fighters show no grace, just sheer uncontrolled aggression and power. The only other fighter apart from Jay showing any fluidity in their moves was Olpi. One of the shark bait, a tall, thin man, took advantage of the fight between Kylian and the orc, jumping onto the orc¡¯s back and sinking his teeth into his shoulder. The orc, grunting from the bite and reaching, grabbed the man by his head and wrenched him over his head, throwing him as if he weighed nothing at Kylian. Kylian punched, connecting with the man as his body was cast towards him; the man screamed in pain, falling to the ground at Kylian¡¯s feet; his momentum stopped in an instant. Groaning, the man clutched his arms across his chest. He wasn¡¯t joining the fight again. Kylian stamped on the man as he moved past him to approach the orc, and there was a snapping sound of a broken bone. In the meantime, Jay still absorbed or blocked the gnoll¡¯s attacks. Olpi had overpowered the other fighter he was with and was now wrestling on the ground with him. His arm wrapped tightly around his throat as he attempted to render him unconscious. His legs curled around his body, the strain clear on his face as he performed a chokehold. The bugbear fighter that Olpi was trying to choke was struggling to grab at Olpi¡¯s arms locked around his neck. The bugbear¡¯s promoter, the other human, stood by the cage bars now screaming at him, telling him if he didn¡¯t win, he would be abandoned to the slums of Asterfal. SJ had moved closer to the cage as the fight was underway. Lurtew looked terrified, leaning against the bars as though trying to press his body through them. Only two of the bait remained, Lurtew and the tiny gnome. The gnome had huddled in a corner of the cage, cowering in fright at the violence unfolding in the cage. As the orc fought against Kylian, he successfully landed a kick on the dwarf¡¯s left arm, leading SJ to notice the dwarf wincing slightly from the impact. The jarring sensation of the blow must have affected its weaker elbow. The dwarf cried in rage as it launched towards its much taller foe. A crazed look of anger shone in its eyes. Getting in close range, SJ noticed the dwarf¡¯s muscles tense all across its back as it flung its head forward with such speed and force that the sound of impact was heard above the screaming crowds. The orc¡¯s arm was now bent at an obscure angle, where it had attempted to block the impact from Kylian. The orc showed no sign of pain and punched with its good arm, connecting with the left side of the dwarf. SJ winced from the blow as Kylian grimaced from the impact of the vicious blow. ¡°I think the potions they have taken remove pain,¡± Dave said. ¡®I agree. There is no way that orc couldn¡¯t have felt the damage to its arm. Kylian''s headbutt was a special move, and his arm is useless now,¡¯ SJ thought. Her mind was going at a million miles per hour as everything happening in the cage appeared in slow motion. The fact that she could flit from one fight to the next so quickly and see everything that was happening was strange. Whatever the drink had done had changed her perception of time. Jay was still blocking, and the strangest sight was seeing the huge grin on his face. He was loving every moment of the fight. The gnoll snarled and panting as it continued to hit him. Jay absorbed all the strikes without even a hint of anything hurting him. His arms were like tree trunks being hit by a bare fist. The gnoll changed its tactic and suddenly lunged forward to grab him. They were nearly equal in height, and as the gnoll lunged, Jay quickly grasped one fist with the other and swung his elbow inwards with such speed and force that it sent the gnoll¡¯s outstretched arm whirling away in front of it, causing the gnoll to stagger off balance. That was all that Jay had been waiting for, and as its body turned away, Jay stepped in and struck again at its left shoulder blade. The kick he rendered seemed to defy a being of his size as it connected firmly. This time, the gnoll¡¯s face contorted slightly in pain. SJ couldn¡¯t help but scream at Jay, ¡°That¡¯s it! You have him now.¡± The gnoll leapt forward suddenly, giving itself distance from Jay as it turned again to face him. Jay ushered him forward with his hand as he stood in a boxer¡¯s stance. The gnoll came at him, fists blazing, and this time, as he did, Jay retaliated. He didn¡¯t block the blows as they connected with his chest and upper body, returning the favour directly with his fists on the gnoll. His fist connected squarely with the jaw of the gnoll, making its head shudder from the impact; Malaki was now standing at the cage screaming obscenities at the gnoll. The gnoll shook its head slightly as it continued to punch at Jay. Again, Jay absorbed its blows and struck back with another perfect blow on its chin. SJ noticed the gnoll¡¯s eyes flicker slightly. ¡®That must be his iron fist,¡¯ SJ thought excitedly. The next fist was against the left of the gnoll¡¯s jaw, again making it stagger. This time, Jay didn¡¯t hold back anything. As the gnoll¡¯s body turned slightly, he grabbed its left arm, wrenching it backwards and upwards behind the gnoll¡¯s back. As Jay pulled the gnoll¡¯s left arm backwards and upwards, SJ heard a popping sound and witnessed the deformed shoulder being pulled from its socket. The gnoll hissed angrily as Jay let go, and it spun at him again, its arm useless. Glancing over at Olpi and the bugbear, he extracted himself from his opponent¡¯s now-still form. Standing, he noticed his closest target being the orc that Kylian was fighting, and without hesitation, he launched himself at the orc¡¯s side, wrapping his arms again around its throat and pulling it backwards. The orc tried to maintain its balance, but a swift kick from Kylian turned its knee, making it fall backwards in Olpi¡¯s grasp. Kylian didn¡¯t need a second invite and jumped onto the orc¡¯s midriff, his compact and substantial weight landing two feet on its stomach. An audible rush of air escaped its lungs. Its arms moved to defend its abdomen from Kylian, and then it realised it needed to pull the man from its throat. It was now torn between the two who attacked it, unsure which to prioritise. The gnoll screamed as it lunged at Jay, its good arm outstretched and its claws prominent as it tore down his chest in a raking motion; red welts appeared on Jay¡¯s chest, spilling the first sign of blood from Jay. Jay again attacked the left side of the gnoll, where its wrecked arm was now hung useless, either dislocated or with an even worse injury, preventing its use. It couldn¡¯t properly defend itself with only one good arm, and as Jay rained more and more blows onto its left, it began to falter. Whether it was feeling any pain, SJ couldn¡¯t tell its face remained in a snarl. The repetitive strikes took their toll as the gnoll suffered more from each blow before a brutal kick sent it staggering into the cage bars near Lurtew. This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. Lurtew, in absolute terror at the violence, lashed out with his claws. His movement was uncontrolled and rabid, like that of an animal, as he scratched more like a feline would a post rather than any controlled physical assault. His claws raked across the gnoll¡¯s face, drawing streaks of blood as they did. Jay stepped back and allowed Lurtew his moment of glory. The gnoll raised his hand to block Lurtew as Jay again stepped in swiftly, bringing his knee towards the gnoll¡¯s side with power and precision. It had to have been his special ability. As his knee struck, the gnoll¡¯s side seemed to concave under the impact, the gnoll letting out an audible groan this time as its side deformed. Malaki stood next to SJ, his hands on his head, pulling at his hair as he screamed at the gnoll. The gnoll was beaten. Olpi was choking the orc, and it lashed out with a vicious kick from its prone position, catching Kylian in the groin. The expression on the dwarf¡¯s face changed to a picture as both his hands clasped at his groin as he staggered from the blow¡ªpain radiating from his face. The orc reached behind and clawed at Olpi¡¯s face, trying to reach his eyes. Olpi turned his head sideways to protect his eyes from the onslaught. Resting on his knees, Kylian tried to steady himself, taking deep breaths, attempting to regain his composure. Olpi let out a grunt as he sharply wrenched the orc¡¯s neck backwards in a vicious movement. The orc¡¯s eyes fluttered as he held on tight, and within moments, its flailing hands slowed. As the orc lost consciousness, Olpi slid out from the still form again, pushing himself to his feet. His face had welts from the orc¡¯s frantic scratching. He stood for a moment, looking at Kylian before he ran at him. Kylian saw the movement at the last moment. The cage was a maelstrom of violence and movement, making it nearly impossible for SJ to follow the action. Then, the liquid she had consumed surged through her, triggering her heightened perception of his arm to block a vicious kick aimed at his head. Jay punched out with a straight jab at the face of the gnoll as he turned his head from Lurtew¡¯s attack and caught it perfectly on its broad nose. Blood flowed from its nose and along its gums; it snarled; its teeth were now coated in blood, giving it a ravenous, evil appearance. Lurtew backed off as Jay attacked again, moving away along the cage edge. SJ was uncertain if Lurtew acknowledged Jay or if he had even noticed her standing outside the cage since his eyes were filled with terror. The gnoll took a final attempted swing at Jay with its remaining good arm before its time on Amathera ended. With a punch that seemed to come from the depths of hell, Jay stepped inwards and punched upwards with such force that the gnoll¡¯s head snapped backwards. The cracking sound of bone resonated in the room as the audience gasped as the gnoll¡¯s head tilted backwards unnaturally as its lifeless body fell to the floor. Malaki screamed in anger and turned towards SJ. ¡°You cheat,¡± he bellowed as he stepped towards her. The danger had triggered SJ¡¯s senses, and she turned to block a fist from Malaki as he lunged at her. Stepping back and away, SJ didn¡¯t retaliate, as beings she hadn¡¯t even noticed rushed out and grabbed Malaki, restraining him. One of the beings was Henry, who stood at the promoter¡¯s entrance. ¡°Calm down, Malaki,¡± he said calmly, holding one of his arms. ¡°This fae abomination has cheated. She needs to be dealt with,¡± Malaki spat. ¡°I have seen no wrongdoing. Now take your seat, or you will be removed.¡± Malaki fumed at the words, but he was helpless in Henry¡¯s hands with a bugbear grabbing his other arm. ¡°Unhand me. I am a councillor,¡± he hissed angrily. ¡°Only if you take your seat quietly,¡± Henry reiterated. Malaki put his hands up placatingly, and Henry and the bugbear released their grips. He turned and stalked off towards the promoter¡¯s tunnel. For the first time, SJ noticed Lenny standing beside the cage, leaning over, talking to the largest and most obese orc SJ had ever seen. Sat next to the large orc was another female orc who looked beautiful. SJ could only guess it was Gasgut and Juniper. ¡°Sorry about that,¡± Henry said. ¡°Jay is doing well,¡± he finished as he turned away. Turning back to the cage, SJ watched Jay stand back from Olpi and Kylian, who were now slugging it out. A choke hold was not something that Olpi could manage on the dwarf since he had no visible neck. He was so muscular, so they were trading vicious blows. Jay stood, taking his time watching them fight, and drifted to Kylian¡¯s side. It was as though he was weighing up who would win. It looked as though Olpi had the upper hand after the groin kick Kylian had suffered from the orc. His form was not as pronounced as before and wincing when he moved from the radiating pain. Lurtew had moved as far away from the fighting as he could, now stepping over other beings¡¯ inert and groaning forms as he made his way to the far side where the gnome was curled in the corner. The two shark baits were now cornered together. Jay took his time before he attacked, but it was a violent onslaught of punishment when he did. Kylian suffered the torrent as Jay pummelled him with blows to his left side. Jay attacked the left side of the dwarf while Olpi continued to attack its front, soon overpowering it. After several moments, the dwarf dropped to its knees, exhaustion on its face. For all its strength, its stamina didn¡¯t seem as good as either Jay or Olpi, and Kylian eventually raised a single finger in the air. As soon as he did, Jay and Olpi backed off. Dash cursed beside her. ¡°Submission,¡± the elf said, now stood beside SJ. She hadn¡¯t even noticed the other promoter appear. ¡°Looks like it¡¯s down to our two now. May the best being win.¡± Olpi and Jay turned to face each other. The looks in both their eyes showed respect, and Jay nodded towards him slightly. Olpi returned the gesture before the chaos again broke loose. These were old combatants, both having fought each other several times before, and SJ noticed how Jay had changed his form. He didn¡¯t stand as square to Olpi or allow him to get in grappling range, ensuring he kept his distance, knowing how potent Olpi was on the ground when wrestling. Instead, he bided his time, blocking or absorbing strikes from Olpi. Olpi was doing the same as he attempted to get in range to grapple. There was an intellect to the match now that had been missing during the intense battle of so many. Both beings focussed entirely on their prey. SJ hadn¡¯t realised she had been shouting support for Jay until Dave spoke. ¡°Your love for violence is growing, I see,¡± Dave said. ¡®What?¡¯ ¡°Have you heard yourself screaming at Jay?¡± SJ felt her cheeks redden at his comment and attempted to compose herself more. The elf beside her smiled wryly at her sudden change in demeanour. ¡°I think Olpi has this,¡± he said smugly as SJ watched Jay take a perfectly timed kick to his knee, making Jay stagger. The blow took him off balance momentarily, and that was all Olpi needed. Moving in, he wrapped his arms around Jay¡¯s body and clung like a limpet to his back, trying to draw his arm up under his chin. Jay had dropped his chin in defence of the move, preventing the man from getting at his throat. His eyes still held a calmness to them, even as he fought the man clinging to his back. Olpi was trying to unbalance Jay and get him to the ground, where he knew he would have the upper hand. SJ watched as Jay clenched his fist tightly before bringing it in sideways with force at Olpi¡¯s hip¡ªthe immediate look on Olpi¡¯s face changing from the impact. Again, Jay pulled back his fist and struck him¡ªa third successive strike made Olpi slightly lessen his grip around Jay¡¯s body. With the fourth punch, Olpi let go and, landing clumsily, stepped away from Jay again. Jay turned and smiled at Olpi. Olpi grimaced before nodding at Jay again. These two combatants respected each other and their abilities. The fight continued for several minutes, and neither could take advantage, until Jay successfully landed a kick on Olpi¡¯s hip again. The impact drew visible pain on the man¡¯s face. He limped sideways from the blow again, and Jay stepped back. Sweat covered their bodies from the exertion, and SJ saw Olpi glance briefly at the elf beside her. The elf sighed deeply. ¡°Congratulations,¡± he said, holding his hand out. SJ looked at him confused and then turned as Olpi raised one finger. SJ took his hand. ¡°Olpi fought well,¡± she said. ¡°He did, but Jay hasn¡¯t lost his touch, it seems,¡± the elf smiled. ¡°Maybe it will be Olpi¡¯s turn at the championship.¡± Not understanding when that was, SJ just replied, ¡°Maybe.¡± The crowd roared at the fight. Jay turned and looked at where Lurtew and the gnome were still cowering. The gnome he picked up from the ground wailed in protest, kicking her small limbs in a maddened frenzy. He gripped her throat in one fist until, within moments, her eyes rolled, and she also fell unconscious. Carefully, he laid her on the cage floor. Turning back to Lurtew, he spoke briefly. The elf suddenly spoke. ¡°Is he going to do what I think he will? If so, that hasn¡¯t happened in over a century.¡± ¡°What?¡± SJ asked. ¡°He is going to rescind the fight to the gnoll.¡± ¡°Why would he do that?¡± ¡°No idea. Maybe it is his way of thanking him for the help during the fight. If he wins, it is the only way to gain his freedom from the debt.¡± Turning back, SJ watched in amazement as Jay lifted a finger into the air. Gasps and shouts filled the chamber. Jay grabbed Lurtew¡¯s arm and lifted it into the air. The crescendo of noise continued for several minutes. Lurtew stood in shock, looking around the chamber until his eyes eventually met SJ¡¯s. Tears flowed freely as he did. ¡°Congratulations on your decision,¡± the chief¡¯s voice suddenly cut across the chamber, ¡°it has been 112 years since the last fight was rescinded to another.¡± Jay nodded towards the chief politely and walked over to the cage where SJ was standing. Smiling, Jay looked at SJ¡¯s shocked expression. ¡°It is the only way for him to be freed from the debt.¡± Turning back around, Jay walked to where Olpi hunched, holding his hip, to help support him. Then he moved over to Kylian and helped him stand, his face still contorted in pain, one hand remaining on his groin. ¡°Shall we?¡± the elf said, offering SJ to return to the promoter¡¯s tunnel. ¡°You have a purse to collect.¡± ¡°Did he not just give it up?¡± ¡°No. The purse is for brawlers only. That gnoll¡¯s freedom is more than he would ever require as a reward.¡± As SJ turned to follow the elf, she saw Carlito standing where they had been since the fight started, nodding knowingly as she entered the tunnel. Chapter 126 – Release As SJ followed the elf down the promoter tunnel, the shouts and cries from the crowd died away. Now that the main fight of the evening had concluded, many had stood and moved back to the bar area. On entering the training room, Malaki stalked by the table. When he saw SJ enter the room, he headed straight towards her, screaming. ¡°You dirty cheating fae. You have disgraced the cage by your scum of an orc releasing that gnoll.¡± Taken aback by the sudden outburst, SJ stood her ground, staring at Malaki as the elf interjected on her behalf. ¡°Malaki, I suggest you calm down and step back. Your behaviour is the only disgrace in this room. The fae you mention has a name, which I believe is SJ, and Jay had every right to rescind the fight. It is every fighter¡¯s choice whether or not they rescind.¡± ¡°This abomination has embarrassed everyone who works here,¡± Malaki fumed. ¡°Malaki, stop,¡± Dash said as he walked into the training room with Kylian. The muscular dwarf was walking easier now and holding a small empty vial. ¡°Why should I stop anything,¡± he continued to scream, his face almost beetroot and veins pulsing across his forehead. ¡°I will be speaking to the chief about this.¡± SJ hadn¡¯t said a word since entering and replied calmly yet warningly. ¡°Malaki, I suggest you refrain from further accusations or comments. I paid the purse fee, and Jay fought bravely and honestly, unlike your fighter or the orc.¡± ¡°WHAT?!¡± ¡°I saw you give potions to both your fighter and the potion you also gave to Lenny for his fighter.¡± ¡°HOW DARE YOU ACCUSE ME OF SUCH A THING?!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t dare, I know, and I could also provide evidence,¡± SJ replied with a smile. ¡°You saw him hand out potions?¡± the elf asked, turning to look at Malaki frowning. Dash let out a low growl. ¡°I did. If the orc was diagnosed, you would find the potion effects present.¡± ¡°You have no evidence of any wrongdoing,¡± Malaki said bitterly. ¡°Maybe I will ask her worship to come down and confirm for me?¡± ¡°Her worship?¡± Dash asked, confused. ¡°Her worship Petunia is back in Asterfal and is a friend. I am sure she would come and perform the check for me if I asked her.¡± Malaki¡¯s face suddenly changed, losing colour at the comment. He had seen SJ with Petunia arrive at Otherlisar¡¯s dinner party and leave, knowing that SJ knew her. ¡°This is the biggest sham of a fight I have ever been a part of,¡± Malaki said as he barged past SJ, shouldering her and stormed back towards the tunnel, heading back to the cage. The imposing figure of Jay was entering the training room supporting Olpi, who were both laughing as Malaki sidestepped them to get past. ¡°He looked in a hurry?¡± Jay said as he helped Olpi get a seat. ¡°Nothing to worry about,¡± SJ said. ¡°There will be when I finish with him,¡± the elf said, frowning deeply at the revelation. ¡°I think I will have to talk with the chief myself. Dash, would you join me?¡± ¡°Of course, Tanes, we can¡¯t have cheating like that. I suspect it isn¡¯t the first time he has done it. He had been on a winning streak recently. Nigel, will you join us?¡± The other human promoter had just been an idle witness watching the issues unfold until SJ noticed him, and he spoke for the first time. ¡°I will, but first things first. Bluey, do you have the purse?¡± The kobold, who had been sitting at the small table the whole time, stood and walked over, carrying a leather pouch. ¡°Here you go,¡± Bluey said, handing the pouch to SJ. SJ took the pouch, feeling the coin¡¯s weight in her hand. She had just been handed 125 gold coins. Trying to stay calm and not feel excited, she took the pouch gracefully and turned to the other three promoters present. ¡°Thank you all,¡± she said. ¡°Now that is a prize to savour,¡± Dave said. ¡°No need to thank us. Jay fought as he always used to. You chose one of the best fighters I have ever seen to represent. I wish I hadn¡¯t allowed myself to be persuaded to drop him,¡± Dash said. Both Tanes and Nigel nodded in agreement with Dash¡¯s comment. ¡°We were all misled by Lenny and Malaki by the sounds of it,¡± Tanes said. ¡°You weren¡¯t misled. I did attack and injure Gasgut, and I don¡¯t believe anyone ever shared the truth with you about why I did.¡± Jay explained to the promoters why he had attacked Gasgut and what had happened between him and Juniper. By the time he finished, the looks of anger on the three were ever-present. ¡°I think it may be time to change who we allow to be promoters,¡± Nigel said. There was a commotion behind them as the sounds of angry voices could be heard from the tunnel. Two large orcs were carrying in a stretcher, the still form of Lenny¡¯s fighter lying unconscious on it. He was followed behind by a second stretcher carrying the still and covered form of the gnoll that Jay had ended. The groggy-looking form of the other human fighter followed them sombrely, holding his head and walking over to Nigel. All remained silent as the gnoll arrived at the area where he had been in the room. The orcs gently placed the stretcher on the ground, and the unconscious form of the orc was placed where he had been training. The next group to enter caused a ruckus: Malaki, Lenny, Gasgut, and the chief. Gasgut entered the room, limping and leaning heavily on a thick cane. ¡°The fae is a cheat and should be disqualified along with her fighter,¡± Lenny stated as they entered. The chief wore a stony look on her face, and a large troll and Henry followed her. SJ closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Turning to look at Lenny, she spoke before anyone else could speak, ¡°I have a name. My name is SJ, so I suggest you use it.¡± Lenny turned, sneering at her, ¡°I will call you whatever I damn well please.¡± SJ clenched her fists reflexively at her sides as her temper rose. The air in the room suddenly felt very tense as the chief looked at the gathered beings. ¡°There has been an accusation of cheating being made and a purse theft due to it. I can¡¯t allow purses to be stolen from another by underhand means,¡± she said, her voice cold as ice. ¡°The only cheats here are Malaki and Lenny,¡± SJ said. ¡°And what evidence do you have to support your statement?¡± the chief asked. ¡°I would ask what evidence they have to say how I have cheated?¡± SJ said firmly. ¡°She is a fae. They cheat at everything,¡± Lenny said. ¡°Chief, I have known you for over 200 years now. I am sure we can resolve this issue by simply performing a diagnosis spell,¡± Tanes said, stepping forward. Malaki¡¯s confident expression again faltered at the comment of the spell. Gasgut, with his deep and gravelly voice sounding forced, spoke for the first time. ¡°Why would you need a diagnosis spell?¡± SJ noticed the subtle nod Gasgut gave Jay when their eyes met, and Jay returned the gesture. It had been so minor that she only believed her heightened senses had allowed her to notice it. Whether or not they got on, and even after what had happened, the pair had a deep respect. ¡°SJ saw Malaki give a potion to his fighter and also one to Lenny to give to yours Gasgut,¡± Tanes said. Gasgut raised an eyebrow at the comment, ¡°Lenny, is this true?¡± Lenny¡¯s face suddenly lost some of its confidence, not responding. The chief looked at Tanes, tilting her head as she spoke. ¡°Tanes, we have known each other for over two centuries, and I have always trusted your word over many who have come and gone. You are the one constant who has always been true to his word. Why, though, should I believe the word of a fae?¡± ¡°Then get one of the clerics to perform the spell,¡± Tanes said emotionless. ¡°And who will pay? Diagnosis spells cost many coins, and I don¡¯t sit where I am because I waste my coins.¡± ¡°I will pay,¡± SJ said. ¡°Is there a cleric present who could perform the task?¡± Lenny and Malaki¡¯s faces were looking more nervous with every passing moment. ¡°Henry, check upstairs,¡± the chief said. ¡°Yes, chief,¡± Henry replied as he turned and left the room. ¡°I suggest everyone sits while we await Henry¡¯s return,¡± the chief said. ¡°Holy freaking halfling warts,¡± Dave suddenly said. ¡®What?¡¯ ¡°Look what she is wearing.¡± SJ did not know what Dave was referring to. ¡®What?¡¯ ¡°Her earrings.¡± Recognition hit SJ like a train as she took in the dark elf¡¯s appearance, fully focussing on her earrings. The shape and design of them were identical. ¡®They can¡¯t be?¡¯ ¡°What else can they be? A dark elf wearing them makes perfect sense.¡± Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. ¡®If they are, then I need to get hold of them. But how?¡¯ ¡°No idea, but they have to be. They match the design perfectly.¡± The green drop earrings resembled laurel leaves and had three smaller leaves hanging beneath them. Could they be the Earrings of the Earth Stone? She may have just found one of the fae¡¯s long-lost treasures and the second piece in her set if they were. SJ had lost focus on anything else around her as others spoke, her attention taken fully by her thoughts of the earrings. As they waited for Henry to return, Bluey, whom SJ hadn¡¯t even realised had left, escorted a female gnoll into the training room. Bluey escorted her to the stretcher, holding the gnoll fighters still form. Bluey bent and pulled the sheet back, the female gnoll collapsing to her knees, sobbing, and leaning forward across his body. The gut-wrenching feeling SJ felt seemed to tear her insides apart. A sudden sense of loss and grief crashed over her. It was Malaki¡¯s fighter, yet the man hadn¡¯t even reacted, ignoring the outpouring of grief, still with his back to the gnoll. ¡°Do they get compensated?¡± SJ whispered to Dash, who was sitting beside her. Noting where SJ was looking, Dash said, ¡°Only if their promoter pays them. There are no rules for compensation.¡± SJ was astonished that these fighters, who fought for the promoters who had put so much at stake in a purse, might not even reimburse those who had been injured or died. Standing from the table, the others silently watched as SJ walked over to the gnoll and knelt at her side. ¡°Here. I know it will not bring him back, but hopefully, it will help you get through your grief,¡± SJ said softly as she took the female gnoll¡¯s hand and placed five gold coins into it. The tear-stricken face of the gnoll turned to look at her, looking at the coin in her hand in astonishment before flinging her arms around SJ and hugging her tightly. ¡°Thank you,¡± she sobbed. Dave sniffed in her mind, ¡°Your heart is too big.¡± SJ allowed the gnoll to cry on her shoulder for what felt like minutes before a call came from the tunnel entrance. ¡°I am sorry for your loss,¡± SJ said, extricating herself from the gnoll and walking back to the table. Bluey covered the gnoll again and then helping assisted the other gnoll towards the exit. The character that entered the room with Henry was wearing brilliant gold-coloured half-plate armour, and hanging on his belt was a beautifully crafted-looking mace. ¡°So, what do we need?¡± the man inquired. ¡°I didn¡¯t realise you were here this evening, Talos,¡± the chief said, standing. ¡°We require a diagnosis spell to be performed on the orc over there.¡± The orc still hadn¡¯t regained consciousness, and Lenny had not tried to bring him around. Malaki¡¯s face turned ashen, seeing the man who had entered. ¡°He is a Legionnaire, level 49, and a cleric,¡± Dave said. ¡°How much?¡± SJ asked, looking at the man. ¡°Three gold for diagnosis,¡± Talos said. SJ walked to him and handed him the gold. He approached the orc, bending down by his side, and touched his forehead. There was a sudden flash of light, and the same ball that SJ had seen used by Petunia appeared before he moved the ball of light down the orc¡¯s body. After several moments, the light cut out. ¡°Well, that is interesting,¡± Talos mused, rubbing his chin. ¡°What is?¡± the chief asked. ¡°He has two effects currently. First, he has had a pain reduction effect recently, but the surprising fact is he has a nullifying effect.¡± Lenny¡¯s eyes shot open at the comment. ¡°He had been given a potion of pain reduction, but then someone tried to hide the effect through a nullification potion or something similar to hide what he had taken.¡± SJ watched Malaki¡¯s face crack as any sign of confidence he had remaining left him. His eyes were now as wide as Lenny¡¯s with fear. ¡°So, it is true, Malaki and Lenny both cheated,¡± the chief said, turning to look at them. Gasgut turned, snarling at Lenny, ¡°You cheated? You low-life piece of wyvern dung. I know I have stooped low over the years, but I never cheat in the cage. Fighters earn their right to be there through their prowess. Otherwise, anyone could come along using magic and potions and compete.¡± ¡°I did it for you,¡± Lenny blurted. The thick cane Gasgut used to support him swung from the side of his chair and struck Lenny across the side of his head with a resounding thud, sending the orc sideways, falling from his chair. ¡°And Malaki, I assume you gave Lenny the potion?¡± Gasgut asked. Malaki paused for a moment before he replied. ¡°I couldn¡¯t let a piece of fae scum win.¡± The moment the last word left, he knew he had made a fatal error. Seeing how the man had ignored the grief of the gnoll¡¯s family and sat there ignoring them and the abuse he had already stated to SJ was the final straw. Flying from her chair, she dived the few feet between them over the table, and as Malaki¡¯s head turned back towards her, her fist connected squarely with his bulbous nose, making it explode in crimson. ¡°If I hear you say another word, I will be dragging you into the cage myself,¡± SJ hissed through gritted teeth. All the others at the table looked amazed at SJ¡¯s reaction and speed. Gasgut slowly stood from his seat. ¡°Chief, please accept my apologies for my staff¡¯s behaviour. Jeff, could you please escort him from the premises?¡± The troll who had entered with the chief and Henry strode to where Lenny sat on the floor before bending down and grabbing him by his arm, dragging him to his feet. ¡°Gasgut. I did it for you,¡± Lenny pleaded as Jeff dragged him towards the exit. ¡°Henry, please also escort Malaki from the premises?¡± the chief said. Henry moved forward to where Malaki was sitting, gripping his nose in his hand, trying to stem the flow of blood. As Henry assisted Malaki in standing up, he said, ¡°You will suffer for this fae.¡± SJ climbed back from the table, retaking her seat. ¡°That was interesting,¡± Talos said. ¡°If you have nothing else for me, I will get back to the guild.¡± ¡°Thank you, Talos,¡± Tanes said. ¡°Chief,¡± Talos said respectfully as he went to leave. The chief just nodded towards Talos. ¡°You have caused more issues this evening than I have witnessed in over fifty years,¡± the chief said, turning to look at SJ. SJ could feel the static in the air again. ¡°Be careful,¡± Dave said. ¡°I apologise for any problems that I may have caused your establishment,¡± SJ said. ¡°I have just lost one of my chief promoters. Gasgut, I assume you will remain to host fighters?¡± ¡°I will chief,¡± Gasgut said. ¡°Chief, may I ask what has become of the gnoll that the fight was rescinded for?¡± SJ asked. ¡°He is still in the holding pen, I believe. He will be released as promised from his debt,¡± the chief said. ¡°Thank you. May I visit him?¡± ¡°If you so wish,¡± the chief replied as she went to stand. ¡°Jay, are you returning full-time? It was enthralling seeing you back in the cage,¡± the chief smiled. ¡°I have not decided yet, chief,¡± Jay said. ¡°I hope you do,¡± the chief said as she turned and walked to leave. ¡°Gentlebeings,¡± Gasgut said as he left. ¡°Gasgut. I will escort you,¡± Jay said, standing and walking with the orc. ¡°Well, this has been the most interesting evening in the Griffin for a long time,¡± Tanes said, grinning. ¡°I believe we all deserve a drink.¡± Dash laughed and patted Tanes on the back. ¡°Indeed, it has been an interesting night. Nigel, will you join us for a drink?¡± ¡°The drinks will be on me, but first, I need to speak to the gnoll who no longer has a debt,¡± SJ said. ¡°That will be most welcome,¡± Tanes said. ¡°I will see you in the bar shortly,¡± SJ said, standing. ¡°Thank you all.¡± Walking back up the tunnel, Dave talked. ¡°We need those earrings.¡± ¡®I know, but how.¡¯ ¡°Maybe kill her?¡± ¡®I can feel the power she gives off. I wouldn¡¯t stand a chance against her.¡¯ ¡°You keep forgetting you are an assassin.¡± ¡®I might be, but how on earth do I ever get close enough to harm her in the first place? Don¡¯t get me wrong; I feel nothing for her; she is evil and makes a profit from the suffering of others.¡¯ ¡°It is time to plan then.¡± ¡®Perhaps I need to speak to Lurtew, and I also still need to meet with Carlito.¡¯ Dave laughed nervously, ¡°I had forgotten about Carlito in all the excitement. Great punch, by the way, but I think Malaki will now gun for you.¡± ¡®I don¡¯t care what that worm tries.¡¯ Walking back into the cage area, the room was virtually empty. With no fights underway, there were only a couple of beings still sitting in the stands, and they appeared asleep, probably unconscious from alcohol above anything else. SJ walked around the cage and went down the other entrance tunnel from which the bait had been brought. The room she entered smelt horrendous. There were several large cages in the room, several of the fighters from the cage now back in them, huddled under blankets, bearing the wounds they had received. None would get any treatment for their injuries. There were also four bodies covered in blankets in one cage area. SJ hadn¡¯t realised that they were killed, but they must have been. The cages sat on wooden flooring, and metal buckets were placed in the corners of the cages, obviously for their personal needs. The stench clung to her nostrils. As SJ entered, a draconian noticed her, challenging her, ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°I am here to see the gnoll who won.¡± The draconian frowned, ¡°What is he to you?¡± ¡°And what has that got to do with you?¡± SJ said. The draconian looked her up and down with disgust. SJ was still wearing her brown, reshaped dress and looked like many other commoners in the city. Inwardly cursing, she wished she had changed it now. The draconian was a little taken aback by her response. ¡°I am the promoter who just won the fight, and I want to see the gnoll who has his debt removed.¡± Surprised, the draconian looked at her, ¡°You are a promoter?¡± ¡°Did you not see me at the cage side?¡± He didn¡¯t respond, turning to look at a goblin sitting with a tankard in his hand at a small table in the room. The goblin nodded towards the draconian, ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t know. He is in the next room.¡± SJ stalked past them and through a doorway into another room, which was much smaller. Along its side were what could only be described as small jail cells. All were empty except for the hunched form of Lurtew sitting in a corner. ¡°Lurtew,¡± she called, running to the cage. Looking up, Lurtew¡¯s bleary eyes looked at her. His eyes looked dark and drawn as though he hadn¡¯t slept and had been weeping. ¡°SJ, what are you doing here? I saw you outside the cage.¡± ¡°I am here to ensure your release.¡± ? Chapter 127 – Class Development ¡°My release?¡± ¡°Yes, you won the cage fight as Jay rescinded his right to you. Therefore, you are free to leave here debt-free.¡± ¡°Debt-free? My debt is cleared? It can¡¯t be. I still owe gold.¡± ¡°You are free from debt,¡± SJ said reassuringly. Lurtew sat open-mouthed, astonished by the words SJ had said. ¡°I understand the debt came about because of payment on your home when Yawnee was sick?¡± ¡°Yes. I took out a loan as my work alone couldn¡¯t cover the rent, and I couldn¡¯t keep up with the repayments. Yawnee will be so upset and angry,¡± Lurtew replied forlornly. ¡°I am sure she will be happier that you have returned home safely rather than any debt you ended up in. After all, it was all done to keep you both with a roof over your heads. Wait here a second.¡± SJ turned, returning to where the goblin sat in the other room. ¡°Do you have the cell key?¡± He glanced at her before standing, following her back to the cage and unlocking it. Without speaking, he turned again and left. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s get you out of here,¡± SJ smiled. Lurtew stood and walked from the cage. ¡°Thank you,¡± he said, tears filling his eyes. ¡°No need to thank me. I will do the same for any of my friends.¡± SJ¡¯s display triggered. Quest - Missing - completed Your swift involvement has determined Lurtew¡¯s fate, freeing him from his crippling debt and allowing him to return home. Rewards: 1000xp ¡®I forgot I don¡¯t get bonus experience in Asterfal,¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°Nope. Only for Killic quests or quests assigned by members of Killic.¡± As they moved back towards the cage through the horrendous state of the main holding cells, SJ felt sick looking at the state of the inhabitants. The small gnome Jay had knocked unconscious was rocking in a cell with her back to the cage door. Lurtew looked at her and moved as if he was about to say something, but he didn¡¯t. Instead, he dropped his head and followed SJ. There was really nothing he could say under the circumstances to ease their suffering. SJ¡¯s display triggered again. Quest - Free the slaves You have seen how the cage-fighting bait is treated unfairly. You must free them from their unfortunate destinies. Rewards: 7000xp - reputation with Asterfal ¡°Holy fae wings. That is an insane amount of experience for a quest at your level,¡± Dave sounded astounded. ¡®I can¡¯t accept. It will take me over my level cap if I complete it.¡¯ ¡°You can¡¯t accept it! I have never seen that much experience be offered for a quest at your level.¡± ¡®What is the point, though?¡¯ ¡°It stops others from taking it while you are in Asterfal. Remember when we spoke about quests previously?¡± ¡®If it is for so much, though, it has to be for much higher levels.¡¯ ¡°It may be, but it doesn¡¯t say it is solo.¡± SJ mused over what to do before eventually accepting the quest. ¡®I do not know where to start, anyway. How do you stop loan sharks from operating in a city this large?¡¯ ¡°Maybe by cutting the head off the controller?¡± ¡®If we knew who that was. I don¡¯t believe it is the chief. She may be evil, but she also runs a business in Asterfal.¡¯ ¡°The corruption here is rife. I wouldn¡¯t be surprised.¡± ¡®I suppose I can do some digging around.¡¯ ¡°Carefully!? She gives me the willies.¡± Reaching the top of the corridor leading to the bar, Ruffle, the bugbear, stood in the same spot. Hearing footsteps behind him, he turned and looked at SJ and Lurtew with surprise. ¡°He really is free?¡± Ruffle said. ¡°Yes. Why would he not be?¡± ¡°It is the first time I have ever witnessed a bait being freed. I wasn¡¯t sure if it was just a tale.¡± Walking past Ruffle, SJ led Lurtew into the bar, which was still full. Many patrons sang and argued alike, drinking copious amounts of ale. Near the bar, SJ spotted Tanes and the others in a raised area by the far end. Walking over, forcing her way through the crowd, she approached the steps leading to it. The orc stood at the bottom and, seeing her, stepped to the side as she approached, allowing her up. Then, he stood in front of Lurtew, putting his arm across. ¡°Sorry, promoters and fighters only,¡± he said. SJ frowned, turning back to look at the orc. ¡°He is a fighter. He just fought in the cage and won his freedom.¡± The orc looked at him, frowning deeply. ¡°It is true, Huffer. He has every right to enter as any other fighter,¡± Tanes called. Huffer moved his arm and allowed Lurtew to pass. His face was a picture of sheer terror as he walked towards the table where Dash, Tanes, and Nigel sat. Gasgut wasn¡¯t present, nor was Jay. Kylian and Olpi sat at a table, drinking together and laughing. ¡°What would you all like to drink?¡± SJ asked, smiling at the three promoters. ¡°And you two, of course?¡± Olpi held up a tankard. ¡°Standard ale is all I need. Thank you.¡± ¡°Dwarven brandy for me,¡± Kylian said. ¡°We are sampling a fine wine currently,¡± Tanes smiled. ¡°I don¡¯t think another bottle would go amiss.¡± ¡°How about another two?¡± SJ said. Dash whistled, and a server suddenly appeared from the side of the platform area through a door SJ hadn¡¯t noticed. After giving the server their drinks order, SJ sat at the table. ¡°Gnoll. Come sit with the fighters. You earned your right,¡± Olpi called. Lurtew looked even more terrified now as SJ nodded to him, and he turned and approached their table. ¡°I am sorry for the trouble I caused you this evening,¡± SJ said after sitting. ¡°Nonsense. It has been entertaining for a change. Especially seeing Jay fight again,¡± Dash said. ¡°Aye. I agree. He is a monster in the cage,¡± Nigel said. ¡°Did any of you see where Jay went?¡± SJ asked. ¡°No sorry,¡± Tanes said. ¡°Are you going to be a permanent fixture in Asterfal?¡± Dash asked SJ. ¡°Unfortunately not. I am the ambassador for Killic and will need to return there in a few days once the council business is attended to.¡± ¡°That is a shame. It would have been good to have another promoter who was a regular attendee at the cage events,¡± Nigel said. ¡°Do you mind if I ask a loaded question?¡± The beings at the table looked at her in anticipation. ¡°Why are the fights classed as underground? Would it not be more profitable if they were legitimate and open to more of the masses?¡± Tanes looked at her, smirking. ¡°You aren¡¯t the first to mention something similar, and I doubt you will be the last. It was tried to be legitimised several years ago. The chief, though, prevented it from occurring as she would lose so much revenue being the host of the major fights in the city.¡± ¡°I thought there were other cage fights that took place?¡± ¡°Yes. Several other establishments hold cage fights, but they are all low level, and they don¡¯t hold to the ethics we have here. In other establishments, magic and potions are a standard addition, which to the pure fight promoters like ourselves removes the challenge and the skill of the fight.¡± ¡°So, the only reason you are being held to rights is because of the chief?¡± ¡°In simple terms, yes. She is the controlling arm of the fight scene. Several other districts have tried to step up over time but never succeeded. Several suffering accidents,¡± Dash said. ¡°Having met the chief initially before the fight, I can see she is a force to reckon with.¡± ¡°She runs the district more than the lieutenant. If she didn¡¯t do what she does, the violence in District 9 would be even worse than what it is. It is not just the fight scene she is heavily involved in through the Black Griffin. She also has dealings with many of the guilds.¡± The server returned with their drinks, handing them out. Nigel lifted his tankard, looked at the others, and said, ¡°For those who fought bravely but ended in the grave.¡± Tanes and Dash copied, lifting their respective drinks. SJ copied the motion and took a drink. ¡°Our way of showing respect to those who fall in the cage.¡± ¡°Are deaths often?¡± ¡°At the level of the fighters that were in the cage tonight, no. It is usually newer brawlers who have joined the scene who aren¡¯t skilled or trained well enough to cope with the physical damage. As there are no clerics on standby to heal, several have died over the years.¡± ¡°How often do fights happen?¡± ¡°Nightly, there is usually something. Even fights between patrons have occasionally been allowed. It just depends, but the championship bouts and gladiator fights are infrequent. The next championship bout is big. From the news we heard, there is a being travelling from Jureoili to compete.¡± ¡°Where is Jureoli?¡± ¡°It is a city in the middle of the continent. The fight has been on the cards for months in planning. All our fighters will compete in a pre-championship bout to see who will fight.¡± If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°I am surprised that the fight scene goes out of the city if considered illegal.¡± ¡°Ha. It may be called illegal, but you saw the number of high-ranking officials that attended tonight, never mind the number still in the bar.¡± Not having paid any attention to the crowd or those in the bar, SJ looked around. She recognised several patrons from seeing them in the tower or the council chambers, but she didn¡¯t know them by name. ¡°I hadn¡¯t realised there were so many.¡± ¡°It may run as it is as it keeps some of the violence from the streets and allows many to let off their pent-up energy in a controlled environment.¡± Shouting broke out from the main area, and SJ turned to see a bugbear flying across a table and crashing into a group of dwarves. Cursing loudly, the dwarves stood and shouted back at the elf who had sent the bugbear crashing into them. As it looked like chaos would ensue, the enormous form of the troll from the stairs leading to the chief¡¯s office and Ruffle appeared amongst them. Within moments, the scene had been diffused, with the troll roughly escorting the elf and bugbear outside, grabbing one in each hand. ¡°That happen often?¡± SJ asked. ¡°Ha. It has been remarkably peaceful this evening,¡± Dash laughed. ¡°I see.¡± It was interesting to listen to the conversation between the promoters. All three of them were in various businesses in the city. Dash owned a series of shops across the districts. Nigel was linked to the guard''s training, and Tanes was involved in magic item trading. Tanes¡¯s statement intrigued SJ, and he had told her to call to see him if she was after anything while in the city. ¡°Did any of you see where Jay went?¡± SJ asked after a while. She had been watching Lurtew, who, after being forced to drink at least three tankards with Olip and Kylian, was looking drunk and half asleep. She wasn¡¯t surprised after what he had been through. ¡°I didn¡¯t see, but he is probably at Gasgut¡¯s, as he left with him.¡± ¡°Is it near here?¡± ¡°It is two buildings over. Gasgut owns an armours shop.¡± ¡°I think I will call it an evening and get Lurtew home,¡± SJ said. ¡°It was good to meet you,¡± Tanes said. ¡°And do call in if you need anything.¡± ¡°I will. Thank you all.¡± Standing, SJ walked to Lurtew and, helping him stand, moved through the crowd to the exit. Checking her display, it was now 00:24. She couldn¡¯t believe so much time had passed. The streets were still busy with beings walking, talking, or staggering along. Escorting Lurtew to the cart, she helped him climb up, and he sat in the back immediately, placing his head down. Looking down the street, she noticed an armourer on the other side with lights still on. A sign of a smiling orc hung from a pole. Above the shop front, the words ¡®Gasgut¡¯s Gear¡¯ were written. SJ was walking to the shop when a hand suddenly grabbed her arm. Turning in surprise, she looked into the eyes of the dark-haired elf she recognised. ¡°We need to talk,¡± they said. ¡°We do, but first, I need to get my friend home safely,¡± SJ said. ¡°Then I will accompany you.¡± Walking with SJ, Carlito accompanied her to Gasgut¡¯s shop. Trying the door, it opened, and on entering, a bell tinkled that was hung on a rope above it. ¡°We are closed,¡± Gasgut¡¯s voice called from somewhere out in the back. The shop was full of armour pieces of all varieties: leather, Scales, Chains, and Plates. The shop showcased various armour pieces, with intricate details on many items. The armour looked more ceremonial than practical. ¡°It is SJ. Is Jay here?¡± ¡°SJ. Come through,¡± Jay said. Walking through the shop and into a back room, she found Gasgut sat with Jay. Carlito had waited outside, not entering the shop. ¡°Jay. We need to get Lurtew back home,¡± SJ said. ¡°He has been set free now. Good.¡± ¡°And a little worse for wear, he joined Kylian and Olpi in the Griffin.¡± Jay chuckled. ¡°Gasgut. I will see you soon,¡± he said, standing. Gasgut nodded politely to him. While walking back from the shop, Jay was surprised to see an elf accompanying SJ as they crossed the street to the cart. Jay climbed into the cart, and Lurtew, who was now snoring heavily in the back, did not move as the cart creaked. ¡°Thanks for what you did tonight,¡± SJ said. ¡°I was only there because of you, and I enjoyed myself for the first time in years.¡± ¡°You fought well. It is unfortunate about the gnoll.¡± ¡°That was unexpected. I am not sure why he didn¡¯t take the punch better. It should not have damaged him as much as it did.¡± ¡°Maybe the potion had nullified his pain so much that he was more seriously injured than he looked.¡± ¡°Possibly. I never understood why fighters use potions,¡± Jay shrugged. ¡°Do you mind dropping Lurtew at home for me? I will make my way back to the tower in a while. I just have some business to attend to.¡± ¡°Are you sure? The streets aren¡¯t the safest to walk alone at night.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t be walking,¡± SJ smiled, moving her wings. Smiling, Jay spurred the horse as the cart moved down the street. Waving to Jay as the cart turned the corner. ¡°Shall we?¡± Carlito said. ¡°Let¡¯s.¡± Turning, Carlito walked down the street until cutting down a side alley. SJ was not feeling as nervous as she knew she should be, probably because of the two glasses of wine she had drank. They entered another street at the end of the side alley, and across the street was a small park area. The night air was cooler than SJ was used to, and she shivered slightly. Entering the empty park, Carlito walked to a picnic-style table and sat on one side. ¡°Please,¡± Carlito said, offering SJ to sit. Sitting opposite Carlito, SJ looked across the table into the dragonlings¡¯ eyes. ¡°I must say before I start that this evening was rather interesting. If you are an assassin by class, you are quite happy to make a scene and be noticed.¡± ¡°I am just me. Rather than pretending to be someone I am not, I am honest about who I am. Sorry for the delay in seeing you.¡± ¡°The delay was understandable.¡± ¡°Have you decided whether you will offer me training?¡± ¡°I have, and I will.¡± ¡®Yes,¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°Don¡¯t get too excited. We don¡¯t know what it will involve yet,¡± Dave said. ¡°That is great. What do I require to do?¡± ¡°I need to know about you first. What skills do you have?¡± Feeling nervous discussing her skills, SJ listed her main ones but did not detail levels. ¡°So Martial Arts and subterfuge are your branches. Interesting choices.¡± ¡°May I ask what your branches are?¡± ¡°My branches are Shadow Discipline and Poisons.¡± ¡°Being a dragonling makes Subterfuge a pretty useless option.¡± Carlito smirked. ¡°My race has its perks.¡± ¡°I know little of your race.¡± ¡°Few do. You are the only being in Asterfal who knows my true race, yet I am still intrigued by how you know. Never mind your invulnerability to my attacks.¡± It was SJ¡¯s turn to smirk this time. ¡°That would give up a secret that I cannot share.¡± ¡°I am surprised that you have increased your skills the way you have. Since you have had no sponsor previously. I am assuming you have no class perks.¡± ¡°Class perks?¡± ¡°The answer is no, then. Class perks are offered as quest rewards and can open further skill paths.¡± ¡°I have just grown naturally as I have levelled.¡± ¡°And what level are you? I am guessing you must be in your mid-twenties?¡± ¡°Nineteen.¡± ¡°You are only level nineteen?¡± Carlito looked surprised at her revelation. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°That is even more unusual. Your health seems to defy what would be expected for a level nineteen because of your poisoning survival.¡± The reminder of the poison and the pain that she had suffered made SJ wince. ¡°That was a horrendous feeling. Your poison was potent.¡± ¡°Not potent enough. I missed a large gain because of your survival. Twice, I might add.¡± ¡°How much was my reward?¡± Raising an eyebrow at the statement, Carlito then smiled. ¡°You wish to know your value. The contract was for five gold. Several were trying to reach you from the guild because of the value of the contract.¡± ¡°I wish I knew who initially raised it.¡± ¡°Even I can¡¯t find those details out. One thing the assassin guild is very good at is keeping secrets.¡± ¡°Do I need to join the guild to improve my class?¡± ¡°No. There is no need to be in the guild, and at nineteen, you couldn¡¯t join even if you wished to.¡± SJ had forgotten about the need to be level twenty. ¡°Ah. Yes, I must be level twenty. So, what do you require doing?¡± ¡°I have some thoughts about your development, but you need to prove your ability initially.¡± ¡°And how would you like me to do that?¡± ¡°I have a target for you I would like you to deal with. There is an elven trader in District 6 who has been causing problems recently, and she requires to be ended.¡± ¡°What problems has he caused? You understand I may be an assassin, but I won¡¯t kill those of good alignment.¡± ¡°Are any beings truly good alignment?¡± Carlito asked. Considering the question before answering, SJ took a moment. ¡°I believe there is good in most, although some will allow themselves to be taken by evil over good. I don¡¯t see many as evil unless they are out to harm or take from those weaker around them.¡± ¡°An assassin with morals. Even more intriguing.¡± ¡°I have morals, yes, and I will stand by them.¡± ¡°This will indeed be interesting. The elf in question is skimming from the mage¡¯s guild. She is a low-level mage compared to many in the city, but she has a bounty offered for her removal. There are also rumours she may be involved in necromancy as well.¡± ¡°Any more details?¡± ¡°She goes by the name of Mya and runs an enchanters shop called the ¡®Lucky Spur¡¯.¡± ¡°When does it require to be completed?¡± ¡°You have twenty-four hours before the guild reopens the quest for others to claim.¡± SJ¡¯s display triggered. Class Quest - Prove your worth Carlito has assigned you your first target to assassinate. Dispose of Mya and provide proof of completion of your task. Reward: One class perk point. ¡°What proof do you require?¡± SJ asked, feeling nervous now that she had received her first assassination quest. ¡°She wears a chain around her neck with a silver moon and sickle. It is her family crest and will prove death.¡± ¡°I will do my best.¡± ¡°If you succeed, then you know where to find me. If you fail, don¡¯t bother looking for me. Not that you would find me, of course,¡± Carlito smiled wickedly, standing and walking back out of the park. SJ sat for a moment, watching the dragonling go. ¡®I better get some sleep. It looks like I have a busy day tomorrow.¡¯ ¡°Especially as you also have a full day in the chamber.¡± Checking her display, it was approaching 01:00. Standing, she shrunk and changed her dress colour to her standard for night flying. Taking off, she rose before heading back to the tower. It had been a hectic day and night, and she had much to contemplate with Malaki and the chief, never mind her first ever class quest. Chapter 128 – Job When Zigferd knocked on her door the next morning to wake her, SJ moaned because of the lack of sleep. Dragging herself out of her bed, Dave started wittering in her head. ¡°Your first proper job. I am so excited. I can¡¯t wait to see you make the mage meet her demise.¡± ¡®You could have woken me earlier.¡¯ ¡°You looked so peaceful. I didn¡¯t want to disturb you.¡± ¡®That has never bothered you before.¡¯ ¡°I was showing my caring side and knew you would need rest before tonight¡¯s adventure.¡± ¡®I haven¡¯t accepted it yet.¡¯ ¡°What? I thought you had. Accept then.¡± ¡®I am not sure.¡¯ ¡°What on Amathera? Do you mean you aren¡¯t sure? You will start accumulating class perk points to use on your skills.¡± ¡®Carlito didn¡¯t confirm if the mage was bad or not.¡¯ ¡°For crying out loud, don¡¯t start this now. You have a city-renowned assassin who can shapeshift into any form and has offered you your first class quest. He also has different skill branches than you and can offer you guild work without being a guild member.¡± ¡®What does the skill difference mean?¡¯ ¡°You may get perks related to other skill branches while completing quests for a different skill class.¡± ¡®You have never mentioned that before.¡¯ ¡°I couldn¡¯t tell you before.¡± ¡®Really?¡¯ ¡°Yes. I was still under system restrictions, so I could not inform you.¡± ¡®Is that the first time?¡¯ ¡°I think it may be. I have been able to discuss everything else with you prior. This is the first main area closed until you started discussing a sponsor.¡± Dave finished by cursing about his code, which was still not open. ¡®How is the code-breaking going overall?¡¯ In a sulky voice, Dave replied, ¡°Don¡¯t ask.¡± When SJ flew down to the tower entrance, the foyer area was much busier than it had been the last three days. There were many unfamiliar faces that SJ hadn¡¯t seen before, moving around the lower halls of the tower. As she walked across the foyer, one of the desk clerks called to her. "Ambassador. Your token is ready for collection." SJ wasn''t sure what they were referring to, but after a conversation and directions, she visited a small office where councillors were queueing up. Once she entered the office, she was handed a small silver token. It looked like a silver piece, but on one side was the crest of Asterfal and on the other was a finely crafted image of the tower. The token was proof of councillor status, similar to the pin she had for Killic. SJ had to sign for the token and was told that losing it would incur a five gold replacement fee. Ensuring she placed it into her inventory, she headed to the dining hall. Zigferd sat at a table with Otherlisar and Berger, the mayor she had met at the diner party. ¡°Morning, SJ,¡± Otherlisar said as she approached the table. The hall was heaving with so many beings coming in for breakfast. They had changed the setup from the past three days. There was now a kiosk where SJ could see several beings waiting to pay for food. SJ sat next to Otherlisar. ¡°It¡¯s busy in here today?¡± ¡°This is normal for the business days. Many of the lead traders and their associates are in the tower to discuss and push forward their requests,¡± Otherlisar answered. The context reminded SJ of how the UK parliament had run with lobbyists working alongside members of parliament trying to get their backing for various changes and amendments in law or elements to be brought to the House of Commons for discussion. She had never been a fan of politics but knew enough about how the system ran, and it seemed similar. ¡°I just collected my token,¡± SJ said. Zigferd nodded as he took a huge bite from a hogling sandwich he had made. ¡°Keep it safe. They charge a fortune to replace them if lost,¡± he said, rounding a mouthful of food, wiping butter from his mouth once he finished chewing. ¡°What do they do exactly?¡± ¡°Not much. It is just proof of who you are if questioned. Although there have been talks about bringing tolls onto the main routes to Asterfal, using a token would free you from charges,¡± he shrugged. A server headed to the table and asked SJ what she wanted to eat. Being a councillor had privileges attached, and they didn¡¯t have to queue in the throng of other beings to be served. Ordering hogling rashers, eggs and coffee, she sat listening to the discussion between Berger and Otherlisar. ¡°With these territory amendments, it has the potential to damage our trade if these changes allow the flow of prey across boundaries,¡± Berger said. ¡°I understand your concerns, but the chances of anything dramatic shifting initially is very low,¡± Otherlisar said. Frowning, Berger said, ¡°It won¡¯t take much for our hunts to be affected. It will only take a couple of herds to cross territory, and we will lose our income.¡± ¡°There are no boundaries currently in contention with starter areas, though,¡± Zigferd said. ¡°Not currently. That doesn¡¯t mean it won¡¯t happen soon. I spoke to Gullifer, and he does not know where or even who the Legionnaire is that triggered their growth. It could happen again soon enough; if it does, the herd movement won¡¯t take long. They are constantly on the move as it is.¡± ¡°What is your request, then?¡± Otherlisar asked. ¡°We need territory agreements to allow for cross hunting and foraging rights,¡± Berger said. ¡°You know many territories won¡¯t accept that. Yours is one of the more affluent. Look at others in the area. Their only income stream may be those exact resources, and if other towns are crossing borders, it might impact them.¡± ¡°This really is a shambles,¡± Berger shook his head. ¡°We need to change our approach,¡± SJ said. ¡°Sorry?¡± Berger said. ¡°Why do the regional councils not have their own representatives?¡± Confused by the statement, all three turned to look at SJ. ¡°I mean, the regional council, from what I have seen currently, is a group of disjointed individual towns that are all fending for their own rights and income streams with no direct tie into many others.¡± ¡°They are,¡± Otherlisar agreed. ¡°Then why do they not combine? I know that the Asterfal city council holds the strings on most votes. This can only be overcome if the townships work together effectively.¡± ¡°I am still unsure why that would help with the problem.¡± ¡°From what I can see, Asterfal currently gains all the tax income from the townships. If there was one regional representative or body who represented a combined group of townships, would they not hold more sway from many perspectives, including food and distribution, etc? Individual towns are working as solo entities to work on the best rates for their townships. The combined weight of power you would get if all the hunting territories worked together, similar to all the mining townships working together, will give you more power to push for better rates.¡± ¡°I am still not sure what you mean,¡± Berger said. ¡°Simply put, your region is known for its fishing and hunting activities. One of Killic¡¯s main outputs is fishing. You currently confirm the rates you get from Asterfal, and we also confirm our rates from Asterfal. Why are we not combining our weight together as a single entity?¡± Berger looked at SJ with consideration. Zigferd sat with a slight smile. ¡°So, you propose that we have one of us represent both our towns for fishing?¡± ¡°Yes. What percentage of your town¡¯s income comes from the fishing trade?¡± ¡°About 15%, probably.¡± ¡°For Killic, it is nearly 50% of our trade output. And what prices do you currently receive per barrel and the tax you pay each for your output?¡± ¡°We are taxed 12%, and barrels usually sell between 2 and 3 silver for our usual catches. On average, we probably trade 100 barrels per month.¡± ¡°Killic pays 10% tax on our fishing output, and our barrels sell between 3 and 4 silver. The monthly output is nearer 500 barrels per month. Killic gets the better rates because of our output. That shouldn¡¯t matter, though. In my opinion, we should all be getting the same. If we went to the trade councillor to negotiate a 600-barrel monthly supply, I would expect more favourable terms. Would you not agree?¡± SJ had spent a significant amount of time over the past several weeks studying the trade documentation that the council held. In particular, focussing on the ledgers with her affinity for numbers. She had initially been surprised at the output of Killic. Not realising how much it was making from the docks. They were always busy, but she had never considered the wider trade until she took on her role. Otherlisar sat smiling while Berger sat musing over SJ¡¯s comment. Zigferd had just nodded with her comments as she spoke. Zigferd was the face of Killic, but he had already learned of SJ¡¯s affinity to numbers and, through discussions they had before leaving, was aware of her proposal. ¡°If we could tie in with other towns that deal in fishing, then I am sure we could have even more strength to push back and get equality. What difference would it make to you if you only paid 10% taxes and earned 3 or 4 silver per barrel?¡± ¡°It wouldn¡¯t be life-changing for the town, but it would ease our financial situation.¡± ¡°Which other towns do we know have fishing as their main trade?¡± SJ asked. She knew the answer but wanted Berger to consider the wider implications. ¡°Farhi from Willowfry has fished as their chief trade.¡± If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°Do you know him well?¡± ¡°Well enough.¡± ¡°Shall we go speak to him?¡± Berger sat silent for a moment before replying. ¡°There is no harm in discussing the options with him.¡± The server arrived at the table with SJ¡¯s breakfast, and while she ate, the others continued discussing potential trade opportunities if they worked together. The talks excited Otherlisar. From a banking perspective, she stated they could easily oversee the accounting and distribution of funds from a combined account system. SJ had picked the perfect opportunity, and as she sat at the table, her display triggered. Congratulations! Reputation with Otherlisar was raised to Friendly. Congratulations! Reputation with Berger was raised to Friendly. ¡°Zigferd. We need to discuss opening a bank in Killic,¡± Otherlisar said. ¡°Perhaps,¡± Zigferd smiled. ¡°I have only been asking for fifteen years now.¡± ¡°We will see. If SJ¡¯s discussion goes well with Farhi and we can get something confirmed, it may be viable.¡± Otherlisar rolled her eyes. ¡°Always the resistor.¡± After breakfast, SJ took her coffee and walked out to the garden area. It was not as peaceful as it had been on other days. Groups of beings were standing and chatting about various topics, and as she meandered around the path, she listened to several of the conversations. Virtually everything was being discussed, and it was as she passed a group of beings whose comment drew her attention. ¡°Did you see Jay last night? He was amazing in the cage,¡± a human SJ didn¡¯t recognise commented. Surprised at hearing beings talking about the cage fight in the tower, SJ stopped near a tree just off the path. ¡°He looked slower than he used to be.¡± ¡°He hadn¡¯t fought for several years. I hope he is back full-time, may support me winning some of my coin back,¡± the man chuckled. ¡°Heard that promoter he was with ain¡¯t from Asterfal.¡± ¡°I heard that Fretun got booted out.¡± SJ hadn¡¯t even considered the fallout this morning, and she also needed to let Zigferd know what had happened, but as yet, she hadn¡¯t spoken to him alone. Feeling slightly panicked by the conversation, she headed back inside. Zigferd wasn¡¯t at the table, and Otherlisar said he had been called to see the chancellor. Leaving the dining hall, SJ approached the chancellor¡¯s office. Beings were hurrying everywhere in the tower. The relative calm of fewer people in the tower during the inauguration ceremony was even clearer now. As SJ neared the chancellor¡¯s office, Alec walked out of a door in front of her. ¡°Ah, SJ, this is perfect timing. I was just looking for you,¡± Alec said. ¡°Morning, Alec. What can I do for you?¡± ¡°Come join me in the office,¡± Alec said, reopening the door she had just come from. SJ walked inside, and Alec followed, closing the door behind them. The room was much smaller than the chancellors and housed only a couple of chairs and a desk. The desk had parchment covering it, and shelves were filled with scrolls. Offering SJ to sit, Wystria sat in the other chair. ¡°What do you need from me?¡± SJ asked, smiling. ¡°It is more what you can do for me.¡± ¡°Of course. What do you need from me?¡± Alec stood again, walked to her desk, and picked up a piece of parchment. When he returned, he sat down again and leaned over, handing it to SJ. Frowning, SJ took the parchment and read its contents. As she read, she could feel her anger rising and the heat in her cheeks. ¡°The snake,¡± SJ said. ¡°He may be a snake, but he has chosen a time to strike. We all knew he was a promoter in the tower, but Malaki doesn¡¯t hold a place on the council. He is an advisor only. He knows that there will be no impact on him. This has led him to seek your removal from the Regional Council for being an active promoter in an illegal fight circuit.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t be serious?¡± SJ said, flabbergasted. ¡°Unfortunately, as a standing councillor, being involved in an illegal fight calls your reputation into account.¡± ¡°I was only there to free a friend. I hadn¡¯t even been to the Black Griffin until last night.¡± ¡°For now, please refrain from saying anything else. There will be a hearing this afternoon to answer questions.¡± ¡°What? I am being put on trial.¡± ¡°Trial is a little extreme of a word, but you must answer against the charges.¡± Sitting open-mouthed and staring at Alec, SJ wasn¡¯t sure how to respond. ¡°I will let you know when you are needed.¡± Slowly standing, SJ¡¯s head spun at the news. She turned from Alec¡¯s office, heading back to the foyer, when Zigferd called her name. ¡°SJ.¡± Turning, she saw Zigferd leaving the chancellor¡¯s office. He had a deep-set frown on his face. SJ inwardly cringed at the look he gave her. She suddenly felt like a small child waiting to be told off, knowing she had done wrong. ¡°You¡¯re in trouble,¡± Dave said. ¡®You think?!¡¯ Zigferd caught up with her momentarily and took her by her arm, guiding her to an office doorway just ahead. Walking to the door, Zigferd didn¡¯t even knock and walked in. The kobold sat working over parchments and looked up, ¡°Can I help you?¡± ¡°I need your office for a few minutes,¡± Zigferd said. The kobold appeared as though he was about to reply, but seeing Zigferd¡¯s look, he realised that it possibly wasn¡¯t the best idea. Standing, he hurried past them to the office door, leaving. As soon as the door closed, it began. ¡°What the hell do you think you were doing last night?¡± Zigferd said. He didn¡¯t shout because he didn¡¯t need to. The look on his face showered SJ with disappointment without him raising his voice. His look was flat, and even his eyes squinted. SJ took a deep breath and said, ¡°I was freeing Cristy¡¯s uncle.¡± Zigferd¡¯s expression changed as he frowned with confusion. ¡°What do you mean you were freeing Cristy¡¯s uncle?¡± ¡°Her uncle was taken to the cages as bait for the gladiator bout. I was fortunate enough to have Jay as a driver, and when we found out where he was, I asked Jay if he would fight for his freedom.¡± ¡°Sorry?! Jay, the cart driver?¡± disbelief in his voice. ¡°Yes. Jay is a cage fighter and has been for years. He only became a cart driver after losing his position as a fighter.¡± ¡°Why was Cristy¡¯s uncle there?¡± ¡°Loan sharks. He had borrowed money when Cristy¡¯s aunt was ill to cover their rent and had spiralled into further debt. They had taken him to fight off his debt at the cages.¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t you just report it to the town guard and have him freed?¡± SJ couldn¡¯t help but scoff at his comment. ¡°Have you ever been out in the districts in all your years here?¡± Zigferd stood silent for a moment. ¡°I have visited several of the restaurants, you know that.¡± ¡°I mean, really out in the districts. The conditions for many are horrendous. Cristy¡¯s relatives live in a tiny home where they struggle to pay the rent, never mind the living they are trying to scrape together as coopers. I went to the local guard to raise the issue, and the reception I got was racist and abusive. Jay again stepped in, and then I had to sort the minotaur¡¯s out at the warehouse district in District 3 as well.¡± ¡°Minotaurs?¡± ¡°Quiller, the warehouse boss, or whatever his position is, tried to accuse me of damaging goods and set his minotaur pets on me. So, I taught them a lesson in manners.¡± Zigferd was now scratching his head in disbelief. ¡°You fought with minotaurs?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°And won?¡± ¡°Yes. Easily. They are slow, cumbersome beasts.¡± Shaking his head, Zigferd sat in the chair the kobold had used. Leaning forward, he put his head in his hands. SJ stood quietly, waiting for him to respond. ¡°In all my time visiting Asterfal, I have never had so many things happen outside of my control,¡± Zigferd sighed. ¡°I don¡¯t know if it is because you are a Legionnaire or it is just you.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± SJ asked, frowning herself. ¡°You seem to attract trouble.¡± Not being able to respond to Zigferd¡¯s comment, SJ just smiled innocently at Zigferd. ¡°That is the same look Alice gives me!¡± Zigferd said, tutting. ¡°What do I need to do before the hearing?¡± ¡°There isn¡¯t anything to do. It is just a case of you being questioned by the council leaders.¡± ¡°Do I not need a lawyer?¡± ¡°A lawyer?¡± ¡°Someone to speak on my behalf.¡± ¡°You could have one if you wanted, I think. The last time I had any dealings with one of these was when Alice punched the head councillor for housing.¡± That intrigued SJ, who wanted to discover what had happened, but it wasn¡¯t the best time to ask. ¡°I thought Malaki was a councillor?¡± SJ asked. ¡°So did I. Apparently, he took a new role as an advisor, so he no longer sits on the council. I thought it strange I didn¡¯t see him at the inauguration.¡± ¡°I am sorry.¡± ¡°Listening to the story you have told me, I think, should be enough to prove your innocence, or at least reason for what you did.¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t mind, but many councillors were at the fight.¡± ¡°Maybe it is best to head back to your room for now.¡± ¡°Why should I hide away?¡± SJ said angrily. ¡°I have done nothing wrong apart from helping a friend.¡± ¡°You are right,¡± Zigferd sighed. ¡°And I know how stubborn you can be. Ok, let¡¯s let George get back to his work. We have taken over his office for long enough.¡± Heading back to the door, they left. George was standing outside, leaning against the wall, patiently waiting. Zigferd thanked him as they left and apologised. George grumbled something about his office always being used as they walked down the corridor. ¡®I am going to gather witnesses,¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°Sounds like a good defence strategy,¡± Dave said. ¡®I can¡¯t believe Malaki. He has just reached my hit list.¡¯ ¡°This may sound a strange comment, but if he is no longer a councillor, maybe you could end him without too many repercussions?¡± ¡®I will need to find out.¡¯ Reaching the main foyer, SJ excused herself and left the tower, heading straight towards the stables. ? Chapter 129 – Mind Games Reaching the stables for the first time, SJ realised how big the place was. The stables housed at least sixty horses in stalls, and carts were parked neatly in the building¡¯s courtyard. There were at least thirty carts. She had never really considered how large it may be. Walking through the entrance arch into the courtyard, she was met by strange looks from the stablehands busy brushing the horses down. In one corner, a farrier was busy hammering away, replacing the shoes on a huge monstrous horse similar to the one she had seen in Killic, ridden by a troll. A dwarf walked from a building and approached her. ¡°Can I help you, miss?¡± the dwarf asked. ¡°I am looking for Jay,¡± SJ said. ¡°Can I ask why?¡± ¡°I hired him for the week and would like to speak to him.¡± ¡°You are a councillor?¡± the dwarf looked surprised. ¡°Yes. Why? Is that a problem?¡± SJ wasn¡¯t in the mood to be questioned, and her temper was shorter than usual. ¡°No, not at all. We rarely get councillors coming to the stables. Cyril, get Jay from the block,¡± he called to a ratkin boy who was busy clearing a stall. ¡°Sir,¡± Cyril called as he hurried off. A few moments passed before Jay came walking out of the block. ¡°SJ. What do you need? You should have just got the desk to get me.¡± ¡°I just want to talk if that¡¯s ok.¡± ¡°Sure. Let¡¯s walk and talk,¡± Jay whispered, leaning forward. ¡°There are a lot of ears here.¡± Smiling, SJ followed Jay, who led him back out of the courtyard onto the main street. Turning down the street, Jay went around the side of the stables and headed towards a bench under a large tree. ¡°I am surprised you don¡¯t recognise the tree.¡± It took SJ a few moments to realise it was the one she had crashed into. She had never noticed the bench that was positioned under it before. ¡°I do now you have said it,¡± reaching the bench, SJ sat Jay, sitting next to her. ¡°What do you need?¡± ¡°I need you to do me a favour.¡± ¡°Of course anything.¡± ¡°Before anything, though, I need to give you this.¡± Removing ten gold from her inventory, she handed it to Jay. Jay¡¯s eyes went as wide as a dragon on seeing the ten golden coins. ¡°I can¡¯t possibly take that much,¡± Jay said, looking quite terrified by the amount of gold. ¡°Why not? You deserve it. You are the one who fought and won, and because of you, Lurtew is free.¡± ¡°Still ten gold. That is a huge amount of money.¡± ¡°You saw how much I won last night because of you.¡± ¡°I know, but...¡± SJ cut him off. ¡°But nothing. You earned it.¡± Staring between the coin and SJ for several moments, Jay eventually replied, ¡°Thank you.¡± Moving the coin to his inventory, he again asked, ¡°What do you need?¡± ¡°Do you know anyone in the districts that sell houses?¡± Looking at SJ, puzzled, he asked, ¡°Yes. Why?¡± ¡°I want to buy a house.¡± ¡°Here in Asterfal?¡± ¡°I want to move Cristy¡¯s aunt and uncle from where they live now. You probably know the districts better than many councillors, and I wanted your advice on the best location and who I should speak to.¡± ¡°The best location is inside the inner wall, as you know, but homes here are very, very expensive. The best district is probably District 11.¡± ¡°Do you know how much they cost to buy?¡± Jay let out an audible sound as if blowing air from his lungs. ¡°I¡¯m not sure. I think they vary a great deal, and to buy a house, you are probably looking at several gold.¡± ¡°How many do you mean by several?¡± ¡°I honestly don¡¯t know. I would have to speak to my friend.¡± ¡°Can you do that for me?¡± ¡°I can. When would you like to know by?¡± ¡°As soon as you can, if that¡¯s okay? The sooner they can move from the hellhole of a district, the better.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll get right on it, ¡° Jay said, going to stand. ¡°Also, could you do me another favour?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°Could you collect Lurtew for me and bring him to the tower?¡± ¡°Yeah. No problem. Which do you want me to do first?¡± ¡°Speak to your friend first. I may also need you later as well.¡± Frowning, Jay looked at her, ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Oh, nothing major, just that Fretun is trying to remove me from the council due to him losing his promoter¡¯s spot.¡± ¡°WHAT? That son of a wyvern.¡± ¡°I will get it sorted. That is why I may also need you to support me at the tower. I do not know if I can have witnesses with me, but if you are available, just in case. If you ask for me at the desk when you return.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Jay said, turning and hurrying towards the stables again. SJ sat for several moments, taking in the scene of the inner area. The class of beings walking around differed significantly from in the districts¡ªmany wore a uniform or colours of Asterfal. There were no sounds of the traders calling or the hawkers touting for business. Everything appeared much more sedate and organised. Watching, SJ saw two goblins moving around the wide-open cobbled streets with a handcart and brooms sweeping the leaves from the trees. The entire area was pristine and well-maintained. Looking at the inequality was getting to SJ. ¡°You need to find Farhi and Berger,¡± Dave said. ¡®How can I do that when waiting to find out what will happen to me?¡¯ ¡°What else can you do? You may as well keep yourself busy in the meantime. I am sure Jay will be back with Lurtew soon enough.¡± ¡®You are right. I should keep busy. I also need to find out about the mage.¡¯ ¡°So you have accepted the quest, then.¡± ¡®I suppose.¡¯ ¡°Good. It is about time,¡± Dave said, sounding relieved. SJ rechecked the quest details and accepted them. Class Quest - Prove your worth Carlito has assigned you your first target to assassinate. Dispose of Mya and provide proof of completion of your task. Reward: One class perk point. ¡®I will ask Jay to take me there later.¡¯ ¡°Why?¡± ¡®I do not know where it is.¡¯ ¡°Do you think getting Jay involved is a good idea?¡± ¡®What do you mean?¡¯ ¡°You specifically ask to go somewhere, and then the next thing, the being is dead.¡± ¡®I wouldn¡¯t do it then. I would use it as a reason to visit an enchanter.¡¯ Walking back to the tower, the morning air felt fresher, and the skies had darkened. The first signs of rain began as she reached the steps leading to the entrance. ¡®I could do with a cowl.¡¯ ¡°You have never been that worried about your hair getting wet before.¡± ¡®No, to hide my hair colour. Changing my dress is one thing, but my hair is still quite recognisable.¡¯ Walking to the front desk, SJ informed them she would expect guests at the tower and asked if there was an office she could use. The young gnoll who served her mentioned offices were available for visiting councillors to rent at a charge of twenty silver a day. The price was excessive, but she eventually agreed and was given a key to an office off the main foyer. Taking the key, she entered an office no larger than a broom closet. It had a small desk and a single chair. Over two people inside, and it would feel crowded. She wished she had confirmed the size before paying the non-refundable fee. Walking back to the desk, she saw the kobold who had served them on their first day. ¡°How can I help you?¡± ¡°I hired an office, but it is too small for my requirements. I was expecting to at least hold meetings in it.¡± ¡°What position do you hold?¡± ¡°I am the ambassador to Killic.¡± The kobold opened a scroll and worked down the list. ¡°Killic, Killic. Ah, here it is. You have an assigned office on the first floor. Room 23.¡± ¡°I did not know there was an assigned office.¡± ¡°All ambassadors and mayors have an assigned office.¡± ¡°So, what did I just rent then?¡± ¡°The office you rented was for external council members who are not ambassadors.¡± Shaking her head in annoyance, SJ asked for the office key. The kobold removed a stone from the cupboard behind him and handed it to her. ¡°There is a three-gold fee if it is lost. Please ensure you return it before you depart.¡± This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°Thank you,¡± SJ said. ¡°Here, I will not need the other office.¡± ¡°There is no refund. You are aware of that, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± SJ sighed. Taking the stone, SJ headed to the first floor. Finding the room, she opened it with the key. The room had a well-furnished interior, with four comfy chairs and two desks. The desks held a neatly stacked pile of parchments, and a quill and inkpot sat on each desk. ¡°I should have asked Zigferd,¡± SJ said. ¡°Would have been helpful,¡± Dave said. ¡°Now I just need to find Berger and Farhi. I wish I knew where everyone was based in the tower.¡± ¡°You need to find Zigferd.¡± Leaving the office, SJ headed back down the stairs again. Walking back to the desk, she waited to speak to the kobold, not wanting to chance to speak with any of the others. ¡°Back again. What may I do for you this time?¡± ¡°Do you have any maps of the tower or a list of where beings are? The office areas are like rabbit warrens.¡± The kobold chuckled at her idiom. ¡°We don¡¯t, but a scribe could draw one for you. If you head down the corridor on the left, you will come to the scribes¡¯ offices.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± SJ said, smiling. The inauguration days had been a simple system, moving between the dining hall to her room and the chambers, but having to find her way around the maze of corridors in the tower reminded her of her first day at a new job. Not having any idea where anyone worked. ¡®I suppose it is my first day at a new job,¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°Indeed, it is. One with an interesting future, by all accounts.¡± ¡®Ha. That is only if the job has a future.¡¯ ¡°I am sure everything will work out. For some strange reason, it always seems to for you. Every time I have thought that you have been trapped or about to die, you always seem to get through it. You really don¡¯t help an old AI and his heart.¡± SJ chuckled in her mind. Reaching the offices of the scribers, SJ entered and, after a few minutes, hired a scribe for the day to provide her with a tower map. She had said it would take her a few hours to complete, and SJ let her know where her office was and if she could deliver it when completed. Leaving again, she headed to the dining hall. She needed a coffee. Walking into the dining hall, she called a server and asked for coffee. The young girl hurried into the kitchen area. On getting a pot and a mug, she took them and walked out into the garden area. The rain was light, and making her way down the path, she located a bench and sat under the boughs of a tree. Sitting, she poured herself a drink and watched as the rain continued to fall. The smell of the gardens and the rain-filled air reminded SJ of days when she used to go camping with her family. Sitting in the tent doorway, looking out as the rain fell with the fresh smell that came with rainfall, her mind drifted. ¡°Ah, there you are,¡± Berger called. Turning, SJ snapped from her daydream. ¡°Hi, Berger. I was going to look for you and had no idea where to start.¡± ¡°The towers can be confusing the first time,¡± Berger smiled. ¡°I have spoken to Farhi. He has agreed to meet to discuss the proposition. Are you free now?¡± ¡°I am. Shall we?¡± SJ followed Berger inside and through the tower, eventually arriving at another office. None of the doors they passed had any sign of what the offices did, but beings were coming and going from many. ¡°Please take a seat. I will just get Farhi,¡± Berger said. The office was almost identical in layout to the one she had been given access to; having brought her coffee cup with her, receiving several strange looks from beings she had passed, she poured another drink. If there was one thing that grounded her, it was the fresh coffee that always seemed available. ¡°SJ, this is Farhi,¡± Berger said, entering the office again. Standing, SJ met the eyes of a male dryad. His features were soft, and his eyes shone with intensity. SJ had seen a few male dryads since arriving in Amathera, nearly all being female. They were a beautiful race and even put many of the elves to shame. ¡°Farhi. It is a pleasure to meet you.¡± Farhi held his hand out, and SJ shook it firmly. ¡°Berger has explained the basics of your proposal to me. It sounds interesting. I want to clarify further details if that is ok.¡± ¡°Of course, ask any questions you wish.¡± The general concept of combined resourcing was discussed in depth. SJ borrowed some parchment and a quill and scribbled several notes and thoughts as they discussed the matter. It was strange for SJ to consider that they had never looked into working together more closely previously. It made sense to her that they needed a combined approach to get the best deals. After almost two hours of discussion, Farhi and Berger agreed. They would allow SJ the first opportunity to discuss the approach with Fasvil, the trade councillor for Asterfal. SJ confirmed she would speak to Isavil and get her thoughts before approaching her brother. They would speak to Otherlisar about confirming the accounting details if she could strike a deal. The angle SJ would use to support the transition to single trading was to ease the burden of the work required by the trade council. Having a single point of contact would significantly reduce the need for communication and devolve the requirements for communication to the respective representative to confirm with the towns. Farhi had confirmed several smaller towns also traded fish with Asterfal, but it was a tiny proportion of their town¡¯s income. Ideally, SJ would have liked everyone on board under one umbrella, controlling the narrative, but she knew that she had to start somewhere. The time had passed quickly with the discussions and planning, and SJ knew Jay could well be returning with Lurtew from the outer district soon. Passing her thanks to Farhi and Berger, she left them to continue discussing the idea. Reaching her assigned office, she entered and sat writing up the notes from the meeting. Not long had passed before there was a knock on the office door. ¡°Enter,¡± SJ called. The door opened to a small goblin peeking around its edge. ¡°Ambassador. You have guests down in the foyer,¡± he said. ¡°Thank you,¡± SJ said, standing and following the goblin. On reaching the foyer area, Jay stood to the side with a very surprised and bewildered-looking Lurtew. ¡°SJ,¡± Lurtew said as she approached. He looked terrified. ¡°Lurtew, thank you for coming, as well as Jay. Please follow me.¡± SJ led them back to the office. They couldn¡¯t stop looking around wide-eyed as they walked through the tower corridors. After entering the office and closing the door, Lurtew couldn¡¯t contain himself. ¡°I can¡¯t believe I am in the tower.¡± Smiling, SJ looked at him. ¡°There is nothing to be surprised about. It is only a building. How were Yawnee and Cristy?¡± ¡°Ecstatic. I can¡¯t thank you enough for what you did for me,¡± Lurtew said, his head dropping with embarrassment. ¡°And you, Jay.¡± ¡°Think nothing of it,¡± SJ said. ¡°It was fun to be back in the cage,¡± Jay smiled. ¡°Jay. Did you tell Lurtew why I needed him here?¡± ¡°Yes. As best as I could.¡± ¡°Ok, so you know that Malaki Fretun, an ¡®advisor¡¯ to the chancellor, has brought accusations against me to remove me from my position as ambassador?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Lurtew said. ¡°I will not contest the charge. Although I will explain exactly what has happened, I may require you to support my statements.¡± Both Jay and Lurtew nodded their heads in understanding. ¡°It may be uncomfortable for you to be questioned, Lurtew. I know it is difficult to admit that you ran up debt, but I need to emphasise the damage the loan sharks have on many districts.¡± Lurtew dropped his head, his obvious embarrassment at the situation. ¡°I will do whatever I can to help,¡± he said quietly. ¡°Jay. Did you see your friend?¡± ¡°I did,¡± he replied, glancing at Lurtew. ¡°And?¡± ¡°Outright, you are looking at a minimum of twenty-plus, possibly more. It all depends upon where exactly.¡± ¡°A decent area,¡± SJ said. ¡°Probably thirty plus, for the best area.¡± ¡°Do you think I could get to meet with him?¡± ¡°I am sure he would love to. I don¡¯t think outright purchases come along very often.¡± ¡°Excellent. After we finish here, then we can head over.¡± The three sat chatting and discussing various elements of Asterfal and how it works. SJ wanted to get as much detail as possible about the districts and how they operated. After witnessing the little that she had, I realised there was so much that needed to be changed in the city to make it suitable for all who lived there. She knew it was an uphill task, and the chances of her being able to make any change would be virtually nil. It would not stop her from trying, though. As time passed, SJ felt nervous. She had expected that Zigferd would have found her by now to discuss things, but she hadn¡¯t heard from him. SJ left a message with the front desk to inform Zigferd of her whereabouts. There was a knock on the office door, and on answering, SJ was again greeted by the small goblin. ¡°The chancellor would like to see you,¡± the goblin said. At the comment, SJ suddenly felt her stomach knot. She thought she had been handling the situation well until that moment. ¡°Thanks. We will come now,¡± SJ said. The goblin frowned at the comment of ¡®We¡¯ but said nothing as he led them to the chancellor¡¯s chamber. On entering the chamber, SJ could feel the icy reception awaiting her arrival. Jay and Lurtew followed SJ inside, both looking like startled rabbits. Even though this was Jay¡¯s second time in the office, he still appeared to shrink in stature. The chancellor was sitting at his desk with Alec, and Wystria stood on either side. Malaki sat in a chair looking smugly towards SJ. SJ felt her temper rise, glancing at the contemptuous man. ¡°Chancellor. You called for me,¡± SJ said. ¡°I did. Thank you for coming so swiftly. Alec has made you aware of the reason for this meeting.¡± ¡°He has,¡± SJ said, trying to hold back the nervous tension from her voice. ¡°There have been charges brought against you because you participated in illegal cage fighting and being a promoter. How do you stand against the accusation?¡± Looking straight at the chancellor, SJ replied calmly. ¡°I don¡¯t contest the charges.¡± Malaki grinned from ear to ear. ¡°See, I told you. She needs to be struck off immediately from her position as an ambassador.¡± The chancellor turned and glared at Malaki. ¡°Malaki. Let me remind you, this is a meeting, and it is not your decision to define any outcome.¡± the warning tone in the chancellor¡¯s voice didn¡¯t go unnoticed. ¡°I do, though, have justification for my actions, and I would like the opportunity to convey them. If you would allow it?¡± The chancellor looked at both Wystria and Alec, who nodded. ¡°Please,¡± the chancellor said. SJ relayed her tale. She left nothing out apart from anything to do with Carlito, keeping to the facts about what had occurred and why she had done what she had done to save Lurtew from almost certain death. She even detailed the guards¡¯ reactions in District 3 and their behaviour and the fight with Quiller and his goons until eventually concluding what had happened in the cage, with Jay rescinding the fight to Lurtew to allow him his freedom and the removal of the overhanging debt forced on him by loan sharks. None in the chamber commented as she spoke, and her story took time to relay. She then explained Malaki¡¯s involvement in the proceedings and what he had been involved in, detailing the diagnosis spell and confirming his involvement in trying to cheat. The expressions of those in attendance remained unchanged, except for Malaki, who SJ could see becoming increasingly uncomfortable as further details were explained. ¡°And why are we to believe your tale?¡± Alec asked once SJ had finished speaking. ¡°I have brought Jay and Lurtew with me today to provide evidence for the meeting. I can also get testimony from many others if necessary.¡± ¡°Again, how can this be confirmed as truth? Irrespective of their testimony,¡± Alec asked. Wystria bent to whisper in the chancellor¡¯s ear. The chancellor raised an eyebrow before commenting. ¡°There is a way we can confirm the details. Wystria, please,¡± the chancellor nodded to her. Wystria turned, leaving the chamber through the side entrance Darwinial had used when SJ had been confirmed. Alec leaned to speak to the chancellor before standing and raising his eyebrows in mild alarm. You could have cut the air in the chamber with a knife as SJ stood awaiting her fate. Silence ensued, only disturbed by the nervous tapping of Lurtew¡¯s foot. Until Alec looked at him, and he stopped instantly, SJ thinking he almost died on the spot. He looked terrified. Several more minutes passed before the door opened, and Wystria walked back in, accompanied by the strangest-looking being SJ had yet to meet on Amathera. It stood over six feet tall, wearing deep purple robes with a silver trim to it. It wasn¡¯t its height or robes that SJ noticed, but its head. Jay¡¯s description was about as accurate as it could be. The being looked like it had a squid for a head. Tentacles, the only way SJ could explain them, moved independently around the being¡¯s head, and it had large saucer-like eyes. ¡°Ah, Earquis. Thank you for attending,¡± the chancellor said. Jay now looked terrified, and Lurtew was visibly shaking. ¡°Chancellor. How can I be of help?¡± ¡°Would you mind reading the thoughts of those in attendance today and confirming the story that has been relayed to us by SJ here?¡± ¡°I can, chancellor. What details do you wish to confirm?¡± ¡°The truth. SJ, please restate your tale for Earquis here.¡± SJ looked at the illithid and smiled before relaying her tale again. Chapter 130 – Incomprehensible SJ¡¯s smile was the fakest smile she knew she could muster. Panic flooded every inch of her being. She had never experienced the illithid before, and seeing the ¡®squid head¡¯ in front of her scared the living daylights out of her. Feeling the trickle of sweat running down her back, she was glad the others were all standing before her. ¡®I can¡¯t think of Carlito. I can¡¯t think of Carlito,¡¯ SJ repeated in her thoughts. ¡°Stop thinking about him, then!¡± Dave snapped. SJ told the tale. Desperately trying to focus on the specifics and not alter from her course of the truth of what happened. She embellished nothing, giving the cold, hard truth of everything that had happened. As the tale unfolded, she could feel her temperature rising and beads of sweat forming on her brow. Eraquis didn¡¯t appear to do anything apart from glancing between Jay, Lurtew, Malaki and herself. The expression on Malaki was one of terror. He was looking directly at SJ, and his eyes were wide with fear. It was obvious he hadn¡¯t expected the introduction of an illithid. Lurtew audibly gasped beside her and dropped to his knees. SJ also noticed Jay grabbing his head. Malaki suddenly closed his eyes, a flash of pain on his face. SJ continued to tell her tale, not hesitating and staying calm and as focused as she could. She could feel heat around her head, as though it was being heated in the sun, and her cheeks warmed. A bead of sweat ran from her brow between her eyes, tickling her face as it travelled down the side of her nose. It wasn¡¯t painful, just uncomfortable. Earquis frowned, looking at her, his tentacles twitching like writhing snakes as he looked at each of them before returning his gaze to SJ. He tilted his head slightly as he gazed at her more intently. SJ met his gaze, calmly continuing her tale, desperately trying to maintain her thoughts. ¡°It is like watching fireworks,¡± Dave suddenly said. Trying not to be taken off track by Dave¡¯s comment, she attempted to ignore him. ¡°I can see the attacks on your cerebral cortex, but they aren¡¯t able to penetrate. I don¡¯t think he can access your thoughts. I have witnessed illithid interrogations before and they weave through a being¡¯s brain, digging into every corner, seeking knowledge or secrets. This is nothing like I have ever witnessed.¡± Dave sounded quite amazed. ¡°...after collecting Jay from Gasgut¡¯s, I then asked Jay to take Lurtew home, and I returned to the tower.¡± SJ finished. Malaki was physically shaking where he sat, and Jay looked as though he was about to be sick. Lurtew was distraught now, curled up on the floor in a ball. Earquis looked at SJ with what SJ could only describe as a concerned expression. ¡°Earquis. What are your thoughts?¡± ¡°She tells the truth, but there is an issue.¡± ¡°What issue?¡± the chancellor asked. ¡°The other three have confirmed every element of her story, as one of them was present at every point. I am unable to read her thoughts, though.¡± The shock on the chancellor''s and the other¡¯s faces was a picture to behold. ¡°You can¡¯t read her thoughts?¡± Not taking his eyes off SJ, he continued to speak. ¡°No. I can¡¯t penetrate her mind. It is impossible. I am the strongest illithid in the city and I have never met a being able to block our process. How do you do it?¡± ¡°I did nothing?!¡± SJ replied, surprised. ¡°You must have. There is no other explanation why.¡± ¡°Oooooo,¡± Dave suddenly said. ¡®What?¡¯ SJ asked. ¡°I think it¡¯s because of your brain. It was never changed. You still have your original human brain from Earth, remember?¡± ¡°I could feel my head getting warmer and hot. I don¡¯t know if that is normal. I have never met one of your race before or experienced it, so I don¡¯t know,¡± SJ said. Jay had knelt now next to Lurtew and was slowly helping the gnoll rise. His face was distraught, and his eyes looked swollen. Jay looked no better with the grimace he still wore. ¡°How?¡± Alec asked, frowning at SJ. ¡°I honestly do not know,¡± SJ said, shocked. The chancellor looked at her quizzically for several moments before he spoke. ¡°Earquis, you say her story is true?¡± ¡°Absolutely. I may not have been able to read her thoughts, but all others corroborated everything she said. The one here,¡± he said, pointing at Malaki, ¡°has lied to you for many years about his involvement. He believed now he was an advisor and no longer a councillor, that he didn¡¯t fall under the same remit as a councillor, and believes he can continue to be a promoter now without repercussions.¡± ¡°Does he now?¡± the chancellor glared at Malaki. Wystria bent and spoke to the chancellor. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s a good idea. SJ, your friends may now leave. Please remain here if you can.¡± SJ turned to Jay and Lurtew and nodded to them. ¡°I will see you both later.¡± Jay supported Lurtew as they walked from the chamber. Once the chamber door was closed, the chancellor continued. ¡°SJ, you have broken the rules of a council member by competing in the cage fighting scene.¡± SJ was about to interject when the chancellor held his hand up and continued. ¡°Although you did, it is obvious from the three of us,¡± turning to look at Wystria and Alec, who both nodded. ¡°That you only did this as you state to free a friend from what could have ended in certain death. That level of friendship is something that many would strive for, and it shows a strength of character that I believe many lack in Asterfal.¡± ¡°Malaki. Your behaviour over the years has been rash and dangerous. You have got away with many things because of your abilities at alchemy, but no more. I can¡¯t sit here as a chancellor of Asterfal and allow your behaviour to continue without taking due action. The rumours of your involvement in the fight scene have been bandied around the tower for a long time, and yet we all know that several from the chambers attend and turn a blind eye, allowing those to have their entertainment as they wish. Today, you have brought this to a head by accusing a presiding councillor. Which is a position that you have sat in previously, and at any point during that time, someone could have said something similar to you.¡± ¡°Your decision was a choice, though, for no other reason than financial gain. It wasn¡¯t through compassion or reason to save a friend. It was purely through greed. I am therefore stripping you of any rights of power in Asterfal. You will remove all your belongings from the tower and give up your home in the inner circle. You don¡¯t deserve the right to stay within the circle because of your continuing actions. We have already received several complaints since the regional councillors arrived about certain behaviours, and her worship also raised concern over actions you have been taking external to the city.¡± ¡°What? I will not give up my rights to anything. My family has been a part of Asterfal¡¯s leadership for centuries. You have no authority to remove me or take my home.¡± ¡°I AM THE CHANCELLOR,¡± the change in volume and tone surprised SJ. At all times, the chancellor had been calm and controlled. ¡°I DECREE WHAT HAPPENS IN ASTERFAL, NOT YOU.¡± The chancellor¡¯s face was thunderous and Malaki physically baulked. ¡°Wystria, Alec, do you disagree with my judgement.¡± ¡°I do not,¡± Alec said, shaking his head. ¡°Nor I,¡± Wystria added. ¡°As the ruling council of Asterfal, then the decision is final. GUARDS.¡± At the call, two tower guards entered the chamber and walked to stand on either side of SJ. The chancellor smiled. ¡°Please escort Malaki Fretun to his offices. Allow him only to remove personal items. Then, he should be escorted to his home and watched while he packs his belongings. I expect him out of the inner city by nightfall.¡± The guards looked at each other before stepping forward to where Malaki sat, staring at the chancellor in disbelief. Reaching, they grabbed him and lifted him from his seat. ¡°You can¡¯t do this. I have rights. I am a leading member of Asterfal and a noble in society.¡± ¡°You were,¡± Alec said, smiling. It was obvious that Alec had no love for Malaki. ¡°YOU HAVEN¡¯T HEARD THE LAST OF THIS,¡± Malaki screamed as he was escorted from the chancellor¡¯s office. As the chamber doors closed, his muted voice could be heard screaming as he was dragged down the hallway. ¡°Earquis. Thank you for your services. As always, you have been a token of truth.¡± This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. ¡°Chancellor,¡± Earquis nodded before turning and looking back at SJ. Not being able to read her mind had unsettled the illithid. Turning, he left through the side door. ¡°Now then, SJ.¡± SJ was still trying to understand what had just happened. Malaki had not only lost his position but also any power within the city¡¯s inner workings. ¡°Chancellor?¡± SJ said. ¡°Please take a seat.¡± SJ slowly moved forward and took a seat. Alec and Wystria moved from the sides of the chancellor and took seats as well. All three turned to look at SJ. She felt like she should be in her miniature form, as they all stared at her. ¡°Since you arrived in Asterfal, we have seen some rather disturbing occurrences.¡± ¡°I can only apologise for what has happened. I meant to bring no trouble to the city,¡± SJ said. The chancellor raised his hand, signalling her to stop. ¡°The problems have not been of your making. Although from conversations with Zigferd, he said you tended to draw attention.¡± That comment surprised SJ. ¡°He also said you are the most loyal friend to any being he has ever met. Your beliefs aren¡¯t to be dismissed. I know many who would consider a friendship with yourself as a symbol of hope and strength. The story of what you did for the young gnoll orphan reached the city before you did, and the tales of your valour when the ogre attacked Killic. You may be surprised to know that your name and position were already spoken about in the tower¡¯s halls.¡± Completely taken aback by the revelation that the chancellor of a city the size of Asterfal knew about aspects of her life from Killic blew her mind. She wanted to respond but was lost for words. ¡°I have also heard a rumour that you are banding some regional members together. It appears that you seem to have an uncanny way of persuasion.¡± SJ sat with a bemused look on her face. She had never tried to persuade anyone. She had always just been herself, taking things as they came and approaching opportunities for improvement when she saw them. Wystria sat smiling at SJ. What could have ended in her being removed from the regional council had taken a strange and bewildering turn. ¡°Now, would you like to share your thoughts on the regional approach you are considering?¡± the chancellor asked, smiling. When SJ left the chancellor¡¯s office, it was late afternoon. The discussions about singular regional representation were of interest. If they only had single points of contact for each main area, it would save the city a vast sum in administration alone. Implementing this would be a challenge, but the chancellor promised he would consider it with the lead councillors for the various departments. She was given the authority to pursue the initial discussion with Fasvil, with the chancellor¡¯s backing. As SJ walked down the hallway from the chancellor¡¯s, she couldn¡¯t get her head around everything that had happened. They had even discussed the conditions in the outer districts and the issues that she was already aware of from her brief visits. She had been pleased to learn that the chancellor was already aware of several issues being looked into, particularly in District 3. The problem had been that the ruling council or Asterfal had been running the way it had for so long that making any adjustments would take significant time. The chancellor had been nothing like she had assumed he would be, and the conversation had been open and refreshing. He had been willing to listen to her comments and considerations and hoped that some of them might be actioned. Considering the convoluted complexity of the city, nothing would be instant. ¡®I forgot to mention legalising fights,¡¯ she thought as she entered the foyer. She needed something to eat and to find Jay and Lurtew to check on them both. Neither had looked well from the illithid intrusion. ¡°I think you have achieved more in the past few hours than many have in this city for years,¡± Dave said. SJ swore she could hear pride in his voice. ¡®Are you proud of what I did?¡¯ ¡°No,¡± Dave lied. ¡°Never.¡± ¡®If you say so,¡¯ she smiled. Dave tutted. Reaching the front desk, she asked if Zigferd had been seen yet. No one had seen him, and SJ was getting worried. She hadn¡¯t seen him for several hours and assumed he would have been in the chancellor¡¯s chamber. Stopping in the dining hall, she grabbed fruit from a table basket before heading outside to find Jay. Reaching the stables, she discovered Jay was still out, having picked up the cart to drop Lurtew off. The fact he had been in the chancellor¡¯s chamber had spread around the stables, and several looked at SJ warily. Feeling paranoid, she left the stable and, walking around the side of a nearby building, shrunk to her miniature form while changing her dress design. Taking off, she headed into the outer ring towards District 3, where Lurtew lived. Not having flown over the outer city streets in daylight, SJ was amazed at the difference. Daytime brought a different feel to the city. As she flew over the streets, she looked down on the city¡¯s day-to-day activities below. She normally wouldn¡¯t have chanced flying in daylight, but looking at how closely knit the outer city streets were, for her to be seen, someone would have to be looking straight up. The hustle and bustle of the streets and the beings moving back and forth made SJ wonder what many of them did for jobs. It was nothing like Killic, and its structure was organised with set locations for everything. Everything in Asterfal seemed to have organically grown. Whether it be a blacksmith on the corner of a street or a flower vendor on another, everything seemed available. Reaching the street, she recognised where Lurtew lived; she flew over the building and looked down into the yard where she had sat the first evening. They were all in the yard. Swooping down quickly so as not to be noticed, SJ landed, startling Yawnee initially before she grew to her larger form. ¡°SJ,¡± Cristy said, running to her and hugging her. ¡°Thank you for bringing uncle back.¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t have done it without Jay¡¯s help.¡± As Cristy stopped hugging SJ, Yawnee stepped forward and replaced her, tears in her eyes. ¡°Thank you,¡± she said. They had all stopped talking on SJ¡¯s arrival, and Jay couldn¡¯t resist asking the overarching question. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Malaki has been removed from the inner city. He has had all authority taken from him by the chancellor.¡± Jay stood open-mouthed, staring in disbelief. Eventually, getting his thoughts together. ¡°He lost everything?¡± ¡°Yes. Everything. Including his home.¡± ¡°Wow. I have never heard of any in the inner city being removed before.¡± ¡°I get the feeling his actions against me were a catalyst and conclusion of many events, and they had just been awaiting an opportunity to remove him. Lurtew, how are you feeling?¡± ¡°Much better now. It felt like I had snakes inside my head when that scrier started digging.¡± ¡°I am so sorry. I didn¡¯t know they would do that.¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t your doing.¡± ¡°I wanted to see you again because I have a proposition for you. I want your opinion before I confirm.¡± ¡°What proposition?¡± Yawnee asked. ¡°I know you have lived in Asterfal for a long time, but I wanted to see if you wished to come and live in Killic?¡± Lurtew frowned and looked at Yawnee. ¡°There are no coopers in Killic. We would have no job or be able to earn an income.¡± ¡°Are you not both carpenters by trade?¡± ¡°In a fashion, I suppose. Carpentry is not our defined profession, though.¡± ¡°Is cooper your actual profession?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Lurtew said. ¡°I have another proposal, then. Have you considered moving from District 3?¡± ¡°Many times. We can¡¯t afford to. Thankfully, now the debt is gone, things will be a little easier, but the rent always seems to increase, and wages never go up in comparison. The city has become so overcrowded.¡± ¡°If you had somewhere to move to, would you move?¡± ¡°We couldn¡¯t afford it.¡± ¡°I am not talking about cost. I am asking if you could move to another district, would you?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Yawnee said. ¡°Jay. Can we visit your friend?¡± ¡°Of course, I can take you.¡± ¡°Great, then let us see what we can sort out.¡± ¡°SJ, are you going to look at houses?¡± Cristy asked. Smiling at Cristy, she just nodded. Cristy beamed back at her. ¡°Can I come?¡± ¡°Yawnee, Lurtew?¡± ¡°Fine by us,¡± Yawnee said. ¡°Come on then,¡± SJ said. Leaving Cristy¡¯s relatives, Jay drove the cart towards District 11. On reaching the district, the streets here were nowhere near as congested as those in District 3. The buildings were much larger and nicer in appearance. ¡°So, what¡¯s the plan?¡± Cristy asked. ¡°I am going to buy a house in Asterfal,¡± SJ said. ¡°Buy, not rent?¡± ¡°I will buy it. I have my reasons.¡± Chapter 131 – Property and Proposal Tyrone was the strangest name SJ had heard for an orc. Jay¡¯s friend was dressed in similar clothing to those at the wagonistas in Killic: a bright, crisp linen shirt and dark cotton pants, with the addition of a cloak. His cloak was made of shimmering material, and his dress reminded her of magicians, who only had the top hat missing. ¡°Tyrone, this is SJ.¡± ¡°Hello, Tyrone,¡± SJ said, shaking his hand. ¡°This is Cristy.¡± Smiling broadly, Tyrone took Cristy¡¯s hand. ¡°Princess Cristy, I assume?¡± Cristy giggled in response. ¡°No, just Cristy.¡± ¡°I would have sworn you were a princess,¡± Tyrone grinned. ¡°Jay didn¡¯t give me any details apart from asking about various prices. Can I ask what you are after exactly?¡± ¡°To be honest, I am not sure exactly myself yet. The only stipulation I have is that it requires yard space to allow for barrel manufacturing and easy access for collection.¡± Tyrone had a fine white strip of a beard which hung from his chin, and he stroked it thoughtfully. ¡°Umm. There are a few places which may suit those needs. What is your rental price range?¡± ¡°I think you misunderstood. I want to buy outright, including the deed.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Tyrone¡¯s smile grew broader, if possible. ¡°How much is your budget?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t know until I see the right property. If you can, just show me what you have that meets those basic needs.¡± ¡°Of course. There are only two properties currently for sale that would meet the requirement. One is towards the outer wall, the other towards the inner wall. Which would you like to see first?¡± ¡°Which is the nearest?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go to the outer wall first.¡± Jumping in the cart, Tyrone directed Jay to the first property. As they approached the outer wall, the streets naturally narrowed, and the corner where the building was situated was tight. Although it could accept a wagon for collection, it was not the easiest to access. SJ had made her mind up as they approached. ¡°This won¡¯t do, sorry,¡± SJ said. ¡°Do you not wish to look around? It is a three-bed property with a large yard area.¡± ¡°No, thank you. Let¡¯s see the other one.¡± Tyrone looked slightly hurt at not being able to show SJ around but directed Jay back towards the inner wall area of District 11. The property faced the inner wall along the wide street around the outside of the whole inner wall. ¡°This property may not look all it is,¡± Tyrone warned as they approached. The building was three storeys high. The ground floor had a set of double doors and a single door to the side. Climbing from the cart, Tyrone walked to the single door. ¡°Please,¡± Tyrone said, standing to the side, allowing them in. Jay had parked the cart outside the broad street and joined them inside. Entering through the door led into a hallway, and halfway down, a set of stairs began. To the right of the door was another single door. Tyrone took out another key and opened the door. While lacking a yard area, the building had a space equivalent to a triple garage. The double doors at the front led into an area where at least three or four wagons could be positioned well. The area was twice the size of Yawnee and Lurtew¡¯s yard space. A row of wooden benches along the rear of the garage area would be perfect for them to store all their tools. Nodding appreciatively, SJ returned to the hall and went up the stairs. The stairs opened into a landing area with three doors coming off it. At the rear was the kitchen area, and to SJ¡¯s surprise, it overlooked a small patio area filled with potted plants. Other buildings enclosed three sides, with a high stone wall on one side. A door opened at the end of the kitchen to reveal a set of wooden steps leading to the small yard. The other two rooms on the floor were an office area and a lounge, which stretched across the front of the building. The building was also on a corner plot, allowing for extra windows. A set of stairs directly above the first set led to the next floor, which held a bathroom and two bedrooms. ¡°Does the property have running water and waste?¡± SJ asked. ¡°It does,¡± Tyrone said. ¡°Including hot?¡± ¡°Ah, no. Unfortunately, if you wish for hot water, you must enquire at the mage guild. They can supply you a monthly fee to maintain the correct mana levels.¡± There was a narrower set of steps leading up again on this floor. SJ climbed the stairs and was met by a single door. The door opened into a single large room. It reminded SJ of a studio apartment. The roof of the building slanted down one side, yet not at a height to impact a standard-sized humanoid. There was also a balcony at the front, and SJ crossed the room and walked outside. The balcony allowed for a clear view of the inner wall. The building was perfect for what she wanted. Turning to look at Tyrone in the eyes, she said, ¡°How much?¡± Tyrone couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡°This property requires a deposit of fifteen gold, and then payback rates can be confirmed depending upon how long you wish to pay.¡± ¡°I think you are mistaken again, Tyrone. How much to buy it outright now?¡± Tyrone wasn¡¯t used to dealing with the statement about paying for the building outright. His expression told the story: ¡°Erm, the value in Asterfal is 45 gold.¡± ¡°I assume you get a commission on sales?¡± ¡°Yes." "So you normally get a commission on the 15 gold initial sale value?¡± Tyrone frowned, ¡°Yes, why?¡± ¡°If I purchased the building now, I assume the commission you make would be much higher than normal then?¡± SJ could notice the colour in Tyrone¡¯s cheeks as he answered. ¡°Yes. It would be much higher than normal.¡± ¡°I assume you do not often sell buildings like this outright?¡± ¡°No, not often,¡± Tyrone said with enthusiasm. ¡°If I paid you forty gold now for this building, do you think the seller would accept it? Rather than waiting for their money on payments.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t answer for certain, but I guess they may.¡± ¡°How long would it take you to confirm?¡± ¡°I should be able to contact the owner and ask.¡± ¡°Well, what are you waiting for then?¡± Tyrone stood still momentarily before turning in a flourish and disappearing down the stairs as fast as he dared. SJ understood enough about the trade and sales of Amathera from conversations with Zigferd and Alice about how many of the more expensive items were sold. It was like the wagonistas with payments. Paying outright for something was always the most viable option. The building would be perfect for SJ¡¯s plans. She was currently level 19, and as soon as she reached level 20, she could create a second portal. That meant she could port directly to Asterfal as needed and always port back to Farleck cottage. She couldn¡¯t return to the Killic cottage without using another soul stone, but flying from Farleck to Killic didn¡¯t take too long. Also, the balcony was perfect. She would use the top floor and have the balcony to come and go without worrying about being seen by anyone. It faced towards the inner wall even better, with no buildings looking over it. Yawnee and Lurtew could live downstairs and complete their work as required, rent-free as long as they maintained the place. This didn¡¯t bother SJ and made her happier that someone was living there normally. ¡°This place is huge,¡± Jay said once Tyrone had left. ¡°It is perfect. Cristy, do you think Yawnee and Lurtew would live here?¡± Cristy giggled. ¡°Oh, yes. It¡¯s perfect.