《An Uncertain Hero》 Chapter 1 Chapter 1 - Confusion The sunlight feels warm on my skin while a soft and gentle breeze travels through my longshaggyhair. Although I am asleep, I can see and hear the environment that envelops me. I can hear animals roam around while songbirds accompany them with beautiful melodies. I can hear and feel the nature around me as If I am its creator and a long-time friend. My body and soul are tranquil, while my mind is blank like an empty piece of paper. Is this...? Am I at peace? I know nothing of this place, but I am certain it knows me better than anyone else. Awake...A softly spoken voice whispered. I slowly opened my eyes. Where am I?I thought as I looked around the empty void. My weightless body floating in this bright emptinessasgravity is refusing to function. ¡°Is this a dream?¡±I said out loud NochildAsoftlyspoken voice echoedin response Who said that? What do you want! I am here to wake you up silly- The voice chuckledin response From what? Who are you? What do you want? Oh my, so many questions. I would love to answer them all but right now is not the time. You need to wake up and continue your journey ¡°Wake up from what?¡± Goodbye child, we will meet again soon Hey wait- A suddendazzlinglight blinded my eyes and my mind woke up from deep slumber. My eyes opened and almost immediately I lifted the upper half of my body from the bed, causing the duvet to slide down from my chest onto my groin. I look around the empty bedroom, no soul in sight.Where am I?I asked myself as I took another now in-depth look at the bedroom. Fancy furnitureisscattered around providingmewith an expensiveyet cosy feeling as they perfectly blend with the wooden walls and stone ceiling.Ialsonoticehowrelatively largethe bedroom is, it can easily accommodate three to four people with ease. I then direct my attention to the bed that I am sitting on.I noticesettledwhite furjust above my bed sheet. Is that? Fur? I asked myself as my fingers ran through the silky and luxurious pelt. The velvety on this is incredible, I wonder how much it costs.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. I then once again take another look around the room Warm sunshine from the outside lights up the whole place, proving nearby candles to be unused and unnecessary.I can hear the birds sing their melodies as people chatter on the streets. A warm and pleasant day. What is this place I ask myself as I begin to get up from the bed. My feet felt the warm oak floor below me as my body lifted itself from the bed. The duvet that was covering my groin has now fallen off onto the floor, I step over it and proceed to a small tablewith two chairs in the middle of the room. What is this? A note?I picked up a small card, the face of the card has fancy writing that says ¡°The Fairy Inn¡± I then flip it to see if something is written on the back of it. ¡°Thank you for choosing to stay in our Inn, as a welcome bonus to our new guests you are entitled to ONE free lunch from our indoor restaurant. Thank you once again for choosing The Fairy Inn, we hope to see you again¡± Not exactly what I was hoping for but free lunchis a free lunch. I mean at least I know where I am right now. An expensive and fancy inn from the looks of it. Suddenly the doorknob began turning and shaking. Someone is going to walk in!Panic spread through me as my mind began looking through possible options. What should I do? Hide? Attack? Negotiate? I stood near the bed in full silence, awaiting my opponent as I prepared to fight for my life As soon as the door swung open a beautiful woman in maid¡¯s outfit could be seen standing outsidethe room. She has long black hair tied up in a ponytail and looks to be in her mid-twenties. Her hands are placed on the white apron that is attached to her waist while her legs are locked together. Before entering the room, she turned around and grabbed the tray with food that she left on the floor behind her. The tray is filled with hot steaming food. High-quality deer meat with seasoned potatoes from the best farm around,accompanied by a fragrantgrape wine on the side to wash the food away. With the tray in her hand, she entered the room only to be frozen by the sight of a naked man standing in front of her. *Ghuahh* She gasped in shock, nearly dropping the tray on the ground ¡°H-Hello, Umm. I know this iskindaweird but, where am I?