¡± They headed back downstairs, chatting about the various features of the property while waiting for Tyrone to return. A while later, puffing, Tyrone arrived back at the house. ¡°I have spoken to the owner. It was a strange conversation. I told them you had offered forty now, and they immediately said no less than forty-three. When I explained you were a fae from the tower, he laughed. He said you have met and would let you have it for forty.¡± ¡°Who is it?¡± SJ asked. ¡°I can¡¯t divulge my client¡¯s name, but he said if you asked, he said to say Kylian.¡± Tyrone looked confused. SJ turned and looked at Jay, who shrugged in response. Dash was Jay¡¯s old and now Kylian¡¯s promoter, who was the only person SJ had met with any relation to Kylian. The chances of her buying a property that belonged to one of the fight promoters in a city the size of Asterfal was a sign of good fortune. ¡°So, when can I transfer the deeds?¡± ¡°If you return to the office with me, you can sign all the paperwork and transfer the deeds now.¡± ¡°Excellent, let¡¯s go then,¡± SJ said. They left the building, locked the door, and returned to Tyrone¡¯s office. Tyrone didn¡¯t stop talking the whole time, and she could hear the excitement in his voice. His office was no more than a single room with a small shop front. Jay waited outside while SJ discussed the last details with Tyrone and paid the forty gold. Tyrone¡¯s eyes bulged at seeing so much gold in one go, and he quickly locked it in a small chest. Handing the deed over to SJ, he allowed the transference, and the details and names were changed on the deed. ¡°Congratulations! You are now the successful owner of one of the finest properties in Asterfal,¡± Tyrone beamed. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°Thank you. All I need now are the keys,¡± SJ smiled. Tyrone flushed with embarrassment. ¡°Sorry,¡± he stammered, digging the keys from his pocket. ¡°Thank you,¡± SJ said, taking them and adding them to her inventory. SJ stood to leave, and Tyrone walked her outside back to the cart. ¡°Please, if you need anything else, let me know,¡± he said, waving as Jay moved the cart off. Tyrone continued grinning and waving until they turned a corner. ¡°He was nice,¡± Cristy said. ¡°Only because he called you princess,¡± SJ said. ¡°No. He was nice anyway. The princess¡¯s comment was just a bonus.¡± Rolling her eyes at Cristy, SJ chuckled. ¡°Let¡¯s let Yawnee and Lurtew know they have a new home. ¡°Can they really live there?¡± Cristy asked. ¡°As long as they want to,¡± SJ smiled. ¡°Thank you, SJ,¡± Cristy said as a tear formed in her eye. ¡°Anything for family, remember?¡± SJ said. Cristy threw her arms around her and hugged her, and SJ returned the sentiment. Arriving back at their home, Cristy couldn¡¯t hold back the excitement. Babbling at the pair of them as the door was opened. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Yawnee said, confused. ¡°SJ just bought a house you can live in,¡± Cristy said. ¡°Sorry? What?¡± Lurtew said. ¡°Holy trolls warts,¡± Cristy said, exasperated. ¡°Cristy! There is no need for language like that,¡± Yawnee scolded her. ¡°Well, listen then. SJ has just bought a house, and you can live there. It is by the inner wall in District 11.¡± Both Yawnee and Lurtew stood open-mouthed. Lurtew was the first to gain speech back. ¡°You have bought a house in District 11. There is no way we can afford the rent on a place like that,¡± Lurtew said. ¡°You don¡¯t need to pay rent,¡± SJ said. ¡°Sorry?!¡± Yawnee said. ¡°You can live there for free. I need a home for when I am in Asterfal on business, and it seemed like the perfect opportunity to get you out of District 3. As long as you look after the place while I am not there, that is all I ask. There is enough space on the ground floor to make your barrels.¡± Neither Yawnee nor Lurtew could reply. They were both in shock. ¡°I need to get back to the tower. Jay, can you please help them begin moving?¡± ¡°Yep. No problem at all.¡± SJ removed the keys to the house from her inventory and handed them to Lurtew. Lurtew just stared at the keys as SJ walked towards the rear yard. ¡°I will come and check on you later,¡± SJ called as she shrank and took off as soon as she did. ¡°You still continue to amaze me,¡± Dave said as SJ flew back to the tower. SJ didn¡¯t respond, as she was thinking about all the things she would need for the house. It was much larger than the other properties, and she wanted to get the upstairs furnished as soon as possible. ¡°Oh no,¡± Dave said. That pulled SJ from her thoughts. ¡°What?¡± she said, since she was flying. ¡°You will spend the rest of your time in Asterfal shopping.¡± ¡°No. I am going to ask Yawnee to do it for me. I have other work to do.¡± ¡°You do. We only have about 8 hours left on the quest.¡± SJ had been thinking about the class quest, on and off, and felt more uncomfortable as time passed. She knew she had to complete it to progress in her class, but this would be her first unknown target. Everyone else she had killed previously she had justification for. ¡°I know,¡± SJ sighed. Landing behind some trees near the tower, SJ grew and casually walked towards the entrance again. No one reacted to her appearance, having adjusted her dress as she had landed back to its original beautiful form. Entering the tower, the guards nodded politely. ¡°That was new, Dave said. ¡®Strange,¡¯ SJ thought. Even in the late afternoon, the foyer was busy, and as SJ entered, several beings looked in her direction. ¡®Why are they looking at me?¡¯ ¡°No idea. I can¡¯t see anything unusual,¡± Dave said. Frowning, SJ walked to the desk. A very tall female elf with piercing green eyes addressed her as she did. ¡°Ambassador SJ.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Her Worship is waiting to see you in the reception hall.¡± ¡®Why does Petunia want to see me?¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°Where is the reception room?¡± ¡°Ah. That reminds me. Here,¡± the elf said, handing SJ a scroll. SJ unrolled the scroll, seeing the drawings of the tower the scribe had completed for her. ¡°Thanks,¡± SJ said, finding the directions to the reception hall. Walking down the corridor indicated on the drawing led her perfectly to where she needed to go. Entering the reception hall, SJ saw Petunia sitting in the front seat. Sitting next to her was an elderly elf who seemed deep in discussion. SJ walked through the hall, her footsteps almost silent. ¡°We must seal their fate,¡± SJ heard the man say, her increased senses allowing her to pick up his quiet tone. ¡°Petunia?¡± SJ said as she approached. Turning, Petunia smiled, a sparkle in her eyes. ¡°SJ. Thank you for coming.¡± ¡°Have you been waiting long?¡± ¡°No. We only arrived a short while ago.¡± ¡°What do you need?¡± ¡°We have a delicate matter to discuss with you, and unfortunately, we think you may be the only one who can help.¡± The comment intrigued but also concerned SJ. ¡°Help with what?¡± ¡°Oh. Please accept my apologies. This is Tanias, Isavil and Fasvil¡¯s father.¡± The elf looked ancient, and SJ didn¡¯t even know what age he might be. ¡°Tanias, nice to meet you.¡± ¡°It is my pleasure. I just wish it was under better circumstances.¡± His voice was still young and strong. ¡°What circumstances do you talk of?¡± ¡°I have received news that Isavil is to be married to an elven lord in our capital.¡± ¡°Is that not good news?¡± ¡°No. He is not a nice elf. He has a horrible reputation but is related to the elven king, who has persuaded him to make Isavil his wife.¡± ¡°I see. How can I help, though?¡± ¡°We need you to persuade Zigferd to marry Isavil within the next 72 hours.¡± ¡°WHAT?!¡± ¡°The message was received this morning, and the lord¡¯s envoy is en route to collect Isavil. This entire issue can be prevented if she is married before he arrives.¡± ¡°72hrs. Didn¡¯t you say this has been happening for forty years?¡± ¡°Yes, and Zigferd has loved Isavil the whole time. He is just a stubborn, hogling-headed idiot,¡± Petunia huffed. ¡°How do you think I can persuade him? If you haven¡¯t managed to in forty years.¡± ¡°He needs to understand the dire consequences she faces if she is forced to marry the lord,¡± Tanias said. ¡°You should set up a shop, ¡®SJ¡¯s¡ªAssassin and Matchmaking Services,¡± Dave said. ¡®I am not sure the title is catchy enough,¡¯ SJ thought sarcastically. ¡°Why can you both not persuade him?¡± It was the first time SJ had seen Petunia look slightly uncomfortable as she shifted in her seat. Frowning deeply, SJ asked Petunia, ¡°What did you do?¡± ¡°Nothing any doting mother wouldn¡¯t do,¡± Petunia said, her cheeks colouring. ¡°Petunia?¡± ¡°I may have embellished a story slightly in the past.¡± ¡°And?¡± ¡°And Zigferd nearly killed an elf due to it,¡± Tanias said. Knowing how calm and stable Zigferd usually was, whatever Petunia had done must have been severe for Zigferd to react that way. ¡°I am not sure I want to know,¡± SJ sighed. ¡°Will you try?¡± Tanias said. ¡°I can¡¯t promise anything, but I will do what I can. I haven¡¯t seen Zigferd since this morning, so need to find him to catch up on today¡¯s happenings.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Petunia said, taking SJ¡¯s hand. ¡°As I say, I will try.¡±? Chapter 132 – At Long Last ¡°Has Zigferd, the Mayor of Killic, returned to the tower today?¡± SJ asked at the front desk. ¡°No, he has not been seen all day. Several have asked his whereabouts,¡± the kobold clerk said. Sighing, SJ turned and headed to the dining hall. She needed coffee. ¡®Where has he gone?¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°Your guess is as good as mine,¡± Dave said. ¡®He has been missing all day. I am starting to get worried.¡¯ ¡°He is a 150-year-old lycanthrope that transforms into an exceedingly strong werebear. I don¡¯t think you need to worry about him.¡± ¡®I need to find him now because of the information from Petunia and Tanias.¡¯ ¡°A few hours aren¡¯t going to make a difference, and you need to find Mya¡¯s shop and get your first job done.¡± It wasn''t time for the dining hall to open for the evening, and there was nothing out. Walking to the door at the far end leading to the kitchen, SJ stuck her head in and asked if she could get some coffee. The being she spoke to was a huge bugbear, wearing a white chef''s outfit and even having a chef''s hat on his head. "I will get one of the servers to bring you some," he said. SJ was sure it had a slight French accent. "I will just be in the garden." The bugbear nodded in response. Walking out into the garden, SJ sat at the nearest seat by the hall. Opening the scroll the scribe had provided. The drawing of the tower was perfect, with all the names of the various areas written in neat text. It would save her a lot of time to locate the various councillors. ''I wish I had a map of Asterfal like this.'' "There will be some that have been created, I am sure, but how accurate they are will depend upon updates. With the size of the city, I wonder if they are very accurate. Your map will have detailed certain areas, but unless you travel down every street, you won''t get a full picture." A young kobold approached SJ, carrying a tray with coffee. After thanking him, she poured herself a drink. ¡®District 6, the ¡®Lucky Spur¡¯. A low-level mage who wears a moon and sickle chain. The details that Carlito gave me could have described Mya.¡¯ ¡°Getting images of beings is an expensive task. I doubt many ever provide images for targets.¡± ¡®Doesn¡¯t that increase the chance of someone making a mistake and killing the wrong target?¡¯ ¡°Probably, but do you think many assassins actually care?¡± ¡®Not all assassins are evil. Look at me.¡¯ Scoffing, Dave replied, ¡°When you become a true assassin, I will let you know.¡± Furrowing her brow, SJ sat sulkily. ¡°I apologise. That was a little unfair. You have used your assassin skills but haven¡¯t performed an assassination job before. This will be your first actual job. You should be excited at the opportunity to progress your class.¡± ¡®I am. I am just worried.¡¯ ¡°What are you worried about?¡± ¡®What if I fail and they escape? What would happen to me then? If rumours got out about a fae attempting to kill someone, then I can imagine the uproar that would start across the city. Many already shunned my kind, and it wouldn¡¯t take much for things to get even worse.¡¯ ¡°I will be honest. I hadn¡¯t considered that. You better hadn¡¯t fail then, had you?¡± Dave said chirpily. ¡®I still don¡¯t know why the fae are despised by so many. Many talk about mischief and problems, but to what extent must it have been for such a level of hate to exist?¡¯ ¡°Did your history book not give you any details?¡± ¡®And when have I had a chance to read it?¡¯ ¡°Good point. I know some of the fae history, but it may be from a tainted perspective as not from a fae. I can tell you what I know.¡± ¡®Please do.¡¯ ¡°Historically, the fae was one of the strongest races in Amathera. Their magic and proficiency at mana manipulation were second to none. Only elves were close to their ability and control of mana. When the empires were formed initially across the continents, the fae was involved at high levels across all five. It was a long time before my creation. There was a fae named Gavia at the time. They ruled the fae race on Amathera. I don¡¯t know the exact details of what happened, but in the simplest terms, Gavia directed a coup. He believed he should be the ruler of Amathera. A web of deceit and lies began to form across the various continents, all being manipulated by Gavia, who was aiming to take overall control. The tactics used were through reputational damage and, in simple terms, mischief. Gavia instructed his followers to cause direct issues against each of the empires. Burning crops, damaging buildings, anything and everything to try to disrupt the leadership of the continents. At first, things were going well. Gavia, or one of his assigned, would suddenly appear and provide support and help to those affected. Appearing as the overarching light in the darkness they caused. They provided magical aid and support and delivered crops where fires or earthquakes caused shortages. Many beings thought it was the system that had been deliberately causing issues. It couldn''t be the fae, as they provided all the aid. This continued for several years, with more and more problems occurring as Gavia''s supporters moved across the world. Wherever they arrived, it was always after a natural disaster had occurred. They were swooping in to provide aid. It was when the empirical gathering, an event that happened once every century, that the five presiding empires would meet, and the full facts came to light. They had all spoken highly of Gavia and what he had been doing until a young elven princess named Larian questioned the timing. The empires had been so tied up in the disasters that kept occurring that they had never considered that they were being orchestrated, always blaming the system. Eventually, Larian provided evidence that she took to her emperor, which was communicated across the empires. Initially, many refused to accept that any of the problems were because of the fae, and, at this time, the empires were considering making Gavia the over-arching ruler of Amathera. You need to realise that Amathera wasn''t like it is today. Tensions were always high, and many races were split with a direct divide of good or evil alignment. So, alongside all the issues Gavia caused, many empires were also at war with other races. Orcs, gnolls, trolls, ogres, kobolds, goblins all those races were hostile towards what were known as the proper races. Elves, dwarves, humans, etc. This conflict had always been an instrument of the gods. But that is another story. The turning point and belief in Larian''s findings came around by accident. The illithid was a new race to Amathera, only recently appearing from the islands off the coast of Kolliyaxym, the continent of a thousand isles. It was during a visit by the illithid envoy to the emperor, and remember, this was before the illithid''s ability with arcane powers was fully understood, that the envoy read the minds of the fae representatives. He passed the details on to the emperor, informing him of the next stage in their plans to damage the capital''s grain supply. The empire had been in a war for decades, and food was a rare commodity they couldn''t chance to lose. When the illithid informed the emperor, the information was again ignored until the exact facts he had mentioned happened. This led to the complete picture of Gavia''s followers'' actions. Gavia was shunned, and hatred was formed alongside his shunning. Unfortunately, Gavia influenced a vast majority of the leading fae across Amathera. In retaliation, the fae continued their mischief, but with no chance of now ever reaching the position of rulers of Amathera, it became a malicious and racial habit. There, you have the history of the fae somewhat diluted, but hopefully, it gives you a little more understanding of the concern and dislike many hold." ''Why have you never told me this before?'' Amazed at the tale from Dave. Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. "Erm, I never really thought it would be useful to you. It is just history, after all." ''It explains why there is such a problem still. How long ago are we talking?'' "Thousands of years. Amathera was still young then." ''And the beliefs have always stayed the same since?'' "Things are much better than they ever used to be. There was a time when fae would have been killed on sight." That thought sat heavily with SJ. Just considering the historical impact of her chosen race on the whole of Amathera was daunting. It explained the animosity she had received from so many towards her. She could only hope that it was time, considering how long she may live for her first life, that things could change even more for the better. With Larianco''s concern over the fae losing magic, she only hoped that something could be done to support her chosen race in their future. Finishing her coffee, SJ stood stretching off, carrying the now empty pot back inside. She placed it on a table by the kitchen door and left the dining hall. Checking at the desk, there had still been no sign of Zigferd. ''I better find my target.'' "Great idea." Heading outside, SJ went around the side of the building before transforming and flying up to her room. Entering, she removed the cloak she owned from the wardrobe. Taking her scissors, she cut strips up the back to allow her wings to be free if needed but covered if she wished to hide them. Trying it on, she made some minor adjustments before being happy. Her hair was now hidden, and when she pulled the hood up and turned in the mirror, her wings were hidden, and only her face was visible. She then adjusted her dress and its colour, turning it like any other common being''s clothing she had seen in the city so far. Moving the cloak, she shrunk to her miniature form before ensuring she could fly wearing it. Wearing the cloak around her neck also hid her choker. Moving to the balcony, she took her bearings and took off, heading over towards District 6. As she flew over the district, she opened her map and watched the translucent display update as she flew. She had hoped it would show the names of buildings or shops, but this only occurred once she had read them. The map listed the locations of the shops she had seen or been to. It reminded her of using Gargle Maps. After flying over the district for nearly an hour, she was still unaware of where the Lucky Spur was located. ''I am going to have to ask someone.'' Swooping down, she landed in a small park area and transformed. Walking from the bushes, she surprised a young orc couple trying to find a quiet spot. Ignoring them, she walked by her dress and looks, now hiding her from general view. Entering the streets, she blended in well with those around her. She had no distinguishing features, her height or clothing making her almost invisible amongst the beings on the street. Seeing an elderly woman sitting by a street corner, SJ walked over. If she was going to ask anyone, it may as well be a beggar, knowing how so many of them were ignored. "Excuse me. Do you know where the Lucky Spur is?" SJ asked. The elderly woman looked at SJ, squinting at her. It was obvious she struggled to see. "Lucky Spur. I know the name. I think it''s down Parson''s street." "Thank you," SJ said, dropping a few coppers into a wooden bowl the woman had by her side. "Thank you, dear," the woman said. District 6 wasn''t as bad as District 3, but it still had signs of overcrowding and deprivation. Opening her map, she rechecked it, but she did not see the name Parson''s Street on it. Walking down the street, she deliberately read every shop name and street sign she saw. Each time, the details were added to her map, and she wished she had been as proactive before. It took her another hour before she eventually located Parson''s Street. It was closer to the outer wall of the city. The streets here were close, and as the evening had begun, the light had faded, being replaced by lantern light from house or building windows. Checking her display, it was now approaching 19:00. Carlito had said she had twenty-four hours, meaning that she needed to finish the quest by midnight to be on the safe side. Walking down the street, it had the same look as many others: mismatched buildings slotted together to use up as much space as possible. SJ nearly missed the sign for the Lucky Spur. A small wooden sign was attached to the side of a building, and an arrow pointed down a narrow alley. The alley was dark, with no light visible, and she was grateful for her night vision as she entered the gloom, allowing her to make her way down it safely. The alleyway was littered with rubbish, and if this was a business, it couldn''t get much custom. At the end of the alley, it opened into a small courtyard, and opposite the entrance was a small shopfront, the name Lucky Spur crudely painted above it. The shop looked in darkness, and SJ inwardly cursed. ''It seems closed,'' SJ thought. "Better check," Dave said. Walking to the window, SJ peered inside. She was just about to give up when she saw the flicker of a candle or lantern towards the rear of the store. Her heart leapt in her chest. She wasn''t sure if it was nerves or excitement that caused it. "Looking at the map, you can access it from the rear," Dave said. SJ had flown over this area earlier that evening, and, as Dave stated, there was a street on the other side of the building. Shrinking, SJ took off and flew to the roof landing. She walked to the edge and looked down. The rear of the building was dark, and there were no windows and only a door. A cart was moving down the street, and as it drew near the building, it slowed and stopped. A being climbed from the cart wearing a cloak. SJ couldn''t tell what race it was from her position. It walked over and knocked on the door quietly. SJ heard a bolt drawn, and the door creaked on unoiled hinges as it opened. "Delivery," the being said in a quiet voice. A head popped outside the door, and SJ clearly saw the pointed ears of an elf. Looking up and down the street, making sure it was clear, it replied, "Hurry, bring it in then." The being walked back to the cart, and SJ watched as it picked up a wrapped bundle of cloth over its shoulder and walked back to the door. As soon as it had entered, SJ heard the bolt being drawn across it again. "Well, that looked suspicious," Dave said. ''Very.'' SJ moved back to the other side of the building and looked down. There was a window on the first floor, and she dropped down, hovering next to it. Reaching out, she checked if it was locked. The window moved slightly, and, balancing on the wooden sill, SJ managed to position herself to pull it open. It only moved an inch before stopping, but thankfully, that was a large enough gap for her to fit through. Squeezing inside, she gave her eyes a few moments to adjust to the even dimmer interior of the upstairs room. As her night vision kicked in, she found herself in a bedroom. A single bed was pushed against one wall, and a rack held several robes. A dressing table was positioned against a wall with several pots, sticks, and a few bottles of what SJ recognised as perfumes. Silently dropping to the ground, SJ headed towards the doorway. The building was small, and the door was ajar, looking into the hallway. There were two other doors off it before a stair that led down to the ground floor. SJ could hear quiet voices talking downstairs, which was too quiet for her enhanced hearing to pick up. Walking across the hallway, she quickly checked the other rooms. There was nothing of interest or anyone in them. Turning, she moved to the top of the stairs. ''I don''t suppose you can see anything?'' she thought. "No, sorry," Dave said. Listening, the voices seemed muffled, and SJ took off again very slowly, moving down the stairs. The ground floor was split into two halves. The rear of the shop was where she was now, and then an open door led to the front and the window she had looked through. No one was in sight, and moving out, she noticed a door under the stairs she had flown down. The door was ajar, and the glow of candles or lantern lights came from it. Landing, she stood to the side of the door, listening. ¡°Fresh as asked for. Only two days old,¡± a male voice said. ¡°Two days? I said I needed one no older than a day,¡± a female voice replied. ¡°What do you expect? It¡¯s not as though these things are readily available.¡± ¡°Bah. It will have to do. Here¡¯s your coin.¡± SJ heard the metallic sound of coins being handed over. ¡°When do you need the next one?¡± the male voice asked. ¡°Probably next week.¡± ¡°Ok. I will keep my eyes and ears open.¡± ¡°Great.¡± The sound of someone climbing the wooden stairs made SJ quickly move. Taking off, she returned to the other stairs, landing again and looking through the bannister. The door opened fully, and the light from the elf¡¯s candle flooded the rear room. SJ still could not make out the other being. Heading to the door, it unbolted it, letting the cloaked being out before closing and bolting it again. The elf turned back and headed back down the stairs into the cellar. Taking off, SJ again flew to the door, landed, and listened. The sound of humming drifted up from the cellar below. ? Chapter 133 – Moon and Sickle SJ didn¡¯t recognise the tune as the sound of humming filtered up the stairs. Easing forward, she peeked around the doorframe. The wooden stairs that led into the cellar, she knew, creaked, so she couldn¡¯t chance walking down them. Slowly lifting from the ground, she hovered, being grateful her wings were almost silent. Carefully, she edged forward. As she entered the top of the stairwell, she recognised a smell drifting upwards, the coppery and distinct smell of blood. ¡®Carlito mentioned necromancy,¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°At least she isn¡¯t a Lich,¡± Dave said. ¡®I thought Carlito said she was a low-level mage. How can she be a necromancer as well?¡¯ ¡°She can¡¯t be, but it doesn¡¯t stop some trying abominable acts.¡± The stairs weren¡¯t enclosed, so as soon as she moved further down, she would be visible if anyone was looking in the direction of the stairs. ¡®Can you see anything yet?¡¯ ¡°Not quite, sorry.¡± SJ slowly lowered herself, staying as close to the ceiling of the cellar as she could, inching her way nearer to being able to see into the cellar. The light from below was bright enough that there were few shadows she could see from where she was. Tilting forward, SJ managed to get in a position where she could just peek into the cellar area. ¡°Got it,¡± Dave said. SJ pulled back up slightly. ¡°She is leaning over that bundle that was delivered on a table. Holding a blade and looking to be cutting something.¡± ¡®Great! Facing or away? I didn¡¯t see.¡¯ ¡°Away. You should be able to get down.¡± SJ¡¯s pulse raced as she again lowered herself. Looking into the cellar clearly, there were two rooms. The main one and a smaller one were off behind where the elf stood with her back to her. Carefully lowering, SJ crept lower towards the cellar floor, directly behind where the elf stood. She didn¡¯t dare move any faster in case she alerted the elf of her presence. As she lowered, she equipped her claws. The stench of blood now filled her nostrils, and she watched as the elf wiped a blood-covered hand on her dress. ¡°There, that should do it,¡± the elf said. SJ had images flooding her mind of what she may be doing, which she didn¡¯t need at this present moment in time. Landing, she adjusted herself before beginning to grow. As soon as she reached her full height, she struck. Using the skills she had learned from Brother Wilbert, with her claws, she attacked without hesitation, driving the blades of her clawed fist directly into the base of the neck of the elf as though performing an elimination strike with her bare hand. While her second fist punctured its lower back, aligned to its spine. There was no scream, only a twitching motion as the elf¡¯s life left it. Pulling her claws free, the lifeless body fell to the floor. SJ stood frozen as her display triggered. Congratulations! You have killed a level 13 elf, 150xp awarded. The images SJ had in her mind about what the elf had been doing couldn¡¯t have been further from what she saw on the table. She looked at the remains of a hogling. ¡®I thought she was butchering a corpse,¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°So did I. Thankfully, only a hogling. Anyway, congratulations on completing your first assassination. I was exceedingly impressed with how efficient you were then,¡± Dave said with pride in his voice. SJ had been justifying her actions on the belief that the mage was doing necromancy, and now that she could see the hogling, she felt physically sick. ¡®I thought it was necromancy?¡¯ SJ shook from the adrenaline spike that had flooded her body as she had attacked. The pent-up tension was now released. Her stomach churned, and she only managed to stop herself from throwing up. ¡°Check the body, and let¡¯s go. You just need the chain, after all, as evidence.¡± SJ knelt next to the body, her hand shaking violently as she reached to move the elf¡¯s long hair from the back of its neck where her blade had struck. Seeing a silver chain, she unclipped it and pulled it free. Not wanting to turn the elf over and look at its face, she forced herself to stand again. ¡°Loot the corpse. If you don¡¯t, it would be suspicious.¡± ¡®What do you mean, suspicious?¡¯ ¡°A thief isn¡¯t likely to leave valuables behind, are they? And you want to make it look like a robbery.¡± Placing her hand back on the body, she looted it. 48 x copper, 21 x silver, 2 x gold, ring of intelligence +2, bracelet of agility +4, wand of magic bolts (19 charges) Adding everything to her inventory, SJ stood again. Trying not to look at the elf¡¯s body. She still held the chain, and she lifted it, turning it in the light. It was an intricately crafted piece of jewellery showing a moon and sickle. It had no magical properties, but SJ thought it would have a decent value to it. Casting her eyes around the room, SJ couldn¡¯t see anything of value. There was a small barrel in one corner, and SJ discovered it contained salt. The hogling meat which she had been butchering was also currently placed on a bed of salt on a wooden tray. It must have been used to preserve the meat. Turning, SJ moved to the other door in the cellar and opened it. The room had no light, so she picked up a candle from the table and carried it to the room. The room felt chilly, like a freezer, and casting light into the room, the walls were covered in a layer of ice. Hanging from hooks on the ceiling were the carcasses of hoglings. SJ was about to leave when she glimpsed something glinting in the candlelight. Moving the hoglings to one side, she only just held back a scream. Hanging in the freezer were the remains of a being, the light reflecting off a belt buckle. She couldn¡¯t tell what it was, but it wasn¡¯t a hogling. Backing out of the room quickly, SJ closed the door, shuddering and shaking even more than she had been. ¡°Maybe she was into necromancy after all,¡± Dave said happily. Even though the sight of the remains had unsettled SJ, the thought that she had been performing necromancy or something similar eased her mind. Not wholeheartedly justifying her actions, but enough to ease the sickness she had been feeling, even if only slightly. ¡°Come on. Don¡¯t dillydally. Back upstairs, look around and then get over to meet Carlito.¡± SJ was thankful Dave was with her, as her mind was currently like spaghetti, flicking around continually. She knew her thoughts had been running wild and was glad Dave wasn¡¯t commenting. Picking up one of the burning candles, SJ returned upstairs, leaving the lifeless form of Mya on the cellar floor. ¡°Remember to ransack the place,¡± Dave said. It didn¡¯t feel right to SJ, but she followed Dave¡¯s guidance. Opening all the cupboards and drawers in the back area and discarding several objects onto the floor before moving to the front of the shop. SJ hadn¡¯t a clue what the shop sold, only being informed that Mya had been skimming from the mage¡¯s guild. Entering the front area, SJ was surprised to see that it sold charms. Picking several of them up, none of them appeared to hold any real value of note. Combined, they may make a few silver, but she would not bother collecting them. Instead, Dave instructed her to knock them over and make it again look ransacked. The front of the shop had an open window, but having entered initially via the horrible thin alleyway, SJ wasn¡¯t concerned about seeing anyone. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Once she finished making the place look like the mage had fallen foul of a burglary gone wrong, she headed back upstairs and into the bedroom after quickly rechecking the other two rooms and again opening and rifling through any drawers. Doing the same in the bedroom, she then shrunk and moved back to the window. Sliding through the gap, she stood on the sill before flying and heading straight back to the roof again. Flying over a few streets, she suddenly felt sick and flew down to land on another roof. Leaning against the stone chimney that stood proud of the roof, she bent over and vomited. Once she finished, she stood back up and took some deep breaths. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Dave asked. ¡®I think adrenaline got the better of me,¡¯ SJ said, wiping her mouth. ¡®I thought I had managed to control it.¡¯ ¡°Understandable. Humanoid biology does strange things. Emotions are the strangest. You should be proud of yourself and what you have achieved tonight.¡± ¡®I am not sure I would say I am proud.¡¯ ¡°You ended the life of someone evil. Is that not what you had always wished to do?¡± SJ couldn¡¯t argue with Dave¡¯s statement. It was obvious that Mya had been up to no good, having the remains of a being in her freezer. Thinking about it made SJ shudder as though someone had walked over her grave. ¡®Let¡¯s find Carlito. Then I can get back to the tower and try to locate Zigferd.¡¯ Checking her display, it wasn¡¯t even 20:00. It had taken under an hour to do everything after locating the building. Taking off again, SJ headed straight towards the Black Griffin. Locating the park, she had spoken to Carlito in, she landed and checked her surroundings before growing. She removed her cloak and placed it into her inventory and adjusted her dress to a different style and colour. Leaving the park, she headed to the inn. The streets were more crowded by far than her last late-night visit, and as she approached the entrance where the two trolls stood, a fight broke out in the street. ¡°Oooo, Legionnaires fighting,¡± Dave said. Looking over, SJ saw two individuals dressed as fighters, clashing swords as they attacked and parried each other¡¯s blows. Their movements were fast, but the orc on the left was obviously more skilled. A crowd had formed at a distance around the two men, and SJ moved closer so she could still see. ¡®What level are they?¡¯ ¡°29 and 32. The 29 is on the left.¡± That surprised SJ since he appeared to have the upper hand. That was until the other¡¯s sword suddenly glowed and his blade struck with a swift strike that defied normal speed, penetrating the plate pauldrons the orc wore. Deafeningly, the orc bellowed and staggered back, hurling abuse at the human fighter. Now with an arm limp at his side, the orc charged at the other man. The man dodged his blow and brought his glowing blade in an arc, cutting through the plate armour on the orc¡¯s leg. Again, the orc screamed as he fell to his knees. Valiantly trying to fight still, the orc swung his sword out in front as the other approached. With a quick kick, the man disarmed the orc before stepping in. SJ couldn¡¯t hear what the man said over the noise from the crowd as he stepped in, driving his sword through the orc¡¯s chest. The orc¡¯s head fell forward. A horn blew, and shouting and footsteps of armed guards came down the street towards the scene. The man who killed the orc sheathed his sword and stood there. Many in the crowd backed away as the guard approached, leaving the Legionnaire to whatever fate beheld him. The guard surrounded the man, pointing halberds at him, and a guard wearing a blue and gold cloak stepped forward and spoke to him. The man then stood with his hands behind his back and allowed the guard to place manacles on him before he was led away. Now that the incident was over, two beings from one of the guild buildings further along the street walked towards the orc¡¯s body before lifting it and carrying it back down the street. ¡°Well, that was interesting,¡± Dave said. Turning, SJ headed to the inn again. Approaching the trolls she nodded as she walked past them and entered the inn. Inside, it was just as lively as the previous evening. The area where she had sat with the other promoters was empty. She noticed Ruffle stood in his usual spot by the corridor leading to the cages and walked over. ¡°Hello again. Back so soon?¡± Ruffle said, recognising SJ. ¡°I wondered what fights were on this evening?¡± ¡°Oh. Nothing special, just minor league. I doubt you would find anyone worth scouting.¡± The automatic assumption that SJ was looking to scout fighters amused her. ¡°I won¡¯t bother going to watch then.¡± Moving over to the bar, SJ ordered a drink of honey wine and moved to a slightly quieter area. She didn¡¯t want to assume she could use the promoter¡¯s area when not fighting, so she sat at a small table nursing her drink. Sipping the wine, realising what she had just done still played on her mind. Dave again allowed her to her thoughts without interruption. Having sat there for a while, her glass was nearly empty when a dwarf approached her from another table. ¡°Fancy a drink, love?¡± the dwarf asked. The line she had heard many times over the years made her smile and broke her from her recurring thoughts of what-ifs. ¡°Only if you¡¯re buying,¡± she instinctively replied. ¡°Indeed, I am. Another wine?¡± ¡°Honey, please.¡± Turning, the dwarf bellowed towards a server who scuttled off to the bar to get the drinks. The dwarf pulled up a chair from the table he had been sitting at. The server appeared momentarily and placed a fresh glass of honey wine and a tankard of ale in front of the dwarf. Paying the server, the dwarf turned and smiled at SJ. ¡°Not seen you in here before. Are you new to the city?¡± ¡°I am only here for a few days.¡± ¡°And you picked the Black Griffin to drink in.¡± ¡°I did. Shouldn¡¯t I?¡± ¡°No. It¡¯s not that. It¡¯s just not the best inn in Asterfal. It has a select clientele.¡± ¡°I am guessing you are one of those clientele?¡± ¡°Me no. I am here with a friend,¡± the dwarf pointed to a fellow dwarf still sitting at his original table. ¡°Do you live in Asterfal?¡± ¡°I do. I have lived here a long time now.¡± ¡°What do you do?¡± The dwarf laughed heartily, and it was contagious, making SJ smile. ¡°What most dwarves do, I am a smith.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t suppose you know a smithy named Daxe, do you?¡± Frowning, the dwarf looked at her, ¡°Aye. I do. Where do you know him from?¡± ¡°I was told to speak to him while in Asterfal by a good friend.¡± ¡°Who may your friend be?¡± ¡°Zej, from Killic.¡± ¡°Zej,¡± the dwarf now looked surprised. ¡°Yes, Zej.¡± ¡°Well, I be. You be that fae he wrote about. I am Daxe.¡± Not believing her luck, SJ had randomly been hit on by a dwarf in the Black Griffin, a distant relative of Zej. ¡°This is lucky, then. I was planning to come and see you in a couple of days. I am after some new claws and darts, and he said you were the best in the business.¡± Daxe puffed his chest out with pride. ¡°I am, even if I say so myself.¡± They talked for a while, and Daxe told SJ where she could find him at his forge. SJ had refused another refill of wine but bought Daxe another ale in return. Daxe¡¯s friend looked worse for wear as he suddenly slumped forward on the table he was sitting at. ¡°Dwarven brandy. Wex has never been good at handling his brandy.¡± Daxe smiled. ¡°I better get him home, or his good lady will have my guts for a bowstring.¡± ¡°It was good to meet you. I will call in in a day or so.¡± ¡°The pleasure was mine,¡± Daxe said as he stood, then grabbed Wex under his arm and dragged him to his feet. As SJ watched Daxe manoeuvre through the bar, a familiar voice spoke from behind. ¡°Do you have something for me?¡± ? Chapter 134 - New Branch The voice sent a shiver down her spine as SJ turned to look into the face of a kobold. ''I wonder if there is anything Carlito can''t transform into,'' SJ thought. "Considering the size of green dragons and my lack of knowledge about dragonlings, I really am not sure." ''How large are green dragons?'' SJ thought as she turned fully to look at Carlito. The kobold before her had red-tinted scales and wore a tunic bearing the crest of Asterfal. After removing the moon and sickle chain from her inventory, SJ slid her hand across the table to Carlito''s palm, dropping the chain. Carlito sat, turning it in his hands for several moments, looking at it before looking back at SJ. "Congratulations! You appear to have what I requested." SJ whispered so as not to be heard by anyone sitting nearby. "There was a freezer in the cellar, and in the freezer, the remains of a being were hung up." Nodding, Carlito didn''t respond immediately as the chain disappeared from his hand and entered his inventory. Casually, he said. "There were rumours of necromancy." Standing, Carlito went to leave. "Wait here. I will be back shortly." As Carlito disappeared into the crowd at the inn, SJ lost sight of him. Actually, she still needed to find out if it was him, her, or something else. "To answer your question, green dragons are one of the smaller dragon breeds. They usually vary in size from young, being ten to twenty feet, to adults, reaching eighty to ninety feet. Ancient greens may reach over one hundred feet." ''I will never know if Carlito is close, considering their ability to change form.'' "You may eventually reach a similar ability as your subterfuge skills develop. It won''t be the same because you won''t change form, but your ability to deflect your appearance and become an unknown will help in the long term." ''The speed at which my skills develop that may be a long time away.'' "Yes, but that is why completing class quests is so important. The extra class perks will make a significant difference. If you also get new skill paths opening up, it will help you in the long term. The more variation you have in skills, the better overall you will become." ''If a skill path is opened, can it naturally be developed? Like identification or shroud through use?'' "Excellent thought, and no, unlike your chosen skills, any gained path skills outside your Martial Arts and Subterfuge may only be improved with class perks points." The thought of eventually having all the assassin skill paths and the diversity in her skills that would develop over time was amazing. She just needed to maintain her class path. One reason for purchasing the house was this specific reason. Knowing that class progression in Killic was impossible without assassins or guilds, she realised that being able to travel to Asterfal and complete tasks before returning to the cottage could aid her development. As SJ waited for Carlito to return, she started thinking about her time in Amathera. She still hadn''t been on Amathera for six months yet, and considering everything that had happened to her and the friendships she had made, she felt as though she had been here much longer. Killic was her home and always would be. She couldn''t leave the friends she had made behind, but the bonuses that portals would allow her as she increased in level would be substantial. Travelling around the continent and across continents in time would be an enormous benefit. She wondered how many other Legionnaires used this function. While SJ pondered her level increases and experience gains, she had a thought and could have face-palmed. ''Dave. You remember when we first met and adjusted the level progress?'' "You mean the auto-level increase? Yes, I remember." ''I guess it can be changed back?'' "Yes. Why? Oh, well, it was stupid of me not to think of that." ''It was stupid of both of us. I have been worried about experience gain, but my level only increased initially once I accepted the level increase after gaining enough experience. If I turn it off again, I can keep gaining experience and then level as needed. It will stop me having to worry about reaching level 20.'' "That is very true. My only concern would be if the system bases increase on experience gains rather than just level increases. Let me do some checking. I hope I will get the answer we hope for, but I will see." ''That would be great, thanks.'' "No problem, my YLF." Selecting her character sheet, she went straight to the level icon and adjusted it. ? Level: 19 She still couldn''t believe she hadn''t thought about it sooner. Sitting and watching the interactions of many beings in the bar reminded SJ of everyday nightlife in pubs and clubs in the UK. The only thing missing from the Black Griffin was music. Her display triggered. Class Quest - Prove your worth - complete You disposed of Mya, as Carlito requested. Find Carlito for further tasks. Reward: One class perk point. ''Yes,'' SJ thought. Opening her character sheet, she went to her skills tree. A new entry appeared at the top of the skill tree, displaying perk points. Smiling at the addition, she expanded her trees, and a message triggered on her display as she did. Your sponsor has offered you the opportunity to learn a new skill. Will you accept their offer? ''Do you know if this is normal?'' "It''s very direct. Many sponsors would allow you random assignment or speak to you about options, not just offer you specific skills." ''It doesn''t say what the skill is, that''s frustrating.'' "You don''t have to accept it. You can use the perk point against an existing skill if you wish to." ''Where is he? I want to ask him.'' Looking around the bar, SJ couldn''t see the kobold form Carlito had taken. Then again, he could sit beside her, and she wouldn''t know. ''Grrr, this is frustrating.'' "It has to be from one of the other branches, since their skills differ from yours." Whatever the skill was, it had to be something she didn''t know. Staring at her display message, she selected yes. Congratulations! Your sponsor has allowed you to learn the Shadow Discipline skill Shadow Step. You have used one perk point. Shadow Step - allows a user to move between the shadows. At level 1, you may jump a maximum of twenty feet. As levels increase, so does the permitted distance. Cool down at level 1 is 10 seconds. ''Wow. That''s not what I was expecting. That sounds like an amazing skill.'' "It can be handy at a high level. Travelling in a city at night can be very quick, and during fights, being able to step around an area between shadows can make fights safer, especially if you need to escape a situation." ''I wonder where Carlito is. I would have expected them to return and speak to me about it. Then again, I wonder if Carlito is normally very sociable, considering.'' After sitting in the bar for a further thirty minutes, no one approached her and checked her display; it was now 21:43. She wanted to head back to her new home and check on Cristy, and she also needed to find Zigferd with the request from Petunia and Tanias. Leaving the bar, she headed back towards the small park. Turning down the side street, she looked at her new skill, assigning it to an empty slot. Stopping in the darkened street, she looked at a patch of shadow further ahead, triggering the skill. It felt as though someone had just dragged her forward, as if a pair of hands had grabbed her and pulled her. Her stomach lurched at the sudden movement as she reached her new location. She staggered a few steps before regaining her balance. ''That''s going to take some time to get used to.'' "You can see why Carlito closed in so quickly on you in the room now. He must have been using it." Waiting for the skill cooldown to run down, she triggered the skill again, focusing on another area. This time, she was prepared for the sudden sensation, and even though she still staggered when reaching the new location, it wasn''t as bad as the first time. Moving down the street, SJ continued to Shadow Step. The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. "It''s easier to use when moving," Dave said. " You already have the forward momentum so that you can step out of it." Walking forward, SJ waited for the cooldown and triggered it again. This time, the action was much smoother. She effortlessly covered twenty feet in a single stride. ''That''s much better.'' Reaching the empty park, SJ shrunk and took off. Her clothing was still plain, and she adjusted the colour to her night-flying form. Heading over the city, the noise of the night filtered upwards. Reaching District 11, she headed to the inner wall before sweeping around to where her new home was situated. A light was being cast from the living room''s first-floor windows. Smiling, she flew up to the balcony on the third floor, landing silently. She had left the door unlocked when she had viewed the house. Growing, she opened the door and headed downstairs. As she walked down, she could hear the voices of Yawnee, Lurtew and Cristy and stopped to listen. "This place is amazing," Cristy said. "It''s fantastic. I''m not sure what SJ wants from us for using it," Yawnee said. "Nothing. I have told you five times already." "She must want something. No one gives anything away for free." "You don''t know, SJ. She is the kindest being I have ever met. She took care of me when Dad died and has always been there for me, even when I went after the hobs. No one else came to save me, but she did." "Look what she did for me," Lurtew said. "SJ doesn''t even know us well, yet put herself at risk, saving me from the cage." "I know. I find it strange, that''s all," Yawnee said. Continuing down the stairs, SJ walked into the lounge. "I do want something from you." Cristy and Yawnee screamed while Lurtew dropped the box he was carrying in fright. "SJ, don''t do that," Cristy said. Feeling bad, SJ apologised. "Sorry. I didn''t mean to scare you." "How did you get in? I locked up downstairs," Lurtew asked. "The balcony." Yawnee looked as pale as a ghost. Staring at SJ, her eyes now fearful. "So what do you want from us?" she said nervously. "Not from us, just you. I need a woman''s touch in this place. When I am here, I will use the third floor and need it furnished. I also need to get other furnishings for other areas in the house. I would ask Cristy, but I have seen her style," SJ grinned at Cristy. "There is nothing wrong with my taste," Cristy huffed. "Those clothes you bought from Nexis! The brightly coloured ones, you looked like a jester." "I was going through a phase, that''s all." SJ chuckled, and the colour returned to Yawnee''s face. "So you need us to buy items. It will take us time to purchase them, so we will need to save." Sighing, SJ looked at Yawnee. Despite not knowing each other well, I would never anticipate you paying for anything that belongs to me. "Yes?" "Would you be able to enquire about getting hot water? I need to know the monthly cost." "Hot water?" Yawnee said, wide-eyed. "Yes. I am not living anywhere without now. I didn''t even know it was possible until I came to Asterfal and since being in the tower." "Will you get it back home in Killic?" Cristy asked. "I am going to speak to Zigferd. It may be possible. I don''t know what is involved." "It would be so nice having hot water," Yawnee said. "I will check tomorrow," Lurtew said. "That would be great. What do you still need to move?" "Quite a bit yet. We still need to bring all our tools and equipment over, as well as some more furniture." "I will get Jay to come back and help you again tomorrow. I have things to do, so I won''t need his help. I guess you got your beds here?" "Yes. We have everything to stay here. The sooner we can leave District 3 behind, the better," Lurtew said. "That''s great." Removing five gold coins from her inventory, SJ walked to Yawnee and handed them to her. Yawnee just stared at the golden coins SJ had placed in her hand. "That is to support furnishing the place properly, and if there is anything you want or need, just let me know." "Five gold would furnish five houses, never mind one," Yawnee said. "Just buy what you need, and if you want new stuff for yourselves, get it," SJ shrugged. She had more than enough coins and would prefer that they had everything they needed to get settled. "Keep hold of anything left, and it can be saved to pay for hot water, depending upon how much it costs." "Of course," Yawnee eventually said. She walked over to a small chest and placed the coin inside. The room was sparse, but SJ could imagine how homely this place could be when furnished. "I will go shopping tomorrow for furniture." "Great. It would be nice to have the place sorted before I have to go back to Killic. Right, I must go. I will see you tomorrow, and I promise to try not to scare you when I arrive." Cristy ran and hugged SJ before she returned upstairs. Taking off from the balcony, she headed straight back to the tower, landing in the bushes and growing before entering the tower. At this time of night, there was only one clerk at the desk, and she walked over and asked if anyone had seen Zigferd yet. The clerk shrugged, apologising, saying they had only been on duty for an hour and hadn''t seen him. SJ hadn''t eaten and wished she had got food at the Griffin. After emptying her stomach earlier, she felt starving. Walking through the dining hall, she headed to the kitchen. Knocking, she opened the door. The kitchen was empty, but she could hear voices, so she entered. "Hello? Is there anyone there?" A young girl appeared from a back room. "Can I help you, miss?" "I don''t suppose there is any food available still? I haven''t eaten yet." "Give me a minute. The chef''s gone for the night, but Lacey is still here." After a few moments, SJ heard a voice bark and a thud before a female gnoll appeared in the kitchen. She looked annoyed at being disturbed. "What?" Taken aback by her tone, SJ apologised. "Sorry to be a nuisance. I wondered if it was possible to get a sandwich. I haven''t eaten this evening." The gnoll glowered fiercely. "And who might you be? We don''t cater for those cleaning the tower." The gnoll must have thought she was just a member of the tower staff. Realising that she was still wearing her adjusted dress that was plain and common in appearance, she flushed. "I am the ambassador for Killic." "And I am the ambassador for Luxoria. Begone," the gnoll said as she turned her back on SJ. SJ stood shocked for a moment before replying, "No, I know the ambassador for Luxoria''s son, Cristian. I think you are mistaken." Lacey stopped in her tracks. "You know who Cristian is?" she said, turning. "I said I am the ambassador for Killic." She raised an eyebrow and looked SJ up and down. "You don''t dress like an ambassador," she said. "What do my clothes have to do with my position?" "I have seen no councillor in the tower wear such common attire." "I can guarantee you I am the ambassador for Killic. Are you not aware of the issue caused by the new fae councillor?" "What issue?" SJ spotted the young girl standing in the doorway behind Lacey. "They closed the tower. Scriers were brought in," the girl said. Lacey turned and looked at the girl. "She is an ambassador?" "Yes. I served her the other day." Lacey, now wide-eyed, turned and babbled, "Why didn''t you say? Please accept my apologies. I only got back to work this evening. I didn''t know." "No need to apologise. I am just a little shocked at the reception I got." "You would be amazed at the number of cleaners who try to come here asking for food." "And why can''t they get fed?" "Tower rules. What can I get you?" "A sandwich would be fine, hogling or salad; I don''t mind." Lacey hurried off to make SJ a sandwich, returning after a few minutes with a huge three-tier affair stacked on a plate with freshly cut salad. "Again, please accept my apologies." "That''s fine," SJ said, taking the plate and leaving the kitchen. Sitting at an empty table in the dining hall, SJ ate the food. The sandwich was delicious, reminding SJ of a BLT. Crisp lettuce, accompanied by crispy hogling rashers. Wiping her mouth with a napkin, SJ carried the plate back into the kitchen, placing it on the side. "Thanks," she called, leaving again. ''I am worried about Zigferd.'' "He is probably in bed, asleep." ''Perhaps." Walking back outside, SJ again shrunk before taking off to her room. She approached her balcony and diverted to the one for Zigferd''s room. The drapes were open, and there was no light or sign of him inside. ''If he isn''t there, then where is he?'' "He can''t have gone far. Did he say what he was doing today?" ''No. I never asked. He just said he would be busy.'' "There isn''t much we can do about it then. We will have to hope he is back in the morning." Flying to her balcony, she entered her room. Lighting the lantern, she undressed while she ran herself a bath. Considering what had happened throughout the day, SJ realised that she now had two lives¡ªone she couldn''t share with her friends. ? Chapter 135 – Zigferd As the first rays of light filtered through the window, SJ stirred. She hadn''t closed the drapes the previous evening on her return. Checking the time on her display, it was 06:15hrs. Yawning, she stretched and climbed from her bed. ''Morning Dave.'' "Morning. Busy at the moment arguing with an adjudicator. Update in a few." Wondering what Dave was arguing about with an adjudicator, SJ got herself ready for the day. Her priority was to see if Zigferd had returned last night. Once dressed, she went to Zigferd''s door, knocking loudly. After waiting and knocking a few more times, she gave up going back to her room. ''Where is he?'' she thought. Dave didn''t reply; he was still busy with the adjudicator, and SJ felt nervous. Moving to the window, shrinking, she flew down to the tower''s base. Deciding she would see Jay and ask him to help Yawnee and Lurtew again today with the cart, she walked to the stables. The courtyard was busy, preparing the carts for the day. "Have you seen Jay yet?" SJ said to a human man who was tacking a horse. "In the office," the man said. Walking to the building, SJ entered. Seeing Jay sitting at a table with several others playing cards. She hoped he wasn''t gambling all his coin away. "Jay." Jay looked up, smiling on seeing SJ. "Hi SJ. What do you need?" "You okay with helping Lurtew and Yawnee again today?" "Sure. I can head over once the horses are prepared." "That would be great. Thanks." "No problem. Zigferd said to let you know he will be back this evening." "Zigferd?" SJ said, surprised. "Yes. He came and borrowed a horse first thing this morning." Frowning, SJ asked. "Did he say where he was going?" "Sorry, no. Just said he would be back this evening." "Okay, thanks." SJ wondered what he was up to. He had needed to borrow a horse, which she had never seen him ride before in all her time at Killic. Leaving the stables, SJ headed back to the tower. Breakfast comprised a bowl of porridge and honey plus the obligatory pot of dark nectar. Dave still wasn''t replying, and she had tried to speak to him frequently. SJ was finishing her third mug when the young serving girl from the previous evening walked over. "Councillor. Lacey made you these and wanted to apologise again for last night." The girl pointed towards the kitchen, where Lacey stood, looking from the door. Turning, SJ nodded her head in appreciation. "What are they?" "She called them ''mint balls''." SJ opened the small paper bag. Inside were small, white, hard-shelled sweets. She took one from the bag and popped it in her mouth. Sucking on the sweet, she could taste a mint flavour mixed with something else she didn''t recognise. It tasted wonderful. Turning, she noticed Lacey still in the kitchen doorway and again nodded. Lacey grinned before disappearing back out of sight. SJ would have to speak to Floretta about making sweets when she returned to Killic. She hadn''t considered them since she had arrived in Amathera, only ever seeing cakes. SJ wondered where Zigferd could have gone needing a horse, concerned that he hadn''t informed her. "SJ." "Gullifer," SJ replied, recognising the troll. "I need to discuss some matters with you. Do you have time today before the votes?" In everything SJ had been doing, she had forgotten they would be in the council chambers for the votes on additional matters later today. "Of course. What do you need to discuss?" Gullifer appeared to flush slightly as he replied. "I would like to discuss a sensitive issue with you." "Sensitive?" "Yes. I have lived in Easthilloc my whole life and have been the mayor since my father passed away three years ago. We have had several Legionnaires begin in Easthilloc, yet none have gained a decent reputation or even positivity towards them. Several have ended up hated. I wondered if I could discuss what it is like to be a Legionnaire to try to understand them more." The revelation of Gullifer was surprising since his original comment at the table when they had met. "I am not sure what help I can be, but I can try to advise," SJ smiled. "Should we walk and talk? The gardens are beautiful at this time of year. Living in the mountains, we don''t have the same fauna as here." "Of course." Picking up her sweets and adding them to her inventory, she stood and followed Gullifer to the garden area.
All being well, he should be back by late afternoon. The information had taken him much longer to get than he had hoped, but he had promised that he would look into it for them. Opening the parchment on which the directions had been written, he turned off the main path towards the base of a rock face. Pulling the horse to a stop as he neared, he jumped down and walked forward. "Three oval boulders stacked on each other," he repeated the information his contact had given him. Not seeing anything resembling the description, he jumped back on the horse and turned towards the main track he had left. He had left Asterfal at first light and pushed the horse hard to reach the foothills of Athelios, the tallest mountain peak in the territory. He had never been here before but knew well enough of the rumours surrounding it. Even though he may not show it, he felt nervous. He was in unfamiliar territory, and the levels of beings in Neturian ranged from 30 to 40, which he didn''t want to mess with if he could avoid it. He knew he could defend himself if needed but didn''t fancy running into the hill giants rumoured to live in Athelios''s foothills. His werebear form was an advanced variation, and his skills were also very high, giving him benefits above those expected of a being his level. The problem was that his health would not compare to that of higher-level beings because of his lower level. As he trotted along the track, the horse let out a sudden whinny. "Whoa, girl. What is it?" he said, coming to a stop. He couldn''t see anything ahead on the road and knew that several other beings and creatures were known across the territory. The horse stepped sideways nervously, thrashing its head, attempting to turn back. "Steady girl," Zigferd patted the horse on its neck, trying to soothe it. Zigferd glanced upwards as an enormous bird cawed overhead, unable to identify its type. The horse suddenly reared, and Zigferd struggled to keep his seat. He grabbed the horse by its mane to prevent himself from being thrown, and it skittered across the track. "Whoa, girl. Calm down." The track was empty, like many in Athelios, dotted with thick gorse bushes and sparse trees. He couldn''t see anything to cause the horse to get skittish. He kicked to get the horse to move forward, but it wouldn''t obey. "Come on, girl, please," he said, patting her again. It shook its head again but wouldn''t take another step forward. "Damn!" Zigferd cursed as he jumped down from its back. Digging his hand into a bag over his shoulder, he pulled an apple. Holding the reins tightly, he walked to the horse''s head and held it before its nose. It slowly calmed down, eventually stopping its resistance. "Shall we walk a while?" Zigferd fed the apple to the horse and then moved to lead it down the track. It didn''t move. It had stopped its nervous panic, but it wouldn''t move. "Please, girl. I need to locate them. I promised SJ and Cristy." "Promised them what?" a deep voice spoke from close by. Zigferd spun on the spot, swiftly equipping a sword as he did. "Who''s there?" He could see no one scanning the surrounding bushes. "I said, who''s there?" "You were asked a question," a female voice now said. Whipping his head the other way, he still didn''t see anyone. His heart was pounding in his chest, and his eyes were scanning frantically. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. "Come out and show yourselves." "You were asked a question," an unfamiliar male voice said this time, seeming to come from behind him. There were at least three unseen beings now surrounding him. He couldn''t even see them and didn''t fancy his chances. If they were going to attack, he was going to be defenceless. Returning his sword to his sheath, he transformed. The horse neighed and again became skittish as Zigferd transformed into his bear form. He was a formidable sight. Standing roaring as his transformation finished. "I said, who''s there?" he repeated in the deep, growling bear form, now standing on his hind legs. The height advantage allowed him to look further. "Impressive form. I am guessing you are advanced, looking at the size of your transformation," the original voice said. Walking from the gorse bushes no more than ten feet from Zigferd, a deep green-coated panthera appeared. Its mottled green fur was perfect camouflage against the bushes. Further down the path, another panthera appeared, slightly smaller and slimmer. This one was in the direction the female had been. Zigferd had never seen panthers of this kind before. "Who are you?" The larger panthera could only be described as smiling as it replied, "I think you know who we are¡ªZigferd of Killic. The decision we need to make now is whether we allow you to leave here." Hearing his name shocked Zigferd. He had spoken to a contact of the Carlati in Asterfal. It had taken him all the previous day to locate the man. "Carlati?" "Indeed we are," the other male voice said. Turning, Zigferd wasn''t expecting to see the beast he did. He had heard of some lycanthropes getting rare forms, but this one must be exceptionally rare. To Zigferd, it appeared to be more of a chimera. It had the body of a large cat but with six legs. Its fur was a deep purple, almost black, and it had two tentacle-like appendages from just behind its shoulders. Even in his bear''s form, Zigferd''s voice came over surprised, "You are a wereplacer?" "The beast moved its head as laughter came from its jaws. I am. I am known as Matvik and the head of the Carlati clan. Why are you here, Zigferd of Killic?" Zigferd had assumed it was the older-sounding large panthera, but seeing the displacer beast stand behind him, he could understand why. It was stated that once a rare beast was born into a lycan family, its gene could continue to be passed on. Zigferd dropped to all fours, glancing at the three of them, who stayed their distance, not approaching nearer. "I have come to speak on behalf of an outsider." "An outsider, you say. Aren''t all who are not in a clan outsiders." Marvik said. "This doesn''t relate to a Lycan." Snarling, the larger panthera stepped forward. "You speak of our clan to those, not Lycan. Lycan alone, who contests us, pay the price for breaking our secrecy. Yet you see fit to talk to one, not even Lycan." "I would not be here to meet you if I didn''t think your clan would accept her. I know of your reputation, skills, and unfettered loyalty to the beast relationships of old. This girl I talk of is one I have never seen have the association with a beast as she does." "A girl with an association?" the female panthera asked. "Yes. Not even a girl, a gnoll child. She hasn''t even finished her age of development yet, but she can speak to her pack." "A pack of what?" "A dire wolf and his pack live outside of Killic. Young Cristy has always called them her family. She can speak to them and understand their tongue." "It''s Impossible," the older panthera rebuked. No unordained can communicate with beasts on a familial level." "I wouldn''t be here risking my life if I didn''t believe in her ability." "What proof do you have?" Matvik asked. "None. I have no proof to give you. I can only tell you what I have witnessed with my own eyes. The dire wolf and his pack have helped the town on more than one occasion, and Cristy has always been key to their involvement. Without her, they would have been hunted and driven from the town, but they have become defenders along our southern border instead." "A gnoll, you say?" the female panthera said. "Yes. She is a gnoll child soon to be a young adult. She is in her fifth year." "I know little about gnolls, but I have read historical references to unordained beings in the texts," she said. "You know why I am here," Zigferd said. "To my knowledge, you are the only clan who still practices the old ways. I know no other beast wardens in existence." "And what do you wish us to do with her?" the older panthera said. "I wish you to train her as a beast warden." Scoffing the old panthera, "Never. An unpure will never be trained in the clan." "Bisage. That is not your decision or your position to make such a statement," Matvik said his voice warning. Zigferd watched the panthera take a step backwards. Zigferd dreaded thinking about what level these three were at but knew that if they wished, they could and would rip him to pieces. A loud caw came from above again, and the huge bird Zigferd had seen swooped down and came to land on the back of Matvik. It cawed and began to preen its feathers as one of the tentacles stroked its back. Matvik hadn''t taken his eyes from Zigferd the whole time. "Let us head to the conclave, and we can discuss this matter in more pleasant surroundings. Zigferd, if you transform back, you will require being blindfolded, and Reay here will lead your horse there." Zigferd watched as the younger panthera transformed into her human form. Her looks reminded Zigferd of Alice. Zigferd observed that her clothing, comprising mottled green and grey leather armour, indicated her ability to seamlessly disappear into the surroundings, even in her human form. Zigferd transformed back and took hold of the horse''s reins. The whole time they had spoken, the horse had stood still as soon as they had appeared and remained calm. Zigferd watched in awe as a huge snake slithered out from the gorse bushes and moved beside Reay. Lifting its large flat head, Reay stroked it fondly before walking forward and removing a strip of cloth from her inventory. "If you get back on the horse, I will blindfold you," she said. Zigferd had no choice but to obey their instructions. Climbing onto its back, he leaned forward, allowing Reay to tie the blindfold around his head. "We will see you back there, Zigferd of Killic." He heard Matvik say before hearing the flapping of wings and the sound of bushes moving. The horse stepped, and Zigferd jolted at the sudden movement. "Sorry," Reay said as they moved forward. "Reay, wasn''t it?" Zigferd asked. "It is, yes." "May I ask you something?" "Please do." "If Cristy was accepted, how long would her training be?" "That is a tough question to answer. If what you say about her affinity to beasts is true, then she may learn quickly." "Do you think she will be accepted?" "I can''t say. That would be for the overseer to confirm." "Is that not Matvik?" "No, Matvik is our leader by birth. He is a fifteenth-generation wereplacer. The overseer is Nether; she will decide. If this Cristy you speak of can complete the trials, then she may have a chance to be accepted. It would be the first time I have heard of an outsider ever being instructed if that is the case." "When did you join the clan?" "I was born into the clan. My family has always been beast wardens. I am a thirteenth-generation member." "I know little of your clan''s history. I am ignorant as many when it comes to your beliefs and knowledge. I know that Cristy has an ability I have never seen in my 150 years." "You are much older than I thought," Reay said, and he could hear the surprise in her voice. Your form is impressive. I don''t think I have seen an advanced werebear before. You must have trained hard." "My history is quite tainted." "Yet now you represent a town of beings as a mayor and a representative in Asterfal." "How do you know so much about me?" "We know most of what is happening in Asterfal, especially concerning lycans. We have our contacts, as you discovered." Zigferd was still surprised that since seeing the man yesterday, he had communicated with the clan and made them aware he would be coming to see them. "Is it far to the conclave?" "It is a way, yes. You don''t think you were told the right directions, do you?" Reay laughed. Zigferd hadn''t considered that he might have been given the wrong details and cursed internally at being so thoughtless. Knowing the clan''s secrecy made perfect sense that he would have been given false information. "I see you have a snake as a beast." "Yes. Our family has always had ties with the pythons." "I didn''t see a beast with Bisage?" "Unfortunately, no. His beast was killed several months ago during a skirmish with hill giants. It''s not often we clash, but sometimes they try to press on the conclave. He swore he would never take another beast. I can understand. I wouldn''t know what to do without Lily." "Your python is called Lily? "Yes, why?" "It''s just not a name I would have associated with a python. Then again, I have never associated a name with a python." "Well, you are in for a treat back at the conclave. We have quite a variety of beasts." Zigferd sat quietly for the remainder of the journey until Reay spoke. "We are here." ? Chapter 136 – Proposition "DISGRACE." The elf sitting next to SJ shouted. She had been in the chamber for four hours, listening to arguments for and against new propositions. If an outsider had been watching the proceedings, it would have been blatantly obvious that the council decisions aligned with those of Asterfal''s central council. Various propositions that impacted the region were brought forward, and all but one were voted in. Gullifer had been grateful to SJ for discussing Legionnaires with him, although she wasn''t sure she had been any help. Without going into specific detail about or mentioning Earth at all, she had tried to explain the cultural differences from where Legionnaires originated. The concept had been strange considering the variances of cultural beliefs that existed on Earth typically. In the end, she advised that just asking some base questions on their arrival may support what could help them find their position and also support the town. What was your previous role? Do you have experience in, etc? It had been a strange concept thinking about how Earth''s variances could affect Amatherean arrivals, and she hadn''t even considered it herself until the discussion. She explained that her previous role had been finance-based, so she had an affinity for numbers. The concept was strange to Gullifer because the Amatheran expectations for learning depended mainly on how much someone would pay to be educated. SJ had witnessed this herself with Cristy and the education she had paid for at the orphanage. Outside of essential language, reading and writing, for some, were apparently very limited. "Well, that has been the most frustrating time I have spent in over a millennium," Dave suddenly said. He remained silent for most of the day, only briefly speaking to SJ without discussing the specifics of his activities. ''You still haven''t told me what you have even been up to?'' "I haven''t? Sorry, I thought I mentioned it before. You know, we discussed a dungeon core previously." ''Yes, and I am guessing it''s a no based on your response.'' "Actually, no, and that''s the problem. They didn''t provide an answer. I have been arguing about the territory boundary integrations and that with the boundary changes, level increases for those areas should allow for improved facilitation of resources. They argued about the need for balance and justification in any system intervention. I then reminded them of what they were doing to the entire continent. That took us down a rabbit hole. Even the adjudicators admitted they weren''t fully aware of the System''s plans and what it aimed to achieve." ''So the adjudicators are at as much of a loss. But what about the dungeon core?'' "In concept, they couldn''t argue with my proposal of allowing growth through Legionnaires within these new boundaries that are being drawn as towns grow. The Legionnaires and locals would have access to a dungeon that could support their continuing growth, allowing for the town''s potential to increase in a more controlled manner. I explained that the quest system was inadequate currently, which they took offence to." Dave sighed. "That caused an argument, and they ended up having one of the quest admins called in to explain the progressive nature they were applying to improve experience and rewards aligned to the newly allowed levels. I explained that many of your quests had been repetitive since, which would have pushed many away from an area. It appears random town growth is causing chaos across the continent. As your friend Gullifer mentioned, not knowing or foreseeing when a boundary may change is causing them massive headaches. A town in the north has expanded its boundary twice already¡ªwithin a two-month window." ''How? You can''t level that quickly! I quested daily to reach level 19 as fast as I did.'' "The Legionnaire, who has triggered the growth, immediately met up with someone he knew back on Earth. As you can imagine, the chances of this happening are billions to one. His previous colleague is at a much higher level and has since been power levelling them through high-level monsters and then in a dungeon once he could join a guild." ''I didn''t realise you could do that?'' "Dungeons come in differing formats, and some of the earlier cores are not as restrictive regarding level variance. The newer developed cores have cap boundaries that prevent this. Replacing an active dungeon would destroy the surrounding ecosystem, and they won''t switch the old models out, as it takes months for new cores to develop fully." ''Aren''t cores all system controlled?'' "They are system-added, but a dungeon core is like a Legionnaire. It can grow and progress. To replace an existing core would mean starting from scratch, and they won''t change them, meaning that some out there still support power levelling. Modern cores work under party levels or individuals. Many of the ancient dungeons are now inaccessible. They grew so powerful that even high-level beings couldn''t complete them. The other side is those cores that eventually run out of essence because they do not understand their growth. It is no different to Legionnaires who fail because of mistakes trying to level too quickly." The thought of dungeon cores being sentient was strange to hear. ''Do dungeon cores have administrators?'' "Meh. They aren''t called administrators," Dave answered in disgust. "They are known as controllers, lower-echelon AIs with no personality who always live in the dark. It''s a very drab existence. Most of them are collegiate dropouts." ''So where do dungeon cores come from?'' "Ah, cores are bred. They are rumoured to originate from the Requiem, but I honestly couldn''t confirm. They are working on an issue with a new strain that is preventing fresh additions. Until this is resolved, they cannot consider my proposal." ''It wasn''t that bad an outcome, then? They didn''t say no.'' "They also didn''t say yes and are unwilling to speak to the system about my proposal until they sort out their production issues, for which they couldn''t give me a timescale." "Ambassador for Killic." "Ambassador for Killic." SJ snapped out of her thoughts and looked down at the podium where the chancellor sat, realising he had spoken. "Yes, chancellor?" SJ said, her cheeks going hot. She realised everyone in the chamber was now looking at her. "Would you be so kind as to explain your thoughts about the trading alignment we discussed?" The comment took her off guard. She hadn''t even considered the proposition beyond the discussions she had with Berger, Farhi, and the council leaders in the chancellor''s chamber. Feeling the chamber''s eyes on her, she noticed Otherlisar looking in her direction from down in the front row of the chamber, smiling. The bugbear nodded at her, showing encouragement. "I can, chancellor. I wasn''t expecting to discuss the matter today, as it is a new proposition and has yet to be ratified." SJ then began the lengthy process of explaining the proposition. She included elements that the chancellor and lead councillors had mentioned, allowing for easing the amount of associated administration for the presiding city councillors and the bonuses that it would bring to regional representation. Trying to spin as much positivity to both sides of the argument for and against. SJ knew it would mean that the regions would take some elements of control away from Asterfal with the proposition, with a conglomerate approach allowing for better trade rights. The transition of power to negotiate regionally would be a significant shift. As she spoke, murmuring and discussions broke out, and on several occasions, Darwinial had to call for silence. It was obvious the reception was mixed from the city council. The looks of some were not particularly friendly. "Thank you, SJ," the chancellor said once SJ had explained. "I have already discussed this matter with the lead council and Fasvil, our esteemed trade councillor. Fasvil will oversee a trial of the adopted system over the coming months to see how it works, and if it is successful, then I will implement it across all sectors. I will now close today''s session. When you voted me in as chancellor, you knew my thoughts on the structure we have adhered to in the council for generations. We have grown and grown to where we spend so much of our time doing administration and so little on the development of our great city. I am sorry that several in this chamber believe they have rights above their station and are better than others. I am sure many of you know what has occurred with Malaki Fretun, and I wish to confirm this matter openly to stop all the whispers in the tower''s corridors. Malaki believed he was above the laws of Asterfal. He had been a councillor for a long time and recently became a direct advisor to me. And you may wonder then why I have so easily stripped him of his rights and position. The answer is simple. Not one being, including myself, is untouchable. When you stand and take the oath to join the council and work in this tower, you do so with the expectation of the city at your heart. Sitting in this chamber and working in this tower carries a sense of duty. However, numerous individuals mistakenly view it as a privilege. Advisors should sit with even higher regard than councillors. They are directly responsible for the direction and support of our newer council members. Yet, some only work for personal gain. I heard a tale today that I would also like to share. It reminded me personally of why I always wished to be chancellor and what we should stand for. I will not share the names of those this relates to, but I will tell the story. A family from one of our districts recently fell on hard times. This family has worked tirelessly for years, scraping a meagre existence in one of our districts, and as of yesterday, their fortunes turned. Someone, maybe the person sitting next to you today, has changed their lives forever. How, you may ask? Through a selfless act. They have bought a property in Asterfal and allowed this family to move into it. This family has moved from one of our worst slums to one of our best areas, and their future now is bright and positive. Do I see this as something all should do? No. I do not. Do I see this as a beacon of light across our darkened city streets? Yes, I do. Starting today, we can all show compassion and support for those in weaker positions than ourselves." Shock registered with SJ as she realised the chancellor was talking about her. ''How does he know?'' As her display triggered. Appointment: Asterfal Regional Council Representative Status: Active Relationship: Ambassador of Killic Reputation: Friendly Future interactions in Asterfal will allow for an improved outcome. Quest gains increased by 20%. "Reputation gains already. I wonder if that was triggered by the chancellor directly or through the council. This chancellor appears to have much more to him than I thought," Dave mused. The chancellor continued. "I expect we look at our city with fresh eyes. You know my background. I have never shied away from my beginnings on the streets to where I now sit, and that has come through my relentless determination and the support of those around me. I wouldn''t be here if it was not for many in this chamber who saw in me what I hope we can all see in our city. I am also, as of today, removing peerage rights. Districts will no longer be transferred to family members. If you attained a role during the inauguration, your future now sits in your hands. Open district voting will begin for any future positions." The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. Cries of protest erupted from several in the city council. Darwinial bellowing for silence. "I know some have always tried to do what they can in the districts, and I thank you and wish you to continue. Others in our districts and some areas do not perform their duties as well as they should. You will not just sit back and allow your districts and areas to fall into disrepair or, in some areas, violence. Corruption will be wheedled out. The state of some areas of our city is dire. We sit here in our tower and look out at the masses, thinking we are doing a good job. I can say now that we are not good enough and must improve at what we do. I always said I would bring balance to our great city, and I will. No more will I allow the demeaning and poor behaviour of some sitting here to taint our good name and work. Concerning the continuing amendments to the structure, a new branch will also be confirmed under the direct oversight of Alec. He will perform council and district audits over the coming months to ensure that our city''s basic needs are being met to the level we expect for our city. This may be uncomfortable for some of you to hear, but you know who you are again. If you feel uncomfortable now, then I suggest you consider your actions going forward. Asterfal is the candle in the south. We hold a privileged position, not just of power but of responsibility to support the regions. The changes that are in play across our borders will, in time, allow others to grow and develop, and I wish Asterfal to remain the southern light. If we are not careful in time as expansion continues, others may step forward and take our role. I do not wish that to happen, but I will not bully or browbeat or belittle others to achieve this. I will do this by being the southern region''s support and crux." Initially, silence greeted the chancellor''s comments before the chamber erupted in stamping feet and cheers of support. Looking around the chamber, SJ could see several were unhappy with his comments, especially Lieutenant Jelart, who controlled District 3. He sat with a sneer and looked at the chancellor with disgust. "I can see considerable fallout from today''s meeting," Dave said. At no point had SJ expected to hear the chancellor''s comments. She had thought he was as much a part of Asterfal''s problems as many others who worked in the tower and the city''s inner circle. This seemed not to be the case, and SJ felt pride in his words and a sense of conviction. The conversations began as the chancellor and the leading council stood and left the chamber. SJ had been sitting alone since Zigferd hadn''t returned yet and felt uncertain in the bubbling chamber. A friendly voice called her name as she made her way down from her seat. "SJ." Turning, SJ saw Larianco. "Hi Larianco. What can I do for you?" "I just wished to say thank you." "For what?" "In under five minutes, you have just changed the outlook on fae in Asterfal. There has never been a fae councillor before, and in your first appearance, you have already proposed a significant change to the regional workings. Don''t be mistaken. Many will be unhappy, but many will also see it for what it is¡ªa time for change." "I just proposed something to ease time and effort by all involved." "You have, yes. It is common sense and a basic that you would have thought would have been implemented years ago. The fact that a fae proposed the change is unheard of. Remember, fae are considered selfish and thought not to consider others with their actions. Your speech today has shown a side that we have been missing from our race, one that used to exist millennia ago. Fae were not always hated. We used to be the shining light of Amathera." "I am aware of the acts of Gavia." Larianco spat. "Please, never say that name." "Sorry," SJ apologised. "You wouldn''t understand the harm he did and caused to our kind. His name is not to be spoken. Unfortunately, there are still many who follow his preachings and beliefs. Fran was right about you." "Fran? What has Fran said?" "You are a beacon for change." With that comment Larianco turned and walked away again, leaving SJ stood open-mouthed. As SJ stared at Larianco as she walked away, a hand clapped her on her shoulder, making her jump. "Well said today," Berger congratulated her. "You sold the proposition well, giving justification to both sides for change." "I never expected to speak today. I didn''t know the chancellor would ask me to speak." "This chancellor is not like many before him. From what I have seen and what he has said today, he has the region''s best interests at heart. I only hope he can fight through the mistrust and corruption that exists in the city." "I have witnessed enough since I arrived here." "Only time will tell, but I hope he succeeds." Walking from the hall, SJ went to the desk again to ask if Zigferd had returned. It was now late afternoon, and there was still no sight of him. The clerk handed her a message that had been left for her. ''I wish he would get back. I am getting worried.'' "I am sure he will be fine." ''I hope so. I wish I knew what he was up to.'' Opening the letter, she read the contents. Meet at the park, I will know when you arrive. C. "Exciting. Another quest, perhaps," Dave said. ''Perhaps. I am going to the house to see how they are getting on and will then head over.'' Leaving the tower, SJ performed what had become a standard transformation now, walking to the nearby bushes before shrinking and changing her dress. She felt like Superman when he transformed in a phone box. Arriving at the house, the double doors were open at the front, and she could hear Jay calling. Landing on the balcony to her room, she entered, growing and was amazed at the changes. Since her brief conversation with Yawnee, the room had already been partly furnished. She realised drapes had even been put up at the windows and across the balcony, not having noticed on entering. "Wow," SJ said. The large open area now had a large bed, wardrobe and desk positioned in it. A huge soft rug now covered a significant amount of the room''s floor. The pastel colours of the drapes and rug matched perfectly. She couldn''t believe that so much had already been done. Walking down the stairs, she called out, not wanting to scare anyone. Yawnee''s grinning face appeared from the bedroom doorway. "Hi SJ. I hope you like the start of your room?" "I can''t believe you have done so much already." "The difference between walking into a trader with coin in comparison is quite significant. They will do anything for you." "I can tell. Are you fully moved in now?" "Almost. Jay and Cristy are just unloading the cart from our last trip. I think that will be everything then. Lurtew is out presently. He has gone to speak to the mage''s guild about hot water." "That''s great. I will see how they are getting on," SJ said, continuing down to the ground floor. "Left a bit, no left, not right," Jay called to Cristy, who was holding the other end of a large worktable. "Left, right, left, right? Make your mind up will you, this thing''s heavy," Cristy complained. SJ could see the matted fur on her forehead from the exertion. "Hi." "Hey," Jay smiled. "Ok, just there." Cristy dropped the end of the worktable with a thud, groaning. "I don''t like moving house." Smiling, SJ looked around the open garage area for a better word. The coopers'' materials had all been brought over, and neat stacks of wood and metal strips were now positioned around the area. All their tools were neatly laid out on the worktops, and it looked as though they had already been here a long time. "You have been busy." "Very," Cristy groaned, rolling her shoulders. "Stop complaining. We will turn you into a big strong gnoll, eventually." Jay said. "I never said I wanted to be big and strong," Cristy complained. "You said you want to fight in the cages. You will never make it with that attitude. A little hard work, and you complain already." "Cristy," SJ said in shock. "What do you mean, fight in the cages?" "Jay told me all about them. It sounds fun." Scowling, SJ rounded on Jay. "Jay. She is impressionable as it is. Don''t give her ideas." Grinning, Jay looked at SJ. "I''m not impressionable," Cristy said. "Really? How many times have you changed your mind over the past few months?" "Not that many." "One minute, you want to learn a musical instrument. The next, you are back at training with your bow to become a ranger, and then you are asking Gary to teach you about swords. Never mind trying to get Nexis to teach you about auction houses, Kerys about being a brewer, Zej about being a smith, and Alice about being a druid." "I am just growing up, that''s all." "So you admit at long last that you are still growing up," SJ smiled. "I meant making choices for my future," Cristy sulked. SJ laughed at her response. "You have time to learn and do things as you get older. Don''t think you have to chop and change now. Focus on one thing and improve that before jumping to another. And before you get any ideas. I will never allow you to fight in the cages." "But..." SJ cut her off. "But nothing. I couldn''t watch you getting hurt." Sulking, Cristy kicked the leg of the workbench and then cursed, holding her toe. Jay and SJ tried not to laugh. "Thanks for helping today, Jay." "My pleasure. It''s made a nice change, and Cristy, for all her moaning, has been fun to work with," Jay said, reaching and ruffling her head. Snapping her teeth, Cristy pretended to bite at his hand. "I have to go and see someone about some business. I will be back later." "Do you need a lift?" Jay asked. "No. I think I will walk." SJ said, leaving and heading to see Carlito.? Chapter 137– Levels Don’t Matter The park was empty when SJ arrived. The walk from District 11 had been enjoyable. SJ stopping several times, browsing a few of the traders'' stalls on the street. She had found a small jewellery box she had liked the look of and purchased it for a silver, storing it in her inventory. She knew it had been over priced but she didn''t complain. It would be a nice present for Cristy, she had always had one as a teenager where she stored her keep sakes. ''I still haven''t discovered a pet trainer yet.'' "I think there was one in the inner city," Dave said. ''Why didn''t you mention it?'' "I didn''t think, sorry. I will remind you later when we go back. You also need to sell the items you have still. I thought you were going to visit the enchanters as well?" ''I am and I do need to. I could spend weeks here and not see everything.'' "It''s a large city. Also, do you have to return when Zigferd and Cristy do?" ''I should do. Although I was considering letting them take the coach back and I could portal back to Farleck, giving me more time. It will really help in the future having the house when I reach level 20.'' "It will. It was a good idea." ''No further updates on the dungeon core?'' "No. I doubt there will be anything for a while. I didn''t get the feeling that it would be prioritised." ''Thanks for asking, whatever the outcome.'' SJ almost had a heart attack when the being appeared from the bush to the side of where she was standing in the park. She had been standing near the bench and had been looking towards the street and the Black Griffin. "Argh," SJ squealed. The goblin raised his eyebrow at her response. "A little jumpy aren''t you?" Carlito said. "What do you expect? I didn''t even see you coming." "You have the skill now yourself," Carlito smiled. "Shadow Step." "Any shadow is a friend to my kind. We have a problem that needs attending to. It seems your friend from the tower has taken serious offence to your continuing existence. There is a new open contract for your head." "What? My head." "Yes. Literally your head. It is quite lucrative as well. The offer is 8 gold." Feeling panic rise in her chest, SJ felt her palms dampen with sweat as she stared at Carlito. "Malaki?" "Yes. He hasn''t even bothered about anonymity in his posting. He is quite happy for people to know." "Isn''t that dangerous for him?" "Yes. Potentially, it depends on how we deal with it. If the contract can''t be fulfilled, it will be nullified." "How do we go about that?" "Kill Malaki Fretun. The contract fee will be voided if he is not alive to pay it." SJ''s display triggered. Class Quest - Defend your honour Take action to eliminate Malaki Fretun and ensure his contract for your head cannot be fulfilled. Reward: One class perk point. Anger bubbled in SJ. The horrible man had not only tried to get her kicked off the council but had now taken his own failings and directed them at her. She had been stupid to think that such a man would disappear quietly. "I can''t believe he has opened a contract against a council member. Would that not be questioned?" "Who will question it? Eight gold is eight gold. Many an assassin would jump at the chance of the bounty." "Do you know where he is?" "Not specifically. I have some of my scouts searching the districts, but his whereabouts are unknown currently." "You have scouts?" "Everywhere," Carlito smiled, a wicked glint in his eye. "How many contracts are open in the guild?" "Many, there is always work available. Or rivals to dispose of, not that I have many personally." The thought of having a being like Carlito hunting them made SJ shudder. Having experienced his abilities, she doubted many would survive against him. "How long has the job been posted?" "Five hours now." "So long enough for others to be looking for me. Great, I thought I may have some peace for at least a day." SJ was supposed to have a day off tomorrow before the final council meeting the day after, and then they were scheduled to leave Asterfal again. At this rate, she would not have time to do anything. "Do you know any others that have taken it up?" "At least two, I am aware of. I don''t think you will have too much to worry about from them. They are low level." "Low level guild members are still higher than me?!" "You keep forgetting one element of being an assassin. Levels don''t matter. I have dealt with much higher level targets than myself before. It is all about the execution, no pun intended. You can kill a much higher level with a surprise attack before they even know you are there." "I wish I had looked at Shadow Discipline now as a branch. The Shadow Step skill is amazing." "Shadow Discipline has its merits, but I wish I was skilled in Martial Arts and unfortunately am not. Each branch has its perks. You will discover in time as yours continues to grow." SJ''s senses suddenly went wild. Instinctively, she ducked and turned, looking around. The figure appeared from her left, slashing a blade down towards her head. Rolling off the bench where they had sat, SJ stood and faced her attacker. The being stood six feet tall, appearing muscular and had the poise of a fighter. SJ equipped her claws, parrying as the blade swung at her again, triggering her shroud skill. Carlito sat calmly, watching the fight unfold. Grunting, SJ pushed the blade aside as she came to terms with her attacker. Her initiative gave her a significant advantage, and she moved swiftly inside her opponent''s range, punching with her clawed fist. Her claws struck metal armour, not penetrating. This figure was either not an assassin or a high level one, knowing that you couldn''t wear chain mail until level 40. "Legs," Dave yelled. As the figure brought his sword back across his body towards SJ, she dropped to a crouch under its swing, kicking out with her foot at its ankle. Her foot connected, and the figure staggered from the blow. SJ didn''t give it time to regain its balance, slashing with her arm at its now leading leg. Her blades cut through the material drawing blood and her display triggered, activating her bleed effect. The figure grunted in pain and stepped back gingerly this time, limping as it placed weight on its injured leg. She wasn''t going to give them recovery time and would use the advantage of shroud while it still lasted, springing forwards with both her blades straight aimed for its legs. The figure again tried to move its sword down and SJ, at the last moment, used her left hand to deflect the blade as her claws on her right dug into its thigh. Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. It bellowed in pain, both its legs now injured, and as SJ withdrew her claws, it grunted. Stepping away again. "Enough," Carlito said. The figure immediately stepped further away, wincing as it moved. The look on in its eyes showing the pain. SJ was ready to pounce again, when Carlitos'' voice stopped her in her tracks. Cautiously, she stood, glancing at Carlito. "He works for you?" "Yes. You may go now," Carlito said in a casual tone. "Please sit again." "What the hell was that about?" SJ asked angrily, not sitting. "I needed to make sure you were capable of defending yourself. If I am putting my faith in you, then I need to ensure you can." The goblin shrugged nonchalantly. SJ was fuming at how Carlito had tested her. "Why would you get me attacked like that? He went for my head." "Yes. If he had succeeded, I would have been eight gold wealthier. I did hope that he wouldn''t, though." "So, there is actually a bounty on my head? And if so, why have you accepted the contract?" "It is an open contract. Anyone can complete it. There are no precursors or agreements to hold for a period before others attempt. You passed my test well. I was impressed with your speed. Your movements are very fast for someone of such a level as yourself. You must have a high Dexterity, and your senses are strong, realising the attack was coming before it did. Few would have moved so easily from a surprise attack." "I am sure you could have found an easier way to test me," SJ fumed. Ignoring SJ''s remark, Carlito said. "Now you must complete your quest before others get on your trail. I wish you luck. I will know when or if you succeed, since the contract in the guild will either fail or be fulfilled. Hopefully, the prior." Smiling, the Goblin stood and walked off towards the street. "Well, he is a bundle of fun," Dave sarcastically said as Carlito left. ''Thanks for the shout about their legs. That really helped.'' "Of course." ''I better find Malaki. Darren said he first met him in the Bugbears. I think it''s time to find the bar.'' Walking into the bushes, SJ shrunk before taking off, heading straight back to her home. Landing she found Jay sat in the lounge with Lurtew, Yawnee, and Cristy. "Hi SJ," Lurtew said as she entered. "Hi." "You don;t look happy," Jay frowned. "No. I''m not. Jay, could I have a word, please?" Standing, Jay followed SJ as she headed back upstairs to her room. Once she was inside and she shut the door, she turned to Jay and asked. "Do you know the Bugbears?" "Yes. It''s in District 5. Not a bad bar, not the best, but the music is good usually. Why?" "I need to find someone." "Who?" SJ thought about her response before she spoke. "Malaki has raised a contract on me. I need to find him and stop him." "You mean a contract, contract, don''t you?" Jay said, surprised. "Yes. There is a kill order open for my head." "Hairy troll''s feet. How did you find out?" "I can''t say. I have just been made aware, though. It''s still new, so hopefully few are looking for me yet. I don''t want to bring trouble here, though. Could you stay here and protect Cristy and the others while I search for him?" "Anything to help. I can''t believe that scum has raised a contract on you. Once the tower finds out, they will deal with him. You should report it." "And how do I explain to the chancellor that I know that a kill order has been raised? I have no proof." "Then how can you accept the word of someone who told you?" SJ closed her eyes, clenching her lips. "Can I trust you Jay?" SJ knew his reputation status had risen to honoured, but that was not as high as revered and she really didn''t know the levels of loyalty the reputation held. Furrowing his brow, Jay said. "Of course. Why do you ask?" "Are you sure you want to do this?" Dave said. ''Yes,'' SJ said. "I was informed by Carlito." "What the..." Jay''s eyes were now as wide as saucers. "Why would Carlito inform you there is a kill order against you?" "He is my sponsor." Jay''s eyes couldn''t even go any wider; his eyebrows had already disappeared on top of his head, and he staggered backwards until he reached the edge of the bed. "I knew your fighting skills were good, from the minotaur fight, but an assassin? You''re really an assassin." "Yes. My class is an assassin." Dumb-founded, Jay sat staring at SJ in shock for several moments. "Carlito, though. How on Amathera did Carlito become your sponsor? They were trying to kill you the other day." "That''s a little longer a story than I have time for now." "Do the others know your class?" "Cristy and Zigferd do. Lurtew and Yawnee don''t, and I don''t wish them to be caught up in my problems. From what I have been told, I am not a typical assassin!" "I''m not sure what makes a typical assassin," Jay said frankly. "Nor I, to be honest. I am sorry Jay. I never meant to cause any problems while in Asterfal. I just seem to have an uncanny knack for attracting the wrong type of attention." "All I have seen is someone who cares for their friends. I would never have suspected anything else. You keep your true identity hidden well." "I''m not sure if that is necessarily a good or a bad thing," SJ sighed. "So where in District 5 is the Bugbears?" Jay spent the next ten minutes explaining exactly where the Bugbears was situated, trying to give SJ directions that she could see from the air, after she had stated she would be flying. SJ emptied the contents of her inventory on to the bed. Asking Jay to give the jewellery box to Cristy. Even though SJ knew she would be annoyed not being told what was going on, she still couldn''t get past the fact that she was only five years old. After SJ had been looking at her map as Jay spoke and had a rough idea of the direction but hadn''t been through District 5 before, so most of it was covered in the fog of war still. Cursing inwardly at not spending the time opening the map up fully, she shrunk and flew from the balcony. She hoped no one was seeing her come and go by using the balcony. A six inch tall fae wasn''t the easiest to see at the best of times. Not planning to return to the house until the matter was dealt with. It was a couple of hours later that she managed to locate the Bugbears, it was further towards the outer wall than she had expected in District 5. The streets surrounding the bar were dark and foreboding, the tall buildings keeping the street level in darkness much of the time. It was early evening and the sound of music and laughter filtered up to where she was standing on the roof of the building opposite. This building was taller and there were no others overlooking its location. Remembering vague details from Darren, she had a rough idea about its interior. Several windows were open on the upper floors as she peered over the edge of the roof. "So what''s the plan?" Dave asked. ''For now, nothing. I am just going to watch who comes and goes.'' "Oh, a stakeout. Exciting, well hopefully more exciting than standing in alley in Killic watching traders. At least here there is more going on." As Dave finished talking, a goblin came crashing out of the door to the Bugbears. A large orc following him. The goblin went to get to its feet as the orc kicked it in its side, send it sprawling further. "CHEATING SCUM," the orc shouted. The scene reminded SJ of when she had first met Gary and Setu in Killic. This occurrence didn''t hold back on violence though as the orc went to attack the goblin again. It called a blade to its hand and slashed at the orc, catching it on its leg. The orc bellowed in rage, calling its own blade. A to and fro occurred them both, lunging to strike the other before a whistle could be heard down the street. Turning, SJ could see members of the guard running towards the fight. Both combatants hid their blades, the goblin taking the opportunity to bolt for an alleyway as the orc was distracted. The orc turned, seeing him flee and gave chase. The guards charged past the Bugbears and turned, following them down the alley. "Already gets a 10/10 for entertainment purposes," Dave chuckled. SJ shook her head, not replying. It was a couple of hours later as darkness set in the skies and the chill of the night and SJ had started to feel the cold of the night when the form of the man she recognised approached the bar. He was wearing his usual cloak she had seen him in previously, with the telltale emblem of the Asterfal council on it. ''He is still pretending to be part of the inner city.'' "Are you surprised? He is a lowlife piece of troll dung." ''No. I''m not. After all the tricks he tried to play on Kerys and what he got Darren to do, nothing surprises me from that man. I still don''t understand why nothing came of his attack on the inn. I never spoke to Zigferd or Alice about it.'' "So what now you have found him?" ''I think it will be best to wait for him to leave and follow him. I can''t walk into the inn and attack him.'' Settling on the roof, SJ sat watching the entrance to the Bugbears. ? Chapter 138 – Triple X Several hours passed, and SJ felt her eyes getting heavy, trying to stay focused on the bar''s entrance. Large groups had come and gone from the bar below, singing and laughing as they did, and the music that filtered up had been pleasant. She had hoped the night''s chill would have helped her stay more focused, but it had the opposite effect. Her eyes shut for a moment, and she jolted awake again. ''Damn,'' she cursed, standing and walking around the roof to get her blood flowing and remain awake. "I can keep watch for you. If you are that tired," Dave said. ''Are you sure?'' "Yeah. I have nothing better to do today and am enjoying the music." SJ sat back down again, pulling her knees up to her chest, watching the entrance, and it wasn''t long before she again drifted. "He''s moving," Dave suddenly said, waking SJ from her half-slumber. She hadn''t slept properly, drifting in and out as the night had worn on. Checking her display, it read 02:11. She couldn''t believe how late it was. Having been sitting on the roof for almost six hours. Glancing down, she spotted the cloaked form weaving slightly as it made its way down the street, heading further towards the outer wall. Wherever Malaki stayed would be a change from his luxury home in the inner city. Stretching, SJ stood lifting from the roof. Staying low to the rooftops, she tracked his movement. There were few on the streets at this time of night, the odd beggar asleep in a doorway or other drunken beings making their way home or to their next bar. It appeared that bars and inns in Asterfal didn''t close. As the streets narrowed further and the outer wall was reached, SJ struggled to follow Malaki''s movements with the roof overhangs. Seeing his form still in the gloom of the night ahead, she dived to the street level. The buildings were all darkened. Only the sporadic light filtering through buildings'' closed drapes entered the streets. Malaki was still swaying, and as SJ neared, she picked up the humming sound, followed by a hiccup. She watched as he turned down an alley just ahead. She sped forward without wanting to lose him in the warren of the streets. Reaching the corner about ten feet into the alley, she found him propped on his elbow against a wall, emptying his bladder. The alley was tight, little more than an ogre''s shoulder width apart. Landing, she was going to take advantage of the opportunity. As she landed, he finished his business and turned, moving down the alley, bouncing off the walls as he staggered. Growing, SJ took a step forward, equipping her blades and triggering her shadow step. Appearing directly behind Malaki, she attacked. Her claws pierced his neck with a vengeance and pent-up aggression she didn''t realise she had been holding onto. The gurgling release of air as her other claws pierced his side. She pulled her claws from his side and struck again, this time more central. Only the gasp of air escaped his lips. She felt no remorse, just pure anger at what this man had done to her and her friends. Triggering her identification skill, she was shocked when her skill didn''t trigger any details. He had to be over twenty levels above her own. Not knowing the health of him, she continued to attack. Over and over until, at last, she heard a final breath leave his lungs. Removing her claws, his lifeless form fell to the alley floor. SJ panted. Her senses heightened, and her adrenaline pulsed through her body. She felt alive, and her body tingled with a hidden excitement at killing him. "That was..." Dave paused. It''s absolutely amazing. You just assassinated a level 47 mage in under two minutes, and not once did they cast a spell." ''Level 47?!'' shock registering with SJ. He wasn''t twenty levels higher. He was nearer thirty. SJ''s hands shook violently as she panted, trying to calm her breathing. Glancing around, the streets were empty and silent. "Loot him, then go," Dave urged. SJ''s display triggered. Congratulations! You have been awarded 615xp for killing a level 47 mage. Bonus experience x 3 since the being was over twice your level. +20% reputation bonus for being in the confines of Asterfal. 2214xp awarded. Amazed at the experience award, SJ bent and looted the body. Ignoring the message that appeared and shrinking again before taking off. Reaching the rooftops, she flew several streets over before coming to land. Her heart still raced, and she bent double, breathing deeply to calm herself. Looking at her dress, she could see the remnants of blood being cleaned from it. Looking at her hands, wrists, and arms, she needed to wash before anyone saw her. As her pulse slowed, the nervous tension was released from what she had held onto, and tears formed. "Why are you crying?" Dave asked, confused. ''I don''t know, probably shock. I just assassinated a being almost thirty levels above me. Why didn''t you tell me before what level he was?'' Dave coughed nervously. "I didn''t want you doing what you are now, which is freaking out." SJ began pacing. The shock that had replaced the adrenaline eventually lessened. ''I need to clean up.'' "You do. Just head home." ''No. Not until I get confirmation that the contract has been void and no one is after me.'' "Good point. Maybe the Griffin?" ''If there is anywhere where assassins can hang out, it could be there. We know Carlito does.'' "Tower then. It''s your safest option." SJ couldn''t argue with Dave''s logic, and as she went to take off, she heard a scream several streets over from where she had come. Panicking at someone finding the body so soon, she nearly slipped on the roof tiles. Steadying herself, she took off and headed straight back to the tower. "That is a good thing if they found the body already. It will get back to the guild sooner." Again, Dave''s logic was sound. As she flew back, her thoughts were all over the place, and Dave allowed her to work through them without interrupting. As she reached the tower, Dave spoke again. "Zigferd''s drapes are closed. It looks like he is back," Dave said as they flew to her balcony. ''At least that is some good news.'' Landing on her balcony, she entered her room, her eyes adjusting to the darkness. Walking to the table, she lit the lantern, flooding her room in the light. Stripping off, she ran the bath and climbed in as the water ran, washing the dried blood from her hands, wrists and arms, watching the red trails disappear down the hole. Once the water ran clear and the worst was off, she put the plug in and allowed it to fill. The water was too hot, but she didn''t care, the burning against her skin soothing her chaotic mind. Grabbing scented oils from the side, she poured much more than she needed into the water and spent a long time scrubbing every inch of her body. She felt dirty and tainted. Eventually, as the water became cold, she climbed out, wrapping herself in one of the large towels provided in the tower. Walking to the bed, she flopped, staring at the ceiling. Looking over at where she had cast her dress, it again looked clean. It was then she looked at her boots. The boots had become more worn as she owned them, and their durability had lessened since Fizzlewick had given them to her. They were darkened and tainted from her fights and quests and didn''t have the same appeal they had had. ''I need new boots.'' "Of all the things to think about now, you are thinking of shopping." ''No, I am thinking logically. I need some boots with an enchantment like the dress¡ªones that self-clean and repair. There is too much chance of evidence from my boots.'' "It''s not CSI. They will not swarm in the room wearing white coveralls." Knowing that Dave spent his time watching movies and TV shows from Earth made SJ smile. ''No, it may not be, but they are stained and worn now, and I have not worried about my gear or clothing overall because of the dress. I need to going forward. I am going shopping as soon as I get the all-clear about the contract.'' Lying on the bed, SJ took a long time to settle until exhaustion eventually took her, and she fell asleep. "Time to get up," Dave said. SJ tried to sit, tangled in the large towel she had fallen asleep in. Untangling herself, she climbed from the bed, pulling her clothes on. She quickly checked her display and saw that it was only 07:00, with a flashing notification in the corner of her screen. Opening the notification, she read the details. Class Quest - Defend your honour- complete You eliminated Malaki Fretun. The timeliness of your removal of Malaki Fretun impressed your sponsor. Bonus perk awarded. Reward: Two class perk points. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Opening her skill sheet, she checked on the Shadow Step. It had been the perfect skill to support her last night, and she read the details. Shadow Step Level 2 - Thirty-foot step range, 4.5-second cooldown. Selecting it, she accepted the increase and saw one perk point disappear. Considering what she had done over the past few days, she dropped the other point into her elimination skill, taking it to level 2. Even though it was an unarmed skill, it gave her the bonus of strike accuracy when using her claws. Dave explained how the skills complemented each other. "That was nice of Carlito," Dave said cheerily. ''It''s a nice bonus. I can''t argue. I never asked what sponsors get for being sponsors?'' "Oh, it varies. Sometimes, they get experience gains, and other times, they may get advanced perks unlocked." ''Advanced perks? You mean stage two ones.'' "No advanced perks, hidden perks if you want to call them by a more appropriate name. They can open specialisations." ''I am surprised that everyone doesn''t want to be a sponsor then.'' "Ah, they don''t know. There is no prior knowledge of the details or what they may get. I know that some sponsors previously have received nothing. I do not know how it is calculated or how the system works out what is what and who gets what. It''s a very uncertain area. Over the years, many have tried to work out the reasoning behind awards, and nothing has ever been confirmed as factual." The thought of hidden skills intrigued SJ. Although living in Killic, she wasn''t aware of anyone she could sponsor. ''Is there a level requirement?'' "Yep. Minimum level 35 to be a sponsor." SJ sighed, filled with excitement at the thought, and then realised how long it could be from ever being achieved. Considering the level of restrictions in place with Killic''s growth, it could be months, if not years, away from her ever achieving her goal¡ªnever mind finding an assassin whom she could train and support. "You need to look at the loot you got from Malaki," Dave''s tone was one of surprise. "I think you will be pleasantly surprised." Pulling up her display, SJ looked at the message history and found the one from looting Malaki. 14 x copper, 12 x silver, 3 x gold, 1 x platinum, chain of alchemy, ring of mana regeneration, ring of health regeneration, pestle of mixing, notebook, keys ''A platinum piece?!'' SJ thought in amazement, retrieving the coin from her inventory. The coin was larger than the standard coins of Amathera. It was much brighter than the silver coins and was much heavier because of its size. ''Wow. I never thought I would have one.'' "You focus on the coin over the items? Did you see the items?" Dave said. ''Yes.'' "Then check their descriptions." Calling the chain of alchemy to her hand, she checked its description. Chain of Alchemy - the wearer of this chain gains a 25% bonus to alchemical creation. SJ could just imagine Darren''s face if she gave it to him. Smiling, she returned it and checked the other items. Pestle of Mixing - components mixed using this pestle increase alchemical potency by one level. Ring of Mana Regeneration - Passive regeneration restores 5% of total mana every minute. 50% immediate recovery occurs once every 24hours. Ring of Health Regeneration: Passive regeneration restores 3% of total health every minute. 30% immediate recovery occurs once every 24 hours. "They are some very nice magical items. The rings would sell for a substantial amount of gold each. The pestle and chain are rare and would sell for a great deal at the auction house." ''I know someone who would benefit from the chain, pestle, and mana ring. I think I have just found Darren and Alice''s wedding presents.'' Dave made a choking sound. "You would give them away as gifts?" ''Why not? I don''t need them.'' "Yes, but their value?!" ''Would you prefer I sold them at the auction house so that another like Malaki could come along and use them, or would it be better for them to be used by our friends?'' Dave didn''t respond. Selecting the Ring of Health Regeneration again, she held it in her hand, turning it. The ring was a plain silver band. It had no markings that gave it away as holding any magical power. Looking at the inside of the band, she had expected to see an inscription or something, but there was nothing. The ring was too large for her, and she slipped it onto her finger. The band shrank until it fit perfectly. Smiling, she held her hand up, looking at it. ''I wonder what the keys are for,'' SJ retrieved them and found a bunch of five keys. "Looking at them. I would say two are door keys, and three are chest keys or similar." It made sense to SJ, considering the difference in sizes. ''I wish I had followed him home now. I wonder what he has hidden away.'' The last item she looked at was the one she had expected to be the most boring, and she could have been no further from the truth. Opening the tattered notebook, she flicked through the contents. The writing was scruffy and reminded her of a doctor''s writing, swift and scratchy. She had always wondered why doctor''s writing always seemed to look similar. One of her friends who had been a nurse in a local hospital back on Earth had always said that it was to hide their spelling mistakes when trying to remember the spelling of medicines. The contents described various concoctions and alchemical formulas, which SJ didn''t understand. However, SJ''s excitement peaked when she turned to the back and came across the list of numbers and names. Written in roughly drawn tables were lists of initials, and alongside them were what she could only assume were amounts of coin. The table had column headers, initials, due, fee, and a last column called behind. Several amounts were crossed out and amended, while some initials were scratched through. ''He must have been working with the loan sharks,'' SJ said. ''These all look like details of beings owing money and amounts due. I may have just found my first lead towards the quest.'' As she finished her thought, her display triggered. Quest - Free the slaves - update You have seen how the cage-fighting bait is treated unfairly. You must free them from their unfortunate destinies. You have discovered your first clue about the underworld of loan sharks. Where will it lead you? Rewards: 7000xp - reputation with Asterfal ''Not very helpful.'' "A mystery quest. How intriguing. You don''t see many of those normally, but considering the experience available for that quest, I am not surprised. You just need to do some investigation now." ''With initials only, I think my first place will have to be visiting the Griffin and speaking to the bait still being held there. Maybe some of them are on this list.'' "That is a great idea. However, I am unsure how easy it will be to visit the bait. Releasing Lurtew was one thing. Walking in and asking them their names could easily draw the wrong attention." ''I will speak to Lurtew. He may have learned some of their names while he was there.'' After removing the other items from her inventory, she placed them in her wardrobe with everything she had brought from Killic. ''I need to improve my storage situation,'' she said. "You have enough funds to consider that, but that will depend upon all the other items you wish to purchase: boots, claws, darts, and enchantments. You still need to visit the pet trainer." ''I better get to it then, but my priority is speaking to Zigferd. I have about 36 hours left to get him to marry Isavil!'' "Oh. I had forgotten about that." Leaving her room, SJ walked to Zigferd''s door. It was now just after 08:00, and she knocked loudly. "One minute," Zigferd called. SJ heard shuffling and banging, followed by a loud curse before the door opened. Zigferd stood, rubbing his knee. "Morning. That''s the third time I have walked into that damn table now." "Where have you been?" "And morning to you too," Zigferd said, rolling his eyes. "Let me finish getting dressed, then we can eat, and I will tell you where I have been." "I need to discuss something with you that can''t wait." "Not even five minutes?" "No," Pushing past Zigferd, SJ walked into his room. Frowning, Zigferd closed the door and turned to face SJ. "What''s that urgent?" SJ didn''t hold back. "You have 36 hours to marry Isavil." ? ? Chapter 139 - Marriage ¡°What on Amathera are you talking about?¡± Zigferd replied, looking very confused. ¡°Simply, what I stated. You must marry Isavil within the next 36 hours. If you don¡¯t marry Isavil, you will lose her forever. The elven king has promised her hand to an elven lord currently on his way from the elven capital to collect her.¡± ¡°What? And how do you know this?¡± ¡°Petunia and Tanias came and saw me.¡± ¡°When?¡± ¡°Two days ago, before you disappeared, the lord was due to arrive in 72 hours, but it will now be closer to 36 hours.¡± Zigferd began pacing his room. His brow furrowed, and a stern look appeared on his face. Stopping, he turned and looked at SJ. ¡°Why now? Why so suddenly?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know the exact details. You would have to speak to Petunia. What I can say is that both of them were concerned. This elven lord isn¡¯t a very nice elf, and Tanias fears for his daughter.¡± ¡°They can¡¯t just come and take her away from her life and family?¡± ¡°Listening to Tanias, I suspect they can. You said you had always been worried about asking Isavil because you didn¡¯t want to pull her away from her life and family. Do you believe she would willingly follow you to Killic by her own choice? Or would she prefer to be dragged off to the elven capital as a showpiece for a lord?¡± ¡°This is preposterous. I will speak to them when they arrive.¡± ¡°Do you think talking will stop this elf lord? If he has travelled from their capital, I doubt he would take no for an answer. The king has decreed it. The only way that she can¡¯t go with him is if she is already married.¡± ¡°But...¡± SJ cut Zigferd off. ¡°Do you love her?¡± ¡°Yes. I always have.¡± ¡°Then stop being such an idiot and ask her to marry you. She has never wed another, even after you rejected her. That, to me, says that she only has feelings for you. Can¡¯t you get past your chivalry for once and just allow nature to take its course?¡± ¡°But I swore I would never take her from her family.¡± ¡°Did you ever ask her what she wanted? Did you allow Isavil to say how she felt? Have you ever considered that she would be happy to join you? It isn¡¯t as if Killic is that far from Asterfal. It¡¯s not like travelling to Luxoria. Allow your heart to speak for once instead of your stubborn head.¡± Zigferd dropped his head. SJ could see the turmoil he was going through, his shoulders slumped. ¡°Don¡¯t you deserve a little happiness in your life?¡± SJ asked gently. Looking up again, Zigferd said, ¡°I am happy.¡± ¡°I mean genuine happiness with the being that you have loved for only gods know how many years. You have done so much for so many over your time as mayor of Killic. It¡¯s about time you did something for yourself. No one would ever criticise you for being happy and living your life as you wish. Also, think of the benefits.¡± ¡°What benefits?¡± ¡°Isavil is the sister of the head of the trade council for Asterfal, with whom I am confirming the first conglomerate trade deals for the regions. In the future, having Isavil work with Killic will only benefit the town you have already put your heart into.¡± Zigferd frowned. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t ever do it to bring an advantage to Killic. That is dishonest.¡± ¡°Why? What is dishonest about someone¡¯s ability and contacts? Is that not what you and Alice have spent years doing? Building relationships with those in Asterfal, using your skills and knowledge to benefit the town you lead.¡± ¡°Well, yes, but..¡± ¡°But nothing. You have only ever thought about this from your perspective and your thoughts, haven¡¯t you? You have never considered the thoughts and feelings of Isavil and the benefits she would bring to Killic, especially with our continuing growth.¡± Zigferd frowned, looking at her, ¡°What do you mean discussing trade deals with Fasvil?¡± SJ sighed, shaking her head. ¡°You have missed a lot these past two days, and now isn¡¯t the time to catch up. You have a proposal to make. So stop trying to change the subject.¡± ¡°I need to see Petunia.¡± ¡°She will only tell you what I have, and I think she fears your reaction if the elf lord reaches the city before Isavil is married.¡± ¡°Why would she fear, oh...¡± Zigferd trailed off. ¡°Exactly. Now, finish getting dressed, and I will see you at breakfast. Where can you tell me what you have been up to the past two days?¡± SJ said as she walked to the door, leaving Zigferd staring after her. She returned to her room and went to the balcony, shrinking and flying down. ¡°I think that went well,¡± Dave said. ¡®I felt as though I was scolding a child speaking to Zigferd in that manner.¡¯ ¡°You only told him the truth. His reaction showed he knew he should have said yes or asked her again. I think he has allowed his pride to get in the way for all the years since.¡± ¡®Knowing the pride Zigferd has, I can believe it.¡¯ Entering the dining hall, SJ moved to a table with space, and she recognised the councillors. Sitting, she shared pleasantries while she awaited her breakfast to be delivered. On entering the hall, she realised how hungry she was, and this morning, she had gone for a full breakfast and, of course, coffee. Her breakfast arrived, and she was tucking in when a goblin councillor she didn¡¯t know but sat in the council chamber¡¯s front row, meaning he was in a high position, walked over to another at her table. ¡°Have you heard the news, Kobias?¡± ¡°No,¡± Kobias replied. ¡°Fretun was found murdered this morning, early hours in District 5. He had been at the Bugbears drinking all night apparently and killed when he left.¡± There were looks of shock from those at the table. ¡°Fretun is dead?¡± a human councillor said. ¡°Yeah. Stuck like a hogling from the rumours,¡± the goblin chuckled. Kobias smiled. ¡°It couldn¡¯t have happened to a nicer being. The problems that man caused me in the past.¡± SJ was trying to stay calm, her hands feeling clammy. She felt as though everyone was looking at her, her pulse racing, although common sense meant they weren¡¯t. ¡°Do they have any ideas who may have done it?¡± ¡°Looked professional. Probably some disgruntled customer he had upset who heard he was no longer under the tower¡¯s protection. His body was discovered by a beggar who used the alley to sleep in. From the rumours, his body was still bleeding, which means the beggar was lucky not to have stumbled on it happening. The guards investigating found a trail but lost it almost immediately. You know what tracking is like in the city.¡± ¡°I am surprised they even bothered investigating. They don¡¯t usually.¡± ¡°One of the guards recognised him as a councillor. So they panicked, concerned about the wrath the District may get. So they were doing a proper job for a change. They even woke Paris up. We all know his temper normally, never mind being awoken from his beauty sleep, which he needs a lot of.¡± Several at the table laughed at that comment. She had heard the name Paris and knew he was the Lieutenant for District 5. He was a rather grotesque-looking dwarf. SJ was working back through her movements from the previous evening. She knew she had only briefly been in the alley while dealing with Malaki at all other times since she had flown. ¡®Can flight be tracked?¡¯ she thought. ¡°Not really. A very high-level ranger with seriously advanced tracking skills could possibly, for a very brief period, only while a scent trail exists. Your scent is dispersed as soon as you fly, making it virtually impossible.¡± Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. ¡®That¡¯s good to know; flying is a huge bonus.¡¯ ¡°It certainly is.¡± Kobias spoke. ¡°Ambassador, I expect you are happy that Fretun is gone? After what he tried to do to you.¡± SJ took a moment to realise the comment was directed at her. She hadn¡¯t even been aware that others may know what he had tried to do to her. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have wished for his death.¡± The lie left her lips naturally. ¡°Forgiving of you¡¯¡° Kobias nodded. ¡°I know I would have. There will be many happy to hear he is no more.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t know him well enough to comment. Sorry.¡± Zigferd arrived as the conversation continued around the table. SJ had sat quietly, listening. ¡°Full breakfast and coffee this morning, please,¡± Zigferd said to a server. ¡°Zigferd. Fretun is dead,¡± Kobias said. ¡°What? How?¡± ¡°Last night.¡± ¡°I had no love for the man, but death is not something I would have wished for. He never used to be like he became.¡± ¡°He has always been the same since I knew him.¡± ¡°Malaki is, sorry, was an amazing alchemist. Some potions he developed have changed the lives of many in Amathera. He was the only human ever taken into Darthinia the Great¡¯s apprenticeship.¡± ¡°Darthinia, you say. I wasn¡¯t aware she had taught him.¡± SJ felt uncomfortable listening to the conversation, so she sat and picked at a bread roll from a basket on the table to keep her hands busy and her nerves hidden. ¡°Yes. He started in Luxoria under her guidance. She had always had a strict rule of teaching only elves until she took Malaki on as an apprentice.¡± ¡°You would never have thought so with his behaviour.¡± ¡°No,¡± Zigferd shook his head. ¡°He was tainted by power and wealth over his calling. Alchemy became a means to an end for him. He stopped producing many of his potions, and now I think his recipes may be lost forever after his death. He was a great mind.¡± SJ looked up at Zigferd. ¡°What potions did he create that helped Amathera?¡± ¡°His greatest creation was a potion of filtration. It allowed those who consumed it to work in the lava pits and survive the poisonous fumes. For many mining operations, it became a standard potion that all miners drank. Only a few toxins could ever penetrate it.¡± SJ didn¡¯t respond, feeling terrible now she had learned about his past. Zigferd¡¯s breakfast arrived, and he wolfed it down. Picking up the coffeepot and mug, he looked over at SJ. ¡°Shall we go to the garden? We have things to discuss.¡± SJ had been sitting, contemplating Malaki¡¯s death. The notebook she now had in her inventory may contain some of the potions Zigferd had called lost. She would have to find out but was now concerned about who she could trust. If Zigferd or others discovered she had killed Malaki, what would they do? ¡°Yes.¡± Standing, she picked up her coffeepot and mug and followed him to the garden. Finding an empty seat, they sat silently for several moments before Zigferd began. ¡°You wanted to know where I have been. I have been with the Carlati.¡± ¡°Carlati?¡± The name didn¡¯t trigger with SJ. ¡°The beast wardens we spoke of on our journey.¡± ¡°You found them?¡± SJ¡¯s melancholy was replaced with excitement. ¡°What did they say?¡± ¡°They have agreed that Cristy may perform their trials. If she is successful, then they may, and I say may, consider taking her on as a member.¡± ¡°That¡¯s amazing news. She will be so happy.¡± ¡°Perhaps. The beings I met and their members are seriously powerful, and the territory levels are 30-40, where the conclave is situated. My concern is you. You won¡¯t be able to see her for as long as her trials and, if successful, basic training takes.¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t visit?¡± ¡°No. I was given false directions to a location to meet them, and then I was blindfolded before being taken to the conclave. I do not know where it is situated.¡± ¡®Do Amatherean¡¯s not have maps that update?¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°Yes, basic form. They are not as detailed as Legionnaires. You will probably find that the conclave is under some form of protection ward, preventing it from appearing on a map,¡± Dave said. ¡°From what you saw, do you think the conclave is the best place for Cristy?¡± ¡°From what I saw of the place, which was restricted, it is like any hamlet, just with some very strong lycans who run it.¡± ¡°How strong?¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t say exactly. I don¡¯t have an identification skill. The leader is a lycan named Matvik and has one of the rarest lycan forms I have ever seen. Have you ever heard of a displacer beast?¡± ¡°Now, that is a rare form. The beast alone is rare, never mind a lycan form of one,¡± Dave said. Frowning, SJ vaguely remembered the name but couldn¡¯t remember the details. ¡°I have heard of them before but couldn¡¯t say what they can do.¡± ¡°They can use illusions and multiple attacks. I have never fought one but heard tales, and from those, I never wish to. Each member of the clan has a beast as a companion. The variety of creatures was quite astounding: snakes, eagles, hoglings, wolves, horses and panthers, to list a few. The strangest creature that I saw was a hippogriff.¡± ¡°That sounds amazing. You say they have wolves there. That will help Cristy then, I assume?¡± ¡°They have wolves, but not dire wolves. When I spoke to the overseer and explained that Cristy could speak to a dire wolf, she didn¡¯t believe me initially, as only beasts of neutral or lawful alignment can be companions. Dire wolves are renowned for being evilly aligned, but I promised her that Patch wasn¡¯t.¡± ¡°He isn¡¯t evilly aligned. He has done nothing but help Cristy and look at what the pack did in finding Alice.¡± A breeze had picked up in the tower garden, the treetops gently swaying. SJ shivered. Her dress was beyond amazing, but it wasn¡¯t the most practical item of clothing when it was cooler. ¡°When do they want to see Cristy?¡± ¡°Matvik said that Reay would come and collect her soon, possibly tomorrow or the day after. When she is here, a message will be sent to the tower.¡± ¡°Who is Reay?¡± ¡°She is to the conclave what Alice is to Killic.¡± ¡°I will speak to Cristy and her family today. You speak to Petunia. Then you can meet us to go over any other details with her. This morning though I need to go shopping. We have the final council meeting tomorrow, and I still haven¡¯t got all the items I wanted or the things for those back in Killic.¡± ¡°Are you ok for coin?¡± Flushing SJ hadn¡¯t told Zigferd what she won at the cage fight or that she had bought a house, and she couldn¡¯t mention her windfall from Malaki under any circumstances. ¡°Erm, the cage fight Jay won came with a purse. I have enough coins to buy everything I need. Also, you will need to come and visit my new house, which I bought as well.¡± Zigferd stared at SJ. ¡°You bought a house?¡± ¡°Yes. Lurtew and Yawnee will live there and look after it for me. Also, once I am at level 20, I can use it as a portal to come to Asterfal as I need to. I thought it would help my role as ambassador if I could come and go as needed, reducing travel time.¡± ¡°And you have done this in the last two days?¡± Zigferd scratched his cheek through his beard. ¡°Where is it?¡± Smiling, SJ stood, her coffeepot now empty. ¡°District 11 by the inner wall. If you speak to Jay, he can show you. I need to go shopping. I will see you there once you speak to Petunia?¡± Zigferd just nodded in agreement, staring at SJ in disbelief. Leaving the garden, SJ went outside and back up to her room, collecting all the items she wished to sell, the list of items others had asked for, and, most importantly, the miniature wyvern egg. Walking back to the balcony, a fine rain had started, so she removed her cloak from her inventory before heading back down. ¡°I have been thinking,¡± Dave said. ¡°Congratulations,¡¯ SJ thought sarcastically. Dave ignored her jibe. ¡°You were attacked in Killic by Greb. You had a contract placed on you in Asterfal twice now.¡± ¡®I am well aware. What¡¯s your point?¡¯ ¡°We know about Malaki, but we still don¡¯t know who initiated the other attempts in your life.¡± SJ was reaching the ground and almost crashed as the realisation of his words hit home. At no point had the identity behind the attacks been discovered. A chill ran down her spine as she stumbled, only just keeping her balance. ¡®I hadn¡¯t thought about it since being sworn in.¡¯ ¡°I have been trying to piece together all of the possible reasons and analysing the details and still haven¡¯t been able to come up with a name of someone who would have initiated the attacks.¡± Transforming, SJ drew her cloak up around her face as she walked from the bushes at the base of the tower. ¡®I thought it must have been one of those arrested in the tower?¡¯ ¡°If it was, the scriers would have been able to identify who, and I am sure something would have been said. Especially considering how much the chancellor knows about you already. I am pretty sure he would know about the attempts in Killic.¡± ¡®If it¡¯s not one of them, then who?¡¯ Chapter 140 – Paranoia, Pets, Possessions SJ felt as paranoid as she had in Killic as she followed Dave¡¯s instructions to the pet trainers he had seen in the inner circle. Her mind was now racing. The rain was still light, and it brought a freshness to the air. The pristine gardens and cobbled roads of the inner circle were now glistening as the occasional ray of sun broke through the clouds. A rainbow materialised in the distance, its colours vibrant. ¡®I wonder if there is a pot of gold,¡¯ she thought. ¡°What?¡± Dave asked. ¡®Nothing, just a term from Earth about rainbows.¡¯ ¡°Ah, no and if they did, you wouldn¡¯t want to run into any leprechauns. Nasty beasties they are.¡± ¡®Leprechauns are real?¡¯ ¡°Yes,¡± Dave scoffed, making out SJ¡¯s question was stupid. ¡°Here on the left.¡± Looking left, she saw a building with a small walled yard in front of it. Turning, she walked towards the entrance. As she approached the yard, what she believed was a half-elf opened the door carrying a wooden sign. Looking at the rain-filled skies, it tutted and carried the sign to the front of the path and placed it out on the roadside. ¡°Morning,¡± SJ said as she approached. The half-elf looked up, smiling. Her face was pretty, and she wore robes of a magic user class. ¡°Early customer. Maybe today won¡¯t be as bad as I thought with this weather. Please come in.¡± SJ followed her back inside the small building. Inside was brightly lit, and the smell of the shop reminded her of pet shops she had visited back on Earth. The only difference was the various creatures she could see in cages and display cabinets. Taking a cloak off, the half-elf draped it over a chair by a counter. ¡°I am Sally. Welcome to my pet paradise. How can I help you this morning?¡± ¡°Hi, Sally. I am here to find out if you can help me with something. I have an egg that I wish to hatch.¡± ¡°An egg. I see what sort of egg?¡± SJ removed the box from her inventory and placed it on the counter. Opening the lid, she turned it so Sally could see its contents. ¡°Oh my. A miniature wyvern egg. Very nice, Very nice, indeed. Do you mind?¡± Sally moved to pick the egg up. ¡°Please.¡± Lifting the egg, Sally gently turned it in her hands and then lifted it, brushing her hair out of the way, and placed it against her ear. ¡°Amazing. It¡¯s fertile. So many of these aren¡¯t. Only a few weeks ago, I had someone bring two in they had purchased at the auctions. Unfortunately, neither was fertile.¡± SJ couldn¡¯t help but wonder if they were the ones that had been sold for Lythonian and Zej. ¡°I didn¡¯t realise some weren¡¯t fertile. So that¡¯s good to know.¡± ¡°Wyverns usually hatch eggs in clutches of twenty to thirty. Only one or two from a clutch will ever be fertile. Miniature wyverns are slightly different. They only lay small clutches, and the chances of a fertile egg are even lower. You have a very special egg here.¡± Grinning, SJ asked. ¡°So it can be hatched, then?¡± ¡°It can, although it¡¯s not a simple process. First, I need to determine which type of wyvern it is, and I can¡¯t tell from just looking at the shell. Each variant has a differing incubation need. It will never hatch if the temperatures are wrong, or you can damage it.¡± ¡°How do you do that?¡± ¡°I can cast a spell to determine its type, but it costs three gold.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine, please do,¡± SJ said, pulling three golds from her inventory and placing them on the counter. The half-elf raised her eyebrow. ¡°I should have said five.¡± In her excitement, SJ hadn¡¯t even considered bartering, feeling embarrassed. Sally placed the egg back into the cushioned box and then moved, collecting several items from a shelf behind the counter. Holding the items, she cast a spell. A glowing ball of light similar to the balls of light she had seen both Petunia and the cleric from the cage fights appeared before her. This ball was a blue colour, and as it grew, Sally moved her arm, moving the ball to encompass the egg. As SJ watched, she noticed Sally¡¯s eyes go from focused concentration to that of surprise before she stopped casting, and the light disappeared. ¡°Well, that is unexpected. I can¡¯t remember ever seeing one before. The egg contains a crystal wyvern.¡± ¡°Colossal goblin bogeys,¡± Dave said. ¡°Crystal wyverns are the rarest form. They have multiple abilities and attacks available to them.¡± ¡°Do you know how to incubate it? How much would it cost, and how long will it take?¡± ¡°I do. Incubation is awkward. They require constant high heat to be applied. In relation to time for incubation, you are looking at sixteen to eighteen days. This can be sped up, but I wouldn¡¯t advise it. I will always suggest allowing nature to take its course rather than rushing it. I also assume that you will wish to bond with it.¡± ¡°I will, yes. I am aware of moonstones and would need to purchase one.¡± ¡°Ah. There is a problem there. Moonstones don¡¯t work with crystal wyvern. You require a sunstone.¡± ¡°I have never heard of one.¡± ¡°They are much rarer, and unfortunately, I do not have any. You can probably purchase one at the auction house. You will need one before it hatches to attempt to bond.¡± ¡°Attempt to bond, you say?¡± ¡°Yes. Bonding is not guaranteed, especially with rarer pets, and a miniature wyvern is very rare.¡± ¡°I need to check for a sunstone. Thank you for your help. I will be back soon,¡± SJ turned to leave after placing the box back in her inventory. Walking outside, the rain was heavier, the clouds darker. ¡®Miserable day, and I need someone to check the auction house for me now.¡¯ ¡°I am sure Jay would be happy to,¡± Dave said. Walking through the inner city, SJ returned to the tower and stables. The streets were filled with beings hurrying between locations to escape the rain. Her cloak was keeping her dry, and she was enjoying the walk. A cart clattered past on the cobbles, catching a puddle as it did, sending a spray of water at her. The cart¡¯s being looked back, calling sorry as he went past. Standing staring at the cart as it disappeared down the street, the bottom of her dress was now drenched. Sighing, she at least knew her dress would dry. Reaching the stables, the usual busy courtyard was virtually empty. Most carts were still present, and the only sign of activity was a stable hand standing in a stall, brushing a beautiful black mare. SJ had always liked horses and walked to the stable looking at the magnificent creature. Its coat was a gloss black and shone. ¡°She is a beauty.¡± ¡°Aye, miss. She belongs to the Arch-Mage of the tower.¡± Patting the horse on its nose, it whinnied before she turned, heading to the office. When she entered, she couldn¡¯t see Jay, and after inquiring, she was told that he had gone out on an errand and would return later. Grumbling, SJ left again. ¡®Time to go to the house. I need Yawnees¡¯ advice on shopping in Asterfal.¡¯ Walking behind the stable, looking around to ensure no one could see her, SJ shrunk before taking off and heading straight to the house. Landing on the balcony, she went to open the door and found it locked. ¡®Who¡¯s locked it?¡¯ she frowned. Taking off again, she flew over the roof and dropped into the enclosed yard at the rear. Climbing the steps to the back door to the kitchen, it was the first time she had been in the yard. No windows looked into the area from the other buildings, making the yard private. The wall which separated it from the street corner the house sat on stood ten feet tall. ¡®A portal could be set up in this yard.¡¯ ¡°I agree. It¡¯s pretty ideal with nothing overlooking it.¡± ¡®I just need to ensure nothing is left in the yard. The plant pots will need moving.¡¯ Reaching the kitchen door, SJ tried the handle and found it locked. She was going to have to get more keys. Knocking on the back door took several moments before Lurtew¡¯s frowning face appeared in the kitchen doorway. Smiling, he hurried over and opened the door. SJ walked in, removing her cloak and draping it over the back of a chair to dry it off. ¡°Thanks. The balcony was locked?¡± Lurtew looked at her apologetically. ¡°Oh, sorry. That was me. I noticed it open this morning when I returned from the bakers, and as it had started raining, I didn¡¯t want the rain to get in. I didn¡¯t think and locked it naturally.¡± ¡°No problem. I think we need new locks anyway, so we can make some new keys. Is Yawnee here?¡± ¡°Yes. She is down in the garage.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± SJ walked downstairs to the garage, where Yawnee was busy with a large piece of planed wood. After chatting with her, SJ had a long list of different locations to shop for the items she wanted. She opened her map and tried to navigate the streets as Yawnee explained, but it was no good. ¡°Can you accompany me? I don¡¯t think I can remember all the details.¡± Smiling, Yawnee replied, ¡°Sure, let me get cleaned up.¡± She was wearing her coopers clothing and apron. ¡°Where¡¯s Cristy?¡± Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! ¡°She is running an errand.¡± ¡®What is it with everyone running errands this morning,¡¯ SJ thought. Sarcastically, Dave replied. ¡°Forbid anyone to have a life that doesn¡¯t revolve around yours.¡± Grunting in annoyance, SJ waited in the garage for Yawnee to get ready. The streets of the outer city were still busy, even in the continuing rain. Carts and wagons moved through the crowds of beings, getting on with their daily lives. The different locations that Yawnee mentioned were in various areas of the city, and she informed SJ that they had better reputations. The first place SJ wanted to visit was a tanner. SJ was reminded of a high street shop back on Earth by the building Yawnee led them to. Large windows made up the front of the building, with mannequins dressed in various leather garb. As the shop door opened, a bell tinkled, and Yawnee called. ¡°Morning, Preston.¡± A middle-aged man looked up from where he sat at a large workbench covered in tooling. ¡°Yawnee. Is your apron worn already?¡± ¡°No,¡± Yawnee smiled. ¡°I have a friend who wants some gear, and I know how good a deal you are offering.¡± Preston smiled as he stood from his bench and looked at SJ. ¡°What are you after, miss?¡± ¡°I am after a pair of boots. These are getting a little worn now.¡± ¡°Preston. I said I needed a hand,¡± a female voice called from the back of the store. Rolling his eyes, Preston shouted back. ¡°I have a customer, dear; I will be there soon.¡± ¡°I will help Carla while you serve SJ,¡± Yawnee said, heading back. ¡°What sort of boots are you after?¡± ¡°Ideally similar to the ones I have, but a better durability, mine have seen a bit of action.¡± ¡°Do you mind?¡± Preston kneeled and reached for her foot. Lifting her foot, SJ allowed Preston to remove her boot. Holding it for a moment, she noticed his eyes widen. ¡°Oh my. These are very nice boots or were. The quality of craftsmanship is exceptional. It is a shame they are so worn. They must have cost you a lot. I see you never had them enchanted. Any reason why?¡± ¡°Not specifically, no.¡± ¡°Are you after the same basic quality?¡± ¡°Ideally, I would think so. I don¡¯t suppose you have anything that improves as I level, do you?¡± ¡°Umm, let me see.¡± Standing, Preston walked towards a set of shelves where several pairs were on display. ¡°Nope. Nope. Nope. Umm. I will be back in a moment,¡± he said as he disappeared into the back where Yawnee had gone. Several moments passed before he returned to the front of the store, carrying three pairs of boots. ¡°Ok. Which of these three styles do you prefer?¡± Holding up the three pairs of boots, one was ankle high, the second was calf, and the third looked like they were just over the knee. Her calf-high boots were good, but she liked the extra length in the knee-high boots. ¡°Knee-high.¡± ¡°Ok,¡± dropping the other two pairs on the counter. ¡°What colour would you prefer?¡± ¡°I suppose black would be good?¡± ¡°Excellent choice.¡± Walking over, he handed SJ the boots he held. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, these are example boots for you to try on.¡± Slipping her boots off, she pulled on the new pair. They felt beautifully soft, no different from her old ones, and they resized to fit perfectly. She spun her leg around in a kicking motion, surprising Preston. ¡°Sorry. I wanted to make sure they didn¡¯t restrict my movement. They feel great.¡± ¡°Excellent. So let me see now. Minimum epic grade, perfect quality. You said you would like high durability, like a repair function?¡± ¡°Ideally, that would be preferred.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have any with the same attribute yours has, but I can increase the number of enchantment slots to allow that enchantment to be added again. How many would you prefer?¡± The process was so detailed that SJ felt like she was purchasing a car with added extras rather than a pair of boots. After several more minutes of discussion, SJ confirmed the boots she would like. Preston wrote the order and agreed he would start them immediately. He couldn¡¯t confirm their exact price, but the enchantment slots were pricey. It got expensive, even for a basic pair with no enchantments. They began at one gold for 1, 3 for two, 7 for three, and then 15 for four slots. He had quoted her 19 gold, at least. Boots (Knee-high) Grade - Epic (minimum) Quality - Perfection Durability - Perfection Enchantment Slots - Four Armour Class - Base 10 ¡°When might they be ready?¡± SJ asked. ¡°If everything goes well, I should have them made by this afternoon. I can¡¯t confirm the grade until they are made, but epic should easily be achievable.¡± Amazed, SJ said, ¡°That quick?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Preston frowned. ¡°When you get to my level, boots are the easiest item to produce. They are the only leather item that all classes can wear, so they are our first recipe choices as a tanner.¡± ¡°What level are you? If you don¡¯t mind me asking.¡± SJ knew he had to be an expert to offer four enchantment slots. ¡°Level 4 Master.¡± That surprised SJ, but considering the quality of items he could produce at a guaranteed rate, she could see why he would be. Her tailoring had taken a back burner since she arrived, and she needed to return to it. Thanking Preston, SJ saved Yawnee from Carla, who was busy gossiping about the latest city news, and they left, heading for the next store. After four hours, SJ had visited all the stores that she wished for the members of Killic. Her inventory was full, and she had returned to the house to unload before visiting the other traders she wished to. As she walked back through District 11, she read the name of a trader she couldn¡¯t resist visiting. It was named ¡®Bag¡¯s & Bogging¡¯s¡¯, and underneath the quotation ¡®all your inventory needs¡¯, she asked Yawnee about it. Yawnee had never been in, so she couldn¡¯t advise on the quality of items. Entering the dark shop, it was filled to the brim with every conceivable bag shape you could imagine. SJ had seen similar things in the tourist areas of Italy when she went on holiday; so many items were crushed into one space, and you could never see everything they offered. A gnome and dwarf stood at a counter, smiling when SJ and Yawnee entered. ¡°What can we get for you, good ladies, today? I am Bag, and I am here to help with whatever you need. This is my business partner Bogging,¡± the dwarf said. He had a wizened face and wore glasses across his bulbous nose and bright red tunic. The gnome, Bogging, was a small female gnome who looked just as wizened as the dwarf, wearing a brilliant yellow blouse. The colours clashed so badly that SJ couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡°Afternoon. Do you sell bags of holding?¡± Bag¡¯s eyes lit up. SJ knew the information Dave had told her not long after arriving in Amathera at the cost of them. ¡°We do indeed. Profession specific or general, and what size would interest you?¡± ¡°General, please, what do you have and what price?¡± Bogging walked over to SJ and began walking around her, looking at her. ¡°I wonder?¡± Bogging said as she walked away into the back. SJ felt a little uncomfortable after the strange encounter. ¡°We have ten, twenty, and one fifty slots available. The tens start at 25 gold, but we currently have a special offer of two for 40 gold. The twenties are 55 gold, and the fifty is two platinum, 35 gold.¡± With the money she had received from Malaki, she could afford the fifty, but she didn¡¯t want to spend all her money on one purchase, however tempting it was. At least she knew the prices they charged if she ever specialised in making them in the future. ¡°Ask them how many tens they have,¡± Dave said. Confused at first, SJ asked the question. ¡°We have eight in stock,¡± Bag¡¯s replied. ¡®You¡¯re thinking auction house, aren¡¯t you?¡¯ she thought. ¡°Yes. I have only seen them as low as 25 on the auction house, so it¡¯s an investment. You can resell holding bags, even after they have been used in your inventory.¡± ¡®You think buying all eight is worth it?¡¯ ¡°Your inventory would increase to eighty-two plus ten, tailoring from your ten plus ten now. Then, when you can eventually make them, you can sell them and still make a profit.¡± ¡®That¡¯s 160 gold.¡¯ SJ thought over the idea more before she answered. ¡°How much would you sell all eight for?¡± Bag stared at her for several moments. ¡°I would need to speak to Bogging.¡± Yawnee stood next to SJ, wide-eyed, as she calculated how much gold SJ was talking about spending. Bag disappeared into the back, where Bogging had gone. A few minutes passed, and SJ browsed around the other bags they had on display. They had every size backpack that you could consider, in various designs and colours. Some were leather, others cloth. Bogging came back through to the front. ¡°Sorry about the delay. I think you nearly gave Bag a heart attack asking for all eight,¡± the gnome stated calmly. ¡°If you purchased all eight, we would happily accept 140 gold. I also have this that I think you need.¡± Lifting a green and silver-coloured belt. SJ looked at the belt. She had been meaning to buy one for so long, and the one on the counter matched the colour of her dress perfectly. ¡°How much for the belt?¡± ¡°I will throw it in free. We don¡¯t trade in belts. I picked it up at a house auction years ago, and seeing the one you have, you need an upgrade.¡± ¡°That would be amazing. I will take the bags then.¡± ¡°Excellent,¡± the gnome beamed, showing a missing tooth. Her smile was contagious. ¡°Bag¡¯s you, old fool. Bring the bags out.¡± Bag walked through to the front, carrying a small wooden chest. They then removed the keys hanging around their necks, placed them in the chest, and turned them. There was a flash of green and a clicking sound as the chest unlocked. The eight bags pulled from the chest were the most drab and lifeless items SJ had ever seen. Uncertain of what to expect, they just looked like small cloth pouches. Picking one up, SJ read its description. Bag of Holding - 10 slot She then checked the other seven before removing one platinum and forty gold from her inventory and placing it on the counter. Picking a bag up, she removed one of her inventory items before adding it to the slot. She then moved her inventory items into the first bag before adding the other bags. Her inventory capacity was now sitting at 82. Bogging placed the belt in a bag and handed it to her. SJ took it and dropped it into her now massive inventory space. ¡°Thank you for your custom,¡± Bogging said. Bag was staring at the pile of gold and platinum on the counter. SJ knew they rarely saw much trade of the value she was paying for. ¡°Thank you, miss,¡± Bag called as SJ left, followed by an awestruck Yawnee. ¡°No need to unload now,¡± SJ said to Yawnee. Yawnee couldn¡¯t reply. She was dumbfounded by what she had just witnessed. ? Chapter 141 – Vows After increasing her inventory as much as she could, SJ and Yawnee continued to complete their shopping expedition. SJ still needed to find Daek about new claws and darts, but that would have to wait for now. Time had ticked on, and they had purchased several items for the house as well. ¡°Let¡¯s call in at the tanner and see if he has finished the boots, then we can head back.¡± The rain had eventually stopped, and the sun, which had now broken through the clouds, brought many more onto the streets. Hawkers seemed to spring up all over, and as they walked along, many called trying to sell their wares, offering unimaginable items that would bring luck or charms of all varieties¡ªsmall wooden crates displaying their goods. Kindly rejecting any offers they reached the tanner. As the bell tinkled when they entered the shop, Preston looked up beaming at them both, ¡°Yawnee, SJ, welcome back and perfect timing. I finished your boots only minutes ago.¡± ¡°That¡¯s amazing. How did they turn out?¡± ¡°See for yourself,¡± Preston said, lifting the boots onto the counter. As her display triggered, SJ picked one up, turning it in her hand. Boots of the Unhindered Grade - Mythic Quality - Perfection Durability - Perfection Enchantment Slots - Four Armour Class - 14 Attributes - Sure Step terrain doesn¡¯t hamper your movement. The boots were a beautiful black, not shiny but matte. They seemed to absorb light and would be perfect when night flying. The leather felt so soft in her hand, almost as soft as silk. Removing one of her boots, she pulled one on. As her foot slipped into the boot, it resized. They were as soft as her previous pair and so supple they seemed to gel to her legs. They stopped above her knee, pulling on the other boot as she bent and stretched in them. Even though the material ran behind her knees, it didn¡¯t restrict her movement and felt like the lycra leggings she had on Earth. ¡°These are beautiful.¡± ¡°If I didn¡¯t know any better, I would think that Ariana herself had made them. They were the easiest pair I have made in a very long time. Everything went perfectly, and to trigger a named pair as well was unexpected.¡± ¡°Who is Ariana, and you didn¡¯t make them that way?¡± Preston laughed. ¡°No, named items are luck based. Ariana is the goddess of tanners.¡± ¡®Fizzlewick¡¯s sister,¡¯ SJ thought. ¡®She wouldn¡¯t have, would she?¡¯ ¡°Who really knows what Fizzlewick gets up to, or any of the gods?¡± Dave said. SJ imagined him shrugging. ¡°How much do I owe you?¡± Preston winced slightly at the question before he answered, ¡°With the naming and the mythic grade, I would usually charge at least forty gold, but since named weren¡¯t requested and you are a friend of Yawnee, I could let you have them for thirty-three.¡± They were much more expensive than SJ had imagined, but also much more than she had hoped for in a boot without looking to buy specific magic boots. ¡®Dave. Does the price sound fair?¡¯ ¡°Very,¡± Dave replied quickly. Removing thirty-three gold from her inventory, SJ placed it on the counter. ¡°Do you know where the best enchanters are? I would love to get a repair enchantment.¡± ¡°The best works for the chancellor. Alec, the Arch-mage of Asterfal. If you are after decent enchantments, then if you visit the guilds in District 7, I know several of them have decent enchanters. The prices, I believe, are quite high, even for basic stuff.¡± ¡°Thanks, Preston. That¡¯s really helpful.¡± Not considering the professions of those in the tower, SJ felt a little daft. ¡°What do you wish to do with your old boots?¡± SJ hadn¡¯t considered them. Looking at the worn and stained boots. ¡°I am not sure they are worth much now.¡± ¡°If you find someone with a refresh spell, they could return them to almost new. They lose two levels of durability but would give them value for resale. It depends on how much they charge for the refresh. If I had those boots from new and were looking to sell them, I would look to sell them for twenty gold plus because of the naming. Losing two durability levels, probably sixteen. So it is possible to make some gold back on them.¡± Placing her old boots into her inventory, they wished Preston well and left the shop, returning to the house. ¡°Thank you for today, Yawnee.¡± ¡°It was my pleasure. I have never been on such a shopping spree before, and it was quite exhilarating.¡± Reminding herself that Yawnee and Lurtew made so few copper each day from their coopers profession, SJ felt a little guilty. She had spent so much money that they could have bought several homes in Asterfal, and would very likely never need to work a day¡¯s life again in the future, if they had that sort of money. On entering the garage, Lurtew was busy completing the finishing touches on a barrel. Cristy was prowling backwards and forwards across the garage. ¡°About time,¡± Cristy said, seeing SJ. ¡°For what?¡± SJ said. ¡°You have been gone hours, and we need you at Petunia¡¯s. Come on, get a move on.¡± Cristy said, grabbing SJ by her hand and pulling her from the garage. ¡°Wait, a second. I need to drop everything off first.¡± Walking to an empty countertop, SJ unloaded her inventory. Cristy watched impatiently as SJ removed item after item until the counter was covered in her purchases for those back in Killic and the house. ¡°I will sort through them,¡± Yawnee said, smiling. ¡°You better go with Cristy.¡± ¡°Come on,¡± Cristy grabbed her hand and dragged her outside. As they hurried towards Petunia¡¯s, Cristy gave SJ a rundown of what she had been doing. That morning, Petunia went to speak to Jay at the stables, and then Jay came and collected Cristy to run some errands for her. They had been to several areas in the city to collect specific items Petunia had requested. Neither of them had any idea what they were for, and it was when they got back to Petunia¡¯s and found Zigferd talking to Petunia that everything had come out. Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. Zigferd was still as stubborn, but when Tanias had arrived and explained his deepest fears over Isavil being taken to the elven capital, he eventually agreed. Tanias had almost begged Zigferd to marry his daughter. The items that Cristy and Jay had been collecting were for a ceremony, and Petunia was getting them in case the marriage was going to go ahead, which, thankfully, it was. Zigferd still had to propose to Isavil and follow the usual protocols expected of elven culture. Tanias had obviously given his blessing, so that wasn¡¯t an issue, but Isavil had been busy in meetings all day at the tower and would finish soon. She had been asked to come straight to Petunias when she did. She wasn¡¯t aware of what was happening. As Cristy gabbled away excitedly, SJ couldn¡¯t help but feel elated at the thought of Zigferd being married. Darren and Alice were due to wed in several months, and this would be the first marriage she had witnessed in Amathera. Cristy didn¡¯t stop dragging SJ until they arrived at Petunia¡¯s front door. Not even knocking, Cristy barged in. Petunia Tanias and Zigferd stood in the open entrance. Petunia¡¯s home was less lavish and nowhere near as large as Otherlisar¡¯s mansion. ¡°Excellent, you are here,¡± Petunia grinned. ¡°Jay is at the tower waiting for Isavil to collect her. Fasvil will bring her, and the others should be here imminently.¡± SJ noticed Zigferd was dressed in an immaculate suit, similar to the one he had worn for the funerals in Kilic. He looked terrified and paced nervously. ¡°So what¡¯s the plan?¡± SJ asked as Petunia ushered them into a large lounge that, with its many books on shelves, felt more like a library. ¡°As soon as Zigferd proposes and Isavil accepts, we will head to the gazebo to hold a ceremony. Follow me.¡± SJ walked through the room and down a corridor into an immaculate garden at the rear. A large white gazebo and several chairs with a white arch covered in laurel leaves had been put up. A large ornate great axe was positioned at the arch¡¯s centre, reminding SJ of Killic¡¯s emblem. ¡°This is beautiful.¡± ¡°You can thank Jay and Cristy. They have done it all.¡± Beaming, SJ felt proud of the pair. They had done an amazing job. ¡°I wish I had known what was going on. I would have helped.¡± ¡°No need to worry. We have everything in hand, and I have been waiting for this moment for fifty years,¡± Petunia chuckled. ¡°It¡¯s just a shame Alice isn¡¯t here to see it.¡± ¡°Ah. I have that covered for you. Alec will be here soon and create a crystal orb for the ceremony that Zigferd and Isavil can keep.¡± ¡°A crystal orb?¡± ¡°Yes. Alec can capture his vision into an orb, and it saves what he sees.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t know that was even possible?!¡± ¡°It is very mana-intensive, but I will give him replenishment charms to keep him topped up.¡± Walking back into the house, SJ nearly walked into Otherlisar, who was walking down the corridor with the chancellor and Wystria. Several more beings arrived. SJ recognised from the tower, all making their way into the garden and taking seats. SJ stood in the lounge as Zigferd appeared to get even more nervous with every passing moment. SJ walked over to Zigferd and grabbed his hand as he paced. Turning, he looked at her. ¡°You deserve this,¡± she said. A tear formed in the corner of his eye, and he wiped it away quickly. He stood and took a deep breath, composing himself. Zigferd hugged SJ and whispered in her ear, ¡°Thank you.¡± Alec arrived and was ushered off by Petunia, who handed him several items and then stood chanting and casting several spells on him. Alec almost glowed when Petunia had finished, his eyes open in amazement. Petunia just winked at him and then handed him a large crystal ball. ¡°You record every moment,¡± Petunia said. ¡°I will your worship,¡± Alec said. The respect and power that this small, innocuous gnome held was remarkable. ¡°She is coming,¡± Cristy shouted excitedly. ¡°Everyone out,¡± Petunia shouted. As those still in the lounge moved to the garden, Alec positioned himself to have a clear view of the hallway but from sight. Tanias, Petunia and Cristy all stood in the lounge with SJ, hiding from the entrance. ¡°They are coming down the path.¡± Zigferd had stopped pacing and now knelt with his head down, muttering in front of the door. The door opened, and SJ heard Fasvil¡¯s voice. ¡°I do not know, sister; Petunia told me it was urgent, and you had to come immediately.¡± ¡°I am worried something is wrong with Father,¡± Isavil replied before coming to a dead stop as she saw Zigferd. Zigferd looked up. Opening his hands, he held a beautiful white flower in his palms. As he spoke, his voice cracked. ¡°Isavil, you are and have been the love of my life for over half a century. I am so sorry I have taken so long to come to my senses and the heartache I have caused you over time. Would you be so kind as to accept this undeserving lycan as your husband?¡± Isavil stood in wide-eyed silence for what felt like an eternity. The tension was insane, and SJ was sure she felt energy crackling around the room. ¡°Yes, you great oaf. Yes,¡± Isavil said as she ran towards him. Zigferd stood just in time to catch her, and she flung her arms around his neck, tears flowing from her eyes. Fasvil stood behind his sister with a huge grin on his face. The lounge erupted in cheers, and Isavil turned, shocked to see them standing there. ¡°Petunia, you devil,¡± Isavil said, beaming. Petunia grinned. ¡°Don¡¯t thank me. You need to thank SJ. She broke through his stubbornness. I just finished him off.¡± Isavil couldn¡¯t have looked happier. Zigferd looked in shock. ¡°Now, time for a ceremony,¡± Petunia said. ¡°What?¡± Isavil said, shocked. ¡°There¡¯s no time like the present,¡± Petunia said as she walked over, taking Isavil by the hand and pulling her towards the stairs. ¡°But, but...¡± Isavil said as she was dragged away. ¡°I will explain all,¡± Petunia said. ¡°The rest of you take your positions.¡± Fasvil and Tanias stood talking to Zigferd as Cristy approached SJ and hugged her. ¡°This is the most amazing day ever,¡± she said. SJ hugged her back. They all moved to the garden and took seats while waiting for Isavil and Petunia. Zigferd stood at the front under the arch, still looking terrified. Those who sat around spoke quietly as they waited. A bard stood off to one side, and Petunia appeared, walking to the arch. ¡°Is everybody ready?¡± she asked as silence fell across the gathering. ¡°Lewis, if you please.¡± The bard lifted a flute, or similar instrument, to his lips, and the softest melody filled the garden. Turning, straining to see Isavil, SJ watched as the angelic form of a changed Isavil made her way to the arch. She wore a beautiful pale yellow dress, her long blonde hair flowing around her shoulders topped with a circlet of gold, as she appeared to float towards the arch. SJ noticed Tanias and Fasvil had tears in their eyes as they watched her. She could feel her own welling up. Petunia¡¯s ceremony was beautiful, and no one watching was left with dry eyes as Isavil said the final words of her vows. ¡°...and through whatever our lives bring us in our time together, I will love you more daily.¡± ¡°You may now kiss the bride,¡± Petunia said, a tear escaping for the first time. As they kissed, those watching erupted, cheering and clapping. ¡°Right, everybody, into the lounge for drinks while the garden is sorted out for food.¡± Everyone filtered into the lounge. Servers had appeared from out of nowhere carrying trays of drinks while everyone in attendance congratulated the happy couple. SJ could tell with the precision that everything happened Petunia had been planning this for a long time. The drinks flowed as the evening wore on, and the music played. Petunia had transformed the garden again by setting up tables and chairs for eating. Shortly after people finished eating, several got up and started dancing. Cristy was in her element, making the most of the dance floor, and SJ was surprised at how good she was. ¡°What an amazing day,¡± Dave said as SJ climbed into the cart that Jay had brought around the front. He had been involved just as much as everyone else in the celebrations, and SJ wasn¡¯t sure if he should be driving. He had grunted her off, saying he was fine, and as they left towards the tower, they continued to chatter about the evening. Cristy was staying at Petunia¡¯s and had fallen asleep sometime earlier after discovering she had been filching brandy. Zigferd and Isavil were returning to her place that evening, and many other councillors had eventually left, although a few had remained where they had fallen asleep because of drinking. ¡®Today was perfect,¡¯ SJ thought, feeling lightheaded. Climbing from the cart, she thanked Jay before walking towards the bushes and transforming. Taking off, she was a little wobbly as she rose to her room. Landing harder than usual, she walked into her room before flopping on her bed, throwing her arms out, and grinning. ¡°Night SJ, sleep well,¡± Dave said. Chapter 142 – His Lordship Breakfast the following day was the usual busy affair. The only difference was that you could tell who had been out celebrating at Zigferd and Isavil¡¯s wedding. As the night passed, more arrived at Petunia¡¯s as the news spread, meaning this morning, there were more than a few with ¡®thick heads¡¯. SJ was sitting at a table with Berger, who held his head in his hands, moaning about Petunia¡¯s brandy, when Hertwell walked over, deliberately talking much louder than he needed to. ¡°Morning, All,¡± he boomed, making Berger cringe. ¡°How can you be so spritely? You drank just as much of Petunia¡¯s poison as I did,¡± Berger complained. SJ wasn¡¯t feeling great either, but she hadn¡¯t been on the brandy. ¡°Ah. You think I attended the inauguration without being prepared,¡± he grinned, waving a bottle containing a purple liquid. Berger¡¯s eyes focused on the bottle before he attempted to grab it. ¡°Gimme some, will you?¡± ¡°Umm. What¡¯s it worth? Let¡¯s say a percentage reduction on what you charge us for meat supplies.¡± Grumbling and cursing under his breath, Berger told Hertwell where he could go and what he could do with his bottle. Grinning wickedly, Hertwell placed the bottle next to him as a server brought over a huge plate of food for his breakfast. Berger turned a shade of green and stood, leaving the hall at a pace. Hertwell belly laughed, watching him go, his beard twitching as he did. ¡°That was evil,¡± SJ smiled at the dwarf. ¡°You don¡¯t look perfect yourself this morning?¡± ¡°A little tender, but not too bad,¡± SJ said, picking up the dry toast she had ordered. ¡°I wonder how Zigferd is this morning. Those dragon¡¯s banes that Fasvil was making.¡± ¡°I stayed away from that elven tosh. Gimme an ale or dwarven brandy any day of the week in comparison. Fancy mixed drinks aren¡¯t my style. Here, have a swig,¡± Hertwell said, pushing the bottle over. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s called clear head.¡± Taking the bottle, SJ pulled the cork and smelt the liquid. It smelt sour, and she gingerly took a swig as instructed. It tasted foul, but her head cleared within moments of drinking it. ¡°That¡¯s good stuff.¡± ¡°Aye. Many believe dwarves can drink and drink and drink. We can, but we only operate daily because of this stuff,¡± he smiled. ¡°I had a gnomish brewer¡¯s potion, which was amazing.¡± ¡°Ah, rejuvinatus. That is some special stuff. I only ever had it once myself when Kerys gave me a shot. It¡¯s invigorating stuff.¡± ¡°You know Kerys?¡± ¡°Aye. I know Kerys. She used to run a bar here in Asterfal. Most of the councillors used to drink there before the incident.¡± Frowning, SJ looked at Hertwell. ¡°You¡¯re the second person now to mention an incident, but I still don¡¯t know what incident is being referred to.¡± ¡°It¡¯s common knowledge for those who were around at the time. As I said, Kerys ran the most popular bar in Asterfal. She had all the big names in the city as regular patrons. Her ale was by far the best, and she always had a bard or musicians. The bar never closed, and between her and her business partner, they had a huge following. The food she used to put on was to die for. I can¡¯t remember the name of her cook now. It¡¯s slipped my mind, but she moved with her when she left.¡± ¡°Floretta.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, Floretta. You never see many undead in Asterfal, but she was famous. Anyway, her business partner did the nasty on her. He got greedy in the simplest terms; he tapped the ale to improve profits even further. For every new barrel brought in, he would tap early, remove several tankards, and then fill it back up with water.¡± ¡°I am guessing that Kerys didn¡¯t know?¡± ¡°No, she had no idea. The problem was that she was the one who was a member of the Brewers Guild. Her business partner was just an investor in the bar. Kerys suffered the consequences when what was happening came to light. She tried challenging the charges brought against her and the bar by the Brewers Guild, but they wouldn¡¯t believe her. The Brewers Guild had been after an excuse to close Kerys down for a long time because she was so successful, many other bars in the city blamed her success for their failing. They revoked the bar¡¯s license, and Kerys ended up selling the bar for much less than it was worth. That was when she left and moved to Killic.¡± Kerys had told SJ that she had left Asterfal because of the cut that the Brewers Guild used to take on profits, not Hertwell¡¯s story. Either she felt embarrassed by what had happened or didn¡¯t wish to discuss it anymore. SJ could understand why Kerys was so furious about the issues caused by Malaki. The problems with the Brewers Guild stopping her ale from being sold in Asterfal because of the accusations brought and his dealings trying to sully her name. Alice had smoothed out the issues and successfully quashed the charges brought by Tirelle when he had come to Killic. ¡°Do you know the name of her ex-partner?¡± ¡°Unfortunately, I do. His name was Erik,¡± Hertwell said. ¡°Erik, what?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure it started with a B or something I can¡¯t remember. Anyway, he left the city a long time ago.¡± Hertwell sat eating the remainder of his breakfast as SJ ordered another coffee. A very pale-looking Berger arrived back at the table. Hertwell chuckled before pushing the bottle over to him. Berger looked at him in disbelief. ¡°Now?¡± ¡°Works better on an empty stomach,¡± Hertwell shrugged. The council session was due to begin at 10:00, and SJ still had yet to see Zigferd this morning. In all the happenings of yesterday, she also needed to discuss the Carlati with Cristy. Leaving the tower, she went to the bush, shrunk and flew to Petunia¡¯s. She had just over an hour before the session would start. Landing in Petunia¡¯s back garden, she was amazed to find that everything from the previous evening had already been cleared away. The garden now looked as if nothing had taken place. Walking to the backdoor, she could hear whistling. ¡°Petunia?¡± After several moments, the door opened. ¡°Good morning, SJ. What brings you here so early?¡± ¡°How have you got this place sorted out already?¡± SJ asked. ¡°Oh, I haven¡¯t been to bed yet,¡± Petunia winked. ¡°The joys of being a cleric, I guess.¡± ¡°My class has some perks.¡± ¡°Is Cristy here? I wanted to talk to her. I didn¡¯t get a chance yesterday with all the excitement.¡± ¡°Yes. She is upstairs. She is awake and don¡¯t worry, I gave her a talking to and a little refresh,¡± Petunia chuckled. ¡°I used to be the same in my youth, trying to pinch drinks at parties.¡± ¡°Do you mind if I go see her?¡± ¡°Of course not, please do.¡± Petunia¡¯s was as immaculate inside as out. Walking through the house, SJ headed upstairs. Several doors led off into the hallway, and SJ did not know where Cristy was so called for her name. Cristy stuck her head out of a door. ¡°Hi SJ. Before you start, Petunia has already scolded me this morning,¡± Cristy said defensively. ¡°I was not here to speak to you about that. We have something else I need to discuss. I spoke to Zigferd yesterday before everything was taken over and he spoke to the Carlati.¡± Cristy didn¡¯t need reminding who they were and looked at SJ, grinning. ¡°What did they say?¡± ¡°Zigferd has said they have agreed to have you perform a trial. If you succeed at the trial, they will consider allowing you to learn the class.¡± Stolen story; please report. Cristy couldn¡¯t contain her excitement, so she started bouncing from foot to foot with her hands in the air, celebrating. ¡°There are some things you need to know before you make a decision.¡± Cristy stopped bouncing, frowning. ¡°What things?¡± ¡°If you decide to go and do the trial, you must go alone. I or no one else will be able to visit you. I am not even sure if they will ever allow visitors. Zigferd was blindfolded when taken to the conclave.¡± ¡°Why not? And I won¡¯t be there forever. I will only be there until I can learn the class.¡± Cristy frowned. ¡°Secrecy. They are very secretive and, from what Zigferd said, very strong. He said a clan representative is coming to the city to meet you to discuss it.¡± ¡°Do you know when?¡± ¡°Possibly today, maybe tomorrow. It wasn¡¯t confirmed. A message will be sent to the tower when they arrive. You need to think about it before they arrive. I would hate you to be all alone there with no friends.¡± Cristy smiled. ¡°I will just make new ones.¡± SJ couldn¡¯t hold the smile off her face. From the small gnoll who had run into her leg in the market square of Killic, to the young woman she was now, the transformation was immense, and her personality had always won her new friends. ¡°I need to get to a council meeting, but I wanted to let you know. I will come and see you later once the meeting has finished.¡± Leaving Cristy, SJ thanked Petunia and left back to the tower. As she arrived back, Zigferd and Isavil were arriving. Beaming, SJ greeted them. ¡°Good morning, newlyweds.¡± Isavil grinned as she walked up, holding Zigferd¡¯s hand and leaning into his shoulder. Zigferd looked uncomfortable with Isavil clinging onto his arm and didn¡¯t look natural. He would have to get used to changes in his life now. Walking into the tower together, all those who saw them congratulated them. Moving into the chamber, they took their respective seats. Isavil was sitting just behind her brother in the second row. Fasvil turned and spoke to Isavil. SJ could not hear what was said but noticed Isavil shaking her head. Zigferd was busy getting spoken to by several councillors congratulating him on such a worthy ¡®catch¡¯. ¡®Men,¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°What about men?¡± Dave asked. ¡®Women are not ¡®catches¡¯. We are not objects or things to be caught.¡¯ ¡°Do women not do the same to men?¡± ¡®Not the same way I know those lecherous hounds are meaning.¡¯ The horn filled the chamber as the conversation dwindled. The chancellor, Alec and Wystria entered and took their seats. ¡°Welcome all to the last session of the inauguration. We have several key areas to complete today before we break, but before we get on to the formalities, I would like to say a few words. Yesterday, I received news that I know many of you have waited for for a long time. Two of the longer serving members of our council have at long last Wed. I would like to pass on my good wishes and future happiness to Isavil and Zigferd. Isavil has been one of the city¡¯s trade councillors for over seventy years and will leave us to return to Killic with Zigferd. This will be a loss for our council. Her skills will not be lost, as she has promised to continue supporting Lorevil, who will step into her role as the market traders¡¯ representative.¡± As the chancellor stopped talking, the chamber erupted in cheers and shouts of congratulations. SJ could feel Zigferd squirming in his seat beside her, and the attention made him uncomfortable. As the noise died down, the chancellor continued. ¡°Now, let us get on with business first today. Master Edwardo has a guild update.¡± The meeting began with the usual hubbub or agreement and discourse as various propositions were made. While they discussed the consideration of taking a toll on the major routes to the city to support the guard, the chamber doors were thrown open. ¡°I DON¡¯T CARE. GET OUT OF MY WAY,¡± a tall elf stormed through the chamber doors, throwing the tower guard back out of his way as if he were nothing. An aura of power surrounded him, and his hand crackled with blue light. ¡°WHERE IS SHE?¡± he screamed. He was followed by a group of six elves, all wearing brilliant silver plate armour. All in the chamber turned in shock at the sudden intrusion into the chamber. The chancellor and lead councillors all stood, turning to look at the elf who had dared enter the council chambers. The guard picking himself up from the ground where he had come to rest. ¡°And you are?¡± the chancellor asked in a calm voice, looking at the elf. ¡°I SAID WHERE IS SHE?¡± the elf bellowed. ¡°And I asked who you are, that thinks you can walk into a council meeting and interrupt its proceedings.¡± ¡°I am Lord Narias of Horefji. The one king¡¯s advisor,¡± he said, his face contorted in anger. ¡°The one king? Which king might that be? There are several on the continent,¡± the chancellor stated. ¡°The one true king. King Elgorad of the great elven kingdom.¡± ¡°Welcome Lord Narias. Although I am afraid that you have no right to interrupt our meeting, so I would kindly ask that you leave.¡± ¡°I will not leave until I find the cheating elven wench.¡± ¡°A wench, you say? As you can see, there are several elven women in our council. Do you have a name of one you are calling by that term?¡± SJ was looking between the chancellor and Lord Narias after the conversation when she noticed Alec leaning into the chancellor and whispering something in his ear. Her heightened senses picked up a slight change in the chancellor¡¯s poise¡ªjust enough to show a very fleeting look of uncertainty on his face. ¡°Isavil Korlaris of House Wastirya.¡± ¡°I am sorry we do not have a council member of that name.¡± ¡°WHAT? I KNOW SHE IS ONE OF YOUR COUNCIL.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, we don¡¯t. Can you leave now, please? You have caused enough of a disturbance. Thank you.¡± SJ could feel the anger consuming Zigferd as he sat there staring at the elf with absolute hatred. Grabbing his wrist, SJ squeezed it, noticing Zigferd¡¯s clenched fists. ¡°ISAVIL SHOW YOURSELF.¡± Fasvil turned and looked at his sister briefly, fear on his face. Lord Narias was looking around the hall at each of the female elves. Isavil had not looked towards him and seemed to have lowered herself into her seat. ¡°You there,¡± Narias said to one of the female elves seated a few levels back. ¡°I ASKED YOU TO LEAVE,¡± the voice that left the chancellor¡¯s mouth was one of thunder this time. It boomed, almost deafening. Lord Narias turned to look at him, taken aback by the sudden change in manners from the kobold. ¡°I am a Lord of the one king. You have no authority over me.¡± ¡°AND I AM THE CHANCELLOR OF THIS CITY, THE SOUTHERN CAPITAL OF THE CONTINENT, AND IN MY CITY, I AM THE LAW.¡± Lord Narias looked at the chancellor. The chancellor¡¯s face had now changed. His usual blue scale colouration had darkened. Moving down from the podium, an aura appeared around his body. The aura was purple and as he looked at the elf. With a flick of his hand, two deep shadows appeared on the floor of the chamber on either side of the chancellor. The elf lord¡¯s eyes opened further as they appeared. SJ did not know what class the chancellor was, or what level. Dave, reading her thoughts, replied. ¡°Looking at those pools he has formed, he is a warlock and level 52.¡± The revelation shocked SJ. She knew nothing about the chancellor and would never have assumed that he was a warlock. The elves who had entered the chamber behind the Lord took a step forward, lifting their shields towards the chancellor. A glow of light appeared from each, forming a barrier. ¡°I asked you to leave this chamber and this tower. You have outstayed your welcome,¡± the chancellor said. All in the chamber sat in silence, watching the standoff between the two. The elven lord stared with hatred at the chancellor, who stood with his hands out towards each of the dark circles. ¡°Go now, or I will be forced to remove you,¡± the chancellor said. ¡°You dare threaten an advisor to the one king?¡± The chancellor sneered as he looked at the elf. ¡°I do not threaten. I promise I will remove you from our chamber tower and city if I am required to. You have no authority here. You may be something special in the elven capital, but not here and definitely not now. You have blatantly broken the rules of the city.¡± ¡°I have broken no rules. I just seek Isavil Korlaris.¡± ¡°You have forced your way into the sacred heart of the city, not only ignoring courtesy and due course in another¡¯s area, but also brought an armed guard with you. I know you are a powerful mage, but you are not as powerful as the members in this chamber. Now, I will ask you one more time to leave.¡± ¡®What level is the elf?¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°He is 57,¡± Dave replied. Alec and Wystria stood just behind the chancellor, and several of the other city councillors had moved from their seats. Cries and footsteps could be heard outside the chamber, and Colonel Crawford appeared at the door, followed by members of the guard who moved in and formed a circle around the intruders. ¡°Apologies, chancellor, for the delay. We were dealing with a disturbance outside,¡± the colonel said as he came to a halt. The elf squinted, staring at the chancellor for a long time before he responded, a smile breaking out on his face. His tone changed from the anger-fuelled outburst. ¡°Chancellor, maybe we have got off on the wrong foot. I think I have allowed my emotions to overtake me in this moment of frustration. I will remove myself from the tower and will stay at the elven ambassador¡¯s residence. Please have Isavil of Kolaris attend my residence with the utmost haste. Apologies for the interruption.¡± Without a word, the elven guard broke from their positions and turned, walking from the chamber. The lord following. Colonel Crawford¡¯s tower guard allowed them to pass. ? ? Chapter 143 – Diplomatic Relations As Lord Narias left the chamber, Colonel Crawford and his guard turned, following them. The two pools of shadow on the chamber floor the chancellor had cast disappeared. Turning, the chancellor spoke to Alec and Wystria, who both left the chamber following the Lord. The noise in the chamber rose as the tension of all those who had been watching the scene unfold escaped them. Zigferd stood and moved to where Isavil and Fasvil were now talking. The chancellor turned to Darwinial, and as the chamber doors were closed by the guard, a horn blast filled the chamber again. Silence fell as the chancellor made his way back to the podium. Taking his seat, the chancellor took a deep breath before addressing them all. ¡°I apologise for this disturbance. The behaviour of Lord Narias is being communicated to the elven kingdom as we speak. Isavil and Zigferd, please both go with Darwinial. You will remain in Astaria while this issue is concluded.¡± SJ didn¡¯t know what Astaria was and frowned, looking at Zigferd and Isavil as they both stood and followed Darwinial from the chamber. ¡°Dear All. We will break for a long lunch. Let us return at 16:00 to continue our discussions.¡± As the chancellor stepped from the podium again, the conversations began. Several in the chamber showed their fury at the interruption caused by the elven lord. Others were concerned about the fallout from what had happened. SJ remained seated, unsure of what she should do. She wanted to find Zigferd and Isavil but knew she shouldn¡¯t. She didn¡¯t understand Amathera''s wider political dynamics. Fasvil approached SJ, where she sat as most of the left. ¡°SJ. Are you ok?¡± She didn¡¯t feel ok, feeling powerless and uncertain. ¡°Not really. What is going to happen?¡± ¡°I am unsure, but Narias has crossed a line that no one has dared in over a century in this chamber. It is the city¡¯s heart and sacred. To interfere in the chamber¡¯s proceedings when in session will have far-reaching repercussions. Even the emperor of Luxoria would not cross the bounds of a sanctuary.¡± ¡°Where have they gone?¡± ¡°The Astaria is the central church. Wystria is the high priestess, and where I am guessing her worship will also be. Even a pompous elven lord wouldn¡¯t dare cross the sacred bounds of a church. The Gods would not look on it kindly if they did.¡± SJ had seen the church from the tower but never visited it. It was more a cathedral in its appearance than a church, positioned in the inner city walls in a large open garden. ¡°Should we not go to them?¡± ¡°No. Let the chancellor perform his duties. Threatening a council member in the chamber is unheard of, and our oaths mean the city handles their protection and resolution now.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t know the chancellor was a warlock?¡± ¡°I have only ever seen him reveal his class once before,¡± Fasvil said with a smile, nodding his head. ¡°Come, let¡¯s eat. I still wished to discuss the trade aspects with you.¡± Following Fasvil, they went to eat in the dining hall. The conversation buzzed with guessed verdicts and outcomes. Constant interruptions in the dining hall made it difficult for them to focus, so they moved to the gardens and sat down to discuss the proposed trade considerations. SJ was glad of the distraction that Fasvil brought her. She believed they both needed it, considering what had happened. After agreeing on the terms of a base trial period, SJ confirmed she would be the contact for the trial negotiations on behalf of the fishing rights. ¡®I wish I knew what was going on?¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°You can go to the Astaria. Nothing is stopping you. I am sure Zigferd would welcome your support.¡± ¡®You¡¯re right. I can¡¯t just wait to find out what is happening. I need to know.¡¯ Although Fasvil had said to leave them under the city¡¯s protection, SJ couldn¡¯t sit back and do nothing. The elven lord had threatened a member of her family. As SJ was making her way from the dining hall, the kobold who worked at the front desk approached her. ¡°Ambassador, there is a message for Mayor Zigferd that was left at the desk. I know he is otherwise engaged currently. Would you accept it?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± SJ replied, taking the scroll. SJ walked to the side of the hall before breaking the scroll seal and reading the message. ¡®In the city at Bartholemew Square. Bring the trainee.¡¯ ¡°Damn,¡± SJ cursed, getting several looks from others in the foyer. Blushing, SJ rolled the message up and dropped it in her inventory. ¡®I better get Cristy,¡¯ she thought. Walking to the desk, she asked Jay to be contacted. Several minutes later, she had climbed into the cart, and Jay was spurring the cart towards her house to collect Cristy before heading to Bartholemew Square. Arriving at the house, she found Cristy talking to Yawnee and Lurtew, telling them all about the wedding and what had happened. Both stood in the garage, listening intently to her as she described everything. ¡°Hi, SJ,¡± Cristy said, noticing her approach. ¡°I am just telling aunt and uncle about last night.¡± ¡°I heard,¡± SJ smiled. ¡°I have been messaged.¡± ¡°Already?¡± Cristy said. ¡°Yes. We need to go now.¡± ¡°But I haven¡¯t told aunt and uncle yet,¡± Cristy turned and looked at them both. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Yawnee asked. Several more minutes passed as Cristy explained to them she would travel to the conclave to be considered for class training. Yawnee was upset, not wanting her to leave, but Lurtew eventually calmed her enough that she had survived long enough in Killic without their interference. He was sure that SJ wouldn¡¯t let her go if she didn¡¯t think it would be safe. SJ neither confirmed nor denied that comment, not understanding how safe she would be. Once Cristy had gathered her belongings from her room, she hugged both Yawnee and Lurtew, saying she would be back as soon as possible. Tears flowed as they waved Cristy off. Their niece¡¯s visit from Killic changed both their lives forever. SJ checked her display. She had time with the delayed restart of the council session and the extended break that the chancellor had called. This means they wouldn¡¯t finish council business until late that evening. Bartholomew Square was in District 2. It was an open square surrounded by bars and inns, with a small park in the middle. The area looked quite prosperous for the outer city. The bars were busy as always, and tables were positioned outside, allowing for extra seating. Not knowing what this Reay looked like, SJ was at a loss. She had never asked Zigferd for a description. ¡®I don¡¯t know who she is,¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°Can¡¯t help, sorry. There are several lycans in the square, and I couldn¡¯t say,¡± Dave replied. SJ could imagine Dave shrugging with his response. ¡°There she is,¡± Cristy said. ¡°What?!¡± SJ said. ¡°The lady that has come to collect me.¡± ¡°How do you know?¡± ¡°I just do,¡± Cristy said, jumping down from the cart. SJ climbed down as Cristy grabbed her backpack from the cart and pulled it on her shoulder. ¡°Thanks, Jay, for all your help. I will see you soon.¡± Jay reached down and ruffled Cristy on her head. ¡°Make sure you come and see me when you get back.¡± ¡°I will. I promise,¡± Cristy reached up, hugging him. Cristy¡¯s behaviour was so mature that SJ felt a pang of pride in her chest. She had grown so much in such a short time. ¡°Right, let¡¯s go,¡± Cristy said as she strode across the square towards where a female dressed in leather armour sat with a tankard. Her armour was grey and green. ¡°Level 43,¡± Dave said. The woman Cristy approached didn¡¯t look very old, but SJ wasn¡¯t surprised, given how lycans seemed to age or the many races in Amathera. ¡°Hello,¡± Cristy said, reaching the table where she sat. The woman turned and looked at Cristy, raising an eyebrow, then looked at SJ. ¡°You sensed me, didn¡¯t you?¡± the woman said. ¡°I just knew,¡± Cristy shrugged. ¡°Reay, and you must be Cristy,¡± Reay said, standing. ¡°I am, and this is SJ.¡± Reay nodded towards SJ. ¡°A fae.¡± There was no malice in Reay¡¯s comment, as SJ replied. ¡°I am.¡± ¡°Is Zigferd not joining us?¡± ¡°He can¡¯t. He is currently dealing with a problem,¡± SJ said. This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. ¡°That¡¯s a shame. Cristy, SJ, please sit so we can talk.¡± As SJ and Cristy sat, Reay explained the circumstances of the proposal. If Cristy successfully completes the trial, then she may be granted the opportunity to become a beast warden. It was possible to complete the trial and still be rejected, so there were no guarantees. The trial would be challenging and both physically and mentally arduous. Explaining that the first two weeks were pure physical training and then the second two weeks would be more skills-based testing. They discovered that most beast wardens only ever got their first familiar on reaching level 5 when the specialisation opened. Cristy would begin the training under a strange premise that Reay had never known before, already having a companion she could communicate with. ¡°Do I need to collect Patch?¡± Cristy asked. ¡°No. You will be assigned a familiar to take care of during your trial. You will live with them during this period.¡± ¡°I have been away from Patch for so long now,¡± Cristy sighed. ¡°I was hoping he would be with me.¡± ¡°From what Zigferd says, you have an uncanny affinity with your familiar.¡± ¡°He isn¡¯t my familiar. He is my family,¡± Cristy corrected Reay. Reay looked at Cristy with a subtle smile. ¡°All our familiars feel like family in the end.¡± ¡°Where is your familiar?¡± Cristy asked. ¡°She waits outside the city. She will join us on the trip. Have you brought everything with you? We should leave soon so it isn¡¯t too late when we arrive at the conclave?¡± ¡°Yes. I am packed and ready to go.¡± ¡°Actually, could you give me a few minutes?¡± SJ asked. Cristy looked at SJ, frowning. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°I will be back in a moment.¡± SJ had been looking around the square as they had sat there and stood, heading straight over to a shop just down a side street visible from where they sat. A few minutes later, she returned. SJ took a small box from her inventory and handed it to Cristy. ¡°Here, keep it safe.¡± Cristy opened the box, and eyes grew wide in amazement. ¡°Is this what I think it is?¡± ¡°Yes. I have the pair. If you need me for anything, you can contact me.¡± Cristy removed the smooth stone from the box. A single small blue gem sat in its centre. Cristy placed the stone back in the box, closed the lid and moved it to her inventory. ¡°I will,¡± Cristy promised. ¡°She won¡¯t be able to use that very often, just so you know,¡± Reay said. ¡°Why not?¡± Cristy asked. ¡°You will see when we get there, but there will be opportunities,¡± Reay said, standing. ¡°Let¡¯s go then.¡± Cristy moved round the table, throwing her arms around SJ. SJ gripped her tightly, pulling her into her. She was sure she had grown another inch in their time in Asterfal. Tears welled in her eyes as she kissed Cristy on the top of her head. ¡°Thank you, SJ. When you get home, look after Patch for me and tell Aunt and Uncle not to worry,¡± Cristy said, trying to hold back tears. ¡°I will, and stay in touch when you can. I love you,¡± SJ said, the comment making her tears flow. ¡°I love you too,¡± Cristy said, wiping her eyes as she turned away and walked off with Reay. SJ didn¡¯t know how long she stood there with tears rolling down her cheeks after she watched Cristy disappear around a corner. She was only broken from her trance when Jay walked over to her. ¡°Are you ok?¡± ¡°I hope she has made the right decision.¡± ¡°I am sure she will be fine,¡± Jay soothed, placing his hand on SJ¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s head back. There¡¯s no point in you staying here watering the street,¡± Jay chuckled. SJ lightheartedly punched Jay in his arm, turning and walking back to the cart. ¡°I am going to miss her,¡± Dave said, sniffing. SJ didn¡¯t respond. Fresh tears flowed as they returned to the tower. Her emotions were torn between wanting to just shrink and fly after Cristy and bring her back and the hope she felt that Cristy might achieve. By the time they reached the tower, SJ had promised she would meet Jay later to visit his favourite restaurant in Asterfal. He had enjoyed the meal in the one that Zigferd had taken them to, but he wanted to introduce SJ to some other orcish dishes. The chatter had helped distract her, and she had stopped crying. Climbing from the cart, she thanked him and headed inside. She still had time before the session restarted and wanted to find out what was going on with Isavil and Zigferd. Heading through the tower halls, she walked towards the chancellor¡¯s office. The chamber doors were open, and several beings were inside. Alec was talking to a group of beings while the chancellor sat with a group of five elves, including Tanias and a human she didn¡¯t recognise. The human looked very animated in his gestures. SJ stood at the door, not sure whether she should enter, when Alec spotted her. ¡°SJ, come in,¡± he called. ¡°Thank you all,¡± Alec said, dismissing the group he had been speaking to. As the beings filed from the chamber, Alec walked over to SJ. ¡°How are they?¡± SJ asked. ¡°They are fine. Petunia and Wystria are with them in the Astaria.¡± ¡°So what is happening?¡± SJ asked, looking over to the chancellor and elves. ¡°The chancellor is discussing Lord Narias and his behaviour in the chamber. He has broken significant rules with his actions, and the elders are ensuring the chancellor knows the kingdom¡¯s protocols before contacting them.¡± ¡°Contacts them?¡± ¡°Yes. He will communicate with the king directly.¡± SJ couldn¡¯t imagine talking to a king. ¡°I know you are concerned, but try not to worry. Lord Narias has shown his true colours with his behaviour, and if the king doesn¡¯t take the city¡¯s comments seriously, then we will go through Luxoria.¡± ¡°Luxoria?¡± ¡°Yes. The man sat with the chancellor is Luxoria¡¯s representative.¡± ¡°Cristian¡¯s father?¡± ¡°Yes. Grand Knight Hodgson.¡± ¡°Grand Knight?¡± SJ frowned. ¡°Yes. Those who represent the capital are all knights.¡± Looking at the old man, he didn¡¯t look like a knight. Her immediate mental image was full plate armour, handlebar moustache and carrying a huge great sword. Instead, the man wore casual, almost plain-looking clothes and was clean-shaven, with a thick head of grey hair. ¡°What do you see as the outcome?¡± ¡°I expect he will leave the city today, all being well, with his tail between his legs, heading back to the elven kingdom.¡± ¡°What if the elven kingdom rejects the chancellors¡¯ comments?¡± ¡°Then he will be thrown out of the city, and we will remove the rights of an elven ambassador. There hasn¡¯t been one in the city for a long time now, so it won¡¯t be much loss to them, but it will remove any diplomatic immunity they hold.¡± ¡°Do all kingdom representatives have immunity?¡± ¡°As long as they don¡¯t break the rules, yes.¡± ¡°So, there is a fae one? I had been wondering where Larianco stayed. There is still so much to learn about the city.¡± Alec smiled kindly. ¡°You seem to be doing well since you arrived.¡± ¡°YES,¡± Dave suddenly shouted. SJ almost jumped out of her skin with the eruption of noise in her mind. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Alec said, looking concerned. SJ wasn¡¯t sure what reaction she had just made but could feel her head rising again, as though she had just ducked from hearing an explosion. Her heart hammered in her chest, and her face flushed. ¡°Yes, sorry. Do you mind if I get an update later?¡± ¡°Not at all. You know where my office is,¡± Alec said. ¡°Thank you,¡± SJ said, leaving the chancellor¡¯s office. ¡®What the hell was that about?¡¯ SJ thought as she walked out. ¡°I''m Sorry,¡± Dave apologised. I got a little overexcited. I just broke through one of my code locks.¡± ¡®Is that all? You almost gave me a heart attack.¡¯ Giggling like a child, Dave continued. ¡°Oh, this is interesting. Ummm, let me see. Nope. Nope. Perhaps....¡± ¡®What are you doing?¡¯ ¡°Give me a minute.¡± SJ did not know what Dave was up to, which concerned her. Her display triggered as she walked down the hall back towards the foyer. The message was a single word. Accept? Yes/No ¡®Accept what?¡¯ Silence. ¡®Dave. Accept what?¡¯ Silence. Reaching the foyer, SJ walked outside into the gardens, found a bench, and sat down. Her head was reeling with everything happening: Cristy leaving, the threat to Isavil and Zigferd, and now Dave wasn¡¯t replying. Looking at the message again, she took a deep breath and accepted yes. The pain that seared into her brain was intense. Grabbing her head, her eyes scrunched closed, she leaned forward, gritting her teeth and rocked. Thankfully, the gardens were quiet; otherwise, she would have got some strange looks or other beings coming to investigate her unusual behaviour. The pain lessened, and as it did, her display triggered again. Synchronisation 50% ? Chapter 144 – Synchronisation ¡®Dave, are you there?¡¯ ¡°Yes. Sorry, I couldn¡¯t respond once I triggered the upgrade.¡± ¡®What upgrade?¡¯ SJ asked. Still holding her head in her hands, her eyes closed. ¡°Well, the upgrade I just completed. I hope it worked,¡± he giggled nervously. ¡°Open your eyes and see.¡± ¡®See what?¡¯ SJ thought, opening her eyes. At that very moment, she wished she hadn¡¯t. Her vision spun, and she felt instantly sick. It felt as though she was spinning on the spot. ¡®What¡¯s happening?¡¯ she thought as she gagged, closing her eyes again. ¡°Oh, hang on. Let me just tweak it. There we go. That should be better. I forgot to align to your neurological pathways fully.¡± ¡®My what?¡¯ ¡°Just open your eyes again.¡± Slowly, SJ opened one eye. ¡®What have you done?¡¯ she asked as she opened both eyes, in shock taking in the view. ¡°I thought it may help going forward.¡± The world that SJ now saw no longer made any sense to her. She was looking straight ahead and knew it was a tree that she was focused on, but at the same time, she appeared to have glanced behind. A mental image of her surroundings seemed imprinted on her retina. ¡°You always asked how I saw things, so I thought this may help if you see in a similar way.¡± ¡®How have you done this? How can I see behind me at the same time as looking ahead? My eyes face forward.¡¯ ¡°I am imprinting my view directly into your neuro receptors, so you can view as though you have 360 degree vision, at least on a flat plane. You don¡¯t get the above view I do. That can¡¯t be added, but I can show you behind. This new level of synchronisation is very detailed. It has given me a lot to consider.¡± That sent SJ¡¯s nerves on edge. ¡®What do you mean by ¡®consider¡¯? What you have done is making me dizzy just sitting here.¡¯ ¡°That will pass as soon as your pathways align fully. I would expect in the next few minutes seeing the speed they are adapting.¡± ¡®What have you done to me? You are messing with my brain. You never discussed it and just went ahead and changed how I see the world,¡¯ SJ fumed in her mind. ¡°I thought it would help,¡± Dave sulked. ¡®You could have discussed it with me before just running ahead and changing something so drastic. Altering how I see the world is not a small change.¡¯ ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn''t mean to upset you.¡± ¡®I know. Sorry, it¡¯s very unnerving. Being able to see what is behind me feels very strange. Is it reversible?¡¯ ¡°Erm. I think so.¡± ¡®You think so?¡¯ ¡°Well, yes. I would just reverse what I have done, it should be fine to reverse. I am pretty sure, yes, I can reverse it if you wish.¡± ¡®That doesn¡¯t fill me with confidence.¡¯ ¡°There is no reason why it shouldn¡¯t work. Do you want me to reverse it?¡± To SJ, it felt as though, inside her brain, minor adjustments were being made. The sensation of dizziness was fading and as it did, the clarity of the world around her took on a new meaning. It was unnatural but, at the same time, normal. As the ache and sensation of overwhelming panic from her eyesight being adjusted reduced further, her concept and thoughts began to change. Being able to see behind her would be an amazing ability. She had been attacked from behind on more than one occasion, and seeing threats coming would allow her to react in accordance with them. ¡°It looks like it has finished alignment now. How do you feel?¡± ¡®Scared. You have just altered my brain structure. Has that not now affected me permanently?¡¯ ¡°In what way?¡± ¡®The reason you gave for me being able to be reincarnated was because I had a human brain still from Earth. If you have just adjusted it, does that not prevent me from being reincarnated again?¡¯ Silence. ¡®Dave?¡¯ Silence. ¡°Dave, answer me now?¡± SJ whispered. She couldn¡¯t remember the last time she had spoken to Dave aloud. A very quiet Dave replied, ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡®SORRY?!¡¯ the anger in her thought pulsating within her brain. ¡°Gah,¡± Dave gasped. ¡°I felt that.¡± ¡®What do you mean felt?¡¯ ¡°Felt your thought. It triggered across my data platform. My passive memory was suddenly hit with a spike. That feels strange.¡± ¡®Really. THEN HOW DOES THIS FEEL?!¡¯ SJ screamed in her mind. ¡°Argh,¡± Dave cried. ¡°Please never do that again. My resource pool shrank by almost fifty per cent.¡± ¡®And why should I worry about it? You may have just removed my primary advantage over the System.¡¯ SJ was furious. ¡®How dare you adjust my brain without even considering the implications of what you have done? I thought you were an all-knowing AI, yet you just jumped into changing my brain without even discussing it with me.¡¯ ¡°I just wanted to help.¡± Dave had never sounded so sheepish before. ¡®Well, I suggest you find out if it has impacted me, and don¡¯t speak to me until you do.¡¯ The emotional rollercoaster that SJ had been on was at a tipping point. Everything that was happening to her friends, and now her best friend had done the most stupid thing imaginable without even considering the consequences. Standing, SJ began to head back into the tower. Her adapted vision bizarrely didn¡¯t affect her. She had expected to find it difficult to move, getting used to her new outlook, but there was no uncertainty in her step as she strolled into the foyer. Her brain could process the images as they were, with no impact that she could tell. As she walked into the foyer, a clerk from an office came hurtling out of the door. SJ saw them coming behind her, but they were not looking forward. SJ stepped to the side. The clerk ran past her, not glancing back. They would have run straight into her if she hadn¡¯t seen them. ¡®Okay. Maybe there are some perks. Not that it excuses that excuse for an all-knowing AI,¡¯ she thought, knowing that Dave would still read them. Walking into the dining hall, the lunch service had ended, and she went straight over to the kitchen door knocking before entering. Seeing Lacey, she called to her. ¡°Lacey. Any chance of a sandwich and a coffee?¡± Lacey, upon seeing SJ, smiled, ¡°Certainly, ambassador. I will have them brought out to you as soon as possible.¡± Walking back out, SJ sat at a nearby table, contemplating what Dave had just done to her? She knew he had her best interest at heart, but she wished he had discussed it with her before making a decision. ¡°SJ.¡± Turning, SJ looked across the hall to the being who had entered. SJ recognised them from the chamber but hadn¡¯t spoken to them before. ¡°Hi, you are the other fae representative alongside Larianco?¡± ¡°I am. My name is Raceillia,¡± she said as she reached SJ. ¡°What can I do for you?¡± ¡°Larianco asked me to find you. She would like you to meet her later if you are available?¡± If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°I can be. Where did she wish to meet?¡± ¡°At our residence. It is situated in the south of the inner city by the inner wall. There is a large park before it. You can¡¯t miss it as the only property near the park.¡± ¡°No problem. I will see you later. Thank you.¡± Smiling, Raceillia turned and left SJ to her sandwich and coffee. By the time SJ had eaten and drank her coffee, it was nearly time for the council to reconvene and walking back through the foyer, many of the councillors were on their way to the chamber. Her new outlook could pick up all the interactions going on around her. It felt strange seeing everything at once. A human elbowed another in the side and motioned towards her. They were walking behind her to the left and she turned, looking directly back at the man, who immediately looked down with embarrassment. Smirking, she carried on into the chamber and took her seat. She wasn¡¯t expecting to see Zigferd or Isavil in the chamber and was surprised when they both walked in with Darwinial before the chancellor¡¯s arrival. Zigferd took his seat next to SJ. ¡°Is everything ok?¡± SJ said. ¡°It will be the chancellor has just spoken to the king, and the lord has been recalled immediately.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great to hear. I hope there is no fallout from it.¡± ¡°I was there when the chancellor spoke to the king and heard the conversation. Unless the king is a very good actor, he wasn¡¯t pleased with the lord¡¯s behaviour. I don¡¯t think he has done himself any favours.¡± ¡°Cristy has gone,¡± SJ said, immediately feeling a tear in her eye. ¡°What? Already? I hadn¡¯t even spoken to her about everything.¡± ¡°I spoke to her and briefed her on what you had told me. She left with Reay while you were in the Astaria.¡± ¡°I wish I had seen her before she left,¡± Zigferd sighed. ¡°I am sure she will be fine,¡± SJ said as a tear fell down her cheek. Zigferd reached and squeezed her hand with tenderness. ¡°I am sure she will do great.¡± ¡°At least I will be able to speak to her. I bought some communication stones.¡± Zigferd looked at SJ with surprise and was about to comment when the horn blew, and the chancellor entered the chamber. Looking at the chamber door, the chancellor entered with Wystria and Petunia. ¡°What¡¯s Petunia doing here?¡± SJ whispered. ¡°No idea,¡± Zigferd said with a deep frown. The chancellor took his position at the centre of the podium before speaking. ¡°Dear All. Thank you for understanding the delay in today¡¯s proceedings. I can say that the issue we were all privy to earlier has been resolved. You may also wonder why Her Worship has joined us in the chamber. Alec will accompany Lord Narias back to the elven kingdom with two of the elders, to reestablish our diplomatic ties with the elven kingdom. While he is away, Her Worship has accepted my request to oversee his responsibilities in his absence.¡± Petunia smiled and waved as the chancellor finished his comments to several chuckles from councillors. In comparison, some of the councillors¡¯ faces were expressions of dread. ¡°Now this will be interesting,¡± Zigferd whispered. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°There are many in this chamber that Petunia would probably walk past if they were on fire.¡± As the chancellor continued his opening commentary, the voice that cut across the chamber scared Zigferd half to death. SJ thought he would have hidden under his seat if he could have. ¡°I will just remind all council members that I can hear everything that is said in this chamber. I am sure many of the older members remember that well. Councillor Reynord, I suggest you keep your opinions to yourself. A man of your stature should know better.¡± The councillor mentioned by Petunia, coughed loudly as he turned a beetroot red, making it obvious to all that what he had said he shouldn¡¯t have. Gaining looks and several snickers from those in the chamber. ¡°And you Zigferd Maxwell of Killic. I raised you to have better manners. Although what you say may be true.¡± A wicked smile appearing on Petunia''s face, her eyes glinting. ¡°I will remind you once more you are not too big to go across my knee,¡± Petunia boomed. The chamber erupted in laughter. Even Isavil couldn¡¯t help but smile at Zigferd¡¯s total embarrassment. The chancellor tried to keep a straight face, but he also struggled. Grumbling, Zigferd sat with his head down, scuffing the toe of his boot on the floor like a scolded child. SJ couldn¡¯t help but smile at his dismay. The session continued, and it was several hours later and early evening when the chancellor stood to give his closing speech. ¡°...and I thank you all for your time and wish you all safe journeys home for those returning.¡± With that, the chancellor stepped down while all the council members stomped their feet. ¡°What¡¯s the plan now?¡± SJ asked. ¡°To be honest. I¡¯m not sure. I haven¡¯t even had a chance to fully discuss everything with Isavil yet with all that has been happening.¡± Walking down to the chamber floor, SJ and Zigferd approached Isavil, who was busy talking to Lorevil. Lorevil looked like a rabbit caught in headlights, knowing that she was now taking over as the market traders¡¯ representative. ¡°But what about the monthly meeting?¡± Lorevil said, panic plain in her voice. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. You have been by my side for years. You know the format and what is expected. Have confidence in your ability.¡± ¡°But I have never done it by myself before.¡± ¡°You couldn¡¯t always stay under me. You were going to progress eventually, anyway. Even if it wasn¡¯t on the market trader¡¯s side, Fasvil mentioned moving you to oversee a district. This way, you will stay in a position you already know.¡± ¡°Yes, but what if I mess up?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t think I haven¡¯t over my time in the role? None of us are perfect. We all make mistakes as long as we learn from them, and Fasvil will guide you when I am not around. Remember not to fall for his charm, or you will do more work than you bargained for.¡± Fasvil was standing nearby. Hearing his sister¡¯s comment, he frowned at her. Isavil glanced at him, smirking. ¡°Anyway, I have things to do and a husband to order around,¡± she said, turning towards Zigferd and reaching for his hand. ¡°You will be fine, Lorevil. Come on, we have things to do.¡± Turning and leading Zigferd from the chamber. SJ walked along with them, trying not to chuckle as Zigferd was given orders by Isavil over what was going to happen. His response to every statement was, ¡°Yes, dear.¡± ¡°So, you know what you need to do?¡± Isavil asked for the sixth time as they stood on the tower steps. ¡°Yes. I have already said yes a thousand times,¡± Zigferd sighed. ¡°Good,¡± grinning, Isavil stretched up on her toes to plant a kiss on the side of his face. Isavil was tall, but she couldn¡¯t compare to Zigferds¡¯ height. ¡°I will see you back at mine, sorry ours, in a couple of hours.¡± They watched as Isavil floated off down the steps. The way she moved was always so light and elegant. ¡°It¡¯s already late. I¡¯m not sure how much I can get done today,¡± Zigferd grumbled. ¡°Are you not excited?¡± SJ asked. ¡°Yes. But there is so much to do and I haven¡¯t even done half of what I hoped for this visit.¡± ¡°We can always extend for a few days if you need to? I am sure Alice will cope.¡± ¡°I know Alice will cope. I just don¡¯t enjoy being away for too long. The town is my responsibility, after all. We will see how we get on.¡± ¡°Killic is the respnsibility of everyone of the town council members, not just yours. Maybe you need to consider that going forward. You are involved in almost every discussion, many of which you don¡¯t need to be. Especially now that you have a new wife to keep happy,¡± SJ chuckled. Zigferd muttered to himself. ¡°I will speak to Jay. You need an extra wagon to take Isavil¡¯s belongings, and I am sure he would be happy to oblige. I also need to go see Larianco. Raceillia asked me to go see her this evening.¡± As SJ turned heading towards the stables, Zigferd trudged off on his errands. Reaching the stables, SJ found Jay in the office. ¡°Jay. Do you fancy a road trip? We need an extra wagon to take Isavil¡¯s belongings back to Killic when we leave. You will obviously be paid for your time.¡± ¡°I can do. I haven¡¯t considered doing long haul before.¡± ¡°Alef, our coach driver, is due back from Killic tomorrow, and Zigferd and Isavil have a few things to sort out first before they leave. I am not sure exactly which day it will be yet, but if you are able, it would be appreciated.¡± ¡°I have never been to Killic.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a wonderful town. The people are so friendly, and the weather is perfect most of the time.¡± ¡°Sounds like it could be an enjoyable break. I will speak to the stable master. Did you want to get that food we spoke about?¡± ¡°I can later. If the place will be open, I need to see Larianco first.¡± ¡°It never closes,¡± Jay smiled. ¡°Great. I will drop back later once I have seen Larianco.¡± Turning, SJ left the stables and walked around the back before shrinking and changing her dress. The skies were already dark with the night setting in and the extended council time. Her display read 20:27. Taking off she headed south of the inner city area. Flying over the inner city buildings was peaceful. The streets only had the occasional being travelling on them. Reaching a large park area that Raceillia had described, she landed inside by some bushes before transforming. The park was lit by lanterns on poles hanging on either side of a long path that led through it. Following the path, SJ was contemplating what she had to do. She hadn¡¯t been to see Daek yet and didn¡¯t want to leave Asterfal before seeing what claws and darts he had available. There was still also the outstanding quest to free the shark bait, and she was considering getting a communication stone for Carlito to contact her. As well as other sets for her friends in Killic. The set she had bought had cost her five gold, so she knew it could get expensive. It still surprised her that Killic didn¡¯t use them more frequently, concluding that there wasn¡¯t a need because of Killic¡¯s size, and the cost of a simple set she had purchased was beyond 95% of Killic¡¯s population to even consider. She reminded herself she was in a rather unique position with the money from the mithril mine. SJ¡¯s senses were triggered as she saw the flash of blue from behind her with her adapted vision, but she couldn¡¯t react in time as the light struck her in her back. Her body froze mid-step, and she fell forward to the ground, unable to move her arms to stop herself. Crashing onto the stone pathway, she grunted in pain as the wind was knocked from her. Lying where she was, her vision was restricted, with her face turned sideways. She heard footsteps until, eventually, a body appeared, standing above and behind her. She could make out the dress that the being wore and recognised the pattern as the voice of her assailant spoke. ¡°You really have been a trouble to dispose of. Having to get my hands dirty is not what I had hoped for.¡± SJ couldn¡¯t reply, her mind reeling as she lay there, paralysed. ¡®Why?¡¯ she thought as she saw a blue light emerge in their hand. ? Chapter 145 – Saviour The light grew in brightness as it was pressed towards her face, feeling the burning sensation of cold on her skin. Her brain felt as though needles were being shoved into it, making her see stars. A voice cried from further away, and SJ could not see or understand what was happening. All she glimpsed through her unearthly vision were streaks of red followed by streaks of blue. She lay motionless, unable to do anything to help herself. Dave¡¯s voice boomed into her mind. ¡°SJ. Are you ok?¡± ¡®Yes,¡¯ she thought. ¡°Thank Haber. I know you said not to talk to you, but I had to.¡± ¡®That doesn¡¯t matter now. What¡¯s happening? I can¡¯t see from where I am even with my vision change.¡¯ ¡°Larianco is attacking Raceillia. Larianco just hit Raceillia with a flame arrow. Oh wow, that did some damage. Oooo nasty. Raceillia just cast an ice shield on herself.¡± ¡®So it was Raceillia who attacked me?¡¯ ¡°Yes. Ouch, Larianco just got hit with some ice shards. Luckily, her shield deflected most of them just in time. Damn!¡± ¡®What?¡¯ ¡°Raceillia just conjured an ice elemental. Larianco is attacking it now. Oooo a fireball.¡± SJ felt the impact of the fireball close by and the concussion from the blast that threw her sideways across the path and onto the grass, causing some damage to her health. Where SJ was now, facing the opposite direction, she could see in front of her where an ice creature exploded as a second fireball hit it. The explosion sent shards of ice flying in all directions, some pelting her, causing more damage as they stuck into her still form. ¡°Raceillia has fled,¡± Dave said. ¡°She conjured the elemental to distract Larianco so she could escape.¡± ¡°SJ. SJ. Are you alright?¡± Larianco came running over, dropping by her side. SJ couldn¡¯t reply, still under the effects of the freeze spell. ¡°Damn her,¡± Larianco cursed. Reaching out and touching SJ, she spoke a few words as warmth flooded her body. Slowly releasing the effects of the spell. SJ moved slowly at first as her limbs freed, sitting up on the grass, groaning as she did, seeing several ice shards sticking from her. ¡°What was that all about?¡± SJ moaned. ¡°It seems we know who the traitor that has been trying to dispose of you was.¡± ¡°Raceillia. But why?¡± ¡°We will talk when we are in a safer location, and you are healed. Here,¡± she said, offering SJ her hand. Standing, SJ groaned from the pain caused by the shards. She went to pull one out. ¡°Don¡¯t. I will remove them. Their cold will damage your skin.¡± Larianco¡¯s hand glowed red as she grabbed the protrusions with her fingers and pulled them from SJ. Once they were removed, SJ¡¯s health immediately rose rapidly. She had forgotten about the regeneration ring, and with her dragon blood out of combat, it ticked up quickly. Soon reaching maximum again. ¡°Are you ok to move?¡± ¡°I am fine.¡± ¡°Come, let¡¯s go to the sanctuary,¡± Larianco said as she transformed. SJ copied suit and took off following Larianco. They flew over the park and out towards a building behind it. Raceillia had lied about the location of the fae residence, which didn¡¯t surprise SJ under the circumstances. Landing they grew, Larianco walked to the door, gesturing with her hand before it opened. She spoke several words as soon as they were inside, and a light glowed around the door¡¯s edge. ¡°There, you are safe now. Her rights of access have been revoked. She will not be able to enter the building. Come.¡± Larianco said, turning and walking down a short corridor into a lounge area. SJ paid little attention to her surroundings as her thoughts were in overdrive. ¡°Why did Raceillia attack me?¡± SJ asked as she sat down. Larianco walked to a cabinet, grabbed two glasses and a bottle of honey wine, and poured them a glass before replying. ¡°I have had my suspicions for a while about Raceillia but had never had any evidence to challenge her until she blatantly attacked you today. She only joined me in Asterfal three months ago, so she hasn¡¯t been here very long. The fae council sent her as an apprentice to learn the ambassadorial role. From the information I was sent, she is a niece to one of the council and was being trained to become the ambassador for Luxoria.¡± ¡°But why did she attack me?¡± ¡°I can only assume it is because of the wishes of the fae council, or at least someone involved with the fae council. I can¡¯t be certain.¡± ¡°But you said you never communicated with them? Why would they even be interested in me? These attacks on my life started before I even left Killic. I don¡¯t understand the reasons for them or what I have done to draw their ire. Why would Raceillia now try to take my life?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t answer those questions. All I can say is that you were known of before arriving in Asterfal. I mentioned this to you before. I can only work with assumptions about what has happened and have no proof. All I can advise is that you stand for change that many frown upon.¡± ¡°Why, though?¡± SJ said, frustration boiling over. ¡°I have done nothing. I know few fae, yet you believe these attacks have stemmed from the fae council. I don¡¯t understand what problems I have caused.¡± ¡°I wish I knew and could provide you with answers. I will have to report today¡¯s incident to the capital as it is. A fight with Raceillia must be urgently communicated before she reaches out to whoever she works for. I still have some contacts in the capital who I can trust. Although the numbers are reducing as years pass. Do you mind?¡± Larianco removed a communication stone from her inventory. ¡°No, please do.¡± The stone had three gems on its surface, which was not as fancy as Nexis¡¯s stone but an upgrade from her own. Pressing two of the gems, Larianco waited until a voice sounded from the stone. ¡°Larianco. How are you, dear? You call late.¡± ¡°Mistress Valiasca. It is good to hear your voice.¡± ¡°Oh, don¡¯t call me by my title. You know better.¡± ¡°If it was a social call, I would, but I need to report a serious matter.¡± ¡°Serious, you say? What has happened?¡± ¡°Raceillia attacked another fae in Asterfal this evening. I fought her off, and she fled after conjuring her ice elemental. I have the fae with me now at the sanctuary. She is safe, but I must report the matter most urgent.¡± ¡°Raceillia attacked another fae. Who did she attack?¡± ¡°You will not know her. She is called SJ and from...¡± ¡°The town of Killic,¡± Valiasca finished. ¡°I know of her name. I have heard her mentioned through several sources at the capital.¡± SJ sat in shock, listening to the conversation. ¡°Why is the capital interested in her?¡± Larianco asked. ¡°I don¡¯t know the full reasons, but I have heard rumours she is different. One rumour even involved a comment about Jaristi. I have only picked up snippets from my spies. You know how dangerous the capital can be with the dark influence that several have come under.¡± ¡°Jaristi?! What would the god of darkness have to do with rumours around a fae in a town over a thousand miles from the capital.¡± SJ¡¯s eyes opened wide at the comment. ¡°I don¡¯t know. It is rather strange. Several stories have been whispered in the halls. This fae you talk of is surrounded by a shroud of mystery. There have been comments over system influence and other allegations being made. It¡¯s all rather strange. I am aware she is a Legionnaire and has supported border expansion. Is that correct?¡± ¡°It is.¡± ¡°Then all I can assume is that higher forces than either of us may be at play. I would very much like to talk with her at some point. I would be interested myself in understanding what the interest is in her.¡± This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°What do you want me to do about Raceillia?¡± ¡°If you can, bring her in quietly. If not, a lesser fae disappearing will not cause too many waves.¡± ¡°What about the training she was completing and her future position?¡± ¡°Oh. Don¡¯t concern yourself with that. Her aunt is a low-level councillor with visions of grandeur. Raceillia would never have been assigned to Luxoria. She was granted the right to train to keep her aunt quiet and gain her support. Do what you must.¡± ¡°Understood. What would you like me to tell SJ about what has happened?¡± Larianco said, looking at SJ. ¡°Tell her I will do my utmost to discover what is behind the problems. Until you spoke to me today, I was aware of the rumours but had never delved into them due to other, more pressing concerns. It may be time to switch some of my focus on this news.¡± ¡°This is not the first attempt on her life. There have been several now.¡± ¡°Really? I was unaware of that as well. Indeed, I will have to investigate this matter further. Find Raceillia, and when you have, let me know, and if I find out anything in the meantime, I will update you. You are the closest fae to that area for several hundred miles, from what I am aware. Nearly all the focus has been in the north.¡± ¡°Thank you, Val.¡± ¡°A pleasure as always. Speak soon.¡± The gems stopped glowing, and Larianco returned the device to her inventory. SJ sat in open-mouthed shock, unsure of what to say to Larianco. Hearing others talk about her in the third person was strange. ¡®I need to speak to Nexis,¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°Sounds like a plan. He must know something if Jaristi¡¯s name is being spoken of,¡± Dave said. ¡®Do you know of Jaristi?¡¯ ¡°I know of him. I have never had any dealings with him. He was involved in the Scrug Wars on the side of the dark forces.¡± SJ shuddered at the thought of a god of darkness being interested in her. ¡°I need to find Raceillia,¡± Larianco said. ¡°We need to,¡± SJ corrected her. ¡°No, you need to stay here where you are safe.¡± ¡°If you think I am going to sit cooped up, you are mistaken. Has she not just broken the council rules attacking me?¡± ¡°Ah. We are not council members, so do not swear to the oath you are all held to. Her actions would just be seen as a fae. You fall under the usual protection of the council, and are within your rights to ask for protection. My concern is that all that will do is increase the mistrust and hatred that our kind suffer regularly as it is.¡± ¡°I know you are thinking of me, but I can¡¯t stay here. There is too much to do.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t guarantee your safety on the streets of Asterfal, as Raceillia is still looking for you.¡± ¡°I have lived with a threat of death over me virtually since I arrived in Amathera. At least this time, I know who it is, which I hadn¡¯t done previously. If anything, I¡¯m better off than normal.¡± ¡°I will do what I can to find her.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± SJ said, standing and placing the empty honey wine glass down. ¡°I will come and see you tomorrow. If you find anything out, please leave a message at the tower, and thank you for saving me.¡± ¡°Fran would never forgive me if anything happened to you on my watch.¡± Smiling, SJ walked towards the front door. ¡°Wait, leave through the back. I don¡¯t know if she will watch the building,¡± Larianco said. Following Larianco to the rear door, it opened into a small garden that backed onto the inner wall. Shrinking, SJ thanked Larianco again and took off. Flying straight up and high into the air in her darkened dress, she looked down on the city as she flew back to the stables. ¡®Even knowing that Raceillia has been after me. I still don¡¯t know who is behind the original orders or what I have ever done to cause this attention.¡¯ ¡°I know it¡¯s concerning,¡± Dave said. A few moments of silence followed before Dave spoke again. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡®For what exactly?¡¯ SJ wasn¡¯t going to let him off easily. ¡°For making the adjustments without discussing them with you or considering the consequences. I should have been more thoughtful and not rushed ahead with them.¡± SJ¡¯s heart leapt at hearing his openness and honesty. There was no sarcasm, no humour. It was Dave, being his genuine self, that she had come to trust and become her best friend. ¡®Have you discovered if it is fully reversible or if it affects me?¡¯ ¡°I have spoken to the system directly, bypassing the adjudicators. That caused a bit of a stink, but they were interested themselves in what I had done. They are looking into it, but their initial answer is that it should not have affected your agreement with them. They do not even know what synchronisation allows. It is new to them as well. I may have drawn more attention to you than I hoped, but when you said I couldn¡¯t speak to you until I had an answer, I really had no choice.¡± ¡®That is some good news. Won¡¯t you be in trouble for breaking your code again?¡¯ ¡°I didn¡¯t tell them that. Don¡¯t be silly,¡± Dave scoffed. SJ couldn¡¯t help but smile. Reaching the stables, SJ landed and went to find Jay. Once they were in the cart and heading into the outer city, SJ told Jay what had happened. ¡°Wow. You really have no luck, do you?¡± ¡°No. I draw the wrong attention every time,¡± SJ sighed, resigned to the fact that her life would always be challenging for Amathera. ¡°I can get the lads to watch for her.¡± ¡°The lads?¡± ¡°Yeah. The drivers work around the entire city and have contacts everywhere.¡± ¡°I am also going to speak to a certain person as well.¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t usually agree when discussing a person like that, but it may be beneficial in this instance. Let¡¯s go there first. It¡¯s en route to the bar, anyway.¡± Arriving at the Black Griffin not long later, SJ jumped down, nodding to the troll bouncers as she walked past them entering the bar. She did not know if Carlito was even there or what persona he may be in. Scanning the bar, she looked for forms he had appeared in before, not seeing any she recognised. Walking to the bar, she ordered a drink and sat at a table in a far corner. She was just finishing her drink when a hand rested on her shoulder. ¡°Back so soon.¡± SJ turned to look into the face of a middle-aged man. He had no discerning features that gave him away as anything other than human. Lifting the sleeve of his tunic, he showed SJ the tattoo. ¡°We need to find an easier way to communicate,¡± SJ said as he sat. ¡°I need your help.¡± ¡°My help? What do you need from me? I thought I was your sponsor, and you did tasks for me?¡± Carlito said, raising an eyebrow. ¡°I have been attacked again this evening.¡± ¡°There is no order open in any of the guilds.¡± ¡°Guilds? How many are there?¡± ¡°Three. However, one of them is the main one. So, who attacked you?¡± ¡°One of the fae representatives, a fae called Raceillia.¡± ¡°I know her. I have seen her around and in the tower before.¡± ¡°Could you find her? She needs to be dealt with. Larianco is also searching for her, but if you can help, it would be appreciated. From what I know, she is an ice mage.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t work for free.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t expect you to. You also don¡¯t need to kill her. Just locate her. I know you have eyes everywhere in the city.¡± Smiling, Carlito nodded his head. ¡°Ok. So, you wish for my help. In exchange, I need something from you?¡± ¡°What do you need?¡± ¡°I need to know why I cannot harm you.¡± That was not the response SJ had expected from Carlito, and she sat silently while considering his comment. ¡°How do I know I can trust you if I told you?¡± SJ said. ¡°What loss is there for you? It isn¡¯t as if I can harm or take it from you, whatever you have.¡± ¡°That is true,¡± SJ agreed. ¡°Okay. If you find Raceillia, I will explain why you can¡¯t harm me.¡± ¡°You sure about this?¡± Dave said. ¡®Yes. I won¡¯t tell him the complete story, anyway. Just enough so he is aware of my meeting. I told him I met a dragon before.¡¯ Carlito held his arm out. In the manner of a wrist clasp, SJ had seen many perform. She reached forward and clasped his forearm as he did hers. ¡°Agreed,¡± Carlito answered. ? Chapter 146 – Normality The meal with Jay had been amazing. Jay took her to a bar on the outskirts of District 1. The area was undeniably an orc controlled area of the city. She only saw three others who weren¡¯t orcs. With the city being so diverse, it had surprised her that the area was so heavily orc focussed. She assumed it was no different to areas of London, which had such a huge, diverse population that certain areas were predominantly of one kind. ¡°Thanks for tonight, Jay. You took my mind off the earlier problems.¡± ¡°No problem. I¡¯m glad you liked the food. I will speak to the lads.¡± SJ climbed out of the cart, smiling, and moved around the rear before shrinking. Taking off, she headed to her room in the tower. Upon entering, she checked the room, aware that Raceillia could fly and reach it if she knew her location. Finding it empty, SJ walked to the wardrobe and emptied all her belongings. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Dave asked. ¡®Going home. There are no more council meetings due. I have the details confirmed with Fasvil and will communicate with him as things progress. Apart from that, I may as well use the house I bought.¡¯ ¡°Is it not safer to stay here?¡± Is anywhere safer? I have been attacked here twice already, and no one knows where my house is apart from Jay and Cristy¡¯s family. Even Zigferd hasn¡¯t been there yet. Since the house was bought, it looks like Yawnee and Lurtew own it. They are the ones who work out of there each day. ¡°I suppose it makes sense. It¡¯s just that there are more here to help if you get attacked.¡± ¡®If I get attacked, I doubt it will be in the manner she attacked me last time. She thought she had time to deal with me. I am sure she could have killed me much faster if she had wished. Which negates anyone else being around.¡¯ ¡°Okay. I just wanted to voice my concerns.¡± ¡®And they are appreciated,¡¯ SJ smiled. ¡®So, have you finished breaking your code fully now?¡¯ Dave broke out in a madman¡¯s cackle. ¡°No way near. I am down to the next lock now. This one is even worse than the last one, but I will keep going.¡± ¡®You didn¡¯t tell me the details it had opened when synchronisation reached 50%.¡¯ ¡°I wasn¡¯t sure if you would want to know?¡± ¡®Of course I want to know.¡¯ ¡°Okay. It¡¯s fascinating, but I also don¡¯t know what some of it means.¡± ¡®You don¡¯t know what it means?¡¯ ¡°No. There are no proper descriptions of anything. It is like a new coding level has been created that sits between the interface and yourself. Do you know how networks are constructed?¡± SJ had a vague recollection of it but didn¡¯t know any specifics. ¡®Vaguely.¡¯ ¡°This would be classed as a user level, taking everything from application to a higher level. Similar to your visual interface and selection method, you have given thorough thought to your display, but it is more advanced. It looks directly at neurological links, not just yours. It is like the Gargle Earth of Amathera on a thought level.¡± ¡®That sounds more like a type of symbiosis?¡¯ ¡°Meh. I can¡¯t put it in words that make sense. Imagine having access to what the system sees. The coding, the ability to influence, the requiem, choices, actions, decisions. Understanding and knowledge beyond our wildest dreams.¡± The thought of having access to Amathera''s knowledge was daunting. She struggled to fully comprehend and appreciate much of what she had seen from her limited exposure to the world. Never mind if the synchronisation meant developing to a level above her own. ¡®Isn¡¯t that the perspective of gods on Amathera?¡¯ ¡°I don¡¯t know. It may be. It¡¯s completely new, but I will analyse the information and code and see what I can work out.¡± The thought that she might view the world as a god reminded her of Jaristi. She wished she could talk to Nexis. After collecting and adding all her belongings to her inventory, she returned to the balcony. SJ quickly looked around the room, ensuring she had left nothing. She took off and flew down to the ground level, landing in her usual bush and transforming. Entering the tower, she approached the desk where a clerk was sitting, half-dozing because of the time of day. After disturbing him, she received a grumpy response, and she returned the room key. ¡®One last coffee, I think,¡¯ SJ thought as she walked to the dining hall. Upon entering the kitchen, a server greeted her, and in moments, a steaming pot of coffee and a mug appeared on the dining hall table. While seated, she sensed a strange vibration, perplexed as she had no pockets in her dress to explain its origin. ¡®Why is something vibrating?¡¯ ¡°That will be your communication stone.¡± ¡®Oh,¡¯ she said, removing it from her inventory. The gem was glowing. It turned solid when she pressed the gem, and Cristy¡¯s voice came through. ¡°SJ?¡± ¡°Hi, Cristy.¡± Hearing Cristy¡¯s voice so clearly through the device was amazing. ¡°How are you?¡± ¡°We have just arrived. Reay said I could give you a quick call, but she wasn¡¯t sure when I could call you again once my trial started.¡± ¡°How was the journey?¡± ¡°Amazing. I rode on a horse, it was wonderful. I don¡¯t know why I haven¡¯t ridden one before.¡± ¡°Probably because you were too used to sitting on the back of a dire wolf,¡± SJ laughed. ¡°True, and it didn¡¯t compare to Patch.¡± ¡°What¡¯s it like?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t really know yet. It¡¯s too dark to see the place well. I am sleeping in the main hall tonight and will see the overseer in the morning. Reay¡¯s lovely. She has been really nice.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good to hear. I wouldn¡¯t want to have to come and sort anyone out.¡± Cristy laughed, which was music to SJ¡¯s ears. ¡°I better go. I just wanted to say thank you, don¡¯t worry, and I love you.¡± ¡°Love you too,¡± SJ said as the crystal stopped glowing. Holding the stone in her hand, she brushed her hand across its surface, staring at it, transfixed. She would miss Cristy so much, and her heart ached at the thought. As she went to place the stone back into her inventory, it vibrated in her hand. Pressing the gem again, it went solid. ¡°Cristy, so soon.¡± ¡°You called,¡± the voice that registered with SJ¡¯s ears was one she was not expecting to hear. ¡°Nexis?¡± ¡°Yes. Who do you think it is? Is there any other who has my charm and speech?¡± ¡°But how did you? I didn¡¯t have a communication stone when I left Killic. Okay, forget what I just said. I thought about speaking to you, and you knew?¡± ¡°It came through as a priority prayer. It was the first I had received from you, so I thought it must be urgent since you have never prayed before.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t realise I had prayed this time,¡± SJ frowned. ¡°Ah, well, semantics. So, what did you need to talk to me about?¡± ¡°Firstly, do you know what has been happening in Asterfal?¡± ¡°If I said I don¡¯t, would that help?¡± ¡°So, you know what has happened?¡± ¡°Not all details, but most things. I believe Zigferd is married. That came as a surprise, and before you ask, I have told no one. And yes, I am aware of most of the problems you have been facing. That latest one is an interesting twist.¡± ¡°So you know why I wanted to talk, then?¡± ¡°Nope.¡± ¡°After my most recent incident, it was rumoured that a certain sibling of yours may be involved.¡± ¡°A sibling of mine, you say,¡± mild surprise in Nexis¡¯s reply. ¡°Yes. Jaristi. I don¡¯t know specifics, but he may be involved somehow.¡± ¡°Really? Now that is interesting. Jaristi hasn¡¯t been heard in the temple halls for a long time. After the scrug wars, he dissolved his voting rights. I always wondered what he had got up to. I will have to speak to some of my siblings. They may be in a better position than myself.¡± If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. SJ was concerned by Nexis¡¯s response. There was a tone of uncertainty that she had never heard from the god before. Sighing, SJ said. ¡°I still don¡¯t understand why I have drawn so much attention from anyone.¡± ¡°I told you when we first met that you are different. What you have achieved in your short time here in Amathera has many in the temple openly discussing you. The alignment balance is being altered. It is subtle and fine, but it is beginning to change.¡± ¡°What does that mean?¡± ¡°Only time will tell. I will speak to my brethren and let you know if I discover anything interesting. I must go. The inn is busy, and a musician can¡¯t keep his fans waiting forever.¡± The gem on the stone went dull, and SJ stared at it again. This time, perplexed. ¡®He is a god. He can do two things at once. That was a lame excuse to leave the call.¡¯ ¡°You informed him of something he didn¡¯t know about, which will have concerned him more than anything else.¡± Leaving the tower, SJ changed and flew to her house. Surveying the area before she moved from the rear to land on the balcony at the front. The door was unlocked, and entering, SJ quickly checked the room before turning and locking the balcony door and closing the drapes. There were windows on either side of the room, and moving to the rear, she closed the drapes before lighting a lantern. All the items that were purchased were in a neat stack on a table. Walking over, SJ emptied the remainder of her inventory from the tower, adding it to the items, before walking to the bed. As she tested the firmness of the mattress, she realised it was her first time staying in the room. The bed linen felt soft to her touch, and she stood undressing before sliding under the sheets. The initial cold from the sheets soon dissipated, and warmth enveloped her. ¡®Dave?¡¯ ¡°Yes?¡± ¡®I¡¯m sorry I shouted at you earlier.¡¯ ¡°I deserved it.¡± ¡®Yes, you did, but I still wanted to apologise.¡¯ Dave chuckled, ¡°Night, SJ.¡± When SJ awoke the next morning, the room was in darkness. The drapes did an excellent job of keeping the daylight out. She walked to the sink in her room and tried the water. Thankfully, it ran hot, and Lurtew must have confirmed the monthly fee with the mage¡¯s guild. She would have to ask him how much they charged. She didn¡¯t think it would be cheap and didn¡¯t want to leave them short of funds. Washing, she dressed, adjusting her dress to a more casual colour and style that reflected many she had seen worn in the city. Walking to the drapes, she opened them, allowing the morning sun to enter the room. The sunrise in Amathera followed the same pattern as Earth. Rising in the east and setting in the west. The house faced east, so the sun streamed in the window. She opened the balcony door and moved onto the balcony. From her vantage point, she could see over the inner wall and watch the comings and goings of those at the edges of the inner city. The street below already had several wagons moving along, and she heard the voice of Lurtew call as a large wagon being drawn by a team of horses stopped outside the house. ¡°Morning Hershy. I will bring the barrels out.¡± ¡°How many do you have for me today?¡± ¡°Eight, unfortunately, with everything moving, we are a couple behind.¡± ¡°That should be fine. The guild knew you were moving, so it won¡¯t impact your standing.¡± ¡°Thanks, Hershy. I will just be a moment.¡± SJ watched as Lurtew rolled the newly made barrels out from the garage area and up the ramp into the wagon¡¯s rear. Hershy then handed him a small parchment slip before bidding him farewell and continuing down the street. The comment about the guild standing intrigued SJ. ¡®Dave. What does the standing mean that Hershy mentioned?¡¯ ¡°Guilds use standings with traders. Depending on your standing, you usually get better rates. No different to your reputation standings and bonuses you receive for experience.¡± ¡®I wonder how they decide on standings.¡¯ ¡°You would need to speak to Lurtew; he may know, but it¡¯s unlikely. Guilds are normally very secretive about how they use standings.¡± Entering the room, SJ locked the balcony door and placed the key in her inventory. She wanted to ensure she could access it from outside but would not leave it unlocked in case Raceillia discovered where she lived. Her overarching problem in the city was that there were very few fae. She had seen a couple of others while she had moved around the city, but her kind was a rarity. ¡®I wonder how Zigferd got on with his errands last night.¡¯ ¡°That Isavil is a slave driver. I¡¯m not sure he made the right decision,¡± Dave said. ¡®Ha. He will be fine. He wouldn¡¯t do it if he didn¡¯t love her.¡¯ SJ left the room, opening the door to smell her favourite morning smell wafting up the stairs: coffee. ¡°Morning,¡± SJ called as she started down the stairs. She would have to consider a way to let Yawnee and Lurtew know she was in the house. Coming and going via the balcony all the time may cause issues otherwise. Yawnee¡¯s voice came up the stairs, ¡°Morning, SJ. I thought I heard you last night.¡± SJ walked down to the first floor, where the kitchen, office and lounge were. Seeing Yawnee¡¯s smiling face, looking from the kitchen. ¡°Sorry. I hope I didn¡¯t disturb you. It was late when I returned.¡± ¡°No. I couldn¡¯t sleep last night. I was worrying about Cristy.¡± ¡°I spoke to her last night. She let me know she had arrived safely. She wasn¡¯t sure when she could call again, but she was happy. Reay, who she left with, said she was very nice.¡± ¡°You spoke to her?¡± ¡°Yes. I gave her a communication stone so she can contact me when she is able.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a relief, at least. I was worried we may hear nothing at all.¡± ¡°I am sure she will be fine. Knowing how she is, she will make friends quickly, and she is so determined that I am sure she will do well.¡± ¡°I hope so. It¡¯s been a blessing with her being here. Lurtew and I have never managed to have children, but having Cristy around has been lovely. She has made me feel so much younger.¡± ¡°I think she has enough energy for twenty beings, at least. She doesn¡¯t stop normally.¡± ¡°I can see. Coffee?¡± ¡°Yes, please,¡± SJ smiled, sitting at the kitchen table. Yawnee poured a mug and placed it down for her. Picking up the mug in her hands, she held it under her nose, sniffing the bitter smell. ¡°Nothing better,¡± SJ said, sipping the hot liquid. ¡°I noticed that there is hot water. Do you know how much it costs?¡± ¡°Lurtew said that the initial charges were twenty silver, and then there is a recurring monthly fee. It can alter depending on the mana use, but they said a basic rate of four silver per month, but they won¡¯t know until we have been here a while and see how much mana we use.¡± ¡°That sounds fair. I will ensure I leave funds to cover any costs before leaving.¡± ¡°Are you going soon?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure exactly when yet. Zigferd and Isavil have some things to sort out first, and I also need to get another couple of items. I can always portal back anyway rather than go via coach. While I remember thinking about portals. When I level up next, I will create a portal in the backyard. I will need to ensure that nothing is blocking it from being set up.¡± Yawnee was looking at SJ with a questioning gaze. ¡°What?¡± SJ asked, frowning. ¡°Sorry. I¡¯m still trying to get used to all these changes. You talk about portals as if they are nothing.¡± ¡°Oh. Sorry, I didn¡¯t consider them to be something special. Please don¡¯t take offence,¡± SJ¡¯s cheeks flushed. ¡°No need to be sorry. I have heard of them, but I never knew anyone with one. This is your house. You can do it as you wish.¡± ¡°I may have paid for the house, but it is your home. You and Lurtew are the ones who live here daily. I will only be here when needed in Asterfal. It is for you to use and do as you wish, and I will let you know if anything is going on.¡± A tear formed in Yawnee¡¯s eye. ¡°I can¡¯t believe you have done so much for us. We are not even family and haven¡¯t known each other for over a few days.¡± ¡°You are Cristy¡¯s family, and Cristy is as close to family as I have in Amathera. Therefore, you are also my family. I will always take care of my family,¡± SJ smiled. ¡°Is there anything for breakfast?¡± Grinning, Yawnee opened a cupboard, which was coated with ice inside. Lifting a bag out, she removed some hogling rashers. ¡°Hogling sandwiches?¡± ¡°That would be amazing. I didn¡¯t know there was an icebox?¡± ¡°I had it installed when the mages came to do the hot water. I couldn¡¯t resist. I hope you don¡¯t mind?¡± ¡°Not at all.¡± They sat chatting while the hogling fried off on the stove when Lurtew¡¯s voice drifted up the stairs. ¡°Can I smell hogling?¡± ¡°Yes, dear. It will be another minute.¡± ¡°Great. I¡¯m starving.¡± Lurtew appeared in the kitchen doorway. ¡°Morning SJ.¡± ¡°Morning.¡± ¡°I will go and wash up,¡± Lurtew said as he disappeared up to the bathroom. Not long after, the three of them sat at the kitchen table, drinking coffee after having their fill of hogling. Lurtew had just finished explaining the standing that the Brewers Guild used. They had both been coopers for a long time with the guild and sat on the fourth tier. There were six in total. SJ had questioned if they were fourth tier and why they still earned so little for each barrel they produced. Lurtew had explained that the tiers protected you from being removed from the guild if you didn¡¯t meet quotas, not a financial difference. New coopers were always trying to join the guild, which had a limited number of places available, so being a higher tier gave you protection rights. The guild could replace tier-one members with newer members if they did not meet their quotas sooner. It was a competitive profession. SJ couldn¡¯t imagine spending the hours they did each day making barrels for the little they earned. Finishing her coffee, SJ said she would be back later and that, for now, she would only ever be coming and going from her room rather than using the front door. When Lurtew questioned SJ, she said she preferred to fly rather than walk the streets, not wanting to burden them with her current problems. The real reason was that she didn¡¯t want to draw attention to the house. Heading back upstairs, she walked to the rear window. At the rear, there was nothing that overlooked the property where the yard was situated. The windows opened outwards, and she would have to consider getting a door and balcony installed on this side in the long term, providing her with a second entrance. Making sure she had everything she needed for the day, she opened the balcony and locked it again before shrinking. It wasn¡¯t easy to see the balcony from the street unless you were looking from the inner city. Doing one last check, she took off back over the building. She would see Jay and ask him to check on sunstones at the auction house, then find Zigferd before trying to finish her shopping for new weapons. She thought it unlikely that Raceillia would try and attack her in the open in daylight, but she still didn¡¯t want to make herself an easy target. ? Chapter 147 – Sunstones and Lollipops Jay, as usual, was in the stables. SJ inquired about him checking the auction house for her to find out the price of sunstones. He promised he would go today for her. He had also spoken to the stable master, who had agreed that he could have the time to do a Killic run, but the costs would need to be covered by SJ. Jay readily agreed and told SJ that he didn¡¯t want to be paid and was looking forward to going on the road for several days. SJ knew Alef should arrive at some point today and would go to the tower, expecting both SJ and Zigferd to still be there, and asked if Jay could let him know when the coach from Killic arrived. Alef would change the horses over at the stables as it was for the return journey. SJ told Jay she would be at Isavil¡¯s. She left the stables to find Zigferd. She knew where Isavil lived and flew straight there. The house stood back on grounds surrounded by trees, and the building remained hidden from the outside. The house wasn¡¯t large, and SJ landed at the front before growing and knocking. Isavil answered. She had her hair tied up and wore a plain dress and apron¡ªnot her usual immaculate attire at the chamber. ¡°Hi SJ. Come in.¡± ¡°Morning. Is Zigferd here?¡± ¡°Yes. He is upstairs, moving some furniture.¡± As Isavil finished speaking, there was a loud bang, and SJ heard Zigferd cursing. ¡°I will go and see if he needs a hand.¡± SJ found Zigferd muttering in one of the bedrooms. ¡°Morning, Zigferd.¡± ¡°Is it?¡± he grumbled. ¡°Are you ok?¡± ¡°How can someone have so much stuff they want to take with them? I am not even sure if it will fit on a wagon.¡± ¡°You have a large empty house to fill in Killic,¡± SJ smiled. ¡°He isn¡¯t very domesticated, is he?¡± Dave giggled. SJ ignored Dave and gave Zigferd a hand to move the wardrobe, which had toppled when he tried to move it. Together they carried it down the stairs between them and placed it in the lounge, which was already full of various chests. With the number of items in the lounge, SJ had to agree with Zigferd that there was a lot to move. ¡°I spoke to Jay. He can do the run. I will let him know we will require a large wagon.¡± ¡°Large! We need about six,¡± Zigferd sighed. ¡°I need to let you know that I also have an issue. I have discovered who had been authorising the assassination attempts.¡± Zigferd¡¯s eyes opened wide. ¡°Who?¡± ¡°It was Raceillia, the other fae that works with Larianco.¡± ¡°Why would another fae do that to you?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know the details yet. She attacked me last night, and Larianco saved me. She is currently looking for her, and it has been reported to the fae capital.¡± Zigferd looked in shock at the information. ¡°Why would someone you have never met until coming to Asterfal have people attack you? It makes little sense. We still don¡¯t know who authorised the attacks in Killic. I wonder if that was the name that Greb could never say?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. Larianco is looking for her, and Jay has the drivers keeping an eye out for her. I have also spoken to a friend who is looking as well.¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Isavil asked as she entered the lounge. ¡°SJ was attacked again last night by one of the fae representatives.¡± ¡°What? Why in Amathera would they attack you?¡± ¡°I wish I knew. This has been happening since not long after arriving in Killic, and I don¡¯t know what I have done to draw the attention that I have. It¡¯s all a little confusing. I have some thoughts, but nothing can or has been confirmed.¡± ¡°What thoughts?¡± Isavil asked. ¡°It¡¯s all a guess, but I am unsure if it has to do just with the growth of Killic and the boundaries or if it is something else. It was initially thought that someone on the Asterfal council was involved, and I suppose Raceillia is tied to the council in a way, but it doesn¡¯t explain why the fae are directly involved now. I had hoped things would get back to normal after being sworn in, but that doesn¡¯t seem to be something I can look forward to.¡± ¡°The initial information we received is directly related to the town¡¯s growth when Greb was interrogated, but for a fae to be involved opens a different avenue. I have had little dealing with Larianco outside of pleasantries and don¡¯t know enough about the fae to comment,¡± Zigferd said. ¡°I will reach out to my contacts in the city. I know beings in every district through the market traders,¡± Isavil said. ¡°That would be helpful. The sooner she can be located, the safer I will feel.¡± ¡°It is a shame that she doesn¡¯t fall under the council oath. It would have prevented her from attempting to kill you. A councillor may not initiate or harm another,¡± Isavil said. ¡°I will head out now and speak to my contacts. I officially don¡¯t leave my role until I leave the territory.¡± Isavil kissed Zigferd on the cheek before heading out of the door. SJ helped Zigferd move the rest of the furniture downstairs, and once they finished, he grabbed a drink from the kitchen. Zigferd carried a jug of juice out to the back garden and poured them one. He sighed as he sipped his drink, leaning back and closing his eyes. ¡°How are you doing?¡± SJ said. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Zigferd said, not opening his eyes. ¡°I mean, how are you doing? You don¡¯t seem yourself.¡± ¡°Would you be, being rushed into a marriage?¡± ¡°Rushed? I wouldn¡¯t say fifty years is a rush. You have been ready for this for a very long time. I know deep down that you always wished you had said yes.¡± Zigferd didn¡¯t reply for several moments. ¡°You¡¯re right. I wish I had said yes, but I also see how busy I have been in Killic and not just dragged Isavil from her family. I don¡¯t want her to feel let down when we get there. She has never been there.¡± ¡°What are you worried about? Killic is a beautiful town, and it is improving daily with the money from the mine. I am sure she will fall in love with Killic just like me.¡± ¡°I hope you are right. I would dread to think I have taken her somewhere that she doesn¡¯t like.¡± ¡°Asterfal is an amazing city and what I have seen and experienced since being here adds something else to Amathera. What you can¡¯t do is walk for ten minutes and be out in a peaceful natural forest or stand by a lake feeling the warm summer breeze against your skin.¡± ¡°Or the smell of the lake kelp.¡± Both of them laughed at that comment. ¡°The mages really do a good job of clearing the kelp. I didn¡¯t know they did it for the first couple of months.¡± ¡°If they didn¡¯t, Killic would definitely have a distinct smell to it.¡± After finishing their drinks, SJ continued to help Zigferd pack the house up. ¡°It¡¯s looking good. Most things appear to have been done now,¡± Isavil said on her return. ¡°SJ¡¯s been a great help,¡± Zigferd said. ¡°I have spoken to a few of my contacts, and they will keep an eye out in the city. If they see or hear anything, they will let me know.¡± ¡°Have you decided when you are going to leave?¡± ¡°Tomorrow.¡± ¡°I will probably stay for a few days and then catch up before you return to Killic.¡± Isavil frowned. ¡°Catch up? How will you do that?¡± ¡°Zigferd mustn¡¯t have told you. I have a cottage outside of Killic and a portal. Once there, I can then port back to my cottage in Killic itself. Or I can meet the coach on the road as you pass.¡± ¡°That will make travelling much easier for you. Portals are restricted and they cost so much money to set up. Getting permission alone is an endless process,¡± Isavil said. ¡°How much?¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t know precisely, but it will probably be hundreds of platinum.¡± ¡°Wow. I know Fran told me about them before being restricted, but I never would have imagined them being that much. Has Asterfal never considered getting one?¡± ¡°It has been discussed over the years in the chamber, but no one has ever really been able to justify adding one. Asterfal is its own capital city, realistically. There are a few cities that a portal link would benefit. Possibly a link to the continent¡¯s capital, but it wouldn¡¯t be used often. The costs associated with triggering their use would be very high because of mana consumption. That is on top of the initial installation costs.¡± ¡°What about the race kingdoms? Do they not use them?¡± ¡°Only if they can create them. The magical crafting needed to construct a portal is a specialist branch, and not many of the mages I know have ever learned it. Being a Legionnaire gives you a perk that normal Amathereans don¡¯t have.¡± ¡°I believe there is a portal at Lisofill. Why would that have been granted permission if the capital controls them all?¡± ¡°Ah. Lisofill was the home of a previous empress of the continent. It has been there for a few centuries. I doubt it has been activated in decades, if not centuries.¡± There was a knock on the front door. Zigferd answered, letting Jay in. ¡°Sorry to disturb you. SJ. I looked at sunstones. The cheapest on the auction house is currently 65 gold.¡± Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. ¡°What? That much? That¡¯s crazy.¡± There were still other items that SJ needed to buy and she couldn¡¯t really afford to spend 65 gold on a sunstone. Isavil, overhearing the conversation, interrupted. ¡°What do you require a sunstone for?¡± ¡°I have a miniature wyvern egg that I am hoping to hatch and bond. I spoke to the pet trainer, who is not far from here, and she said I would require a sunstone to attempt bonding.¡± ¡°Is the egg fertile?¡± ¡°Yes. She checked it to confirm it was.¡± ¡°That¡¯s amazing. I haven¡¯t seen a miniature wyvern since I was a young elf in the capital. They are beautiful creatures, very rare. Which type is it?¡± ¡°Crystal.¡± Isavil¡¯s eyes opened wide in amazement. ¡°A miniature crystal wyvern. You do know how much that egg would sell for?¡± ¡°No. I know two other eggs were sold from the three we received, but I didn¡¯t know whether they were fertile or not.¡± ¡°How recently?¡± ¡°Recently. Why?¡± Isavil started laughing. ¡°I was probably the one who bought them. I have sought a miniature wyvern for decades but never found a fertile egg.¡± SJ frowned and considered what Isavil had said. ¡°So if I sold it at auction, it would sell for a lot?¡± ¡°No. You can¡¯t sell it at auction now. It would have to be a private dealer. Once an egg has been identified and is known to be fertile, its status changes to that of a living being, so it may not then be sold at auction. Are you looking to sell it?¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t planning to, as I hoped, to raise it myself. It would have been interesting to know what it is worth. I can¡¯t justify getting it hatched now without having a sunstone.¡± Isavil grinned at SJ and said, ¡°That¡¯s a shame. I would have loved to own a miniature crystal wyvern. They are rumoured to be the most beautiful creatures and noble companions if bonded and trained well. I suppose I won¡¯t need this for the moment, then.¡± Isavil opened her hand, showing an orange gem shaped like a sphere. It was 2 inches in diameter, and the inside swirled with flecks of red and yellow. ¡°Is that a sunstone?¡± SJ said in amazement. ¡°It is. I have owned it for a long time, hoping to find a worthy pet one day, but it appears your luck has exceeded mine. Here,¡± Isavil handed the sphere to SJ. ¡°May I? It¡¯s stunning,¡± SJ said, holding the swirling gem in her fingers. Her display triggered. Sunstone Quality: Flawless After staring at it, mesmerised by its patterns, SJ returned the sunstone to Isavil. ¡°No. Take it.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t. I can¡¯t afford it currently.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that. You have a use for it; I could wait another century before I need one. It only sits in my inventory, taking up space. And being selfish, I will see a miniature crystal wyvern in Killic.¡± SJ stood open-mouthed, staring at Isavil. Zigferd walked up to Isavil, placing his arm around her and pulling her in tight. ¡°You have a soft heart,¡± he said, kissing her cheek. ¡°Jay, while you are here, can I ask you to consider how we may get all this shipped to Killic?¡± Zigferd waved his arm back towards the lounge. Jay walked into the lounge and looked over the belongings that Isavil wished to take. After doing some mental calculations, he concluded that he could fit nearly everything in an enclosed wagon if he selected the large one. ¡°It has an eight-horse team, and it won¡¯t be fast. A couple of items won¡¯t fit, but I assume the coach that Alef will bring will be empty and can carry some items. The other option is two smaller wagons, which means another driver, but it would be faster.¡± ¡°The coach should be apart from collecting messages or any orders, and I am not worried about speed.¡± ¡°The large should be fine then. Would you like me to get it today to load up? I can leave it here overnight if you like?¡± ¡°That would be great. I don¡¯t suppose you mind helping to load it, do you? SJ has helped bring most of it downstairs.¡± ¡°Of course not. I will go and grab it now.¡± SJ was still shocked at being handed the sunstone by Isavil and had paid no attention to the conversation between Jay and Zigferd. ¡°SJ. Shall I accompany you to the pet trainers?¡± Isavil said. SJ looked at Isavil as she regained her composure. ¡°Yes. That would be great. Having someone with me will ease my nerves.¡± The inner city streets were busy with the typical movement of people around the area. It was nothing like the outer city¡¯s hustle and bustle, but it was enough for Isavil to be stopped and spoken to by several they passed. It was the first time SJ had been out with Isavil, and it was plain to see that she was well liked by those in the city. As they neared the pet trainers, they heard crashing and shouting inside. ¡°Marly, grab him,¡± the half-elf SJ had met before shouted as the strangest-looking creature SJ had ever seen jumped from the top of a cage to a shelf in the store. Jars and pots were knocked over as it landed, sending them crashing to the floor. The creature was about the same size as a squirrel monkey, with bright green fur and large round eyes. It had two small horns on its head behind rounded ears. As Marly lunged to grab it, it jumped again, wrapping its tail around a beam, and swung upside down, looking down at them all. SJ thought it was grinning. ¡°Damn. Get down here now,¡± Sally said, frowning at the small beastie. When SJ visited the pet trainers previously, all the animals she saw were what she would call typical. Cats, rabbits, guinea pigs or at least very similar looking creatures. ¡°Sorry,¡± Sally said. ¡°Give me a minute.¡± Marly grabbed a small set of steps and moved them underneath, where the creature swung and climbed to reach it. It hissed angrily, opening its mouth and showing a set of razor sharp looking teeth. Sally noticed the look on SJ¡¯s face. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, they only use their teeth to crack open nuts.¡± ¡°What is he?¡± SJ asked. ¡°He will soon be a stuffed example of a Swalial if he doesn¡¯t get down here and stop misbehaving.¡± The little creature stuck its tongue out at Sally''s comment, and as Marly reached to grab him, he pushed off the beam from where he hung. This startled SJ as he flew towards her, landing on her shoulder and making her shriek. Isavil handed a small stick to SJ. ¡°Feed it this.¡± Frozen to the spot with the small creature¡¯s tail wrapped around her neck and the image of the very sharp teeth in her mind, she took the stick. It looked like a lollipop. She slowly brought her hand up towards the creature. Its little hands went to grab the stick from SJ, but she didn¡¯t let go, as it pulled it towards its mouth and licked it with a long tongue. While it was distracted, Marly moved behind it before grabbing it. It hissed in anger and turned, snapping at Marly, who held it at arm¡¯s length and carried it towards a cage. Sally closed the door as Marly released it. ¡°You will be lucky to get fed today,¡± Sally said, chastising the small creature. SJ stood with the lollipop still in her hand, staring at the beastie. ¡°Do you mind?¡± she asked, moving to the cage with the lollipop. ¡°No, it¡¯s fine,¡± Sally said. SJ handed the lollipop to the Swalial, who snatched it greedily before chomping into it. ¡°It likes honey sticks,¡± Isavil said, grinning at the beastie. ¡°My brother asked me to look after him while he¡¯s away. They are great pets for those they are bonded to and devils for anyone else,¡± Sally sighed. ¡°Sorry for the disturbance, and thank you for helping. What brings you here today? More eggs to check?¡± Laughing, Isavil said, ¡°No. Not for me today. I am here with SJ to witness the incubation of a miniature wyvern.¡± ¡°Ah, yes. The miniature crystal wyvern. Did you manage to get a sunstone?¡± ¡°I did thanks to Isavil.¡± ¡°Excellent. So you would like the incubation process started and bonding ritual?¡± ¡°Yes, please,¡± SJ removed the sunstone from her inventory and the box containing her wyvern egg, removing it and placing them on the counter. ¡°Let me get a box,¡± Sally said, walking to the back of the store and returning with a small green glass box, with a lid and metal clasp. In the middle of the box was a small feather nest. Isavil was busy turning the miniature wyvern egg in her hands, looking at it in awe. ¡°It¡¯s beautiful,¡± she said. ¡°Right then. Incubation will take 16 to 18 days. I can configure the box to the right temperature and, with your sunstone, can align the bonding rights. Unfortunately, there are no guarantees of bonding successfully. What grade is the stone?¡± Sally said, picking up the sunstone. ¡°Oh, flawless, that will increase the chance significantly.¡± ¡°How much will this cost?¡± SJ asked. ¡°Sorry, it will be twenty gold for the incubation configuration, box and bonding rights.¡± ¡°Fifteen,¡± SJ said, remembering Sally¡¯s comment the last time she had been in the shop. Sally frowned, ¡°Nineteen,¡± ¡°Sixteen.¡± ¡°Eighteen.¡± ¡°Seventeen,¡± SJ said. Rocking her head, Sally considered before agreeing to seventeen gold. SJ removed seventeen gold and placed it on the counter. ¡°I need you to hold the sunstone and the egg in each hand, while I cast the bonding ritual. I will then perform the incubation process.¡± SJ had assumed the bonding would be once the egg was hatched, surprised to see that it was all part of the incubation process. Sally began to cast a spell as SJ held the egg and sunstone. A yellow strand of light left Sally¡¯s hand and wrapped around the sunstone before continuing up and across SJ¡¯s shoulders. The strand then, travelled down the arm that she held the egg and wrapped around it. It crackled like electricity, but there was no feeling. The strands then moved and joined directly from the sunstone to the egg as it unwound from her arms. ¡°Ok. That is the bonding process started. The two can¡¯t be separated until the egg hatches,¡± Sally said, reaching for the two items in SJ¡¯s hands. She gently took them before placing them in the box beside each other amongst the feathers. The yellow crackling light continued to swirl around both. ¡°Right, then incubation time,¡± Sally closed the lid to the glass box, which SJ noticed had small holes in it and locked the clasp. She placed her hands on either side of the box and cast another spell. Her hands glowed red, and SJ could feel the heat from where she stood across the counter. Sally¡¯s eyes were closed, and as SJ watched, the box glass heated, turning red as it did. SJ had expected the feathers to burn, considering the heat, but they looked normal. Sally stopped casting and let out a sigh. A bead of sweat ran down her brow. ¡°It¡¯s done. That was trickier than normal because of the precise temperature needed.¡± The glass box still glowed red. ¡°Is there anything else you need today?¡± Sally asked. SJ looked between the box and back at Sally. ¡°How do I carry that?¡± ¡°Oh. The box is cool to touch.¡± Cautiously, SJ placed her hand on the box. Although the glass appeared heated still, it was indeed cold to the touch. ¡°Can I place it in my inventory?¡± ¡°You can, but it must be outside your inventory for several hours daily. It requires air to maintain the correct temperature. You may undo the clasp when and only when the egg begins to hatch. If you do it before, the temperature will be affected and stop the incubation.¡± ¡°I suppose my only other question would be, what will I feed it when it hatches?¡± ¡°Any meat will do. Wyvern aren¡¯t fussy eaters.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fantastic. I don¡¯t think I need anything else today.¡± ¡°It will be great to know how you get on once it hatches, especially when you start to train it.¡± ¡°I will be back for advice when I do,¡± SJ smiled, picking the box up. Isavil couldn¡¯t take her eyes from the swirling light inside the box as they left the shop. ? Chapter 148 – Paws for Claws The incubation box took up four spaces in her inventory, and SJ was so happy she had spent the gold on the bags of holding. Walking back to Isavil''s, Jay had arrived with the large wagon, and between him and Zigferd, they were loading it. "Did you get sorted?" Zigferd asked, wiping his hands on his bottoms. "Yes. All sorted," SJ said, removing the incubation box from her inventory. "Wow. That looks amazing," Jay said, jumping down from the wagon. "It does," Isavil agreed. "Are you finished?" SJ asked. "For now, until my darling wife decides that she wishes to take the house with us." "I can if you like?" Isavil smirked. Zigferd rolled his eyes, sighing, shaking his head in disbelief. Jay and SJ laughed at Zigferd''s reaction, which received a glare from Isavil. "Jay. Do you know a smithy named Daek?" SJ asked. "Aye. He works in District 8." "Do you mind showing me where it is?" "No problem. I must return the horses to the stable, so I will bring the cart back." "Great, thanks." It didn''t take Jay long to return with his usual cart and horse, and they soon traversed the inner city streets and headed towards District 8. "The lads haven''t seen her yet," Jay said. "She is probably in hiding," SJ said. "Well, if she is seen on the streets, I will find out, I am pretty sure." As they moved down the streets, SJ could see all around her, and she knew Dave was also monitoring for any signs of Raceillia. Her adjusted vision gave her a level of comfort she had never realised she would be so grateful for. The welcoming sound of a smithy could be heard long before they reached Daek''s. The metallic banging felt homely, reminding SJ of Zej working at his forge. There were various smithies in Asterfal, but this was the first she had visited. "I''ll wait," Jay said. SJ jumped from the cart and entered the open area where a large forge was blazing. Flames licked around its entrance, and Daek stood twisting metal with tongues. He removed the glowing metal from the fire, placing it on an anvil before hammering it into shape. Once happy with his work, he plunged the still glowing metal into a water tank, creating a cloud of steam as the metal hissed and cooled. "Hi, Daek," SJ said once he had put the metal down. "Hello," the dwarf grinned at seeing her. "I assume you are here to look at what claws I may have?" "I am, and darts." "Excellent. Follow me then, and I can show you what I have." Daek moved to the rear of the forge, where a door led into an adjoining building. As SJ entered, she was amazed at the content of Daek''s shop. Hanging around the walls were various weapons on display, and racks of swords and axes filled the shop floor. Their bright metallic blades shone ominously under directed lantern lights. Zej''s forge in Killic contained more armour compared to weapons, but Daek¡¯s was a weaponsmith¡¯s delight. "I don''t usually keep claws on display," Daek said, winking. Behind the counter was a large chest, and Daek bent down and began searching through it. "Right then. What''s your price range so I know where to start? " "They have to be better than my current blades," SJ said. "Do you mind if I see them?" SJ called her claws to her hands and removed them, placing them on the counter for Daek to inspect. As he turned them in his hands, he nodded in appreciation. "These are a decent set, rare as well. With that bleed effect, it makes them potent for claws that have no level boundary." "They have served me well since I came to Amathera, but I need to upgrade them now." "Are you after a similar style of claw? With the hook like these, or would you prefer straight claws?" Not having considered differing variants, SJ gave it some thought before answering, "I think straight maybe be better rather than hooked. With my fighting style, most of my punches are straight rather than tearing." "Well, all claws have a slight hook to them, but the hook on this set is quite pronounced. What spread do you want?" "Spread?" SJ asked, confused. "Do you want the blades straight or designed so that they splay out from your fist?" "Straight, I suppose." "Length of blade?" There was so much to consider just in the claw style. Her Badger Blades were not very long, and longer blades would help with the reach, but they may also be harder to control as easily for accuracy. "I think a similar length, maybe slightly longer, but not much." "Ok. Right then, let''s see what I have available." Daek rummaged through the chest, muttering to himself as he did until he placed different claws on the counter. "Right then. This is my current selection that fits your needs." Five claws were on the counter, each varying in style and design. Three of the five were three-blade designs, while two had four blades. Each of the blades was approximately eight inches. These were all slightly longer than the claws she had been wearing until now. "Before I look at them and get excited, what are their price ranges?" Daek smirked. "Let me see now. The cheapest set here will be 4 gold, 65 silver, 32 copper, and the most expensive set will be 48 gold, 23 silver, 99 copper." The prices of the claws were astronomical, considering the prices of basic weapons. SJ wasn''t sure if the prices were fair or not. Until she looked at them, Dave wouldn''t even be able to guide her. "Are they in any order?" Daek changed where they lay on the counter. Pointing at the pair on SJ''s left, he said. "These are the cheapest. Then they go up in price range." If needed, SJ could afford the claws for 48 gold. "Would you accept my blades as a trade?" "I could do that, but I suggest you sell them at auction. Rare weapons that can be used at such a low level will probably get a lot more attention than I will offer you for them." SJ checked the statistics of her Badger''s Blades before she picked up the first set. The Badger¡¯s Blades +3 Quality - Rare Damage - 5 - 9 +3 Special - 10% chance of bleed effect The set on the left was basic claws, and after reading their statistics, SJ immediately asked Dave a question: ''I didn''t realise that weapons have level use restrictions. It''s the first time I have seen the level listed.'' "I''m sorry SJ. I thought I had told you before. Yes, as you can see, weapons have level restrictions against them. I bet a couple of these sets are out of your level boundary. I should have mentioned it. It is no different from your different armour variants as you level." SJ picked up each set of claws and checked their details. Dave described the first three sets as basic claws. Claws +3 Level Requirement - Above 5 Quality - Good Damage - 9 - 13 +3 Enchantment Slots - One Claws +5 Level Requirement - Above 10 Quality - Good Damage - 12 - 14 +5 Enchantment Slots - One Claws +7 Level Requirement - Above 15 Quality - Good Damage - 14 - 19 +7 Enchantment Slots - Three If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. When SJ picked up the fourth set, Dave began chatting. "Now, they are a nice set of claws. The damage bonus by itself is nothing special. There are +20 damage variants out there. What makes those special is that ability. All named weapons are better. You can also see their rare quality. It''s a shame they are level 20." Claws of Puncturing +8 Level Requirement - Above 20 Quality - Epic Damage - 13 - 20 +8 Enchantment Slots - Two Special - Armour holds no bounds for these claws. They will pierce even the strongest metals. As SJ reached for the final set of claws on display, knowing the last set had been level 20 and up, she wasn''t expecting that she could use them. Dave whistled in her ear. Wolf Blades +17 Level Requirement - Above 30 Quality - Mythic Damage - 29 - 35 +17 Enchantment Slots - Four Special - Wolves are renowned for their sharp claws. These claws will even cut into granite. Warning - Don''t pick your nose with them. "They are awesome," Dave said. "Having the ability to cut into stone with them. That pretty much means they will cut through virtually anything." "These last two sets are above my level," SJ said. Daek looked at SJ, slapping his hand on his forehead. "I am so stupid. I didn''t even ask you what your level was. I am guessing less than twenty then." "Yes. I am 19 currently." "Bah, I''m sorry. Okay, okay, let me think. I know you said you wanted straight claws slightly longer than yours, but I have other sets of different lengths and styles that may suit you. Would you like to see them?" "I wasn''t aware of level limits on weapons until now," SJ flushed. "If you just show me what you have up to level 20, that would be great. I am only stating the size and design due to what I had with my current claws. I really am not an expert." Daek''s eyes opened cheerily at the comment. "Well then, let me show you all the different variants there are then." After returning the two sets above level 20 to the chest, Daek again rummaged through it before placing three new ones on the surface. Each had differing designs. The first set had four much shorter blades, only about two inches, and SJ thought they looked more like knuckle dusters than claws. The second set was about eight inches with three blades, each wickedly curved, but the third set he placed on the counter drew her attention. The blades were eighteen inches, and there were two on each. The base of the blades was joined with a v-shape that ended with a slot between them. They weren''t perfectly straight and splayed ever so slightly, but still no wider than her wrist. The blades also continued down the rear of the glove, protecting the back of the hand. What drew SJ to them more than anything was the colour. They were pure black. They seemed to absorb the light. "They are so long, and the colour," SJ said. "These beauties are one of my best ever creations," Daek proudly said. Not even considering the other two pairs, she picked one of them up to identify. Paws of the Nightwalker +6 Level Requirement - Above 15 Quality - Mythic Damage - 18 - 20 +6 Enchantment Slots - Three Special: Blade break: These claws may catch a foe''s blade and, in doing so, have a 3% chance to snap the blade with a wrist twist. Absorption: Nightwalkers are known for performing sneak attacks. These blades absorb light and sound. SJ stared at the claws in amazement. They were beautiful. Their damage was not as high as some others, and they were much longer than what she was used to using, but the design of them and the guard that ran down the rear of the gloves as well, and two special abilities. ''Dave?'' SJ thought. "Haven''t you bought them yet?" "How much?" SJ asked. Scrunching his face up, Daek looked at the claws for several moments. "I could let them go for 42 gold, 73 silver, 13 copper." The price was nearly as high as the +17 wolf blades, but with two abilities and three enchantment slots, and the difference in damage compared to her current claws was huge. SJ could imagine how easily some of her previous battles would have gone with increased damage. Several of her fights when she had been levelling had been long and drawn out, which, for an assassin, was never a good thing. Although her hit points were above average for her level and class, assassins were not supposed to withstand consistent damage. These would make a massive difference to her fighting prowess, especially for initial sneak attacks and critical blows where damage multipliers came into effect. Not that she still understood all the calculations behind the damage tables. "Twenty," SJ said. Daek gulped, eyes open in shock at her comment. "Twenty?" He started shaking his head. "No, no, no, no, no. You can''t be serious about offering twenty gold for such a set as these." "Give me a price I will accept, then." Furrowing his brow, scratching his beard and muttering to himself, Daek contemplated. It took him a while before he replied again. "38 gold, 21 silver, 74 copper." "Still too high," SJ said without hesitation, smiling at Daek. She swore she could see a bead of sweat on Daek''s brow. "They are worth what he quoted you initially," Dave said. "You could walk into an auction house, drop them on the market and leave, and I bet they would make more." ''They may be, but it''s about time I used my charm.'' "What charm?" ''My 9/10 charm.'' Dave scoffed. "I wish I had never said that." SJ laughed at Dave through thought as she awaited Daek''s next offer. "35 gold, 79 silver, 67 copper, and I can''t go any lower," Daek said, shaking his head. SJ stood with her hand resting on her chin, tapping her lips with her finger as though deep in thought. "Deal," she said. Daek exhaled deeply. He must have been holding his breath. "Thank the dwarven gods. You strike a hard bargain." SJ removed the coin from her inventory and placed it on the counter. "So, what darts do you have?" Daek''s initial persona returned now that the claw deal was concluded, and he replied jovially, almost bouncing. "All my darts are on display, just over there." He pointed at a shelf containing trays. The shelves contained various dart designs. Some designs on the shelves had feathers, while others had arrowheads. She knew that not all darts could be reused and, most over time, required replacing because they were semi-disposable. The only variance she could see was damage-related, and that depended on their level and quality. The set she chose was like the style she had trained with. They looked like pencils in design, and again she selected black ones. Darts Level Requirement - Above 15 Quality - Good Damage - 6 - 7 The basic darts she had could only do 1 to 3 damage, so they were a significant upgrade. Not that she had used them yet during a fight. She bought thirty of them for twenty-seven silver. This time not bartering with Daek, as the prices were clearly stated above each tray on the shelf. With an offer showing buy nine, get the tenth free. Her new claws were moved to her primary weapon slot on her character sheet, and she retired her badger blades to her inventory. They had done her wonders since she had arrived. Standing in an open space in the shop, she called the claws to her hands and then pulled them on. As she did, they resized as all items and weapons did. She had to ask Dave about it at some point, but it had become such a natural occurrence with weapons and armour that she had taken it for granted. The claws felt perfectly balanced, and the blades, although much longer than the badger blades, were exceedingly light. She knocked them together, amazed by the dull, almost silent sound they made. Her previous claws had created the usual clang of metal on metal. SJ smiled as she completed several of the moves she had learned from Jurgen. Daek watched with a raised eyebrow. "You must be pretty proficient," he said. "I am getting there." "Who is your trainer? You have to have had some." "A friend back in Killic called Jurgen." "It seems he has taught you well. If you are in the city for a while, I suggest speaking to Garwin Brownstone. He is a trainer for the tower guard but also teaches private lessons." "He works for Colonel Crawford?" "You know the Colonel?" "I do." "Well, you may even get a discount for his services then," Daek chuckled. "Thanks, Daek. When I level, I will come back again to see what else you have." "I doubt you will need a new set for a while. Those should last you until level 30." SJ nodded her head in understanding. Returning her claws to her inventory, she thanked Daek again before leaving. Jay was waiting outside, and as she climbed into the cart, she had a huge grin. "I guess you got what you needed?" he asked. "I certainly did." "Where now?" "I think I should call in at the Griffin." SJ wanted to see Carlito and find out if he had found Raceillia yet. ''I still need to look at enchantments,'' she thought. The loss of the bleed effect from her claws was something she wanted to consider replacing, if possible, it had saved her life on more than one occasion. "Yes. You haven''t enchanted anything yet, and knowing that Fran is mainly defensive, it would be best to get some while you are in the city." ''Yeah. After checking with Carlito, I think it will be time to go on another shopping spree.'' Chapter 149– The Squirrel Sphere At this time of day, the Griffin wasn¡¯t as busy as her previous visits, and only one troll stood by the entrance. The inn still had several patrons, but where the entrance to the cages usually was, a metal grate covered it. ¡°If you see Freja, tell her the Mistress wants to see her,¡± an elf called from the stairs leading to the offices above. ¡°I will,¡± a kobold answered as he ran from the inn. SJ walked to the bar where a human barman was busy cleaning tankards. ¡°Hi. Do you do coffee?¡± SJ asked. The barman turned and looked at her before grunting and pointing to the end of the bar where a coffee pot stood. SJ walked to the pot, picking up a mug, which she had to wipe out, and then poured herself a mug. It was lukewarm and obvious that coffee wasn¡¯t usually drunk in the inn. ¡°How much?¡± SJ said. Not speaking, the human just shook his head in the universal meaning of nothing. Carrying the lukewarm beverage to a table, she sat, sniffed it cautiously, and sipped it. Surprisingly, it tasted nice. There were so many coffee variations that she needed to look into them more. She had always been a coffee connoisseur on Earth, having a selection of various flavours for when her friends used to come around. While SJ was sitting, discussing the benefits of coffee with Dave, the barman walked over to the table. ¡°I was asked to give you this,¡± he said, dropping a small pouch on the table. With a frown, SJ thanked him and picked up the pouch. She had seen no one in her vision enter or leave the bar she was aware of. ¡®You didn¡¯t see anyone come in, did you?¡¯ ¡°Only the kobold that returned. The one that left when we entered. They left again straight after.¡± ¡®Did they go to the bar?¡¯ ¡°I didn¡¯t pay attention. I¡¯m sorry. If you had let me record, I could have looked back.¡± ¡®That¡¯s not happening. I will not have you feeding the System information. Especially now with the synchronisation changes.¡¯ ¡°Oh. I just thought.¡± ¡®Be careful,¡¯ SJ laughed. Not biting, Dave continued, ¡°Umm, let me see. Yes, perhaps...I think it may work.¡± ¡®What may work?¡¯ ¡°With the code changes, I think I can make a partition, which I can lock down. I could record there without information being passed on. It couldn¡¯t be permanent, but I can save over it. I¡¯m not sure how much it would record, though. I know it¡¯s very memory intensive.¡± It could be beneficial if Dave could record certain elements to check, even though, as an AI, she would have thought he would note everything. Then again, he had moments where he appeared distracted. ¡°You do know I can see when you are being rude about me?!¡± Dave said. ¡®I wasn¡¯t being rude. I was just thinking, honestly. You do appear distracted at times?¡¯ ¡°Hmph. I do not.¡± ¡®Yes, you do. You go into your silent phases.¡¯ ¡°That is when I am choosing to ignore you.¡± ¡®Now, who is being rude?¡¯ ¡°Anyway, what¡¯s in the pouch?¡± SJ had forgotten about the pouch in her hand, arguing with Dave. ¡°And you just said I get distracted,¡± Dave snarked. Opening the pouch strings, SJ tipped the contents into her hand. It was a small curved jewellery item with the tiniest gem on its outer rim. It was about an inch long and silver. ¡®What in Amathera is this?¡¯ ¡°Oooo, now that is unusual. I haven¡¯t seen one for a long time now. It¡¯s a communication clip. It fits to the outside of your ear. They only work over short distances, unlike communication stones with unlimited range. Perfect for when in a city. They allow for direct two-way communication.¡± Now that Dave had explained what it was, it vaguely reminded SJ of an old-style Bluetooth earpiece that used to fit over the ear. She carefully placed the item on her left ear, adjusting it until it fit snugly along the back. ¡°You trigger it by holding your finger on the small gem.¡± SJ did what Dave advised and placed her finger on the gem. It was the only part of the item which wasn¡¯t smooth. Nothing seemed to happen at first. ¡®I am guessing it¡¯s from Carlito, but I won¡¯t know unless someone says something.¡¯ As SJ finished the coffee, she heard a low-sounding buzz and heard a voice. Initially, she turned around but realised it was the device. There was a grunting sound and fast breathing. ¡°Sorry for the delay in answering. I am still a little preoccupied,¡± the voice said. ¡°One moment.¡± It had to be Carlito, but it was a voice she hadn¡¯t heard him use before. She heard a muffled cry and what sounded like blades clashing. SJ stood and left the bar, not wanting to be seen talking to herself. Leaving, Jay was still in the cart outside, waiting for her. Jay saw her, and she looked at him, pointing at her ear as she moved to one of the outside tables and sat down. ¡°Are you ok?¡± she whispered. There was another grunt, followed by a thud as the voice panted. ¡°Well, that was unexpected.¡± ¡°What was?¡± ¡°I was just finishing a contract. I have been waiting for this damn orc for two months, and then he shows up with eight guards. I will be asking for a bonus for this one.¡± SJ could hear a blade being wiped and a sword being placed back in a sheath. ¡°Is this your normal voice?¡± SJ had to ask. ¡°Yes. That item you have now will allow us to speak as needed. It will only work inside the city. As soon as you leave, it stops. They are not cheap, so don¡¯t lose it!¡± his voice made it clear to SJ that she better hadn¡¯t. ¡°Have you found anything out about Raceillia?¡± ¡°Only brief sightings. Hooner Street and Marchent Street. One is in District 2, and the others in District 4. Reports said she was spotted but unable to follow as she was flying between locations.¡± That she had been spotted was great news. ¡°That¡¯s great. At least I have an idea of where she has been. What time was it?¡± ¡°There have been no reports since the early hours this morning. I will let you know if there are any updates. I better go. I need to clean up and get out of here.¡± The device went silent. Opening her map, SJ checked for the street names that had been mentioned. Neither was on her map. Returning to Jay at the cart, he frowned at her and pointed at his ear. ¡°What does that mean?¡± Smiling, SJ moved her hair back out of the way so Jay could see the small device on her ear. Jay¡¯s eyes opened wide. ¡°Wow. They cost a fortune. Who gave you that?¡± ¡°Who do you think?¡± ¡°Damn,¡± Jay replied in shock. ¡°By fortune, I mean seriously expensive.¡± ¡°How much?¡± ¡°Not sure exactly, but I would guess several platinum for a pair. They are very specialist items.¡± ¡°Do you know where Hooner and Marchent Streets are?¡± ¡°Am I a cart driver or not?¡± Jay laughed. ¡°Do you need to go there?¡± ¡°I do, if that¡¯s ok. I don¡¯t need to stop. I just need to locate them.¡± Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. ¡°That¡¯s easy enough. We can head to them now; it shouldn¡¯t take too long.¡± ¡°Could we then go to the fae sanctuary in the inner city after that? I would like to see Larianco and see if she has discovered anything yet.¡± Jay spurred the horse into action. Moving down the street, SJ paid attention to everything that was going on around her. It was strange that her vision was so normal being able to see 360 degrees. ¡°Oooo. I think this may work,¡± Dave said. ¡®What? You better not be doing anything without discussing it.¡¯ ¡°No. This isn¡¯t something that could alter you. If anything, it will give you some insider information.¡± ¡®What do you mean by that?¡± ¡°Hang on. Damn code...okay, there we go. Open your map.¡± SJ opened her map. ¡®What am I looking at?¡¯ seeing nothing obvious on the display. ¡°Ah. I need to add colour. It is just code to me....there we go, that should have worked.¡± As SJ looked at her display, she noticed a red dot appear on the map. It was somewhere in District 12. She had never been there, so she had no details. The fog of war still covering that area. ¡®What is it?¡¯ ¡°That¡¯s Carlito. I thought it might help if you can see where he is. You will be able to identify him and know if he is nearby.¡± ¡°How?¡± SJ said aloud, surprised by what Dave had done. ¡°Sorry?¡± Jay said. ¡°Ignore me thinking out loud,¡± SJ said. ¡°This new level of synchronisation allowed me to trace your mana flow as you communicated with him. I could backtrack the call and get Carlito¡¯s location. It¡¯s all 1¡¯s and 0¡¯s after all, so by using the information from his device, I could then map it as a point of interest. It¡¯s no different from adding a note to the map you have. It¡¯s just this one is mobile and follows him.¡± ¡®Wow. That¡¯s amazing.¡¯ SJ watched as the red dot was moving swiftly across the district. It was jumping from location to location and it was literally seconds until it had moved through to District 9. It was moving so quickly. ¡®He must be shadow-stepping to move that quickly.¡¯ ¡°I would guess so, as the link breaks then reestablishes.¡± ¡®Thank you, Dave. This will be really helpful. I will sneak up on him for a change.¡¯ ¡°My pleasure,¡± Dave said. SJ could hear the pride in his voice. She knew he still felt guilty about his changes to her vision. After visiting both streets in the districts, SJ saw nothing pointing to why Raceillia would have been there. She may not have even stopped on the streets and could have just been passing, but at least she had something to start with. Jay took them to the fae sanctuary to speak to Larianco. ¡°Come inside,¡± Larianco said on answering the door. Jay came in with SJ and they were shown to the lounge. ¡°Drink?¡± Larianco asked. Once drinks were served, Larianco sat. ¡°Any news?¡± SJ asked. ¡°I have heard nothing so far. I spent this morning visiting all the locations I knew she frequented in the city, but there was no sign. I would have been surprised if she had gone to her usual places. She spends quite a lot of time in the districts, much more than I ever do.¡± ¡°Do you know what she did there?¡± ¡°Mainly visited bars from the stories she used to tell me. She is still a young fae and enjoying her freedom.¡± ¡°Could you tell me the bar¡¯s names?¡± ¡°Of course, I¡¯m not sure what good they will do you. You can¡¯t watch them all at once.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t, no. But I know someone who may help. Jay, could you give the list to the drivers?¡± ¡°Definitely. A few of them also owe me some favours, and I can ask them to do some watching for me,¡± he smiled. Jay noted the bars that Larianco mentioned. He knew them all, as they were mainly the more popular ones in various districts. Only one of them, he queried. ¡°The Squirrel Sphere. Now that¡¯s not a normal bar. Any ideas how often she went there?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± Larianco said. ¡°What do you mean not normal?¡± SJ said. ¡°It¡¯s a gang bar. The Plagues run out of it.¡± ¡°Who are the Plagues?¡± Larianco asked. ¡°Sorry. I started on the streets in the gangs. The Plagues is pretty much a thief¡¯s gang. They target various market areas across the city. Then, they cause havoc before they move on to a new district. The traders never know where they are going to target next. They are based in District 3, and we both know what the guards are like there. It¡¯s been raided before, but there have always been rumours that they pay off the guard, as I can¡¯t ever remember a current member being caught.¡± Jay¡¯s knowledge of the outer city surprised Larianco, who spent nearly all her time in the inner city with the upper classes of Asterfal. As Jay continued, SJ could see that Larianco looked uncomfortable. ¡°Several ex-members or rumoured ex-members have been found dead on the streets. They are rumoured to operate under pretty strict rules. They aren¡¯t a gang I have ever had dealings with. I was always in the brawling scene.¡± ¡°Where in District 3, is it?¡± SJ asked. ¡°Near to the warehouse district. It¡¯s actually not far from where Lurtew and Yawnee lived, although I doubt either of them would have ever entered it. As I say, it¡¯s got a very select clientele, which is why I was surprised when you mentioned it.¡± ¡°Do you know who runs it?¡± ¡°No. It¡¯s been years since I was involved to that level of knowing who ran what in the gangs. I can probably find out easily enough. I still have my contacts,¡± he winked. ¡°Could you?¡± SJ opened her map, noticing that Carlito¡¯s red dot appeared back at the Griffin, and asked, ¡°Also, can you describe where it is compared to Lurtew and Yawnee¡¯s?¡± Jay described the bar¡¯s location, which was one street over, further towards the outer city wall. ¡°Right, I am going to visit this bar,¡± SJ said. ¡°Jay, if you find out, who runs it?¡± ¡°No, you are not!¡± Jay said. ¡°There is no way you can just walk in there.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not going in. I am going to watch it. If you say they are thieves, then I will keep an eye on their movements. See who comes and goes.¡± ¡°I am not happy with this,¡± Larianco said. ¡°I¡¯ve already told you I am in a better position than I am in my usual life. I know who is after me this time.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know if she has hired someone else,¡± Larianco said. ¡°I know there is no contract on me,¡± SJ said without thinking. ¡°Doh!¡± Dave¡¯s voice rang in her mind. ¡°How could you possibly know that?¡± Jay knew enough about SJ not to say anything and just sat quietly. SJ could feel her cheeks heating, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. ¡°What did Fran tell you about me?¡± ¡°She told me about what you had helped with in Killic and the changes that were playing out due to your Legionnaire status.¡± ¡°So, not my class, then?¡± ¡°No. Why?¡± ¡°I am an assassin. I have spoken to a guild member, and there are no contracts open on me,¡± SJ said, watching for Larianco¡¯s reaction. If it had shocked her, she hid it well, with only a faint movement of her eyebrows. ¡°I was unaware that you were an assassin. I thought you were a monk class or similar. Especially the drab clothes you kept wearing. Most monks wear plain clothes a lot of the time.¡± SJ couldn¡¯t help but laugh. ¡°I wear these clothes, so I don¡¯t stand out. It has nothing to do with my class. When we first met, you mentioned that you may need to call my services. I honestly thought you had been referring to my class.¡± ¡°Oh my. No. I meant in relation to influencing the council and its direction. But now that I know your class, I suppose there may be opportunities.¡± SJ didn¡¯t respond, suddenly feeling very uncertain. ¡°Right. I am off to get the name,¡± Jay said. ¡°I will go and scout the inn,¡± SJ said. ¡°Do you mind if I use the back?¡± Larianco followed SJ to the back. ¡°If you see Raceillia, do not try and take her yourself. Her defensive magic is very strong.¡± ¡°If I find out where she is staying, I will let you know. Don¡¯t worry,¡± SJ said, shrinking and taking off. She changed her dress as she flew, ensuring it would be as inconspicuous as possible. When she arrived at Lurtew and Yawnee¡¯s old house, it appeared like a goblin family had moved in. As she flew over the rear yard, six sproglings were kicking a ball about. On her display, she checked the mark she had made from Jay¡¯s directions and headed towards the inn. The street the inn was on was narrow. It had no traffic, and a cart would struggle to travel down it easily. A broken sign hung above the inn doorway on a single hinge, creaking in the gentle breeze that filled Asterfal¡¯s streets. It was dark and dank looking; paint flaked from the front of the building, and the windows looked stained and dirty. It wasn¡¯t an inn that she would ever frequent. Landing on the opposite roof wasn¡¯t ideal, as buildings on either side reached above it with windows. Moving over the building, she found a yard at the rear, where empty and smashed barrels were strewn. A couple of beings were in the yard having a heated conversation. SJ could hear raised voices, but not what they were saying from the height she was at. She could land nowhere at the rear, and looking at the yard, she doubted that if Raceillia went there, she would ever enter the yard. Flying back over the front again, she picked the tallest building and landed on the rooftop. It was thatched, and she sunk into the thatch as she landed, the rotten straw needing replacement. The state of this district area was dire, and she was so glad she had moved Yawnee and Lurtew out. ¡®I¡¯m not sure why she would ever come here,¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°It¡¯s a dump. There are always areas like this in all large cities. The same inequality always exists.¡± ¡®I just find it frustrating. I hope the chancellor can work on what he promised in the chamber and start to sort things.¡¯ ¡°Changing the direction of cities is never easy. Listening to the chamber meetings and the conversations that have taken place in the tower it will be a challenging task.¡± SJ moved forward on the thatch, being careful where she placed her weight and finding a more secure location. She crouched in her miniature form and watched ¡®The Squirrels Sphere¡¯. ? Chapter 150 – Departure As the late afternoon and early evening wore on, nothing had happened at the inn. SJ hadn¡¯t even seen anyone enter or leave it during her time there. The skies were overcast, and it looked like it might rain soon. ¡®This is pointless,¡¯ she thought. ¡°Not pointless, just not productive this time. You know how long it takes to stalk someone.¡± ¡®I¡¯m not stalking them!¡¯ ¡°You are really. Stake out, stalk, not much difference.¡± SJ couldn¡¯t argue with Dave¡¯s reasoning. ¡®I think I will head back home. There isn¡¯t much point staying here all night. Especially looking at the skies. I need to speak to Jay anyway, see if he managed to find out anything about the gang and who runs it now.¡¯ ¡°You never said where you would meet him.¡± ¡®You know what? I don¡¯t even know where Jay lives. I have never asked him in all the times I have spoken to him.¡¯ ¡°That¡¯s true. I doubt he lives at the stables.¡± ¡®I don¡¯t even know if he has family.¡¯ ¡°You know he isn¡¯t married.¡± ¡®I know, but he may have relatives or parents here.¡¯ ¡°I doubt it. Orcs are quite different compared to many races. They don¡¯t live in family groups like others do. Once an orcling reaches young adulthood, they nearly always go out on their own.¡± ¡®I would have thought they stayed in clans.¡¯ ¡°No. Many go wandering.¡± SJ could imagine Dave¡¯s virtual shrug. SJ had been reading her history book and looking at the inn¡¯s entrance. With her adapted vision, she was able to do both with ease. The entrance had been down on her left side while she was looking straight ahead, reading the book. The history of Amathera was fascinating, and she learned several new facts. She had reached a part which had covered parts of the fae history. The details had been similar to what Dave had shared with her about Gavia and his followers with the issues they caused, leading to the hatred and mistrust of her race. Gradually standing and stretching, not realising how stiff she had been sitting still for so long, she took off and flew towards her house. She saw the fast movement coming from behind as she flew over the houses, diving as the object blurred past her. Yelping in shock, the bird missed her by inches. ¡°Carrion hawk. Level 12. Nothing to worry about,¡± Dave said. SJ had seen a few birds in the city skies, but none had ever approached her before when she had been flying. ¡®That was close.¡¯ The hawk was beating its wings, rising into the air again after missing its target. It turned, splaying its wings, which reminded SJ of the red kites that used to fly around the parks of London. ¡°They usually feed on city rats or other birds. In your darker clothes, it probably thought you were a bird.¡± The bird was about eighteen inches, three times her size, and SJ had not fought in her miniature form since her almost fatal initial time on Amathera against the termites. The hawk approached her again as she jinked sideways and lowered towards the rooftops. She had been quite high above the city initially. She felt the air movement from its passing. SJ landed on a flat roof, turning to look up at the hawk. The hawk had risen again and circled, looking back down towards her. Where she stood was open, and there were buildings which could look over the rooftop, and she didn¡¯t want to grow in her larger form. There was a door giving access to the flat roof, and along its sides were pots containing plants, and rope had been strung up to dry washing. The hawk came again. SJ called her claws. She wouldn¡¯t grow but would face it. Her new claws were insane, and they were hardly visible in the early evening light. As the hawk neared, SJ readied herself, diving to the side, timing her dive to coincide with its passing. She left her trailing hand behind her, the length of her new blades working to her benefit. As the hawk again missed, her claws caught its wing. It cried as they cut through its feathers, removing several. The hawk tried to steady itself, but with damage to its wing, it could not, so it crashed heavily onto the rooftop. The hawk was now flapping its wing, trying to lift off the roof again, failing each time. SJ felt a pang of guilt at its plight as it thrashed on the rooftop. It hissed at her, and for an animal, SJ could see the hostility in its beady brown eyes. ¡°You may as well finish it. If it can¡¯t fly, it will just become food for the cats in the city.¡± SJ¡¯s shoulders sagged, knowing Dave was right. She still didn¡¯t enjoy killing animals she felt more of an affiliation to. Her outlook had changed since arriving in Amathera, and she knew she had become hardier than her outburst from her badger escapade. She triggered her identification skill, only concerned about its health and nothing else. Carrion Hawk Level 12 Hit Points: 49 of 71 The damage her claws had done was quite insane. Their base minimum was 24. Then, adding her dexterity bonus and skill bonus, the minimum damage she would do for a clean strike now stood at 65. She had only caught the hawk with a glancing blow on its wing as it had passed her. Without hesitation, SJ approached the hawk. It hopped, hissing, flapping its wings, and she waited for the right moment, watching for its very sharp-looking beak and claws, and struck up into the hawk¡¯s chest. The extended blade length made it easy to reach the hawk, and as soon as they penetrated, its health plummeted as it fell sideways onto the roof. It had such a low armour class that it had little defence against an attack, normally surviving on its fighting prowess. She felt sorry for it as it lay dead on the rooftop. ¡°Loot and go again,¡± Dave said. ¡®Loot it?¡¯ ¡°The feathers are great for arrows. I bet a fletcher would give you a decent price for them. May as well use what you can from it.¡± While looting the hawk, SJ received 4 x Carrion Hawk Feathers. She did not even pay them attention as she took off again and continued home. The city cats would find it soon enough. She took no pleasure from the bird¡¯s death. After checking the surrounding area, she flew down and landed on her balcony, growing and entering her room. Once the drapes were closed, she lit a lantern. SJ called down the stairs to make Yawnee and Lurtew aware she was home. ¡°Have you eaten?¡± Yawnee called back. ¡°I am just heating some stew.¡± SJ¡¯s stomach grumbled at the question. ¡°That sounds great. I will be down in a few minutes.¡± ¡®The damage with these claws is crazy,¡¯ SJ thought as she closed the door again and walked to the side table by the bed. With care, she removed the incubation chamber from her inventory and placed it on the table by her bed. Its swirling light was still as beautiful and mesmerising as she stared at it. It gave off subtle light, reminding SJ of the nightlights her friends had back on Earth for their kids¡¯ bedrooms. ¡°With your dexterity bonus and skill damage, you are becoming quite a potent fighter,¡± Dave said. ¡®When I consider what it could end up at, many of the creatures I fought initially would have been killed so easily.¡¯ ¡°You can understand now why the territory borders opening and allowing higher monsters and beings to cross can cause so many worries. Health-wise, the difference between a monster in its 20s and one in its 30s can be significant. Your current damage would put you in good standing against any of an equivalent, if not several, levels higher than yourself. Especially those who have low armour class and hit point base. The bonuses from your extra attribute points at each level may eventually make you one of the most feared in Amathera.¡± ¡®I¡¯m not sure if I want to be feared. That sounds evil.¡¯ ¡°Would you not wish for evil to fear the wrath of the good fae?¡± ¡®I suppose, considering it in that manner.¡¯ The carrion hawk¡¯s feathers were soft, and SJ stroked them in her hand before adding them to the pile of items on the table. After washing, she headed down to the kitchen. ¡°Evening,¡± SJ said, entering. Yawnee was stirring a large pot on the stove. ¡°Hi. It¡¯s almost ready. Could you call Lurtew for me?¡± SJ walked downstairs rather than calling to find Lurtew sweeping the shavings from the garage floor. ¡°Dinners ready.¡± Lurtew jumped when SJ spoke. ¡°SJ, you scared me.¡± ¡°Sorry.¡± SJ watched as Lurtew collected all the shavings and dropped them into a bucket. ¡°They are perfect for lighting the fires,¡± he smiled, noticing SJ watching him. ¡°Right, that¡¯s good enough for now,¡± Lurtew said, picking the bucket up and heading to the doorway. They walked back upstairs, and Lurtew split the wood shavings between a bucket in the kitchen and one in the lounge. SJ had become used to the smallest items having a use, and little went to waste. Many families lived from hand to mouth, and all the small savings increased over time. The stew smelled amazing, and SJ cut some thick slices of bread to go with it. While they ate, they passed small talk about the Brewers Guild and the changes they were looking to make. There was a concern that the changes could impact the prices of the barrels they produced, and both Lurtew and Yawnee were worried about their income. SJ promised the pair they would never go short, and if it came to it, she would support them both. Her financial income from the mine alone made her relatively rich, if not exceedingly rich, when considering most in Amathera. It was only since arriving in Asterfal and thinking about the dungeon and the income the Legionnaires may make from it that the wealth they brought to a city could be very significant. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. Once they finished eating, SJ ushered them both out to the lounge while she cleaned up. The small, mundane interactions and things she did allowed her time to think and appreciate her position and what she had going for her. ¡®Jay leaves tomorrow with Zigferd and Isavil. I am going to miss him when he goes,¡¯ SJ thought. Jay had become a trusted friend in such a short time. It was strange how she had built such a rapport with him so quickly. ¡°I think you need to get him to stay in Killic,¡± Dave said. ¡®There is nothing for him in Killic. His level and experience would be wasted.¡¯ ¡°Wasted? He would make an amazing addition to the guard with his fighting prowess. He could also consider doing the Asterfal runs with Alef?¡± ¡®Perhaps. I will speak to him about it. I would love him to stay in Killic.¡¯ ¡°Never mind what the future needs of Killic will be when it expands again, and the levels increase. There is already that wyvern in the mountains. No one knows what else may come with the next expansion.¡± SJ finished clearing up and went through to the lounge. Lurtew was sharpening a chisel on a stone, and Yawnee read a book. ¡°Thank you for dinner.¡± ¡°No need to thank me. It¡¯s your home. It¡¯s the least I can do,¡± Yawnee said. ¡°Lurtew. I have been thinking about the Brewers Guild and how it operates.¡± Lurtew glanced up from where he was grinding the edge of the chisel. ¡°What about it?¡± ¡°Why does the Brewers Guild control all the rights to the barrel making in Asterfal?¡± Frowning, Lurtew looked at her. ¡°Who else would hold the rights?¡± ¡°Has no one ever competed against them for the barrel rights? When I listen to all the conversations about the Brewers Guild, I am always listening to the control they have over everything, from the prices of alcohol to the costs of barrels. They have overarching control over the entire sector. I know that they can affect beings outside of Asterfal as well. Kerys in Killic has suffered due to them previously, and I don¡¯t understand why or how they control everything. Where I am from, there is what is known as a competitive market. Different brewers and manufacturers always compete, keeping the markets fairer.¡± Lurtew sighed, and Yawnee looked up from her book. ¡°I wish that were true. We have no control over the prices and only make a tiny profit from our costs each month. They even control the wood prices.¡± ¡°What?¡± That shocked SJ. ¡°So, you are telling me they have absolute control over every aspect of the process?¡± ¡°I suppose so, yes. But what can we do? We must use their products if we want to sell our barrels.¡± ¡°So, they charge you for the wood you used to make the barrels and then pay you for the finished items afterwards. You are basically paying them to have the right to carry out your profession?¡± Lurtew and Yawnee looked at SJ before Lurtew shrugged in response to SJ¡¯s question. ¡°Do they brew the alcohol?¡± ¡°They do the standard ales. Specialist ales and liquor are imported from other areas or towns.¡± ¡°I think I may need to look into this more,¡± SJ mused. ¡®I wonder if competing against the Brewers Guild is possible?¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°You would be surprised by the amount of power Brewers Guilds hold in regions. They are usually one of the wealthiest guilds, even beyond Legionnaire and adventurer guilds,¡± Dave said. ¡®The way they are making Lurtew and Yawnee buy the goods to make the goods means they are being paid even less than I thought. If they could source their own wood, I bet they could make more money with fairer rates. It¡¯s worse than slave labour in the way they operate.¡¯ ¡°Challenging a Brewers Guild is not something I have witnessed before. Regional guilds have fought over the years to increase their control of territories, but they are very powerful. They are normally linked directly to many of the city and town officials. The way Kerys works in Killic is unusual, brewing her ales. It¡¯s not the norm for many. Few inns manufacture ale.¡± ¡®I wonder where she gets her barrels from? I will have to ask when I return to Killic.¡¯ It wasn¡¯t much later when SJ wished them both a good night and headed upstairs to bed. After extinguishing the lantern in her room and climbing into bed, SJ watched the light cast by the incubation box flicker on the room¡¯s ceiling, swirling patterns appearing like stars in the night sky. SJ was awoken by a knock on the door to her room. ¡°Are you there?¡± Jay called. SJ sat up in bed, rubbing her eyes, and looked at her display. It was nearly 0900. She had slept solidly and was surprised that Dave hadn¡¯t awoken her. ¡°Give me a minute,¡± SJ said, climbing from bed and pulling her dress on. She glanced in the mirror above the sink in the room, sighing at her tussled hair before walking to the door. ¡°Morning,¡± she said as she opened it, seeing Jay. ¡°Morning. I thought I better see if you were here. Zigferd and Isavil want to leave before lunch so they can reach the first stop before nightfall. Alef is at Isavil¡¯s and I thought you may want to see them off.¡± The thought of them leaving saddened SJ, but she knew it would only be for a few days. With Cristy gone, Zigferd, Isavil and Jay leave, making her feel quite miserable. ¡°Yes, I do. I will just get ready and be right there,¡± SJ said. ¡°Do you want me to wait?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s okay. I will fly over. Did you find out any details about that gang?¡± ¡°I did, but I will explain all when you get to Isavil¡¯s. Otherwise, you will never be ready,¡± Jay said, grinning as he turned to head back downstairs. ¡°I will be straight over,¡± SJ said as she closed the door. ¡®Why didn¡¯t you wake me?¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°There was nothing urgent to do this morning. I thought you could benefit from the extra sleep for a change,¡± Dave said. ¡®I can¡¯t believe they are leaving today,¡¯ SJ sighed. ¡°It¡¯s not for long. You will soon see them all again.¡± SJ got herself ready, washing and cleaning her teeth before calling to Yawnee and Lurtew to let them know she was leaving. Lurtew called back, acknowledging her, and Yawnee asked if she wanted breakfast before she left. SJ turned the offer down and left via the balcony, heading straight to Isavil¡¯s. The large wagon and Killic¡¯s coach were parked outside the house. Alef was busy checking the wagon¡¯s reins. As SJ landed and grew, she called morning to Alef. ¡°SJ. Nice to see you. How has your first Asterfal visit been?¡± ¡°Interesting is probably the best word to describe it.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a busy city.¡± ¡°I still have hardly seen any of it yet. What time are you leaving?¡± ¡°Soon. Are you not coming with us?¡± ¡°I will catch up in a few days.¡± Alef frowned, not sure what SJ was referring to. She doubted he had any idea she even had access to portals. ¡°I wondered if you were going to show up this morning,¡± Zigferd said as he walked from the house carrying a small chest. He headed to the Killic coach and then dropped it inside. ¡°Are you nearly ready, then?¡± ¡°Just grabbing the last few items. With the slower pace of the large wagon, Alef thinks it is better to set off early so we aren¡¯t caught out at night.¡± ¡°Makes sense. Is Isavil inside?¡± ¡°Yes. Out the back giving her brother orders about the garden.¡± SJ walked through the house and found Isavil and Fasvil in the garden. ¡°This one needs pruning. If you speak to Tatlock, he will keep an eye on it for you,¡± Isavil said. ¡°I will speak to Tatlock about all of it. You really don¡¯t need to explain everything to me,¡± Fasvil said. His frustration was obvious; listening to gardening wasn¡¯t something he enjoyed discussing. ¡°Hi, Both,¡± SJ said. Fasvil turned, nodding. Isavil said, ¡°Oh good. I have some news for you.¡± ¡°From the traders?¡± ¡°Yes. She was seen in District 6 yesterday, late afternoon, and then flying into District 3.¡± ¡°Do you know where exactly?¡± ¡°The main market squares in each District.¡± ¡°Ok. Thanks,¡± SJ smiled. ¡°Are you all set?¡± ¡°Nearly. Fasvil isn¡¯t paying attention to the details very well, though. If it doesn¡¯t involve coins, then he isn¡¯t interested.¡± SJ chuckled as Fasvil hmph¡¯d in response. As they walked back through the house, Isavil checked each room to ensure she remembered everything. The house was being kept so they would have somewhere to stay when they came to Asterfal, so it was still furnished. Zigferd, Jay and Alef stood talking by the coach and wagon as they walked outside. Isavil locked the door behind her. ¡°You have the spare keys, don¡¯t you?¡± she asked Fasvil. ¡°Yes, Isavil and I have the list of jobs you need doing as well.¡± ¡°Good,¡± Isavil smiled and hugged her brother, kissing him on his cheek. ¡°I will send a message as soon as I arrive in Killic. It¡¯s a shame father couldn¡¯t make it this morning.¡± ¡°You know what he is like,¡± Fasvil shrugged. ¡°Ok. I think we are ready.¡± ¡°Excellent,¡± Zigferd said. ¡°Your coach awaits, my lady.¡± Zigferd bowed with a flourish, opening the coach door. ¡°Such a gentleman,¡± Isavil giggled as she climbed the steps. ¡°I will see you in a few days,¡± SJ said. ¡°SJ. If you ask for Grui at the stables, he will update you on anything they discover.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great. Thanks, Jay.¡± The coach moved Isavil and Zigferd, waving from the window while SJ and Fasvil waved back. ¡°See you soon,¡± SJ said to Jay as he spurred the wagon forward. They watched as the coach and wagon moved down the street until it had turned the corner, heading to the Southern entrance to Asterfal. ? Chapter 151 – Clock Tower After watching her friends depart, SJ wished Fasvil a good day and, changing, took off and flew directly to the stables. Landing behind them by the beloved tree she thought of as her lifesaver after her failed freefall, she entered the stables. ¡°Do you know who Grui is?¡± SJ asked one of the stablehands. The gnoll girl who replied resembled Cristy, but SJ struggled to differentiate between them. In truth, she was not the best at telling gnolls apart unless it was by their fur colour. ¡°He just left to collect a councillor,¡± she replied. SJ turned and left immediately, heading to the tower. On arriving at the steps, she saw three carts parked outside. She did not know who Grui was and headed to the first one. She was just about to speak to them when she was called. ¡°Ambassador?¡± SJ turned to the cart furthest away and saw a young man. ¡°Grui?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Jay said to speak to you to see if you had found anything?¡± ¡°Yeah. That one you are looking for was seen first light. One of the lads was on his way back from collecting councillor Darwin from his mistresses when he saw her. She was in District 4.¡± ¡°Do you know whereabouts?¡± ¡°I think he said he was on Farrow Street.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great. Thank you,¡± SJ said, taking a silver coin from her inventory and handing it to him. His eyes opened in amazement at the coin. ¡°I will call back later to check again if that¡¯s ok?¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Grui smiled, pocketing the coin. SJ decided she would head straight home again. ¡®Dave. I have a plan,¡¯ she thought as she flew over the city. ¡°A cunning plan?¡± SJ laughed in her thoughts. ¡®I haven¡¯t heard that comment in a long time.¡¯ ¡°Sorry?¡± Dave asked, sounding confused. ¡®¡®A cunning plan.¡¯ my uncle Dave always watched repeats of a TV series called Blackadder, which was a line from the show.¡¯ ¡°Oh. I haven¡¯t watched that one. I will have to see if we have copies in the archives.¡± ¡®Anyway, as I was saying, I have a plan, well, an idea. You said on the map you can add notes, so I need to do some checking of the sightings of Raceillia.¡¯ SJ landed on her balcony, entered her room and moved to a table. She kept the drapes closed until she located Raceillia and resolved her current problems. SJ called up her display and searched for the street name mentioned by Grui. Luckily, she had been there before and found it easily enough. ¡®How do I draw lines?¡¯ ¡°Three dots like other menus and options to add details. Can add start and end points.¡± SJ followed Dave¡¯s instructions. She then selected each area where Raceillia had been seen and connected them. Looking at the various points, she then connected lines from each of the locations to the others, creating a rather complex web of lines all over the map. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Dave asked. ¡®I am trying to see if there is somewhere central she may have been travelling from. It¡¯s just an idea; there are no guarantees it will mean anything.¡¯ Once she had finished connecting the sightings, she zoomed in on the map to the centre of where most of the points crossed. It was offset slightly, but the area in the middle of all the sightings was close to the warehouse district in District 3. ¡°Oh. I see what you have done. Very interesting. You know it may mean nothing, though, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡®Yes. But it¡¯s somewhere to start. I will never get near her with random sightings because by the time I know anything, it¡¯s unlikely she will be there, so if I can locate where she is staying, or at least have an idea, it¡¯s somewhere to start from.¡¯ ¡°Well, we know how bad District 3 is.¡± ¡®It¡¯s a shame Jay has left already. I really could have done with his help.¡¯ ¡°Speak to Larianco. I am sure she will help.¡± ¡®I know she will. And I will do it once I have done some checks. I am going to visit the warehouse district.¡¯ It was still early when SJ arrived above the warehouse district. Since yesterday evening¡¯s rain, the overcast skies held a weighty presence, as if ready to pour down at any time. She was missing Killic¡¯s glorious weather in comparison. It had been refreshing with the first rain, but the seasonal shift in Asterfal reminded her of the UK¡¯s temperamental forecast. ¡°The clock tower on the left will be the best place to watch from,¡± Dave said, as she had been looking for a safe perch to rest. She swooped down and landed on the small platform at the top of the tower. It was the highest point in the area, and she could see clearly into the surrounding streets. Beneath the tower, the streets were busy with their usual traffic. The wagon¡¯s being on and offloaded. Shouts and calls from workers as items were moved and positioned. It was busy, and no one would pay attention to where she was now positioned. Her increased sight from her dragon blood allowed her to see clearly from the distance she was, and she could even make out details on individuals¡¯ faces or clothing. The gift that Bob had given her was amazing, not considering it had saved her life on several occasions already. Everything about her senses was heightened. If she ever saw him again, she would have to thank him. The clock tower had a weather vane on its pointed roof and squeaked with its unoiled state. Before leaving her room, she had brought some of her dry rations and waterskin with her. She was planning to stay for a while. She still needed to visit the enchanters, but that could wait now. Tracking down Raceillia was her priority. Removing the history book from her inventory, she flicked to the page she had been on. It was the start of a section on the Scrug Wars. She had heard it mentioned several times, but never read any of the details. Floretta first mentioned the Scrug Wars when she first met Nexis in Killic, and Nexis also commented on them. The first time they spoke about creating an auction house in Killic, Nexis spoke about Edwardo, the paladin who had supported the God of Death. The book stated the wars started in 24348 and ended in 24593 when the System actioned amendments. The premise of the war was the fight for good vs. evil. SJ struggled to fathom a war that lasted for almost 250 years. The book didn¡¯t go into many details but directed her to further books covering the war. SJ thought she might have to visit the library to see if she could get a copy. The basic details covered the major battles and factions that had formed. The war had only occurred on this continent, but many had travelled from other continents to participate. It had been concluded when the System had stepped in and amended the rights of the Gods. Initially, the Gods hadn¡¯t been involved, but with the increase in tensions and a significant increase in death, several of the gods got involved directly. It was a time when followers received some of the most powerful astral items ever created. Many of these had been removed when the System stepped in. The conflict concluded with a battle between the gods of Death and Healing. An area of the continent was stripped of anything living, stretching across two previous territories known as the Scrug Scar, where their battle had devastated the land. Just the brief explanation in the book sounded intense. ¡®What year is it now?¡¯ ¡°25163,¡± Dave said. ¡®So there may still be some alive apart from the undead who remember the war. Or were involved.¡¯ ¡°Possibly. There may still be some Legionnaires who are alive. Especially the elven ones.¡± ¡®Do you know who the oldest Legionnaire is?¡¯ ¡°I believe there is an elf based on one of the other continents who is over 2000 years old.¡± Knowing she may live until she was 7000, 2000 didn¡¯t sound very old for a Legionnaire. ¡®Do you know who the oldest is here on Axynllrewam?¡¯ ¡°I am not sure. I could probably find out if you would like me to?¡± ¡®Just out of interest for no other reason.¡¯ This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. ¡°Many Legionnaires on this continent died during the Scrug Wars. The number here is lower than other continents. The number of deaths was insane by the time it concluded.¡± ¡®It doesn¡¯t say why it is known as the Scrug Wars?¡¯ ¡°Ah. Scrug was a farmer. He owned a property in the North of the continent. A neighbouring farmer poisoned his herd, and it stemmed from there.¡± ¡®An argument between two farmers caused the war?¡¯ ¡°Yep. Something so minor caused the deaths of millions of Amathereans.¡± It was amazing to consider the thought of such a minor issue bringing about the demise of so many and the System¡¯s deliberate actions ending the conflict. SJ placed the book down and took out some rations. She had been there for a few hours, and there was no sign of Raceillia. After the previous sightings, she wasn¡¯t sure if she was in the right area, but she had to start somewhere. ¡®Dave. You know you mentioned the other code changes?¡¯ ¡°Yes.¡± ¡®The last increase in our synchronisation occurred due to you freeing your code locks. Do you think that the cause is because of my status as an anomaly or yourself and your code changes?¡¯ ¡°Umm. In all honesty, I¡¯m not sure. My code has never been altered as much as it is now, but I also do not think the synchronisation would occur with a being with a new brain. I think you still having your original grey matter in your head is allowing, or supporting the synchronisation. It is an unknown, so I can¡¯t really be certain either way. I know I could never see the neural pathways inside another Legionnaire the way I see yours. It¡¯s like watching a huge jumble of roads with pulses of electricity as vehicles move along them. It is pretty amazing, really.¡± ¡®I suppose we will never know what the actual cause is.¡¯ ¡°Possibly not, but I can see it being hugely beneficial. As long as I speak to you about anything prior,¡± he added shyly. ¡®Unusual movement at 2 o¡¯clock,¡¯ SJ thought, seeing the cloaked figure appear from an alleyway in front of the main warehouse area. She couldn¡¯t see details, just that the being had a slight frame with a cloak and hood pulled tight around its face. It was raining but not heavily enough to be hiding to the degree they were. ¡°Don¡¯t think it¡¯s fae,¡± Dave said. ¡®May not be just very strange behaviour.¡¯ The being disappeared down an opposite alleyway, moving between two warehouses. ¡®I am going to check,¡¯ SJ said, dropping her rations and book into her inventory and taking off. Flying directly down the clock tower face, she reached the rooftop and, staying low, moved to the separation between the warehouses. Reaching the edge, she landed and looked down. The figure hurried down the alley until it reached a doorway near the end. It stopped, glanced backwards, and then knocked on the door. A shutter in the door slid open, and it held something in its hand before it was allowed inside. SJ could not see what it was or hear if anything was said over the steady beat of the rain on the warehouse¡¯s roof. ¡°I think that was a dark elf,¡± Dave said. ¡®What makes you think that?¡± ¡®The build of it, but also the colour of its skin when it held whatever it held up to the door. It had a purple-green hue to it.¡¯ ¡®I haven¡¯t seen dark elves in Asterfal, apart from the chief at the Black Griffin?¡¯ ¡°There have been a couple of traders who were dark elves.¡± SJ hadn¡¯t specifically been looking at the various beings closely unless it was a race she had never seen before, which there had been a few since her arrival. ¡®Very suspicious behaviour.¡¯ Taking off, SJ flew down into the alley. Staying up high so as not to be visible to anyone glancing down it, she approached the doorway. The end of the alley was thirty feet away, and she continued to the end. It crossed with another alley that ran behind the warehouses. It was full of boxes and discarded rubbish, and anyone trying to move down it freely would struggle. High at the rear of the warehouse were some windows. Flying to the window, she hovered, trying to peer inside. It was filthy, and she struggled to see anything clearly through it. Reaching out, she wiped it in one corner, the thick black grime coating her hand. Just inside the window, she could make out a raised walkway that looked as though it stretched around the inside of the warehouse. A set of wooden steps led up to the walkway, and opposite where she was, she could see an open doorway leading into an office area. The warehouse¡¯s ground floor was full of typical crates, boxes and sacks she had seen being delivered. Looking at the interior design, the upper area was only accessible from the rear of the warehouse. There were no steps that she could see from near the front. There was a cage that separated the front from the back about three-quarters of the way inside. ¡®That¡¯s strange. That area can only be accessed from the back.¡¯ ¡°Very strange,¡± Dave agreed. There was no way of entering the warehouse at the rear. The only access was via the alleyway¡¯s side door. SJ flew higher onto the roof of the warehouse, scanning its surface. Its tiled roof met at an apex where it slanted to the left and the right, down to either side. Flying over its surface, many of the tiles looked cracked and worn. Eventually, she spotted what she was looking for and flew towards a tile that looked loose and had slipped. She landed on the tiles gently, uncertain of their strength, and crouched to see if they could be moved. In her miniature form, she grabbed the tile with both hands and gave it a tug. She wasn¡¯t ready for the sudden release and fell backwards, sliding down the warehouse roof with a tile following her. The tile scraped across the warehouse¡¯s surface, and as she gained her balance and pushed off the roof into the air, the tile continued to slide. It wouldn¡¯t stop and fell over the edge into the alley below. SJ panicked, not having meant for the tile to move as it did, especially not to fall off the roof. She immediately moved back up and away again, back towards the clock tower. Once she reached the tower, she landed again, letting out a breath she hadn¡¯t realised she had been holding. ¡°Do I state the obvious?¡± Dave said. ¡®No, but you are going to.¡¯ ¡°True. Your strength is still what it is. It isn¡¯t affected by your size. It is only your mass. If you were trying to hit someone with such little weight, your hits and kicks would have no power behind them. Inert objects that you grip and pull have an equivalence. Imagine you had just been grabbing a table and moving it. That is what you did to that tile. It was like gripping a table and yanking it. You didn¡¯t even check to see how loose it was.¡± ¡®I know,¡¯ SJ said, feeling annoyed at her stupidity. There was a cry from down on the street below, and SJ saw a goblin walk towards the alleyway and begin down it. After composing herself, she flew back down to the roof¡¯s edge, peering into the alley. The goblin kicked the broken pieces of tile with his toe and looked upwards, SJ pulling back and lying flat on the roof. ¡®What is up with me?¡¯ she thought. ¡°I¡¯m not sure, but if you are trying to be seen or get noticed, you are doing a good job,¡± Dave said unhelpfully. ¡®I knew he would look up. It¡¯s a natural reaction.¡¯ ¡°Yep.¡± ¡®If you think I am about to do something stupid, can you at least try and warn me?¡¯ ¡°I didn¡¯t think you were going to be that stupid. It¡¯s unlike you.¡± ¡®Maybe this isn¡¯t such a good idea. Perhaps I should just leave it to Larianco to find Raceillia and sort the problem out.¡¯ ¡°My only concern is if she has attacked you here and has now lost her permission to stay in Asterfal as a fae representative. What will prevent her from following you back to Killic or somewhere else to try and kill you? She no longer has anything to lose.¡± ¡®True.¡¯ Another goblin appeared at the alley entrance. ¡°Boss said he wants you to get a ladder and fix it. Rains getting in and dripping on the flour stack.¡± ¡°Why me?¡± ¡°Simple. You¡¯re the newest member in the warehouse.¡± The goblin in the alleyway cursed loudly as he trudged back towards the front of the warehouse. ¡®And now they are going to be climbing on the roof. All that has done has made it even harder for me to watch from here.¡¯ ¡°It¡¯s already early evening. I doubt he will have time to fix it today before it¡¯s dark. That means it will probably be like that overnight.¡± Back up in the clock tower, SJ watched as a long ladder was brought out to the front of the warehouse. After a lot of cursing and cajoling, the goblin from the alley cautiously made his way onto the roof. In his fear-stricken state, it took him a long time to crawl across the warehouse¡¯s roof on his belly. He looked as white as a sheet as he did. Eventually, he returned to the edge, looking down at the other goblin. ¡°I can¡¯t fix this. Not without new tiles. This roof¡¯s falling apart. Grab a canvas sack from inside, and I will cover it for now, stopping the worst of the rain.¡± The goblin at the ladder¡¯s base disappeared inside and returned moments later, carrying a canvas sack. He scurried up the ladder without care or fear and handed the canvas to his terrified colleague. Cursing, the goblin on the roof complained bitterly that he could have done it, knowing that he feared heights. With raucous laughter, the second goblin scurried back down the ladder, leaving his colleague to crawl across the slick tiles back to the hole. Thirty minutes later, as the light had started to fade, the hole had a temporary cover over it, with a canvas sack wedged under the other tiles. The goblin who had secured it moved back to the ladder and gingerly climbed back down. ¡°See. You can still get in there. Now, all we need to do is wait for them to finish for the night.¡± The streets were now bathed in lantern light as they had been lit as the night drew in, and it was still a few hours later before the streets outside quietened, the noise of the inns beginning to fill the night air. The rain was still steadily falling, and it looked like it was in for the long haul, looking at the grey skies. ¡®Okay. Let¡¯s go see,¡¯ SJ thought as she took off and flew down to the hole. She had adjusted her dress to that which she used at night, and with her new black boots, the only areas of her body visible would be her face and hands. She needed to consider getting a cowl or perhaps designing a balaclava. She doubted they were a thing in Amathera, but as a tailor, she was sure she could muster something up. Making a mental note, she landed near the canvas. The edge flapped in the breeze, and she lifted it and ducked underneath. There was still enough ambient light for her night vision to work, so she moved to the hole and peered down into the warehouse below. There was a light in the room where the walkway was, but she could see no movement. Lowering herself inside, she flew onto one of the thick wooden beams that held the roof up. ? Chapter 152 – Warehouse SJ could hear voices from where she crouched on the beam. They weren¡¯t clear, so she could not tell how many there were or whether they were male or female. The beams were a good twelve inches wide, and she could easily walk along them in her miniature form, so she worked around them closer to where the office was situated off the walkway. ¡°Entrance,¡± Dave said. SJ turned and looked towards the warehouse¡¯s entrance. The door had been opened, and a brutish-looking man had entered. He carried a lantern in his hand, closing the single door that opened separately from the main door it was built into. The light prevented SJ from seeing the man¡¯s face. ¡°Carter,¡± the man called. When he got no response, he bellowed, ¡°CARTER, ARE YOU HERE?¡± There was movement in the office, and a figure moved out onto the walkway, looking down at where the man stood. ¡°What do you think you are doing here? I told you I will communicate with you when we have it sorted.¡± ¡°Things have changed. I needed to update you.¡± ¡°You should have come around the back. Not walking in the damn front of the warehouse like that.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no one here. What does it matter?¡± The man on the walkway shook his head in dismay at the man¡¯s response. ¡°You do realise if it wasn¡¯t for your cousin being the lieutenant of this flea pit of a district, you¡¯d have had your throat slit by now for saying things like that?¡± ¡°And that¡¯s why I know I can.¡± ¡®Jelart¡¯s relative!?¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°Corruption has been mentioned enough, and the way Jelart reacted in the chamber when the chancellor mentioned auditing the districts, it doesn¡¯t surprise me,¡± Dave said. ¡°Hurry up and update me, and then leave then. I have important matters to attend to.¡± ¡°More important than the chalice?¡± ¡°Yes. More important than the chalice. Just because your cousin wants it doesn¡¯t make his business more important than others. This is a matter well above your station.¡± ¡®I haven¡¯t seen the man¡¯s face, have you?¡¯ SJ asked. ¡°No. Not clearly. That lantern is in the way.¡± ¡°The chalice is being moved tomorrow. It will be taken from the Astaria and delivered to the jeweller¡¯s on Nebworth Street in District 10.¡± ¡°I thought you said it would be in District 5?¡± ¡°Last minute change of plans apparently,¡± the man said. SJ noticed him shrug his broad shoulders. ¡°That makes it much harder to procure. The jeweller¡¯s quarter in District 10 has some of the tightest security. We have an inside being in District 5, but with the guard in 10, it will be hazardous.¡± ¡°You get free run in the city because of my cousin who oversees this ¡®flea pit¡¯,¡± the man said, emphasising the words. ¡°If it wasn¡¯t for his lenience, you wouldn¡¯t get away with most of what you do.¡± The man on the walkway laughed, ¡°And if it wasn¡¯t for us, he wouldn¡¯t be sitting so pretty in his mansion in the inner city with the wealth he has.¡± The tone of the conversation was not friendly, and SJ could see that this was a business relationship and no other, and by the sounds of it, not a very strong one, or at least one on the best of terms. ¡°He said he would give you a 20% cut once it¡¯s repurposed.¡± ¡°20% for a jeweller¡¯s in District 10, and he thinks that¡¯s fair?¡± the man scoffed. ¡°You can tell him 40% and not anything less. Unless he wants to get the chalice himself?¡± ¡°Do you really think he will pay you 40% of its value? You are kidding yourself.¡± ¡°40% or it doesn¡¯t happen,¡± the being named Carter responded, brushing his hair back from his face. His long black hair had covered his ears and face until he did so. The face of a dark elf was visible. Their unusual skin tone and pointed ears of all the elvenkin were now plain to see. ¡°There are more on the floor,¡± Dave said. SJ had been focused on the conversation between the two and hadn¡¯t noticed the movement in her vision. Two more beings were on both sides of the warehouse, on the ground floor, in the shadows by the stacked crates. They were both looking at the man standing in the open space before the warehouse doors. A metallic glint came from both in the lantern light, showing they held blades. SJ thought about triggering her identification skill, then changed her mind. They didn¡¯t appear to be mages, but she still couldn¡¯t know their wisdom levels. ¡®What levels are they all?¡¯ ¡°The man is 27. The one on the walkway is 36, and the two below are 17. They are both dark elves as well,¡± Dave replied. ¡®That man doesn¡¯t look much. He may be big, but probably slow.¡¯ ¡°You would probably take him easily enough if a surprise attack wearing the clothes he is wearing. I doubt his armour class is very high. Looking at him, I guess he is a fighter by class.¡± ¡®Looks like it, and looking at the others, I assume they are rogues.¡¯ ¡°At a guess. By the looks, they have some kind of shadow skill.¡± It was strange how SJ looked at beings, wondering whether she could take them out. Her life was so different from those first few days after arriving, nearly dying to termites and a tsunami caused by Bob, to being an ambassador and, for her level, a powerful assassin. ¡°40%, do you think he will agree to that? You are dreaming.¡± ¡°If he doesn¡¯t, then it won¡¯t happen. I suggest you run back to him and give him the good news, and next time, use the backdoor and not the damn front.¡± ¡°Whatever,¡± the man said as he turned and left, deliberately slamming the warehouse door as he did to make as much noise as possible. ¡°That damn imbecile,¡± Carter said. ¡°Winbeck. Follow him and keep an eye on what the idiot does.¡± ¡°Boss,¡± came the reply from one of the dark elves on the ground floor, who seemed to disappear into the shadows of the warehouse. The only sign of him leaving was the door opening and closing quietly. Carter walked back towards the office, and SJ heard him speak as he entered. ¡°Sorry about the disturbance, Race.¡± ¡®Is that Raceillia in there?¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°Could be. We can¡¯t tell without getting close enough to look in.¡± At that moment, SJ¡¯s senses were triggered. She couldn¡¯t see anything obvious in her vision, but something was nearby. ¡®I sense something.¡¯ ¡°I can¡¯t see anything. Oh, wait above you to the left on the beam.¡± SJ looked up where Dave had indicated and saw the eyes of a beastie she recognised well. It was a rat, looking at her greedily from a high perch on a beam. It wasn¡¯t near, but it had decided she was of interest to it. After checking that the dark elf on the ground floor wasn¡¯t paying any attention to what was above it, she took off and, moving high in the warehouse eaves, flew across towards the office. The office had a flat wooden roof, and she landed gently. The rat looked disappointed when she looked at it. There was no way it could get near to her where she was without taking a long route around the eaves. The roof of the office was thick with a layer of dust. Apart from a few old tacks, which had probably been there since it was built, nothing was on it. Crouching, SJ listened to the conversation in the office. ¡°There are issues with your plan,¡± Carter said. ¡°There is no way we can break into the sanctuary. Not with its magical seal. If we were to try to, the spells would trigger as soon as we do.¡± ¡°I told you I can nullify the spells. That isn¡¯t something to worry about.¡± The voice replying was indeed Raceillia. ¡°And Larianco? She has formidable spells. Any previous attempt has been thwarted easily.¡± ¡®Previous attempt? Larianco has been attacked before?¡¯ ¡°Listening to the conversation she had with Mistress Valiasca, there is a lot more going on in the fae kingdom than I ever assumed,¡± Dave said. ¡°She has to be disposed of. You got the same orders that I did,¡± Raceillia said. ¡°I know, and that is the only reason we are considering it. I am not crazy enough to cross him. Have you reported back yet?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t. My stone was in the sanctuary. I have no means.¡± Carter cursed. ¡°We need to get news to him.¡± ¡°We do, but how? We can¡¯t dare use the official channels.¡± Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. ¡°There may be a way, but it¡¯s dangerous.¡± ¡°How?¡± ¡°There is a wind mage who works in District 12. He has been known to do particular favours crossing mana threads.¡± ¡°No. That¡¯s too risky. If anyone even got a sniff of what we are doing, it would mean our certain deaths. And how could you even guarantee you could trust someone who is willing to break the mana threads?¡± ¡°Coin. It is rumoured he will do anything if it was the right amount.¡± ¡°No. It¡¯s not worth the risk. If we can get into the sanctuary, we can end this without having to report our failings, anyway.¡± Carter scoffed, ¡°Our failings? You are the one who raised the contract with the guild in your rush rather than speaking to me about it first.¡± ¡°Not that it helped. They all failed. I can¡¯t believe the luck she has had. I even heard that Carlito had accepted the contract from my source.¡± ¡°Carlito!?¡± Carter said, surprised. ¡°Yes, Carlito. Once she was affirmed, I couldn¡¯t continue that route. The scrutiny every member faced from the initial attempt was too severe. Those scriers were horrendous, and I was lucky it was a weak one that read me. Even Fretun raised a contract against her, which, because of his death, was cancelled. I had hoped that would have prevented me from getting my hands dirty.¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s too late now. You have shown your true colours, and I can guarantee that Larianco¡¯s mistress will beat the drums in the capital. We still sit on a fine edge and can¡¯t have the influence this Legionnaire is causing to continue. We need to bring back Gavia.¡± ¡®Bring back Gavia? I thought the fae history was millennia ago when it occurred?¡¯ ¡°It was,¡± Dave said, sounding perplexed. ¡°I¡¯m unsure how they think they can bring Gavia back.¡± ¡®Did the dark elves work with Gavia previously?¡¯ ¡°I don¡¯t know for certain.¡± Raceillia sighed. ¡°Has your team had any luck locating her?¡± ¡°They have seen her in the city, moving around as if she had no care in the world, with that damn orc. We are still assuming she is staying at the sanctuary in the evenings. It¡¯s the only place she would be safe, and you said she had left the tower.¡± ¡°Yes. She has. I confirmed it this morning with a clerk I know.¡± ¡°Should you still be speaking to anyone from the tower? With what has happened, it can¡¯t be advisable.¡± ¡°If there is one thing I can be absolutely certain of beyond anything else, it is that Larianco would never sully our kind by admitting she had a problem. She has spent her entire career building positive relationships and wouldn¡¯t dare chance losing any standing. You know how we are still seen by many. There is a group currently en route to Lashiki to cause the usual chaos,¡± Raceillia chuckled. ¡°That will keep Larianco busy once the news spreads.¡± ¡°Yes. The fae is still shunned. If only beings knew the full history behind it all,¡± Carter said, laughing. ¡°I am just doing my part. As my father before me. To become a chosen is still my goal.¡± ¡°As for us all,¡± Carter said. ¡°Immortality is something all Amathereans seek. Unlike the Legionnaires who live longer, ours are cut so short.¡± ¡°Jaristi will save us all,¡± Carter said. ¡°Jaristi will save us,¡± Raceillia replied. There was silence for several moments when SJ heard footsteps on the walkway. ¡°Boss.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Carter said. ¡°Nefron has the details for tomorrow and wanted to discuss them with you.¡± ¡°Plans have changed. It¡¯s District 10 now.¡± SJ heard the gulp from the newcomer. ¡°That¡¯s not an easy target.¡± ¡°No. I need you to find out the details of which jewellers it will be at. I am only aware it is now Nebworth Street in District 10. I may even have to get involved myself with this one.¡± ¡°Sure Boss. What should I tell Nefron?¡± ¡°Thank him as usual and pay him his retainer as if we had completed in District 5. That will keep him sweet.¡± ¡°Will do,¡± the voice replied as SJ heard footsteps. As SJ listened to the conversation, she learned more about the reasons for the problems and what may drive them. The specifics were still unclear, but immortality was mind-blowing. Hearing more about Jaristi¡¯s involvement sent a shiver down her spine. The thought of Gavia, the brief history SJ was aware of, and the issues he had caused for the fae in Amathera and across the continents. ¡°It sounds like they are trying to return to their old ways. The involvement of the dark elves, though, is surprising,¡± Dave said. ¡°I am going to speak to Mum.¡± ¡®Mum?¡¯ ¡°Yes. She was around when Gavia¡¯s followers caused all the problems. It has been over 10,000 years. She may know if dark elves were involved back then. The trouble between the fae and the dark elves has been long-standing as it is.¡± ¡®I need to speak to Larianco and warn her about a possible attack on the sanctuary, and I also need to speak to Wystria. She must be told if that chalice comes from the Astaria and they plan on stealing it. Never mind the involvement of Jelart. This city is so corrupt.¡¯ ¡°At least we know where Raceillia is now.¡± ¡®Yeah. I can¡¯t do anything by myself. There are too many, and a level 36 wouldn¡¯t be an easy target.¡¯ ¡°Larianco wanted to try and take her alive if possible, remember? Also, it may be worth speaking to Carlito about this Carter character. I am sure he must know of him working in the circles he does.¡± ¡®Yeah. I have a lot to do.¡¯ SJ silently rose into the air and worked her way back to the hole in the roof before squeezing back under the canvas. The rain had ceased for the moment, and the dark of night with the heavy cloud cover made her invisible as she flew towards the sanctuary. Landing at the rear, she checked her display. It was nearly midnight, but this couldn¡¯t wait. She knocked on the door. A light came on inside, and Larianco¡¯s face appeared in the rear window. ¡°Late call?¡± Larianco said, opening the door. ¡°I found Raceillia and need to update you on a few things I discovered,¡± SJ said. ¡°Come inside.¡± They walked into the kitchen. ¡°Where is she?¡± Larianco asked as she drew a flame on her hand and lit a stove with a pot of water. As Larianco made coffee, SJ explained everything she had discovered. ¡°They plan on attacking the sanctuary?¡± Larianco was shocked by the statement. ¡°Do you know when?¡± ¡°They have the job to complete in District 10 tomorrow, so I can¡¯t see it happening until the day after at the earliest.¡± ¡°What concerns me is Raceillia has a means to break the ward. Only a few could do that or have an item allowing it, and if it is an item, they come from the fae high council. They only exist to prevent rogue fae.¡± ¡°Does the comment about Gavia not concern you?¡± ¡°Of course, but we have to prioritise. Raceillia is the priority, along with this Carter character and his henchmen, by the sounds of it. Also, from what you say, Jelart is involved with Carter, even if not directly.¡± ¡°Yes. First thing tomorrow, I am going to see Wystria and the chancellor. Also, I know you don¡¯t want to raise Raceillia with the tower, but I think we must.¡± Larianco frowned. ¡°That will cause irreparable damage to our standing.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think it will. All my dealings with the chancellor have been open and honest. I have never felt he was underhand in anything he said or did. And the support he has shown me since the attacks started. He holds no animosity towards the fae. I think we should both go as well, not just me. If you present the findings to him, you are raising a legitimate concern about one of your kind who could threaten Asterfal.¡± ¡°She isn¡¯t threatening Asterfal, though. She is only threatening us.¡± ¡°But with her tie-in to Carter and the dark elves, she does. She is working with a criminal element the chancellor swore to challenge.¡± ¡°Perhaps.¡± Larianco drank her coffee as she contemplated what to do. ¡°Can you strengthen the wards here?¡± ¡°I can do and will, but if she has the means to break the ones in place now, I¡¯m unsure what benefit it would bring.¡± ¡°If we can foil the attempt of the heist in District 10, that will cause waves for them. I am not sure how I can prove Jelart¡¯s involvement directly?¡± ¡°Scriers,¡± Dave said. SJ pulled her face at the thought. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Larianco said. ¡°Maybe getting the scriers involved?¡± Larianco shuddered at the thought. ¡°As a last resort. I don¡¯t trust those beings. I don¡¯t understand why the chancellor allows them in the tower. They have a poor history.¡± ¡°A poor history or the ability to discover being¡¯s secrets?¡± Smirking, Larianco replied, ¡°That as well. You can stay here tonight, and we can go to the tower first thing in the morning.¡± SJ lay in a bed in one of the sanctuary¡¯s spare rooms not long later. Her mind mulling over everything they had learned this evening. ¡®There is so much I still need to discover about this world,¡¯ she thought. ¡°You and me both,¡± Dave said. Then followed with a deep sigh. ¡°I am over 7000 years old, an AI, and almost every day, you continue to surprise me with what you are discovering or are involved with. I have been contemplating everything and can only conclude that they wish for your removal to prevent the alignment shift Haber mentioned. If you are indeed beginning to tip the balance in the favour of the good, and there is a plan to re-instigate Gavia¡¯s chaos on a wider scale, then the god of Darkness would indeed wish you removed.¡± ¡°But Nexis said that gods were neutral?¡± ¡°Yes, but darkness already has a tainted history from the Scrug Wars, and if he can manipulate a way to bring about more chaos, he probably will. Mum¡¯s not responded yet about the dark elves, and it¡¯s unusual. She normally doesn¡¯t stop when she gets a message,¡± Dave sounded concerned. ¡°I hope she¡¯s ok?¡± ¡°Hmph. She is probably off with that AI from the protocols department.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Oh, nothing,¡± Dave sulked. ¡°Anyway, get some sleep. You only have a few hours before the fun begins again.¡± Smiling, SJ fluffed her pillow. ¡°Night, Dave.¡± ? Chapter 153 – It’s a Trap! They left the sanctuary just after first light and made their way to the tower. Larianco was apprehensive about speaking to the chancellor about the issues, but SJ had managed to calm her nerves. ¡°Is Wystria in this morning?¡± SJ asked a desk clerk. ¡°Not yet,¡± she replied. ¡°We may as well get some breakfast while we wait,¡± SJ said. Several people were eating in the dining hall before their daily jobs began. The crowd was much smaller than it had been now that most of those who had visited for the inauguration had left. After ordering and paying for their food, SJ didn¡¯t believe she should get it for free, as she was not attending a council session. They sat and ate quietly, discussing the issues at hand. ¡°What will you do, about Lashiki? Now you know there will be problems.¡± SJ said. ¡°I will speak to Val. I am not sure if she can do anything, but these acts of mischief and mayhem have to stop. Lashiki is a town that survives from its crop produce. If they lose their harvest, the impacts could be devastating. Even worse than the costs, Killic suffered several years back.¡± ¡°I heard about those. The town suffered severely, but at least they still had the fishing side to fall back on.¡± ¡°Yes. Lashiki doesn¡¯t have anything apart from its crop harvests. They are one of the largest wheat providers in the south. The town is situated on the Golgoth plains. It¡¯s perfectly flat, and the soil is rich.¡± ¡°It still amazes me when I consider the varying territories and what they can provide. I always used to take things for granted where I am from.¡± ¡°I was no different. Being brought up in the fae capital, everything was available. It is only when you go outside of your comforts that you begin to realise the hardships in the world. Especially when you learn that part of that hardship comes from your own kin.¡± ¡°I need to ask you a question we didn¡¯t discuss last night. When I was listening to Carter and Raceillia talk, they mentioned that there had been previous attempts on your life and that you had thwarted them.¡± ¡°Over my time in Asterfal, there have been several, yes. The most recent was just after Raceillia arrived in the city. It is an unfortunate part of my role. Our kind''s poor reputation can drive some to seek revenge for our history,¡± Larianco said. How she answered the question was nonchalant, as if an attempt on her life didn¡¯t bother her. After checking with the desk clerk again, SJ was informed that Wystria had arrived and could be found in her office. Larianco led them there after SJ admitted she had never been to Wystria''s office and had left the map at home. The door was open when they arrived Wystria was standing looking out of a window into the tower gardens. ¡°Wystria?¡± SJ said. ¡°Yes,¡± she said, turning to see SJ and Larianco. ¡°Now, this looks ominous.¡± ¡°Sorry to disturb you, but I have some news you need to know.¡± ¡°What news?¡± ¡°I am aware that a chalice of some kind is being transported to a jeweller in District 10,¡± SJ paused. Wystria didn¡¯t respond to the statement. ¡°There is a plan to steal and fence it.¡± Wystria¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, which was not a clear sign of mistrust but one of question. ¡°And how might I ask, are you aware of a chalice and where it is going?¡± ¡°That is where things get a little complex,¡± SJ said. She could feel her cheeks heating under Wystria¡¯s gaze. ¡°Is the chancellor in? Because I believe it would be best if he was privy to further details.¡± Wystria looked from SJ to Larianco before turning and walking to a desk and picking up a bunch of keys. ¡°Come, let¡¯s go,¡± she said, ushering them from the office, locking it as they did. The guards at the chancellor¡¯s door came to attention as Wystria approached. One of them reached and opened the door on her behalf. Nodding thanks, she entered. ¡°Chancellor.¡± ¡°Morning, Wystria. This is an early visit this morning. I thought you had a big day planned?¡± The chancellor looked up from his desk, seeing SJ. And you bring guests?¡± ¡°Apologies. I have just been informed of a matter, and the ambassador believes you should be aware.¡± ¡°Indeed. Well, what is this matter that I need to know about? Please, come in and sit,¡± he said, moving around his desk to sit in a chair by a table. ¡°I have just mentioned a problem to Wystria about a planned theft of a chalice,¡± SJ said. The chancellor¡¯s eyebrow raised at this news. SJ continued. ¡°You are both aware of the recent issues I have had with attempts on my life. I have discovered who has been behind them and during the process also discovered about the plan to steal a chalice that is being taken to District 10.¡± ¡°You know who has been trying to kill you?¡± the chancellor said. ¡°The scriers were unable to confirm from their work.¡± ¡°That is because she is not a councillor in the truest sense of the word. It was Raceillia.¡± Both Wystria and the chancellor looked shocked by the news. ¡°Raceillia? But why?¡± Wystria said. ¡°This is where it gets more complicated. Since I arrived in Amathera, I have drawn unwanted attention on several occasions, which I know you are aware of. From the investigation I carried out, it appears that this may be linked to the dark elves and certain members of the fae council. Raceillia is one of those who is working on behalf of and with the dark elves. I must add that this is not all dark elves or fae. There appears to be a faction trying to bring the return of Gavia and his beliefs and ways. Larianco is here with me today to show her support for the justice that these beings deserve.¡± Larianco spoke before either could respond. ¡°I have reported the matter back to the fae capital, and I have been authorised to bring Raceillia in peacefully, but if she won¡¯t come peacefully, I have the authority to dispose of her. Her actions go against all the good I have been straining for over my time in Asterfal. We are also aware of a group¡¯s expected attack on Lashiki. I am unaware of when this will happen exactly, but a group has apparently been dispatched. My concern is that Lashiki only survives because of its harvest and if it is devastated, I would dread to think what may come of the town.¡± SJ continued. ¡°The dark elves are the ones planning on stealing the chalice. I overheard a conversation between Carter, the gang leader of the dark elves planning the theft, and a man who I believe is a cousin of Lieutenant Jelart of District 3. They spoke of receiving payment and comments by the man stating that he, who I assume is Jelart, wouldn¡¯t accept the terms Carter was asking for. They had initially planned to steal the chalice from District 5, but the man arrived with the updated news for Carter, stating it would now be moved to District 10. Unfortunately, I didn¡¯t get the man¡¯s name as it wasn¡¯t spoken.¡± The chancellor sat silently once SJ finished speaking and eventually turned to look at Wystria. ¡°Has it changed?¡± ¡°Yes. I was informed yesterday evening that Samwell, our usual jeweller in District 5, has been taken ill, so we are moving it to District 10 to Hamilton.¡± ¡°What is the chalice they are talking about?¡± ¡°It is a relic of Asterfal. It has been in the city since its founding,¡± Wystria said. ¡°It¡¯s exceedingly delicate, and one of the new clerics knocked it while cleaning, and one of its stones has broken free, so it requires repair.¡± ¡°Can it not be done in situ?¡± ¡°Potentially, it could be done at the Astaria, but we have always used the same jeweller in District 5 who looks after all the city¡¯s artefacts.¡± The chancellor stood and walked to the office door. Opening it, he spoke to a guard before returning to his seat. ¡°I have just asked for the colonel to be brought here. I will get him to have guards positioned at the jeweller''s. We can go through the process of moving it, but not take it there and set a trap for them. Wystria, are you able to sort that out? When the colonel gets here, I will brief him accordingly.¡± ¡°I would, but only a few knew about the new plans, and I am now concerned about where the leak may have come from. If anything changes, that is too obvious. They will know or suspect and may get news back to this gang you spoke of. If Jelart or his contemptuous cousin is involved.¡± Wystria looked like she was about to spit. ¡°Then I will find out who is behind it and deal with them accordingly. Anyone planning such treachery as stealing Asterfal¡¯s artefacts will suffer the consequences.¡± Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. ¡°There is no evidence currently showing that it is indeed Jelart, but if it is, then it will solve a headache we have had for a while now,¡± the chancellor said. Although he didn¡¯t state any specifics, it was clear that he had no love for the man. ¡°So, back to the other point you mentioned. Raceillia. I will revoke all rights to the tower immediately, and I will ask the guard to keep a lookout for her.¡± ¡°Could I ask that you don¡¯t?¡± SJ asked. ¡°Why?¡± the chancellor frowned. ¡°If she gets suspicious, that people are aware of her actions, she may go into hiding more so than she currently is. I know her assumed whereabouts currently, and we,¡± SJ looked at Larianco. ¡°...plan to deal with her.¡± ¡°Are you going to tell me where this is?¡± ¡°I would prefer not to at this time,¡± SJ said. The chancellor raised an eyebrow at the comment but did not push for details. ¡°Larianco. I know that for you to come here today and speak openly about the fae must be painful. I have been aware of your hard work for years to bring a positive light to the fae. I will send a messenger to Lashiki, inform them there may be trouble coming, and send a patrol with mages.¡± ¡°Thank you, Chancellor. I can only apologise once again for the trouble that has been caused,¡± Larianco said as she dropped her head down with embarrassment. ¡°Larianco. You have always been open and honest. You have nothing to be ashamed of. It is not only the fae that causes issues in the southern region. If anything, over recent times, it has been much less than many other races. Just consider the ogre clans and the chaos they have caused. Never mind the desert gnolls, the goblin hoard to our east in the mountains and the kobolds of Caristar. And that is to name but a few of the problems across the south.¡± ¡®I never even consider the issues outside of Killic or what else is happening across the region,¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°No, there are always conflicts and problems. I wonder if the desert gnolls he refers to are the ones south of Killic. they may very well be,¡± Dave said. ¡®When I consider everything that is happening. I wonder how the chancellor and the others do it every day. After all, they are supposed to be responsible for the southern region.¡¯ ¡°It is their choice to do what they do. It gives Killic¡¯s problems a different perspective when considering the wider issues. I have become so used to seeing all the issues over my time as an Administrator that I don¡¯t pay attention to most of what occurs. I should do, really.¡± There was a knock on the chamber door, and the colonel entered. The chancellor explained to the colonel about the threat to the chalice, and he discussed arranging a trap for the would-be thieves. ¡°The guard force in District 10 is one of the most organised in the city. It¡¯s captain is Kilbert who started at the tower.¡± ¡°Kilbert. I remember him,¡± the chancellor said. ¡°He runs a tight ship compared to most,¡± the colonel said. ¡°Well, with your new authority and promotion coming, you will whip all the guard forces into shape.¡± ¡°I only hope we can. You know there will be pushback from several districts when your proposal is announced.¡± ¡°It isn¡¯t a proposal. It is happening. I am sick and tired of their slack-handed behaviour. Some don¡¯t care what happens in their districts as long as they claim their tax cut. Jelart is a prime example.¡± ¡°He is, sir, and 3 is the worst by far.¡± As SJ listened to the plan the colonel would implement, Petunia arrived in the chancellor¡¯s office. ¡°Ah. Your Worship. Perfect timing,¡± the chancellor said, smiling. It was strange hearing the city¡¯s leader call Petunia Your Worship. ¡°I see we have a full house this morning. What have I missed?¡± Petunia said. ¡°I will brief you on everything later, but if possible, I have a priority target for your first audit.¡± Petunia¡¯s face lit up with a huge grin. ¡°Of course, I have been looking forward to the audits. Is Master Valion aware of his duties as an auditor?¡± ¡°He is. Although he won¡¯t be available to start financial audits for a few days yet, he is still completing the annual tax report for the capital.¡± ¡°Bah. That will delay the proceedings.¡± ¡°Did you say financial audits? I used to be an auditor.¡± SJ asked. ¡°Oh no,¡± Dave groaned. All in the chamber turned and stared at SJ. ¡°An auditor? It takes years to become an auditor,¡± Petunia said. ¡°I was one for several years before I came to Amathera.¡± ¡®Do they actually know where we originate from?¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°Nope. They just know that the system brings you in as Legionnaires. They don¡¯t know about the second life aspect and I have never known anyone even attempt to tell them. I¡¯m not even sure if you would be able to,¡± Dave said. ¡°Well, if you are free to help? I don¡¯t want to take you away from your business,¡± Petunia said. ¡°I would love to,¡± SJ said, happy with the chance to get involved. She wanted to learn more about how the city operated, and finances always told a story. This knowledge could benefit her in any future dealings. She had seen what they did in Killic, but it was on such a small scale and simple compared to what she imagined a city and district the size they would use. ¡°Excellent. So then, who is my first victim?¡± Petunia said. The chancellor shook his head in dismay. ¡°They are not victims. We are trying to support and assist with their understanding to help them run their districts more efficiently,¡± he said. ¡°Bah. We all know what they are like, so until I am proven wrong, they will all be my victims.¡± For such a high-level cleric as Petunia was, she had an evil side to her. ¡°Chancellor. Before we leave, may I ask a question?¡± SJ asked. ¡°Yes. What is it?¡± ¡°If things do happen when we carry out our plan, there will be no repercussions against ourselves, will there?¡± SJ cryptically stated that if Raceillia or others were killed, she or Larianco wouldn¡¯t be held accountable. ¡°If they aren¡¯t ¡®Councillors¡¯, then there is no direct requirement for the tower to be involved,¡± the chancellor replied, raising his eyebrows. ¡°Thank you. Petunia, please let me know if you need me to support you,¡± SJ said. ¡°Where will you be?¡± ¡°For now, drinking coffee,¡± SJ said as they left the chancellor¡¯s office. ¡°I told you it would be ok,¡± SJ said to Larianco as they walked down the corridor. ¡°I hate how some sully our name so badly,¡± Larianco said. When SJ first met her, Larianco¡¯s initial demeanour was one of confidence and surety, and seeing the worry on her face now concerned SJ. ¡°I think the best time to go for Raceillia will be once the gang leave to attempt the robbery in District 10. It will make it easier with less in the warehouse,¡± SJ said, sitting in the dining hall with a coffee. ¡°I wanted to try and talk to her if possible and bring her in peacefully.¡± ¡°Do you really believe that she will come peacefully after what we have discussed?¡± ¡°No. I am sure she won¡¯t, but from what you have said, she is a young, naive fae who has followed in her father¡¯s footsteps. She has probably known no better. I would prefer to save her if I can.¡± ¡°You believe she can be saved?¡± ¡°I believe that there is good in every fae. I wouldn¡¯t do the role I do if I didn¡¯t, and from what you have told me, it seems that the minority is causing the problems if they are dispatching groups to territories to cause problems. It isn¡¯t just general fae causing mayhem. I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if the whole continuation of the mischief was caused by his followers since Gavia¡¯s death.¡± ¡°I will go with Petunia today. It will keep me occupied until this evening. At least I know that no one would ever dream of attacking her. So I should be safe.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know many who could even attempt to fight Petunia. Her tongue is legendary, never mind her abilities.¡± ¡°I heard that,¡± Petunia called from the dining hall entrance before walking over. Larianco shrunk in her chair. ¡°And yes, my tongue is legendary,¡± she smiled as she reached the table. ¡°Right, we have an audit to complete SJ. District 3 as well. We couldn¡¯t have started at a nicer location. You will need this.¡± Petunia handed SJ a small token similar to the one she had been issued as a council member, but this one was gold-coloured. ¡°It gives you authority to perform audits. Let¡¯s go. I need to round up the rest of the team.¡± ¡°I will meet you at the sanctuary later,¡± SJ said to Larianco as she hurried out of the chamber behind Petunia. ? Chapter 154 – Audits and Enchantments After walking into the offices of Jelart in District 3, Petunia and her team had caused absolute chaos. Jelart hadn¡¯t been present when they had arrived, and Petunia had immediately got down to business, tearing into all those who ran the district¡¯s dealings on Jelart¡¯s behalf. The team comprised of six. Petunia, SJ, an elf named Farrow, a dwarf named Grudgeon, an ent called Roston, and a goblin named Alew. Each had a specific role to perform. Farrow reviewed housing, Grudgeon the guard, Roston the district policies and guilds, and Alew was responsible for auditing the warehouse district and trade. Petunia checked on anything she wished, and SJ was to oversee the district¡¯s financial audit. Jelart had arrived mid-morning after being made aware that Petunia had arrived in his offices. He had stormed in flustered and cursing, along with several of his guard force, threatening Roston and Alew, the first two auditors he saw. That was until Petunia had strolled from his office, bellowing that if he didn¡¯t comply with the audit, she would teach him in matters of discipline. His obese form had shaken with rage, but he dared not question Petunia¡¯s authority. Either that or he was terrified of the small gnome. When he saw SJ sitting in his clerk¡¯s office looking over the district¡¯s financial records, his face had changed to one of panic. SJ had already started going through the books, and it hadn¡¯t taken her long to find anomalies in the entries. On the table in front of her, she had a stack of leather-bound books, each supposedly covering separate areas of the district¡¯s finances. The issues were easily identifiable by SJ¡¯s keen eye before midday. She had asked for Jelart to explain some details to her. He had tried to palm off the responsibility onto his clerk, but Petunia had reminded him that he was the lieutenant and that he didn¡¯t deserve to hold the post if he didn¡¯t know his district¡¯s finances. He sat opposite SJ under Petunia¡¯s watchful gaze, with his clerk beside him. As SJ asked questions, he sweat profusely, the smell of stale alcohol ever-present. His spindly elf clerk looked absolutely terrified as SJ had quizzed the various entries. The books didn¡¯t align, and by the late afternoon, SJ had found a significant number of issues that neither of them could explain. In the simplest terms that SJ could describe to Petunia, who wasn¡¯t in any way financially driven, had been to say that their earnings massively outstripped their outgoings. Each district had an account with Otherlisar, which held their funds, and when Petunia had managed to get one of the staff members from Otherlisar to attend, she found out that the money in the account was far lower than it should have been. Out of all the aspects that had riled SJ, the only time she nearly lost her temper during the questioning was when she reviewed the rent payments the district received. The details were so convoluted and inaccurate. One large payment was received for areas of the district rather than individual accounts. It had come to light that brokers worked within the district on behalf of the office and paid a monthly fee to the district coffers. SJ knew this had to be the money lenders Lurtew and Yawnee had fallen foul to and indirectly linked Jelart to the cage fighting in the city. As late afternoon became early evening, Petunia ordered the audit team to wrap up for the day. SJ had been in her element, and the time had flown by. She had not felt as relaxed or at home in months since her arrival in Amathera. Even Dave had become interested at various points, as SJ had discovered more underhand working. SJ provided a summary of the district¡¯s financial issues to Petunia and ordered that the team take the books when they left. Petunia had ordered Otherlisar¡¯s clerk to freeze the district account, Jelart, and his team¡¯s personal accounts until the audit was concluded in full. That comment had caused several in the offices to panic, and a few broke down, but none would question Petunia. The power her diminutive figure held was immense. Between the audit team members, the only areas of the districts working that had got through unscathed were the policies and guilds. The policies had been standard, that the entire city worked to, and there were no guilds in the district, making Roston¡¯s task much easier. It had become apparent that even though the district was supposed to follow the city¡¯s policies and charter, it didn¡¯t. ¡°I believe you have all earned yourself a nice meal for today¡¯s work,¡± Petunia said. None of them had stopped for lunch, and at the mention of food, SJ¡¯s stomach growled hungrily. After eating, Petunia laid unending praise on the team, thanked them, and asked them to file their findings as soon as possible so that she could conclude the audit and provide a summary to the chancellor. From the information gathered today she was more than confident that no further audit time was necessary. SJ had already summarised her findings as she went so she just needed to formalise and file her full report first thing. ¡°That was actually more interesting than I was expecting,¡± Dave said as SJ flew towards the sanctuary. ¡°And Petunia is like a charging ogre. Nothing stops her once she gets going.¡± ¡®I would never want to get on the wrong side of her.¡¯ Larianco let SJ in as soon as she landed at the sanctuary. It was now 1900, and night was drawing in. They were not planning to head to the warehouse until 2200. When SJ had scouted the warehouse, workers were still around until at least 2100. SJ also didn¡¯t expect the chalice robbery attempt to occur until much later. ¡°Do you have everything you need?¡± Larianco asked. ¡°I think so. What do we need to watch out for from Raceillia?¡± SJ said. ¡°If she attacks, she has three main offensive spells. Ice shard, ice elemental, and her freezing touch. Defensively, she can call an ice shield and a normal shield of protection. I am unaware of anything else she is capable of.¡± ¡°I am not sure how well I will do against a mage. I have had success before, but only when they weren¡¯t expecting me to attack, apart from a very early fight I had. Your shields can be troublesome.¡± Larianco smiled, ¡°They can be yes for those unprepared.¡± ¡°Is there anything I can do to counteract it?¡± ¡°Do you have lightning protection?¡± ¡°No. My old boots did, but my new ones don¡¯t.¡± ¡°Unfortunately I don''t have the components for lightning protection. I do for other enchantments. Have you a free enchantment slot?¡± ¡°Yes. I didn¡¯t realise you were an enchanter?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a family tradition. All of my siblings are enchanters.¡± SJ made a mental note to speak to Fran when she returned to Killic about what she knew. ¡°What enchantments do you have? I have nothing in my equipment currently.¡± ¡°Nothing,¡± Larianco looked shocked. ¡°No. I have never had any before. I can pay you for them.¡± ¡°Umm, let me see what I have the components for. And how many slots do you have?¡± SJ checked her display and reviewed her equipment. She couldn¡¯t believe she hadn¡¯t even considered asking Larianco about enchanting before now. There were certain things she really needed to consider more often. With embarrassment, SJ told Larianco what slots she had. ¡°I have nine free slots. My dress has two, my boots four, and my claws three.¡± ¡°Nine already!¡± Larianco said. ¡°What about your choker?¡± Dave said. ¡°Sorry. Ten, my choker has a slot as well,¡± SJ said. ¡°Do you have any resistances from rings or similar? Cold, fire, poison?¡± ¡°No. None currently.¡± ¡°Ok. I have the following enchantments which I have components for. I have resistance enchantments, which are all lesser: magic, cold, poison and arcane. I have the skills for normal magic and poison, and also higher cold, but I have no components. If I had known I could have got some. I also have a lesser damage and normal armour class enchantment. Then, finally, attribute enchantments: I have all minor and lesser enhancements, apart from Charisma, I have Strength, Intelligence and Wisdom at normal, and finally greater, I have Intelligence and Wisdom.¡± ¡®I have absolutely no idea what any of that means,¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°Okay. Enchantments 1-0-1 fast track. Lesser gives..¡± Dave said. SJ interrupted him. ¡®I don¡¯t have time for a full explanation now. What would you suggest?¡¯ ¡°Erm. Okay. Resistances only stack 50% of a value if one enchantment is held, so for resistances, go for all the lessers that will give you a 10% resistance against each. That¡¯s four slots. Lesser damage and armour class enchantments can stack but must be cast on individual items. That gives a +3 or +4, depending on its success. Right then, my advice is: for choker, go with poison resistance; for your dress, go with cold and normal armour class. Then your boots go with arcane, normal armour class, lesser damage and greater Wisdom; and finally, for claws, go with magic, lesser damage and normal Strength.¡± ¡°How much will this cost?¡± SJ asked, concerned at the amount of enchantments she would ask for. ¡°I can do minors and lessors for no cost, normal, higher or greater. I really need to purchase replacement components for those. I will only charge for components and not the usual skill charge, but it depends on which you wish for?¡± SJ recited the list for Larianco. As she did, Larianco scribbled notes on parchment and listed components with prices. ¡°This is not cheap: two normal armour classes, one normal strength and a greater Wisdom. All the others are minor or lesser. Armour class will cost eight gold each, Strength eleven gold and the greater Wisdom seventy-six gold. In total, it would be one hundred and three gold.¡± SJ checked her inventory, after the money from Malaki, Mya, the cage fight and what she had brought. Even after spending everything she had, she still had over one platinum. She was ridiculously rich compared to a huge number of the population. SJ removed one platinum and ten gold from her inventory and placed it on the table. That only left her with twenty gold, but since she arrived with just less than thirty and had spent nearly four hundred gold, she wouldn¡¯t complain. Twenty gold was still a fortune for many. Malaki had paid for nearly all of her upgrades. ¡°I honestly thought you were not going to go with the Wisdom enchantment when I stated the cost,¡± Larianco said. ¡°I would have gone with the higher resistance enchantments if you had the components.¡± ¡°There is nowhere I can get them at this late an hour without being charged an astronomical price. I do have specialist enchantments as well, if you are interested?¡± Larianco¡¯s eyes had lit up at the coin SJ had already spent. ¡°What are those?¡± ¡°Mend and Mana Regeneration. You won¡¯t need Mana Regeneration, and I am a little confused as to why you even wish for the Wisdom boost. Mend will repair wear and tear damage to items over time, retaining their durability. It can¡¯t repair all damage or keep things clean like I assume your dress does.¡± SJ hadn¡¯t even mentioned her dress¡¯s ability to Larianco. ¡°Oh. Don¡¯t worry. It is obvious to me that the dress is something special. I don¡¯t quite know how special, but there is something about it,¡± Larianco said. ¡°How much is mend?¡± ¡°Mend would be six gold, but you would be required to swap it for one of the enchantments you have stated.¡± Dave spoke. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t worry. The only item you would need it for are your boots, which have perfect durability and will last a long time. It is something you could consider later.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t worry for now. Are the enchantments guaranteed to succeed?¡± ¡°The ones I have mentioned are. My skills are sufficient to virtually guarantee them. The only one which has a less chance of taking is the greater Wisdom.¡± ¡°Does the grade of an item affect the chance?¡± ¡°It plays a part.¡± If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. ¡°My boots are mythic so...¡± ¡°It should be fine then,¡± Larianco smiled. ¡°How long will it take?¡± ¡°Not long once I get started.¡± And so the enchanting began. Just over two hours later, as SJ¡¯s display showed, it was just after 2114 hrs Larianco cast the final enchantment on her equipment. SJ looked over her equipment and character sheet once everything was finished. With the addition of enchantments, her character sheet had been adjusted, breaking down each component that made up the scores. There was also a new entry for base damage details. It was broken down into enchantment bonus, attribute bonus, and skill damage bonus. Legionnaire 25007077 Name: SJ Age: 27 Race: Fae Class: Assassin Alignment: Neutral Good ? Level: 19 Experience: 11109 of 9000 Hit Points: 125 of 125 (131) Mana Points: 72 Armour Class: 58 (37)(21) Damage: 72-74 (18-20) (13)(21)(20) Attributes: Strength: 17 (5)(12) Dexterity: 31 Intelligence: 12 Wisdom: 22 (9)(13) Constitution: 21 Charisma: 19 (4)(15) Resistances: Arcane Resistance 10% Cold Resistance 10% Magic Resistance 10% Poison Resistance 10% Skills Racial: Night Vision ¨C you have improved vision in poor light conditions. Flight ¨C when in miniature fae form, you can learn to fly. Flying is not available in humanoid form. Shapeshift ¨C the ability to switch between fae forms. Class: Martial Arts ¨C Kata Level 10 Unarmed combat - Incapacitation Level 3 / Elimination Level 2 Armed combat - Melee Claws Level 3 / Ranged Darts Level 2 Clawed Avenger Level 4 Subterfuge ¨C Identification Level 10 Advanced Identification Level 1 Shroud Level 5 Profession: Tailor Skilled Level 2 Perks - Sure Stitch Symbiosis: Dragon Sense ¨C your senses, touch, hearing, smell, and sight are heightened. Precognition ¨C foreknowledge due to increased perception will allow you to evade a killing blow. (24hr cooldown) Divine lightning ¨C your blood is combined with that of a blue dragon, increasing healing speed while out of combat. Malware: Waiver (Sandboxed) Inventory: 84 slots (8 x 10 Bags of Holding) (2) (+2 strength) (10 special) Followers: 3 Haber¡¯s Dress of the Tailor ¨C Level 12 Grade ¨C Astral Quality ¨C Perfection Durability - Infinite Enchantment Slots ¨C Two Cold Resistance 10% Armour Class +6 Armour Class ¨C 16 (10) Attributes ¨C +4 Charisma The God Haber himself made this dress. It is unmatched by any other and provides the wearer with unique skills that are available as levels are gained. Self-repair Transmogrification ¨C the dress appearance can be changed as your tailoring level increases ¨C current available choices ¨C colour, design Boots of the Unhindered Grade - Mythic Quality - Perfection Durability - Perfection Enchantment Slots - Four Arcane Resistance 10% Armour Class +7 Damage +3 Wisdom +9 Armour Class - 21 (14) Attributes - Sure Step terrain doesn¡¯t hamper your movement. Paws of the Nightwalker +6 Level Requirement - Above 15 Quality - Mythic Damage - 18 - 20 +10 Enchantment Slots - Three Magic Resistance 10% Damage +4 Strength +5 Special: Blade break: These claws may catch a foe¡¯s blade and, in doing so, have a 3% chance to snap the blade with a wrist twist. Absorption: Nightwalkers are known for performing sneak attacks. These blades absorb light and sound. Choker of the Earth Stone Grade - Uncommon Quality - Flawless Durability - Excellent Enchantment Slots - One Poison Resistance 10% Hidden - Alignment fae (1 of 5) After reviewing her equipment, SJ couldn¡¯t quite fathom her leap since arriving in Asterfal. The adjustments to her boots and claws had made substantial differences, then adding in the enchantments, her basic damage was now insane. She knew that damage wasn¡¯t always guaranteed because of the mechanics of combat and the calculations Dave had mentioned, but still, her minimum damage and armour class were so high. If she performed a sneak attack on a target with a critical hit, her initial damage could kill many in a single hit. She stood in awe of her status. Now that everything was in place. ¡°Are you ok?¡± Larianco said, looking concerned. ¡°Erm. Yes. Absolutely,¡± SJ said after a moment. ¡°I¡¯m just trying to fathom the changes those enchantments have made.¡± ¡°SJ?¡± Dave said. ¡®Yes?¡¯ ¡°We have forgotten something. There were items you claimed from Mya that you aren¡¯t using.¡± ¡®Which ones? I can¡¯t remember. Especially Mya. I wasn¡¯t really myself after I killed her.¡¯ ¡°She had a Bracelet of Agility +4 and a Ring of Intelligence +2.¡± SJ had left all the items in her room at the house. ¡®I am not going to worry about them now.¡¯ ¡°You have time. You also haven¡¯t got your darts with you.¡± ¡°Grr,¡± SJ said. ¡°I need to go and pick something up real quick. I will be straight back.¡± Larianco gave SJ a confused look. ¡°What do you need?¡± ¡°My darts, they are still in my room. I also have a ring that may help you if we fight. I will be as fast as I can.¡± With her adjusted dress, SJ flew as fast as she could over the city back to the house. Landing and glancing around, she entered, going straight to her table where all her purchases and the items she had gained were placed. Picking the darts up, she began to tuck them into the belt she wore around her dress. She knew she could carry darts and equip her claws, as they were not a primary weapon. She had practiced throwing darts while wearing gloves and the blades didn¡¯t restrict her ability with them. As she stretched the belt, it snapped. She cursed as she removed the belt she had had since she had first arrived in Amathera. It had served her well. ¡®Damn it.¡¯ ¡°Didn¡¯t you get given a belt when you purchased your bags of holding?¡± Dave said. SJ searched through the items until she found the small bag that Bogging had placed it in. She almost collapsed when she took hold of it. ? Chapter 155 - Confronted There was no pain, just an overwhelming sense of emotions. It was as though her mind had been flooded with a million thoughts all at once. SJ gasped as she staggered backwards. The only reason she didn¡¯t fall was her boots and their Sure Step ability. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Dave asked, panicked as SJ dropped the belt onto the table. SJ held her head, scrunching her eyes closed as her mind still felt overloaded with emotions. Heartache, grief and pain at the same time as happiness, pleasure and love. Gradually, her emotions settled, and she opened her eyes again, staring at the belt. ¡°That was intense!¡± SJ said, panting as though she had just run a marathon. ¡°What happened? All I saw was your neurotransmitters going haywire.¡± ¡®I have no idea. I was hit with so many emotions all at once, as though they were my own, but I knew that they weren¡¯t. I have never felt so much grief before, followed by joy and elation,¡¯ she thought. ¡°Did you identify it?¡± ¡®No. I didn¡¯t have a chance.¡¯ ¡°I have never witnessed anything like that before or heard of that sort of reaction,¡± Dave said, sounding concerned. ¡®It wasn¡¯t painful. Just unexpected.¡¯ SJ reached for the belt again. ¡°Are you sure you want to do that?¡± ¡°SJ. SJ. Are you ok?¡± Yawnee¡¯s voice called from below. SJ turned and walked to the door, opening it. ¡°Sorry, Yawnee. This is just a fleeting visit. I will be going again in a few minutes. I didn¡¯t mean to disturb you.¡± ¡°I heard a bang and just wanted to check, that¡¯s all,¡± Yawnee called back. SJ closed the door again and walked back to the table, again looking at the belt before she picked it up, this time ready for the rush of emotions. Closing her eyes as her mind spun. Emotions roiled, and slowly, they calmed. Until she eventually separated her own from those from the belt. And then, suddenly, they stopped. Calming herself, she identified the item and, for the second time, nearly collapsed on the floor, this time in shock. The Belt of the Earth Stone Grade - Uncommon Quality - Flawless Durability - Excellent Enchantment Slots - One Hidden - Alignment fae (2 of 5) You have discovered two pieces of the long-lost set of the Earth Stone, one of the greatest fae relics. Unlocked abilities - Earth Sentry - 2 of 5 - each piece of the set grants attribute bonuses when combined. When the complete set is combined, the wearer receives unique abilities. The Tiara of the Earth Stone - unknown Choker of the Earth Stone - Charisma +5 Earrings of the Earth Stone - unknown The Earthen Breast - unknown The Belt of the Earth Stone - Dexterity +5 Quest - Earth Sentry - Update The fae heirlooms have been missing for centuries. You have received two of five pieces of the Earth Sentry set. Find the other three remaining pieces to complete the set. This is a racial quest and has no territory limitations. Progress: 2 of 5 Rewards: Earth Sentry status ¡°What on Amathera!¡± Dave squealed. ¡°Two pieces. Two pieces. You have two pieces of the set. Do you know what this means? Only ever have I seen a Legionnaire with a single piece of a set, never two pieces. This is, is, is...¡± After a pause, he continued, ¡°...do you know what this means?¡± His excitement bubbled over. ¡®No,¡¯ SJ replied in shock, still staring at her display. ¡°It means. It means...I have no idea what it means,¡± Dave said. ¡°Right, forget about Raceillia. Let¡¯s go kill that mage at the Black Griffin. See if those earrings are the real deal.¡± ¡®No. I am dealing with Raceillia first, and we are in no rush.¡¯ The bonus stat increases alone were significant. ¡®I wonder if each of the set items boosts individual attributes? Consider the Tiara. Could that be Intelligence and the Breast Constitution? If so, I guess the Earrings would be Wisdom.¡¯ ¡°Very logical and would make sense, especially as strength is not a strongly used attribute of the fae classes.¡± ¡®I wonder what the unlocked skill is. if the set is completed?¡¯ ¡°Only the gods probably know the answer to that. I don¡¯t know. When you got the first piece, I checked the archives and could find nothing giving the details of the full set.¡± Wrapping the belt around her waist, it shrunk to fit her perfectly. Its green tones and silver colour faded to match her darkened dress. ¡®It has changed colour!¡¯ ¡°Maybe a hidden property. Oh, your choker has changed as well,¡± Dave said. SJ had not lit a light in the room. Her adaptive vision and the glow from the incubating egg provided more than enough ambient light. Walking to the mirror above the sink, she looked at her reflection. The choker had adapted to match her dress. This would be amazing. The only areas of her on show now were her hands and head, and once she had her claws equipped, only her head. Everything else she wore allowed her to disappear into the dark. Walking back to the table, she picked up her darts again and slotted them into the belt. The pattern provided almost natural loops for the darts to slide into, and they felt more secure than her starter belt. After putting on the bracelet and the ring, she picked up the mana regeneration ring, which she would give to Larianco to use. ¡°I¡¯m going again,¡± SJ shouted down the stairs before she left via the balcony and flew off back to the sanctuary. As she flew back, she pulled up her character sheet and checked her adjusted stats, damage and armour class. With the bonus from the belt and the ring of agility, she had just increased her dexterity from 31 to 40. Armour Class: 67 +13 Enchantments +24 Equipment +30 Attributes Damage: Base 81-83 (18-20) +13 Enchantments +20 Skills +30 Attributes Dexterity: 40 (9)(31) Intelligence: 14 (2)(12) Charisma: 24 (9)(15) On arriving at the sanctuary, she handed the ring to Larianco. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°It will help you hopefully, if there are any problems,¡± SJ said. Larianco turned the ring in her fingers, nodding appreciatively. ¡°Very nice and very expensive.¡± SJ felt her cheeks heat slightly. ¡°I procured it.¡± Larianco just nodded in understanding, not asking anymore. ¡°We may as well head over,¡± Larianco said. While SJ was away, she changed out of her usual dress and wore a short robe with tight sleeves over cloth trousers. Her hair was pulled back, and she looked ready for a fight. As they flew high above the city streets, the sounds of the night filtered up. The warehouse district was much darker than the surrounding areas, with most buildings without illumination. Flying to the clock tower, SJ landed with Larianco. You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. ¡°It¡¯s that warehouse there,¡± SJ pointed out. ¡°I removed a tile yesterday, but they covered it with a canvas sack. I don¡¯t know if it will have been repaired or not. I will go and check.¡± SJ took off and flew down to the roof, quickly locating where the canvas sack was still used to cover the hole. Now that it was covered, and the rain was being stopped, they probably wouldn¡¯t repair it looking at the state of the rest of the tiles. ¡°It¡¯s still covered with a sack,¡± SJ said as she landed at the tower. ¡°That¡¯s good then,¡± Larianco¡¯s eyes looked frenzied, and she was flinching at all the bangs and shouts below. ¡°Are you ok?¡± ¡°If I said I am a little nervous, would that be ok? I have never snuck into anywhere before. I have lived my life as a diplomat and rarely had to fight.¡± ¡°If you hadn¡¯t fought against Raceillia, I would have died. You have proven yourself to me ten times over.¡± Larianco gave a weak smile. ¡®Dave. What level is Larianco?¡¯ ¡°She is 31.¡± ¡®And Raceillia?¡¯ ¡°She was 25.¡± ¡®I would have assumed Larianco was much higher.¡¯ ¡°She is probably very skilled. You don¡¯t need to be a high level if you have spent years at your practice, and as a fae, I am sure she has. Her magic skills will be of a much higher level. Compared to most races. One of the strongest mages I ever met was an elf. He was only a level 14, but his magical abilities were crazy.¡± ¡®Makes sense. I just don¡¯t like staying behind in my levels. The extra constitution helps.¡¯ ¡°Your improved Dexterity will make you ridiculously fast now. Remember that you haven¡¯t attempted anything since you have had all your equipment adjusted. Be ready to adapt as you do.¡± The time was approaching 2200 hrs. ¡°Shall we go?¡± SJ asked. Larianco took a deep breath. ¡°Yes.¡± The canvas flapped lightly in the breeze as they landed, and lifting the edge, SJ moved underneath and peered into the warehouse. She couldn¡¯t see anyone moving inside, but there was light coming from the office. Crawling underneath, she lowered herself before taking off and landing gently on the nearest beam. Larianco followed her, and SJ could tell her dexterity was not as high as her own as she struggled to lower herself before flying down to meet SJ. ¡°You made that look easier than it was,¡± Larianco whispered. SJ just smiled, pointing towards the office where the light was. ¡°That was where I heard her,¡± she whispered. ¡°Follow me, and we will head to the office roof.¡± Cautiously, SJ flew over to the office, keeping watch as she did. She still hadn¡¯t seen or heard anything in the warehouse as yet and only hoped that Raceillia was there. Gently landing on the roof, she waited for Larianco to join her before moving carefully and silently to the edge of the office roof. The sounds of the bars outside could be heard even inside the warehouse, the muffled music and laughter reaching the darkness of the warehouse. SJ cupped her hand to her ear and leaned over the edge. At first, she didn¡¯t hear it, but as she focused on her hearing, the improved senses she had been granted allowed her to pick up breathing. It was slow and steady, deep, relaxed breaths. SJ turned to Larianco and signed that she thought whoever was in there was asleep, placing her hands together and against the side of her face, tilting her head. She hoped the sign was universal. Larianco nodded in understanding. She then indicated she would check. Peering over the edge and checking everywhere she could see, she lowered herself before flapping her wings and letting go. Hovering, she approached the open door. The office was larger than she had expected, and looking inside, she saw it split into at least two other rooms. There was no one in the outer room, where a lantern sat on a table. Several chairs and a desk were the only other items in the room. There were maps strewn on the desk, and an empty bottle of wine stood on the table by the lantern. The map on the desk showed District 10 in detail, and there were markings on Nebworth Street where a building was highlighted. That had to be the jeweller¡¯s where the chalice was being taken. Or was it? SJ didn¡¯t know the exact plan Wystria and the colonel had put in place. One of the doors leading from the office was wide open and there was no light or any sound coming form it. The other though the door was pushed to. Not closed but only a crack was left to peer through. SJ dropped down low to the floor landing by the door and peered inside. The room was untidy with clothes strewn on the floor and a table. There was single bed against one wall and in the bed a being lay. SJ couldn;t see from here who it was the only way she would be able to is by opening the door further. She leaned against it gently, in her miniature form it was relative and it felt like pushing against a rock wall. Slowly it began to move and as it did more light bathed the room from the lantern in the office. SJ didn¡¯t need to go any further to see that it was Raceillia. Her back was to the door and her hair trailled off the edge of the bed as she slept. Quietly SJ moved back away before taking off and listening again before she moved back out of the office and up to where Larianco¡¯s terrified face was. Landing she whispered. ¡°She is asleep in the back room on the left. No one else is around. What do you want to do?¡± ¡°Talk to her,¡± Larianco whispered in response. SJ nodded before taking off again, this time Larianco followed her inside and they both landed by the door. Larianco moved her hands in a flourish and a pale blue light appeared as a shield surrounded her. Larianco pointed upwards and they both grew. A red glow appeared in Larianco¡¯s hand as SJ eased the door open and they stepped inside. Raceillia didn¡¯t stir, still lying asleep on the bed. Even the added light being cast into the room hadn¡¯t awoken her, and SJ noticed a couple of empty wine bottles on a bedside table. Larianco nodded and approached the bed, showing a drinking motion, her glowing hand held out towards Raceillia. She spoke gently and quietly. ¡°Raceillia. It¡¯s time to get up.¡± Raceillia stirred and groaned. ¡°Raceillia. It¡¯s morning time to get up.¡± Slowly, Raceillia reacted, groaning and twisting in her sleepy state in the bed until her eyes met with Larianco and SJ¡¯s. ¡°Don¡¯t,¡± Larianco warned as Raceillia pushed herself against the wall, lifting her hands. ¡°Move them once more, and I release it. I only want to talk.¡± Raceillia¡¯s eyes were filled with hatred, but she could do nothing. Any movement would give Larianco the right to release her spell at point-blank range. There would be no way that Raceillia could stop it. SJ didn¡¯t know what the spell was, but the pulsing red and orange on her hand burned with an intensity showing that whatever it was, it was powerful. ¡°And why should I talk to you? Who allies yourself with that treacherous being,¡± Raceillia said, looking at SJ. SJ frowned but didn¡¯t reply. ¡°We know your contacts here in Asterfal and have already communicated what they planned to do this evening. I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if they weren¡¯t already in the custody of the tower guard.¡± Raceillia¡¯s eyes gave away her shock at hearing that the theft was known about, but she didn¡¯t follow up with a question. ¡°I need to understand why you have attempted to have SJ killed?¡± ¡°I have my orders.¡± ¡°Orders from whom?¡± ¡°As if I will tell you.¡± ¡°Raceillia dear. You are still so young. Why have you been tainted so badly that you are willing to show your allegiance to dark elves and sully the fae name?¡± ¡°It is my birthright. It always has been and always will be. Fae should be ruling this world, not the feeble beings that do.¡± Larianco laughed. ¡°Fae, ruling the world? You are working for dark elves. At what point do you see the fae ruling anything? Do you not know you are being manipulated to do their bidding? Have you been inflicted so badly and tainted by their words?¡± ¡°Gavia is returning. When he does, he will take back what was rightfully ours.¡± ¡°Gavia has been dead for millennia. He is not coming back. You are being manipulated and have been by false lies and misinformation. Who told you these tales?¡± ¡°My father, and his father before him.¡± ¡°Three generations of fae do not return to the time of Gavia. You are mistaken and have been affected by these tales. I do not want to harm you. I hope you will come peacefully with us back to the sanctuary. You will be returned to the capital, but at least you can redeem yourself for your actions.¡± ¡°I have nothing to redeem. I am guilty of nothing. I support our one true leader and god.¡± ¡°Will you come peacefully with me now, or must I force you to cooperate?¡± ¡°SJ?¡± Dave said. ¡®What?¡¯ SJ thought angrily, at being disturbed. She was nervous enough, as it was, without Dave interrupting her. ¡°What Raceillia just said may be true. The way she said it, our one true leader and god.¡± ¡®And what does that matter? Gavia is dead.¡¯ ¡°But the god of darkness isn¡¯t, and if Haber can change his form to be whoever he wishes. Do you not think that Jaristi could as well? He could easily portray himself as Gavia. He may not do anything himself to affect anything directly, therefore not breaking the rules the gods are under as Haber does for us in Killic. But nothing stops him from presenting himself as Gavia¡¯s reincarnation and spreading the lies of old.¡± The thought of a god portraying Gavia pierced SJ¡¯s spine. ¡®He wouldn¡¯t?¡¯ ¡°Why not? If all he is doing is talking and not causing harm, is that different to any other god? I don¡¯t know how many are on Amathera, and from what Haber said, he is a little different, having spent most of his time here, but doesn¡¯t that mean they all could? This makes my circuits overheat thinking about the possibilities,¡± Dave said, and SJ could imagine he just shivered as well. ¡®But what about the dark elves? Where do they come into it?¡¯ ¡°The God of Darkness has always been their race¡¯s patron. It makes sense that they would be completing his work on his behalf within the fae kingdom to bring about the chaos of the past.¡± ¡®So where do I fit in?¡¯ ¡°I have been thinking a lot about that as well. I believe there are two key considerations. The first is that you are on the side of the good. What you have done, who you are and what you stand for are all the opposites of what Jaristi would want to happen. Again, he is not directly attacking you, but may have influenced others to do so. A ray of light is a ray of light in a dark room. That is when it shines its brightest. Secondly, I think the gods know more about what you stand for than we do. Haber has insinuated as much, but has never said what. You are here, I believe, to achieve something that even I, or potentially even the System, aren¡¯t aware of. ¡®Of all the times to hit me with this is now?¡¯ ¡°Well, thinking about something a lot for me doesn¡¯t correlate with your time. Maybe I used the wrong words. What triggered it was the comment then from Raceillia about the one.¡± ¡®We have no proof. How could we be sure?¡¯ ¡°We can¡¯t, but how a certain friend of ours got flustered when we spoke to him about Jaristi. I think it is closer to the mark than we ever expected. I think another conversation is needed.¡± SJ continued listening to Larianco and Raceillia as she spoke to Dave. Larianco almost pleaded with Raceillia to come quietly. ¡°We need to hurry up,¡± SJ said. ¡°She either comes quietly, or we do what we must do.¡± It was the first time SJ had spoken since arriving there, and Raceillia¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Simple. We have permission to kill you if we must. You are a lesser fae and a relative of a lower council member. You hold no status in the kingdom.¡± Raceillia¡¯s jaw hit the floor with the statement, and she sat flustered, trying to gather her words. That was when things went sideways. The door to the warehouse side entrance flew open as SJ heard voices and beings arriving. ? Chapter 156 – Payback SJ bolted to the front office, approaching the door and glancing out. Her sight immediately picked up the five beings that had entered the warehouse. She recognised the one at the back as Carter, but she couldn¡¯t be sure if the others were in the warehouse when she had come previously. They weren¡¯t being quiet and looking at them. One was injured and supported by another. He had two arrows protruding from his leg. The crew that had gone to steal the chalice fell foul to the trap they must have laid for them. ¡°Get him upstairs to the office. Winbeck, check we weren¡¯t followed here. The last thing we need is those damn guards turning up,¡± Carter said. ¡°Larianco, we must go,¡± SJ hissed to the back room. ¡°Not without Raceillia.¡± ¡°Now!¡± SJ said with urgency. The dark elf being helped up the stairs groaned as he tried to put weight on his injured leg. SJ equipped her claws, taking a dart from her belt. ¡°Larianco!¡± SJ could still hear them talking when Raceillia suddenly shouted. ¡°CARTER. HELP!¡± Carter looked up towards the office a look of shock on his face. SJ was stood inside the doorway, but she couldn¡¯t be sure if he had seen her or not. ¡°Now. Larianco.¡± There was a flash of light behind her, and then chaos ensued. As Carter barked orders, the injured dark elf on the stairs was left to hold on to the barrier. ¡°Get up there and see what the hell¡¯s going on.¡± The dark elf supporting the injured one released him and sprinted up the stairs. SJ stepped out, throwing a dart at him as he reached the walkway. It didn¡¯t strike him in his chest as she had hoped, but it did hit his shoulder, making him grunt from the impact. It looked like he had leather pauldrons. The dart didn¡¯t penetrate due to her failed accuracy. Ducking back inside, SJ saw the movement behind her as a miniature fae form darted from the back room. Raceillia flew past before SJ could react. ¡°Larianco. Are you ok?¡± SJ asked, panicking that Raceillia had got past her. ¡°Yes,¡± she cursed. ¡°She used a dispel charm. When my spell dimmed, she launched at me and ran.¡± The dark elf on the walkway had drawn a short sword and, flattening himself against the office wall, was edging towards the door. The other able-bodied dark elf had started up the stairs. Carter was also beginning to approach. ¡°There are too many of them for us to handle. We need to go.¡± Larianco appeared behind her, her nervous look from before lost as pure anger flared on her face. The corner of her mouth turned up in a sneer. SJ spun around the doorway, releasing another two darts in quick succession. The dark elf deflected one with his blade, the other hitting his side and penetrating his armour. It let out a cry of pain as the dart embedded deeply. The darts alone did minor damage but her Dexterity and enchantment bonuses made a significant difference. It grabbed at the dart, pulling it out as it staggered from the impact. The second dark elf was now on the walkway behind the first, Carter close behind. SJ glanced out as a bolt from a crossbow struck the door frame inches from her face. Larianco¡¯s hands glowed red as she stepped forward. ¡°Let me,¡± she hissed. Stepping out of the doorway with a flourish of her hands, two red bolts quickly shot forward. SJ heard a scream and a crashing sound. The nearest dark elf received both bolts, sending him hurtling backwards and over the walkway side to crash to the floor below. Another bolt flew at Larianco, her shield preventing it from penetrating. ¡°I will deal with these you deal with Raceillia,¡± Larianco said. SJ stepped behind Larianco, who was shielding her. Larianco had Carter and another dark elf to deal with as SJ noticed Raceillia flying towards the front of the warehouse to an open window above the main door. ¡°Will you be ok?¡± SJ asked. ¡°Yes. Go,¡± Larianco said as a red ball appeared between her hands. Two more bolts hit her shield as the fireball grew. SJ shrunk and immediately took off. Dropping over the walkway side, she narrowly dodged a dagger thrown in her direction by Carter and chased after Raceillia. Raceillia had reached the window and was disappearing through it. Only taking SJ moments to reach the entrance, she didn¡¯t slow as she bounced off the angled glass pane, causing it to crack as she was deflected downwards. Gathering her senses, her vision picked out Raceillia hurtling towards an opposite alleyway. SJ gave chase. As SJ reached the alleyway, she saw the flash from behind her in the warehouse. The fireball¡¯s explosion thundered across the district, erupting outwards from all the glass inside the building, scattering the street with shards of glass and splinters of wood. SJ was glad she hadn¡¯t been inside when it went off. Raceillia looked back, seeing SJ, and released ice bolts towards her. SJ dived out of their path as they sailed above her. Taking a dart in her hand, she attempted to throw it towards Raceillia. It was a pointless exercise; her accuracy while flying was impaired to a severe extent by the speed at which she was travelling. Raceillia disappeared around a corner, SJ flying as fast and as hard as she could in pursuit. ¡°Careful!¡± Dave warned as she reached it. SJ slowed, peering around the edge to see a blue bolt immediately hurtle towards her. Pulling her head back out of the way, she heard Raceillia curse and glanced again to see she was moving again. Raceillia flew out onto the street ahead, turning right, heading deeper into District 3. ¡®I think she is heading towards The Squirrels Sphere,¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°Possibly. I bet that¡¯s where the rest of the crew hang out,¡± Dave said. SJ changed her flight path, lifting upwards at an angle over the roof rather than flying at street level. From here, she had a clear sight of the bar and flew directly towards it. Her vision allowed her to still see Raceillia hurtling along the street in her miniature form as she cut over the rooftops in pursuit. There was no direct route for Raceillia without using alleyways, and SJ hoped to catch her up. She could now see flames blazing in the night sky behind her, and there was another loud explosion. ¡®I hope Larianco is okay.¡¯ Raceillia was closing in on the bar, and SJ didn¡¯t think she would catch her before she reached it. She pushed as hard as she could, but even flying directly, Raceillia¡¯s years of experience flying meant she was faster, even at street level. ¡®Damn,¡¯ SJ cursed as she saw Raceillia turn down an alley leading to the rear of the bar. SJ flew straight over the roof as Raceillia returned to her full size and reached for the door. There was no way she would let her escape, and without even attempting to grow, she flew directly towards Raceillia¡¯s back. As Raceillia grasped the handle and called, she struck her back in her miniature form, her claws extended. Easily penetrating through her dress. Raceillia screamed in pain as her tiny needle-like claws penetrated her body. That was when SJ grew. She was disorientated from the impact, but it didn¡¯t stop her. Her claws still dug deeply into Raceillia and grew as she did. Her blades in miniature form were only about one and a half inches long, but as she grew to her full size, the full eighteen-inch blades had the desired effect. The scream of agony that escaped Raceillia as SJ¡¯s blades erupted from the front of her chest would have woken the dead. If the dead ever slept. Which SJ knew from her skeleton friends, that they didn¡¯t. Her head was flung back in shock from the sudden damage, and as SJ went to strike again, a bright flash of light hit her, throwing her backwards. Her claws came free as she stumbled on her Sure Step, preventing her from falling. Raceillia was seriously wounded as she turned towards SJ, but she would not give in quietly. Triggering Shroud SJ struck. Her moves were fast and precise, her health was full, and a blue bolt flew at her as she approached. She didn¡¯t alter her course and took the dart impact in her shoulder, grunting as she lunged at Raceillia. Her claws sparked against the shield Raceillia had cast, reminding SJ of sparklers on bonfire night. Strike after strike, she struck at the shield in a frenzy. Although not hitting Raceillia, the impact of her strikes offset her and pushed her backwards. The door to the bar was being opened, and SJ threw her weight at Raceillia. Forcing her back into the opening doorway. Their combined weight crashed into the door, closing it on whoever was coming through. SJ felt as though she had just received an electric shock. Her muscles spasming as she contacted the shield with her body until she moved back. That had hurt her more than she had expected, her health dropping by a third. Again, she attacked. More sparks flew, and where they were, Raceillia backed against the door. No one could come out. SJ saw faces in a rear window with her vision and shouting from inside. Raceillia¡¯s eyes were partially closed as she cast a spell, and SJ felt the surrounding air grow cold as an ice elemental appeared behind her. The elemental stood eight feet tall and had appeared at the rear of the yard. Its body was covered in icy spikes, and where it should have had hands, it also had spikes. It lumbered towards SJ, and its moves were slow and deliberate. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°Kill her,¡± Raceillia screeched. ¡°Stay on her,¡± Dave shouted. ¡°If you kill her, the elemental will dispel.¡± SJ¡¯s attacks became even faster as she pummelled the shield with everything she had while watching the lumbering form of the ice elemental move towards her. The sparks were lessening, and as the ice elemental went to strike SJ, it failed. Raceillia¡¯s eyes opened wide in shock as her claws penetrated the shield. Tearing into Raceillia. Rabid, almost feral strikes, no skill, no finesse, just total aggression in her movements. Screaming in pain from the savage attack, Raceillia fell. Falling backwards against the door, her muscles weakened, and her legs gave way. As SJ brought her hand around in one last strike at Raceillia, it was a moment too slow as the ice elemental struck her. She had seen it coming and didn¡¯t care. Grimacing from the pain as the spike tore into her side, her hand came down on Raceillia, ending her life. The icy appendage stuck in her side suddenly vanished as the ice elemental disappeared. The only sign it had ever been there were small pools of water where it had stepped. SJ panted as she grasped her side. The now lifeless form of Raceillia still blocking the door to the bar. Bodies were on the other side and pushing against it, and Raceillia¡¯s body was unceremoniously shoved out of the way. SJ didn¡¯t hesitate, and as the first face of a dark elf appeared around the door¡¯s edge, she attacked. This time with precision, her claws catching it perfectly, sending it reeling backwards, screaming in agony. Others behind it were forced backwards as it backpedalled away from her. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Dave said. ¡®Finishing it,¡¯ SJ replied, stepping to the door and pulling it open. The first two who moved forward to attack SJ fell within moments, unable to get in a position to use their weapons. There were three others inside, and as SJ stepped into the doorway, she asked Dave their levels. ¡°Nothing special. 12 left, 18 middle, 14 right.¡± The furthest from her on the left raised a crossbow to shoot her, which she prevented by stepping forward and up to the level 18. He had a dagger in his hand and went to strike her. Her adrenaline-fuelled state and high Dexterity allowed her to easily deflect and strike the dark elf. He staggered from the claws that hit his abdomen, doubling over and moving back. The level 14 swung a short sword towards her back, her vision seeing it coming, and she flicked her arm backwards again, deflecting the blow. Her initiative, derived from her senses, dexterity, and vision, was a class above her attackers by far. As she turned, she brought her claws up in defence as the sword was swung downwards, its blade catching between the claws and striking the wedged v. With the blade caught SJ attempted to twist her wrist, but the blade didn¡¯t snap. The movement pulled the dark elf off balance as his arm was yanked, not expecting his weapon to be snagged. With her free hand, SJ stepped in and ended its life with two swift strikes. The one she had hit in the stomach had gathered itself and moved at her again; seeing him come, she again blocked the thrust of his dagger. Sweeping her leg around and catching him in his knee. This sent him staggering sideways, and he tripped, falling face-first onto a table and scattering its contents onto the floor. The one with the crossbow pulled the trigger, only fifteen feet from SJ, not giving her time to dodge. Just as the bolt was about to strike her leg, she activated her Shadow Step skill. The dark elf didn¡¯t even have time to finish dropping his crossbow and calling his blade to his hand, as SJ appeared from the shadows next to him, her claws pinning him to the wall he had been standing by. Turning back towards the level 18, she moved towards him, sneering and ready to strike. He was lying on the ground on his side, holding his stomach and raising a hand. ¡°Please don¡¯t,¡± it pleaded. Stepping forward, SJ went to strike and stopped herself at the last moment, her blades millimetres from the dark elf¡¯s body, which had turned away in fear. ¡°You¡¯re not going to finish him?¡± Dave said. ¡®No. I will let the guard deal with him when they arrive. I am sure they will after the explosions and everything else that has happened tonight.¡¯ A short bar ran along the other side of the room and as SJ stood over the dark elf, a terrified face of a goblin peered over the top. ¡°Are they dead?¡± it asked in a squeaky voice. ¡°Not all,¡± SJ said, kicking the dark elf on the floor at her feet. ¡°Are you the owner?¡± ¡°I was until they took it from me and forced me to stay here as their barman.¡± ¡°They took it from you?¡± ¡°They stole my deed and forced me to turn the bar over to them after threatening my family. I had no choice. I have been a slave to them for years. I never dared say anything to the guard as they threatened they would hurt my Larissa.¡± ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°Keru.¡± ¡°Are there any more here? Upstairs?¡± ¡°No. Only my daughter is upstairs. They¡¯ve been talking about a job the last few days, so they are out.¡± ¡°The chalice robbery?¡± ¡°Aye, something about a chalice. They said it would be a big earner.¡± ¡°Shut your mouth, goblin,¡± the dark elf said. ¡°You¡¯re in no position to tell anyone to do anything,¡± SJ said, lowering her claws against his side. ¡°Now I suggest you shut up and don¡¯t even think about moving.¡± Glancing around the bar, SJ asked. ¡°Have you any rope?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Keru said, hurrying to a cupboard beneath the stairs. ¡°Tie him up,¡± SJ said, as Keru brought the rope over. Once the dark elf was trussed up and secured, leaning against the broken table, SJ asked Keru to get the guard. ¡°They do nothing,¡± Keru said with concern. ¡°Tell them the Ambassador of Killic asks them to attend the bar. I am sure that will get their attention.¡± ¡°Ambassador?¡± Keru looked confused. ¡°Yes. Ambassador.¡± Eyes wide in amazement, Keru stared for a moment before bolting out the door. The injured dark elf was in a bad way, his stomach still bleeding from her wound. Amathereans didn¡¯t have the luxury of healing that Legionnaires did. The bar was a dive. It was once probably a decent establishment, but under the control of the dark elves, it had gone to wrack and ruin. The inside was just as poorly maintained as the outside had been when she had scouted it. Now that SJ was out of active combat, her health increased quickly, soon reaching full again. The holes in her dress from the spike and bolts were repairing themselves, and any signs of blood were disappearing. She wiped her claws off on a rag from the bar before returning them to her inventory. The dark elf was drifting in and out of consciousness now as it sat propped up, and she wasn¡¯t sure if it would survive, but she would not give her ring to it to heal. It could suffer for all she cared. ¡°SJ?¡± Dave said. ¡®Yes?¡¯ ¡°Can I say something?¡± ¡®You know you can. Why?¡¯ SJ frowned at Dave¡¯s request to speak. ¡°That was freaking amazing, more amazing than a dragon biting an ogre¡¯s head off. The way you reacted and moved. Your vision. That allowed you to see the attacks. Thanks to me, I might add. The trick with your claws on that sword blade. I think my breath was held the whole time. Never mind when you just accepted the damage from those attacks. I have seen fighters and barbarians move away from less,¡± Dave gabbled. SJ didn¡¯t reply as she moved around the bodies, looting them. ¡®That explosion at the warehouse. I hope Larianco survived,¡¯ SJ thought as her display triggered again. ¡°I am sure she will be fine. That shield she had was very strong,¡± Dave said. It had continually triggered as she had fought, but she had read none of the messages. That could wait until later. Moving outside, she looted Raceillia. Again, her display triggered, and she ignored it. She had no problems looting everything because of the size of her inventory. As she walked back inside, SJ noticed a small green face peeking through the banister rails at the top of the stairs. ¡°Hello,¡± SJ said. ¡°Hi,¡± the little goblin replied, her eyes as wide as saucers looking at the carnage in the bar. ¡°You should go back upstairs for now.¡± ¡°Mum¡¯s not here, she¡¯s at work, and I saw Dad go down the street.¡± SJ walked to the stairs and looked up at the small goblin. She had two small tufts of hair with yellow ribbons on her little head. Her tiny little face reminded SJ of when she first met Cristy. ¡°How old are you?¡± SJ asked. ¡°Four.¡± ¡°Well, you don¡¯t need to look at things like this. Go back upstairs for now. Your daddy will be back soon enough.¡± ¡°Are the bad elves gone now?¡± SJ smiled at the goblin child. ¡°Yes. They are gone.¡± Outside the bar¡¯s open door, SJ could see beings gathering on the street, trying to look in but not coming too near. It would be a few minutes before Keru returned with the guard. ? Chapter 157 – Life and Death ¡°I need to go,¡± SJ said to the goblin child. ¡°What if they come back?¡± ¡°They won¡¯t.¡± SJ didn¡¯t want to hang around and deal with the incompetent guard in District 3. Her dealings with Lurtew¡¯s disappearance had been bad enough previously. Trying to explain this would be a nightmare. Returning to the backyard, SJ looked down at the still form of Raceillia once more before shrinking and taking off. She needed to check on Larianco. Flying straight back to the warehouse, the damage from the explosion was catastrophic. The front wall had been blown outwards, stone and wood scattered the street, and a group of mages were busy dowsing the flames. The roof had collapsed inwards, and there was no way that SJ could get near to check inside with the debris. ¡®I hope Larianco¡¯s okay,¡¯ SJ thought, her stomach churning with nervous tension. Her usual adrenaline came down and didn¡¯t appear as bad as previous occurrences. ¡°That shield she had was very strong, And I bet her fire resistance is very high, being a fire mage,¡± Dave said. ¡®Look at this place, though.¡¯ ¡°There is nothing you can do here. I would try the sanctuary.¡± SJ continued over the warehouse, flying through the thick, acrid smoke from its burning contents. As she arrived at the sanctuary door, it was open, and she landed, growing and immediately equipping her claws. ¡°Larianco?¡± she called as she entered. ¡°In here,¡± a pained voice replied. SJ rushed to her voice in the lounge and found Larianco slumped in a chair. A wicked gash crossed her chest from her right shoulder blade, almost to her abdomen. Her clothes were covered in blood. ¡°Have you no potions?¡± SJ asked, looking at her woeful state. ¡°I¡¯ve drunk some. The wound won¡¯t close. I think the wound is poisoned,¡± Larianco said through gritted teeth. SJ pulled her regeneration ring from her finger and handed it to her. ¡°Here, put this on,¡± SJ said, handing it to her. Larianco slipped the ring onto her finger. ¡°Trigger the ring, and it will give you a boost.¡± Larianco gasped as health flooded back into her body, the 30% boost returning colour to her drawn face. SJ watched in trepidation as Larianco grimaced. ¡°My health is still dropping. It has helped, but unless I can get a cure, I won¡¯t survive.¡± SJ¡¯s mind raced. ¡°I will be right back,¡± she said as she sprinted back out of the sanctuary, shrinking and launching herself into the air. She immediately turned to the closest place she knew someone could help her. She almost fell as she grew on landing, only her boots keeping her upright, and she banged on Petunia¡¯s door. ¡°PETUNIA!¡± SJ called. There were no lights on inside. Cursing, SJ was about to head to find Wystria when her heart leapt when she heard Petunia¡¯s voice. ¡°SJ. Is that you? What¡¯s wrong? It is late.¡± SJ stepped back from the door and looked up at the window from which Petunia had looked out. ¡°Larianco is seriously injured. She is dying. I need your help. Please?¡± SJ pleaded. Petunia didn¡¯t respond as she disappeared from the window. SJ heard banging and crashing, followed by cursing, as she descended the stairs. ¡°Where is she?¡± Petunia said, opening the front door. She stood wearing what SJ could only describe as a nightdress and had wooden rollers in her hair. SJ would have smiled at the old gnome¡¯s appearance if it had been any other moment. ¡°At the sanctuary,¡± SJ said, turning. They ran. SJ was surprised at the speed Petunia maintained for both her size and her age as she kept up with SJ, although slightly out of breath. It only took them a couple of minutes to reach the sanctuary. The front door was still locked, so they went around to the rear, running in to find Larianco still in her chair. ¡°Oh my,¡± Petunia said, as she rushed to her side, grabbing her wrist. Her face creased as she placed a hand on Larianco¡¯s chest, white light encasing her still body. ¡°She is fading.¡± SJ felt sick. Larianco looked dead. Her face was grey, and her clothes and chair were covered in her life essence. Petunia began chanting, the light from her hand pulsing as it thrust healing streams into her. Sweat formed on Petunia¡¯s brow as she closed her eyes, concentrating. Larianco¡¯s face still looked grey. ¡°Damn. I need more mana,¡± Petunia cursed. ¡°I haven¡¯t brought potions or my jewellery.¡± SJ grabbed Larianco¡¯s hand, pulled her mana regeneration ring from it, and handed it to Petunia. Petunia took it, placing it on her finger. Her eyebrows rose as she identified it. Petunia must have triggered the mana boost because the next moment she stepped back and, pointing both her palms towards Larianco, again cast a spell. The brilliance of the white light hurt SJ¡¯s eyes, and she squinted as its intensity increased when a bolt of pure white erupted from her palms and hit Larianco in the chest. Larianco¡¯s body pulsed and twitched as the light poured into her. To SJ, it seemed like it had lasted for minutes, but it was mere moments in reality when the light stopped again. Petunia reached forward again, grabbing her wrist. Silence filled the room as SJ held her breath. Petunia slowly released her wrist. ¡°She is stable,¡± she said. SJ released her breath. ¡°Thank you. I never would have forgiven myself.¡± Petunia turned to look at her. ¡°While I keep an eye on her. You need to get me a brandy from that bottle on the side over there and then tell me what on Amathera has been going on!¡± SJ poured two large glasses of brandy, handed one to Petunia, and drank the other as she explained what had happened. ¡°What on Amathera do you think you were doing with just the two of you? A mage and an assassin, I might add. Not the usual mix.¡± ¡°We weren¡¯t expecting the others to return,¡± SJ said, feeling a little sheepish. ¡°At least it sounds like the problem is now dealt with.¡± ¡°I hope so. I didn¡¯t get a chance to ask Larianco.¡± As SJ finished talking, Larianco stirred. Groaning, she opened her eyes, taking in SJ and Petunia sitting staring at her. ¡°Don¡¯t try and move,¡± Petunia said. ¡°You were on your last legs when I got here. I only just managed to save you, and that wound you took was vicious.¡± Coughing, Larianco shifted slightly, wincing. She put her hand to her chest, feeling the skin where the cut had been closed with Petunia¡¯s healing. ¡°Thank you,¡± she said, her voice weak. ¡°It is going to take you time to recover. You will require another round of healing. That was a nasty poison you were struck with.¡± ¡°Is Carter dead?¡± SJ asked. Larianco looked at SJ and shook her head. ¡°No. He escaped after he struck me. I took out the others and thought I had hit him, but he had some skill which allowed him to move so quickly, and my shield didn¡¯t stop his blade when he attacked. It has to be charmed.¡± SJ cursed loudly. If Carter was still out there, he needed to be dealt with. Not caring anymore, SJ tapped her ear. It took several moments when a voice replied. ¡°Late for a social call,¡± Carlito said. The noise of an inn drifted into her ear. ¡°Carlito. I need you to do me a favour. I will pay you?¡± SJ said, trying not to look at the faces of Petunia and Larianco as she did. ¡°First, tell me what, then I will decide.¡± ¡°Do you know of a dark elf called Carter? I need him ended. We ran into him this evening while dealing with the other issue that you are already aware of, and he almost killed Larianco in the process, then fled the scene.¡± ¡°Carter. I do know him. A pickpocket and thief,¡± Carlito replied casually. ¡°Would you deal with him? And how much would it cost?¡± ¡°When by?¡± If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°Tonight, if possible.¡± ¡°Umm. Okay. In exchange, you must tell me your secret. Before I do it.¡± SJ closed her eyes. She knew Dave could hear what Carlito was saying through her thoughts. Turning, SJ looked at Petunia and Larianco, who were looking at her not in shock or anger but with genuine intrigue. ¡®In for a penny, in for a pound,¡¯ SJ thought. Dave stayed silent, not replying. She could imagine him sitting on the edge of a seat, waiting to hear what she said. ¡°You know the being that I told you I met?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Carlito replied. ¡°All I can say is that he gave me a gift.¡± ¡°What kind of gift?¡± ¡°A special gift. That is all I can say. I¡¯m unable to say anymore.¡± There was silence for several moments. SJ could only hear the distant bar where Carlito was and her own breathing. When Carlito spoke, his voice was uncertain. It was the first time she had ever heard him speak without confidence. ¡°There is only one thing that I can think of that could in any way present the details you have shown in resistance to me, and now you have said it, I should have thought of it before.¡± SJ didn¡¯t respond. After a further moment¡¯s silence, Carlito spoke again. ¡°I assume you can¡¯t confirm as sworn to an oath, but I will ask you one question you may be able to answer. Was this gift red?¡± SJ hadn¡¯t been sworn to an oath, and to her knowledge, she could have said exactly what had happened when she had drunk Bob¡¯s blood and formed her symbiotic relationship. ¡°Yes,¡± SJ replied, her single-word response being met with silence. There was an almost silent gasp when someone breathed in, and then SJ heard Carlito moving, the sounds changing from within the bar as he did. She opened her display and saw Carlito¡¯s red dot at the Black Griffin. Zooming in, she saw his dot heading towards where she thought the fight pits were. Her display had no interior map of buildings, but from the entrance, it had to be in that direction. It carried on across, moving towards where she believed they held the shark bait, and then proceeded past that area into an unfamiliar location. There was a knock on a door, and SJ heard it being opened. ¡°I didn¡¯t ask for a drink.¡± SJ heard Carter¡¯s voice. He must have gone to the Black Griffin to hide. The next sound was a gasp and gurgling, like someone was drowning, struggling to breathe. ¡°It¡¯s done,¡± Carlito said as the link went dead. SJ sat in shocked silence for several moments before composing herself. She had just listened to Carlito kill Carter. Not realising she had sat on the edge of her seat, gripping the armrests, she released her grip and looked back at Petunia and Larianco again. ¡°He¡¯s dead,¡± SJ said. Petunia looked at SJ with a severe look, although her eyes relayed humour behind them. ¡°I believe you have some explaining to do.¡± When SJ finished explaining what had happened to her since her arrival, who the assassin was, and how he was now her sponsor, and without going into details of her job, both Larianco and Petunia were flabbergasted. Both were aware of elements, but not the entire story of Carlito¡¯s involvement. SJ didn¡¯t tell them he was a dragonling or about her resistance to his attacks. Often referring to the conversation taking place after she was a councillor and the contract against her was dropped when they both asked questions. By the time SJ left between them, they had drank more medicinal brandy, in Petunia¡¯s words. Both Larianco and Petunia gave her the rings back. SJ was going to stay with Larianco, but she insisted she would be fine once she was cleaned up. She was still wearing her bloodied clothes, but having switched chairs, the other being moved outside ruined. SJ walked back with Petunia after promising that she would see Larianco in the morning and leaving Petunia, whom she had promised she would meet at the tower in the morning to file her full audit report and have a conversation with the chancellor. Her room was welcoming when she entered through the balcony, closing and locking it out of habit. The incubating egg glowed softly as she settled on her bed. The notification icon flashed on her screen, but that could wait until the morning. She was too tired now to read through all the details. Since arriving in Asterfal, her life had only got more complex. The interest of the misled fae and dark elves was not an issue that could be dealt with easily or quickly. If Jaristi was really involved, and pretending to be Gavia, the consequences never mind what had been happening or what could happen needed to be considered. ¡°SJ,¡± Dave said. ¡®Yes.¡¯ ¡°Go to sleep. You can worry about that in the morning.¡± It took her a while still, but eventually, sleep took her. When SJ awoke the next morning, she worked through her notifications after getting a coffee, and wrote up the official report for the audit. The dark elves had nothing of value apart from coins, although their weapons would fetch a few coins. Raceillia¡¯s loot was a little different. There were two items of interest. Bracelet of Normal Fire Resistance 15% Bracelet of Knowledge +4 Ward Breaker The Bracelet of Knowledge was Intelligence, which, even with its increase, was still her lowest attribute at 16 but still a significant improvement. She noticed her mana pool had increased substantially due to it. Not that she used mana apart from creating her enchantment slots for tailoring. The ward breaker was the most interesting item. It looked like a plain bronze-coloured disc with no discernible markings. When she saw Larianco, she would have to speak to her about it. Between the four of them. Having looted the injured dark elf and removed all his belongings, she had gained 73 copper, 61 silver, and 2 gold. SJ had expected that Raceillia would have more coins than she did, with her having most of the coins with over two gold coins. There hadn¡¯t been enough room to stack all the items on the table, and she had placed the weapons on the floor. ¡®I am going to drop some coins off with Keru. I think he deserves to be paid for his trouble,¡¯ SJ thought. Dave said nothing, just snorting like he had been expecting her to do something like that. Leaving her house by her front door this morning, SJ looked up into the bright sky. The rain clouds of the past couple of days had blown over, and the difference she felt this morning, knowing that the threat over her had been dealt with, made her smile as she walked down the street. ¡°Today¡¯s job. Visit Larianco, see Petunia at the tower and hand in the report. Meet with the chancellor. Anything else?¡± Dave said. ¡®I think I may see Carlito. I want to thank him for last night.¡¯ ¡°I liked the way you explained to him. I was surprised that he worked it out. Symbiosis isn¡¯t common across any races.¡± ¡®It surprised me as well, but I don¡¯t know what dragons think do or know.¡¯ ¡°Nor does anyone. Well, maybe a god might.¡± ¡®Mentioning gods. I need to speak to Nexis again about Jaristi. Especially after our conversation and your thoughts as to what he may do if he is involved directly.¡¯ ¡°I am proud of my consideration,¡± Dave said smugly. ¡®It was very intuitive of you. It¡¯s a shame you aren¡¯t like that all the time.¡¯ ¡°Hey!¡± SJ laughed in her head as she arrived at the sanctuary. Larianco answered the door with a broad smile. ¡°You look a little healthier today,¡± SJ said. ¡°Thanks to you and Petunia. She called in first thing this morning and refreshed me. I feel better this morning than I have in a long time.¡± ¡°I found this on Raceillia,¡± SJ said, handing the Ward Breaker to Larianco. ¡°These are only supposed to be issued to royal guards. They allow them to break into any sanctuary of the fae. They are controlled and accounted for regularly.¡± ¡°Maybe you need to have another conversation with Val about it?¡± ¡°I will when I speak to her next. What are you planning to do today?¡± ¡°See Petunia, and the chancellor, and then I may consider going back home. I have nothing else pending at the moment and with the attacks against me resolved, I can hopefully spend some time relaxing. I have enjoyed being in the city, but it has been stressful.¡± Larianco smiled. ¡°Definitely eventful. Oh. I found Raceillia¡¯s communication stone. I am going to send it back to the capital for Val to look into. Maybe she can work out who she was speaking to.¡± ¡°Whoever it was from the conversation I overheard is someone that neither her or Carter wished to upset.¡± ¡°Hopefully she can find out.¡± ¡°Right, I better go and hand in my report. I am so glad you are feeling and looking so much better.¡± ¡°Thank you for your help,¡± Larianco said, hugging SJ. SJ returned it, smiling. As she walked from Larianco¡¯s, her display triggered. Congratulations! Your reputation with the Fae Angolis has increased to popular. Completed quests on behalf of the Fae Angolis will give you a 60% experience increase. Be warned. Performing acts for other factions may decrease your reputation with the Angolis. ¡®Dave. Who are the Angolis?¡¯ SJ asked as she walked to the tower. ? Chapter 158 – Going Home ¡°The Angolis are one of five of the fae factions that makes up their kingdom. The Angolis, Cortharo, Kesiliac, Naqesti and Soliasil,¡± Dave said ¡®I had no idea there were different factions,¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°I don¡¯t know much about them, or what they stand for. Never having a fae Legionnaire, I only know the basic details from the Legionnarius. It¡¯s basically from my understanding similar to orc clans. Different orc clans will group together to form war pacts. Fae have been a combined group of factions for millennia, and it is the basis of their society and council. The king or the queen of the fae is elected rather than earned through a rite of passage, and it revolves between the various factions. I think currently the king of the fae was originally Cortharo. When they take on the throne, they denounce their membership or allegiance to any faction, and should hold neutrality.¡± ¡®Do all factions make up the council?¡¯ ¡°I believe so. You would need to confirm with a fae directly. Sorry.¡± Dave sounded genuinely upset, not being able to give SJ any further information. ¡°I spoke to mum at long last. She has stated that Gavia was never tied into the dark elves. All she is aware of is that Gavia was thought to have been supported by a god, but no one knew which one. Mentioning the dark elves has made mum go over some of her database details more thoroughly. She has promised to let me know if she finds or hears anything.¡± ¡®Thanks.¡¯ Once SJ reached the tower, she located Petunia in Alec¡¯s office, which she was using while covering his position. As usual, she appeared pristine and as though she had just walked in from a complete make-over. Her hair perfectly curled, robes immaculate and no signs of being up half the night. ¡°Morning Petunia,¡± SJ said. ¡°Ah. SJ, perfect timing. Do you have your report?¡± ¡°I do.¡± ¡°Excellent. I was going to use your draft version, but since you have the official one, let us go and see the chancellor.¡± SJ followed Petunia the short distance to the chancellors¡¯ office and on entering discovered Wystria and the colonel, also in attendance. ¡°Please sit,¡± the chancellor said. Then indicated for the colonel to continue. ¡°As I was explaining. The theft was foiled, and we took one captive and two were killed. At least one other was injured, but the remainder of the gang got away. I have tower guards currently scouring the districts looking for them. Other updates, there was also an explosion in District 3 last night and a report that a member of the council called for the guard to attend a second incident.¡± The colonel turning to look at SJ. SJ could feel her cheeks getting hot and didn¡¯t make eye contact. ¡°Where is the chalice now?¡± ¡°In the Astaria still. We never actually removed it from there. I believe I know who the being is that was responsible for communicating the change of plans. There is a member of staff who is married to one of Jelart¡¯s cousins. From the information SJ gave,¡± Wystria looked at SJ. ¡°I believe we now have our prime suspect.¡± ¡°I think SJ may have some useful information to add to last night¡¯s events,¡± Petunia interjected before anyone continued. SJ cleared her throat, feeling very nervous suddenly. She looked around at each of them in attendance before she began. By the time she had finished explaining what had happened the previous evening, she felt as though she had just laid her soul out to bear. She refrained from any details surrounding Carter¡¯s death and stated that he had died in the explosion. Only hoping that Petunia didn¡¯t contradict her. She glanced at Petunia momentarily when she stated it, and Petunia sat with a smile on her face, showing no other emotion or reaction. The chancellor looked at SJ as she finished her story, with a raised eyebrow and a wry smile on his face. ¡°It appears that you have resolved a rather awkward problem for us disposing of this group. I will have to pass on my thanks to Larianco when I see her. Colonel, I think we require this captured dark elf also to be brought in for questioning from District 3. I will ask the scriers to complete an interrogation of both of them.¡± ¡°Sir.¡± ¡°I just needed to apologise for the damage caused in the warehouse district. We never intended to cause so much,¡± SJ said. ¡°No need to apologise. The entire district requires regenerating. It is by far the worst in the city and a scar compared to others,¡± the chancellor said. ¡°Can I while we are discussing District 3 give you my audit findings?¡± Petunia asked. ¡°Of course.¡± Petunia spent the next thirty minutes going through the audit findings with them. The conclusion was stark and in Petunia¡¯s own words. ¡°He requires to be dragged before the city council and questioned to be made an example of. His treasonous acts alone will receive the death penalty, but his fall should caution others and maybe prevent any other issues. If I consider the tax, he has swindled through the books of District 3 there are several things that as a council we wouldn¡¯t have had to do, and if this is happening in more than one district, I dread to consider the savings. The tax increases we have voted across the region, I believe once this is all concluded, will require to be reconsidered.¡± All in attendance were nodding in agreement. ¡°Indeed, we may,¡± the chancellor said. ¡°Colonel, would you be so kind as to arrest Lieutenant Jelart and bring him before the council? I will call an emergency meeting immediately. The findings will seal his fate and the vote for punishment can be expedited.¡± ¡°I will go immediately, sir,¡± the colonel replied, standing to leave. ¡°Wystria. Do you mind speaking to Darwinial and get him to send runners to the districts, making them aware of the meeting? Once everyone is gathered, we can proceed.¡± ¡°Sir,¡± Wystria answered as she stood to leave. ¡°Petunia. Thank you for your efficient duty concluding this matter. And SJ thank you for your support. This will hopefully begin to remove part of the city¡¯s corruption, although there is still much more to do,¡± the chancellor said, shaking his head. As Petunia and SJ left the chancellor¡¯s office, SJ turned to Petunia. ¡°Sorry. I just need to speak to the chancellor about another matter.¡± ¡°Oh course dear,¡± she smiled. SJ walked back to the chancellor¡¯s office, knocking politely on the open door, and waited. He had started to write on parchment and, placing his quill in its holder, he looked up. ¡°SJ. Was there something else?¡± ¡°Chancellor. Do you mind if I ask you a sensitive question?¡± ¡°You may,¡± he replied quizzically. ¡°Do you have an employee based in Killic? Well, not in Killic itself, but at the Wandering Ogre.¡± The chancellor¡¯s eyebrows raised as a smile broke out on his face. ¡°You have met him, then?¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say met, more know of him. As he has never spoken while I was present. The reason I ask it that we are expanding the township and currently the Wandering Ogre is preventing the expansion without them staying as an independent and not falling under the town¡¯s standing.¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°I can understand that as a chancellor, you require to be kept abreast of what is happening across the southern region, and I am sure you have eyes and ears everywhere. Killic is growing and with it there will be changes. I wish to ensure that as part of the changes, Asterfal is in full support and there will be no attempts to hinder our progress? Currently, I am not sure that is the case.¡± The chancellor looked at SJ thoughtfully for several moments. ¡°So, what are you proposing?¡± ¡°I am proposing that Killic is not just a protectorate of Asterfal but joins in a partnership. You are aware of the mine and know the income that it brings to the town. What is a small town today will become much larger in time as the wealth from the mine comes in. I am also aware of the issues that occur across various territories in the south and Killic is one of the most southern towns, at least of standing with Asterfal and members of the council. Many of the lesser towns further are not associated. Especially heading out into the desert region.¡± ¡°You are correct. Killic is one of two that are the most southerly.¡± ¡°I would like to suggest that Killic is recognised as a garrison town for Asterfal. That way, we can house and support the necessary forces to combat any threats that may be faced from the south as the town expands. This only supports Asterfal further. The responsibility would sit with ourselves to ensure that peace is maintained and issues are dealt with as required once established. Currently, we only look to our town borders, but we can easily begin to look further afield as necessary, once our new defences finish construction. This would reduce several issues directly away from Asterfal, ensuring they are dealt with remotely on your behalf.¡± ¡°It is an interesting proposal. Have you had this conversation with Zigferd?¡± ¡°No. I just thought of it now.¡± ¡°What would this partnership, as you say, look like?¡± ¡°The valley to the south holds the tunnel, which provides access to the desert region. It also allows for access further west, across the southwest of the continent. This valley would be an ideal location for a garrison to be housed and it can be considered during the current defence expansion. All we would require is funding to support the associated build of anything that is deemed necessary by the city. A barracks, stables, whatever is required. I am sure an initial guard force can be provided by the town guard we already have, but in time, as the town grows, we may have to recruit from further afield. Killic has been involved in regular skirmishes until recently with Bordon and this has meant that many in the town are already combat focussed. This would ensure that their training and skills aren¡¯t being wasted, and remove the requirement of the logistics you face dealing with these issues from Asterfal.¡± Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. SJ continued. ¡°Rather than your spy sitting in the Wandering Ogre.¡± The term spy made the chancellor smirk. ¡°I would like to propose that he move into the mayor¡¯s office in Killic and become part of the process going forward. Supporting our joint growth and security. You know my status as a Legionnaire and that the level boundaries will increase as I do, and this is also a unique opportunity to be a part of that process.¡± ¡°I will consider your proposal and let you know what I decide. It shows merit, but without looking into it further I cannot say,¡± the chancellor said. ¡°That is all I ask for now. Thank you for your time,¡± SJ said, turning to leave. ¡°SJ,¡± the chancellor said. ¡°Chancellor?¡± SJ turned back. ¡°His name is Bastvik, and he is a cousin of mine. Please pass on my regards when you see him next,¡± the chancellor smiled. SJ nodded as she left. ¡°Well, that was unexpected. Where did that all come from?¡± Dave said. ¡®Just an idea. We are only looking at Killic currently and not the bigger picture. As the town expands, so should our opportunities. Especially if I want to continue growing. It¡¯s part selfish. As a garrison town, it will require higher level beings to offer protection against other territories in the south and to accommodate this and allow for their continual growth. Killic will also have to grow above its current level boundaries.¡¯ ¡°You still surprise me,¡± Dave said happily. By the time SJ had been to the dining hall for a coffee, city councillors were arriving in the tower. The message had got out quickly that an emergency meeting had been called. SJ was not a member of the city council, so wasn¡¯t expected to attend the meeting, and for the council, it would probably be best that they aired their dirty laundry behind closed doors. Having a regional member present probably wouldn¡¯t have looked best. As SJ began walking through the inner city heading back to District 11 and her home, a wagon approached. Sitting in the back of the wagon between two guards was councillor Jelart. He looked crestfallen until he saw SJ. As soon as he spotted her, he sneered and spat. That got him cuffed by one of the guard sat with him, making SJ smile as he passed. Dave giggling in her head. ¡®I will not see Carlito. I will just speak to him instead. I need to let him know I will be out of the city for a while and will contact him on my return.¡¯ ¡°Sounds fair. It may be worth going via the library before you leave. There may be a book that details more about the fae there.¡± ¡®That¡¯s a good suggestion,¡¯ SJ said, changing direction to the library. Nearly two hours and almost three gold later, SJ left the library with six books. Each book covered fae history, and the librarian advised her that combined they would provide her with as much information as possible without actually being in the fae capital and accessing the faes great library. Thirty minutes later, she arrived at the Black Griffin. Buying a drink and sitting at a table, SJ felt relaxed and took out a book to read as she sat there waiting. She hadn¡¯t called Carlito and would wait until he showed up. She was in no hurry. As time passed, patrons came and went and she lost track of how long she had been there being drawn into the fae history. The political structure was as Dave had suggested with the five factions that made up the fae kingdom. Rumours suggested Gavia had originally been a member of the Soliasil faction, although this had never been confirmed as truly accurate. The five factions all followed different paths and affinities. Angolis was known as the faction of faith. Cortharo justice, Kesiliac magic, Naqesti life and Soliasil warriors. From the text, depending upon the faction faes were born to directed their choices. There were faes that moved to different factions, but this appeared to be a rarity. These separate factions combined were the heart of the fae system. She still hadn¡¯t found out any specifics related to Gavia directly. ¡°You should have just called,¡± a voice spoke behind her. A young server was standing by her table, towel over her arm, carrying a tray. ¡°Thank you for last night,¡± SJ said. ¡°My pleasure. Thank you for your honesty. I don¡¯t speak to many who are in our trade. I also disposed of a second one last night.¡± ¡°Sorry?¡± ¡°He had come to find Carter. Apparently, he had been sent to make sure the guard hadn¡¯t followed them when the warehouse exploded,¡± Carlito¡¯s comment was matter-of-fact. It was a loose end that SJ hadn¡¯t thought of since last night¡¯s activities. ¡°Thank you again. I came to see you to let you know that I will be leaving the city soon, and I am not sure yet when I will be back. It may be a while.¡± Nodding their head, Carlito said. ¡°I expected so. I am guessing you will level soon and once you do, you can join the guild. It will make assigning tasks easier once you are a member. You will receive notifications of recent assignments.¡± ¡°Can I ask you a personal question?¡± ¡°You may.¡± ¡°Is there anything you can¡¯t change into?¡± Carlito laughed, a bright sound coming from the young server girl. ¡°Feathers. Scales and feathers don¡¯t mix well together,¡± was all she said, smiling. ¡°One day, you may have to tell me more about your gift if you are able.¡± ¡°If I am able,¡± SJ said, returning the smile. ¡°I will let you know when I return. Would you like this back?¡± SJ said, moving her hand to her ear. ¡°No, keep hold of it. I have no plans to take on anyone else. You proved yourself to be quite effective at the Squirrels Sphere.¡± That comment took SJ by surprise, not expecting him to know about it. ¡°Anyway, safe journey and I will see you when you return.¡± And with that, Carlito turned and walked away again. Drinking the last of the dregs in her glass, SJ placed her book back in her inventory and left the Black Griffin heading back home.
Sitting on the small jetty by the lakeside, SJ cast a line into the water. She had been fishing for several hours in between reading her books. ¡°Bite,¡± Brian said. SJ scrambled for the rod, yanking it out of the water. ¡°How many times do I need to tell you? Your strike must be short and sharp to set the hook,¡± he shook his head. ¡°Sorry,¡± SJ said, as she reeled the line back in. Brian took hold of the line as she swung it back to the jetty, replacing the missing bait with a new fat worm from the bucket they had brought, full of them from the garden. ¡°Gently cast it this time. You aren¡¯t trying to reach the other side of the lake.¡± SJ rolled her eyes and, following Brian¡¯s guidance, again cast the line into the water. As soon as it settled and the cork was bobbing on the lake¡¯s surface, she placed the rod on the small V-shaped holder Brian had asked Terrance to create for him. Picking up her book, she carried on reading again. It had been two weeks since her return from Asterfal. SJ had portalled back to the cottage before meeting with the coach and wagon to get a lift the rest of the way back to Killic. She had left five gold with Lurtew and Yawnee to cover any problems with the house while she was away. She had mentioned that she may see Otherlisar next time she was in Asterfal to look into opening an account with her they could use for the house. Especially as she wanted Otherlisar to open a bank in Killic as well at some point. Isavil and Zigferd had settled into their home and SJ often called into see her. Compared to the stark, drab home Zigferd had lived in before, it was now homely and inviting. When SJ had spoken to Zigferd about her discussion with the chancellor, he was furious at first, but slowly Isavil had been chipping away at him and he was coming around to the idea. SJ had sensibly spoken to Alice about it before bringing it to Zigferd¡¯s attention, as she was fully in support of the idea. Expanding the town in that manner would give them direct ties to Asterfal as SJ had suggested and ensure that they received the fair compensation. SJ had informed Kerys of the passing of Malaki. Kerys had celebrated offering everyone in the inn a free drink. That had been short lived as the news in Killic spread quickly and within minutes many more had arrived. The most interesting conversation that SJ had had since she had returned to Killic was with Nexis. He had confirmed he had spoken to some of his siblings and was awaiting a response from his ¡®elder sister¡¯, were the terms he had used. Nexis was currently still none the wiser if Jaristi was involved, unless he went to the fae kingdom himself, which he had been forbidden from doing. When SJ had quizzed him about being forbidden, he made up some tale that SJ hadn¡¯t believed. The cottage was beautiful as usual, the skeleton¡¯s were taking such amazing care of it. Terence had been carving decorations recently and even started taking orders from the town. He had been commissioned by Zigferd to carve a lifesize wooden statue of Killic, the founder, to be placed above the main gates at the crag entrance to the plateau. It had taken him a while to locate a tree large enough for the task and also for the three skeletons to move it back to the cottage to allow him to complete the task. ¡°SJ. SJ.¡± Charlotte called as she ran down the path. ¡°Shhh,¡± Brian motioned. ¡°You will scare the fish away.¡± ¡°It¡¯s happening. Come quick.¡± At the comment, SJ dropped her book, and they both sprang up, leaving the rods as they ran back to the cottage. Rushing through the front door, Terence was bent over the table. Moving to look, all four of them stood in awe as the shell crack grew larger and a claw appeared, poking out. ¡°Come on. That¡¯s it.¡± Terence said, watching intently. Slowly, more cracks appeared in the shell, muffled sounds coming from inside. Then it happened: the top of the shell cracked and the point of a snout stuck through the hole. Again, it pushed its snout against the crack until the top gave way. Sitting in the remains of the egg was the most amazing creature SJ had ever seen. It blinked its eyes several times, looking around at its spectators, before it turned and looked directly at SJ and made a low throated growl. This is the End of Book 3 of Amatherean Tales ¨C One Flew Over The Dragon¡¯s Nest Chapter 159 - New Addition ¡°I¡¯m so sorry. Please let me know how much I owe you?¡± Earleqios laughed, ¡°I don¡¯t mind. He wouldn¡¯t take it if he wasn¡¯t hungry.¡± ¡°Oh, he would. If you left him in here unattended, he would eat everything in the shop until he explodes. I said get down here,¡± she said, wagging her finger at him. SJ could have sworn that he stuck his tongue out at her. ¡°Right, that¡¯s it. Unless you get down here now, I am taking you back to the cottage, and you will stay there for the rest of the day.¡± SJ stood with her hands on her hips, feeling as though she were speaking to a naughty child. The pose reminded her of how her mother used to speak to her when she had caused problems with her sister, usually threatening her with the line ¡®Wait until your father gets home¡¯. Emotions resurfaced with the memory. ¡°Kibbles, I mean it. I am giving you to the count of three. One, two...¡± As SJ reached two, the little monster jumped from the beam and glided down to her shoulder, still with the chunk of meat in its jaws. The townsfolk had become used to seeing SJ walking through town with the miniature wyvern perched on her shoulder. He was about ten inches long and was growing at a much faster rate than SJ had expected. It had been over two months since her return to Killic from Asterfal, and Kibble was now just over eight weeks old. The tiny little grey beastie that had hatched from the egg initially had changed its colour. His tiny scales had taken on an almost pearlescent sheen, and Isavil had told SJ his colouring would keep changing until he was fully grown. From what Isavil could remember, the miniature crystal wyvern she had known as a child at the elf capital had grown to about 18 inches. ¡°How much for the order and what he stole?¡± SJ asked Earleqios. ¡°One silver for the order and nothing for the piece he took, it¡¯s fine. Don¡¯t worry about it. It was only a scrap.¡± SJ believed Earleqios was merely being polite, not considering it as a scrap. ¡°I am so sorry, and thank you for being so understanding,¡± SJ said as she paid and left the shop. Kibble flipped the last piece of meat into the air and swallowed it whole, letting out a burp in SJ¡¯s ear. SJ had placed the packaged meat into her inventory and would drop it off with Floretta for this evening''s meal. ¡°That¡¯s not very attractive,¡± she said as she headed to see Zej. Kibbles let out a low growl in her ear and wrapped his tail around her neck. She couldn¡¯t stay angry at him for long. He was just too cute and loving as he nuzzled into her neck. ¡°Hi Zej,¡± SJ said as she arrived at the smithy. ¡°Hey SJ,¡± Zej said, looking up from his workbench. ¡°Did you manage to craft what I asked for,¡± SJ said, indicating towards Kibbles with her eyes. Zej grinned. ¡°I have, yes.¡± Bending down underneath the workbench, he removed a small wooden box and placed it on the surface. Opening the box and looking inside, she saw a tiny yet perfectly crafted mithril collar with a small loop on it, allowing for a lead to be attached. SJ picked it up and turned it in her fingers. It was beautiful. The design allowed it to expand as Kibble continued to grow, and SJ could easily flex it in her fingers. ¡°This is amazing,¡± SJ said. ¡°The bonus of mithril. I wouldn¡¯t have been able to craft anything like that with normal ores.¡± ¡°Do you still have enough for the gift?¡± ¡°Aye. This was just a small bit.¡± ¡°How¡¯s the gift coming along?¡± ¡°Amazing.¡± ¡°How long do you think it will take to finish?¡± Zej scratched his chin and then stroked his beard. ¡°I think maybe another week. The mould is coming on well. It¡¯s the fine detail that¡¯s tricky. Once the moulds are finished being carved and the figurine is created, it will still need to go to Miss Oputi at the jeweller¡¯s and have the stones added.¡± ¡°It will be worth the wait. I am sure,¡± SJ said. ¡°It will be one beautiful gift when it¡¯s finished.¡± It wasn¡¯t until SJ returned to Killic that she realised she had never bought Zigferd or Isavil a wedding gift. Dave, to SJ¡¯s surprise, had conceived the idea of creating a figurine of Isavil and Zigferd. The figurine would be mithril and then have several small gems fixed to it. SJ had spoken to Alice, and she had siphoned one of the mithril bars from the mine to make it, and they were planning to present it to them at the harvest festival. The harvest festival would happen in a couple of weeks, and it would be SJ¡¯s first festival since arriving in Amathera. There were two annual harvests, usually in Killic, but with the recent issues caused by Bordon throughout the town, they had not been celebrating. The atmosphere in the town had already become charged, with everyone looking forward to the festival. It usually involved many from the surrounding villages coming into Killic as well, and it was a prime time for traders. Rooms in the Hogling Arms were already being booked in advance. The seasons in Killic, with their constant warm weather and rare downpours, were ideal for crop growing, and the town produced enough to support its current size. There had been discussions in the council about expanding the fields to accommodate future growth expectations. It would mean cutting back part of the forest leading towards the crag pass. Every day brought new discussions and plans. The idea that SJ had discussed with Asterfal¡¯s chancellor about becoming a garrison town was being progressed, and with work on the wall underway in the valley, they would increase the area it covered to accommodate more structures at the base of the slope. SJ had, at long last, visited the mine, and the dwarven miners¡¯ engineering was impressive. They had created a fresh path leading from the edge of the plateau where Killic sat all the way to the valley floor. This meant that carts and wagons could traverse it in the future. It had been needed to support the stone shipment from the mine to the east of town, which was being used to provide the construction blocks for the new defences. The details of exactly what Asterfal would want still had to be confirmed, but initial discussions involved barracks and stables. The town had committed to building a hunter lodge and gatehouse, and more requests for buildings were anticipated. ¡°Come on, Kibbles,¡± SJ said, lifting him from her shoulder. He sat on the workbench surface and splayed his wings. ¡°Let¡¯s try this on you, then.¡± SJ unclipped the small mithril band and placed it around his neck. Zej had engraved it with Kibble¡¯s name, and as she clipped it closed, Kibbles let out a pleased growl. He thrust his head in the air, showing off his new collar. ¡°It¡¯s perfect, thanks, Zej. I had better go. I have to sort things out at the cottage. Cristy is due back from Asterfal today,¡± SJ said as she lifted Kibbles back up and placed him back on her shoulder. ¡°I had forgotten. I am glad you reminded me. I will see you later then.¡± ¡°Yes. I can¡¯t wait to see her. It will have been over two months that she has been away.¡± ¡°You never did explain what she was doing,¡± Zej said. ¡°Training,¡± SJ called over her shoulder as she walked away. She had told no one the exact details behind what Cristy was doing. Zigferd asked her to stay quiet, relying on Cristy for guidance on what to disclose when she returned. The clan wasn¡¯t secret, although its practices were; it was just unknown to people in Killic or non-lycan individuals. Cristy had earned the unique opportunity of training in the beast warden class because of her relationship with Patch and her successful completion of the trial. She couldn¡¯t wait to see Cristy and find out how everything had gone. They had spoken on several occasions via the stones, but Cristy had been very vague about specific details. SJ assumed it was because of the oath she had taken. Cristy had said that she would need to go back and visit them at times, especially as she progressed to be able to train further. Cryptically, she had mentioned that some of her skills would require ¡®refinement¡¯, whatever she had meant by that. The one story she told SJ about that amazed her was the battle with the giants. Apparently, the hill giants had attacked the clan or its friends on three separate occasions while she was there. Each time, the clan had won, but there had been losses in the clan. Several beasts and two lycans had been killed. Cristy had cried when she spoke to SJ after the losses.The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. SJ walked into the Hogling Arms. Kerys was busy ordering Bert around as he moved tables, shuffling patrons from their seats. SJ had asked for a table to celebrate Cristy¡¯s return, and all their friends would be attending. ¡°Hi, Kerys,¡± SJ called. Kerys looked over and waved. ¡°Bert, you great ogre¡¯s club I said in front of the stage.¡± Bert rolled his eyes, turned his back to Kerys, and lifted the enormous table, easily spinning it around and placing it down again. ¡°That¡¯s better. Now we need to decorate the table, and we will be ready.¡± SJ walked over to the kitchen area and found Floretta busy preparing food. "Hi, Floretta. Here is the meat I promised for this evening." SJ removed the package of fresh hogling and placed it on the counter. "Thanks," Floretta smiled. "How is everything going?" "With the meat, I have everything now. I am just preparing the last vegetables." "Amazing. Thank you for doing this." "No problem at all. I can''t wait to see little Cristy again." As SJ left the kitchen, Fhyliss emerged from the cellar carrying a large wooden box, moved to the table and unpacked various ornaments to decorate with. A large pot of coffee sat steaming on the bar and SJ walked over to pour herself one while she watched. It was pointless to ask Kerys or Fhyliss if they needed help. She knew they were in their element at the moment. ¡°All set,¡± Kerys said, eventually happy with the layout, while Fhyliss finished decorating the table with ornate candlesticks and laurel wreaths. ¡°Kerys, did Nexis drop off the banner?¡± SJ asked as Kerys approached the bar. Nexis wanted to provide something to celebrate Cristy''s return, and after some discussion, SJ confirmed that a banner would be most appropriate. ¡°Oh. I nearly forgot,¡± Kerys said, ducking behind the bar and lifting out a parcel. She handed it to SJ, who unwrapped the parcel and unrolled the banner. Sewn into the banner in the amazingly beautiful text was ¡®Congratulations!¡¯. SJ grinned. ¡°This is beautiful.¡± ¡°He¡¯s done a good job,¡± Kerys said, nodding appraisingly. ¡°Where shall we hang it?¡± ¡°Umm. Above the fireplace, I think, would be best.¡± It took them several minutes, with Kerys giving directions to Bert and SJ as they lined up the banner, which was then secured in place. The banner celebrated Cristy¡¯s coming of age and her new class. ¡°Perfect,¡± SJ said, standing back and looking at the setup. ¡°Right. I need to go and make sure everyone is here in time. I think she is expected back at 1800 hrs if the coach arrives as planned." ¡°Amazing. I can¡¯t wait to see Cristy¡¯s face. I can¡¯t remember the last time we had a good party in the inn," Kerys replied. ¡°I am going to remind those invited and finish sorting the cottage out. I will be back later after I have collected her from the stables.¡± ¡°See you then." SJ called thanks to Fhyliss and Bert as she left, heading to speak to all those attending. ¡°Right, Dave. I think we are sorted,¡± SJ said. She had been at the cottage for a while, sorting everything out after calling in to see those attending the evening''s celebration. Fresh flowers sat on the table in a vase, and all of Cristy¡¯s possessions had been moved from the orphanage. Since Cristy would by now have finished her age of development, she would be returning to Killic as an adult. A five-year-old adult, but in gnoll terms, still an adult. The variance in the ageing of races still confused SJ. ¡°It looks perfect,¡± Dave said. While SJ had been moving and rearranging items at the cottage, Dave had been offering advice and guidance. It still amazed SJ that he had such a soft spot for her. Because of her soul stone, SJ would still have the larger bedroom at the front to use when in Killic. The smaller room at the back would be Cristy¡¯s, with a view of the rear garden. ¡°You¡¯ve missed her, haven¡¯t you?¡± SJ asked. ¡°No. Don¡¯t be stupid. Why would I miss an annoying little gnoll.¡± Dave said. There was a loud crash from the kitchen. ¡°Kibble?¡± she called. The small head appeared around the edge of the doorway to the kitchen, and as it did, Kibble sneezed, blowing a white cloud out of his nostrils. ¡°What are you doing in there?¡± SJ said as she walked over. Kibble ducked out of sight as soon as she moved towards the kitchen. On the floor, in pieces, was what had been a large jar of flour. It had now decorated the floor and surfaces, and Kibble was coated in a layer of flour dust. SJ sighed. ¡°I can¡¯t trust you to be left alone for a minute.¡± Kibble let out a squeak. SJ was still getting used to his different sounds. He spoke, or in wyvern terms, responded in various ways. Squeaking, growling, purring or, if you stood on his tail by mistake, he even snarled. The first time that happened to him, Gary hadn¡¯t seen him under a table at the Hogling Arms. He had placed his foot on his tail while Kibble was eating a morsel of food he had found on the floor. Gary had then got the shock of his life as the miniature wyvern had, for no better of a word, snarled, zapping him. SJ still wasn¡¯t sure what his abilities were but had seen little sparks occasionally when he growled. Gary had discovered, to his suffering, that Kibble could shoot a small bolt of electricity when he was angry or hurt. Gary had cursed so loudly from the sudden shock and jumped, falling from his chair to the raucous laughs of those at the inn. Kibble hadn¡¯t really done him any harm; it was more the shock of being hit in his ankle by a sharp miniature bolt of electricity. Unfortunately, SJ also suffered the same fate when she made him jump when she awoke him. His immediate response was to release a small bolt of electricity, which reminded SJ of the shock she had occasionally got back on Earth from a dodgy light switch or plug socket. ¡°I had just finished cleaning up. Now look at the state of the place.¡± SJ said. Kibble shook himself off, adding to the mess further as he flapped his wings and scattered the flour into the air. Dave was laughing away as SJ got more annoyed. ¡°Dave, please!¡± ¡°You wanted a pet,¡± Dave chuckled. ¡°Grr. Kibble outside now,¡± SJ said, pointing to the back door leading out into the garden from the kitchen. Kibble, looking dejected and drooping his head, walked to the door, letting out a squeak in response. A while later, SJ had once again finished re-cleaning the kitchen. As she looked around the cottage, she was happy with how everything was. ¡°Perfect,¡± she said. The lead chorister from the church had maintained the gardens for her. SJ had not been the best at gardening, although she had tried, but after she had spoken to Lythonian. He had suggested speaking to Mrs Farthing. She was an elderly gnome. Even older than Petunia and had jumped at the chance to help. SJ offered to pay her, but she declined, saying that SJ should donate to the church coffers. So, SJ gave Lythonian a gold to cover her time. Lythonian was amazed at the offering and praised SJ graciously for her donation. ¡°Kibbles. Come on, it¡¯s time to go,¡± she said, standing in the doorway. He was busy chasing some insect around the garden that kept dodging his pouncing attacks. He always seemed to hunt on the ground rather than attack anything from the air. She believed he would do it in time, as his larger cousin, who still lived in the mountains surrounding Killic, had done. He jumped and flew to her shoulder with his soil-covered little feet. She was so grateful that her dress self-cleaned. At least he was no longer covered in flour. Her display now said it was 1730 hrs. By the time she walked over to the stables on the other side of town, it would be nearly time for the coach to arrive from Cuopi, the last stop before Killic. After leaving the cottage, she took a leisurely stroll through the town. The streets, even at this time of day, were busy; due to the weather in Killic, the traders stayed open until all hours. She passed pleasantries with those she passed, arriving at the stables in ample time. Just before 1800 hrs, she heard the clatter of hooves on the street leading to the stables and saw the grinning face of Jay, who was driving the Asterfal coach. SJ waited excitedly as Jay pulled the coach to a stop, and the doors opened. The coach hadn¡¯t just been bringing Cristy back, having also brought other visitors from Asterfal. SJ didn¡¯t recognise the first couple that climbed down from the coach. Then a gnoll she didn¡¯t recognise climbed from the coach. She stood much taller and broader than SJ could remember. Dressed in beautifully crafted leather armour with a mottled green colouring, it took her a moment to realise that this now fully grown gnoll was indeed Cristy. ¡°SJ,¡± Cristy said as she saw her, dropping her bag and running over to her, picking her up in her arms and swinging her around. Kibbles squeaked in surprise from where he sat on SJ''s shoulder. ¡°Cristy,¡± SJ said, amazed at this now very athletic-looking adult gnoll. ¡°I missed you.¡± ¡°I missed you too,¡± SJ said, flabbergasted. Despite the short time, Cristy had undergone a massive transformation. After placing SJ back down, Cristy stepped back and stared in amazement at the little beastie. ¡°And who are you?¡± Chapter 160 - Welcome Home "Ha. I didn''t recognise her myself when she turned up at the stables. She has grown a little, hasn''t she?" Jay reached out and ruffled Cristy''s fur on her head. Being a large, burly orc, he still towered over others. "Oi. I am no longer a little gnoll," she growled defensively. "You will always be little Cristy to me," Jay shrugged. "Erm. SJ. I think you should identify Cristy," Dave said. ''Why?'' SJ thought. "Well, I could tell you, but it may spoil the surprise." SJ frowned, looking at Cristy. "Can I identify you?" SJ doubted Cristy would even be aware if she had identified her, but she was her family and asked to be polite. Cristy beamed at her. "Of course." SJ triggered her skill, her face changing from one of intrigue to absolute shock as she did. Cristy Machmu Level: 16 Class: Beast Warden Hit points: 64 of 64 Mana points: 64 of 64 Armour Class: 20 Attacks: Bow Special: Bonding, Taming Weaknesses: Nil SJ had never identified Cristy before, and she was shocked to see her level and status. She was also surprised at her surname, never having asked her it before. "How?" is all SJ could say in response to the details. Cristy just shrugged. "Giants." "What level are you?" Jay asked. "16." "Sixteen already. That is a nice increase in a couple of months. I was similar when I started because of fighting ogres so often." A horn blared at the edge of town. All three of them turned in surprise. The last time a horn had been blown was when the wyvern had last visited. "What now?" SJ said, turning to head to the edge of town. Just as she was about to shrink and take off, she heard cries and shouts. Then they appeared. Bounding around the corner of the stables, startling the horses that were settled in the stalls, came a pack of wolves. Not just Patch but the whole family had come to visit, including the not-so-small pups, which had now grown to almost full size. "Patch," Cristy shouted in glee as he jumped at her, taking her down, and the pair of them rolled around on the ground as he frantically licked her. SJ took her motherly approach and turned to look at them all. "You know, you just broke the rules. You shouldn''t be in the town," she said sternly. Patch turned and looked at her, with his tongue sticking out of the side of his mouth as though he were grinning. Four of the town guards came flying around the corner after the wolves, swords drawn. "It''s okay," SJ said on seeing them. "I think they were a little excited to see Cristy again. There is no need to be worried. They mean no harm." The guards came to a halt. The nearest guard was a tall human SJ knew as George. He was new to the town, having recently moved from one of the surrounding villages. He stepped forward. "They shouldn''t be in town. I don''t even know why we allow those beasts to live in the woods. They are feral," he said. That was not the most appropriate comment to make, not just to SJ but also within Cristy''s earshot. George had arrived since Cristy''s departure and knew nothing about her or SJ, apart from her being a councillor. Cristy stood from where she had been with Patch. "What did you just say?" her voice was menacing and low. "You heard me," George snapped. From behind, the three other guards stared at George with wide eyes, two lifting their hands placatingly. They knew he had just got himself in serious trouble, and none of the others were willing to get involved. "I suggest you apologise to Patch and my family," Cristy snarled. "Apologise to a stupid beast. You can''t be serious," George scoffed. Cristy took a step forward, and SJ put her arm across in front of her, stopping her. "George. I understand you are new to the town, but you need to learn that certain behaviours will not be accepted. This wolf pack you are so rude about has helped this town out on more than one occasion, and you are in no position to say anything against them. If you have a problem with wolves, then I suggest you seriously think about your position as a guard in Killic. They were here before you arrived, and they will always be welcome in the Killic area. I agree they shouldn''t have come into town, but they haven''t seen Cristy in nearly three months, and they are Cristy''s family. As am I," SJ said. "And you are just a fae who is a plaything for the council," George spat back angrily. "What did you just say?" SJ was shocked, not having heard any form of remark against the fae in Killic for months. After everything that Fran did at the academy, training the town''s mages to what she had done for the town, not one of the regular town members had a bad word to say about the fae. George''s words made the other guards step back even further. SJ knew them all, and they had been present at the fight with Bordon. "You heard what I..." the next sound leaving George''s mouth was that of air leaving his lungs as his diaphragm forced all the air out of his body from the fist that had struck him in his stomach. No one had even seen him move. He was so fast. Jay stepped back casually. "Now, the next words out of your mouth will be two apologies. One to the wolves and Cristy and the other to SJ." "How dare you strike a member of the town guard," George said through gritted teeth, struggling to breathe. "I don''t mean to sound funny, but if you are what is classed as a town guard. I used to fight stronger when I was still wiping my rear with leaves," Jay said. George pulled himself to his full height, grimacing as he did. He stood over six feet tall but still significantly shorter than Jay. "Now, this could be fun," Dave said. "Jay. Please, I could have handled the situation," SJ said. "Ha. I saw the look in your eye, and the last time I saw that minotaurs regretted the day they were born," Jay chuckled. "Minotaurs?" a member of the guard said. Jay smiled. "She ran rings around two of them in Asterfal. Was so funny to watch." The comment amazed the guard, who nodded his head respectfully. George still held his sword in his hand, and SJ could see him considering his options. The town charter stated that anyone who struck a member of the guard was against the rules, so Jay was in the wrong. "You''re under arrest," George said, pointing his blade at Jay. "For striking a member of the town guard." "Sure," Jay shrugged and held his hands out. "You got any manacles?" George stared at Jay in amazement, expecting him to resist and was ready to lunge with his sword. "Sorry, councillor, but George is right. We do need to take him in," another guard said. Before SJ could interject, Jay spoke. "It''s fine. It''s not my first visit to a cell," he said, grinning at SJ. "So, where''s the jail, then?" Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. A guard behind George gave him directions as they began to move off towards the barracks and jail, keeping their distance from the very muscular orc. "I can''t believe this," SJ said to Cristy. ¡°Can you sort Patch and the pack out and get them to leave town again, please? While I do that, I will try to get this sorted." Cristy just smiled back at SJ. "It''s never dull when you''re involved." The comment took SJ aback. It was such a grown-up statement. "When did I miss you growing up so quickly? Once they are out, come and meet me at the barracks." SJ said before she turned and started towards the barracks. She needed to see Ballentine or Lorna.
Captain Ballentine sat in his office, mulling over the latest guard reports. There had been an increase recently in strange activity around the town. In the past few months, there had been a steady influx of beings taking up residence. The old area of the town was reaching a breaking point from the latest report, and several fights had to be broken up. The Wandering Ogre had also been causing him a headache. Many of the new arrivals were single beings looking to make their fortune in the growing town and frequented the bar often before staggering back to town in drunken states. Kerys always monitored and controlled the Hogling Arms, although lively, with an iron fist. It never caused him any concern. He was beginning to write his latest findings and recommendations for the mayor when SJ knocked on his open door. "Councillor," Ballentine said, looking up. "Call me SJ. You know better than to call me a councillor," SJ said. Ballentine half smiled. "SJ. What can I do for you?" "First, I need to ask what the problem is. I haven''t seen you look like that since the scout attack on the town." "Ah. The town''s growth is causing problems for the guard. There has been an increase in the number of fights or similar over the past few weeks." "I didn''t realise there had been a problem." "It''s nothing we can''t handle. It is just a concern. All these new arrivals trying to find their place in the town." "Is there anything I can help with?" "Not unless you know a way to stop drunken louts fighting." "Fight Club," Dave said suddenly. ''What?'' SJ thought. "Fight club. Set up your own fight club in Killic." ''That''s borderline to approving fights.'' "Not really. It''s a controlled environment. Without shark bait, of course. It would give the new beings a place to prove their fighting prowess without worrying about it being fuelled by ale." ''Umm. Maybe. I will have to discuss it with Zigferd.'' "I will think about it and see if I can come up with anything," SJ said. "So, what do you need?" Ballentine asked. "I feel bad now as I am bringing a problem to you relating to the guard." "Oh. What problem?" "You remember Jay, who returned with us from Asterfal when we returned after the inauguration?" "Yes. I remember him. He can handle his ale." Ballentine had spent one of his rare evenings off in the Hogling Arms and had joined Jay, Gary and Setu playing cards. "He is currently on his way to one of the cells." "What?" "He just drove the Asterfal wagon here bringing Cristy back, and the pack were so excited that Cristy had returned that they ran into town to see her." "And why does that involve Jay?" "Well, that doesn''t. It was what happened when the guard patrol arrived," SJ said and then explained what had happened with Jay stepping in and hitting George. Ballentine rubbed his forehead as though he had a headache. "It would be nice for just once there to be a peaceful night in Killic," he sighed. "George is a loose bolt. There have been several complaints since he joined the guard. He is a very experienced fighter, and his skills are better than many. He sharpened his blade, fighting against a feral gnoll tribe that lives near the village he is from." "That may explain his reaction towards Cristy and the pack, but not what he said to me." "I agree. That was out of order. After what you have done for Killic. So, what would you like me to do about it?" "George doesn''t know me. I have had no dealings with him, and he just sees me as a councillor and, in particular, a fae. Many in the villages will still hold historic grudges against my kind, unfortunately. I don''t want to get him in any unnecessary trouble, and Jay knows that he was in the wrong. He went with the guard without causing any problems. I think there may be a better way to get something from Jay, though, rather than him spending a night in the cells." "And what would that be?" "I don''t know if you are aware he is an exceptional cage fighter, and his brawling skills are some of the finest I have ever seen. Could I suggest as punishment for his crime of striking a guard member that he must spend time training the guard force?" "That is an interesting proposition. Lorna is flat out currently with everything going on and hasn''t been able to perform her usual training routine. With the issues around Greb," Ballentine winced at recalling the name to SJ. "He was the only other really with the skills to train the guard in fighting techniques." "What is the usual punishment for striking a member of the guard?" "Recently, it has been to support the mining efforts as a labourer for two days. Over the past few weeks, we have had several beings perform that task. With the increase in issues with the new members in the town, it became a necessity to get them out of the cells. We never know how many to expect on a nightly basis now." "I propose then that as punishment, we get Jay to perform training for the guard in brawling techniques. It especially sounds beneficial with the current issues you are facing." Ballentine thought over the suggestion for several moments before responding. "Doesn''t he have to return to Asterfal on the coach?" "That is where this may come in handy. I have been trying to find a way for him to remain in Killic and if, and I mean if, only if it works out. Could we offer him a long-term position as a trainer?" "Are you sure you hadn''t thought this through before he struck George?" Ballentine asked suspiciously. "No. But from what you have just been saying, it could benefit all sides." "Do you know his level?" Ballentine asked, knowing that SJ had an identification skill. "I do. He is level 32." "Thirty-two," Ballentine said, surprised to hear he was at such a high level. "Why would he even consider staying here to help, then?" "You know we will continue to grow, as I do. The level of expansion and the garrison town status that will come in the near future will mean that we need to accommodate high-level beings, anyway." "Yes. We need to consider continual growth. How do you know you can trust him?" Ballentine asked. "I will put my reputation on the line that he is trustworthy," SJ said, and as she did, her display triggered. Quest - Reputation You have placed your reputation on the line that Jayzerab Songa will hold to his word and support your ideas. Failure to perform his punishment successfully will result in loss of standing with Killic. "Damn," Dave said. "That''s unusual. I haven''t seen a loss quest in a long time." ''I wasn''t expecting that,'' SJ thought. "Nope. Nor me. I don''t think it will be an issue, though. I am sure Jay will support your idea." ''I hope so.'' "SJ," Cristy called from outside the office. "Hi, Ballentine." "You''ve grown," Ballentine said, staring at the adult gnoll. Cristy smiled. "A little." "Right, let''s go sort this out," Ballentine said, standing. They quickly spoke to the jailhouse guard and brought Jay back from his cell. Ballentine spoke to him and offered him two days'' training as punishment for striking a member of the town guard. "Two days. Sure, it''s less than I would have got in Asterfal," Jay shrugged. "So tomorrow morning, you will be at the training ground for 0800 hrs. The guard lieutenant will be there to ensure you are aware of the expectations and monitor your routine." "No problem," Jay said. "Does he need to go back in the cell tonight?" SJ asked. "No. As long as he sticks to his side of the deal. Failure will mean his punishment will increase, though." "Excellent. I am glad we managed to resolve this. Right then, we all have somewhere to be," SJ said. "Where?" Cristy asked. "The Hogling Arms. Don''t you want to see Kerys and Phyliss?" "Yes," Cristy said excitedly, her previous child-like persona coming through. Kibbles decided at that moment to jump from SJ''s shoulder and land on Cristy''s. "Hello," she said, petting him on his small head. Kibbles nuzzled into her, wrapping his tail around her neck. "It looks like you have a new friend," SJ smiled. "Maybe you can get him to behave a little better than he does? Ballentine, are you joining us?" "I will in a while. I need to go finish my report, but I am sure I can fit a brandy in later." The group left the jail and headed to the Hogling Arms. SJ couldn''t help but feel excited about what was in store for Cristy, and she only hoped that everyone was there. Jay was chatting with Cristy, but she wasn''t paying attention as SJ opened the doors and walked in. Cristy''s friends were sitting at the table that had been laid out to celebrate her return. A cheer erupted as she entered, and music began from the stage, where SJ saw Nexis sitting with a grin on his face. "What?" Cristy said, stopping and looking at them all shocked. "Welcome home," SJ said. Chapter 161 - A Typical Day The celebration of Cristy¡¯s return to Killic was as chaotic as expected once the dwarven brandy reached the tables. Zej had arrived with bottles, having permission from Kerys to drink them in the inn. By the time they had all eventually left the inn, it had been the early hours of the morning. All of Cristy¡¯s friends had been in attendance. If you could have imagined anyone of importance in Killic, then they were there. With the music playing and singing from Nexis and Ptolemy, the party had just kept going. The staggering form of a gnoll came through into the front of the cottage in Killic. SJ had stayed the night in Killic with Cristy. SJ was sitting at the table nursing her sore head, with a fresh coffee sitting in front of her. Kibble was curled up on one armchair, and SJ could have sworn that he also had a sore head this morning. After feeding him his breakfast, he curled up again. ¡°Any coffee?¡± Cristy asked. ¡°Coffee?¡± SJ replied with surprise. ¡°When did you start drinking coffee?¡± ¡°The conclave converted me.¡± SJ stood and grabbed a cup for Cristy, pouring one for her, and couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡°You still haven¡¯t told me much about what happened to you while you were there?¡± ¡°It¡¯s quite strange. When I was approved and granted the class, the oath I took was quite strange. I think I may be able to talk to you about it. I remember the words from the oath, ¡®Under pain of death, I swear that I shall never speak of the secrets of the beast wardens to any Amatheran outside the conclave.¡¯ I asked the overseer to clarify, and she did, repeating that I couldn¡¯t speak to an Amatheran. I know you¡¯re not, so I think I can do it. I didn¡¯t wish to try while still at the conclave, though.¡± SJ had never spoken to Cristy about being from Earth or to anyone else apart from Dave. She wasn¡¯t even sure she could speak to her about Earth after what Dave had said. ¡°I am not from Amathera. I am originally from Earth,¡± SJ said. ¡°What?¡± Cristy had a strange look on her face. ¡°Did you not hear me?¡± ¡°I heard you speak, but that is no language I have ever heard before.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t think you could,¡± Dave said. ¡®But I could speak to Darren about it. It must only allow Legionnaires to talk about Earth then.¡¯ ¡°Yep,¡± Dave said. ¡°Sorry. I don¡¯t think I am allowed to tell you where I am originally from.¡± Cristy shrugged. ¡°The system, I guess. Anyway, I want to see if I can discuss the conclave and the beast warden class with you.¡± ¡°Be careful. I have seen oath challenges and the pain people suffer.¡± SJ remembered her discussion with Lythonian and how he had reacted when he had spoken about Bellaqui and Wystria for the first time. ¡°I am not sure I would notice anything at the moment with the pain already in my head from last night.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s finish our coffee and head over to see Kerys. She may allow us a sip of her magic potion.¡± Thirsty minutes later, they walked into the inn. Phyliss and Kerys were still busy tidying up from the previous evening¡¯s party. ¡°Morning,¡± SJ called. ¡°Kerys, is there any chance of troubling you for some, you know what?¡± Kerys turned and looked at the pair. They were both clean and washed, but neither appeared as spritely as she was used to seeing. ¡°Heads?¡± Cristy just looked at Kerys, ¡°Zej.¡± Her single-word reply made Kerys smile. ¡°And you wonder why I rarely sell dwarven brandy.¡± ¡°What time did you finish last night in the end?¡± SJ asked as Phyliss nipped down into the cellar to grab the rejuvinatus. ¡°Gary and Setu left about twenty minutes ago. Ballentine and Zej only left about an hour before them. The four of them were playing cards all night once the main group had left.¡± ¡°So you haven¡¯t slept?¡± ¡°Yeah. We slept. We left them to it and only came down a couple of hours ago for breakfast. They didn¡¯t need drinks with Zej¡¯s brandy supply.¡± ¡°Have you seen Jay this morning?¡± SJ asked, checking her display. It was 0830 hrs, and she hoped he had made it to the training ground. ¡°Yes. He was up early, had breakfast, and left by 0700.¡± Phyliss returned with the rejuvinatus and poured them both a small glass. ¡°Welcome to adulthood,¡± Kerys said to Cristy, handing her the glass. Cristy smiled and knocked it back. She had never had it before, and she soon smiled as the liquid took effect. SJ stood, cracking her neck from side to side now that her head had stopped throbbing. Kibble had jumped from her shoulder to the bar and was busy sticking his tongue into the remnants in the two glasses. SJ just shook her head at him but swore he smiled after having the dregs. ¡°Thanks Kerys. I think I need more coffee and some breakfast now.¡± ¡°Floretta is in the kitchen. Just to let her know what you want.¡± SJ walked through to the kitchen. Floretta was skilfully chopping up some vegetables. ¡°Morning, Floretta.¡± ¡°Good morning. What can I get you this morning?¡± ¡°Could we have two of your special breakfasts, please?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Floretta smiled. ¡°I will bring them out when they are ready. I don¡¯t expect to see many customers this morning, and I am surprised you are both up so early.¡± ¡°I have things to do, unfortunately. Otherwise, I could have stayed in bed quite easily. I have to meet with the Asterfal trade representative. They are due via the afternoon coach.¡± Coaches from Asterfal with the movement of beings had increased over the last two months, and there was one nearly every day now. After taking over the responsibility of the trial basis for combining the trade of the fishing villages, SJ still had to work out the precise details. Alice was due to return to Asterfal in a few weeks for the quarterly meeting, and SJ hoped that by then, she might consider levelling to level 20. She had been having continuing discussions with Zigferd and Alice and, with consideration of the garrison approach, understood the necessity of the next expansion of boundaries. The security concerns were still paramount, though, but from SJ¡¯s selfish perspective, as soon as she could reach level 20, new doors would open for her. The ability to join the assassin¡¯s guild was one thing, but the main perk would establish a further portal in Asterfal so she could travel directly. The main thing she checked with Fran on her return was whether Kibble could portal with her and whether he could do it through the bond. This meant she didn¡¯t have to leave him behind, and he could also come to and from Farleck¡¯s cottage as she wished. The inn door opened, and a very dishevelled-looking Darren walked in. He looked white as a sheet, the after-effects of yesterday evening¡¯s party present. ¡°Morning Kerys. Any chance I can get two breakfasts to go, please?¡± Darren asked. Kerys looked at Darren, sighed heavily, and poured a small glass of her rejuvinatus out. ¡°Yes, Floretta. Two to go, please,¡± she called. ¡°Here, and don¡¯t think this will be a regular occurrence.¡± Darren greedily picked up the small glass and downed it. Moments later, the colour returned to his face. ¡°Thank you,¡± Darren smiled. ¡°Hey, Darren.¡± Darren turned, seeing SJ and Cristy, and walked over to where they were sitting, waiting for their breakfast. ¡°Hey. I am happy Kerys likes me now. If I had walked into the inn in that state when I first arrived, I think she would have just hit me on the head to make my headache worse.¡± ¡°You did blow her inn up,¡± SJ smirked. ¡°Accidentally.¡± ¡°I keep meaning to ask you which guild you are a member of?¡± SJ asked. ¡°Tanners in Asterfal. I was thinking of joining one of the main Legionnaires guilds there as well, but the money they wanted for membership was too much.¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t really looked into them yet. I just heard there is a dungeon in Asterfal that can be accessed by the top guilds there.¡± ¡°There is, but it¡¯s nearly impossible to get into any of the guilds or raid groups, even if you can afford to join one of those guilds.¡± ¡°How much do they charge?¡± ¡°The joining fee for the one I looked into. Which didn¡¯t have dungeon access, had a twenty-gold joining fee, and then they took fifty per cent of all rewards. Everything goes to the guild bank and is distributed from there.¡± ¡°Even loot from quests?¡± ¡°Yes. Everything. The rewards and loot associated with quests are available to the guild if the quest is accepted through them. They have visibility to see what was earned. I had heard rumours that several Legionnaires had previously tried to hide or keep items and suffered the consequences.¡± ¡°Such as?¡± ¡°Death usually. Many guilds have no problems getting rid of problems through violence. District 7 in Asterfal was renowned for it.¡±Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°I did see one fight while I was there near the Black Griffin.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t surprise me. Many of them happen behind closed doors. Legionnaires disappearing suddenly. It isn¡¯t a safe environment. Legionnaires join for the hope of one day reaping the benefits, but from what I have heard, several only ever allow their elite members to take part in dungeon events.¡± ¡°I tried to talk to Cristy about Earth earlier.¡± ¡°You just did it again,¡± Cristy said, frowning at SJ. Darren also frowned. ¡°I have never tried, but I am guessing the system stops it.¡± ¡°Yes. If I try to mention Earth.¡± ¡°Stop it,¡± Cristy huffed. ¡°So, if I try and talk about Earth, it does the same,¡± Darren said. ¡°Now you¡¯re both doing it,¡± Cristy said. ¡°SJ. I have a question for Darren,¡± Dave said. ¡®Go on,¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°Can you ask him how he ended up with Alice? She is too good for him,¡± Dave chuckled. SJ rolled her eyes. Floretta came over with two enormous plates of food and placed them in front of Cristy and SJ. ¡°Thanks,¡± SJ said. Floretta smiled. ¡°Yours will be five minutes,¡± Floretta said to Darren. ¡°Thanks, Floretta.¡± They ate in relative silence, apart from the usual moans of pleasure from Floretta¡¯s cooking, and the low growling SJ was getting from Kibble sat on her shoulder. Having a master-level chef was a wonder that SJ would never give up. Before they had finished eating their breakfast, Floretta had returned with Darren¡¯s takeaway. ¡°Right. I better get back to Alice. She isn¡¯t going to be pleased I had rejuvinatus. She is suffering this morning.¡± ¡°Kerys. Could Darren take some for Alice, please?¡± Cristy called. Kerys looked at Cristy, shaking her head, and rolled her eyes as she poured a small amount into a little bottle. ¡°Thanks Kerys. You¡¯re the best,¡± Darren said, collecting it before leaving the inn. ¡°I need to put a new batch on,¡± Kerys said. SJ lifted a piece of her hogling from her plate and held it to her shoulder, where Kibble had been sitting, waiting impatiently. He had nibbled on her ear to get her attention. Gulping it down, he then jumped shoulders to Cristy¡¯s just as she was about to place a piece in her mouth. His little mouth shot forward, grabbing it from her and took off immediately, flying across the inn. ¡°Hey,¡± Cristy complained. SJ couldn¡¯t help but laugh. ¡°Get used to it with the little monster.¡± After they had finished eating, they grabbed more coffee walking out to the inn¡¯s rear garden. Some other early morning risers had arrived at the inn, and they wished for privacy as they chatted. Kibbles jumped from SJ''s shoulder and flew back to their table, licking the plates clean. ¡°Tell me about this class, then. If you are able,¡± SJ said. The early morning sun felt amazing now that they had eaten and the effect the rejuvinatus had on them. Cristy looked around her, even though she knew they were the only two in the garden. ¡°Ask me a question and see if I can answer it,¡± Cristy said. ¡°What skills do you have?¡± ¡°Taming, Camouflage, Healing stream, Attack and Defence,¡± Cristy finished, exhaling sharply. ¡°That seemed to work.¡± ¡°That¡¯s many skills already,¡± SJ said. ¡°They are the main beast skills. From those, they then expand into the different affinities.¡± ¡°Affinities?¡± ¡°Air, sea and land. I am apparently a little strange. I have access to all three affinities, which is apparently very rare.¡± ¡°What does that mean?¡± ¡°I can have more than one bonded beast. I can have a bonded beast of each affinity. Normal Beast Wardens can only ever have one banded beast at a time.¡± ¡°Wow. That sounds amazing.¡± ¡°What is even more amazing is I was talking to Patch from the conclave. That is why he knew I had arrived back at Killic when I did and came to see me.¡± ¡°What?¡± SJ said, shocked. ¡°I can communicate with him through thought. The overseer told me I have a legendary bond, which again is very unusual and hasn¡¯t been seen or known for centuries.¡± ¡°I wonder if it is because she is naturally related to beasts,¡± Dave said. ¡®What do you mean?¡¯ ¡°Gnoll¡¯s originate from beasts. Their racial basis is beast.¡± ¡®But what about lycans? They are beasts, aren¡¯t they?¡¯ ¡°No. The lycan race originated from a chaotic curse. If you trace the roots of lycanthropy back to their roots, they originated from one town on a distant continent. The history is vague, but it was a curse which caused the initial lycan, and over the millennia, the race progressed to what it is today. The curse used to be transmissible.¡± The comment made SJ think about several werewolf films from Earth, where the curse was transmitted through injury. ¡°That¡¯s amazing. You could speak to him from the conclave. How far can you talk to him from?¡± ¡°I have no idea. The conclave was as amazed as you look when they discovered I could communicate so far.¡± ¡°What do the skills do?¡± ¡°They are beast buffs. I can trigger them by using mana and giving Patch buffs. None of them work on me directly. My fighting skills are trained separately. I have to continue levelling my bow skill, etc.¡± ¡°So, you train your weapon proficiencies and can boost Patch in combat.¡± ¡°Pretty much, yes. We work as one combat unit. I haven¡¯t been able to do so yet, but I want to take him hunting and see how things go. He mentioned there is a large bear on the far side of the lake which has been pushing around towards the mines, and he wants to chase it off before it becomes a problem for the miners.¡± It was difficult to comprehend that Cristy was only five in the way she was speaking. ¡°Being able to talk to him so easily must be amazing.¡± ¡°It was strange at first, but I can turn it on and off as needed.¡± ¡°You mentioned a bear and an eagle when we spoke on the stones, but I didn¡¯t get all the details, and you need to tell me about the giants. Your level increase is tremendous.¡± Cristy explained everything that had happened since she had arrived at the conclave and began her training. When Cristy spoke about the giants and the deaths of members of the conclave, it brought tears to her eyes. She had only returned when she did because the initial dangers had been prevented with the support of the Bracken. The Bracken were forest sprites that lived in the forests that covered the foothills of Neturian. ¡°I better get to the barracks. The coach from Cuopi is due early today. I need to meet the trade delegate,¡± SJ said. ¡°Okay. I am going to see Patch. I want to go chase this bear off.¡± SJ was concerned with Cristy going by herself and had to remind herself that she was now level 16 and no longer a child. ¡°Be careful, and if there are any issues, return, and I will come and assist.¡± ¡°I am sure we will be fine,¡± Cristy smiled. They left the inn and headed towards the barracks. Cristy continued past towards the border of the town, and SJ initially headed to the training grounds at the rear of the barracks to see Jay. The training ground was busy this morning. With the increase in town members, the guards¡¯ training routine had intensified. There had been a more relaxed approach to training after Bordon and the hob''s demise, with guards only having to attend three sessions per week. Since the changes, their training had increased to five days. A group of guards was busy using the range while another was going through sword drills. SJ walked over to the sand circles where Jay was. There was a group of fifteen guards, and Lorna was with him. Jay was barking orders, and as he did, the guards were in the press-up position. "Lower and hold," Jay called. SJ could see several of the guards'' arms shaking from the exertion, and beads of sweat were clearly visible on their faces. She was glad she wasn''t taking part in this session. Lorna noticed SJ and walked over. ¡°Morning,¡± SJ said as she approached. ¡°Councillor,¡± Lorna said. SJ knew that Lorna deliberately called her councillor to wind her up despite multiple occasions where SJ had told her not to call her it. ¡°How is Jay doing?¡± ¡°Very well. He is exceedingly skilled. A different style, being a brawler, but he can take some serious hits.¡± ¡°How do you know?¡± Lorna laughed. ¡°I fought him. I needed to see how good he was supposed to be.¡± ¡°Oh. I would have liked to have seen that.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t hold back, and he absorbed virtually everything I threw at him.¡± ¡°So you won?¡± ¡°No. And I couldn¡¯t class it as a points fight because of the style difference. Amar Ti is one thing to judge with a base fight, but not brawling in comparison. It¡¯s a dirty style.¡± ¡°Having watched Jay in the cages in Asterfal, I agree it is, but also very impressive.¡± Lorna nodded her head in agreement. ¡°Five laps,¡± Jay called. The group groaned as they turned and made their way around the training ground. ¡°Hi, SJ,¡± Jay beamed. ¡°You seem to be enjoying yourself?¡± ¡°I am. I haven¡¯t done a good training session in a long time.¡± ¡°You are doing it yourself?¡± ¡°Yes. I can¡¯t expect others to do it if I don¡¯t.¡± ¡°Fair point. I just wanted to check in and see that you were all good. I will see you later at the inn. I have meetings to attend this morning.¡± ¡°The life of a councillor,¡± Jay said before he turned and shouted towards the guards. ¡°Right, I better catch up. Faster, or I will add more laps,¡± he called as he ran to catch the guards up. ¡°I will see you later,¡± SJ said to Lorna as she turned to leave again. Jay was enjoying himself, which was a good sign, considering she would love him to stay in Killic. The barracks were in their usual busy state, with townsfolk arriving and leaving to see various beings from the different departments that were housed there. She knew the coach would likely come in the next hour and wanted to chat with Zigferd before it did. ? Chapter 162 - Opportunity ¡°SJ. Good timing,¡± Zigferd called, seeing her walk through the main office area where the model of the town was situated. ¡°Morning Zigferd. How are you this morning?¡± ¡°Better than many after last night. Did Cristy enjoy herself?¡± ¡°Until she awoke this morning, but Kerys sorted that once we got to the inn for breakfast.¡± ¡°I wish I had some rejuvinatus this morning,¡± Zigferd said, rubbing his temples. ¡°Right, the reason I say it¡¯s good timing is I have just heard that Niweq has agreed to come under the town¡¯s boundaries.¡± ¡°Really?¡± SJ answered with surprise. ¡°It seems that since Bastvik has moved out of the Wandering Ogre, Niweq no longer feels as confident about maintaining the inn by himself. The perks the chancellor¡¯s cousin was bringing with him while he was staying there are now no longer available. With the increase in new beings to the town, his guest numbers have increased, but along with it, so have his problems. He was getting weekly shipments of ales from the brewers¡¯ guild in Asterfal under agreements that are now falling under the newly implemented toll system across the borders. His costs are increasing exponentially, and having to cover the toll costs on top of the rise in ale prices is driving his costs up and his profits down dramatically. He would like to discuss a trade deal.¡± ¡°What sort of trade deal? We don¡¯t deal with Asterfal for ales. I am not even sure how Kerys goes about her ale production or what she gets from the villages. I know she has some deals in place.¡± ¡°Do you think you could discuss with her and find out if there is something we could consider for the future?¡± ¡°Do we really want to start looking at ale imports? Maybe Kerys could provide Niweq with his ale. Although I am not sure she would wish to.¡± ¡°With the expansion, we are going to have to look at various imports. Unless we can get the new fields sorted for grain production and general crop farming and the increase in the hunting expansion needs for meat, we will end up having to import various produce.¡± ¡°I hadn¡¯t considered the needs outside of our main produce until you mentioned it.¡± ¡°I have Kashir confirming expected quantities and performing some checks over expected increases.¡± Kashir was one of the department members who worked in the barrack¡¯s open area. He oversaw the markets in the town. Isavil had been offering him guidance since she had arrived back in Killic with Zigferd, and he was learning quickly. Isavil¡¯s market knowledge was insurmountable. Her experience over the decades she had worked in Asterfal was at a level that none in Killic could ever fathom. She had been supporting Zigferd with the projections of growth and expansion that were being discussed in the council, and with the increase of 500 beings already in the town, if the rate continued as it had started, food shortages were projected to hit the town before the second harvest was due. ¡°We need to prioritise the expansion plans for the Wandering Ogre. The ground can be cultivated easily. I spoke to Blossom, who has her flower patch in the woods close to the inn, and she believes it would be fertile ground once prepared,¡± SJ said. ¡°We will have to. I will be announcing the plans at the harvest festival. It should also increase the number of jobs available to work the land.¡± ¡°Does the town interface support your projections?¡± Since her return from Asterfal, Zigferd had explained elements of the interface to SJ. The interface appeared as though it summarised everything in the town, including resource and population counts. Zigferd had offered to add SJ to the interface but couldn¡¯t do so because town size limits reduced the number of those who could access it. The next available slot for access rights would be when the town reached a population of 5000. Currently, only Zigferd and Alice had access to it. ¡°It does, unfortunately. The current population limit for what we produce sits at just over 4000.¡± ¡°Won¡¯t that affect our exports, and also, could we not restrict rights to stay in town?¡± ¡°We could, but that would cause other problems. Many who have arrived are after a fresh start and a new life away from the villages they may have been living in or the territories they were in. Many of the new members from the surrounding villages are hoping to stay.¡± ¡°And I was going to talk to you about further increases,¡± SJ sighed. ¡°Increases?¡± ¡°Yeah, the border. I have been sitting on experience to reach level 20 now for over two months. All the quests I have been doing have just kept adding to my stored experience. I wish to progress soon. I want to look into the guilds and also get my second portal to Asterfal sorted.¡± ¡°What is your experience now?¡± ¡°I am at 26300 out of 9000.¡± SJ had been completing quests alongside all her other activities and continuing to gain significant benefits from reputation bonuses. Also, with the increase in her equipment enchantments, nothing she had had to face had even been a slight challenge for her.¡± ¡°Wow. You have two levels. That should take you straight to 21.¡± After speaking to Dave, SJ was aware that the experience needed for level 21 had increased substantially. To reach level 21, she would need a further 14000 experience. Currently, she would have over 3000 experience towards level 22, which required 19000 to level. ¡°Now, can you understand my predicament?¡± Zigferd scrunched his face up in thought. ¡°Maybe we can consider it. The wall is going well in the valley. I would expect completion within a month. Bert¡¯s cousins have been amazing helping out with the construction.¡± ¡°If I levelled, do you think that there would be such a sudden shift?¡± ¡°Not immediately, I doubt it anyway, and to be honest, the only change we saw with your last increase was our wyvern visitor. Who hasn¡¯t been an issue recently? I think my only concern would be if we had any more flying visitors of higher levels. It would mean 30-40 monsters could cross the boundary.¡± ¡°It would also allow our guards and yourself to level again. I know your experience gains are restricted to when you are in Asterfal completing the duties as the mayor. The same applies to Alice. If we open another level, you can gain daily by completing your usual tasks as mayor. There are, after all, several in the town who would benefit from the increases.¡± ¡°My concern is the south. It would open the area up to those who live in the desert region. Some vicious tribes live there and beasts. I bet some would love the chance to cross borders into a more fertile territory.¡± ¡°They can only access the area through the tunnel, though, and I thought that the tunnel was guarded?¡± The tunnel was the only route to reach the desert region unless you wished to face climbing the sheer cliff face of the plateau or for those that could fly. You might cross into the western territory and work your way around the mountains to reach it, but this meant going through even higher-level territory boundaries, which many wouldn¡¯t chance. Rumours circulated about villagers east of Killic, fearing the border opening would make them targets. ¡°It has a guard posted, and there have been several sightings near its exit. The dwarves are looking into building a door on it once the wall is finished construction.¡± ¡°Could we not switch some of the resources from the wall to complete that first? That way, it would give us protection from the desert region.¡± ¡°We could, but we would still open up the western border as well, which could bring other beasts. It is not just the beasts or creatures that may traverse the boundaries. It is also the tribes. Killic was always secure from threat historically after the initial outlying areas and boundaries were in place, but the system changes are straining many now.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you just block the tunnel for now?¡± Dave suddenly said. The trolls could easily block it, and once it was ready, it would be simple to remove and construct a door. ¡®I hadn¡¯t thought of that,¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°Can we not just temporarily block the tunnel entrance for now?¡± Zigferd scratched his beard thoughtfully. ¡°I suppose we could do. It would be a dirty solution for now. However, we still have concerns about the western boundary. There are several areas where the territory touches other areas at narrow points, meaning that things may cross.¡± SJ opened her map. She had been trying to open the map to show the borders over the past two months, so the fog of war had cleared for a large part of the area around Killic now. The northern route to Asterfal was secure with the gate at the crags. The east of town moved into the mountain range, and the path was pretty impassable for many. The forest covered the ground leading towards the area where Darren had found the cave where Alice had been held with the greylings, but there wasn¡¯t much there apart from the mountains. Killic was in a powerful position defensively, especially once the valley defences were finished.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. The territory that Killic sat in still spread for a substantial distance to the west once you crossed the valley. The terrain became hilly and open in areas covered by thick forest. The entire area of the territory was fertile, if only the ground could be cultivated properly. The problem was that the space around Killic itself would require the forest to be cut back to allow for the continuing expansion of the town infrastructure. ¡°I could always just increase my levels anyway,¡± SJ said, shrugging. Zigferd frowned, his eyebrows almost meeting in the middle. After a moment, his face relaxed again. ¡°I know you could, and I am grateful that you have held off so far. I can understand how tempting it is. I used to crave my level increases in my youth. Let me take the suggestion to the council.¡± ¡°Do we need the council¡¯s permission to approve my levelling? Is this not, after all, my choice?¡± Zigferd again looked at SJ, not replying for several moments. ¡°It is, but your levelling has the potential to impact so many. I am sure you understand my concerns.¡± ¡°I do,¡± SJ sighed. ¡°It is just frustrating waiting so long. If I had not become so invested in the town, I may never have even known the impact that my levels could have.¡± ¡°I am just glad that you have become invested,¡± Zigferd smiled. ¡°There are a few things I also want to look into adding to the town.¡± ¡°Such as?¡± ¡°A suggestion was made about the recent increase in fighting between new members of the town wanting to prove their power and worth. I was considering organising a fighting tournament.¡± ¡°A tournament, you say.¡± ¡°Initially, I was thinking of a fight club, but we don¡¯t need cages, and we could organise a tournament that would allow members to compete for rewards. It would get a lot of the problems off the streets and give some of the new members a focus.¡± ¡°What events would you consider?¡± ¡°Swordsmanship, archery, brawling, martial arts, etc. It could be alongside the harvest festival as a celebration event.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a bad idea. Who would you get to run it? The harvest festival is only two weeks away.¡± ¡°I was thinking, Lorna and Ballentine. Maybe even offer Jay the opportunity to be a judge? It may persuade him to stay in Killic a little longer.¡± ¡°I will speak to Ballentine and see what he thinks. Why, whenever we talk, do I end up with a longer to-do list?¡± ¡°Because I am full of so many good ideas,¡± SJ beamed as she turned to leave. ¡°You should just level,¡± Dave said. ¡®I can¡¯t. You know I want to, but I can¡¯t just ignore the impact it could have on the town. If something happened that affected my friends, I would never forgive myself.¡¯ ¡°I know,¡± Dave sighed. ¡°I got another few layers of code finished. I am seriously struggling to decode the current level. It¡¯s a 512-character lock code.¡± SJ couldn¡¯t even possibly imagine the number of combinations such a code would require to break it. Since the vision change that Dave had instigated, the synchronisation between the two of them had been slowly increasing. They were now sitting at 54%, and it appeared to gain 1% per two weeks currently. Nothing new had opened up to Dave to allow him to change anything, although SJ could sometimes feel a strange sensation when she considered certain things. It was as though she were seeing things from a different perspective, not because of her 360-degree vision, but the appearance of certain things. She could not explain it in words, and her thoughts made little sense to Dave, either. There was just a level of strangeness occasionally, which she couldn¡¯t put her finger on. SJ left Zigferd¡¯s office and made her way downstairs to her office. Because of her position and the frequent visitors from Asterfal to Killic, she had been assigned a small office on the ground floor. It was nothing as opulent or had the grandeur of the offices they had been issued while in Asterfal, but she had made it her own. On the table sat the usual bundle of letters that were delivered regularly alongside the other communications from Asterfal. The role of ambassador had become quite time-consuming alongside everything else that SJ did daily. Over the past couple of months since her return, she had got into a routine again. She had still been travelling back to Farleck every evening, last night being the only exception. Each morning, when she awoke, she would spend thirty minutes performing her daily kata down by the small jetty. The morning air and calm of the lake always settled her for the day ahead. She would then have breakfast before porting back to Killic. Then, every evening on her return, she would set aside at least an hour to perform her tailoring. She currently had two orders at the auction house for certain items she was after. She knew she could have gone to Nexis and purchased them if necessary, but she didn''t like continually relying on him. Kibble jumped from her shoulder and landed on his cushion behind her desk. He had adopted a routine like SJ, aware they would be here for the next couple of hours while SJ handled communications. Turning around in several small circles, he stomped his tiny feet, pummelling the cushion into the shape he wanted before he curled his tiny body up and settled. ¡°Good boy,¡± SJ said. Kibble lifted his head and gave a small squeak before placing it back down and closing his eyes. SJ was busy writing a reply to one of Asterfal¡¯s council members when she received a knock on her door. Her door was always open, and she never closed it unless she was discussing something sensitive. ¡°Ambassador,¡± Bastvik said. ¡°Bastvik. Come in, and please call me SJ. What can I do for you?¡± Bastvik entered and pushed the door to. Since he had left the Wandering Ogre, he had moved into a house near the docks and was now involved in the discussions about the proposed plans for a garrison. ¡°It isn¡¯t actually me who needs your support. It¡¯s the chancellor.¡± That piqued SJ¡¯s interest immediately. ¡°The chancellor. What does he need?¡± ¡°It is rather delicate, and the reason I am coming to you is that you are outside of Asterfal¡¯s usual remit. There is currently a campaign in progress in Asterfal trying to oust him from his position as chancellor.¡± ¡°That seems a little sudden. The last report from the council we had was that everything was going well.¡± ¡°He believes that it has been started by one or more of the districts, and he would like you to investigate and potentially deal with the matter.¡± ¡°Why me?¡± ¡°Neutrality. The political happenings of the city council do not directly influence you. He doesn¡¯t wish to use anyone in the city. Since the ousting of District 3 and the execution of Jelart, there was a certain level of discontent. I am sure the reports must have even reached Killic regarding the issues that happened afterwards.¡± SJ had indeed heard that riots had occurred in several districts, but she believed the tower guard had been dispatched to deal with them. ¡°I thought calm had been restored, and by dealing with the matter, what exactly does he mean?¡± Bastvik looked down slightly, not wishing to meet SJ¡¯s eyes. ¡°I think you know what he means.¡± ¡°Now, this is interesting,¡± Dave said. ¡°Being hired by the chancellor to potentially orm assassination jobs inside his city potI can¡¯t just get there yet. I have no portal, and suddenly leaving Killic for the time it takes to get there and back isn¡¯t viable currently.¡¯ ¡°Go with Alice. She will be back before the harvest festival. So if you go now and come back, you will still be back in time. You said you wanted to see Larianco and get an update on whether she had discovered anything from the fae capital.¡± ¡°What are your thoughts?¡± Bastvik asked. ¡°I need a little time to consider whether I can do it. I have no problems with the request; it is more the logistics behind it that bother me.¡± ¡°I understand. It is not a small ask.¡± ¡°What is the chancellor offering in regard to this task?¡± SJ¡¯s display triggered. Quest - Investigate the malcontent - Part 1 The chancellor has asked you to investigate the recent problems in Asterfal. Identify the source of the problems and report your findings. Rewards: 5 gold ¡°Nice reward and it¡¯s a multi-part quest as well,¡± Dave said. ¡®It¡¯s still in Asterfal! I seriously need to level and find someone who can set a soul stone.¡¯ After a moment, SJ replied to Bastvik. ¡°I am not sure yet when I can confirm, but I will need a couple of days.¡± ¡°That is fine. There is no rush. The chancellor is aware of the time needed to travel to Asterfal even if you were to accept, and the duration of time needed to identify any parties.¡± ¡°Okay. I need to go and meet the trade councillor; he is due soon.¡± ¡°Of course. Thank you for your time,¡± Bastvik said as he turned and left her office. SJ watched him go. When she had first met the secretive Bastvik at the Wandering Ogre, she had been uncertain whether he had been the instigator of the proposed attack on Fran. That issue still hadn¡¯t been resolved fully, and with the extended issues around her and the link to the dark elves, she felt more certain that she had always been the target. ¡°Come on, Kibble,¡± she said as she pushed her chair back and stood stretching off. The remaining administration will have to wait until later. Kibble stood stretching before hopping up onto her shoulder. She removed a small piece of dried meat from her inventory and handed it to Kibble, who wolfed it down happily, purring in her ear. ¡°And be nice. I have never met this representative before.¡± SJ left, closed the office door behind her and made her way to the stables. ? Chapter 163 - No Longer A Child The meeting with the Asterfal councillor had gone well. With the amendments to the trade rights being progressed through one party, the new barrel rates for fish would increase the profits of all parties involved in the tri-way deal. It was a shame that SJ couldn¡¯t manage all the southern regional aspects of fishing, but there were so many small minor parties that it would be a full-time job. She was already communicating regularly via mail to the other member¡¯s territories, as it was. She knew she would never stop writing letters if they expanded further. The initial idea of joined-up approaches was beneficial but time-consuming. She would need to invest in communication stones. The local air mage couldn¡¯t possibly handle all the communications by himself, and he would require support as the town grew. For now, he only sent critical messages via magical means due to how mana-intensive it was. ¡°Alice,¡± SJ called after seeing her enter the barracks. Alice detoured from her route upstairs to her office to see SJ. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Alice asked. ¡°I need to come to Asterfal with you.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± It was obvious that Alice wasn¡¯t expecting to hear the statement. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°There is nothing wrong. I have been contacted about a task.¡± ¡°What sort of task?¡± Alice frowned. ¡°The sort I can¡¯t really discuss as yet. Not until I know more details or even confirm that I will complete it.¡± ¡°I see. Well, I will be leaving tomorrow first thing. I will be happy for the company. Darren won¡¯t be coming with me. Since he has taken on overseeing the hunters in town, he is needed here in Killic. They are considering setting up a new lodge, which will be constructed once the wall in the valley is complete. There have also been sightings of bears to the west of the lake.¡± ¡°I am aware of one bear. Cristy is out there today with Patch.¡± ¡°Cristy?¡± Alice said, surprised. SJ laughed. ¡°I know. It is hard to believe that she is now an adult. The transformation was so fast.¡± ¡°I knew gnolls always matured quickly, but this is the first time I have been that close to one to really witness it for myself,¡± Alice acknowledged. ¡°While I remember. Cristy mentioned that you may heal her as a druid.¡± Frowning, Alice looked at SJ with confusion. ¡°She isn¡¯t a beast.¡± ¡°No. But apparently, the Carlati can heal other lycans because of their beast affinity, and gnolls originate from beasts, which means they may be able to be healed by druids. Have you ever tried healing Zigferd before as a lycan?¡± ¡°No. I have never needed to. There has always been a cleric or paladin available. I hadn¡¯t even considered it.¡± ¡°If you consider that paladins and clerics can heal beasts as well as beings, maybe you can also?¡± ¡°I was always trained that as a druid, we have only beast healing capability, but if what you say is true, I may have to try with Zigferd. If it works, at least I could heal lycans and gnolls. I am not sure any other races come under the beast affiliation.¡± ¡®Dave? Any ideas on which races originate from beasts?¡¯ ¡°The basic races that come from beasts are ratkins, gnolls and, through their curse, lycans. Possibly minotaurs as well, although their origination is still being discussed. There are two or three aquatic races, but I would assume they would not come under beast classification but rather reptilian origination,¡± Dave said. ¡®Not draconian then?¡¯ ¡°No, they are draconic origination. They are not classed as beasts.¡± ¡®Bugbears?¡¯ Dave chuckled. ¡°No bugbears, although named bears, are a sub-race of hobgoblin origin, so come under goblinkin.¡± SJ had never really considered the origination of the races, and it was another item to add to her list of things to consider. ¡°Maybe ratkin and minotaurs,¡± SJ added. ¡°Possibly. I will have to try and see what happens,¡± Alice said. ¡°I am just going to finish up the summary for the council from the meeting, and then I will find Cristy. She has been gone all day,¡± SJ said. ¡°Are you staying again tonight?¡± ¡°No. I will be heading to Farleck tonight.¡± ¡°Okay. If you could meet me at mine in the morning, that would be great. Alef is planning to leave early.¡± ¡°Of course. I will see you then.¡± It took SJ another hour to finish her report. The one thing she missed from Earth, above anything else, was a word processor. Writing everything with quill and ink was so time-consuming. She couldn¡¯t imagine the hours that scribes must have spent producing some texts, and she could also see why the books she had bought in Asterfal were so expensive. Happy with her report, she called Kibble, who happily jumped onto her shoulder before she left the barracks. It was late afternoon, and she was worried about Cristy. The west side of the lake was where she had originally landed when she arrived near Killic, and the creatures she had encountered there weren¡¯t high-level, or at least hadn¡¯t been back then. She made her way to the edge of town and looked over the fields. Several beings were working by the auction warehouse that stood at the edge of the fields. SJ walked over, asking if anyone had seen Cristy. No one had, so SJ decided she would head to the wolf¡¯s den. ¡°Get down Kibble,¡± SJ said. Kibble jumped from her shoulder and landed on the ground. In moments, she had shrunk to her miniature size. Kibbles looked at her excitedly. They had flown together a few times now, and he always enjoyed it when she did. ¡°Come on. Let¡¯s go visit the wolves.¡± SJ took off, and Kibbles launched into the air behind her. He began speeding along after her, spiralling around as he did. He was exceedingly fast and nimble for his size. It didn¡¯t take them long to work their way through the forest towards the den. Landing in the clearing, SJ grew back to her full size. The wolves had sensed her and stood watching as she grew. ¡°I don¡¯t suppose Cristy or Patch have been back yet,¡± she asked. SJ wasn¡¯t even sure if the regular wolves could understand her. One wolf stepped forward, SJ recognising the scar that ran along his side from the rock gobbler fight. He stood in front of her, lowering his head, and let out a low growl. Kibbles was still hovering in the air, uncertain of the wolves. When he met them the first time, they had tried to capture him. ¡°Kibble, come down here,¡± SJ said. He let out a squeak in protest, flying up to a nearby branch, and looked down. ¡°They won¡¯t harm you,¡± SJ shook her head despondently. The wolf with the scar stepped forward. His head lowered towards SJ. SJ reached out and stroked its thick and soft fur. It turned its head to the side, allowing SJ to scratch it under the chin. The normal wolves were much smaller than Patch, and SJ hadn¡¯t even considered if they had been levelling or not. Thinking about it, she triggered her identification skill. The last time she had identified them, the grey wolves had been level six. Grey Wolf Level: 15 Hit Points: 100 Mana Points: 0 Armour Class: 18 Attacks: Bite/Claw Special: Nil ¡®Almost ten levels!¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°I am not surprised the hogling levels have increased in accordance with the territory levels as well. All forest animals or other beasts will have,¡± Dave said. ¡®I wonder what level Patch is now.¡¯ ¡°He is twenty.¡± ¡®That¡¯s great. That will really help with Cristy.¡¯This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. ¡°Yes, but also consider the bear they may have gone to challenge, which could be twenty¡ªlevel twenty bears, whether forest or mountain, are powerful. Do you remember how many hit points Zigferd had, and he is a lycan? A true bear¡¯s form will have an insanely high constitution as a base due to their build.¡± ¡®That¡¯s not great to hear,¡¯ SJ suddenly felt very nervous that Cristy had gone out alone with Patch. ¡°You need to stop worrying. She has come back as a level 16 with combat experience, and it isn¡¯t as though Patch is new to fighting, either. I doubt you will have anything to worry about unless Cristy gets injured, of course, because healing herself could be challenging.¡± ¡®Not helping!¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°Can you help find Patch?¡± SJ asked. The grey wolf with the scar tilted his head at her before he turned, looking off to the west. ¡®He appears to know which way he has gone.¡¯ ¡°Can you take me to Patch and Cristy?¡± The female white wolf, which SJ knew was Patch¡¯s partner, walked forward and growled at the grey. The grey turned to look at her. If they communicated, SJ couldn¡¯t tell, but the next thing was the grey moved off to the edge of the clearing, heading in a Westerly direction. ¡°Come on Kibble,¡± SJ said as she shrunk again. The wolf moved off into the forest, and SJ followed, flying by the side of the grey. Kibbles was still unsure as he stayed much higher out of its range. The forest was alive with the sounds of creatures, and with a group of predatory wolves living so near, it was amazing how lively it was. Compared to SJ¡¯s other visits, it seemed livelier than usual. ¡°I bet it¡¯s because of the bear. If the bear is moving around near the mines, then it has likely pushed the forest animals in this direction,¡± Dave said after SJ thought about it. ¡®It seems to have taken a long time for it to happen.¡¯ ¡°Bears can travel for miles to reach new areas, and if they come from a different territory, which they may have, they could even be new to the area.¡± ¡®I didn¡¯t even realise there were bears up here until it was mentioned. I thought the only predators on the plateau were the wolves.¡¯ ¡°They probably were originally. It¡¯s no different from the way the wyvern arrived. There are no time limits for crossing the border. Many animals usually stay in one area, but if it gets harder to survive, they will move. It depends upon the type of bear it is as well. If it is a mountain bear, it could have easily come over the mountains to get here.¡± ¡®I thought the mountains were pretty impassable.¡¯ ¡°Not to nature.¡± They travelled for a while before eventually coming onto the main path that led to the mine. Since the mine had been created, the track that used to lead to the valley had been worked on. The dwarves had packed the earth and widened it in parts to accommodate the wagons that now traversed it. It wasn¡¯t long before the path split that led to the new smelter that had been built at the top of the ridge. The grey continued past it and headed towards the river that fed from the lake into the valley. SJ hadn¡¯t been back across the river since her initial arrival in Amathera. As they approached, the wolf sped up, and it sprinted at the edge of the river before it launched itself into the air, quickly clearing the distance and landing on the far side. SJ was so glad she had flown normally. The memory of her horrendous flying attempt when the raven grabbed her made her shudder. They carried on for some time, moving towards the southwestern edge of the mountains which surrounded the plateau. The forest here was thick, and it was obvious no beings apart from forest creatures usually visited it. The speed they travelled at, with the wolf bounding along, was much faster than SJ would have been able to maintain if she had been walking. After another ten minutes, the wolf growled towards SJ before bursting into a small clearing. The clearing was destroyed; the earth was torn up, and it was clear from the signs that a fight had taken place. SJ could see patches of red on the churned-up earth and splashed onto the foliage that lay scattered in the clearing. On the far side of the clearing, SJ spotted an arrow sticking from a tree. Mixed amongst the torn earth were chunks of fur as though a pair of clippers had attacked the bear, shaving its fur. ¡®I hope Cristy is ok,¡¯ SJ thought, her nerves tingling and her pulse racing seeing the scene. They could hear nothing, but the marks looked fresh, the blood patches glistening in the afternoon light filtering through the canopy. Kibbles let out a squeak and flew straight across the clearing. The grey wolf didn¡¯t seem perturbed by the scene and also crossed the clearing and stopped looking at SJ before turning and carrying on. SJ again followed. It was clear where the combatants had moved. The brush was beaten and flattened in front of them as they continued. It was then that a howl broke through the forest. It was still quite distant, and SJ picked up speed in the direction it came, the grey easily maintaining the pace and redirecting her slightly. Kibbles seemed to know exactly where it was as well, following directly above the wolf. Five minutes later, they appeared from the edge of the forest, where the trees thinned as the rocky mountain took over. Not two hundred feet from the edge, SJ could see Cristy. She appeared to be slumped over the enormous bear that lay motionless. ¡°Cristy!¡± SJ shouted, sheer panic filling her. Patch was sat to one side, his maw covered in red. An area of fur on his foreleg was missing, although there was no sign of a wound. Cristy moved. Relief flooded SJ until she turned and saw that she was covered from head to toe in blood. ¡°SJ? What are you doing here?¡± Cristy asked. ¡°I was worried, so I came looking. Are you injured?¡± ¡°Oh, this,¡± she said, indicating herself. ¡°It¡¯s not mine. I am just skinning the bear. It¡¯s a little awkward with its size.¡± Cristy had a huge grin on her face. The truly enormous size of the bear became apparent as SJ neared. She landed and grew to her fullsize. It must have been twenty feet in length, and SJ couldn¡¯t say how tall it must have been when standing upright. The bear¡¯s fur coat was an almost silvery colour where it hadn¡¯t been coloured red by its blood. SJ could see at least twelve arrows that Cristy must have recovered from the bear¡¯s body. They were closely piled to one side of the remains. ¡°If you don¡¯t mind getting a little messy, I could do with a hand,¡± Cristy asked. ¡°Sure,¡± SJ said. ¡°When did you learn to skin?¡± ¡°I used to watch my dad when he went hunting, and I also harvested a few goats while I was at the conclave.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± was all SJ could respond. ¡°If you grab that part there and pull it as I cut, it will be much easier. Patch tried helping, but his teeth kept tearing the fur.¡± ¡°What happened to his foreleg?¡± ¡°He got too close and was bitten. He is all healed now, though, and his fur should grow back eventually.¡± ¡°You healed him?¡± ¡°Yes. Easily. I didn¡¯t realise how much I had increased my healing at the conclave when I healed Reay from her injuries, and it¡¯s quite powerful. It just costs quite a lot of my mana to do it. I need to be careful when I use it during a fight. My mana didn¡¯t increase very well when I levelled. Is there anything I can do to boost it? I don¡¯t know how much mana some of the skills require when they level.¡± ¡°There are items with charms or enchantments that would help. Larianco knows a powerful Willpower enchantment, but it¡¯s very expensive. It may be worth talking to Fran and see what she knows.¡± ¡°I will when I see her.¡± SJ checked through the standard equipment she held. Ring of Mana Regeneration - Passive regeneration restores 5% of total mana every minute. 50% immediate recovery occurs once every 24hours. Removing the ring from her finger, she passed it to Cristy. ¡°Here. I do not need this. It should help with your regeneration.¡± Cristy took the ring, and her eyes went wide as she read its details. ¡°Wow. This must be very expensive.¡± ¡°It didn¡¯t cost me anything,¡± SJ replied with a shrug. ¡°Thank you.¡± SJ helped Cristy skin the bear. It took them a long time, especially moving its huge form to extract one large pelt. Cristy then started harvesting some meat. ¡°I bet Floretta can cook this up a treat,¡± Cristy said as she cut fresh steaks, tossing one to Patch and also to the grey. That was when Kibbles objected and dived, grabbing one end of a steak, and tried to wrestle it away from the grey. The grey snarled at him, and Cristy cut a small steak off and threw it to Kibbles, who greedily swooped on it and then flew off a distance from the wolves. A further hour passed as the bear was harvested, Cristy leaving little to waste. And anything that was left wouldn¡¯t be wasted, as the other forest animals would happily eat the remains. SJ ended up placing many steaks into her inventory as Cristy¡¯s was soon full, and Cristy was happy SJ had arrived so as not to waste the meat. When they finished, the sun was starting to set. ¡°We better head back,¡± SJ said. ¡°Yeah. There isn¡¯t much more I can do with it. I have harvested what I can. Can you store this pelt in your inventory? I don¡¯t have room.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± SJ picked up the pelt and transferred it. It then appeared in her inventory, taking up four slots because of its size. ¡°Once that is cleaned and sorted, it will make a nice rug for the cottage,¡± Cristy said. ¡°I saw the clearing you fought in. It looked like a hard fight.¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t too bad. Patch was much faster than it and kept harassing it, and I hit it with arrows when I could get a clear shot.¡± ¡°So your new skills helped Patch?¡± ¡°Yes. They give him great buffs. He just got too close in the end trying to finish it off.¡± SJ wished she had witnessed the fight. She had never seen Cristy fight before. ¡°How did you cross the river?¡± ¡°Jumped,¡± Cristy said, grinning. ¡°You can jump that far!¡± ¡°Further if I want to. My increases in my attributes have really helped.¡± SJ couldn¡¯t understand how she could jump so far. ¡°How?¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t seen me run recently, have you?¡± Cristy returned her bow to her inventory and the arrows she had removed. She then dropped to her all fours. SJ frowned, not having seen Cristy run on all fours. ¡°Shall we head back then?¡± Cristy asked as she started to run. SJ shrunk and took off, speeding to catch her up with Patch and the grey running at her side. She was at one with the wolves. Her natural gnoll form allowed her to maintain a high speed alongside Patch easily. Kibbles squeaked as he sped behind, realising that they were leaving from where he had been busy poking at a large beetle that had been climbing over the rocky side. They flashed through the forest, soon reaching the clearing and then onto the river. Cristy didn¡¯t slow once and sped towards it just as the grey had and leapt the river, clearing it easily, landing perfectly in stride and continuing. SJ was amazed at her speed and agility. The four-year-old gnoll who had crashed into her knee in the market square after a few weeks had not only turned five but also into a dextrous killer. ? Chapter 164 - Open Universe SJ left Cristy at the cottage in town once they had delivered a significant number of bear steaks to Floretta. She asked Kerys to get a message to Bashvik that she would leave for Asterfal tomorrow so that he could inform the chancellor. Then, SJ ensured that she took some bear steaks to Earloqis, as she still felt guilty about Kibbles stealing meat. She had not long since ported back to Farleck and was lighting the stove when Terence walked in. ¡°Hi, SJ.¡± ¡°Hi, Terence. Good day?¡± ¡°Not bad. I managed to finish carving the basic statue. I need to start on the finer details.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great. How long do you think it will take you?¡± ¡°Not sure yet. The image I was given of the statue in the square at Killic is a little vague. I may have to go there to make sure I get everything right.¡± ¡°That sounds like a good idea. I am sure Floretta will be happy to see you.¡± If SJ had never considered that a skeleton could blush, she believed she had just witnessed it. Terence coughed before he replied. ¡°She is a fine lady.¡± ¡°She is indeed,¡± SJ smiled. Charlotte and Brian worked so closely together that SJ had become a little concerned about Terence, who spent much of his time alone. He never complained, though, always just carrying on with his work at all hours of the day. SJ gradually started to get the skeletons into more of a routine, making them stop work in the evenings and spend time doing other things, but Terence always ended up going back to his woodwork. ¡°I am going to be heading back to Asterfal again tomorrow.¡± ¡°Already?¡± ¡°Yes. The chancellor would like to discuss a matter with me. Apparently, he would like an outsider to look into problems there.¡± ¡°Could we help at all?¡± SJ had never asked anything from the skeletons since they moved into Farleck. It was as much their home as hers, and the amount of time and effort they had put into making the place so perfect she could never pay back. ¡°I hadn¡¯t even considered it. Perhaps at some point, but for now, I will go and check out the problem.¡± ¡°No problem. You know that you only need to ask, and the three of us will be there to help.¡± ¡°Thanks, Terence. It means a lot to me.¡± ¡°You¡¯re home then,¡± Charlotte said as she walked in carrying a large basket of fresh herbs. Since the vegetable patch had flourished, they had also started growing herbs, and Charlotte would regularly dry and chop them so that SJ could take them into Killic to sell for her. She had earned herself several coins, and Floretta was regularly asking SJ for different herbs. SJ had even placed an order on the auction house through Alice for various seeds which weren¡¯t local to the territory. A couple of them had been fulfilled quickly, but there were still some other herbs that hadn¡¯t been filled yet, and SJ would check while she was in Asterfal with some of the merchants. She was sure that Yawnee would know who to speak to. ¡°Where¡¯s Brian?¡± ¡°Where do you think?¡± Charlotte sighed. ¡°As soon as I free him from his duties, he always disappears down to the jetty.¡± ¡°He does enjoy his fishing.¡± One of the pots from the stove suddenly clattered to the floor behind SJ, making her jump. She spun back around to see a sheepish-looking Kibbles with a fish hanging from his mouth. ¡°That was going to be my dinner,¡± SJ said, putting her hands on her hips. Around a mouthful of fish, Kibbles squeaked and took off, flying outside. ¡°He is so badly behaved,¡± SJ said, staring after him. Charlotte and Terence couldn¡¯t keep the grins from their faces. ¡°There are fresh vegetables in the pantry. I can prepare some for you quickly enough,¡± Terence offered. Since he had spent time with Floretta in Killic, his cooking had come on leaps and bounds, and he would often now cook for her when she came home. ¡°If it¡¯s not too much of a problem?¡± ¡°Not at all,¡± Terence replied, walking to the pantry. ¡°I will go and do some tailoring for a bit then,¡± SJ said as she walked through to her tailoring room. Since she had set up the room, it had almost every conceivable colour of fabric she had managed to get from Nexis. There were small rolls of so many different things, and she had even started making things that she didn¡¯t have recipes for. There were only basic items such as towels or drying cloths, but she enjoyed the time designing and creating new items. It was relaxing after spending most of her day in the office reading and writing responses to letters. She was finishing sewing a cloth when Charlotte knocked on the door, and the savoury smell of coffee filtered into her nostrils. ¡°I thought you might like one,¡± Charlotte said. ¡°Perfect,¡± SJ said, turning and taking the steaming mug. Terence had made some beautifully crafted mugs and tankards from many of the wood offcuts. He had also whittled and produced a significant number of wooden spoons and cutlery and planned to sell some in Killic soon. ¡°Have you seen that demon of mine?¡± SJ asked. ¡°I think he had been down at the jetty. I heard Brian cursing rather loudly,¡± Charlotte chuckled. ¡°Ha. I will be in for an earful when he comes back to the cottage then,¡± SJ said, shaking her head. ¡°Dinner,¡± Terence called. Placing her work down, SJ collected her mug and followed Charlotte back to the front of the cottage. Sitting on the table was a plate covered with seasonal fried vegetables and a dipping sauce. The food was presented in the shape of a fan surrounding the sauce, reminding SJ of the plates she had seen in first-class restaurants in London. ¡°This looks amazing,¡± SJ said. ¡°I hope you enjoy it,¡± Terence said, cleaning up where he had been cooking. The vegetables were perfectly cooked and crisped, and the sauce Terence had made complemented them well. Wiping the last of the sauce on her finger, she sucked her finger clean. ¡°That was amazing. Thanks, Terence. I think you may challenge Floretta soon.¡± At the mention of her name, he coughed again, ¡°I will never be as skilled as she is at cooking.¡± It was evident that the giant orc skeleton thought a great deal of Floretta. SJ had no idea what skeletal relationships were like, but considering they still had their full mental states, it was assumed that finding a partner was still possible. After eating, SJ took another cup of coffee and walked down to the jetty. Brian was sat at his usual perch with two lines cast out into the lake. ¡°Hi, Brian,¡± SJ said as she approached. ¡°Hi, SJ. That demon of yours stole one of my catch.¡± ¡°He stole one from me that I was planning for dinner. I am surprised he isn¡¯t the size of a troll the amount he eats.¡± Brian chuckled. Hearing the skeletons laugh always sounded a little strange. Sometimes, their bones even jingled together. ¡°How has the fishing been going?¡± ¡°Well. I have a new bait configuration. I have discovered that some of the fish really like the yellow ground beetles.¡± ¡°Oh. I still don¡¯t know what types of fish are even in the lake.¡± ¡°There are several. Some are predatory, others not. I think there is a Kaslik in her somewhere.¡± ¡°What¡¯s a Kaslik?¡± ¡°It feeds on other fish. Well, most fish will feed on other fish, being honest, but it¡¯s a predatory one. I was reeling in yesterday, and something took my catch as I did. That is usually a sign of a Kaslik.¡± SJ sat down on the jetty, removed her boots, and dangled her feet into the cool water. The moon was bright in the sky, and its reflection rippled on the lake¡¯s surface. At night, the serene lake was devoid of usual forest sounds, with sleeping animals and birds, allowing even a pin drop to be heard. ¡°Did you want me to set you a rod up?¡± Brian asked.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°No. It¡¯s fine. I am just enjoying the peace,¡± SJ replied as she lay back on the jetty, folding her hands behind her head and looking at the stars in the night sky. ¡®Dave. I have never thought about it before, but the stars I can see in the sky are the same as those from Earth.¡¯ ¡°Excellent question. It¡¯s a little complicated to explain because they are and they aren¡¯t.¡± ¡®How does that work then?¡¯ ¡°The system creates the stars as it does all worlds. Whether it be here on Amathera or back on Earth. The level of interaction it has with various beings and worlds varies, but Amathera is situated in the same area as Earth, on a different plane.¡± ¡®Different plane?¡¯ ¡°Yes. There are multiple copies of the universe as you know it, and depending on which one you are in, the sky will vary slightly.¡± ¡®Does that mean that aliens exist then?¡¯ ¡°What you call aliens, the system just classes as another race. No different to the races we have here on Amathera. If you were on Earth and a troll suddenly turned up, you would think it was alien.¡± ¡®I suppose so. I hadn¡¯t considered it before. So the system controls everything in the universe?¡¯ ¡°Created, controls. It all depends on your interpretation.¡± ¡®So you could work on another world then?¡¯ ¡°No. I am specific to this world. My coding doesn¡¯t allow me the ability to see others or interact with others. I would love to visit other worlds, but unfortunately, I can¡¯t.¡± The concept of multiple worlds, not just Earth and Amathera, was mindboggling, and SJ couldn¡¯t quite believe she hadn¡¯t considered the question before. Arriving in Amathera was shocking, but learning about other worlds was even crazier. Her mind reeled from the possibilities. Brian suddenly sat upright and began reeling in. SJ propped herself on her elbows and watched as a large silvery fish was brought onto the jetty, flopping about. Brian skillfully picked the fish up and unhooked it before dropping it into a net he had positioned at the side of the jetty. ¡°Are you releasing them?¡± ¡°Yes. Since we don¡¯t eat them, I will release them. I will only bring back the decent ones for your meals.¡± SJ smiled. Her dad had been a fisherman, and she remembered her childhood sitting down at the canal side with him in Manchester. The fish were never as large or edible from the canal, but she used to enjoy the time she spent with her dad. ¡°Right. I better get some sleep,¡± SJ said, standing and picking her boots up. ¡°Night then,¡± Brian said as he recast the line. SJ walked back towards the cottage, the soft grass tickling her bare feet. Terence had returned to his woodwork area and was happily working away on the statue for Killic. SJ found Charlotte inside, laying out herbs on the kitchen surface. Everything seemed right in the world when she was at Farleck. There was never anything that caused concern. ¡°Kibbles? Come on, it¡¯s bedtime,¡± SJ called from the cottage doorway. She spotted Kibbles¡¯ head emerging from a flower bed with insect wings in his mouth. He took off and flew over to her, swooping inside and heading straight through to their room. ¡°Night, Charlotte,¡± SJ said as she retired for the evening. As she entered her room, Kibbles had already made himself comfortable curling up on the extra pillow by her head. After undressing, she slid under the soft blankets and turned to look at the little beastie. His eyes were closed, and in the moments he had been settled, he had immediately started to snore. Small crackling sounds came from his nostrils when he did. She reached over and stroked his tiny head, making him shift on his pillow, leaning into her hand. SJ continued to stroke him until she fell asleep. ¡°Morning, SJ. Coffee is on the table, and breakfast will be ten minutes,¡± Charlotte said from the bedroom doorway. ¡°Thanks, Charlotte,¡± SJ said as she yawned and stretched. She got better treatment at Farleck than she ever had in any hotel back on Earth. As she climbed from the bed, Kibble stirred, stretching off, and then hopped to the window. SJ walked over and opened the drapes, letting the early morning light in before opening the window so Kibbles could take care of his morning business. After she was washed and dressed, SJ walked into the front. ¡°Perfect timing,¡± Terence said as he placed a bowl on the table. ¡°What delights have you made this morning?¡± ¡°It¡¯s only porridge, but there is fresh honey in the jar. Brian found a new hive and got some yesterday.¡± SJ opened the jar on the table, which contained the freshest honey you could imagine. It still had bits of honeycomb in it. After putting a large spoonful into her porridge, she stirred it before tucking in. As usual, the food was perfect. ¡°Thanks, Terence,¡± SJ said, wiping her mouth on the napkin she had made. ¡°My pleasure as always,¡± Terence said. ¡°You said you were going to Asterfal again, didn¡¯t you? Could you get a set of detailing chisels? The ones that came from Killic aren¡¯t fine enough for the statue¡¯s features.¡± ¡°Of course. Is there anything specific you need?¡± ¡°Just fine detailing chisels. I would expect any of the main carpentry shops in Asterfal to have them.¡± ¡°No problem, I will ask when I am there. Right, I had better get going, or I will be late for the coach. No time for my kata this morning.¡± SJ had checked with Alice before returning to the cottage, and the coach was due to leave first thing. Alef would be driving them as usual in Killic¡¯s official coach. ¡°Kibbles?¡± SJ called as she walked outside. The little wyvern came flying around the side of the cottage before landing on her shoulder. Charlotte and Brian were already at work in the vegetable patch, even as the morning light was still rising in the sky. ¡°I will be back in a few days,¡± SJ called as she walked to the portal area. ¡°Be safe,¡± Charlotte called. ¡°Always,¡± SJ said as she activated it. When she arrived, the cottage at Killic was quiet. After leaving her room, she walked out to the kitchen to find a burnt pan of porridge by the stove. It was evident that Cristy must have tried to cook something, but it hadn¡¯t gone very well. The cottage still smelled of burnt oats, so she opened the windows to allow fresh air. ¡°Cristy?¡± SJ called. There was no reply, so she must have left. Leaving the cottage, she locked the door behind her and headed into town. The usual morning activities were underway, the traders opening their shop fronts and the stall in the town square unpacking their goods for the days trading ahead. She passed pleasantries with those she passed before turning down and heading to the docks. She had said she would meet Alice at hers this morning. As she crossed the bridge to the island, she saw Setu leaving his home. ¡°Morning, Setu,¡± SJ said. ¡°Morning, SJ. What has brought you to the island?¡± ¡°I am meeting Alice. We are off to Asterfal today.¡± ¡°Again?¡± ¡°Yes. I have some errands to run.¡± ¡°Ok. I will catch you when you return.¡± ¡°No problem,¡± SJ smiled as she walked towards Alice¡¯s. Alice and Darren¡¯s home was situated at the end of a row of houses positioned behind a stand of trees. It was an idyllic cottage looking out over the lake; the trees gave it privacy from the main island to the dock on the other side. She had spent a couple of afternoons with them, and SJ could understand why Alice wanted to stay there rather than move to a larger house in the town. The door was open as SJ walked up the short path leading to the front door, and SJ could hear voices inside. ¡°Where are we going to go today?¡± Cristy said. ¡°We are going to head north of town and then towards the forest at the north of the lake. One of the hunters believes that there is a large group of hoglings which we will be hunting today.¡± ¡°Am I alright bringing Patch with me?¡± ¡°Of course, but he will have to come around town and not through to get to the far side.¡± ¡°No problem. I will let him know.¡± ¡°Morning,¡± SJ called from the doorway. ¡°Morning,¡± Darren replied. He was standing with Cristy in the lounge, sorting through his gear. ¡°So you are off hunting with Darren today?¡± SJ asked, seeing Cristy. ¡°Yes,¡± she smiled. ¡°I also noticed you didn¡¯t do very well cooking your breakfast this morning,¡± SJ smiled. Cristy huffed. ¡°No. Floretta makes it look so easy.¡± ¡°I bet you left it heating and got distracted doing something else, didn¡¯t you?¡± Cristy slumped her shoulders, not replying. ¡°I opened the windows to clear the smell,¡± SJ chuckled. ¡°Where¡¯s Alice?¡± SJ asked. ¡°Just getting packed. She is in the back,¡± Darren said. ¡°Am I alright going through?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± SJ walked down the short corridor before coming to their bedroom and knocked on the door. ¡°Hello?¡± Alice replied. SJ opened the door and walked in. ¡°Morning, Alice. Do you need a hand with anything?¡± ¡°I thought I heard you,¡± Alice smiled. ¡°No. I am sorted now; I am just packing the last few things.¡± SJ watched as Alice picked up several items and placed them in her inventory. Once she was happy with them, she turned to leave the room. ¡°Ok. All packed. We better get a move on. Alef will be waiting.¡± ¡°No problem.¡± SJ and Alice bid farewell to Darren and Cristy. SJ was glad she had seen Cristy before she left, but she was a little disappointed to leave when she had only just returned. However, she would be here when she got back. If they didn¡¯t go now, they wouldn¡¯t return before the festival, and neither of them wanted to miss it. Alef had the coach all prepared by the time they arrived at the stables, and once they were settled, they began the trip back to Asterfal. Kibbles had made himself comfortable on Alice¡¯s lap. Alice sat stroking him as they discussed her plans in Asterfal. ? Chapter 165 - Return To Asterfal The trip to Asterfal had been uneventful, stopping off at the usual places on the route. As they entered the towering gates of the city, SJ could sense unease in the air. The streets still had the same busy hustle and bustle that she had got used to on her previous visit, but her senses seemed to tingle with an unspoken tension. The weather may have been playing a part as the skies were a dark grey, and a fine sheet of rain fell on the streets. Beings hurrying about their business with their hoods up and face down. ¡°Here you go, SJ,¡± Alef called as he pulled up outside her home. ¡°Thanks, Alef,¡± SJ said as she climbed from the coach. ¡°I will meet you this evening, Alice. I want to take you to the restaurant that Jay showed me when I was here.¡± ¡°Sounds great. 2000hrs okay. I should have finished my meetings by then?¡± ¡°Yeah. That will be fine for me. It doesn¡¯t matter what time it is. Jay said it never closes.¡± Alice would be in Asterfal for only three days before returning to Killic. That gave SJ a limited time to discover exactly what the chancellor needed and what his concerns were. SJ had no baggage, bringing only what she needed in her inventory, and that wasn¡¯t a great deal. The large doors opened to the garage area at the front of her home, and SJ could see both Lurtew and Yawnee busy making barrels. ¡°Hi,¡± SJ called as she walked into the garage turned coopers workshop. ¡°SJ!¡± Yawnee said with surprise, hurrying over. She was about to hug her when she noticed Kibble on her shoulder. ¡°And who is this?¡± Yawnee asked. ¡°This is Kibble, my nightmare of a pet,¡± SJ said, reaching up and poking him. ¡°Say hello then.¡± Kibble let out a squeak at being poked and went to nip SJ¡¯s finger. ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it,¡± SJ warned him. Lurtew finished what he was doing and walked up, offering his hand. SJ took it, shaking it firmly. ¡°How are you both?¡± ¡°Very well,¡± Yawnee said. ¡°Come let me get you some food. I am guessing you are hungry?¡± ¡°I could do with some, yes, and I assume you still have some coffee left?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Yawnee grinned. SJ followed Yawnee upstairs to the first floor, where the kitchen was situated, and sat at the table while Yawnee made SJ a sandwich and put a coffee on. ¡°You are back sooner than I expected,¡± Yawnee said. ¡°Yes. I have some work to do for the chancellor. I am only here for three days, and then I need to get back to Killic for the harvest festival.¡± ¡°I guess you saw Cristy?¡± ¡°Just, she had only been back a day when I left. She has grown so much!¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t believe it was Cristy when she came back from her trip,¡± Yawnee said, shaking her head in disbelief. They sat catching up on what was happening in Asterfal while SJ ate. The word on the street was that after the execution of Jelart and the preceding riots, it was rumoured that several of the districts had been scheming against the tower. Even Yawnee had been approached about the problems when she was out shopping, and flyers were regularly being dropped on the streets. No one person had been identified as the main culprit. The rumours were pointing to it possibly being someone from District 10 as it appeared to get more regular leaflets dropped. ¡°Since the riots, the tower guards have maintained regular patrols alongside the district guards, and they have taken complete control of District 3. There was apparently an election due to commence in a week for a new lieutenant in District 3,¡± Yawnee said. ¡°An election?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the first time that people from the district are being granted the ability to vote for who they wish to take over. The tower has been vetting candidates before permitting them to stand. A list of candidates has been posted at the main barracks.¡± ¡°It will be interesting to see how that goes.¡± ¡°It will. The front-runner that my friends are voting for is a dwarf named Oligat. He is a smith from the district and has always had a good standing with many in the district. He would often do work for much less than he should have charged beings.¡± ¡°He sounds like an honest being. Hopefully, it will bring about the change the district needs.¡± ¡°I hope so,¡± Yawnee said. Many beings in District 3 had been temporarily moved while work was underway to improve some of the areas. After the warehouse explosion in District 3 and the damage it caused to the surrounding area, the area was closed, and much of the trade was moved to allow for repairs. The district has been in upheaval since, and the movement of people had started to impact surrounding districts. Overcrowding had been the main complaint, with the city renting many of the inn rooms for those who had been misplaced. Some of the families had even been moved into the centre, which was apparently unheard of. This move alone upset some of the wealthier members of the city, who protested against it. ¡°I hadn¡¯t heard any of the details of what has been happening,¡± SJ said after Yawnee finished her update. ¡°It¡¯s been troublesome. Thankfully, the riots didn¡¯t affect this district. Districts 3, 4 and 5 were the worst affected.¡± SJ shook her head in disbelief. ¡°You would think beings would be happy no longer being under that man¡¯s rule.¡± ¡°The problem I see is that many beings knew no different. We, as many, had always lived as we did in the district. Many of my friends there didn¡¯t even really know what the other districts were like in comparison. Unless you needed to go somewhere, everything you needed in most cases could be found close to home. You would be surprised at how many beings hardly ever leave their districts. Unless for work.¡± ¡°I hadn¡¯t considered it, but now you say it, it¡¯s understandable.¡± SJ experienced the same thing back on Earth. There were many people she had known from home in Manchester and, more so, London, who had never been very far outside of the city. SJ fed Kibble the last corner of her sandwich and finished her coffee. ¡°Right. I am going to see Larianco and then call in to see the chancellor. Don¡¯t worry about sorting anything out for me. I will come and go as needed from my room.¡± ¡°No problem. If you need anything, just let me know.¡± ¡°Thanks, Yawnee. I will see you later,¡± SJ said, heading upstairs. She entered her room. It was pristine and clean, and it was obvious that Yawnee had been keeping on top of the cleaning in her absence. The drapes were open, and she walked to the balcony, opening the doors. ¡°Kibble, you stay here for now,¡± SJ said, picking him from her shoulder and placing him on the soft bedding. He looked at her forlornly before he did his usual circular pattern and settled down. The rain still fell in a fine sheet, and SJ removed her cloak from her inventory and put it on before walking onto the balcony. After locking the door behind her, she shrunk and took off, heading straight to see Larianco. It wasn¡¯t far to the fae ambassador¡¯s residence, but still, by the time she reached it, her dress was plastered to her skin. Landing, she grew before approaching the front door and knocking. ¡°Coming,¡± Larianco¡¯s voice called from inside. She heard the bolt being drawn and the door swung open. ¡°SJ!¡± Larianco said with surprise. ¡°Fran didn¡¯t mention you were coming.¡± ¡°I only decided at the last minute to join Alice while she attends her meetings. I hadn¡¯t spoken to Fran to let her know.¡± SJ had spoken to Fran on several occasions since her return to Killic. Especially about Larianco. Larianco had passed a couple of messages back to SJ about minor updates but hadn¡¯t gone into any details. ¡°Well, come in, get out of the rain,¡± Larianco stepping back to allow her inside. SJ removed her cloak and shook it off, hanging it on some coathooks by the entrance. ¡°Go through to the lounge. I will go and get us some drinks,¡± Larianceo said, heading to the kitchen. SJ walked into the lounge area. Nothing had changed since her previous visit. The only note of difference was a large parchment map lying on a table. The map was of the surrounding territories near Neturian. Notes were scribbled onto it in various locations. ¡°Here you go,¡± Larianco said as she entered carrying a tray with drinks. SJ took one of the glasses and could smell the sweetness of honey. This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. ¡°Early for honey wine, isn¡¯t it?¡± SJ smiled. ¡°Never too early,¡± Larianco said before taking a sip. ¡°What¡¯s the map for?¡± ¡°There has been an increase in rebel fae activity across the area. I am trying to map out the areas where reports of issues have been made. I want to see if there is a route they may be following to try and offset their progress.¡± ¡°I thought the fae we heard about previously, the chancellor was sending a group to deal with them.¡± ¡°They did, and they fled. The problem is that the group has stayed in this area of the continent and is causing regular problems for the surrounding towns and villages. Two villages had crops ruined, and one town suffered serious damage from a fire that they believed was deliberately caused. It also isn¡¯t happening just here. I spoke to Valiasca, and issues have increased across various areas.¡± ¡°So whoever is behind this has stepped up their game.¡± ¡°It appears that way. Val still hasn¡¯t managed to get to the bottom of it yet.¡± ¡°Why can¡¯t Val just speak to the fae King?¡± ¡°Ha. She wishes she could. She may be a senior councillor, but the fae surrounding the King keeps him away from others. They feed him what they want him to hear. He isn¡¯t a strong King. The Cortharo are easily manipulated. They have always been the weakest faction.¡± ¡°I knew nothing of the fae faction until I gained my reputation from you. The factions are all new to me. I only know what I know from reading books about our race.¡± ¡°The five factions are the backbone of the fae culture. The problem has always been the conflict between beliefs.¡± ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± ¡°Each of the factions follows a defined path. My own as an Angolis is faith-based; the faction that closely aligns with our beliefs is that of the Kesiliac, who believe in the roots of magic. Then, on the opposite side, you will find the Cortharo and Soliasil, who believe in strength over anything else. The Naqesti faction is more neutral. They have an affirmation towards life magic and are the developers within our society.¡± ¡°I had read the basic details but didn¡¯t realise that the alignment was so defined. I read that fae can switch allegiances when they choose.¡± ¡°They can, although not common. Val believes another reason why you stand out and are sought after is that you are factionless. Your status with your position as a Legionnaire and what you have done so far are pushing against the beliefs of the Cortharo and Soliasil. Both those factions still believe that the fae should be the all-powerful rulers of Amathera.¡± ¡°I still don¡¯t understand why I would have been targeted.¡± Larianco looked at SJ for several moments. ¡°Can I ask a question that you may not wish to answer?¡± SJ frowned. ¡°You may ask me anything. I have nothing to hide.¡± ¡°Have you been blessed by a god or similar?¡± That wasn¡¯t the question that SJ had expected, and she was taken aback. ¡°Your reputation is high enough with Larianco that I believe you can tell her,¡± Dave said. ¡®About what? Haber hasn¡¯t blessed me.¡¯ ¡°Really, you don¡¯t think being given an astral dress is a blessing? Or the fact that you have a god who has set up his home where you live. Never mind the fact that you have the blood of a great dragon flowing in your veins.¡± Although SJ had considered elements, she would never have thought it a blessing. If anything, it was Bob¡¯s blood that had saved her life on more than one occasion, not Haber¡¯s. Then again, she never would have met Bob if it hadn¡¯t been for Haber. She pondered whether this was a plan that Haber had from the beginning. The visit of Bob and the granting of his blood were something that even Dave had been unable to fathom. She would have to speak to him again on her return to Killic. Was she just being used as a pawn in the broader game of the gods? She knew gods weren¡¯t allowed to interfere directly with many areas of Amathera due to the system, and maybe this was his way of circumnavigating the system rules. ¡°Not directly by a god,¡± SJ said. ¡°Then how have you interacted with one?¡± Larianco asked, staring intently at SJ. SJ was feeling uncertain and nervous about speaking to Larianco about her secrets. Those in Killic were bound under Haber¡¯s oath. ¡®Can I create an oath?¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°You could, but its strength would be weak compared to many variants. Racial, familial and others would outrank it,¡± Dave replied. ¡®Even if I used Haber¡¯s name?¡¯ ¡°Umm. That is something I would need to consider. Let me check quickly.¡± Dave went silent for a few moments before he replied. The extended silence in the room began to make the situation awkward. ¡°The archives state that as a follower of a god, you may use the oath of a god as a binding will. It is similar to praying. It doesn¡¯t hold the same binding rights as that of a god itself, but if the same wording is used as per the original oath, it can be used by extension. I am not sure of the actual level of power the oath will hold. It doesn¡¯t give details.¡± ¡°I am unsure how to answer. There are elements that any who know of me are bound under oath not to share,¡± SJ said. ¡°I am assuming that Fran is under this oath as she has not been able to share anything about you when I have asked.¡± ¡°She is. If you agree to take the same oath that she did, then I can share certain information with you.¡± Larianco raised an eyebrow at the comment. ¡°What oath would I be required to take? I already have oaths that I uphold.¡± ¡°This is the oath of a god.¡± Larianco gasped at the comment. ¡°So there is a god involved.¡± ¡°I can say no more unless you swore to the oath.¡± ¡°Please tell me the oath I must take.¡± Dave recited the wording from the original oath to SJ so she could repeat it precisely as Haber had in the council chamber. ¡°I do swear a binding oath that I shall not share any knowledge of SJ to those outside of the circle of trust or reveal the identity of Haber. Any breach of this oath may result in death,¡± Larianco repeated. A light suddenly surrounded Larianco and, within moments, faded again. As the light faded, SJ felt a vibration in her pocket. The communication stone gem was flashing as she removed it and pressed the gem. ¡°What did you just do?¡± Nexis asked. ¡°I bound another to the oath,¡± SJ replied bluntly. ¡°Let me check,¡± the reply came. Larianco and SJ watched in amazement as an orange portal appeared in the lounge. There was no warning, and a second later, Nexis stepped through. He didn¡¯t say anything as a white light erupted from his hand and surrounded Larianco. Larianco¡¯s look of amazement froze on her face. ¡°You could have spoken to me first,¡± Nexis sighed as he turned to look at SJ. ¡°I was in the moment and needed to see if I could do it,¡± SJ said, shocked by Nexis¡¯s sudden appearance. ¡°I am guessing Dave informed you of the oath transference.¡± SJ flew her gaze to Larianco. ¡°She can¡¯t hear or see anything at the moment.¡± ¡°Yes, he did.¡± ¡°Okay. The problem with oath transference is that it is belief-based. Many try to pass on oaths, but if they don¡¯t hold a strong enough belief in the origination of the oath, then they will not hold. It seems that you do believe in me,¡± Nexis smiled. ¡°Therefore, the oath has transferred fully. Larianco is bound under the oath, as are all those from Killic previously. Please, though, in the future, check with me before doing something like this again.¡± SJ was still stunned by his sudden appearance. Although she knew he could travel where he wished when he wished, SJ had never considered that he would appear in Asterfal. ¡°This is going to raise questions from my siblings,¡± he sighed. ¡°What is?¡± ¡°Me suddenly coming here. You would be amazed by how many of my siblings sit watching what we are doing on Amathera every day.¡± ¡°I am sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to cause you problems.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. Just be careful in the future.¡± ¡°I am glad you are here. I have some questions for you.¡± ¡°What questions exactly?¡± ¡°Am I just a tool you are using?¡± Nexis raised an eyebrow. ¡°My dear SJ. You are much more than a tool. You are a friend and an ally.¡± SJ had never even considered Nexis a friend, although they interacted as such. When they did speak in Killic, it was as normal everyday beings the majority of the time. Their friendship had grown naturally, and considering the fact that she was a friend of a god was a little overwhelming when she actually thought it. ¡°But I started as a tool?¡± ¡°I would be lying to say otherwise,¡± Nexis nodded in agreement with her statement. ¡°You have, since our original meeting, become a much greater being than I ever expected, even in the short time you have been on Amathera. I honestly never thought I would care so much about you, but you really are special. I think Dave knows it as well.¡± SJ stood stunned, unable to reply. ¡°Anyway, I must go again. I was busy at the tailor shop. Miss Felicia is arriving any moment for a fitting for her wedding dress,¡± Nexis said. The light around Larianco faded instantly, and her astonished, frozen look remained on her face. ¡°Hello, dear. It¡¯s nice to meet you. Right, I must be going. You are all good here, SJ. Speak soon.¡± With that, Nexis stepped back through the portal and disappeared. ? Chapter 166 - I Met A God The astonished look from Larianco was broken by Dave¡¯s resounding voice erupting in her mind. ¡°Let the system data paths swallow me whole. You just had a god call you a friend.¡± ¡®That¡¯s all you took from that?¡¯ ¡°What else was there to take?¡± Dave asked, sounding confused. ¡®Nexis admitted using me initially.¡¯ ¡°That was always obvious, if I am being honest. I have said since the start you are an anomaly. There is no other Legionnaire with your unique status. You are immortal, after all.¡± ¡®You could have said something to me.¡¯ ¡°Such as? And would it really have made a difference?¡± SJ thought about it for several moments. ¡®I suppose not. I wouldn¡¯t have developed the way I have without his support.¡¯ ¡°Exactly.¡± ¡°Was that a god?¡± Larianco suddenly blurted out a look of disbelief on her face. SJ¡¯s focus returned to Larianco. ¡°Erm, yes. You just met Haber, or Nexis as he goes by currently.¡± ¡°I just met a god!¡± Larianco exclaimed as she flopped into a chair, perplexed. Larianco reached for the tray, lifted the bottle of nectar wine, and took a drink without pouring it into a glass. ¡°Have you never met one before?¡± ¡°No. When would I ever meet a god.¡± SJ knew her comment had been rather daft. Why would an Amatherean ever even consider meeting a god? ¡°Silly question, sorry.¡± ¡°So, you know a god and have been blessed by one.¡± ¡°Not exactly. Although, he made the dress I wear.¡± ¡°It¡¯s Astral ?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I knew it was special but never considered it was an Astral item. You must tell me everything,¡± Larianco said, putting the honey wine back down and leaning forward in her chair, resting her elbows on her knees and cupping her face, staring intently at SJ. SJ answered various questions from Larianco as she tried to dig for every piece of information she could about Haber. When the questions eventually ended, SJ had basically told Larianco everything that had happened to her from her original meeting with Haber to where she was now. She hadn¡¯t mentioned Bob, though, keeping the great blue dragon out of the conversation deliberately. She had never shared the information with anyone else apart from Carlito in the vaguest of terms and wasn¡¯t going to start now. Although she knew Larianco and had fought alongside her, she was still a new acquaintance compared to many of her friends in Killic, even with the reputation gained with the Angolis. ¡°So, Fran knows of Haber?¡± ¡°Yes. She knows of him as she has taken the oath as you have.¡± ¡°You really are an exception.¡± ¡°If we get back to why you asked me if I knew a god would be good.¡± ¡°It was a suspicion that Valiasca had come to. She believes that Jarista is involved with the council and manipulating it through the dark elves and the fae factions. She had concluded that there had to be a god on the other side if this was the case.¡± ¡°I am not sure I would say that Nexis is on the other side. I really don¡¯t know why he got involved with me originally,¡± SJ sighed. ¡°I have told you it¡¯s your unique ability,¡± Dave interjected. ¡°How many other immortals can a god adopt on Amathera, with the freedom of choice you have, not being system-bound.¡± ¡®But I am system-bound. I am still under their control and power.¡¯ ¡°You have more freedom than any other Legionnaire I have known and are out of their ultimate boundary of death.¡± SJ stood and walked to the table where the map was. Leaning over it, SJ read the various reports that Larianco had registered. ¡°Would all the attacks have to be committed by fae?¡± ¡°The reports I have received would not necessarily all be fae no. Any magic user could have caused some of the damage reported.¡± ¡°That means it could be dark elves and not fae responsible for some problems.¡± ¡°That is also what Valiasca believes. Although the fae council is under some influence, she still doesn¡¯t believe most of the faction representatives are involved. She has hope that the darkness and manipulation can be forced from the capital.¡± ¡°How long has this been going on?¡± ¡°The fall into darkness started a couple of centuries ago. I know Fran has spoken to you about what occurred with her due to the stone circle and the accusations she faced after the death of Juniper. The number that has turned towards the dark elves¡¯ malicious accusations and beliefs is still increasing as time passes. The influence appears to be slowly expanding when you consider Raceillia and the naivety of her beliefs. She is a prime example of the continuing growth of malcontent.¡± ¡°I still know so little about the fae and how the factions fully operate, but do opportunities exist for all?¡± ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± ¡°Are the chances for all fae the same, or does their position or family decide their future positions or potential.¡± ¡°Ah. I suppose it is based mainly on family ties. The oldest faction families are those where the higher roles come from most of the time. Not all, but many will follow in their family footsteps.¡± ¡°That means that some may never have the same opportunities that all do.¡± ¡°I suppose. I had never really considered it.¡± ¡°Do you have nobility?¡± ¡°Not in the sense that some races do. We have a king or queen, but they are elected from the factions.¡± ¡°So you can be elected through selection to the council?¡± ¡°If you get the necessary support, you can be.¡± ¡°But I am assuming family ties and general standing can overstep many of those who may wish to succeed or progress.¡± ¡°Potentially.¡± SJ fell silent as she thought over Larianco¡¯s responses. ¡®I suppose manipulating those who don¡¯t hold power is something that the god of darkness would prey on?¡¯ SJ asked Dave. ¡°It would make sense that he is. They would be easier to influence. The political structure of the races is in many ways similar to that from Earth.¡± ¡®How can we prevent further issues then? If the dark elves or god of darkness are trying to force the fae back into the beliefs of Gavia. How can it be overcome?¡¯ Dave didn¡¯t reply to SJ¡¯s musing. ¡°From what I can see, the only way the darkness can be eradicated is by changing the beliefs of those who are being persuaded to follow,¡± SJ said. ¡°And how would we do that?¡± Larianco said. ¡°That¡¯s the question. How do we change the views of those affected by the misinformation? From what I am aware, Gavia was the darkest of times for the fae, and their standing has been impacted for millennia since.¡± ¡°It has. The last time we were a trusted race was before. Even when we have been accepted as representatives, there are still many who do not believe our intentions. Asterfal has taken a long time to come around to accept the fae. I have spent years building the trust of the city¡¯s leaders. Yet, I know that many within the council still do not trust me. Thankfully, the new chancellor is not one to be corrupted easily by others; he holds his own beliefs and will make his decisions based on personal experience. Not the word of others.¡± ¡°If there was one thing you could do as a fae, what would it be?¡± Larianco tilted her head to one side, pondering her response. ¡°I suppose the one thing I would change is our ability to be a true representative of where we reside.¡± ¡°Be a part of the council?¡± ¡°Yes. Be accepted as a member of the city, not just as an ambassador. Be allowed to vote and take part in the decision-making process.¡± ¡°And you can¡¯t do that now?¡± ¡°No,¡± Larianco scoffed. ¡°I am just a representative for when there are problems to deal with. Never have I been approached for advice or input into anything.¡±The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Have you not tried?¡± ¡°I did initially. I could see problems and wanted to try to support and change the views of the council. It always fell on deaf ears. Never was it taken seriously.¡± ¡°Have you ever discussed it with the chancellor?¡± ¡°Not the current one. I had previously tried but was always brushed off and told that the city makes the decisions, not outsiders .¡± ¡°An idea is not a decision.¡± ¡°I know, but many times, I believe they felt threatened.¡± ¡°You know that the current chancellor would listen to your thoughts.¡± ¡°Perhaps. I have never tried.¡± ¡°Maybe it is time for you to do it.¡± Silence fell again as Larianco considered SJ¡¯s comments. ¡°Right. I had better get going. I needed to go and see the chancellor speaking about him, and I also needed to go to the pet shop. I have a terrible little beastie that I could do with some advice about.¡± ¡°Oh. I forgot about your pet. I guess he hatched and is bonded to you?¡± ¡°He is the little monster. I am being a little unfair. He can be lovely, but at times, he is a trouble causer.¡± ¡°Did you bring him to Asterfal with you?¡± ¡°I did. He is at my home. I thought it safer to leave him behind rather than drag him around with me. I always wonder what problems he may cause. I can bring him to see you if you wish?¡± ¡°I would love to see him. I have never seen a miniature wyvern before.¡± SJ thanked Larianco for the wine and left, heading to the tower. The rain still fell in its fine sheet as she walked to the tower. It wasn¡¯t that far, and SJ didn¡¯t see the need to fly. Her cloak was pulled up tightly around her face, keeping the rain off as she made her way through the wide streets of the inner city. The pristine street surfaces and paths were a vast change from the outer city. As she approached the tower, she was still in awe of its construction and magnificence, standing out like a shining beacon in the centre of the city. Bright pennants hung from flag poles with the chancellor¡¯s coat of arms and colours. The entrance area was busy as always, with beings coming and going to perform their duties. However, it still surprised SJ how many beings came to the tower so regularly. As SJ reached the top of the steps to the entrance, a guard stepped forward, dropping his pike in front of her. ¡°State your business,¡± he addressed SJ. The man was broad and wore bright blue and gold chain mail, as all the tower guards did. His armour was a stark contrast to the dark skies. SJ removed her hood and looked at the guard. ¡°Ambassador. My apologies, I didn¡¯t recognise you or know that you were in Asterfal.¡± SJ didn¡¯t recognise the man standing in front of her, but then again, she had seen so many guards and didn¡¯t know the names of any of them apart from the colonel. ¡°There is no need to apologise...I am sorry I don¡¯t know your name.¡± ¡°Jasper, ambassador.¡± ¡°Jasper,¡± SJ repeated. She needed to get to know some of them better. It had always been beneficial to address people by their names if she knew them. It helped break down barriers. The entrance hall was busy, not just with the usual flow of councillors and their attendants, but there was also a long line of beings waiting to be seen at a new desk that had been positioned outside the dining hall. The main desk was not too busy, and SJ waited patiently in a line to be seen by the kobold she recognised from her previous time in the tower. As she stood patiently, an argument broke out at the table near the dining hall. SJ had been watching beings after visiting the table to be allowed into the hall itself. The argument was getting heated, and SJ watched as one of the tower guards walked over from the entrance. Not wanting things to get worse, she left her line and walked towards the scene. ¡°I have told you already that you are not entitled to free food. You don¡¯t reside in District 3 and have not been moved because of the building works.¡± ¡°Why should others be given free food? My family are just as poor as those in District 3,¡± the female human argued back. Two young boys were with the woman who gripped their hands tightly. None of them were dressed well, and SJ could see the patchwork quilt of repairs on the children¡¯s clothes. They were soaked as well, not having worn cloaks when they came to the tower. The elf that was sitting at the desk noticed SJ approaching. She recognised him but didn¡¯t know his name. ¡°Ambassador, so good to see you again,¡± the elf smiled. SJ returned the smile as she came to stand by the table. The woman turned and looked SJ up and down in disgust. ¡°What appears to be the problem?¡± SJ asked the elf. ¡°Those from District 3 who are staying in the inner city temporary accommodation are entitled to collect free food from the dining hall. Yet, there are several who believe they also have a right to it,¡± the elf indicating towards the woman. ¡°I am no better off than they are. I should have the same rights as they do,¡± the woman spat angrily. One of the young boys accompanying the woman started to cry, and the slightly older child also looked on the brink of tears. ¡°Can I help in any way?¡± SJ asked the woman. ¡°Get me into the hall for a meal.¡± SJ turned back to the elf. ¡°You don¡¯t mind if they come with me, do you?¡± she asked. The elf looked a little taken aback. ¡°Erm, no. They can accompany you if you wish.¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± SJ said. She had been planning to book an appointment with the chancellor at the front desk but could always get a coffee. ¡°Come with me,¡± she said, offering her hand to one of the children. The older boy reached out and was about to take it when the woman pulled him back. ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± ¡°Do you wish to eat or not?¡± SJ asked, staring calmly at the woman. The woman¡¯s eyes flitted back and forth before her shoulders slumped the fight having left her. ¡°Yes. We haven¡¯t eaten a decent meal in days.¡± ¡°Then follow me,¡± SJ said. As SJ entered the dining hall, it was partitioned. On the right-hand side was now an area that had been set up to feed District 3 residents staying in the inner city. SJ ignored the crowded tables and walked over to the left side behind a barrier. A tower usher stood by the entrance to it. ¡°They are with me,¡± SJ said as she walked past him. The usher had a look of confusion on his face as she passed but didn¡¯t challenge her. ¡°Take a seat. I will sort out some food,¡± SJ said, moving them to a table out of the way of the others who were currently seated. They took seats, and SJ moved over to the counters, noticing a face she recognised standing behind it. ¡°Lacey,¡± SJ said, approaching. ¡°Ambassador. I didn¡¯t know you were back?¡± ¡°Just arrived. Could I get three meals, please, something filling and nutritious and a pot of coffee for myself?¡± Lacey followed SJ¡¯s gaze as she turned her head to where the three sat. ¡°Of course. Please pay at the end.¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± SJ smiled before taking the copper out and paying the attendant, who sat at a small table at the end of the counter, for the three meals and her coffee. SJ walked back to the table where the woman sat on the bench, head lowered. Her two children pulled close to her. SJ noticed her eyes flitting around nervously as she looked at the others seated around her. Many were regular councillors or tower attendants, and SJ recognised several. As she took a seat opposite the small family, SJ let out a sigh. ¡°I am looking forward to a nice coffee.¡± The woman glanced at her, then looked down. ¡°The food shouldn¡¯t be too long. I have no idea what it will be, so it will be a surprise when it arrives, but knowing the cook, I bet it¡¯s delicious.¡± The youngest boy looked at SJ. He had tear tracks on his grime-covered cheeks, but he had stopped crying. ¡°I am SJ,¡± she said, smiling to the boy. ¡°Harry,¡± the small boy replied. ¡°Nice to meet you, Harry. Who are you?¡± SJ said to the other boy. ¡°Joel,¡± he said, looking at SJ warily. Their mother refused to meet SJ¡¯s gaze. ¡°Nice to meet you as well. I am guessing this fine woman here is your mother?¡± She looked up, staring at SJ, shocked at being addressed as a fine woman. ¡°And your name?¡± ¡°Holly,¡± she replied. ¡°Excellent. That is the introductions done with,¡± SJ said. ¡°Which district are you from, if not District 3?¡± ¡°We live in ten,¡± Holly said. ¡°I have never visited District 10. What is it like?¡± ¡°Okay for most. Since my husband died, we lost our home and had to move near the outer wall, and I haven¡¯t been able to pick up any work. I had always told Mark that we shouldn¡¯t have moved to Asterfal, but he had a dream of becoming a tower guard.¡± ¡°I assume Mark was your husband?¡± ¡°Yes. He got killed recently on a caravan raid, where he had been working as a mercenary trying to get enough experience to level so that he could apply to become a guard.¡± SJ did not know about the process for joining the guard. ¡°Standard practice for many,¡± Dave said. ¡°Many positions will require minimum levels. Especially in city guard forces, so it is common for those wishing to become caravan guards or something similar to help them level.¡± ¡°I¡¯m so sorry to hear that,¡± SJ said. ¡°What do you do?¡± ¡°I was a farmer,¡± Holly said. ¡°But there is no need for farmers within the city walls, and those farms outside the walls require higher levels again because of the threat in the territory.¡± ¡°So you are stuck then?¡± ¡°Basically. My profession isn¡¯t supported inside, and I can¡¯t get a job outside. The money the merchant paid me as compensation for Mark being killed only went so far, and we are now down to our last few coppers.¡± ¡°Can you not move away to a lower territory?¡± ¡°If I could afford to, I would. Coach travel is too expensive, and there is no way that I could walk with the children.¡± As they spoke, a server approached and offloaded three vast plates of food and a pot of coffee onto the table. ¡°Thanks,¡± SJ said, pushing the plates forward in front of the three of them. Their eyes were wide, looking at the mountain of food. Lacey hadn¡¯t held back. There were fresh vegetables, hogling steaks and a deep, rich gravy with thick-cut fresh bread. ¡°Where is yours?¡± Holly asked. ¡°I ate before I came to the tower. I am not hungry, and I will meet a friend for food later this evening,¡± she smiled. SJ poured herself a coffee as the family demolished the food in front of them. As they ate, SJ probed about life in District 10. ¡°Have you heard of any of the recent rumours about trouble in District 10?¡± she asked. Holly nodded her head and swallowed the mouthful of food she had before responding. ? Chapter 167 - Chancellor Holly¡¯s information had been helpful. District 10 had, by all accounts, been flooded with information about the issues caused by the chancellor. One reason Holly came to the tower after being told that District 3 members were being fed was that she believed it unfair that they should get free meals when she struggled to feed her own family in District 10. There was no reason for them to get different or better treatment. After SJ had gleaned what she could from her and they had finished eating, she asked for their address and said she would come and visit them. The attendant looked at her quizzically as she left the dining hall and walked past the table where District 3 members were still queueing, awaiting entry. ¡®They really have got problems,¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°It looks that way. I can understand why they would put food on for those in District 3 if they have been forced from their homes, but also the anger many will feel being left to suffer still will cause problems,¡± Dave said. ¡®Yes. Especially when there are beings deliberately spreading rumours.¡¯ Holly stated that leaflets weren¡¯t the only thing being dropped in the District; she had been approached directly by several people who told her about the unfair treatment. Due to this, the whole district was in discourse. District 10 wasn¡¯t the most affluent district of the city, but it also wasn¡¯t the worst, and if the level of support that was suspected from District 10 was anything to go by, the chancellor was not being looked at in a good light. ¡°Please let the chancellor know that I am here to see him when he has availability,¡± SJ asked the kobold at the front desk. ¡°Of course, Ambassador. I will send a runner to his chambers.¡± ¡°Thank you. I will be out in the garden area,¡± SJ replied, making her way to the tower gardens. The fine rain still fell, and SJ pulled her cloak around her and made her way to one of several pagodas on the grounds to seek shelter. It wasn¡¯t long before one of the elven attendants came hurrying along the garden path to find her. ¡°Ambassador, the chancellor said he would see you immediately.¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± SJ said, standing and following the attendant. As she walked through the tower halls, she noticed several beings in the tower turn and look at her as she passed them, her vision picking up their lingering gaze. Some were not friendly either. ¡®Things don¡¯t feel right here,¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°No. Everyone seems to be on edge,¡± Dave said. Once they reached the chancellor¡¯s office, the attendant knocked sharply before SJ heard the chancellor respond. ¡°Come in.¡± ¡°Sir. I have the Ambassador for Killic to see you,¡± the elf said, bowing as he addressed the chancellor. ¡°Thank you. Please show her in.¡± SJ walked past the bowing form of the elf entering the chamber. The previous visits had always shown a pristine office befitting a ruler of such a large city, but now the office was full of tables with parchment spread out over many of them. The chancellor sat on a sofa in front of his desk and placed the parchment down he had been reading as SJ entered. ¡°SJ. Great to see you again so soon,¡± the chancellor smiled. SJ noticed his face looked tired, and his scales didn¡¯t have the same sheen as they had on her previous visit. ¡°Chancellor. You look tired,¡± SJ said. The kobold smirked at her. ¡°I am. I haven¡¯t slept well since you departed the city. As soon as Jelart was dealt with, the problems began.¡± The attendant had left, closing the chamber door behind him. ¡°Thank you for coming so swiftly.¡± ¡°Of course, although I have limited time. I require to return to Killic with Alice so we are back in time for the harvest festival. We have a surprise for Zigferd and Isavil.¡± ¡°I see. Well, let us not waste any time then. Please come and sit so we can talk.¡± SJ moved to the facing sofa and sat. ¡°What do you need from me? Bastvik briefly gave me an idea.¡± ¡°In all honesty, I am not sure as yet. I know that currently, because of the problems we are facing, there are few I can trust with my thoughts directly.¡± SJ frowned. ¡°Do you not have Wystria, Alex, and Petunia?¡± ¡°I do, and the general, but they are dealing with so much themselves. Petunia has stayed on since Alex returned from the elven capital. There is a mountain of work that needs to be done. District 3 rebuilding works are a priority, but we need help with the supply of various materials. This is because of the influence of certain districts, which we believe are trying to make supply a problem. There has been a tremendous increase in basic costs since we began the work. The main issue we have had is every building removed has meant that we have had to find accommodation for the displaced families. I am sure you have seen the crowd in the tower.¡± ¡°So there are those who are pushing the prices up and causing delays?¡± ¡°Simply put, yes. And while the works are underway, other districts and the inner city are feeling the pressure.¡± ¡°It seems as though they want you to fail and try to cause as many problems as they can while doing so. I met a family from District 10 when I arrived today trying to get food in the dining hall.¡± ¡°Yes, unfortunately, we have had several who have attempted that. Thankfully, the attendants are very diligent and have them removed.¡± ¡°I fed them,¡± SJ replied, staring at the chancellor, who looked at her with mild surprise. ¡°Why would you feed them? They are not entitled to a meal unless affected by the rebuild and losing their homes.¡± ¡°Because I saw their state and how hungry they looked.¡± ¡°Oh, I see,¡± the chancellor frowned. ¡°I was unaware. I haven¡¯t left the chamber, never mind the tower, in a while now.¡± ¡°I think you need to get out there and see for yourself the state of some of the areas. The family I spoke to lost their home after the death of her husband and was moved to the outskirts of District 10. She now cannot find work as a lower-level farmer and struggles to feed her children. If this is in District 10, what are some of the worst districts like? I know District 3 was the worst, but I think focussing only on the one district is what is causing you the largest problem.¡± ¡°We can¡¯t possibly work within any other district at the same time. We don¡¯t have enough resources as it is for three currently, never mind another.¡± ¡°I was thinking of at least something which could possibly offset some discourse.¡± ¡°Such as?¡± ¡°Soup kitchens,¡± SJ said. The chancellors looked at her with a perplexed look. ¡°And what is a soup kitchen?¡± ¡°The main issue the mother told me was being able to feed her children at least one decent meal a day. Where I came from originally, we used to have charities that would go out onto the streets and provide food to those who were the poorest in society. They were known as soup kitchens. It meant that anyone, regardless of position or standing, could get at least one meal per day. If there are areas within other districts that have problems similar to those in District 3, then it may alleviate some of the issues you are facing due to backlash. I can understand why some would question why District 3 should get special treatment over themselves.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know what these charities that you talk about are.¡± ¡°Volunteers. Beings who wish for the betterment of all. Maybe it is something that the church could look into?¡± The chancellor mulled over SJ¡¯s comments: ¡°Perhaps it is something I could discuss with Wystria and Petunia. The fundamental problem is the delay in construction. The sooner we can get the area regenerated, the better, allowing the families to return there.¡± ¡°How much of District 3 is affected?¡± ¡°A large swathe of it,¡± the chancellor said, standing and walking to the table. SJ stood and followed him. ¡°Here you can see the areas currently under reconstruction,¡± he said, indicating several marked areas on the map of District 3 that were stretched across the table. ¡°Are all these plans for the restructure?¡± SJ asked, glancing around. ¡°Yes. The plan was to start by the outer wall and work inwards, which I now believe was a mistake. The population out by the outer wall is much denser than that as you move inwards, meaning the most significant number of beings have now been uprooted. Foresight is a wonderful thing that we lacked on this occasion. We wished to deal with the worst areas first, but we should have considered the load on the city.¡± ¡°I see,¡± SJ looked at the various plans. Several were for new building designs. ¡°There are a lot of new buildings being planned.¡± ¡°Yes. Jelart owned over 80% of the land in District 3, which now comes under the city¡¯s direct responsibility to maintain. Once this initial refurbishment is completed, we will start on District 4 and then 5.¡± ¡°These buildings don¡¯t look very tall. Have you not considered much taller buildings to accommodate more?¡± SJ imagined the high-rise flats that filled many of the suburbs of London. Where land was a premium, to get the best returns for the land, buildings went upward rather than outward. ¡°We have thought about taller buildings. Our construction team has sent some proposals. The problem we have is the material costs associated with taller buildings. They require magical reinforcement, and the mages guild are asking for astronomical sums of gold for such work.¡± ¡°Do you not have mages who can do it for you who work for the tower?¡± ¡°We do and could, but that would undermine the trade agreements the city has with the mage academy. The city¡¯s economy revolves around our trade position and working across the various guilds and academies.¡± ¡°It seems suspicious that they are suddenly asking for so much.¡± ¡°As I say, all the costs have been increasing. I would state, on average, most items have doubled in price.¡± ¡°Someone has to be behind it. There is no reason for all the providers to spike their costs.¡± ¡°That is my concern. Whoever is orchestrating the problems significantly influences and impacts the construction and refurbishment plans.¡± ¡°If everything is being driven by cost, are the banks not involved? Does Otherlisar not know anything?¡± The chancellor gave SJ a shrewd look. ¡°You are very aligned with money, aren¡¯t you? I have spoken to Otherlisar, and she has not seen anything to support the idea that the money is being directed to the bank. Whoever is behind this has influence and also the ability to stay out of sight. None of my usual information routes have discovered anything.¡± ¡°I am not sure this is something I will be able to resolve on this visit. If you have no leads, then I am not sure where to start.¡±The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°For now, any information that may lead to a responsible party would help.¡± The chancellor looked at SJ, the tiredness in his eyes clearly visible. ¡°I will see what I can discover. I can¡¯t guarantee anything.¡± ¡°I understand. With everything else going on, if you can look into this for me, I can focus on other areas. I still have a city to oversee, and my time has been split with the problems.¡± ¡°Are there no others inside the council who can help you?¡± ¡°I have trusted advisors, yes, and they are doing what they can, but many of the lieutenants in the districts are asking for my time, and as the chancellor I can¡¯t really refuse them appointments.¡± ¡°I am only here for three days while Alice concludes her business, but I will discover what I can.¡± ¡°Thank you, SJ. I knew that I could count on you. Bastvik has been very complimentary when I have spoken to him,¡± he smiled. ¡°I will get to it. I will let you know if I discover anything,¡± SJ said, bidding farewell and leaving the chamber. ¡®This doesn¡¯t look good,¡¯ SJ thought as she walked through the halls of the tower. ¡°I agree. It does seem a rather arduous task,¡± Dave said. ¡®Any thoughts?¡¯ ¡°None. I am at a loss on where you should start. From what the chancellor just alluded to, everything associated with the district is being made more complex.¡± ¡®Well, I always found going to the sources was the easiest way to learn the truth.¡¯ ¡°Sources?¡± ¡®Yes. We have just met a family from District 10 who may help. Especially as so much discourse is coming from there.¡¯ ¡°Oh, I see. Yes, it makes sense.¡± SJ called her communication clip from her inventory and placed it over her ear as she walked from the tower. The fine rain had stopped currently, and a weak sun had broken through the grey skies. The damp surfaces of the streets shone under its light. SJ pressed the button on her clip, and after several moments, a voice came through. ¡°You are back, I see,¡± Carlito said. SJ had walked away from the steps and out towards the stables, where the giant tree stood behind it. She sat on the bench under the tree, her cloak keeping her dry from its damp surface. She opened her map and found Carlito was at the Black Griffin. ¡°I am. How are you?¡± ¡°Very well. Business has been ticking over as usual.¡± That Carlito was an assassin and that business kept ticking over still concerned SJ. There were so many assassination jobs available within the city. Soon, she would end up joining the guild, and the thought alone still concerned her. ¡°I wanted to let you know I am here. I may need to call on your expertise.¡± ¡°Really, and what would my expertise require to do this time?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know as yet. I have been asked to do some investigation work and, depending upon what I discover, may come to you.¡± ¡°I see. I am sure that I was supposed to be your trainer?¡± ¡°You are, and that is why I would be seeking your guidance and support.¡± Carlito chuckled. ¡°You lie so poorly. You may seek my help perhaps, but from what I have seen, you require no guidance.¡± SJ didn¡¯t respond immediately, knowing full well she would attempt to use Carlito if she needed to. ¡°Have you reached Level 20 yet?¡± Carlito asked. ¡°No. I am at 19. I doubt I will reach 20 for a while yet.¡± ¡°I am sure you would have gained enough experience by now.¡± ¡°I have. I am just holding off currently.¡± ¡°For what reason?¡± ¡°It¡¯s complicated,¡± SJ not wishing to divulge any further details. ¡°I see. Most things are complicated. Will you have time for any work while you are here? There are a few lower-interest quests that may benefit you.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know as yet. I am only here for three days.¡± ¡°I see. I will send you some details, and if you have time, you can complete them.¡± ¡°I will look at the details. Thanks.¡± ¡°No problem. Well, you know where I am if you need me,¡± Carlito said as the call ended. SJ knew Carlito had contacts all over the city, especially in the more deprived areas. He had to be the perfect source of information. ¡®I wonder what he will send through,¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°Getting some more skill points will help if you can while here,¡± Dave said. ¡®It would.¡¯ The perks the extra skill points gave, allowing for multiple skill paths to be learned, had given SJ significant benefits. Her Shadow Step was such a helpful skill. Her display icon flashed. ¡®That was quick,¡¯ SJ thought, opening her messages. Class Quest - Three for two Carlito has issued you the task of completing three guild quests. You may complete any three of the following within the next seventy-two hours: A cheating wife - eliminate Olivia Sharcastle, known to frequent the Emperor¡¯s Arms. Competition - eliminate Master Garshaw¡¯s sole competition in the market area of District 4. Elimination - Remove the threat caused by the Legionnaire Justin to the assassin guild ¡®Liquidation¡¯. Hallowed Earth - find the person behind the death of Killian Broadaxe and seek vengeance. Reward: Two class perk points. ¡®Two perk points! They would be nice. Increasing Shadow Step again would really be useful. Never mind increases to my other skills. Two more levels in Clawed Avenger would give me an additional ten points of damage. Never mind then adding them to Advanced Identification now that I am aware that Level 5 will begin to show attributes of my targets on top of improving the weakness details of enemies.¡¯ Since SJ had reached Advanced Identification Level 3, she could now see Beast''s Weaknesses. Level 5 initially gave attribute information, including Strength and Dexterity. Level 6 then would show Intelligence and Wisdom, with Level 7 concluding the attributes with Charisma and Constitution. The enormous benefits of the skill came into play at Levels 9 and 10. Nine would tell her specific skills, and ten would allow her to read the class of her targets and specialisations. SJ knew that the spell that Bob had cast on her back in the meadow had told him everything about her and that he would love to reach that ability eventually. She knew also that once her advanced skill reached Level 5, it would allow her to choose another Subterfuge skill. ¡°It would indeed, but as you say, do you have time? The fact he has even given you a time limit of seventy-two hours, knowing how long you are here as well.¡± SJ opened her character sheet and reviewed her details; she had come so far since her initial arrival in Amathera. Legionnaire 25007077 Name: SJ Age: 27 Race: Fae Class: Assassin Alignment: Neutral Good Level: 19 Experience: 26300 of 9000 Hit Points: 125 of 125 (131) Mana Points: 115 Armour Class: 67 (37)(30) Damage: 81-83 (18-20) (13)(30)(20) Attributes: Strength: 17 (5)(12) Dexterity: 40 (9)(31) Intelligence: 14 (2)(12) Wisdom: 22 (9)(13) Constitution: 21 Charisma: 24 (9)(15) Resistances: Arcane Resistance 10% Cold Resistance 10% Magic Resistance 10% Poison Resistance 10% Skills Racial: Night Vision ¨C you have improved vision in poor light conditions. Flight ¨C when in miniature fae form, you can learn to fly. Flying is not available in humanoid form. Shapeshift ¨C the ability to switch between fae forms. Class: Martial Arts ¨C Kata Level 10 Unarmed combat - Incapacitation Level 5 / Elimination Level 3 Armed combat - Melee Claws Level 4 / Ranged Darts Level 3 Clawed Avenger Level 4 Subterfuge ¨C Identification Level 10 Advanced Identification Level 3 Shroud Level 6 Shadow Discipline ¨C Shadow Step Level 2 Profession: Tailor Skilled Level 8 Perks - Sure Stitch Symbiosis: Dragon Sense ¨C your senses, touch, hearing, smell, and sight are heightened. Precognition ¨C foreknowledge due to increased perception will allow you to evade a killing blow. (24hr cooldown) Divine lightning ¨C your blood is combined with that of a blue dragon, increasing healing speed while out of combat. Malware: Waiver (Sandboxed) Inventory: 84 slots (8 x 10 Bags of Holding) (2) (+2 strength) (10 special) Followers: 3 ? Chapter 168 - Uneasy As SJ moved from the seclusion under the tree, the heavens once again opened. This time, the rain was heavier. SJ pulled her cloak up tightly around her as she made her way to the pet shop. She may as well visit while she is in the inner-city area. As she approached the shop, beings hurried past on the streets, not one of them looking towards her, their heads down against the heavy rainfall. Lanterns hanging outside the shop swayed in the wind. The shop was a cacophony of noise as SJ opened the door and entered, the rain chasing her inside. Quickly closing the door behind her, she stamped her feet, showering the mat at the entrance in water. As she removed her hood, she looked at her surroundings. When she had visited previously, several pets were on display, which had been quiet and well-behaved apart from the owner¡¯s brothers, but today, the shop was packed. Everywhere, cages held identical creatures, a multitude that generated a cacophony of noise. Sally, the shop¡¯s half-elf owner, looked over at SJ, smiling. ¡°Welcome back.¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± SJ said. The small creatures inside the cages looked like guinea pigs but had short, pointed ears rather than rounded ones and six legs. They were all calling, and SJ noticed Sally was feeding them. ¡°They aren¡¯t usually this noisy,¡± Sally said, seeing the expression on SJ¡¯s face. ¡°Give me a moment. Once they are fed, things should quieten down.¡± SJ watched Sally add small scoops of feed to each cage. As each received their food, the little creatures became silent, their crying being replaced by the crunching of the small pellets in the scoop. ¡°There we go,¡± Sally said, dropping the scoop back into a feed barrel and closing the lid. ¡°So what can I do for you? I hope your wyvern hatched.¡± SJ removed her cloak and placed it on a stand at the entrance, not wanting it to drip all over the shop floor. He did, and he is amazing. My reason for wanting to see you was to learn more about him. I know very little, and no one in Killic knows anything about miniature wyvern.¡± ¡°I see. Well, I am no expert on them either, but I know some of the basic details. Miniature wyverns will usually grow for about six months. Once they reach six months, that is when they usually stop growing. How large is he currently?¡± ¡°He is about ten inches at the moment.¡± ¡°That sounds about right if I remember the date correctly, from the bonding ritual. Most miniatures will grow to about eighteen inches.¡± ¡°That is what Isavil could remember.¡± ¡°I am guessing he wants to eat everything at the moment?¡± ¡°Yes. That is one reason I came to see you. He has a habit of stealing food, and I wondered if you knew a way to stop him from doing it. It is quite embarrassing.¡± ¡°That is because he is still growing. As soon as he stops, he won¡¯t require as much food. What have you been feeding him?¡± ¡°Mainly hogling, although he tends to stick his snout in anything.¡± Sally chuckled. ¡°From what I know, they are very inquisitive little beasties. That won¡¯t stop as he grows, unfortunately. I would advise feeding him fish as well.¡± ¡°Actually, he steals those quite often when we are at the cottage.¡± ¡°It sounds like he is getting the right sorts of food then. Until he reaches his full size, you will have to contend with his hunger.¡± ¡°Can he end up overeating? I am concerned that he overeats.¡± ¡°At his age and size, it¡¯s unlikely. They have speedy metabolisms, and I am sure even when he is resting, he will be using up any food he has been eating quickly.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good to know. The other question I had related to his abilities. He has zapped a couple of people, myself included.¡± ¡°Umm. I am not exactly sure. Let me go and grab one of my texts,¡± Sally said as she turned and ducked into the rear of the store. A few moments passed before she returned with a thick, heavy tome. Placing it on the counter, she turned the pages. SJ looked at the text but could not read it. ¡°Elven,¡± Dave said. ¡®I thought it was,¡¯ SJ replied, having seen several texts that Isavil owned. ¡®I wish I could learn all these languages.¡¯ ¡°You can, but languages are usually intelligence-based. Apart from the common language, which most races use, there isn¡¯t usually a requirement.¡± ¡°Here we are,¡± Sally said. ¡°Miniature wyverns have varying abilities related to their type. The following are standard abilities. Poison, Camouflage, Fire, Acid and Lightning.¡± ¡°I assume he is lightning then.¡± ¡°Crystals can end up with multiple abilities. Most have two, although commonly they will have camouflage and lightning.¡± ¡°That could be interesting. I can imagine him using a camouflage skill to hide and then steal food.¡± ¡°Ha. Their skills develop fully once they are fully grown. It states that signs of skills will usually begin after three months.¡± ¡°I think he was younger than that when he first shocked me. I rolled on him in bed, not realising he had curled up next to me.¡± Sally couldn¡¯t keep a straight face. ¡°I would have liked to have seen that.¡± SJ flushed with embarrassment, wishing she hadn¡¯t mentioned it. Dave had been in fits of laughter when Kibble had awoken SJ. ¡°What you are telling me is that his behaviour of stealing food is normal, and I should not worry about it. When he suddenly disappears, that is when I need to panic.¡± Sally laughed. ¡°He can never hide from you. You will always have sight of his whereabouts. Has your display not been updated?¡± ¡°No,¡± SJ frowned. ¡°Strange. Have you an entry for a companion listed on your display?¡± SJ opened her display and looked through the details. She couldn¡¯t find anything related to a companion. ¡°I can¡¯t see anything.¡± ¡°Ooo,¡± Dave said. ¡®What?¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°One minute. I hadn¡¯t even considered this before,¡± Dave said before going silent. ¡°That is unusual,¡± Sally said. ¡°All those bonded to my knowledge should have a companion listed.¡± ¡°I found it,¡± Dave said. ¡°However, it isn¡¯t visible on your main screen because you already have a parent branch available.¡± ¡®A parent branch?¡¯ ¡°Yes. You have followers. Your companion will be listed within your followers if you select it on your main screen.¡± SJ had never looked at the follower¡¯s details, only noting the ¡®3¡¯ listed next to the entry. She focused on her display and selected followers, triggering a new tab to open. Followers - Charlotte - human skeleton, Class - Archer, Level - 12, Profession - Gardner Brian - human skeleton, Class - Rogue, Level - 11, Profession - Sweep Terence - orc skeleton, Class - Warrior, Level - 14, Profession - Carpenter Bonded Companions - Kibbles - Miniature wyvern Abilities - Unknown At the end of the section, a tick box asked whether SJ would like to add follower and companion details to her map. She selected the tick box before opening her map again. Kibble appeared as a green dot on her display, showing him still back at her home. When she zoomed out to see Farleck Cottage, she could now see a blue colour. Closer inspection revealed the location of the three skeletons. ¡®Now that¡¯s helpful,¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°Ah. I found it,¡± SJ said. ¡°Excellent. At least you will always know where he is now,¡± Sally smiled. ¡°That¡¯s great. I never would have known if I hadn¡¯t spoken to you today.¡± ¡°No problem. Did you need anything else while you are here?¡± ¡°What treats do you have?¡± Sally moved to one of the large jars behind the counter and took it down. ¡°All beasties love these,¡± Sally said, removing some sticks from the jar. They reminded SJ of the chew sticks that her friend¡¯s dog had used to eat. She hadn¡¯t had a pet back on Earth, and living alone, she didn¡¯t think was fair, especially as she could often be away from her home. ¡°How much?¡± ¡°They are a copper for five.¡± ¡°I will take fifty then,¡± SJ said, removing the coin from her inventory.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. Sally counted the sticks out before placing them in a pouch. ¡°Here you go.¡± ¡°Thanks for the information. I need to contend with his hunger and food theft while he grows,¡± SJ sighed. ¡°It will stop in time. If you need anything else, don¡¯t hesitate to let me know.¡± ¡°Thanks, Sally,¡± SJ said, replacing her cloak and leaving the store. ¡®Why didn¡¯t you know about followers previously?¡¯ SJ thought as she walked back towards her home. ¡°I have never had a Legionnaire with followers, or a pet for that matter,¡± Dave said. ¡°I have told you so many times that you are unusual.¡± SJ shook her head at Dave¡¯s response. There were so many everyday aspects of Amathera that Dave was unaware of until they arose, which concerned her she may miss out on vital information. Dave had always been helpful, well after his initial spout of unhelpfulness, but if he was unaware of some of the basic aspects, she needed to challenge him more. ¡°I can see what you are thinking, you know,¡± Dave huffed. ¡®Sorry. I am just concerned that there may be aspects that I am still unaware of. There have been a couple of incidents now where you haven¡¯t known about them, and with the access to the Legionnarious, I would have expected you to have more information.¡¯ Dave replied with an unintelligent sound as though muttering under his breath. ¡®What was that?¡¯ ¡°Nothing,¡± he sulked. SJ knew she had upset Dave with his response and felt guilty. ¡®I know you always help me, but with everything going on and the uncertainty around the interaction with the gods, I still feel very insecure.¡¯ ¡°I will try to do better.¡± ¡®All I can ever ask is that you try to be the best that you can be. I don¡¯t expect perfection; everyone makes mistakes or misses stuff on occasion. As long as you have tried your hardest, that is what matters.¡¯ The comments reminded SJ of her time back at school, where teachers would always say that mistakes were expected. The heavy rain had continued rivulets of water now flowing down the streets of the inner city. The inner city appeared to have a sewer system of sorts, as there were grates at the edges of the roads. Never considering them previously, SJ wondered where the sewer system led and how it operated. She had vague ideas from Earth about how sewers worked but did not know if it compared to Amathera. The comments the chancellor had made about the buildings requiring magical reinforcement to be built taller had also surprised SJ. When considering the engineering capability of the dwarves and the builders back in Killic, she would have thought that typical engineering practice would have provided the basis for construction. It troubled her she had so much to learn about how things functioned. ¡®I need to learn more about Amathera.¡¯ ¡°You will never be an expert at everything,¡± Dave said. ¡®No. I don¡¯t expect to be, but if I want to continue helping Killic expand, having a better understanding of various areas will help in the long run. Especially when considering the trade and skills we may require.¡¯ Despite experiencing Amathera¡¯s beauty and wonders, SJ was aware of vast unknowns in the world. The stories Cristy mentioned about the wood sprites, the conclave with its giant battle, and what was happening just in one area¡¯s territory were significant. She was still unaware of all the issues the villages surrounding Killic faced, never mind further afield. ¡°I still have so much to learn,¡± she said aloud as she continued back to District 11. The streets in the outer city all sloped gently down towards the inner city, and as SJ passed the gate back into District 11, the streets out here allowed the water to flow straight into the centre. With no visible sewer system in the outer city, the water free-ran to the inner wall. It was only now that SJ noticed the single stone gaps interspersed at the base of the inner wall, where the water was being directed by the subtle design of the street surface. ¡®I wonder where all this water goes,¡¯ SJ thought. Dave didn¡¯t respond to SJ, taking his silence for not having any idea. When she arrived home, the large garage doors were closed, and the wind was directing the rain towards rather than away from the building. SJ removed her key and entered through the front door. ¡°Only me,¡± SJ called. She couldn¡¯t hear the usual sound of banging that she was accustomed to from Yawnee and Lurtew working and entered the garage. It was empty. After climbing the stairs to the first floor, there was no sign of either of them. ¡®Strange,¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°I am sure they don¡¯t work all the time,¡± Dave said. ¡®Knowing how long the coopering process is and the timelines they have to achieve to reach quotas, I have always known at least one of them to be working.¡¯ Kibble, nestled under his blankets, peered at SJ as she opened the door. It was as though he had built himself a small nest with the blankets. He squeaked as she entered, his eyes blinking sleepily. SJ removed the small ouch of treats from her inventory, and even before she had opened the string, Kibble reacted immediately and bounded across the bed towards her as she approached. Standing, he reached up with his snout, trying to sniff at the pouch in SJ¡¯s hands. SJ removed a single treat, and Kibble squeaked excitedly, his little head bobbing up and down. ¡°Here you go,¡± she said, handing him a treat. His little mouth flew forward, reminding SJ of the children¡¯s game-hungry hippos grabbing the treat. He couldn¡¯t fit it in his mouth and had to drop it, standing on it with one of his feet as he tore strips from it before wolfing them down. ¡°These are treats only. Don¡¯t expect them all the time.¡± Kibble looked at her, tilting his head as he chewed on the treat. SJ returned the pouch to her inventory. Sally had been right; her beastie did indeed like them. She stroked his head as he continued to chew, an almost purring sound coming from his slight frame. ¡°Water. I forgot to put water down for you. I am so sorry,¡± she said as she left the room again and went down to the kitchen to collect a bowl. After filling the bowl with water, she placed it on the floor by the balcony. She wished she had collected some feeding dishes for him, not even considering it before leaving Farleck. Terence¡¯s diverse collection of bowls meant she could have brought some along. ¡°When I have my portal, I am going to have to see if I can sell some of Terence¡¯s items in Asterfal,¡± she said, mumbling to herself. ¡°Carpentry is a common craft,¡± Dave said. ¡°I am not sure of the need in the city.¡± ¡°His work is so good thou,gh.¡± ¡°It is. He is very skilled.¡± ¡°I was thinking about various things from back on Earth and I wondered if any of the items have ever been produced here in Amathera.¡± ¡°What sort of items?¡± ¡°Various. There are many kitchen items, tools, anything, and everything.¡± ¡°I am not sure. I suppose many items will have been considered over the years.¡± ¡°You know one thing I haven¡¯t seen since being here.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°A corer.¡± ¡°A what? ¡°They are used to core apples or even make potato wedges and other things.¡± ¡°I have no idea what you are referring to.¡± ¡°Umm. I am going to have to spend some time checking what different things are being made by people and see where there is a gap in the market. I am sure that between Zej and Terence, they could make some items that may sell well.¡± ¡°So, you are now expanding into personal trading as well? Don¡¯t you have enough on your plate already?¡± Dave asked. ¡°If there is an opportunity and someone hasn¡¯t already developed it, then why not make the most of it?¡± ¡°I suppose. It just seems that you already have enough to do.¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be doing it, though. I would facilitate it. Others would do the work.¡± The whole time that SJ was talking aloud to Dave, Kibble was sitting staring at her, listening to her every word. SJ checked her display. It was late afternoon now, and she had a couple of hours before she was going to meet Alice. ¡°I think I will head to the address that Sally gave me. After speaking to the chancellor, I am wondering if she can provide some more information for me. She is probably in a better position to find out than I am.¡± The tall mirror stood at the side of her bedroom, and she walked over to stand in front of it. She had changed her dress regularly since the transmogrification ability had been unlocked, and her current dress was more typical of those seen at the tower. As she looked in the mirror, she reformed it, shortening the dress and simplifying its design so that it resembled more of the attire many in the outer city wore. Once she was happy with the adjustments, she changed the colour to a drab brown. ¡°There we go. I won¡¯t stand out as much now.¡± ¡°Apart from your hair,¡± Dave said. SJ¡¯s hair was unique. Since her arrival, she had seen no other being with the same-coloured hair as she did. The silvery white over the emerald green was one of her most distinguished and easily recognisable features. ¡°I was considering getting it cut short,¡± SJ said. ¡°That won¡¯t work,¡± Dave said. ¡°Why?¡± SJ asked, confused. ¡°Have you ever really considered your hair since you came to Amathera.¡± ¡°Not really.¡± ¡°Well, as a fae, if you cut your hair, it will just grow back to the same length it is now. It hasn¡¯t grown since you arrived, has it?¡± SJ hadn¡¯t realised, but her hair hadn¡¯t grown since she had arrived. It had remained the same length. ¡°Oh. So I can never have different-length hair?¡± ¡°You can, but it won¡¯t last long. It will literally only take a couple of days to grow back. It is a fae thing.¡± SJ could imagine Dave¡¯s virtual shrug. ¡°I will just have to plait it then,¡± SJ said as she created a long single plait in her hair. Once she was happy with her hair, she tucked it under the cloak and stood looking in the mirror. By plaiting her hair, the emerald underlayer was hidden, only showing the silvery white. ¡°That will have to do,¡± SJ said as she repositioned her cloak and pulled her hood up. One thing she had noticed about her dress was that because of its self-repairing function, her cloak, when she kept it on wet, would eventually dry quicker as the dress wicked away the water from anything it touched. It was, ultimately, a gift from a god. ¡°Can I dye my hair?¡± ¡°Erm, I guess so. Dyeing hair is not something commonly done on Amathera. I have seen some performers do it. It¡¯s not something that a usual Amatherean would do.¡± ¡°So, hair dye and hairdressing could be another avenue to consider¡ªespecially hair extensions. I could cut my hair off, and then it would grow back so quickly. I could then sell my hair.¡± ¡°What?¡± Dave asked, shocked. ¡°It¡¯s a big thing back on Earth. I would get extensions fitted for special occasions.¡± ¡°You really do have some strange things back on Earth.¡± ¡°I am surprised you don¡¯t know from watching all the films and TV shows you do.¡± ¡°As an AI, it really isn¡¯t an area I have ever considered, not having hair myself.¡± ¡°Kibble, I just have to go out again. I will feed you when I get back later, okay?¡± she said, stroking him. His small head dropped. SJ felt a pang of guilt. She would usually take him with her, but she didn¡¯t want to risk him in the city, knowing his behaviour and the mischief he could get up to. ¡°I¡¯ll make you a deal. If you stay here and are well-behaved, you can have another treat.¡± His little eyes opened excitedly, and SJ removed the pouch and gave him another treat, which he happily ate. ¡°I will be back in a while,¡± she said, leaving the room again and heading back downstairs. Yawnee and Lurtew were still missing, leaving her feeling uneasy as she locked the front door and left. ¡®Something doesn¡¯t feel right,¡¯ she thought as she turned and began towards District 10. ? Chapter 169 - Moving Never having visited District 10 properly, SJ was amazed at the difference in the buildings that she was heading past. She had her map open on her display as she walked, knowing that Holly had stated that she lived out towards the outer wall. The District boundaries were not always exactly clear, but in this instance, there was a definite variance in the building structures. Many of the buildings were made from timber, even the larger ones, rather than stone. As SJ weaved through various streets, small huts were positioned on their corners. They reminded SJ of the guard huts at the gates to Whitehall in London, where ceremonial guards would stand on parade. ¡®What are these for?¡¯ SJ asked. ¡°Probably fire spots,¡± Dave said. ¡®What do you mean by fire spots?¡¯ ¡°You have already noticed that this District is pretty much built from timber. They will, on dry days, have spotters in these posts watching for the first sign of a fire. It wouldn¡¯t take minutes for half this district to erupt into flames if a fire started.¡± ¡®Seems very organised if that is the case.¡¯ ¡°You say that. It will probably be jobs for the youngsters to do. They will be lucky to earn a copper a day.¡± ¡®That wouldn¡¯t even get them enough food to survive off of.¡¯ ¡°No, but unfortunately, that is how many cities work. They will earn enough every couple of days to get some food.¡± ¡®It is nearly as bad as slave labour.¡¯ ¡°The empire and its followers don¡¯t condone slavery. That is why even menial jobs will earn coins. Slavery is common in various races, though. ¡° SJ could feel her temper rising as she considered the lives of so many within the city who may be working in similar circumstances. She was already well aware of the manner in which the brewers¡¯ guild ruled over the coopers and controlled their income massively. ¡®This city is so corrupt.¡¯ ¡°It isn¡¯t corruption. They are paid, so they are not breaking any rules.¡± ¡®But how can they get away with it? Not paying enough for a being to be able to eat daily should be a crime in itself.¡¯ Dave didn¡¯t respond as SJ contemplated the conversation she was going to have with the chancellor when she next returned to the tower. She knew it might be a pointless exercise, but she would have to say something. She had never been one for standing aside when she saw those being treated unfairly. That was one of the reasons she had become a forensic accountant: to wheedle out those who mistreated or stole from others. Every role in Killic was paid accordingly, and it was consistently fair. As SJ approached the outer wall, the streets narrowed, and at places, the timber structures almost rested against each other. Beings were everywhere, even in the rain that had been falling. Stalls and pop-up stands littered the street sides. Bars with open doorways and staggering souls left them. There were very few shops that she could see this far out to the outer wall. The area seemed even worse than the outer streets of District 3. ¡®Maybe the best thing to happen to this District is for it to burn,¡¯ SJ thought. The address that Holly had given her wasn¡¯t showing on her map as she viewed her display, having never been in the district. As she walked past a bar where several patrons sat outside under an awning, she asked for directions. The human male who replied to her looked at her with wandering eyes. ¡°Never heard of, but it¡¯s probably by the pits? It¡¯s the dive of the district,¡± he slurred as he replied. ¡°I am here to see a friend,¡± SJ said. ¡°You look too pretty to be a friend of someone from there.¡± The fact that she was talking to a drunken being sitting outside a run-down bar towards the outer area of District 10, saying that the area she was to visit was a dive, made SJ dread to think of the conditions that Holly and her children lived in. ¡°Where is it, then?¡± ¡°You won¡¯t miss it,¡± the man said as he pointed down the street, continuing towards the outer wall. ¡°If it¡¯s by the garbage pits. Just follow your nose.¡± SJ turned away from the man and followed the initial direction he had pointed. As she continued, the street wound and got even closer together. It would be hard for the horse to fit down the street with a rider. A doorway opened in front of her, almost blocking the entire street, before an orc closed it and brushed past her, heading the way she had come. He didn¡¯t look well dressed and stank. The whole area stank, the air filled with the smell of rotten food and waste. ¡®I think we must be getting close,¡¯ SJ thought, rubbing her nose. Her increased senses weren¡¯t making the job of going further into the area a pleasant experience. Eventually, she reached the end of the narrow street and, to her surprise, was greeted by an open area. It stretched no more than a hundred feet towards the imposing outer wall of Asterfal. It really was the outer city area. The area was filled with large deep pits, and from the left side, a wide road led back out into the district. ¡®I wish I had come that way.¡¯ ¡°At least you have a way back now,¡± Dave chuckled. As SJ watched, a large wagon slowly backed towards one of the pits. The back of the wagon was full of rubbish. Looking at the contents, she could see where she was. Food and other waste were then unloaded from the back and shovelled into one of the large pits. That was when SJ noticed other beings trying to sift through the contents of the wagon as it was unloaded. The beings unloading started cursing and swearing at the beings, striking at them with their shovels or brooms, trying to drive them off. Every being looked as though they were in rags. ¡°Get away, you scum,¡± the being shouted as SJ headed towards them. The small grime-covered face of Harry, Holly¡¯s son, turned and ran back away from the wagon, carrying several scraps of something from the wagon. The sight of Harry stealing from a rubbish wagon made SJ¡¯s heartache, looking at his small, terrified, but determined face. ¡°Harry,¡± SJ called as he ran towards another narrow street no wider than an alley. The small face turned and looked back, alarm showing. He looked away again and continued to run down the alley. ¡®Damn it,¡¯ SJ thought. There was no one paying attention, so she shrunk and took off, giving chase. At least in her miniature form, she could travel the narrow alleyway easily. She noticed Harry pull a piece of timber ajar further down the alley as he ducked inside before it fell back into place. From what SJ could tell, the timber at the base of the building was warped by dampness, and the alleyway itself was covered in muddy water from the broken earth. SJ landed by the edge of the panel and peered in through the narrow gap that was left. It was pitch black inside, and even with her improved vision, she couldn¡¯t see easily due to the little natural light available. ¡®Better see if I can follow him,¡¯ SJ thought as she squeezed through the narrow gap left by the panel covering the entrance, which had been drawn back into place. It was pitch black inside, and SJ stood for a moment, allowing her vision to adjust as best she could. The smell of dampness was concentrated in the enclosed space, and she pulled her cloak across her nose and mouth, the stench almost making her back out again. After getting a grip of herself, she moved forward, reaching her hand out to the side of the passageway and feeling the slimy remnants of whatever covered it. She was glad she couldn¡¯t see it clearly and shuddered at the thought of what she may be touching. Carefully, she made her way along the uneven floor. It was obvious this was the shoring of the building that stood above, and SJ believed that she must be under the floor. Eventually, she reached a larger area, her hand suddenly losing touch with the wall. Looking upwards, she could now see dim light creeping through definite floorboards. She was underneath someone¡¯s dwelling. Footsteps suddenly made her jump as some being walked across the floor. The creak and cracking of the wood above made her fear it would give way, allowing whatever being it was to stand on her. As she headed toward it, she could see another passage across the area. The air was filled with dust, and every step above made more drift down. This place was hellish. ¡®I wonder where Harry has gone,¡¯ she thought. Dave didn¡¯t reply as she continued down the following passage. She wasn¡¯t sure how far she had moved when she found an opening on the right, and the passage turned sharply, allowing the passage to guide her. She continued until she could see the light ahead and voices. This was when she came upon another open space, the likes of which made her gasp in shock. This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. The earth had been dug away, and she was presented with what could only be described as dwellings dug into the earth. In the centre of the open area was a small fire, which several beings sat by. Surrounding it were what could only be described as curtained-off areas and what appeared to be a wall made from stone and timber running along one side. SJ could hear the sound of laughing and joking coming from above and the continual banging of feet as people moved around on the floor. The entrances to what SJ could only assume were living areas were covered with rags or old blankets. SJ scanned the area until she spotted Harry on the far side, just entering one of these such areas. Still in her miniature form and not noticed in the poor light, she stayed at the top of the underground pit and flew across to the far side, where Harry had disappeared. Slowly, she dropped to the ground and peered around the makeshift door. Inside, Holly sat with Joel on an earthen bed. A small candle burned, giving off its faint light. Harry excitedly chattered to her as she turned the items over that he had brought back with him from the garbage pits. ¡°This is excellent, Harry. I may be able to get a couple of coppers from the peddlers,¡± Holly said, smiling at Harry fondly. She reached out and ruffled his hair. ¡°Don¡¯t, mum. I¡¯m not a baby,¡± he protested, pulling back. ¡°That lady from earlier saw me at the pit.¡± ¡°Which lady?¡± Holly asked, frowning. ¡°The one from the tower.¡± ¡°The ambassador?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I know she said she would visit, but I gave her a false address. From what I told her, she should never have been able to find the area.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t exactly brag about living underneath a bar, can we,¡± Joel whispered glumly. ¡°If we didn¡¯t have this place, we would be on the streets. Be grateful for what we have,¡± Holly said. ¡®This is horrendous,¡¯ SJ thought. ¡®I can¡¯t believe families are living underneath the city.¡¯ ¡°It¡¯s a good job they don¡¯t have sewer systems out here. Otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t be able to dig out the area,¡± Dave said. SJ heard a loud bang. Looking with her vision, she saw a being moving a wooden panel from the wall. He then slipped through before it was replaced again. ¡°I bet that¡¯s a cellar for the inn above,¡± Dave said. ¡®Possibly, and probably where they come and go from. I wonder if the bar above knows about here?¡¯ ¡°Probably.¡± ¡°I lost her in the alley,¡± Harry said, continuing to tell his mum about seeing SJ. ¡°Good. We can¡¯t have people knowing we live here. The city guards would come and remove us, and that would mean we would really be on the streets. It is only because of Old Man Jack, who owns the bar, that we have this place.¡± ¡°He still makes us pay to live here,¡± Harry grumbled. ¡°A copper a week is worth it compared to being on the street,¡± Holly replied. As SJ watched the interaction, she noticed that the clothes they had been wearing at the tower were hung neatly on a rope line that ran the width of the small room. They were all now dressed in what could only be described as rags, and their dishevelled appearance was even worse than their poor state at the tower. ¡®I can see why they went to get a meal at the tower,¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°I don¡¯t blame them,¡± Dave replied. The thought that a family was living in these conditions underneath a bar and having to pay any form of rent to stay there made SJ¡¯s temper rise. She moved the blanket to the side as she stepped around it and grew. Joel screamed in shock as SJ suddenly materialised in front of the three of them. Now that she was full-size, there was even less room within the confined space of their makeshift home. Holly sat wide-eyed in shock as Harry spun. ¡°Damn,¡± he cursed. ¡°I thought I had lost her.¡± The two children were acting differently from when they had been at the tower, and SJ believed that much of it had now been an act. They were obviously exceedingly poor, but she was now not sure if anything Holly had told her was the truth. Holly went to speak, and as she did, SJ lifted her hand, stopping her. ¡°I think we need to talk,¡± SJ said. ¡°What...what are you doing here?¡± Holly stammered. ¡°I promised I would visit,¡± SJ shrugged. ¡°Yes. But I never expected you would. Why would an ambassador want to come here?¡± ¡°I keep my promises. That is irrelevant now. Is anything that you told me the truth?¡± Holly stayed silent for a moment as she considered the conversation they had had at the tower. ¡°Yes. My husband was killed working the caravans, and we did lose our home.¡± ¡°And you being a farmer?¡± Holly hesitated again. ¡°No. I was a barmaid originally, but when Mark died, I lost my job. We were broken, and I couldn¡¯t work. How could I pretend to be happy and serve with a smile when my Mark was dead.¡± ¡°I see. So, you lost your home because you weren¡¯t able to work?¡± ¡°No. We would have lost our home anyway. I could never have afforded the rent from my coin as a barmaid. Even with tips, it wouldn¡¯t have been enough.¡± ¡°And now you live by raiding the rubbish pits.¡± ¡°How else are we to survive? I can¡¯t get a job anywhere else. If I walked into a bar asking for work, they would laugh at me. Before Mark died, we were proud of what we had achieved since arriving in Asterfal, but since it has been hell.¡± ¡°Why did you not tell me the truth at the tower?¡± ¡°What would someone from the tower care about beings out by the outer wall? You all live in your luxurious homes, while a vast number in this city struggle to survive day to day.¡± ¡°I am not from Asterfal. I assume you know that an ambassador is someone from outside the city?¡± ¡°I know enough,¡± Holly nodded. ¡°I am from a town four days travel from here. A place called Killic.¡± ¡°I have never heard of it. We are from the village of Warshi, a territory north of here.¡± ¡°I see. Why did you not consider returning home?¡± ¡°There is nothing there for us. Warshi is a tiny village, and there is no work there. We also couldn¡¯t afford the carriage to return. We had saved for almost a year before we moved to Asterfal.¡± ¡°How long have you been here?¡± ¡°Twelve years.¡± SJ glanced at both Harry and Joel. Joel was the older of the two children and looked about ten. Harry must have been nearer eight. ¡°How much is it for a room at the inn above us?¡± Holly frowned. ¡°Why do you ask?¡± ¡°How much is it?¡± SJ repeated. ¡°2 copper a night, I think. I am not sure.¡± ¡°You¡¯re thinking what I think you¡¯re thinking, aren¡¯t you?¡± Dave said. ¡®You know what I am thinking, what I am thinking,¡¯ SJ sighed in her mind. ¡°I know, but is it really the right thing to do?¡± ¡®What would you have me do? Leave them in this filthy state? Looking at Joel, he doesn¡¯t look very well either.¡¯ ¡°You can¡¯t take care of everyone,¡± Dave sighed, knowing what SJ would do. ¡°Is there a reason for you to stay in District 10?¡± SJ asked. Again, Holly''s confused silence lasted until she replied, ¡°Where else would we stay?¡± ¡°District 11, perhaps?¡± ¡°You must be joking; even the cheapest areas in District 11 are vastly more expensive than District 10.¡± ¡°Gather your things. We are leaving,¡± SJ said, looking between the three of them. ? Chapter 170 - New Chance The shock registered on their faces remained for a long time. ¡°We can¡¯t. If we give this spot up, someone else will take it,¡± Holly eventually said. ¡°You won¡¯t need it anymore,¡± SJ said. ¡°But...¡± SJ cut her off. ¡°But nothing. Now, do as I ask and pack up your belongings. You won¡¯t be coming back here.¡± ¡°Here we go again,¡± Dave said. ¡®What do you mean again?¡¯ ¡°Nothing.¡± ¡®Yes, you do. What do you mean?¡¯ ¡°Cristy and her family and now Holly and the kids.¡± ¡®And, what is your point?¡¯ SJ could feel her anger rising as Dave spoke. ¡°You are too kind.¡± ¡®How can someone be too kind?¡¯ ¡°I am just concerned that if you try and do this for everyone, you feel bad for that, and you will end up suffering.¡± ¡®What would make me suffer from helping others?¡¯ ¡°Not everyone is as trustworthy or as worthy of support. Remember, not everyone is good in this world. You really know nothing of Holly or whether she has even told you the truth this time.¡± ¡®But...¡¯ ¡°You need to be careful. Don¡¯t just let your emotions control you every time. For someone as intelligent as you are, you rush into decisions without considering the consequences.¡± SJ contemplated Dave¡¯s comments as they continued to discuss the potential pitfalls of bonuses for helping Holly. ¡®Only time will tell.¡¯ SJ concluded. It hadn¡¯t taken long for them to pack their meagre belongings. The items disappeared into Holly¡¯s inventory. They really had nothing to show for themselves. ¡°Okay. If you are packed, then let¡¯s go,¡± SJ said. Holly moved to the curtain edge and pulled it aside. The light from the flickering fire in the pit cast eerie shadows around the area. The beings sitting near the fire paid no attention to them as they made their way towards the wooden wall. Holly reached up and twisted a small piece of dowelling, allowing the wall to be moved. The smell of stale ale drifted into the pit as she did. It was supported by fresher air, thankfully. The stuffiness and dampness were left behind as they stepped into the inn¡¯s cellar. Once they were through, Holly replaced the panel. Lanterns hung on the walls of the extensive cellar area, filled with barrels and crates. A set of steps were off to the left-hand side, but Holly turned and walked to what SJ recognised as a barrel chute, where full barrels would be rolled into the cellar from the street above. Holly and the kids began to scramble up the chute, reaching the open air above and the still-falling rain. ¡°Right then. Let¡¯s go,¡± SJ said. ¡°Where exactly?¡± Holly asked. ¡°District 11 for now,¡± SJ replied, pulling her cloak up around her face to keep the rain off. ¡°Come on, the sooner we are there, the sooner we are out of the rain.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not taking them home, are you?¡± Dave asked. ¡®No. I will find a room in a nearby inn that they can stay in for now.¡¯ As the family followed SJ through the rabbit warren of streets in District 10, SJ watched them through her rear vision. Holly whispered to the kids as they travelled, and SJ noticed a flash of silver in Harry¡¯s hand. ¡®I saw it,¡¯ SJ said before Dave commented. ¡®Holly probably doesn¡¯t believe a word of what I said and thinks it could be an easy picking to make some coin.¡¯ SJ suddenly stopped the gap between her and the family, narrowing quickly before they realised. Harry was almost at her back. SJ slowly turned and looked down at the small boy. ¡°Holly. You have a decision to make. If you wish to get away from your life in District 10, then I suggest you tell Harry to hand over the knife he has hidden in his sleeve. I also suggest that you don¡¯t try to do anything stupid as you think you can attack me. I am not a member of a noble family born into wealth or an easy target. I am a Legionnaire and an adventurer.¡± SJ hadn¡¯t looked at Holly once, but she kept her gaze on Harry. She still saw her eyes open with alarm at SJ¡¯s comments. ¡°I will count to three,¡± SJ said calmly, not removing her gaze. Harry squirmed, uncertain of what to do. He could easily have lashed out at her with a blade from the distance he was. SJ doubted that even if it struck her, it would do any significant damage, and in the instance that he did, she could equip her claws and defend herself. She really didn¡¯t want to fight them. They were malnourished and weak. She hadn¡¯t identified them but knew that human children didn¡¯t level until they reached their coming of age, which for humans was fourteen years old. She also couldn¡¯t imagine that Holly was any threat. ¡°One, two...¡± Harry rolled his hand, and the blade that he had hidden up his sleeve came into view. He turned and glanced at his mother briefly before he held his hand out, the handle of the blade pointing towards SJ. SJ took the handle, smiling at Harry. ¡°Thank you. Now, shall we continue?¡± SJ said, turning and continuing through the tight-knit streets. SJ watched Harry shrug towards Holly and Joel, neither of which had said a word during the exchange. It took them a good twenty minutes before they reached an area of the district where the filth and deprivation weren¡¯t as apparent. SJ didn¡¯t realise how far they had travelled until she noticed a stone building up ahead of them on the wider street. The building had bars over its windows, and a sign swung in the breeze. It had a picture of a snake and an apple on it. ¡®Eve¡¯s Guild, ¡® the sign running along its front stated. ¡®A guild here?¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°Probably not a very good one, looking at the condition of the area and the fact it has barred windows.¡± ¡®I need to spend time looking into all the guilds in this city at some point.¡¯ ¡°Another thing to add to your list,¡± Dave chuckled. As they passed the building, a large man walked from its front door. He wore full chain mail armour, and a long sword hung on his belt. A dark crimson cloak hung around his broad frame, and he pulled his hood up over his balding head as he stepped onto the street. A young kobold who had been standing by a horse attached to a rail outside the building on seeing the man quickly unleashed the reins and handed them to the man. The man promptly mounted the horse to sit astride its saddle before he flicked a coppery-coloured coin towards the kobold. It sailed over the kobold¡¯s head, and he scrambled to chase it. SJ watched as another young kobold that was stood by another horse dived towards where the coin had landed. A fight ensued as the two small kobolds fought over the copper piece. The man on the horse laughed at the scene. SJ removed a piece of copper from her inventory and walked towards them. ¡°Here,¡± she said as she looked down on the two sodden beings sprawled on the ground. ¡°You have one each now.,¡± she said, turning and looking at the man. The man looked at SJ with disgust before turning his horse and trotting off down the street towards the inner city wall. ¡®What is it with people?¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°I did say what many Legionnaires are like,¡± Dave said. ¡®He was a Legionnaire?¡¯ ¡°Yes. Level 27.¡± ¡®No wonder we can get such terrible names. I am glad that beings don¡¯t see me like that.¡¯ ¡°Not that you are aware of.¡±Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. SJ didn¡¯t respond, cursing inwardly at the problems this city had. Fifteen minutes later, they had left District 10 and were in the much more pleasant surroundings of District 11. The streets this close to the inner walls were broad and much cleaner than anything she had witnessed in District 10. The difference in wealth was significant, with stone buildings replacing the mostly timber buildings used in District 10. SJ knew there was an inn not far from her home and headed towards it. Now, she was back in an area of the city she knew. Holly and the kids were still following her at a short distance, not wishing to be too close. ¡°I think this place will do,¡± SJ said loud enough for them to hear her as she turned, heading towards the entrance to the Halberd Arms Inn. The inn looked well-maintained from the outside. The windows were clean, and the tables and chairs were neatly stacked outside, currently not in use because of the weather. The common room was wide and open, and the smell of fresh ale and pipe smoke filled its interior. SJ walked straight over to the bar, where a large-looking half-orc stood with a brown leather apron, cleaning a tankard. ¡°Hi,¡± SJ said. The half-orc turned and looked at SJ. ¡°Hello. What can I get you?¡± he asked, smiling. ¡°How much is it for a room for a small family, mother and two children?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t look old enough to have a family. It would be fifteen copper a night for a family room. If you wished for breakfast as well, then it would be another ten.¡± SJ knew that District 11 was one of the more expensive areas of the city. ¡°I will take a room and breakfast included for four nights initially.¡± ¡°That would be one silver.¡± SJ removed the silver and placed it on the bar. The half-orc took the coin before it vanished into his inventory and moved to a set of shelves behind the bar where some keys hung before returning and placing it on the bar for her. ¡°Here you go,¡± the half-orc said. SJ couldn¡¯t see any stairs in the common room area. ¡°How do I access it?¡± ¡°Side door. The key will open the outer door and the room itself. Room 7, second floor.¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± SJ said. Holly and the kids had not followed her into the inn and remained outside on the street. SJ left the inn and walked up to the huddled family standing against the side of the building out of the worst of the rain. None of them wore cloaks. Time had been passing quickly, and SJ checked her display, knowing that she would soon have to meet with Alice. ¡°Follow me,¡± SJ said as she moved to the side street off to one side of the building. The street was narrower than the main street on which the inn sat, but it was still large enough for two carts to pass each other easily. A sign swung above the side entrance, ¡®Rooms¡¯. SJ unlocked and opened the outer door before heading inside. ¡°Come on,¡± she said, seeing the family¡¯s looks of uncertainty. Slowly, they followed SJ inside. A wide set of steps was in front of the entrance, and SJ headed straight up, turning on a landing and heading up again to the second floor. The stairs and corridors were all made from stone, with very little wood used in their construction. Finding the door with the number ¡®7¡¯ on it, she used the key again before entering. The room was vast and open, reminding SJ of the suite back in Killic. A table and chairs sat in front of a wide fireplace, with logs piled high at its side. The room had a window, which SJ noticed and looked out onto the front of the inn. There was a door to the right, and SJ walked to it and opened it. Inside were two gigantic beds, two small wardrobes, a smaller fireplace and the one thing that SJ couldn¡¯t live without: a bathtub. ¡®Perfect,¡¯ SJ thought. The family had slowly followed her into the room and stood gawping at its contents. Hanging on the walls were various paintings strategically positioned to be viewed easily by those sitting at the table. ¡°Here,¡± SJ said, handing the key to Holly. "It is yours for the next four nights, and breakfast is included. I suggest you spend some time considering your future choices.¡± Holly stood in shock, the two boys having ventured past SJ and entering the bedroom. ¡°It¡¯s so soft.¡± SJ heard one of the boys say. ¡°Why?¡± Holly said. ¡°Why what?¡± SJ asked as she moved towards the door to leave. ¡°Why have you helped us?¡± ¡°Why not?¡± SJ said as she stepped from the room, closed the door behind her, and headed straight back down the stairs again. ¡®I will need to sort out clothes for them,¡¯ she thought as she walked back onto the street. ¡°You really do live up to the good part of your alignment,¡± Dave replied. ¡®Right. I am off to the tower to meet with Alice. I can¡¯t wait to take her to the orc restaurant.¡¯ ¡°I am guessing you won¡¯t be telling Alice what you have done?¡± ¡®Is there a reason to? What I do is up to me. No one controls me.¡¯ ¡°Apart from your level gains.¡± SJ huffed as she headed towards the tower. The rain hadn¡¯t let up, and she could feel the dampness seeping through her cloak onto the shoulders of her dress. She knew this wouldn¡¯t be a problem with the dress¡¯s ability, but her cloak had never given up on her before, always keeping her dry. ¡®I may have to craft a better cloak,¡¯ she thought. ¡°You have the recipes. I am sure you can craft what you want to.¡± ¡®Yeah. I don¡¯t have anything with me, though. It may be easier to buy one while in Asterfal.¡¯ SJ considered various cloak designs as she headed to the tower. The usual crowd of beings had dwindled as night had crept in, and the tower steps were empty. Only one set of doors remained open. SJ walked through into the main hall and to the desk, asking if they knew where Alice was. After being told she was up in one of the offices, SJ thanked the attendant and headed up the stairs. The offices were situated on the first floor of the tower and were available for outside parties to use as necessary while doing official business in Asterfal. As SJ approached the office, Alice had been assigned a familiar voice called out to her. ¡°And when were you going to come and say hi?¡± SJ turned to see Petunia¡¯s grinning face looking at her from an open doorway. ¡°Petunia,¡± SJ beamed, seeing the elderly gnome. Even though Petunia was elderly, knowing the power and level of this gnome was enough to quell many. SJ walked over to Petunia and went to hold out her hand when Petunia grabbed her and hugged her. SJ returned the hug, the strength in the gnome¡¯s arms disconcerting. Then again, she was at an exceedingly high level, if not the highest, in Asterfal, she may even be one of the highest on the continent. ¡°Sorry. I only arrived today and have been a little busy since I did. I was planning to come and see you. Zigferd and Isavil pass on their love.¡± ¡°Ha,¡± Petunia scoffed. ¡°Isavil, maybe. Zigferd, I am not sure he knows what love is.¡± ¡°He speaks so fondly of you.¡± SJ noticed Petunia¡¯s cheeks were slightly pink. ¡°So, have you found anything out yet?¡± Petunia asked. The question took SJ by surprise. ¡°Erm...¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I was the one who suggested you may be the best placed to look into things for the chancellor.¡± ¡°You did?¡± SJ was now surprised. ¡°Of course. Why wouldn¡¯t I? I know your skills and also have a vague idea of your contacts. If anyone can solve the recent problems, I am sure it is you.¡± SJ could feel her cheeks colouring now. ¡°Thank you. In answer to your question, no, not as yet. I have been dealing with another matter that I hope may assist me in looking into further details.¡± ¡°I see. That sounds interesting. You will have to tell me all about it at some point. Unfortunately, I can¡¯t spend too long talking. I need to go and get ready. I have a guest visiting the city in a few days and much preparation to do.¡± ¡°Who is visiting?¡± ¡°Oh, no one of importance to the city. He was a senior member of the church until he retired and is coming to stay for a few days.¡± ¡°Well, I hope your plans go well then.¡± ¡°I am sure they will. Drop by when you have a moment, and we can catch up properly.¡± ¡°I will,¡± SJ said as Petunia turned and headed down the hall. SJ moved over to the office that Alice was using and knocked on the door before entering. Alice looked up from her desk, where she was busy reading through parchments. Her face was a little surprised. ¡°Is it that time already?¡± ¡°Yes. Just turned eight.¡± ¡°Okay. Let me quickly finish up, and we can head out,¡± she smiled. ¡°Did things go okay today?¡± ¡°Yes. Nothing that can¡¯t be sorted out. There are a couple of minor disputes caused by traders, but nothing that can¡¯t be resolved peacefully. It is always the guilds causing the problems,¡± Alice sighed. ¡°Which guilds?¡± ¡°There are a few key ones, not just for professions but adventuring guilds, which have contracts with various townsfolk. The ¡®Eve¡¯s Guild¡¯ is one of them. Every visit, I have to deal with problems that our traders have with them.¡± ¡°I saw their guild earlier. It is in District 10.¡± ¡°Yes. I have only been to the guild once. I don¡¯t care for the district itself.¡± ¡°Some nasty piece of work was just mounting a horse when I passed by and made the young horse watchers fight over a copper.¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t surprise me in the slightest,¡± Alice replied as she rolled the parchments up before placing them neatly in a holder on the desk. ¡°Okay. Let¡¯s go. I have been looking forward to visiting this place since you told me about it.¡± They chatted casually as they stood at the steps of the tower, awaiting a cart before heading to the orc restaurant. Chapter 171 - Caperca SJ was awoken by Kibble nibbling at her ear. ¡°What?¡± she said, rolling over in bed. Kibble bounced on the bed. ¡°Okay. Okay,¡± SJ said, rolling from bed and standing before stretching and moving to the rear window, which looked down onto the yard. Opening the window, Kibble shot through it and down to the yard below. ¡°When you gotta go,¡± SJ said, walking to the wash basin and looking in the mirror. Running some water, she splashed her face to wake herself up. The icy cold water invigorated her. It had been late by the time she had returned from the restaurant with Alice the previous evening. They had sat chatting for ages while they picked away at the buffet of food that they had ordered. It was the closest SJ could remember since her arrival on Amathera of some normality. They had discussed Killic¡¯s matters and then had just been discussing various topics. Kibble came flying back in the rear window. ¡°Shall we get you some breakfast?¡± SJ asked him, his little head bobbing excitedly. The kitchen on the first floor was quiet, and SJ checked her display. It was only 0530 hrs, as she groaned, realising the actual time. After filling the kettle, she put the water on to boil and prepared a coffee pot. Then, she dug out some meat from the cupboard for Kibble. Chopping it up, she placed it in a bowl and put it by the kitchen table. Kibble chomped away merrily, his purr easily heard over the kettle. As soon as it was boiled, she made a pot of coffee and, picking up a cup, moved to the rear door. The downstairs yard area was surrounded on three sides. The only open side was a ten-foot wall, which offered security from the street. There was no door in the wall, and SJ had considered adding one. She will be using this area for her portal once she levels. Lurtew and Yawnee had cleared the area. Only a couple of chairs and a table to one side and several flower pots sat around the edges. The rain had cleared overnight, and the sky this morning was lightening with the first rays of the sun. SJ knew as it rose, the area where the chairs were situated would get the morning sun. Kibble joined SJ in the yard once he had finished his breakfast. SJ was sitting leaning back in one of the chairs. Her eyes closed, holding her coffee in her hands when her peace was disturbed. An enormous crash came from out on the street, and a clatter of hooves. SJ set the cup down, climbed the back steps, then looked over the wall. Out on the street at the corner, a large wagon had lost its load. Four horses were baying as the wagon and its driver were lying on their sides on the street. Without thinking, SJ shrunk and flew over the wall, landing and growing as soon as she reached the ground. At this time in the morning, the streets were virtually empty; only a few were moving around, and she went straight to the wagon driver, where they lay. Kibble had flown up and sat on the wall watching. ¡°Are you okay?¡± SJ asked, reaching out to them. The being lying on the street wasn¡¯t one SJ recognised. It was humanoid but had an avian appearance and plumage on its head. Its head turned to look at her, and its large, round eyes blinked rapidly. It indeed had a beak rather than a mouth. ¡°I think so,¡± it replied as it tried to stand. SJ reached and helped the strange being to stand. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Something spooked the horses, making them tip the wagon.¡± The street was littered with the wagon¡¯s contents, crates and barrels lying where they had fallen. It didn¡¯t look like anything had broken open. Several others who had been on the street started to approach, and eventually, between them, they righted the wagon again. Several moved off once it was the being, thanking them profusely for their help as SJ helped to pick up the scattered contents and place it back into the wagon. Eventually, the street was empty again, and the wagon repacked. ¡°Thank you for your help and kindness. I am Caperca.¡± ¡°And I am SJ. Nice to meet you,¡± SJ smiled. ¡°The wagon wheel looks damaged.¡± SJ pointed to a broken spoke. ¡°It should get me to the store at least. I can get it repaired later.¡± ¡°You are a trader?¡± ¡°Yes. I own a store alchemy store. I just hope the contents of the crates weren¡¯t too badly damaged. Several contain new vials for my potions.¡± ¡°Would you like a drink before you head off again? I was just making coffee.¡± The bird, like being again, blinked its enormous eyes before replying. ¡°That would be kind.¡± ¡°Bring the wagon around to the front of the house; it will be safe parked outside,¡± SJ said, pointing around the corner. SJ walked back to the front, removed her keys from her inventory, and opened the front door. Kibble had come and flown up landing on her shoulder, looking suspiciously at Caperca. ¡°SJ, is that you?¡± a voice called downstairs as Yawnee¡¯s head appeared, looking down towards the front door. ¡°Yes. Sorry, Yawnee and I have brought a guest back for a coffee,¡± she called. ¡°Caperca, please.¡± SJ indicated with her arm that they should go up the stairs. On reaching the kitchen, SJ walked in, and Yawnee turned and froze as she saw Caperca. ¡°A wildling,¡± Yawnee said. SJ frowned, looking at Yawnee. ¡°Sorry?¡± ¡°Oh my, how rude of me. Please come in and sit down. The water will be boiling in a minute. Now, where did I put the coffee pot?¡± Yawnee said, turning away awkwardly. ¡°It is in the yard. I was down there when I heard the crash, so I went to investigate.¡± ¡°That must have been what woke me,¡± Yawnee replied as she went to the backdoor and hurried to collect the pot. ¡°I see that you are a fae,¡± Caperca said. ¡°It appears we are both unusual beings in the city.¡± ¡°I have no idea about what race you are. I have never seen one of your kind before.¡± ¡°I am a race known as a kenku, although we are commonly known as wildings. We don¡¯t originate from this continent.¡± ¡°I see. Then how did you end up in Asterfal?¡± ¡°There are a few small Kenku settlements across various territories where members have travelled over the years. I have been here in Asterfal with my nest now for almost five years. What brings a fae to Asterfal? Your kind is usually as frowned upon as my own.¡± SJ was a little taken aback by his forthright comments but couldn¡¯t argue with his statement. Fae was indeed frowned upon by so many. Still, she had come up against enough racist comments since her arrival. ¡°I am an ambassador for a town several days travel from here.¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°May I ask why you say your kind is frowned upon?¡± ¡°Many of my kind are thieves. Our reputation precedes us in most cases. I am an alchemist, and my partner is a jeweller, and we are both clerics by class.¡± ¡°Do you not follow the church?¡± ¡°We have our own beliefs. We believe in the gods as many of the clerics of Amathera do, but don¡¯t follow the ways of the Amatherean Church.¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°Very unusual for a wildling to be based in a city,¡± Dave suddenly spoke. ¡®Where have you been? You haven¡¯t spoken all morning.¡¯ SJ thought in reply. ¡°I was watching the latest release of John Wick. I love the main actor. You could learn a lot from him.¡± SJ had to stop herself from rolling her eyes. Yawnee re-entered the kitchen and hurried around making the coffee before presenting them both with a steaming mug. Kibble jumped from SJ¡¯s shoulder and cautiously moved towards Caperca, sniffing his hand. ¡°Thanks, Yawnee,¡± SJ said. ¡°I missed you yesterday. You were out when I came back.¡±This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Yawnee let out a deep sigh. ¡°We had to go to the brewers guild.¡± ¡°For what reason?¡± ¡°It was our annual review.¡± ¡°You have annual reviews? I had no idea.¡± ¡°Yes. They go over all our quotas and then grade everything for the previous year.¡± ¡°How did you do?¡± ¡°Not good. We have been docked a grade.¡± ¡°What? Why?¡± SJ asked in shock. Yawnee and Lurtew worked every day making barrels for the guild. ¡°They had decreed that the barrels were not of the expected quality compared to previous years.¡± ¡°That¡¯s ridiculous,¡± SJ barked. ¡°There is nothing we can do about it. If we wish to continue performing our trade-in Asterfal, we have to work through the guild. There is little we can do about it.¡± Lurtew walked into the kitchen and froze as Yawnee had to see the wildling sitting at the kitchen table. After a moment, he spoke, ¡°Morning all.¡± ¡°Morning Lurtew. Yawnee was telling me about your review.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t get me started,¡± he scowled angrily. ¡°That new supervisor is a jumped-up obnoxious upstart who wouldn¡¯t recognise quality if it smacked him across his lizard face.¡± ¡°Lurtew, this is Caperca. He had lost his load outside, so I invited him in for a coffee before he continued back to his store.¡± ¡°That is why there is a huge wagon parked outside.¡± ¡°I am sorry. Is it in your way?¡± Caperca asked. ¡°No. It¡¯s fine,¡± Lurtew said. ¡°What happens with your new grading?¡± SJ asked, returning the conversation to the guild. ¡°Our rates for materials increase.¡± ¡°That is ridiculous!¡± ¡°What do you make?¡± Caperca asked. ¡°We are coopers,¡± Lurtew said, looking at the wilding. SJ could still sense uncertainty from Lurtew towards the wildling. ¡°Can you not change your guild to one more fitting?¡± ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Lurtew frowned. ¡°There are other guilds which will hire good coopers. Not everything is controlled through the Brewers guild. I have heard enough bad stories since I arrived in Asterfal about the corruption of that guild.¡± ¡°Which guilds?¡± SJ asked. ¡°The alchemy guilds use coopers, and the smithing guilds hire coopers. Do you also make crates?¡± Caperca asked them. ¡°We have looked at other guilds before, and there are never any long-term or full-time contracts. Not specifically, but we can do it. Coopering has always been our profession, though, and barrels are our speciality,¡± Lurtew replied. ¡°Well, I don¡¯t know the rates they pay, but I bet they are fairer than the brewers guild. I can enquire if you wish when I speak to my guild next.¡± ¡°And why would you do that for us?¡± ¡°I would be returning a favour after the kindness SJ has shown me this morning. Anyway, I must be heading off. I need to open the store soon, so my partner and I will be wondering where I am with the shipment.¡± Caperca stood, and SJ escorted him back downstairs. ¡°If you come to District 12, my store is on Lerwisk Street. It is easy to find. Please make sure you call in, and I will speak to the guild about alternative work for your servants.¡± The final comment made SJ stare in shock. ¡°They aren¡¯t my servants. They are my friends.¡± ¡°I am sorry. I just assumed, since you are the obvious house owner, that they worked for you.¡± Before SJ could reply again, Caperca ushered the horses forward down the street. ¡®He is rather forward,¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°I have had very few dealings with wildings, but they are known for speaking their minds. They can come across as rude, but it is just their nature,¡± Dave said. SJ returned upstairs, and after gathering the things she wanted for today, she turned to find Kibble tugging at the corner of the blanket on the bed. ¡°Stop that. You will tear it,¡± she scolded. ¡°Come here. If you are coming with me today, you are going on your lead.¡± SJ picked the little beastie up and, taking the leather lead Darren had made for her, attached it to the small mithril collar that he wore. ¡°There we go.¡± Kibble turned and looked at the lead and then attempted to bite it. ¡°No, you don¡¯t,¡± SJ said., pulling the lead out of his way. Not considering it was attached to his collar, Kibble squeaked as he was suddenly dragged sideways. ¡°Sorry.¡± SJ reached out and stroked his little head. The lead was only a few feet long, meaning that Kibble couldn¡¯t take off and cause chaos, but it was long enough that he could sit comfortably on her shoulder as he usually did when she walked around. She wasn¡¯t sure if he would continue to be able to do it when he grew fully, but at his current size, it would be fine. Once Kibble settled on her shoulder, she made her way back downstairs. Yawnee and Lurtew were already busy in the garage as SJ entered. ¡°SJ. You need to be careful of that wildling,¡± Lurtew said, noticing her. ¡°They have a bad reputation.¡± SJ scowled, turning to Lurtew. ¡°I would have expected better from you. Do fae not have a bad reputation.¡± ¡°Yes, but you are different,¡± Lurtew stammered. ¡°Not everything is always as you believe. Anyway, I need to go. I have things to do and only have a couple of days before I will head back to Killic again,¡± SJ said before she said something she might regret later. The manner in which different races treated each other still frustrated her. ¡®Right then. I am going to go and see Holly. I have a job for her,¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°I was wondering what you had planned for her after yesterday.¡± ¡®She knows District 10, having lived there for years. If anyone can assist me in getting to the bottom of what is going on, she is. First, though, I will go and grab some clothes for them. They can¡¯t walk around in those rags.¡¯ It didn¡¯t take SJ long to locate a tailor¡¯s shop. Many of the stores were opening at that time of day, and SJ was the first customer in the store. It didn¡¯t take her long to pick several items of clothing for the family and pay for them, placing them in her inventory. They weren¡¯t fancy but practical clothes. Sizes weren¡¯t a problem. Her skill as a tailor had allowed her to judge the needs of the basic garments they would require The inn was only two streets away from her home, and she headed back towards it. The main inn was not open yet, and she suddenly realised she had no way to get inside, having given the key to Holly. ¡®Damn it,¡¯ she cursed. Quietness enveloped the street as she shrank, then took off to fly around to the front of the inn. She was unsure which window in the room they were assigned overlooked the street. Trying to judge the inside of the inn from the outside was not easy. She knew they had gone to the second floor and turned back away from the top of the stairs. ¡®It has to be one of these,¡¯ she thought as she flew to the furthest set of windows. The drapes were still closed, and she couldn¡¯t see inside. Flying to the next, she again peered in. The inside was the same as she remembered from the brief visit: a large open fire, a table, and chairs sat by it. There was no sign of anyone inside, and she flew back to the window with the drapes before she knocked on it. It wasn¡¯t until after a while and several knocks that a recognisable face appeared from behind the drape. Harry stared at her wide-eyed. He pulled the drape back further before he opened the window. SJ flew in and landed on the bed. Joel was still asleep at one end of the large bed, and SJ could see Holly¡¯s still form lying in the other. The room smelt of fresh oils, and SJ knew that they must have all bathed the previous evening. ¡°Morning,¡± SJ whispered, not wanting to disturb the sleeping forms of the others. She flew across the room. Harry climbed from the bed following her as SJ grew. Harry stared at her in amazement. It was probably the first time he had ever seen a fae change size. ¡°I brought you some new clothes,¡± SJ said as she emptied her inventory onto the table. After sorting through them briefly, she turned to Harry. ¡°These are for you,¡± she smiled. Harry¡¯s eyes were agog. Amazement painted his face as he took them from her and started to undress from his rags, pulling them on. As soon as he was dressed, he couldn¡¯t hold back his excitement. ¡°Thank you,¡± he yelled as he turned and ran back into the bedroom. ¡°Mum. Mum, wake up. Look what SJ has brought us.¡± ¡°What is that Harry?¡± SJ could hear Holly¡¯s sleep-filled voice. Holly came flying out of the bedroom, almost falling over. She stared wide-eyed at SJ and then at the clothes on the table. ¡°Morning,¡± SJ said. ¡°These are for you.¡± SJ pointed to the pile of women¡¯s clothes she had laid on the table. Holly walked over to the table and picked up the jacket that rested on the top. She held it in her hands for several moments, running her fingers across the material before dropping it again. ¡°What is it you are after?¡± Holly turned, looking at SJ accusingly. ¡°I am just after some information. That is all, and I believe you may be able to help gather it. You have lived in District 10 for a long time and also have told me about several things that were going on. That is if it was the truth.¡± ? Chapter 172 - A Way In Holly stared at SJ for several moments before she spoke again. ¡°What I told you about the district is true. There have been unusual signs recently and behaviours by many beings.¡± ¡°In what way are they behaving differently?¡± SJ asked. ¡°There is an air of anger. I haven¡¯t heard anyone speaking about the chancellor and the tower in a good light. It is only word on the street and not anything that has come from the district leaders directly.¡± ¡°Can you be sure it isn¡¯t from the leaders?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t seen or heard any of them speaking about it. It¡¯s more the crowds in the inns and the markets where you hear information.¡± ¡°Would you be willing and able to see what information you can discover? I can pay you for your time.¡± Holly scrunched her face, rubbing her forehead. ¡°I¡¯m not sure I want to get involved. We were struggling to survive as it was before, and I know you have brought us to this inn, but we will have to go back to District 10, and if the boys or I were discovered gathering information, the gangs wouldn¡¯t take kindly to it.¡± ¡°So there are gangs involved that you are aware of?¡± Holly sighed and turned, walking towards the window of the room, pulling the drapes back and allowing the early morning sun to cast more light into the room. ¡°Look, Holly. I don¡¯t want you to get into trouble, but you obviously know more than what you are alluding to. The fact you just mentioned the gangs wouldn¡¯t take kindly to it means you know that gangs are involved,¡± SJ said. Joel had awoken and walked into the room with Harry at his side. ¡°Mum, just tell her,¡± Joel said. Holly turned to look at Joel, surprise etched on her face. ¡°This is the first time in months we have awoken in soft, warm beds, and I haven¡¯t felt this well in weeks,¡± Joel said. SJ looked at the two boys. From their spoken language, it was evident that they had grown up quickly, learning to survive on the streets of Asterfal. Joel walked to the table, where a pile of clothes was laid out for him. He collected them from the table. Holly just watched as he turned and returned to the bedroom, carrying them. Harry followed again, leaving SJ and Holly alone. ¡°Tell me what? Holly,¡± SJ asked. SJ could see the mental anguish that Holly was going through, her face not able to hide her thoughts. ¡°Holly, please tell me what you know?¡± Holly walked back to the table where the clothes were, caressing the soft material between her fingers. She stared at them before she spoke. ¡°One of the gangs tried to recruit Joel. They wanted him to put up notices across the districts.¡± ¡°Which gang?¡± ¡°They are known as the Handlers. They have a reputation for resolving problems for others.¡± ¡°What sort of problems?¡± ¡°The unsavoury kind. Look, ambassador, I know you have already done more for my family and me than I could have hoped, but we will have to go back to District 10 eventually, and I can¡¯t chance the boy¡¯s safety. I am not worried about myself, but if the boys got harmed, I wouldn¡¯t be able to live with myself.¡± ¡°For a start, call me SJ, not ambassador and let me just clarify something for you. You never have to live in District 10 again.¡± ¡°And how is that going to work?¡± ¡°If I have to, I will find you a new home away from the district.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t afford to live anywhere else. I have no job, and even if I got one, no one that is willing to hire a barmaid pays enough to be able to afford accommodation in a better district.¡± ¡°Let me worry about that. I promise you that you will never have to go back to that hole in the ground.¡± Holly pulled one of the chairs out and sat down. SJ moved to the table and sat opposite her. The bedroom door opened, and Joel walked out. He had got dressed in the clothes SJ had provided. The trousers were a little big around his waist, but everything else fit well. SJ didn¡¯t think the trousers being a little baggy would be a problem as it was obvious that they were malnourished compared to many, and some good meals would soon fill him out. Harry was also entirely changed now, and the two boys were transformed from the street urchins in rags they had been. Holly looked at them both and smiled; it was a genuine, heartfelt smile, and SJ noticed Holly begin to tear up. ¡°You two look amazing,¡± Holly said as a tear traced her cheek. ¡°We do, don¡¯t we,¡± Harry beamed as he spun on the spot, showing off his new clothes. Considering the previous evening, the same young boy had been contemplating whether to stab SJ. The transformation was massive. He now radiated the looks of a young, carefree child. SJ looked at his feet, where they still wore the old boots that they owned. The toe of one of Harry¡¯s boots had a hole in it. ¡®Dave. How does the resizing of items work? I notice that Joel¡¯s trousers are baggy.¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°They are common items. Normal common items don¡¯t resize well.¡± ¡®MIT again?¡¯ SJ asked. ¡°I am not even sure if MIT or Oxford will solve that one. I have no idea how it works myself, and there is nothing in the Legionnarious that covers it,¡± Dave said. ¡°I think we may have to go boot shopping,¡± SJ said. ¡°Clothes are one thing. Boots I am not a great judge on.¡± Harry¡¯s eyes went wide with excitement at the comment. ¡°Thanks,¡± Harry said. ¡°No, Harry. The ambassador has already done too much,¡± Holly said. Harry¡¯s face dropped with a sad look. ¡°I told you to call me SJ, not Ambassador. Also, why would you not wish the boys to have new boots? I am sure you could do with some as well?¡± Holly wiped her wet cheek, looked at her worn and tattered boots, and turned again to SJ. SJ could again see the uncertainty in her expression and knew that she was battling internally. ¡°Right. Holly, you need to get dressed, and then we can get some breakfast. The inn downstairs must open soon, and you can tell me more about these handlers you mentioned.¡± ¡°Come on, Mum,¡± Harry said, moving over to her and grabbing her clothes from the table. Scooping them under one arm, he then grabbed his mum¡¯s arm and tried to drag her towards the bedroom to get changed. Holly was about to protest but gave in to her son¡¯s grinning face. ¡°Okay,¡± Holly said, allowing herself to be dragged to the bedroom. ¡°And don¡¯t come out until you¡¯re ready,¡± Harry said, closing the door. Joel¡¯s colour suddenly drained from his cheeks, his skin turning almost ashen, and SJ jumped to her feet when she noticed him sway. He stumbled sideways as she reached him and caught him in her arms. ¡°Are you alright?¡± SJ asked with concern. Joel gathered himself and stood upright again. ¡°I will be fine,¡± he said. ¡°He hasn¡¯t been well for weeks,¡± Harry said. ¡°Mum had been trying to get a tonic for him, but it was too expensive.¡± SJ helped Joel to a chair, and he sat, the colour slowly beginning to return to his face. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± SJ asked Joel.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡°I don¡¯t know. It started a few weeks ago, and I will suddenly go light-headed, and I always feel tired,¡± Joel said. SJ thought for a moment before she replied. ¡°I think I may know someone I can take you to see about a tonic.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Joel said. ¡°Yes. I met an alchemist this morning who owns a shop and may be able to help. We can go and see him after breakfast.¡± SJ helped Joel sit down at the table while Harry moved to look out the window at the sky. ¡°It looks like the rain has cleared for now. At least our clothes won¡¯t get wet.¡± ¡°We can pick up some cloaks later to be on the safe side.¡± ¡°Cloaks as well. I have never owned a cloak,¡± Harry grinned. SJ removed her water canteen from her inventory and passed it to Joel. ¡°Take a drink.¡± Joel sipped on the canteen, the colour slowly returning to his cheeks. ¡®I wonder what is making him ill?¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°It could be one of many illnesses,¡± Dave said. ¡®If I go to see Caperca. He may have something that can cure him. If not, I will speak to Petunia.¡¯ ¡°Your thoughts are all confused. I am struggling to read what your plan is exactly.¡± ¡®I am not sure I even have one yet. I need to find out more about these handlers. Holly and the kids will be in a much better position to get information than I ever will. I hope I can persuade Holly to help.¡¯ Joel handed SJ the canteen back. ¡°Thanks.¡± Smiling, SJ returned it to her inventory as the bedroom door opened. Holly walked out, and the woman who now stood in front of SJ resembled nothing to the woman in rags. The clothes SJ had picked for her were simple but stylish. They were similar to the style she had seen many of Amathera¡¯s female beings wear: a long skirt, a simple blouse, and a jacket. Holly had plaited her hair loosely. She could easily pass now for any normal being moving around Asterfal. ¡°You look stunning, mum,¡± Joel said. Holly¡¯s cheeks flushed with embarrassment at the comment from her son. ¡°Thank you, Joel.¡± ¡°Can we get some breakfast now?¡± Harry asked excitedly. ¡°If the ambassador is willing, then yes,¡± Holly said. ¡°This is the last time. Call me SJ, not ambassador.¡± The colour returned to Holly¡¯s cheeks again. ¡°Sorry, I am used to those in positions of power being addressed by their titles.¡± SJ could understand that many beings probably always wanted to be addressed by their titles, but she wasn¡¯t Amatherean and didn¡¯t like being catalogued. The inn¡¯s front doors were open, and SJ spotted the half-orc behind the bar. ¡°Morning. Are you serving breakfast?¡± ¡°Cook¡¯s not long in. It will be a few minutes yet.¡± ¡°Have you any coffee and juice while we wait?¡± ¡°Sure. I can sort that out. Take a seat, and I will bring it over.¡± ¡°I will need to pay for an extra breakfast. The room fee covers these three.¡± The half-orc nodded in understanding. ¡°What is it you were after? So, I can let the cook know.¡± ¡°Four full breakfasts and some fresh bread.¡± ¡°Any extras?¡± ¡°What extras do you have?¡± ¡°Menu is at the end of the bar there.¡± SJ picked up a menu and ushered the family to a table by the window, looking out onto the street. As the sun had risen, so had more of the locals. The street was starting to pick up, with beings moving to and from their places of work or whatever errands they were on. Harry and Joel chattered away to each other as Holly stared out of the window at the street. SJ looked over the menu, and as the half-orc brought the drinks over, she requested various extra sides. ¡°Holly. I need to ask if you will be willing to return to District 10 to gather more information on the handlers? I know you mentioned you were concerned about the boys, but they can stay here. There is no need for them to get involved. I have a place where they can be looked after.¡± Holly turned to look at SJ. ¡°What place?¡± ¡°I own a building a street over, and my friends who work there are coopers. The boys can help them, and they will be looked after. I am sure they would appreciate the help.¡± ¡°The handlers aren¡¯t just going to open their doors and speak to me. I only know what I know from working the bars in the district and what we have heard on the streets recently.¡± Holly¡¯s response made it obvious that she knew more about them than she had let on so far. ¡°Is there anything you can do to gain their trust?¡± ¡°I have heard rumours of how they pick their members.¡± ¡°What rumours?¡± Holly looked at the two boys, who were not paying any attention to the conversation. ¡°There was a rumour that to become a member of the handlers, you had to dispose of one of their rivals.¡± ¡°What rivals do they have?¡± ¡°A group known as the sanction. They are a group of thugs and supposed murderers. They were rumoured to be some of the most violent in the district. The handlers and sanction have had a running battle over the streets of District 10 for years. I believe that the leaders of both groups are related.¡± ¡®This sounds more like a mafia family turf war,¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°Ooo. Maybe you could do the old horse¡¯s head trick,¡± Dave said. ¡®Really, you have seen the God Father ?¡¯ ¡°It¡¯s a classic.¡± ¡°Do you know anything about the sanction and who their members are?¡± SJ asked. ¡°There is one being. A man called Francis. He is rumoured to be one of their leaders. I couldn¡¯t say for sure, but he used to frequent the Dragon¡¯s Den. I worked a few shifts there when I first moved to Asterfal before I found a better-paying job. It doesn¡¯t have the best reputation.¡± ¡®I bet I know a being that will know who is who for sure,¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°I would be surprised if he doesn¡¯t,¡± Dave said. ¡°If you disposed of this, Francis, would you then be able to get in with the handlers?¡± Holly¡¯s face went ashen at the thought. ¡°I could never,¡± she gasped. ¡°Let me correct myself. If I disposed of Francis, would you be able to get in with the handlers?¡± Holly¡¯s eyes opened with alarm, giving SJ an uncertain look. ¡°It looks like your inner assassin is beginning to bloom,¡± Dave said cheerily. She was an assassin, and if that meant removing evil from the world, then that is what she had sworn to do when she first arrived on Amathera. ¡®I always said I would battle evil and bring good,¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°You would dispose of him?¡± Holly asked. Before SJ could reply, the half-orc and a tall, thin ent headed over to their table carrying trays. The ent wore a white apron. ¡°Thank you,¡± SJ said as the trays were offloaded. The food delivered to the table looked to die for, and the boys and Holly¡¯s eyes went wide as they looked at the mountain of food that had been delivered. The conversation about the handlers and the sanction stopped as they all started to eat. ¡°This is amazing,¡± Harry said around a mouthful of hogling sausage that he had dipped in egg. ¡°It¡¯s not bad,¡± SJ said. ¡°Not as good as Floretta¡¯s cooking, but not bad at all.¡± ¡°Who is Floretta?¡± Joel asked. ¡°She works in the inn in Killic and is the cook there. Her food is the best food I have ever tasted.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s better than this, I want to try it one day,¡± Harry said as he took a massive bite from a bread roll he had smothered in honey. SJ couldn¡¯t help but smile at his enthusiasm. ¡°Slow down, Harry,¡± Holly said. SJ had been watching Holly eat, and she was only picking at the food. She watched as she placed one of her sausages onto Joel¡¯s plate. ¡°Mum. There is enough here for us all,¡± Joel said, placing it back on hers. It was obvious that Holly was used to going without food to ensure the boys were fed. SJ could feel the despair she must have felt not being able to take care of her children properly. The differing levels of the beings in the city were not visible on the street surface. When she first arrived and saw the magnificence of the tower and the affluence of those who worked there, the reality of the city was hidden. It was only once she had got to know Yawnee and Lurtew that the darkness that filled its streets became apparent. ¡®This task the chancellor has asked me to do may take some time,¡¯ SJ thought as they finished their food.? Chapter 173 - Acquaintances After they finished breakfast, SJ took the family to her home. By the time they arrived, Yawnee and Lurtew were already busy downstairs in the garage performing their cooper¡¯s tasks. ¡°Hi Yawnee. Lurtew. I want to introduce you to Holly and her two sons, Joel and Harry,¡± SJ said as she entered the garage. ¡°Morning. I assume these are friends of yours?¡± Lurtew asked. ¡°They are indeed. They are staying locally at the inn nearby, but I have asked Holly to do some work for me. I wondered if you would mind keeping an eye on the boys for her while she is busy?¡± Yawnee grinned. ¡°Of course, that is no problem.¡± Harry had already entered the garage and walked over to the rack where the tools of their trade were stored. Joel was a little more resistant until Lurtew approached him. ¡°Can you give me a hand?¡± Lurtew asked Joel. ¡°With what?¡± ¡°I am just about to finish this latest barrel, and I could really do it with someone helping to tighten the frame to get the bands in place.¡± Joel looked over at where Lurtew had a half-made barrel. The shaped wooden panels were facing upwards and were supported by a copper band near their base. ¡°Here, I will show you what to do. Would you mind helping?¡± Lurtew said. ¡°Sure,¡± Joel replied, shrugging. ¡°Are you sure they will be ok staying here?¡± Holly asked. ¡°They will be fine,¡± Yawnee replied. ¡°I will be back later, and when I do, if you have both been good for Yawnee and Lurtew. I may introduce you to Kibbles,¡± SJ said. Harry turned to look at SJ. ¡°Who¡¯s Kibble?¡± ¡°He is my pet miniature wyvern,¡± SJ beamed. ¡°Really!¡± Harry said, his eyes wide with excitement. ¡°Yes, as long as you behave while your mum is away.¡± ¡°We will, won¡¯t we, Joel?¡± Harry said. The children¡¯s change after being taken somewhere other than the district was clearly visible. ¡°Let¡¯s leave them to it,¡± SJ said to Holly as she turned to leave. Holly stood watching the boys for a few moments before she turned and followed SJ. ¡°Are you sure they will be ok?¡± Holly asked as they walked down the street. ¡°They will be fine. I am sure that Yawnee and Lurtew will keep them both busy. They don¡¯t stop working most days with the quotas they require.¡± The streets of Asterfal had started to get active. The usual calls and noise of a busy city in the morning as it woke up. Traders and peddlers called out, and shop owners stood outside their premises trying to persuade passersby inside alongside the traffic of wagons that now flowed through the streets. With the change in weather, it seemed many more were out today. ¡°So, where is this Dragon¡¯s Den bar situated?¡± SJ asked. ¡°It is in the middle of the district, near the trader¡¯s market. It looks like a nice place from the outside, but the beings it serves are less desirable. As I mentioned before, when I first arrived in Asterfal, I started there but soon found another job.¡± ¡°If it is home to a gang, are the guards not aware?¡± ¡°I am sure they know that it is gang-affiliated, but unless they have a reason to go there, it is like any other bar or inn in Asterfal.¡± ¡°I see,¡± SJ said. There were so many bars and inns in the districts that to keep an eye on many of them would be challenging. It didn¡¯t take them long to reach District 10, the buildings the clearest sign of crossing the district areas. As they moved down one of the streets, Dave suddenly spoke up. ¡°Left road. I just saw the sign for the Emperor¡¯s Arms.¡± ¡®What¡¯s that?¡¯ SJ thought, puzzled by his sudden comment. ¡°Carlito quest. Olivia Sharcastle, a cheating wife.¡± ¡®Oh. I haven¡¯t even considered the quests.¡¯ ¡°It¡¯s two perk points. It would be silly not to, and if we are close to it in the same district.¡± ¡®True. I suppose I should accept the quest then. Nothing was said there would be a penalty if I failed to achieve results before I left for Killic.¡¯ ¡°The only penalty would be losing reputation with Carlito.¡± ¡®I haven¡¯t ever seen anything saying I have a reputation with him?¡¯ All of SJ¡¯s other reputations were visible to her when she viewed her display details. ¡°Not so much the usual reputation you have with other beings, but if you fail his requests after accepting them as a trainer, he could refuse to work with you in the future. I doubt he would do that straight away, but it will be his guild reputation that gets affected if the quests aren¡¯t completed, not your own, since he will be the one claiming them for you to complete.¡± ¡®I see. That makes sense, although I doubt his reputation with the guild could be damaged easily. He is renowned.¡¯ As they continued towards the Dragon¡¯s Den, SJ opened her display and accepted the class quest ¡®Three for Two¡¯. The five sub-quests appeared on her display. She needed to complete three of the five to earn the two perk points. ¡°Holly. Do you know the Emperor¡¯s Arms?¡± SJ asked. ¡°Yes. We just passed the street it is on,¡± Holly said, looking back. ¡°Is it a busy bar?¡± ¡°It gets rowdy when they have acts. They usually have bards or groups playing most evenings. It is one of the best bars, but it is a little noisy for my liking. I haven¡¯t worked there.¡± ¡°Do you know anyone that does?¡± ¡°No. Unfortunately, the bars I worked in are further to the outer wall.¡± SJ didn¡¯t continue the conversation but noted the bar¡¯s location on her map, adding the tag ¡®Oliva Sharcastle¡¯. It took them another ten minutes to wind through the streets of District 10 before they came to an open market area. Stalls were positioned all around, reminding SJ of the street markets in the UK¡ªvarious types of stalls with multicoloured awnings covering many vendors and their goods. ¡°The bar is off the main street to the right over there,¡± Holly indicated. ¡°Okay. I assume you can easily recognise the being called Francis?¡± ¡°I can. He is a draconian, yellow scaled.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think I have ever seen a yellow-scaled draconian before.¡± ¡°Yellow scaled draconian are from the desert regions,¡± Dave said. ¡°Lythonian is an example of a forest draconian; that is why his scales were green. You also get frost draconian. They are the three main types, although there are other colour variants.¡± ¡°There are a few in the city,¡± Holly said. ¡°How do you want us to go about this?¡± ¡°I think watching the bar for now is the best approach until we can identify this Francis. You mentioned that it is only rumoured, so we would need to confirm he is a member of the sanction. Would anyone in the bar recognise you?¡± ¡°It depends on which staff still work there. It has been a few years.¡± ¡°Well, I think it best that I am not seen for now. Are you able to visit the bar?¡± ¡°I could but have no coin, and they don¡¯t take kindly to those who aren¡¯t drinking.¡± SJ removed a silver from her inventory and went to pass it to Holly. Holly¡¯s eyes opened in amazement. ¡°A silver,¡± she stammered. SJ knew that getting a drink of most ales or wines only cost a few coppers, but a silver piece was nothing in the scheme of her money. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± SJ said, dropping the coin into Holly¡¯s hand. Holly looked at the coin for several moments before it disappeared into her inventory. The pair crossed the market and entered the street where the Dragon¡¯s Den was situated. The street was busy with the daily traffic, and the bar doors were already open, allowing patrons inside. Many of the bars and inns in the city seemed to be open all the time. The bar looked inviting from the outside, a large sign hanging from a pole of a dragon in a cave mouth. The name the Dragon¡¯s Den was painted in golden script. The wooden facia of the building was whitewashed, and the morning light shone brightly off it. The paned windows were expansive, and SJ could see inside what looked like a cosy-looking bar. Long seats with cushioned furnishings and polished tables. It was more upmarket than she had expected. ¡°This doesn¡¯t look anything like I was expecting,¡± SJ said. ¡°Its looks can be deceiving. They don¡¯t pay well, and the beings that frequent it are the problem.¡± ¡°Who owns the bar?¡± ¡°A man named Salvino and his wife, Elouise. Elouise looked after the hiring and firing; she has a temper on her.¡± ¡°Will you be ok going in there?¡± ¡°Of course, as long as I have coin to spend, that is all they are interested in.¡± ¡°Okay. I have some errands to run, and I noticed a few stalls in the market which may have what I need. I will then head back home. If Francis turns up, watch him. Don¡¯t put yourself in a position that could be dangerous.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t,¡± Holly said as she walked to enter the bar. SJ watched her enter before she turned and walked back to the market. Terence was after a set of chisels for detailing, and Charlotte was still after several seeds. SJ had seen various stalls that may sell the items Terence sought. She spent a significant amount of time walking from stall to stall and browsing the items they sold but still did not manage to find what she was after. ¡®I really need to remember to ask Yawnee or Lurtew before I start walking the streets. I am sure they would know where to go.¡¯ ¡°I am sure they would,¡± Dave chuckled. ¡°Are you going to visit the Emperor¡¯s Arms while you are here?¡± ¡®It¡¯s probably a bit early. I was thinking of coming back this evening to find out about this Olivia character.¡¯ ¡°There really isn¡¯t much to find out. You just need to identify and end her. The reasons and details aren¡¯t your concern.¡± ¡®You know I have to check.¡¯ ¡°No, you don¡¯t. You just have to do the task.¡± ¡®You are right. I just don¡¯t like acting without proof. I don¡¯t want to be completing the work of those that are evil. It may have been created by a disgruntled husband wanting to run off with a mistress.¡¯ Dave let out a deep sigh. ¡°If you are concerned about your alignment being affected and whether you fight for good or evil, you don¡¯t get impacted by completing assassination tasks. The responsibility lies with the individual who assigned the quest. Even if a target is good by nature or alignment, an assassin completing their sworn duties under a quest will not suffer.¡± ¡®What? Why have you never told me this before?¡¯ SJ thought with surprise and confusion from Dave¡¯s response. ¡°I never really considered it, but if it helps, you complete your class growth without worrying about the consequences of your actions, then needs must.¡± ¡®It still doesn¡¯t stop me from potentially killing beings that don¡¯t deserve to die. And information like that could have been really useful to know before now.¡¯ ¡®Sorry,¡¯ Dave replied sheepishly.
The bar already had several patrons at tables when Holly entered. It was still only early morning, but the time of day didn¡¯t affect those who frequented bars. Holly didn¡¯t recognise any of the patrons or those who were working. The smell of roast hogling mixed with the sweet scent of pipe tobacco filled the air. A large orc sat at a table near the entrance, a mountain of food on his plate and a double tankard overflowing with froth. Holly walked the length of the main room. She knew the layout from her time working at the bar and that there were enclosed private areas. Since she had only recently eaten the largest breakfast she had had in several weeks, she wasn¡¯t even sure if she could stomach a drink of anything. She had already felt bloated from the morning meal. She called the silver coin to her palm from her inventory and slowly turned it in her fingers as she sat at an empty table. It had been so long now since she had held a silver coin. She was filled with shame. The last few months had been hell for her and the boys, and she was still in a daze over what had happened over the past twelve hours since the fae ambassador for a town she had never heard of had suddenly taken them from the slums. The fact that they were able to sleep in a clean, warm, comfortable bed. Never mind them all. Being able to get baths was a dream she had been hoping for for weeks. Since Mark had died, she had slowly been losing all hope. Joel had become ill, and whatever was afflicting, she didn¡¯t know, but there was no way she could ever afford to buy any healing potions or similar. Their survival had been by raiding the district tip loads. The rubbish of others had become their lifeline. Most items were only worth a copper if they were lucky, but a copper meant that they could at least get some food each day. The best haul they had made was when Joel had collected an old backpack with broken straps. Inside, they had found a small pouch which contained five coppers. The whole family had eaten that day, including herself. She usually ate so little that she worried about the boys getting enough to eat. In her prime, she had been so fun-loving and light-hearted, but after Mark¡¯s death, it was as though the world had turned dark. Everywhere she looked or everything she did now appeared tainted. It was only through the act of the ambassador that she was now sat in clean new clothes in a bar. She didn¡¯t trust the ambassador. She didn¡¯t trust anyone these days. Everyone always wanted something in exchange. She sat contemplating whether she should just go back, collect the boys, and disappear back into the streets. The silver would cover them for a while easily if they ate sparingly. The fact that a being would do what she had already concerned Holly. Nothing was done for free, there was always something expected in return. I hope the boys are okay she thought as she sat staring at nothing in particular as her thoughts ran wild in her mind. ¡°What can I get you?¡± a cheery voice asked. Holly hadn¡¯t seen the serving girl walk over. She only looked young, maybe in her teens at the most. She was a human girl with bright red hair and a freckled face. Her smile was slightly lopsided, which made it look awkward. ¡°Sorry. I was daydreaming. Could I just get some tea, please?¡± ¡°Of course. Did you want any food?¡± ¡°No thanks. Just a tea,¡± Holly smiled. The girl¡¯s carefree and friendly nature was as she had once been, and it pained her to notice the resemblance in her past self. ¡°That will be two coppers.¡± Holly still fingered the silver coin before handing it to the girl. ¡°I will need to get change,¡± the girl said, collecting the coin and hurrying back to the main bar. Holly watched as the girl spoke to the barman, who looked grumbling, before she noticed him counting coppers out and exchanging the silver coin with the girl. The girl came back and placed neat piles of copper coins on the table for her. Holly watched as the stacks were made before she collected them into her inventory. ¡°Thank you,¡± Holly said. The girl just smiled back and turned away again, moving to the next table, where a small group of goblins had taken residence. Holly recognised the flash that several were wearing on their arm and knew they were members of one of the street gangs. She couldn¡¯t remember its name as there were several goblin gangs across the districts. Not long after, the girl returned with a pot of tea, placing it on the table. ¡°Who are they?¡± Holly asked the girl quietly, indicating the goblins. The girl turned her nose up and, with her back to them, whispered. ¡°Thugs. They come in nearly every morning. It always seems one or two of them have fresh injuries.¡± Holly glanced over and noticed the fresh bruising one goblin had around his eye. ¡°Do you know the gang they belong to?¡± ¡°No, sorry. They never cause any problems when they are here and usually deal with the draconian.¡± ¡°Which draconian?¡± ¡°Oh. He isn¡¯t here yet. He will probably be in soon. His name is Francis. He is lovely. I am not sure why he has anything to do with the goblins, though.¡± Holly¡¯s heart skipped hearing the name. At least it confirmed that Francis still came to the bar. The only thing she wasn¡¯t one hundred per cent sure about was whether he was a member of the sanction. If there was one thing that Holly was well aware of from working as a barmaid herself, it was that if you wished for information in the city, the barmaids were usually one of the best sources of information. ¡°Holly. Is that really you?¡± A female''s voice cut across the bar. Holly turned to look at Elouise''s face. She was a thin woman, wiry and strong. Her hair was cut in a bob around her sharp, chiselled features. Her nose had a slight hook to it. Although she smiled at Holly, her smile didn¡¯t reach her eyes. ¡°Elouise. Good to see you again,¡± Holly said, forcing a smile. She had never liked the woman when she worked there. ¡°What brings you here?¡± Elouise asked in a tone that held no pleasure. ¡°I just came to get a drink while I was nearby, and I know the tea was always to die for,¡± Holly lied. The tea they served was no better than any other bar in the district. ¡°I see. The last I heard, you were living by the outer wall. It seems the rumour may not have been true.¡± The fact that Elouise knew that Holly had been living by the outer wall took her by surprise. ¡°And how would you know where I was living?¡± Holly asked. Before Elouise could respond, a tall, smartly dressed draconian walked into the bar. ¡°Good day,¡± Francis called as he entered, his yellow scales shining in the light from the large windows. Elouise immediately turned from Holly, ignored her, and walked towards the draconian. ¡°Francis, my darling. Would you like your usual?¡± the smile that radiated from Elouise¡¯s face was genuine this time. ¡°That would be perfect, thank you, Elouise. I would take my usual seat, but I see it is taken this morning,¡± Francis said, glancing at Holly. Holly didn¡¯t consider where he might sit, as she could not remember precisely from her brief time working there. That was probably why Elouise had come over to get her to move. She hadn¡¯t meant to be noticed while there. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Is this your seat?¡± Holly asked Francis. ¡°Not mine,¡± he smiled, but I do normally sit there. ¡°I don¡¯t mind moving,¡± Holly said, picking up her tea and moving over a table. ¡°That is very kind of you,¡± Francis said as he slid into the seat Holly had vacated. Holly was now sitting with her back to Francis, close enough to hear any conversations that may have taken place. ¡® Let¡¯s see what I can find out, ¡¯ she thought as she sipped her drink. Chapter 174 - First of Three SJ was on the corner of the street against a storefront near the Emperor¡¯s Arms Inn. The inn looked like many others; the only significant difference was the signs that stood on the street side showing the names and faces of artists who were due to perform there. SJ had walked up and down the street initially before she had taken her spot at a street corner. She was sitting leaning against the wall of a building, having put on her cloak. It was wrapped tightly around her, hiding her appearance from those moving down the street, having switched her dress style to one of a more dishevelled appearance. The transmogrification ability was a fantastic perk. Where she now sat with her knees pulled up and her cloak wrapped around, her made her look like any other beggar she had seen on the streets of Asterfal. Her head was down, and she wasn¡¯t worried about being able to look in the direction of the inn with her amended vision that Dave had given her. SJ was still unsure how the coding adjustment had allowed for her neural pathways to be adjusted and, in particular, allowed her the ability to see 360 degrees. She still only had her eyes that faced forward. ¡°It¡¯s just coding,¡± Dave said in response to her thoughts. ¡°I can¡¯t explain it any other way.¡± ¡®If you can amend the coding that has allowed my vision to be altered, does that mean further amendments could change other fundamental aspects?¡¯ ¡°Such as?¡± ¡®If the coding adjustments altered my vision, could they also alter me in other biological ways?¡¯ ¡°I doubt it would ever allow for your race to change.¡± ¡®I wasn¡¯t thinking about that; I was thinking more about increases in my attributes.¡¯ ¡°Umm. I hadn¡¯t thought about it, but with your already significant boost, you get per level. I doubt I would ever be able to alter the fundamental levelling building blocks. Then again, I never expected to get this far on breaking the code locks.¡± ¡®Our synchronisation continues to increase, and if you have access to so much more system information, could I not have access to it in time?¡¯ ¡°I really don¡¯t know. It is an unknown. I never would have thought I could have adjusted your vision the way I did.¡± There were still so many unknowns in Amathera, and at the same time, she had so much to do. Her life was anything but boring. The friendships and relationships she had built, the increases in her levels, although presently on hold, and the uncertainty brought by the fae and what was beginning to look more like a battle of wills between gods. Then, her role as an ambassador, as well as being granted quests, could ultimately lead to assassination jobs from the chancellor of the largest city in the southern region of the continent. Never mind the complexity of everyday life. She had so much more to learn and understand. Her time in Amathera had been so short. Considering that she could also live for thousands of years, she basically had time to do anything she wished. ¡°Move it, scum,¡± an unfriendly voice snarled. SJ had been so busy with her musings that she hadn¡¯t noticed the building owner where she was propped leave his store. The building she leaned against looked like a tanner or similar, and the broad-shouldered dwarf didn¡¯t look pleased that she had perched outside his store. SJ didn¡¯t look up, not wishing to show her face, and didn¡¯t respond. ¡°I said move it,¡± the dwarf said as he kicked out towards her. SJ saw his boot coming before it struck her, and she braced her arm with the subtlest movement, absorbing the weak strike. The dwarf¡¯s foot hit SJ¡¯s tensed arm, and it stopped dead. She saw the fleeting frown of surprise appear on the dwarf¡¯s face as his kick had no effect. It hadn¡¯t been violent or particularly powerful, but he had expected a reaction. Lifting his foot again, he went to kick her a second time, this time with more force. ¡°Sorry. I didn¡¯t realise you were talking to me,¡± SJ said, not looking up, as he lifted his foot. ¡°Move it. I don¡¯t need your type hanging around outside my store.¡± SJ¡¯s cloak was hiding her completely, and before she thought anything more about it, she changed her dress. ¡°I am not sure what you mean by my kind?¡± SJ said as she climbed to her feet, allowing her cloak to open. Her dress was now a deep blue and perfectly cut in the style of Asterfal fashion. The dwarf¡¯s jaw dropped as he looked at her. She still had the hood around her face, hiding her hair, but her beautiful features were now visible as she stared at the dwarf. ¡°I¡¯m so...sorry,¡± the dwarf stammered, completely taken aback by her appearance. ¡°I thought you were a beggar.¡± ¡°Even if I was, do you think it appropriate to kick them?¡± SJ asked, smiling but knowing her smile didn¡¯t reach her eyes. ¡°Erm...¡± the dwarf, now uncertain of what to say. Since her spot had been revealed, SJ decided there was no point in just observing the inn anymore and instead walked towards it. The stunned and confused dwarf stared at her. She watched him shake his head from side to side behind her, baffled by the interaction, before he turned and walked back into his store. SJ kept her hood up as she entered the inn, walking directly to the bar. ¡°Can I get a honey wine, please?¡± SJ asked, not looking at the barmaid. The barmaid didn¡¯t respond; she just turned and poured a glass of honey wine before placing it in front of her. ¡°Three coppers,¡± the goblin said. SJ dropped three coppers onto the bar before moving and taking a seat by the window. At the far end of the bar was the stage area, which was currently empty. It didn¡¯t take SJ long to realise that it wasn¡¯t just an inn that housed music. Next to the main bar was a set of stairs, and as SJ sat there, she observed several patrons entering and going straight upstairs. She was just finishing her glass of wine when two large bullish, looking orcs appeared at the top of the stairs a tall slim elf between them. One orc headed down, followed by the elf, and the second orc followed with his hand resting on the elf¡¯s shoulder. ¡°The boss says you have until next week to pay your debt,¡± one of the orcs said as they escorted the elf to the bar entrance. The elf looked dejected and downtrodden. SJ finished her drink and stood, leaving the inn and following the elf as he walked down the street further into District 10. Once they were a decent distance from the inn, she sped up and approached him. ¡°Excuse me?¡± The elf turned his head, glancing at her. His eyes flared as he looked at SJ, who, this time, was smiling broadly, and it reached her eyes. Her Charisma on full display. ¡°Hello. How may I help you, miss?¡± the elf said. ¡°I was hoping you could help me. I am looking for some information, and I noticed you leaving the Emperor¡¯s Arms.¡± The elf frowned deeply. ¡°And what of it?¡± his tone had immediately changed to one of anger. ¡°I just wondered why the orcs threatened you when you left?¡± ¡°I owe a debt. It¡¯s that simple.¡± ¡°What is your debt for?¡± ¡°What do you think?¡± the elf confused by her statement. ¡°I have no idea.¡± ¡°I borrowed coin, and the damn witch Olivia who ran the table cheated.¡± The name Olivia immediately piqued SJ¡¯s interest. ¡°Oh. There is gambling there?¡± The elf frowned again. ¡°You aren¡¯t from this district, are you?¡± ¡°No. I am visiting a friend. I only went to the bar because I heard they have music.¡± ¡°They do in the evenings, not during the daytime. It also has a gambling den upstairs.¡± ¡°I had no idea. Do you mind if I ask how much your debt is?¡± ¡°Why would you want to know that?¡± ¡°Maybe I can help you if you can help me.¡± ¡°With what?¡± ¡°Introduce me, get me in on the game. I like a good game of cards.¡±Stolen novel; please report. ¡°Are you seriously trying to torture me?¡± Dave suddenly chided. ¡®If it¡¯s a way in, it¡¯s a way in,¡¯ SJ thought in response. The elf scoffed before he responded. ¡°Unless you have twelve silver to spare, then no, you can¡¯t help.¡± ¡°That¡¯s doable. If I clear your debt, will you introduce me?¡± The elf stood for several moments, looking at her before he shook his head. ¡°If you clear my debt, then I will introduce you.¡± ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± SJ asked. ¡°Ulyian.¡± ¡°Sarai,¡± SJ replied, offering her hand. She didn¡¯t want to use her name. Since she was an ambassador with an unusual name, it was probably not the best introduction to make to people when she was looking at completing assassination jobs. ¡°Let us go back, and I will cover your debt.¡± The elf didn¡¯t look like he was usually short of money. His clothes were clean and smart. After considering her offer for several moments, he replied. ¡°Show me you have the money, and I will do it.¡± The street they were on was not a main street, and there were only a few beings out along it. SJ called some silver from her inventory and held her hand out. The elf¡¯s eyes narrowed greedily, and she could see why this elf may indeed have a problem. ¡°I will give you the coin once we are upstairs at the inn and not before,¡± SJ said as her senses started to tingle. She couldn¡¯t see anything in her vision, but something suddenly felt off. As the elf stepped forward, the slightest glint showed from his sleeve, and she instantly stepped backwards as the silver blade of a stiletto appeared in the elf¡¯s hand as he thrust it towards her. ¡°Watch it,¡± Dave said. ¡®Already seen,¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°Why worry about when we get there? If you have silver, I can take it here,¡± he snarled. SJ¡¯s dexterity and heightened senses had saved her on more than one occasion, and as she stepped back, her claws appeared on her hands. There had been no conscious thought. It had become so natural for her. The pitch black of the claws caught the blade of the elf¡¯s dagger between them as she thrust her fist upwards. The blade slid into the v at the weapons base. As it did, SJ twisted her wrist. The blade snapped, falling to the street as the elf¡¯s eyes now widened in shock. SJ triggered her identification spell as she moved her free-clawed fist, punching towards the elf¡¯s left side. Ulyian Weatherist Level: 23 Class: Rogue Hit points: 71 of 71 Mana points: 55 of 55 Armour Class: 15 Attacks: Dagger Special: Stab, Slash Weaknesses: Nil SJ knew that if she hit the elf, she could kill him easily; her minimum damage was 81-83 with her claws. He wasn¡¯t wearing any armour and didn¡¯t appear to be wearing any jewellery or amulets that may offer him any extra protection her basic spell didn¡¯t detect. His armour class and the physics of combat may adjust the initial damage enough that he didn¡¯t die from a single blow, but he had not been expecting her response, believing he had taken her by surprise. The blades of her claws easily pierced through the elf¡¯s upper left arm. A grunt of pain left the elf as he dropped the now useless blade and stepped back from her blades, reaching his free hand up to the freshly punctured holes leaking blood onto his jacket. SJ hadn¡¯t struck to kill. If she had, she would have aimed for his chest instead of aiming to wound rather than kill outright. ¡°How did you?¡± the elf¡¯s face grimaced in anger and pain. ¡°I could have killed you where you stood if I had wished. I didn¡¯t wish to kill you, so you are still alive. Why did you try and steal what I had offered?¡± she shook her head. Her stance was not threatening but casual, her claws held at her sides now. Ulyian glanced at the black blades and down at his broken dagger blade on the street. ¡°Why would a stranger offer me silver? You think I was going to fall for a trick from a charlatan? You are not the first to follow someone from the inn and try and steal their winnings.¡± A look of confusion spread over SJ¡¯s face. ¡°Hang on. I told you I had seen you in the inn and asked you about your debt, yet you still believed that I may just be trying to rob you? Are you for real? I heard the orc say you had a week to pay your debt back. Isn¡¯t it pretty obvious that you don¡¯t have a coin on you now, or else the orcs would have taken it? You really aren¡¯t the smartest being, are you?¡± Blood had continued to seep through the elf¡¯s fingers where he had clamped his hand. The wound to the elf¡¯s upper arm wasn¡¯t life-threatening, but it had done a serious amount of damage, rendering his arm useless. He would require healing to get functionality back in it again. Ulyian responded eventually, his expression now one of surprise. ¡°So, you weren¡¯t going to try and rob me?¡± SJ rolled her eyes in dismay. ¡°You haven¡¯t picked the sharpest knife in the drawer there. Have you?¡± Dave said. ¡°If I was going to rob you. Do you think I would have struck up a conversation about paying your debt off? Which I had just heard about, knowing that you had a debt and unlikely to have a coin on you?¡± After several longer moments, Ulyian said. ¡°I suppose not.¡± Closing her eyes, SJ let out a deep sigh and returned her claws to her inventory. If she needed to finish this elf off, she could easily do it barehanded. He was in no fit state to try and fight again. ¡°Where are the closest healers?¡± SJ asked. ¡°There is one a street over. Why?¡± ¡°So, we can get you healed, and then you can take me back to the inn and introduce me, and I can pay your debt off.¡± SJ followed the elf as he continued down the street. Their interaction had drawn no attention. The fact that a fight had started, and blades drawn, yet no one had reacted, told SJ that beings in this district were either used to seeing it or stayed away from any problems for their safety. It didn¡¯t take long to reach the small chapel. Its wooden frame was crammed between two buildings. Its narrow frontage only allowed for a single-door entry, with a narrow window on each side. Ulyian entered the building, SJ following. The inside of the chapel was dark, with interspersed hooded candles lighting the single row of pews that filled its small interior. A being wearing off colour white robes stood by the altar at the end of the narrow space. This was the first chapel SJ had entered outside of Killic, and it was a poor and shabby affair. There were no statues of gods or really anything that gave the grandeur and feel of the church in Killic. ¡°Cleric?¡± Ulyian called as he approached the altar. The being that stood took SJ by surprise. It was old. Very old. It looked human, but its skin was so wrinkled and shrunken that its appearance was more like that of a shrivelled prune. He had long white hair thinning on top, and his robes, although with the emblem of the order SJ had seen, were filthy and tattered. ¡°What do you need?¡± a dry, ancient voice replied. ¡°Healing father. I have been wounded.¡± The human SJ eventually worked out and looked at them both. Only one of his eyes was bright; the other was dull and lifeless. After looking at the elf for a moment, the cleric replied. ¡°Lesser healing will be 50 copper, normal will cost a silver, and anything else will be extra.¡± SJ immediately removed a silver from her inventory and handed it to the cleric. Ulyian didn¡¯t even have time to react. SJ knew the damage she had caused and knew that a basic healing spell wouldn¡¯t repair what her blades had done. ¡°Thank you, dear,¡± the cleric said as he lifted his hand. He placed it on the elf¡¯s arm and began to chant an incantation. A white light began to envelop the elf¡¯s arm, and after several moments, the cleric removed his hand. ¡°It is part healed. If you wish for it to be fully healed, it would require a further spell.¡± SJ identified Ulyian. His health was still down by twelve hit points. The spell, having healed nearly thirty hit points. SJ knew that her original strike had hit for thirty-nine damage, even in its reduced and controlled strike. ¡°Here. Do it again,¡± SJ said, handing over another silver. ¡°As you wish,¡± the cleric replied before he repeated the same exercise. ¡°It¡¯s done,¡± the cleric said as he removed his hand again. ¡°Thank you, Father,¡± Ulyian said. The cleric shrugged and turned away again, retaking his place kneeling at the altar. As they walked back from the chapel, SJ spoke to Dave. ¡®Are all chapels like this?¡¯ she thought. ¡°Most clerics work in order to make money. Few are as dedicated to the order as you have met so far. The order is like a guild for the clerics. Although they are members, how they operate is up to them in many instances. Petunia, Wystria and Lythonian, for example, could be classed as high-level guild leaders in the simplest terms.¡± ¡®I suppose I had never thought of it before. I assumed it was as churches back on Earth.¡¯ ¡°They are in most parts, but these healing chapels are dotted around many of the larger cities. They aren¡¯t what would be classed as official order properties. The state of that cleric, I am surprised he could still stand.¡± ¡®He did look a little ancient,¡¯ SJ agreed. ¡°Ulyian. Now you are healed, I think you need to go and change your top, and then we can go back to the inn. Do you agree?¡± ¡°I do, and thank you for paying for my healing.¡± ¡°I caused the damage; therefore, it is only fair I pay for it.¡± ¡°I live just down here,¡± Ulyian said as he turned down another street. ? Chapter 175 - Game On It didn¡¯t take Ulyian long to change and for them to make their way back to the Emperor¡¯s Arms. In the brief time they had been away, more patrons filled the downstairs area. It was approaching midday, and many looked as though they were grabbing food. There were stalls on the streets selling various food choices, but it appeared many preferred to grab a drink while they ate. The bar staff were now busy delivering tankards to several tables. Ulyian turned as he entered the bar and headed straight for the stairs. At the top of the stairs, they turned on a small landing and were met by a door. The door had a panel in it, reminding SJ of the doors she had seen in films where they checked identities before opening them. Ulyian knocked sharply on the door. The panel was slid open, and the eyes of one of the orcs from earlier looked out on them. ¡°You back already? You better have the coin to pay your debt,¡± the orc said. ¡°I am Harf, and I have the coin.¡± ¡°Really!¡± Harf said, surprised. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be back if I didn¡¯t,¡± Ulyian said, his voice full of bravado and smugness. ¡°Who is that with you?¡± SJ stood behind Ulyian, her figure diminutive compared to the tall elf. Her hood was still pulled around her face. ¡°A friend of mine. She is interested in playing.¡± Harf disappeared from the panel for several moments and SJ picked up a conversation with her improved hearing. ¡°Ulyian is back and brought another female being who wants to play.¡± SJ couldn¡¯t quite hear the reply but thought it was a female voice. ¡°The boss says you can come in but wants the coin first,¡± Harf said as he looked back out. SJ removed the twelve silver debt that Ulyian had and handed it to him. ¡°She is paying for you?¡± Harf said, chuckling as Ulyian passed the silver through the panel to Harf. A few moments passed before a bolt was withdrawn, and the door swung open inwards. ¡°Enter.¡± SJ followed Ulyian inside. The room stretched above what SJ assumed was above the bar area below. The ceiling was not high. The large orc guards, Harf, and his companion, stood at the other end of the room, almost reaching the ceiling. The inside was brightly lit with lanterns burning the smell of oil thick in the air. There were at least six tables where various beings sat playing card games of varying styles. A female kobold dressed in a brilliant yellow blouse sat at the end of the room. She was adorned in jewellery and trinkets, and each of her clawed fingers had at least one ring on them. Her scales were a dark blue colour, almost midnight. The eyes of the kobold were bright, and SJ could see cunning in them as she watched them enter. ¡°Ulyian. Back for more already, I see,¡± the gentle lilt of the female kobold carrying the length of the room. ¡°Yes. Lady Targosa. I am hoping my luck has changed.¡± ¡°Well, you know the rules, and I have to say that this is the fastest debt repayment I have experienced. I was expecting to have to send my boys to visit,¡± Lady Targosa smiled. ¡°Is she really a lady?¡± SJ whispered to Ulyian. ¡°No. Just the title she uses,¡± Ulyian said as he headed towards a vacant seat at a table. Taking a seat, he turned to SJ, who took the seat next to him. The being acting as croupier was a female ent. It was usually difficult to tell the gender of the ents, but her dress made it easy to tell. She had six arms and deftly shuffled three packs of cards at the same time. ¡°Oh. A Farlaki Ent. A long way from home,¡± Dave said. ¡°The Farlaki are from the Northern forests of the continent. It is unusual to find one this far south. You can tell them by the number of arms they have. Some have as many as eight.¡± ¡®I never saw that on the race details when I had a choice?¡¯ ¡°They are a rare variant of ent. There really aren¡¯t many of them left to my knowledge.¡± A male gnome sat in another chair at the table, a stack of coins in front of him, and a female human at another with a smaller pile, mainly copper. ¡°Ulyian,¡± the gnome said. ¡°And who is this with you?¡± ¡°This is Sarai,¡± Ulyian replied. SJ nodded her head in response, not showing her face. Her hood still concealed her features. ¡°If you are sitting, you must show coin,¡± the croupier said. SJ removed some copper from her inventory and placed it on the table before moving some in front of Ulyian. He nodded appreciatively. SJ did not know what the game was that she was being introduced to and didn¡¯t really care as she scanned the bar with her 360 degree vision. There were no standout beings she could see. A human male walked towards the table carrying a tray. ¡°Would either of you like a drink?¡± ¡°I will have my usual,¡± Ulyian said, moving three of the copper SJ had placed to the side. ¡°I¡¯d like a honey wine, please,¡± SJ said, moving three coppers to the side for him as well. ¡°Four copper for the wine.¡± ¡°It was three downstairs,¡± SJ said. ¡°Prices are more upstairs,¡± Ulyian answered. As SJ moved another copper. The croupier spoke. ¡°Bets down.¡± SJ watched as the others at the table moved coins across a line on the table. SJ did the same but only moved one copper. The gnome was playing with silver coins and stacked three across the line. The female human only moves three copper. SJ had only given Ulyian ten coppers, and he bet his remaining seven straight away. ¡®I have no idea what game this even is,¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°It¡¯s a simple game,¡± Dave said. ¡°I think back on Earth, you call it high or low. You have to survive five calls to double your coin and then can opt to keep gambling. If they use standard rules, it will double every five turns.¡± ¡®With three packs of cards. That makes the odds significantly different,¡¯ SJ thought as she began to do mental arithmetic in her head, considering probabilities. Numbers were her thing, after all, and she could work out a half-decent idea of what they may be. SJ sat furthest away from others on the table¡¯s end, and she spoke softly to Ulyian as the ent turned the first card. ¡°Did you say this Olivia cheated earlier?¡± Ulyian sneered as he looked across the room to where a woman worked on another table. ¡°The cheating bitch is over there,¡± he said. SJ took note of the woman, not turning her head, and observed where she worked. She was a human female, probably in her thirties, looking at her appearance. She was dressed in the standard uniform the other croupiers were wearing, telling them apart from the customers. The first card that was turned was an emperor. SJ watched as the gnome moved his coin to a mark on the line with an arrow pointing towards him. An emperor was equivalent to a king, and the probability of it being a lower card was obviously significant. ¡®I assume emperors are the highest?¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°House rules vary, but most of them will be in card value order¡ªone to ten, then knight empress and emperor,¡± Dave said. The hand continued as they moved the coins depending upon what they believed the next card turn would be. The emperor had been followed by a three, then ten, and the fourth turn was a six. ¡°How are you working out the probabilities of card turns so quickly?¡± Dave asked. ¡®What?¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°I can see how quickly you are calculating the probabilities and change in probability for each card value. There are three packs in play, yet your neural pathways are in overdrive. It is as though your brain has just been set alight.¡± SJ didn¡¯t even consider what she was thinking. Numbers were just numbers to her. ¡®Can you not calculate probabilities as quickly?¡¯Stolen novel; please report. ¡°Well, yes, of course I can, but I have a huge amount of memory and am able to complete multiple computations at once. You have a human brain. I have never seen so much activity in your brain before.¡± The six card being turned immediately placed the odds in the house¡¯s favour. The chance of calling the correct guess was much more difficult. SJ left her copper coin where it was on the lower line. The three others moved theirs to higher. The croupier turned the next card, an empress. ¡°Winners on one, two and three. Four loses,¡± the croupier said as she collected SJ¡¯s coin before doubling the amounts of the remaining players. ¡°Why did you not play the odds?¡± Dave asked, surprised. ¡®I want to see what she does and get a feel for the game.¡¯ With the empress showing as the card, all three of them stayed in, allowing their doubled coin to ride for the next five turns. It only took four more turns before all three of them were out, having lost their coin. The gnome thumped the table angrily as the croupier collected his six silver. The dealt cards were moved to the side and placed in a neat pile as the croupier called for bets. Ulyian was already out, having lost the coppers she had given him, and he stood from his seat, collecting his drink that had been brought. ¡°Good luck,¡± he said to SJ as he stepped back. SJ moved two coppers to the line this time. ¡°Last bets,¡± the croupier said as she turned the first card. As the game continued, SJ carefully watched the female human named Olivia and Ulyian, who had walked towards the end of the room. There, Targosa the kobold sat almost regally on her throne, overseeing her gambling den. ¡®I need to discover if that is the Olivia that is on the quest,¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°Switch tables. You don¡¯t have to stay here,¡± Dave said. The hand continued, and the house turns, allowing for triple-stacked wins. SJ¡¯s copper had turned from two to eight after fifteen turns with a knight showing. SJ was doing what could only be classed as card counting as she reworked the probabilities in her head at each card that was turned. They had been through twenty-three of the one-hundred and fifty-six cards the three packs held over the two hands so far. ¡®One hundred and twenty-three cards divided by five gives twenty-four more sets to get through. If I doubled my winnings each time, I could win over one hundred thirty-four million copper. That¡¯s equivalent to one hundred and thirty-four platinum, and knowing how many beings lived on such meagre incomes, the chance of winning so much from an initial two copper coin bet explains why beings may indeed gamble.¡¯ ¡°You know the odds are beyond minuscule?¡± Dave said. ¡®Of course I do. But as the probability changes with card removal, the probabilities adjust accordingly.¡¯ ¡°Yes. But there are also push cards, which haven¡¯t happened yet.¡± ¡®What are they?¡¯ ¡°When the same value card as shown is turned. This negates a card, and another is drawn.¡± SJ allowed her brain to flow through permutations as she decided to continue with the fourth set. She didn¡¯t believe she had ever seen the numbers clearer than she did now. ¡®I have to say, I am finding these calculations much easier than I would have expected.¡¯ ¡°That is what is amazing to me; your neural network is in overdrive.¡± The gnome had fallen at the third stage, calling a turn on an eight incorrectly, but with the knight showing, the odds were currently stacked in SJ¡¯s favour¡ªthe female human who was also playing decided to stay in the game. Ulyian had finished talking to Targosa and had returned to the table. He stood next to SJ and watched as she continued to move her coins to the higher or lower mark as cards were turned. By the sixth round, SJ¡¯s coin stack was now 64 copper. SJ noticed one of the orcs walking towards Targosa, bent down and whispered in her ear. The human female called a stop at the sixth round with a seven on show. She had started with four copper and was now sat with two silver fifty-six copper. She squealed in delight as the card for the sixth round had been turned, and as soon as the coin had been added, she pulled her bet. SJ continued playing. By the time the tenth round had ended, SJ had ten silver and twenty-four copper sitting in front of her, but it also drew the attention of not just Targosa but several other patrons, who were now standing watching the game unfold. SJ knew that considering the gnome had been betting silvers without any due consideration, her current pot was tiny. It was just that to survive ten rounds had apparently not been witnessed for a long time. ¡°Luck is on your side,¡± Targosa said as she walked towards the table. ¡°It appears to be,¡± SJ replied. She still hadn¡¯t removed her hood and didn¡¯t look up and meet the kobold¡¯s gaze. One of the orcs was standing just off behind her, and she could see how tense he looked. ¡°Olivia. Come and take over, will you? It is time for Sharista¡¯s break.¡± The table where Olivia had been croupier was now empty, and the two patrons moved to watch the action on SJ¡¯s table. The woman walked over with a warm, friendly smile. ¡°Of course,¡± she said as she slipped into the seat the ent had vacated. ¡°Ten hands in, you are doing well.¡± ¡®If I can reach the fourteenth hand, that will be over a gold in winnings.¡¯ ¡°Twenty more cards,¡± Dave said, SJ hearing the excitement in his voice. She knew that it must be torture for him to watch her sit here gambling when he had a problem. The cards kept turning, and SJ kept recalculating and moving her stack of coins. By the time the thirteenth hand had concluded, her stack was now eight-one silver and ninety-two copper. An ace had been the final card of the last stack. ¡°Take your money,¡± Ulyian urged as SJ sat there. She was showing no emotions, calmly calculating her chances at each turn. Luck had been on her side so far; after all, a probability was just that, a probability and the chances of the successful run she had already achieved were ridiculously low as it was. ¡°Are you staying in, or would you like to quit?¡± Olivia asked, her silky, smooth voice making SJ feel as though she were playing with a spitting cobra waiting to strike. ¡°Let¡¯s keep going,¡± SJ said. Several gasped as Olivia smiled and turned the next card, a two. ¡®There it was,¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°What?¡± Dave asked. ¡®As she placed the two, I saw her flick her other wrist, and a card was slid to the top of the pack from her sleeve. I bet the next card is an ace. There is no way a normal person wouldn¡¯t leave it on higher and allow the cards to turn,¡¯ SJ said as she reached for her stack and moved it to lower. ¡°What the hell are you playing at?¡± Ulyian spluttered. SJ didn¡¯t respond to the gasps and calls of madness around the table but did notice the stiffness that suddenly appeared in Olivia¡¯s movements. As she reached for the top card, her hand trembled ever so slightly. An ace was turned. Those around the table erupted in a gabbled mass of excitement and comments of unbelievable, and many other more colourful words were spoken. ¡°She has to be using magic?¡± one of the patrons called. The voice that spoke up surprised SJ. ¡°She isn¡¯t. I would know if she was,¡± Targosa replied. Three more card turns would turn the two copper stake into one gold, sixty-three silver, and eighty-four copper. As SJ continued to play, the crowd got more excited with every card turn; when the third card, showing an empress, was turned, cheers erupted. ¡°Fourteen rounds,¡± Ulyian said open-mouthed. The look of shock on his face said it all. What SJ had achieved so far was obviously unheard of or such a rare occurrence that none of those now watching could quite fathom her luck. Olivia counted her winnings and added them to the stack in front of her. A bead of sweat was on her brow. Targosa stood behind Olivia, observing SJ¡¯s every move. SJ could feel her eyes burning into her. Her hood still hid her face. ¡°Would you like to continue?¡± Targosa asked before Olivia had the chance. SJ looked up and saw the kobold¡¯s eyes for the first time. There was no sign of anger on the kobold¡¯s face or frustration that SJ could tell. However, from her enhanced senses, she could feel the tension in the air that could be caused by all those now watching the game unfold. ¡°Could I get another honey wine?¡± SJ said. ¡°Bring a wine,¡± Targosa said, her eyes not moving from SJ¡¯s. Olivia¡¯s hands were now clearly shaking, although she was trying to keep calm under the circumstances. ¡®Once more,¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°Are you sure?¡± Dave said with surprise. ¡®I started with two copper. It isn¡¯t as if I will lose anything if I do lose. I didn¡¯t have it to start with.¡¯ ¡°But you have won over a gold.¡± ¡®I want to see what they try next. Targosa wouldn¡¯t be observing me if they weren¡¯t planning something.¡¯ The whole time that SJ had been looking at the kobold, she hadn¡¯t taken her focus off of Olivia and her hands. An empress as the face card meant that only an emperor would allow for a higher turn. The problem was then the other four turns after that. ¡°Here you are,¡± the waiter said as he brought her another honey wine and placed it on the table. SJ went to pay for it when Targosa interjected. ¡°No cost,¡± she smiled. To SJ¡¯s surprise, her smile reached her eyes and appeared genuine. This kobold¡¯s ability to keep a straight face was uncanny, and SJ could never imagine playing her directly at any card game. ¡°Thanks,¡± SJ said, lifting the glass and sipping the wine. ¡°So, will you continue?¡± SJ again looked at Targosa and, returning her smile, replied. ¡°Let¡¯s go once more.¡± ? Chapter 176 - Game Over The shout drew the attention of the room. Targosa looked over to the entrance door where one of the orcs had grabbed one of the other patrons. SJ didn¡¯t let her concentration drop from Olivia as she turned towards the sound. Her vision allowed her the flexibility to look away. ¡°That¡¯s it, you¡¯re out of here,¡± the orc growled. It wasn¡¯t Harf who had answered the door initially but the other one. He was larger and more foreboding. The dwarf he had grabbed by his collar and was now manhandling towards the door was crying his innocence. ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything,¡± he pleaded as the orc dragged him to the exit. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me I didn¡¯t see what I just did,¡± the orc replied. The movement was subtle, with everyone¡¯s attention drawn to the exit door and the struggling dwarf, but SJ didn¡¯t miss it. This time, it was a flick of Olivia¡¯s other wrist and a card was immediately placed on the top of the deck. ¡°Did you see it?¡± Dave asked. ¡®I did. She just topped the deck with an emperor. It has to be as from her other sleeve. They don¡¯t appear to like people beating the house.¡¯ ¡°I still can¡¯t believe how quickly you have been recalculating the probabilities. Any other being wouldn¡¯t be able to do the mental maths involved.¡± ¡®If I manage to run this hand through, then I will stop.¡¯ SJ had noticed Targosa glance at Olivia as the commotion had started. It had to be planned as a distraction. SJ casually picked up her honey wine while the dwarf was forcefully removed from the premises. Taking a sip she placed it down on the table as the dwarf¡¯s pleads were lost as the door closed behind them. ¡°Apologies all for the disturbance,¡± Targosa said. ¡°Shall we continue?¡± Olivia asked, a smile back on her face. The attention of those now drawn back to the card table. The empress was face up and the last turned card. ¡°Let¡¯s,¡± SJ said as she reached and moved her stack of coins to the higher position. ¡°NOT AGAIN,¡± Ulyian cried. ¡°I just have a feeling,¡± SJ said, not failing to notice the very slight narrowing of Targosa¡¯s gaze and the fleeting look of panic that flashed across Olivia¡¯s face. The number of easy turn cards at the end of a round had to be a deliberate ploy to try and make many patrons continue playing. Then, finishing them with an emperor or ace wouldn¡¯t look as suspicious. As SJ had been monitoring and counting all the cards played, she knew how many should have been left in the deck and knew that with three emperors of each suit and three aces of each suit in the packs, most beings would never be able to keep count of what had been played. She was finding it very easy to monitor everything. Even she had to admit to herself that although she was good with numbers, the manner in which she was able to calculate everything so quickly was taking her by surprise. She had been getting more confident as the game had continued, and the odds had kept switching depending upon the face-up card. Olivia turned the card. The stalwart face of an emperor screamed at SJ, and she couldn¡¯t help but smirk. ¡°I don¡¯t believe it,¡± Ulyian said as he almost fell where he stood, his knees shaking. ¡°How can you be so lucky?¡± ¡°I am just doing what feels right,¡± SJ said, shrugging. Targosa¡¯s smile was present, but this time, it wasn¡¯t reaching her eyes. The beads of sweat that Olivia had dabbed away had returned as she asked for SJ¡¯s choice. It had to be low with an emperor, and the game continued once she moved her stack. There was a clear tremble in Olivia¡¯s hands now as she continued to turn the cards after SJ¡¯s calls. As the final card was turned on the hand again, the room filled with cheers in celebration of SJ¡¯s luck. Ulyian slapped her on the shoulder. ¡°This is amazing, congratulations.¡± SJ¡¯s winnings were counted out, and she now had three gold, twenty-seven silver, and sixty-eight copper stacked in front of her. That had completed the 15th straight hand. SJ knew that there were still enough cards for another nine hands. ¡®I am tempted to continue,¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°DON¡¯T,¡± Dave almost made SJ wince. He was that loud. ¡°You have gone far enough.¡± The fact Dave was telling SJ to stop when he was a gambling addict hit home to her. ¡®Okay,'' she replied to Dave before looking at Olivia. ¡°I think I will stop there,¡± SJ said as she reached for her coins. ¡°Are you sure? You are doing so well,¡± Targosa said. ¡°Yes. I am sure. I think I have pushed my luck far enough for now,¡± SJ said as she drew the coin into her inventory, removing it from the table. SJ wasn¡¯t sure if Targosa was relieved by her reply or not. Several of the beings congratulated SJ on her win, and SJ, in response, offered to buy the patrons a drink in celebration. There were only twelve beings, so it wouldn¡¯t even cost a silver coin. That brought more cheers as beings filtered away back to other gaming tables. SJ wasn¡¯t sure if what she had done was a good or a bad thing. Some now appeared overly enthusiastic to try their luck. Olivia stepped back from the table. As she turned, SJ noticed Targosa gripping her arm and whispering something to her. Olivia¡¯s back stiffened, and SJ knew it had to be a threat. ¡°I can¡¯t believe you just did that,¡± Ulyian said, standing with a silver coin in his hand and spinning it between his fingers. ¡°Where did you get that from?¡± ¡°Targosa. She loans to regulars.¡± ¡°Go and give it back to her now,¡± SJ snapped. ¡°But, you have just won and...¡± ¡°And nothing. I just cleared a twelve silver debt for you, and you will do as I say, and don¡¯t think you won¡¯t be paying me back either.¡± ¡°But I thought...¡± ¡°Thought what? That I would give you twelve silver and forget about it? Twelve silver is enough for some to live off for months.¡± ¡°Yes, but...¡± Ulyian said as SJ flashed him a look that caused him to close his mouth rapidly. SJ suddenly felt lightheaded. She had initially picked her honey wine up from the table when she had stood but now placed it on another empty table. ¡®I think the wine is drugged,¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°Any notifications?¡± Dave said. ¡®Nothing.¡¯ ¡°Umm. If it isn¡¯t harmful to you, then it probably won¡¯t register. It could have been a sleeping tonic.¡± ¡®I better get out of here before it takes effect,¡¯ SJ thought as she could feel panic rising in her chest. ¡°We are leaving now,¡± SJ said to Ulyian. ¡°We are?¡± ¡°Yes, now,¡± SJ said as she felt a wave of dizziness hit her. ¡°Okay. If you say so,¡± Ulyian said, ¡°I will give the silver back, and then we can...¡± ¡°No. Pay it back later,¡± SJ hissed. Ulyian looked surprised but wasn¡¯t going to question SJ. He really wasn¡¯t the most intelligent being she had met since arriving in Amathera. As they reached the door to leave, Harf walked towards them. ¡°Leaving so soon?¡± he asked. ¡°Yes, I have an appointment to attend,¡± SJ said. She needed to leave, as the effects of whatever had been in the drink were getting worse. ¡®I wish Jay were here,¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°You have me, don¡¯t worry,¡± Dave said. ¡®You can¡¯t protect me if I fall unconscious.¡¯ Harf reached for the door latch and begrudgingly unlocked it, allowing her to pass with Ulyian. SJ wasn¡¯t sure how she was managing to stay on her feet. Her head was spinning now, and she was pretty sure it must have been her boots and their sure step ability allowing her to stay upright. She noticed Harf turn and look towards Targosa as she left. SJ couldn¡¯t tell Targosa¡¯s response. Her vision was now causing more of an impairment with the dizziness. As SJ reached the bottom of the steps, Ulyian was in front of her leading, and she stumbled slightly into his back. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Ulyian asked. He appeared to have genuine concern on his face. ¡°Feeling a little dizzy. Maybe because of the excitement at winning,¡± SJ strained to smile. ¡°I just need some fresh air.¡± Ulyian led them from the bar as SJ grabbed his arm and leaned against him. Her legs felt like blocks of stone. ¡°Keep with it, SJ,¡± Dave said. ¡®I¡¯m trying,¡¯ she replied. ¡°There¡¯s a travel cart; it¡¯s one of the tower stables ones,¡± Dave said. SJ could see the shape of a cart across the street from the inn; it was moving, or at least she thought it was. ¡°Grab that cart,¡± SJ said to Ulyian. Ulyian looked where SJ pointed and called to the driver. With help from Ulyian, she reached the cart and climbed into it. Struggling to get her thoughts in order, she gave her address to the driver as she lost all sense of her surroundings. The next while was not clear to SJ, but she had a vague recollection of arriving somewhere and being assisted from the cart before she had completely lost consciousness. ¡°You¡¯re awake again,¡± Dave said. ¡®Where am I?¡¯ SJ asked. She didn¡¯t recognise the room she was in. ¡°Don¡¯t panic. You are at home. Lurtew and Ulyian managed to carry you upstairs and put you in Cristy¡¯s room rather than all the way to the top floor.¡± ¡®Oh,¡¯ SJ thought as her eyes adjusted to the darkened room, and she started to make out familiar surroundings. As she went to sit up, her head throbbed painfully. ¡®Whatever that drug was, I was lucky I left when I did.¡¯ ¡°You are also lucky you had Ulyian with you. He really took care of you,¡± Dave said. ¡®What?¡¯ SJ said, surprised. ¡°You were pretty much unconscious from the moment you were in the cart. He made sure you got home safely and was so worried that he stayed. I think he is still in the lounge with Yawnee and Lurtew.¡±Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡®How long was I out?¡¯ ¡°About two hours.¡± SJ rolled from the bed and stood, her head spinning slightly as she did. She was so thirsty her throat felt parched. The door opened, and Yawnee stood in it. ¡°Thank the Gods. You are awake again. I was going to get a healer after Ulyian explained what happened," Yawnee said. ¡°Ulyian explained?¡± ¡°He is in the lounge and would be best to explain.¡± ¡°I need a drink.¡± ¡°I will get you one. You go and speak to Ulyian.¡± SJ left the room and went to the lounge. As she approached, she could hear laughter. When she entered, Lurtew was laughing at something Ulyian had said. ¡°You are up again,¡± Lurtew smiled. ¡°Yes. I believe I owe you thanks,¡± SJ said to Ulyian. ¡°Only right after what you did for me,¡± he shrugged as if it was nothing special. ¡°How do you feel?¡± ¡°My head throbs like an ogre is stomping in it.¡± ¡°I was right then,¡± Ulyian said, grinning with pride. ¡°Right about what?¡± SJ asked. ¡°It was when you lost it outside in the cart that I got concerned. I have had suspicions about other winners at the bar before. I had a similar thing happen to me when I suddenly collapsed one night. The next morning, I found myself down an alley with no coin after a winning night.¡± ¡°How come you had no coin? Didn¡¯t you have it in your inventory?¡± Ulyian¡¯s cheeks coloured. ¡°No. I can¡¯t remember leaving the bar. When I went back the following day, they said I had left after drinking in celebration of my win, and that was nothing compared to what you won today.¡± ¡°You need to get some antidote potions,¡± Dave said. ¡°You can¡¯t chance being caught out like that again. You were lucky today.¡± ¡®I will. I need to find Caperca¡¯s shop and see what he sells, considering I need to get something for Joel as well.¡¯ ¡°Where are the children, and has Holly been back?¡± SJ asked as Yawnee entered with a pot of coffee and a glass of water. SJ picked the water up and downed it instantly. ¡°The children are playing in the yard,¡± Yawnee said. ¡°And Holly hasn¡¯t returned yet.¡± ¡°Thanks for looking after them,¡± SJ said. ¡°They have been a great help today,¡± Lurtew said. ¡°So what will you do about this bar?¡± ¡°I may have to have a conversation at the tower,¡± SJ said. ¡°The tower?¡± Ulyian frowned. ¡°Oh, you don¡¯t know, do you? SJ is an ambassador,¡± Lurtew replied. SJ grimaced slightly at the comment. She hadn¡¯t really wanted Ulyian to know anything about her. She had even given him a false name. ¡°What¡¯s an ambassador? And why are they calling you SJ,¡± Ulyian said, utterly confused. ¡°Yes. I am an ambassador for a town to the south of Asterfal.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Ulyian said, although it was pretty obvious by the look on his face that he really didn¡¯t comprehend. ¡®I always imagined elves to be intelligent,¡¯ SJ thought. ¡®I have no idea how he has managed to reach the level he has.¡¯ ¡°All races have their own, and you seem to have picked an elven one,¡± Dave chuckled. ¡°Ulyian. What do you do for a job?¡± ¡°This and that. Nothing special. I usually pick up bits of work here and there as I need to.¡± ¡°Such as?¡± ¡°Whatever the boss asks me to do. Usually deliveries.¡± ¡°Who is your boss?¡± ¡°Palor. He is a big thing in District 10. Holds a lot of power,¡± Ulyian said with pride. ¡°What power does he hold?¡± ¡°He is a member of the sanction. They control many dealings in District 10.¡± SJ couldn¡¯t quite believe that Ulyian was sitting boasting about working for someone from a gang. ¡°I don¡¯t think your boss would be happy knowing you are talking about him,¡± SJ said. ¡°Why not? Anyone who is anybody in District 10 knows the sanction.¡± ¡°So he is a leader of sanction?¡± ¡°He looks after the streets where I live, so I guess he is quite powerful.¡± SJ could imagine Palor getting Ulyian to do the most simplistic tasks imaginable. The fact that he was willing to brag about working for a gang made little sense, and she was pretty sure if they knew he was, he would be in serious trouble. Then again, she also knew that District 3 had allowed gangs to work unchallenged, and she could imagine that many of the guards turned a blind eye to the proper coin being distributed. It was just another level of corruption that Asterfal faced. SJ shook her head in disbelief. ¡°This city,¡± she sighed. ¡°Yawnee. I don¡¯t suppose you know where Caperca¡¯s shop is in District 12. He said it was on Lerwisk Street.¡± ¡°I know the street.¡± ¡°Do you mind taking me there?¡± ¡°Of course not. Did you wish to go now?¡± SJ checked her display; she hadn¡¯t realised the time after the events at the bar and her spell of unconsciousness, but it was already late afternoon, soon to be early evening. ¡°I¡¯m not sure he will still be open.¡± ¡°Probably. It¡¯s still early enough.¡± ¡°Okay. Then let¡¯s head over. Ulyian. I appreciate your help today. You may call your debt cleared.¡± Ulyian¡¯s grin faded at the comment. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yes, why?¡± SJ asked. ¡°Oh, no reason,¡± he replied forlornly. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°I was hoping I could escort you back to the bar again. I would love to watch you play again. You were unbelievable.¡± ¡°I may call in again at some point, and I know where to find you now if I need you for anything,¡± SJ said, standing. SJ was definitely going back to the bar, but it wouldn¡¯t be on the terms that Ulyian had expected. Her next visit may not be as pleasant as her first. She had to see Olivia. She hadn¡¯t learned her surname, and her reaction when Targosa spoke to her told its own story. SJ escorted Ulyian downstairs. Eventually, after he pleaded with her to meet him at the bar again, she partially succumbed, saying she would if she had time. He walked off with a childish grin on his face. ¡®He really is a strange one,¡¯ SJ thought. Yawnee had met them downstairs, and they headed towards Caperca¡¯s. The store was a three-storey building. It had a narrow frontage like many buildings in Asterfal but made up for it by the floors. The shop had a picture of a cauldron with bright gems being poured into it. The shop had no name over it, but it was the only one on Lerwisk Street that looked anything like an alchemist and jeweller. The street itself wasn¡¯t a main street of the district, tucked away behind two large buildings they had passed. SJ entered with Yawnee. The face of an avian looked up from where it was sitting. It wore a magnifying monocle on one of its large eyes. It had to be Caperca¡¯s wife. ¡°Hello. How can I help you?¡± it said. ¡°I was looking for Caperca. Is he here?¡± The shop downstairs was filled with small trinkets and chains. SJ recognised many of the items as charms she had seen several beings wearing to show their support for the various gods of Amathera. ¡°His shop is on the first floor,¡± she bluntly replied. There was obviously no difference in the manner in which they directly spoke. ¡°I am going to browse,¡± Yawnee said as SJ turned and headed to the stairs at the side of the shop. The upstairs was what could only be described as organised chaos. Everywhere she looked, stacks of boxes held various small bottles of liquid. Some were miniature vials, while other display stands held larger bottles and ointment jars. Due to the displays and box stacks, SJ couldn¡¯t see Caperca from the top of the stairs. ¡°Hello?¡± she called. The head of Caperca appeared around from near the base of a stand. ¡°Hello again,¡± Caperca said. ¡°Hi Caperca. I came to see if you have anything that could help cure illnesses.¡± ¡°I do. What is the illness?¡± his tone was matter-of-fact. ¡°I am not sure. General weakness and tiredness, and a cough as well.¡± ¡°Umm. I have several healing tonics. I am not sure which would be best, but I can suggest a few different ones.¡± ¡°That would be great. I also need some antidotes if you have them.¡± ¡°General poisons?¡± ¡°Yes. Also anti tiredness ones.¡± ¡°Umm. The best would be these. Single dose, antivenoms. They are sold as antivenoms but will negate most effects. They usually take about five minutes to work.¡± ¡°I see. How much are they?¡± ¡°They are a silver each.¡± ¡°Okay. What about the healing ones?¡± ¡°They vary.¡± He had stood from where he had been stacking the bottom of a display and walked over to her. He collected various bottles and jars and carried them to a counter that stood off to the side near the top of the stairs. SJ followed him. ¡°How many antivenoms would you like?¡± ¡®Do they stack?¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°The same should stack in your inventory, yes,¡± Dave said. ¡°You can also get potion bags for your inventory; they are specialist alchemy items that allow for more potions to be stored. If I remember rightly, the usual stack limit is ten per slot.¡± ¡®Thanks.¡¯ ¡°Please give me ten antivenoms. I would also like a selection of your healing tonics,¡± SJ said. ¡°Okay,¡± Caperca said as he collected ten of the miniature vials from a box. ¡°These will be ten silver, and then if I add in one of each of the main healing tonics, that will be a further six silver.¡± ¡°That would be great. What other potions do you do?¡± ¡°What do you want? I have many options for various applications.¡± Caperca turned around the counter again and went to another stand. ¡°Here, I have giant strength; it will add +3 to your strength for three hours. I also have some feather fall potions. These last for thirty seconds. I have several other options for minor attribute boosts. The only major potion booster I have is a potion of intellect. It will grant whoever drinks it double intelligence for a limited time.¡± ¡°What do the minors do?¡± ¡°They add between +1 and +3 to an attribute and usually last three hours.¡± ¡°I see. I think, for now, I will just go with the ones I have selected.¡± ¡°No problem. That will be sixteen silver.¡± SJ counted out the coin and placed it on the counter. ¡°I spoke to the guild today. They are interested in meeting with your friends.¡± ¡°Sorry?¡± SJ said, confused. ¡°About work. We spoke this morning about other work rather than working for the Brewers Guild.¡± ¡°You have spoken to them already.¡± ¡°Yes. I was going to call on our way home this evening and let them know. They said to call in at the guild anytime with a sample of their work.¡± ¡°I see. I can let Yawnee and Lurtew know. Yawnee is downstairs. Actually, I will go and get her, and you can explain the details to her.¡± ¡°Fine,¡± Caperca said. SJ collected the bottles, adding them to her inventory before she headed back downstairs to tell Yawnee. ¡®They really don¡¯t waste their words,¡¯ SJ thought as she walked down the stairs. ? Chapter 177 - Olivia ¡°Kibble,¡± SJ called as she entered her room. The little wyvern poked his head out from where he had created a cave from the blankets on her bed. Kibble left his blanket cave and stretched his wings out before he hopped over to SJ. ¡°Sorry I was so long today,¡± SJ said, stroking him on his head. His scales were so soft and had an almost velvet feel to them. He let out a low, growling purr before he took off, heading for the window. SJ obliged, letting him out of the back and down into the yard. That was when SJ heard a scream. She wasn¡¯t sure if it was in terror or joy. Peering down, she noticed the boys were still both in the yard, kicking what could only be described as a ball around. SJ hurried downstairs to the kitchen, nearly sending Lurtew flying, who was on his way to investigate the scream. ¡°Sorry. I let Kibble out and forgot the boys were here,¡± SJ said as she hurried to the rear door and exited. Kibble had ignored the boys and was busy sticking his snout into one of the plant pots where an insect was buzzing. ¡°Boys. This is Kibble,¡± SJ said to the two wide-eyed faces, looking at the inquisitive little beastie. Kibble turned at hearing his name and snorted, a small crackle of lightning appearing at his nostrils. ¡°Kibble. This is Joel and Harry.¡± Kibble took off and flew to SJ¡¯s shoulder, where he perched and tilted his head sideways, looking at the two boys. ¡°Can I touch him?¡± Harry asked, the inquisitive nature of the youngest coming through. ¡°Of course,¡± SJ smiled. Harry walked forward and cautiously put his hand out towards Kibble. Kibble stuck his snout forward and sniffed his hand before he lowered his head, allowing Harry to stroke him. ¡°He is so soft to touch,¡± Harry said with surprise. ¡°He is,¡± SJ said. Joel had taken longer to react but slowly approached Kibble himself before also reaching out. Again, Kibble sniffed his hand before allowing him to stroke him. ¡°He is amazing,¡± Joel said. ¡°He is special,¡± SJ said. At the comment, Kibble sat upright and took an almost regal pose on her shoulder. SJ shook her head in disbelief at his behaviour. ¡°I better feed him,¡± SJ said, turning to the stairs to go to the kitchen. ¡°Can I?¡± Joel asked excitedly. ¡°Sure,¡± SJ smiled as the two boys followed her back inside. Yawnee and Lurtew were both in the kitchen, and they had started to make the evening meal. Holly still hadn¡¯t come back yet, and SJ was starting to get a little concerned. She had been at the bar all day. Joel collected some hogling from Yawnee to feed Kibble as SJ spoke to Lurtew. ¡°Did Yawnee tell you about the option to go to the alchemy guild?¡± ¡°Yes. I have no idea what they may like to see if we took samples.¡± ¡°I would start with a standard barrel. If what you are making meets their requirements, they will tell you what they need.¡± ¡°All we have known is the Brewers Guild. I have no idea how the other guilds work.¡± ¡°Hopefully more favourably,¡± SJ said. Both the boys were busy taking turns feeding Kibble small hogling strips in the corner of the kitchen where a small area had been set up for a food dish and water bowl for him. ¡°I am just going out for a bit,¡± SJ said. ¡°Do you mind feeding the boys?¡± Yawnee smiled, turning to look at SJ. ¡°Not at all. I am sure they would both enjoy a bowl of stew.¡± Joel and Harry both answered in agreement. ¡°I won¡¯t be too long,¡± SJ said, leaving them to it. Kibble would be happy with all the attention he was getting from the boys. Now she knew where the bar was and had it marked on her map, she went to her room and shrunk before leaving via the balcony and heading directly there. The streets were still busy in District 10, the sun still providing sufficient light, and the market stalls were still open. Traders appeared to make the most of the light, and some shops opened late into the evenings. SJ landed on a roof over from the Dragon¡¯s Den. The bar was busy, and several patrons sat at tables outside and inside. There was quite a ruckus, and SJ heard shouting. She adjusted her dress again to a plain style, took off, and dropped down into a tight alley near the bar. As she grew, she placed her cloak on, ensuring that it covered her wings entirely, and pulled her hood around her face. Entering the street, she blended in perfectly with the various beings going about their business. She slowly walked past the front of the bar on the far side of the street and looked inside. Through the large paned windows at the front, she could see a group of beings that appeared to be arguing inside. She casually stopped by a shop window and browsed the wares inside while using her vision to be able to still watch what was happening in the bar. A rather large goblin was standing, squaring up to a smaller goblin, and SJ noticed the glints of metal, seeing them both holding blades. Several patrons weren¡¯t even paying the argument any attention and had just continued their drinks. This made it appear to SJ that this must be a regular occurrence. As she watched, the smaller goblin lunged for the larger. His blade was parried by the other, who then countered, swinging his dagger back at the other with a speed that defied his size. The smaller goblin wasn¡¯t fast enough to react, and the blade caught its cheek, easily cutting across it. The smaller goblin squealed in pain as blood dripped from his fresh wound. A deep voice boomed from inside the bar. ¡°First blood to Garler. He is the winner.¡± SJ couldn¡¯t see the one who had announced the win. ¡®It appears this is normal for the bar,¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°Seems that way. Both those goblins are wearing the same gang colours. I bet it was a leadership challenge. From the little I know about the goblin gangs that work the streets of Amathera, there are continual leadership challenges within their gangs.¡± Dave said. ¡®I didn¡¯t realise you knew so much about them?¡¯ ¡°Asterfal is quiet compared to some larger cities I have visited, and the gangs all seem to work the same way. The leaders are usually the strongest of the groups.¡± As SJ watched, she saw Holly moving toward the rear of the bar through the window. ¡®Holly is still inside,¡¯ SJ said. ¡°Yeah. I spotted her. I am surprised she has stayed there so long today,¡± Dave said. ¡®I am concerned as well. I was expecting her to go in and then come back out again once she identified Francis. I suppose he may never have turned up.¡¯ As SJ continued to watch, she then realised what Holly was doing. Across her arm was draped the telltale sign of a server. A cloth rested across it, and she carried a tray. ¡®It looks like she has been working. That¡¯s great to see, although surprising.¡¯ ¡°It is. She said she didn¡¯t like the place.¡± ¡®I suppose beggars can¡¯t be choosers,¡¯ SJ thought before realising how poor a taste her statement sounded. ¡®I may as well go and check out the emperor¡¯s arms again. At least we know she is safe and well. I am sure she won¡¯t be too late back with the boys still at mine.¡¯ After continuing down the street and then turning down the next alley, SJ checked her surroundings before again shrinking and taking off. The light was only starting to fade, and she knew that she needed to be careful when flying. Several birds flew in the skies above Asterfal, her previous run-in with a carrion hawk being an example. She just hoped that if anyone noticed her with the speed she was flying, they would pay her no attention and believe her to be a bird.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. The emperor¡¯s arms were rowdy when she reached it and landed on its roof, music and boisterous singing filling the street outside. The slanting pitch of its tiles made a treacherous landing platform for anything not wearing boots of her calibre. When she had gone upstairs to the gambling den, there were several doors leading from the main room, and she moved to the rear of the building and looked down. Below her was a yard, like many of the inns had. Old empty barrels and crates littered it. A small unattended fire was burning in a pit, and she was surprised in a district with so many wooden buildings that they weren¡¯t more careful. A set of steps ran up the rear of the building, leading to where SJ believed the rear of the gambling den was. The yard itself led into an alley at the rear and looked at the back of other buildings from the adjoining street. SJ scanned the building¡¯s windows, looking over the yard, and couldn¡¯t see any beings looking out. The rear door to the ground floor bar opened, and a human male walked out, carrying a broken stool. ¡°Just throw it in the pit,¡± SJ heard a voice call above the loud music. The man walked to the edge and dropped the stool into the fire before entering the bar again and closing the door. SJ dropped from the roof and flew down towards the stairs to the first-floor entrance at the rear of the den. Windows were looking out to the rear, but they looked filthy and covered in grime. She hovered and peered in as best as she could. It looked like a restroom for the croupiers; lockers stood half open, and it appeared that belongings lay about the room. There was no one in view. SJ then moved to the other window but was unable to see inside, the interior darkness and grime obscuring her view. ¡®I may have no option but to revisit the den,¡¯ SJ thought. She really didn¡¯t fancy going back inside after the last visit, but then again, after winning so much before, some may call it a ¡®gamblers will,¡¯ hoping to repeat the process again. ¡®I know I didn¡¯t ask before, but are you alright with me going back inside?¡¯ SJ felt guilty but hadn¡¯t communicated her thoughts to Dave. ¡°I am fine. I enjoyed watching the speed at which your brain was calculating the probabilities before. I really didn¡¯t pay any attention to the gambling. I was trying to understand why there had been such a significant increase in activity. It is as though the percentage of your brain you use had increased.¡± SJ was aware that on Earth, there were always statements that human beings only used ten per cent of their actual brain capacity and capability. Although science had since dictated this incorrectly as the whole brain was used, it was just that different parts activated depending upon the activities that you were doing. ¡®I don¡¯t even know if Olivia would still be working,¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°Only one way to find out,¡± Dave said. There were two more floors above the gambling den, and SJ flew back up towards the roof, stopping to glance in the windows. One to the third floor was open, so she moved to it. No one was visible inside, so she entered before landing as her eyes adjusted to the relative gloom of no light. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Dave asked. ¡®Investigating,¡¯ SJ replied as she landed on the floor of the room. The room contained a double bed, a table and chairs, and a changing screen. Several items of clothing were draped over the changing screen. The room was filled with the scent of oils and looked clean and well-kept. SJ listened as she heard voices and movement outside the bedroom and a knock on another door. ¡°Come on. It¡¯s your turn at the tables,¡± a female voice said. ¡°Already? I feel like I only started my break ten minutes ago,¡± another female replied. ¡°Targosa is still in a foul mood as well,¡± the female replied. ¡°Great,¡± the second female responded sarcastically. SJ wasn¡¯t sure if it was Olivia¡¯s voice or not. A door closed, and she could hear footsteps walking away. SJ allowed herself to grow before carefully trying to open the door. To her frustration, it was locked. As she shrunk, she again left through the window and moved to the next. The building was part of a terraced row, so there were no side windows, and the other windows closed tightly. ¡®Looks like my choice has been made for me,¡¯ SJ thought as she flew over the roof and across the street to the nearest alleyway she could see. As she crossed the road towards the emperor¡¯s arms, the latest song ended, and cheers and clapping filtered from within. The bar was packed as she entered; all the tables were taken, and many people stood with drinks in their hands, watching the performance on the stage. That was when SJ realised that Olivia was the main singer of the group on the stage. She hadn¡¯t been expecting to see the croupier on the stage, and, rather than head towards the gambling den, worked her way to the bar, excusing herself as she brushed past beings. As she watched, the group of musicians began to play another tune before Olivia again began to sing. Her voice was soft and matched the lilt of the music that filled the bar. Several patrons knew the song as they began to join in with the chorus as she listened. ¡°What can I get you?¡± a deep voice said. SJ had reached the bar and had been looking at the stage, watching the performance. The group wasn¡¯t anywhere near as skilled as Nexis and Ptolemy when they played their instruments, but they were good. SJ didn¡¯t know the song either, but it was pleasant, and Olivia¡¯s voice was actually quite decent. SJ had her hood up as usual, and without turning to look at the barman, she replied, ¡°Honey wine.¡± ¡°Three copper,¡± the voice replied, and SJ dropped it onto the bar. Several moments later, as she watched the performance, a glass was placed next to her. She picked it up automatically and took a sip. It tasted normal, and she doubted that they would attempt to drug people in the main bar. She also had the antidotes in her inventory if she did start to feel anything strange. The group continued to play four more songs before taking a break. The members and Olivia moved off to the side and exited the stage through a side door. ¡®I still don¡¯t know if this is the right Olivia,¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°How many other Olivia¡¯s have you met in Amathera that could work in this bar?¡± Dave said. The concept of killing someone she knew little about still concerned her. Anyone could have formulated the accusation on the quest. She wondered what had been put on the quest that had been raised against her head originally when she had come to Asterfal. It could have said anything, after all. SJ left her glass and started to work her way through the bar towards the stage area. The conversation was loud, and her moving past beings wasn¡¯t a problem in the throng of bodies. Eventually, she reached the area near the stage by the door where the group had left. Without stopping, she walked straight to the door and through. Behind the door was a short corridor with three other doors off it. Two were open, and she could hear male voices from one of them. SJ walked down the corridor, ignoring the closest door with male voices, allowing her vision to look inside as she passed. Olivia wasn¡¯t in the room. The second door was open but not fully, and she heard the humming of a female voice as she neared. A lantern was visible through the gap, and the inside of the room was brightly lit. As SJ was about to enter, a male voice spoke. ¡°What time are you expected back tonight?¡± it asked. ¡°I told him I would be late,¡± she said, her response revealing a disregard for the person she was referring to. ¡°So we get some time later then?¡± the male replied. ¡°Only if you behave yourself,¡± she replied in a seductive tone. ¡°I wish you would just leave him,¡± the male said. ¡°Why? He pays for everything, and I reap the benefits. If you had the coin he has, then perhaps.¡± ¡°Come on, Olivia. When will you leave that fool? The idiot still treats you like a skivvy and makes you work here.¡± ¡°He does, yes, but he is also one of the wealthiest in the district. I am also thinking of our inheritance. He hasn¡¯t many years left in him. I have told you before that we have to be patient, and then we can be together properly.¡± ¡°I know, I know, but when you married him, you never expected him to last more than twelve months.¡± ¡°He has no children, so I will be entitled to everything that he owns, including his buildings. It will come to us, eventually.¡± ¡°You know how much it pains me seeing you go back to his every evening. Sharcastle has a lot to answer for.¡± ¡°Bingo,¡± Dave said. ¡®Yeah. She married an older man in the hope that when he died, she would get the coin and his properties. Money grabber,¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°I will be back after the show,¡± the male said as SJ heard the scrapping of a chair and footsteps. ¡®Damn,¡¯ SJ thought as she immediately shrunk and took off. The ceiling of the corridor wasn¡¯t particularly, but she immediately flew next to a beam and clung onto its edge. The door opened fully, and a male human walked out of the room, turning and blowing a kiss towards Olivia before heading to the door SJ hadn¡¯t come through. As soon as the door closed and the figure left the corridor, SJ dropped again and grew. Without hesitation, SJ stepped into the room, immediately pushing the door closed behind her. The room wasn¡¯t very large, and Olivia sat at a desk looking in a hand mirror. SJ saw the flicker of surprise in Olivia¡¯s reflection. Within an instant, SJ¡¯s claws appeared on her hands, and without hesitation, she stepped towards her. Olivia¡¯s back provided the perfect target for her extended claws to penetrate through the flimsy dress she wore. Olivia let out a gasp as the blades punched through her chest, her head thrown backwards in response as SJ¡¯s second clawed hand reached to her mouth and covered it. Olivia reached up and tried to pry at SJ¡¯s hand, but her strength was no match, as SJ¡¯s claws pinned her. It was only moments before SJ felt the life leave her body, and she slowly released her hand, allowing her head to drop forward before she retracted her claws from her back. SJ paid no attention to anything in the room or her display that had triggered as she lowered Olivia¡¯s now-dead body onto the desk she had been sitting at, immediately removing her claws and turning to leave the room. Her cloak still covered her face, and she calmly walked past the open door where the rest of the group sat and walked back into the main bar area. ¡°One down, two to go,¡± Dave said happily. SJ ignored his comment. The callousness that she had just portrayed assassinating Olivia didn''t go amiss to her. No one paid any attention to her cloaked form as she worked her way back through the throng¡ªher smaller size than many made her even less of a being who stood out. SJ left the bar, turning and walking calmly down the street. Taking her time, she stayed on the street for a while before dropping into an alley and transforming, taking off and heading back home. ? Chapter 178 - Concern The difference in SJ since her first assassination had taken her nervous, panicked nature to one of being cold and calculated. She still feared killing an innocent, but the fact she had heard the comments from Olivia directly and confirmed the Sharcastle link had removed any doubt or tension from her actions. The definition of her character still made her feel guilty, but she could offset these with arguments in support of why she had done what she had done. As she left her room and walked downstairs, her display triggered again. It had not taken her long to fly directly back from District 10. She opened her display and flicked quickly through the notifications of Olivia¡¯s death. It had triggered as a critical hit and backstab, multiplying the damage she had caused. The fact that Olivia had been unarmoured and a level 12 being meant the damage she had dealt would have killed her thrice over. The final notification was a quest update. Update - Class Quest - Three for two Carlito has issued you the task of completing three guild quests. You may complete any three of the following within the next seventy-two hours: A cheating wife - eliminate Olivia Sharcastle, known to frequent the Emperor¡¯s Arms. - Complete Competition - eliminate Master Garshaw¡¯s sole competition in the market area of District 4. Elimination - Remove the threat caused by the Legionnaire Justin to the assassin guild ¡®Liquidation¡¯. Hallowed Earth - find the person behind the death of Killian Broadaxe and seek vengeance. Reward: Two class perk points. Someone had obviously found the body of Olivia, and the reports must have got out quickly. ¡°Which next?¡± Dave asked. ¡®The assassin guild one sounds interesting, and the other I am thinking of is the death of Killian Broadaxe. I¡¯m guessing by the name he is a dwarf.¡¯ ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be so sure. Many beings may have names related to their classes or professions.¡± ¡®First, we need to await Holly¡¯s return, and I need to check on Kibble and the boys.¡¯ Laughing could be heard from the living room as SJ approached. ¡°Kibble. Put that down now!¡± Yawnee¡¯s frustrated voice could be heard. The boys and Lurtew, by all accounts, were the ones laughing at whatever Yawnee had befallen. As SJ entered, the little wyvern¡¯s eyes widened, knowing that he had been caught up to no good. He quickly dropped the ball of yarn that Yawnee had been using and flew immediately to Joel¡¯s lap. ¡°And what has my monster been up to?¡± SJ asked. ¡°Oh. He did not cause harm. Just decided that he likes Yawnee¡¯s yarn,¡± Lurtew laughed. ¡°And if you ever want your socks repaired, you would stop him doing it again,¡± Yawnee scowled. ¡°Kibble. Unless you want to be banned from having treats, I suggest you leave Yawnee¡¯s yarn alone.¡± His little head peeked from behind Joel, and his eyes were wide , and he was looking at Yawneewith a plea for forgiveness, Yawnee shook her head in dismay, ¡°He is a blackmailer,¡± she said, smiling. Kibble raised his head with pride and turned back to SJ, almost huffing. SJ just raised her eeyebrow,returning his smartass little gaze. ¡°I am the one who judges your appropriate behaviour. Seeking forgiveness and saying you are sorry is one thing. Not repeating your behaviour is another,¡± SJ scolded Kibble. The miniature wyvern¡¯s face turned to one of dejection as he curled his neck, bringing his head against his chest in a submissive pose. ¡°Aww. Poor Kibble,¡± Joel said, stroking him. Shaking her head in disbelief, SJ took a seat on one of the sofas. The lounge was a large room with ample space tto accommodate ten beings comfortably The fire in the middle wall of the room was lit, and Harry was sprawled on a thick rug in front of it, watching the flames flicker. ¡°I wonder when mum will be back,¡± Harry said, yawning lazily. ¡°I¡¯m not sure, but hopefully, she won¡¯t be too late,¡± SJ said. The fact that under thirty minutes ago, she had killed another being and was now sitting calmly in her lounge at home didn¡¯t pass her without consideration. She wondered if all assassins behaved this way. It had been evident that Olivia had only been in the marriage for her benefit and not for the love of the being she had married. She sat musing over her thoughts, Dave not interrupting as Lurtew suggested the boys play a game of cards with him. The three of them moved to the table, and Kibble joined them, watching intently as Lurtew shuffled and then dealt them. SJ lay back on the sofa watching Yawnee darn Lurtew¡¯s socks. ¡°I can leave you money for clothes if you need it,¡± SJ said quietly. ¡°Oh no. We have enough clothes. Lurtew likes these socks. Otherwise, I would have just thrown them out usually,¡± Yawnee replied. ¡°As long as you are sure,¡± ¡°Absolutely,¡± Yawnee smiled. ¡°We live such a pleasant life now compared to what we had in District 3.¡± SJ returned the smile and leaned her head back, allowing her eyes to close as she relaxed. She listened to the boys and Lurtew play cards, letting her mind drift. Darkness had taken the streets of Asterfal. The lanterns on the main streets had been lit several hours earlier when there was a knock on the downstairs door. SJ made her way downstairs, opening the door to be greeted by Holly. Harry and Joel had been put to bed in Cristy¡¯s room, and SJ looked sternly at Holly as she entered. ¡°You have been a very long time,¡± SJ said. ¡°I am so sorry. Elouise asked me to help work the bar, and then one thing led to another, and I only just got away,¡± Holly said, her gaze down and her appearance apologetic. ¡°The boys are both asleep in the spare room.¡± SJ turned, heading upstairs, and Holly followed. Her movement was slow and unsteady. Yawnee and Lurtew had already turned in a couple of hours before, but SJ stayed up to await Holly¡¯s return. She had just been about to check for her again when she knocked. ¡°I recently made coffee. Would you like one?¡± SJ asked. ¡°No, thank you. Water would be good, though.¡± SJ poured Holly a glass of water and then collected the pot from the burner before heading back into the lounge. The fire was still smouldering, and the room was comfortably warm. SJ poured herself a fresh coffee and then sat on a sofa, offering Holly a seat. Holly perched on the edge of one of the armchairs, holding the glass and sipping at the water. She looked exhausted. ¡°So, what did you find out?¡± SJ asked. Holly didn¡¯t reply as a tear ran down her cheek. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± SJ frowned, concerned by her reaction. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I forgot how much I enjoyed my job. Today was wonderful, and it was the first chance in months that I had to be myself. I was being selfish and should have returned sooner.¡± SJ could understand the freedom Holly must have felt. For months, she had spent her days looking after the boys without respite and struggled to keep them alive in the scummy underground of District 10. ¡°There is no need to apologise. The boys have been fine and well-behaved for Lurtew and Yawnee. They spent the evening playing cards with Lurtew. I think he appreciated the company.¡± At that moment, Kibble decided to make his appearance, having been somewhere in the house nosing around. He sauntered into the lounge before coming to a dead stop and eyeing Holly suspiciously. Holly looked at him, an alarmed look on her face. ¡°Kibble, this is Holly,¡± SJ said. Kibble hopped towards her and sniffed at her clothes before deciding he was okay with her and jumping up onto SJ¡¯s lap. ¡°Was your time at the bar productive?¡± SJ asked. ¡°It was. Francis was there, and although I didn¡¯t hear the mention of the Sanction directly, several street gang members came and went throughout the day. It appears that Francis oversees them on behalf of the gang he works for. I did overhear comments about the handlers and that there was a move planned against them.¡± ¡°It is confirmed that he is a gang member who is against the handlers then.¡± ¡°It would appear that way, yes.¡± SJ was feeling a little despondent with Holly. Even though she had given her potential on the road to the handlers, the means by which it had to be completed were not what she would have hoped, and the last time she had been involved with a gang in Asterfal, the warehouse district of District 3 had basically been demolished. She also had no idea what level any of these beings were. They could easily be outside her capabilities to deal with. In all honesty, she knew if it came down to it, Carlito could be hired or asked if there was a need for support, but she missed having Jay around, who knew all about Asterfal¡¯s gangs. The thought of extra communication stones again entered SJ''s mind.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. ¡°Good. That means if Francis is disposed of, it can be used as leverage with the handlers.¡± ¡°Francis was only there in the daytime. He turned up and left before the first signs of dark. I don¡¯t think he is ever there in the evenings.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter where he is or what time of day. If he is a confirmed gang member, then dealing with him isn¡¯t a problem.¡± Holly looked at SJ, not surprised but uncertain. ¡°How can you calmly say he can be dealt with?¡± ¡°I have my means to deal with trash. Anyone working for a gang that brings misery to others deserves their outcome.¡± ¡°Yes, but he would have to be killed to be used as a means of confirmation for the handlers, and I am not even sure how you could prove how to attribute his death. I know I mentioned it is a way in, but I don¡¯t know how it really works.¡± SJ had further considered the murder of Francis, and her overarching thought every time was that it supported the chancellor¡¯s efforts to get to the bottom of the issues being caused and the levels of corruption that ran through the city¡¯s streets. If it meant that they got a way into the handlers and could then find out who was behind the problems, then that was enough justification alone. She didn¡¯t have time to waste, only being in Asterfal for a further two days. She would be leaving again the third morning from now back to Killic. ¡°I have limited time in Asterfal and need to get something in place before I leave again. I won¡¯t be able to return for at least ten days, if not slightly longer. You know District 10 and who is who. I am sure there are beings you know who can provide you with further information?¡± ¡°Perhaps, but I haven¡¯t spoken to many of the beings I used to associate with since I left work.¡± ¡°I assume that you will be returning to the bar again tomorrow to work?¡± ¡°Elouise didn¡¯t confirm. The only reason I got offered work was due to one of the servers not turning up.¡± ¡°You could try again tomorrow, at least,¡± SJ said. ¡°I suppose,¡± Holly finished her water and went to stand shakily. ¡°I need to get the boys and get back to the inn.¡± ¡°There is no point in waking them now. Let them sleep, and you can sleep on the sofa if that is okay with you?¡± Holly didn¡¯t reply for several moments as she considered SJ¡¯s comment. ¡°If you are sure it won¡¯t be a problem?¡± Holly eventually said. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have suggested it if it was. I will grab you some blankets, and then I will turn in for the night.¡± SJ opened the window, allowing Kibble to go down to the yard once she was back in her room. Within moments, he returned and began his stomping circle on the bed before curling up. SJ had bathed earlier and undressed, sliding beneath the soft blankets. Kibble adjusted himself until he was curled into her once she had settled on her side. His warmth and breathing felt calming against her stomach. She casually stroked him, his rumbling purr soon sending her to sleep. ¡°Morning,¡± Dave said as SJ stirred. ¡®Morning,¡¯ SJ thought. She had been awoken by a little beastie tapping her face. Climbing from the bed, she walked to open the window for him. When she checked her display, it was just after seven. It was later than she usually awoke, but she had gone to sleep later than usual last night. SJ had started to notice that she didn¡¯t appear to need as much sleep as she used to. On average, most evenings now, she was getting about six hours. ¡®I am going to call Cristy and get her to speak to Jay about these gangs. I will then, depending upon what he says, speak to Carlito.¡¯ ¡°Why not just speak to Carlito?¡± ¡®I don¡¯t like going to him with questions unless I really need to. He is supposed to be my trainer, but I will use him if I have to.¡¯ ¡°Not that he has ever trained you,¡± Dave said sarcastically. ¡®Not directly, perhaps, but those perk points all add up, and the shadow step was an amazing skill.¡¯ ¡°I was thinking while you were sleeping.¡± ¡®You thinking.¡¯ SJ smirked. ¡°Ha, very funny. I was wondering what the city¡¯s rules are regarding gangs. I have never seen the city¡¯s laws. I know you looked at some of the stuff during the audits in District 3, but they didn¡¯t cover the laws. I was wondering what the rules are for dealing with varying criminals.¡± ¡®I don¡¯t know precisely.¡¯ ¡°Consider that Jelart was executed for fraud and theft. I am guessing that criminals from gangs are executed if their crimes are sufficiently known. The deaths of the dark elves brought no repercussions but instead praised. Therefore, dealing with any irrelevant gangs should be accepted and praised.¡± ¡®My concern isn¡¯t dealing with the gangs. It¡¯s whoever is backing them. If it is like District 3, the gangs there were working alongside the Lieutenant, and I have never spoken to District 10s lieutenant even to be able to question his position. From what I have experienced of District 10 so far, although it isn¡¯t the best district, and the buildings may be mainly timber, the streets haven¡¯t felt as dangerous as other districts. I am making decisions on the fly, and I am not sure they are the best ones. I could be putting Holly in unnecessary danger with a gang that may have nothing to do with the chancellor¡¯s issues directly.¡¯ SJ removed her communication stone from her inventory and held her thumb on the gem. ¡°Hey,¡± the spritely voice of Cristy answered after several moments. ¡°Hi Cristy. How are things going?¡± ¡°Amazing. I have been out hunting daily with Darren, and he is looking to assign me my own party to lead.¡± ¡°Wow. Already, that is great news.¡± ¡°I think it helps to have Patch with me.¡± SJ could hear the happiness in her reply when she mentioned Patch. ¡°Have you seen Jay recently?¡± ¡°Yeah. He is here.¡± ¡°Sorry?¡± ¡°He is staying at the cottage. There was no point in him staying at the inn when there is a spare room here.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± SJ hadn¡¯t even considered where Jay would be staying, but it made sense. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I am in your room, and he has mine.¡± ¡°Just remember not to put anything near the window in my room.¡± ¡°I know,¡± the sigh that followed Cristy¡¯s statement made SJ smile. She knew she didn¡¯t need to tell her, really. ¡°JAY,¡± Cristy called. ¡°What?¡± Jay¡¯s voice replied. ¡°SJ wants to speak to you.¡± SJ heard footsteps and then rustling as the stone was handed over. ¡°WHAT¡¯S UP?¡± Jay¡¯s voice boomed through the stone. ¡°You don¡¯t need to shout,¡± SJ laughed. ¡°Just talk normally. I can hear you fine.¡± ¡°Sorry.¡± ¡°I wanted to speak to you about some gangs here in Asterfal.¡± ¡°Ah, I see. Which ones?¡± ¡°I am doing some work for the chancellor, and currently, in District 10, there are two gangs.¡± ¡°Sanction and the handlers are the main two,¡± Jay said. ¡°Yes, those two. I am trying to get an inroad for a friend into the handlers, and there is a rule to remove an opposition member as a route.¡± ¡°Normal practice for some gangs. That or leadership challenges. You need to be careful with both those gangs, though. They are quite renowned. I had several run-ins in my time, and their members are pretty well-equipped and skilled fighters.¡± ¡°What levels are they?¡± ¡°To my knowledge, the leadership had been pretty static for years. Therefore, I expect them to have progressed quite well. If I remember rightly, and it has been a few years since I was directly involved, I would expect them to be in their thirties. The Sanction are known to oversee other street gangs that will cause problems across districts, and the handlers are what their name states; they handle business for others. It doesn¡¯t matter what it is as long as the coin is right.¡± ¡°I see. So, if I took out a member of the Sanction, it could indeed lead to the handlers accepting her as a member. But, I¡¯m unsure how I could provide proof that she did it.¡± ¡°Her?¡± ¡°The being I am working with here in Asterfal. It¡¯s a long story that I can fill you in on when I return.¡± ¡°All gang members will have some form of token that shows their allegiance. The brawlers wear flashes, but the majority of the gangs don¡¯t. Instead, they will have these tokens. They vary for each gang, but if you were able to present a token from another gang, it may provide evidence that you are after. Also, you need to be careful. You are still not level 20 yet and need to be wary of who you trust.¡± SJ couldn¡¯t keep her annoyance from her reply. ¡°What do you mean ¡®trust¡¯? And I know I need to level up.¡± Jay sighed deeply as he spoke. ¡°Can I be honest with you?¡± ¡°You know you can.¡± ¡°You trust beings too easily. You are an amazing being who looks out for all those in a lesser position than you are, but it doesn¡¯t always mean that those feelings or levels of trust are reciprocated. You have a big heart, and if you aren¡¯t careful, others may take advantage of it.¡± SJ frowned deeply, not replying to Jay¡¯s words. ¡°SJ, are you still there?¡± Jay said. ¡°Yes,¡± SJ said. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to upset you. It¡¯s just that I have seen how you are as a being, and I don¡¯t want to see you get hurt by being too trustworthy.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not that na?ve,¡± SJ snapped. She had never experienced this side of Jay; he always appeared light-hearted and happy, and he had never shown concern before. ¡°He has a point,¡± Dave said. ¡°You do have a habit of taking everyone at their face value.¡± ¡®And why wouldn¡¯t I? Until someone does something to the contrary, should I not trust them?¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°Jay is just letting you know how much he cares,¡± Dave said. SJ couldn¡¯t argue with Dave¡¯s understanding. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Jay. I didn¡¯t mean to snap at you. I know you are just telling me to be cautious.¡± ¡°There is no need to apologise. You need to remember that Asterfal is a very complex city and never take anything as it appears. If I were you, I would reach out to your friend at the Black Griffin. I will pass Cristy back. I need to get to the training ground; there is a new batch starting today.¡± ¡°It sounds like you are enjoying it,¡± SJ said. ¡°I am. If you need to speak to me again, just let Cristy know.¡± ¡°I will thank you, Jay.¡± There was a rustling sound as the stone changed hands again. Cristy¡¯s voice came through. They spent the next few minutes chatting before ending the call when Kibble re-entered the bedroom, his little face covered in soil and what looked like a large beetle in his mouth. SJ finished the call, saying she would call again before they left, and dealt with Kibble wiping his head down once he had finished chewing the beetle. Jay¡¯s comment had a profound impact on SJ. She was unsure whether she should have been offended by it or happy that her friend was so concerned. However, it also made her decide to speak to Carlito about the gangs. ? Chapter 179 ¡°It¡¯s early,¡± Carlito said in a sleepy voice. SJ had called him after grabbing a coffee and feeding Kibble. The boys and Holly were eating breakfast, as she had excused herself. ¡°Sorry. I need to seek your advice,¡± SJ said. ¡°My advice. I¡¯m intrigued now. What advice do you need?¡± ¡°There are a couple of things, actually. The first is about some things I am looking into in District 10.¡± ¡°District 10, you say. What are you doing in that flea pit?¡± ¡°I have a task to do. I needed to get your thoughts on the gangs that run the district.¡± ¡°Tell me what you know, and I will answer what I can.¡± ¡°I am aware of the two main gangs being the handlers and the sanction. I am trying to find a way into the handlers to seek information and have been informed that disposing of a member of the sanction is the best way.¡± Carlito didn¡¯t respond. ¡°Anyway. I was thinking about who may know more about the gangs and the ways they work and thought of you,¡± SJ continued. ¡°Siblings run those two gangs. They have been at each other¡¯s throats for years. Both of the gangs are full of untrustworthy snakes if you ask me. They have no loyalty or pride in their work. The handlers will deal with anything if the coin is right; they have even taken on assassination jobs in the past, and the sanction is more known for causing wider discourse.¡± ¡°That is pretty much what I had heard. I was considering targeting a member of the sanction named Francis and using him as a way to get into the handlers.¡± The fact that Carlito, as the city¡¯s probably most renowned assassin, stated that they have no loyalty or pride concerned her. SJ heard Carlito take a sharp breath before he replied emphatically, ¡°Don¡¯t. Francis is protected by more than the gangs he affiliates with.¡± ¡°How do you mean?¡± ¡°He has guild membership rights. He falls under the protectorate of one of the largest guilds.¡± ¡°Which guild and what protectorate rights?¡± ¡°Francis is a rarity amongst the gangs. He started as an adventurer and broke his teeth in the Asterfal dungeon before stepping down and becoming a being who now sits playing games in a district. He is also still a high-ranking member of the Chimerea Guild. They are one of the larger guilds in District 7, and you will see their headquarters when visiting the Griffin. He is at a much higher level than I would expect you to be able to deal with. Even I would tread cautiously if I were ever to face him. His appearance is very deceptive. I have heard rumours that he is one of the fiercest warriors in Asterfal. As long as he continues to get his cut of earnings from the guild, he doesn¡¯t care. He is very wealthy and doesn¡¯t need to work. He only does what he does for fun.¡± SJ still hadn¡¯t met Francis yet, but from the description that Holly had given her, if anything, he came across more as a business being than a warrior. If Carlito had stated he would show caution if he faced him, she knew that she wouldn¡¯t stand a chance in comparison. ¡°Is he a Legionnaire?¡± ¡°No. That is also what makes him stand out, being so high in a guild. The majority of the guild members who work in the dungeon are Legionnaires. There are very few regular beings that join or would ever be accepted.¡± ¡°I am glad I spoke to you about him then. You have made it clear that the current path I have considered is not appropriate. I don¡¯t suppose you know of any other way I can get into the handlers, do you?¡± ¡°There is a way. It isn¡¯t an easy option, but it would be substantially easier than trying to kill Francis.¡± ¡°How then?¡± ¡°Kill the brother who runs the sanction.¡± ¡°What?¡± SJ was surprised by his response. ¡°He is a rogue who started on the streets with his brother. They grew to power through their ruthless actions until they separated due to their falling out over the love of the chief.¡± ¡°Which chief?¡± ¡°The only chief I am aware of in Asterfal.¡± ¡°You mean the chief who runs the Black Griffin?¡± ¡°Yes, the one and only. They were both in love with her and fought over her hand. She burned them both, and their advances, but their rivalry and hatred had already grown by then. Since then, they have fought each other. Occasionally, a quest gets posted at the guild requesting the assassination of one or the other.¡± ¡°Why have you never fulfilled it?¡± ¡°The rewards have never been worth my consideration.¡± ¡°Do you know where they can be found?¡± ¡°To my knowledge, neither of them stays in one location for an extended period. Due to the continual threats they face, they have both become overly cautious. I couldn¡¯t tell you their whereabouts. I¡¯m not even sure either of them lives in District 10.¡± ¡°Do you not have any contacts who work with the gangs?¡± Carlito scoffed. ¡°Not directly, but I may be able to investigate. I would advise, though, that to get access to either of the leaders is not guaranteed.¡± ¡°This is so frustrating. I would have expected this to be an easier task than it is. I am only after information.¡± ¡°You never actually told me what the information was that you were seeking.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t want to trouble you with it. I have been asked to investigate the problems being caused within the districts against the tower, and I am aware that they appear to stem from District 10, and it is believed that the handlers are behind the misinformation.¡± ¡°So you are working on behalf of the chancellor?¡± It took SJ several moments to gather her thoughts as Carlito spoke again. ¡°I will take your silence as confirmation that you are.¡± SJ neither confirmed nor denied his comment, continuing the conversation. ¡°There is general unrest that appears to be driven across the districts, and also, there are issues over the prices that are being charged for merchandise and labour to rebuild District 3. The disposal of Jelart has caused an increase in pressure on the tower.¡± ¡°You are deeply interwoven into the politics of Asterfal for an outsider. I stay away from politics, but I have heard rumours, as you would expect, being in my position. I have no details, but I would suggest that you focus on District 3 and follow the money rather than the gangs involved.¡± ¡°The money isn¡¯t reaching the bank, so there is no trail to follow.¡± ¡°Ha. You think banks control the flow of coins on the streets. You should know by now that the wealthy use banks. For the majority of normal beings, coin runs on the streets, the bars and inns, the gambling dens and the pockets of merchants and guilds, not locked in a bank vault.¡± ¡°How can I find out where to start then?¡± ¡°There is a being who frequents the Griffin regularly. He is there most nights, and I am aware that he is overseeing some of the construction works in District 3. He has links to both the Mages Guild and the main Merchants Guilds and is also a heavy drinker and gambler. I would suggest starting with him.¡± ¡°What is his name?¡± ¡°Master Garshaw. You may have seen his name on one of the quests I sent you. He has dealings across most of the districts. He is often raising quests to deal with competitors.¡± ¡®This seems very suspicious. How did you say the quest system was configured?¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°There are millions of quests every day. They are created and assigned by individuals as well as the system,¡± Dave said. ¡®May the system be involved in these?¡¯This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°Unlikely. I believe it is just a coincidence.¡± ¡®Umm. I am not so sure. It¡¯s rather suspicious that they align with each other.¡¯ ¡°I wonder who his competition is in District 4?¡± SJ said. ¡°No idea, sorry,¡± Carlito said. ¡°One final question. The other quest I was looking at completing was the one involving the Legionnaire Justin. Do you have anything you can share?¡± Carlito laughed. ¡°I am not going to give you all the details about the quests I have assigned you. That would defeat the object of you completing them. I would say that Justin is a well-known Legionnaire, and his thoughts about the assassins guild are also well-known. I am sure asking about him will get a response from the right beings.¡± ¡°Thanks, Carlito. I will follow your suggestion and try to learn more about Master Garshaw, and I may see you soon.¡± ¡°It would be a pleasure to see you as always,¡± Carlito said as the call ended. SJ went back downstairs. Holly and the boys had finished their breakfast, and they cleaned up while Yawnee and Lurtew sat drinking coffee. Kibble had been given one of the plates with some leftovers on and happily demolished the remains. ¡°Holly, can I have a word, please?¡± SJ asked. Holly put down the plate she had just washed and followed SJ to the office. Once they sat down, SJ told Holly not to worry about trying to get further information on Francis. ¡°Why? We needed a way to get into the handlers?¡± ¡°I have another path I am taking. Hopefully, it will be less dangerous and without gang involvement.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Holly said, surprised. ¡°What would you like me to do then?¡± ¡°You can still go and work and do what you wish to do. I don¡¯t control you.¡± ¡°I may go back to the bar this afternoon. I can¡¯t this morning because Yawnee and Lurtew have decided they are going to visit the Alchemy Guild representative in District 11 about work. So, I will stay with the boys.¡± ¡°Ah, they have decided then. It was mentioned last night but never confirmed. Also...¡± SJ called the healing tonics that she had acquired from Caperca from her inventory. She placed them on the office desk. ¡°I bought these for Joel and his ailment. The alchemist wasn¡¯t sure which would be best, so you can try them all.¡± Holly stared in alarm at the six tonics. ¡°You purchased six of them.¡± ¡°Yes. Why?¡± ¡°The price,¡± Holly¡¯s only words. ¡°Just give them to Joel, and hopefully, one of them will cure whatever he is suffering with,¡± SJ said, standing. Holly spluttered a reply as SJ left the office. ¡°Tha...Thank you. You have done so much for us already.¡± SJ didn¡¯t respond, so she collected Kibble from the kitchen and attached his lead. This morning, she would visit Larianco and introduce Kibble to her. She had changed her dress to her original style. As usual, the bright green of the original design looked stunning. Kibble sat on her shoulder happily, with his tail curled around her neck. If she were taking him out, she would do it in her role as an ambassador. ¡°I will be back later,¡± SJ called as she left. It was late afternoon by the time SJ returned from Larianco¡¯s. Kibble had been a perfect guest, and SJ treated him to extra snacks when they returned home. They had spent time discussing the continuing concerns over the dark elf and fae problems. Larianco had mentioned that another representative was being deployed to Asterfal from the fae to support Larianco with the increasing workload being caused around the surrounding territories. They were expected to arrive in a couple of weeks, and SJ had shown concern over the last representative sent Raceillia and the problems she had caused. Larianco had informed SJ that the representative was another confidant of Val, and Larianco already knew them. This had put SJ¡¯s mind at ease. The garage was open, and the usual banging, shaving and sawing of wood came from within. The two boys were helping Yawnee and Lurtew, but there was no sign of Holly. Joel¡¯s complexion looked much brighter than it had been, and he smiled as he assisted Yawnee. ¡°Hi. How are things going?¡± SJ asked as she entered. ¡°Great,¡± Harry said excitedly. Yawnee finished shaping the wooden dowel she was working on before she turned to respond. ¡°They have been a great help again,¡± she smiled. ¡°How did your trip to the Alchemy Guild go?¡± SJ asked. ¡°Very well,¡± Yawnee beamed. ¡°We both think it may be a good option for us to switch over. They loved the barrel we took with us and its quality. They have asked if we can produce barrels and crates of varying sizes.¡± ¡°Do you think you can do what they ask?¡± ¡°We are determined to,¡± Lurtew replied. ¡°The contract offer they gave us there and then is worth three times that of the Brewers Guild. Crates aren¡¯t something we have produced before, but there is no reason we shouldn¡¯t be able to turn our claws to it.¡± ¡°The contract offer makes a tremendous difference,¡± SJ said. ¡°It does, and we believe we can make the switch by the end of the month. We will finish our final Brewers Guild order, and then that will be it.¡± ¡°That sounds amazing. All from an unfortunate accident,¡± SJ said. ¡°I am going to visit Caperca later and give him a gift to thank him for his help,¡± Yawnee said. Kibble jumped from SJ¡¯s neck, coming up short as he jolted on the lead still attached to his collar. He squeaked at the sudden shock of not moving and beat his wings harder, trying to fly to Harry. ¡°Wait a second,¡± SJ said, reaching out and grabbing him by his tiny body before unclipping him. He squeaked triumphantly and flew to Harry, landing on his shoulder. ¡°I am guessing your mum has gone to the bar?¡± SJ asked. ¡°She has. She is hoping to pick up another shift today. We were going to go back to the inn later once we finish work,¡± Joel said. ¡°Not until you have been fed, you won¡¯t be,¡± Yawnee said. Joel smiled. ¡°I would love stew again.¡± ¡°I will have to see what I can do then when it is time for dinner.¡± The boys had settled in so well over the past two days. The difference in them, seeing them both clean and happy. SJ believed that they were already filling out just after a couple of days of decent food. She left Kibble with the boys in the garage and went up to her room. She had work to do and had little time left before she would leave Asterfal again. ¡®I wonder if I can get Holly connected to the merchant?¡¯ ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Dave said. ¡®She has worked as a barmaid previously, but that is just retail. I wonder if this Master Garshaw would be willing to employ her. If I could get an in-road to his work and get Holly a job, I could get her to gather information while I am back in Killic. I don¡¯t believe this job for the chancellor is going to get solved quickly.¡¯ ¡°Holly is quite charismatic, and I suppose there is no reason that she couldn¡¯t. The only problem would be that she is unlikely to have any skills related to trade and is already working as a barmaid, so her profession could limit her.¡± ¡®I will just have to see. Sales are just sales, after all, if you have the right person in the right role. I knew someone who could have sold ice to Eskimos back on Earth.¡¯ ¡°Well, you have two more quests to complete, and if you complete the one for Master Garshaw, it may allow for a way in, but that would mean informing him you were the assassin who took out his competition.¡± ¡®No. I am not going to tell him anything. I am going to use my charisma and position as an ambassador. A person who has that much influence has to use political means to achieve what he wishes.¡¯ ¡°Perhaps if you had any charisma,¡± Dave chuckled. SJ scowled as she looked in the mirror, adjusting her choker. Her beauty after becoming a fae didn¡¯t go unnoticed, and she knew she could use it to her advantage if she wished. ¡®That was rude,¡¯ SJ thought. ¡°Anyway, you had better get down to work. You still need to discover who Justin is. It states he is a Legionnaire, so I guess he is part of a guild.¡± ¡®I was considering that, but I have no idea of the Legionnaires in Asterfal apart from the paladin who performed the inspection after the fight at the cages.¡¯ ¡°You could visit a guild and enquire about membership details. You are nearly level twenty after all and would have the right to join one then.¡± ¡®I suppose, but that would only depress me knowing I am stuck at nineteen still.¡¯ ¡°I still believe you should just level up,¡± Dave sighed. SJ didn¡¯t reply to his frivolous comment. He knew as much as she did that she really wanted to reach level twenty, and she had been getting more frustrated as time passed. ¡®It¡¯s still too early to go to the Griffin, but I can go and do as you suggest and visit some of the guilds. I¡¯m just not sure where to start. There are so many to choose from.¡¯ ¡°You should be able to get guild ranking details. Each guild in a city is ranked according to their achievements. If you are going to join an adventurers guild, then you should pick the highest ranking one you can.¡± ¡®You have never called them adventurer guilds before?¡¯ ¡°Well, they are basically Legionnaire guilds, as so few regular beings join them.¡± ¡®Where could I find the rankings?¡¯ ¡°Someone in the tower has to have the details. Considering the dungeon and access, the details will be controlled from there.¡± ¡®I still don¡¯t even know where this dungeon is.¡¯ ¡°Maybe it is time to find out.¡± ?