¡± ¡°Y-Y-You are in the fairy inn milord¡±Her face began to blush while her eyes avoided me as much as possible (Milord? Ikindalike that) ¡°Iapologiesfor not knocking before entering milord, I did not know you were not dressed¡± (Not dressed?) I look down at myself realizing that I am completely butt naked. ¡°Ahh!! I am sorry, I didn¡¯t realize¡± I panicked as I began covering my private parts with hands before grabbing the duvet from the floor and covering myselfupproperly. My face pink red from the embarrassment while my heart is racing. ¡°I once again apologies milord, please forgive me¡± She bowed down her head while still holding the tray of food with her hands. ¡°D-Don''t worry, it''s ok. It''s partly my fault as well¡± I sat down on the bed, still covering myself withthe duvet. ¡°Where would you like the tray to be put milord?¡± The maid asked, her face still a little bit red from the encounter. ¡°The table would be finethankyou¡± She walked over to the table and put the tray of hot food down, the smell instantly made my mouth water as my empty stomach demanded food. As soon as the tray was placed at the table, the maid walked back a little distance and stood still, waiting for commands ¡°Thank you¡± ¡°Of coursemilord. I will see myself out.¡±She said with a warm smile Before she completely left the room, I decided to ask one more question ¡°Umm¡± ¡°Yes?¡± She instantly turned around ¡°Before you go, what is... What is my name?¡± She looked a little bit confused before proceeding to answer the question . "Your name is Marcus, the hero ofFerlonand the guardian of mankind¡± ¡°Thank you¡± I said asItried to hide myconfusion. ¡°If you need anything, please just call me or one of the maids¡± ¡°Of course¡± She left the room and closed the door I let out a sigh and flopped back on the bed, I covered my eyes with my hands and began thinking about what just happened. The hero of Ferdon? How am I a hero when I don¡¯t even know who I am. ¡­ A hero? That¡¯s a pretty good title I thought as arrogance spread through me. Wait, calm down. You don¡¯t even know where you are. Calm down and think. The most reasonable explanation is that I lost my memory. I need to find more answers as soon aspossibleand get to the bottom of this *Stomachrumble* As soon as I finish this amazingfood. End of Chapter 1 Chapter 2 My mouth began watering while my taste buds tingled from the rich smell of meat and potatoes. My stomach rumbled once again. I picked up the fork and knife near the plate and began dissecting the food. The knife cut through the tender meat with ease while the fork had a hard time picking up the separate pieces of crumbling meat. With meat stacked on my fork, I finally proceeded to taste what drove my tongue mad just from the smell alone. The meat melted inside my mouth, the texture is perfect while the spices flawlessly blended with the initial flavour of the meat. What is this flavour? I thought to myself while my hand instinctively began reaching for another piece. This time I combined meat and the potatoes to see what kind of new flavour I would discover. The result was mind-blowing. The smoked and slightly crunchy potatoes were a perfect addition to the soft and rich flavour of the meat. This is heaven. In no time my plate was clean and my stomach satisfied, With Only wine left to wash down the amazing after taste. As I picked up the fancy wine glass, the sweet and fruity aroma of grape and alcohol rushed to my nose - an indication this is wine is of fine quality. My tongue welcomed luscious and fragrant red wine as it pierced its flavour through the meat¡¯s after taste, enveloping my mouth in a waterfall of flavours. I lean back on my chair in satisfaction as I wait for the food to settle in my stomach. (Wow, how did they make food like this!? I need to give personal gratitude to the chef, this was amazing) (Now where the hell are my clothes) I thought to myself as I began looking around the room, with a duvet still wrapped around my groin just in case if someone decides to walk in like the last time. After a few minutes of intensely looking around the room, I found the clothes next to the bed. (Really? How the fuck did I not see that? I swear, the more you look for something the less you are likely to find it) I found pants, a pair of black socks, one white undertunic and brown trousers. As I began dressing, I noticed how well the clothes fit me. Not only were they the perfect size but I can feel the quality even though I have no knowledge of linen. I approach a nearby mirror built into the wall and begin examining myself. (Damn these clothes look good. I wonder how much they cost. They should be quite expensive as I am a ¡°hero¡± after all. No, don¡¯t let your ego get the best of you. That maid was probably delusional and had no idea of what she was talking about) I turn around and look at the furniture. (Then again, this room does look expensive so it must be true. Unless...I was put in here by accident) I approach the room¡¯s door, ready to leave and get some answers or at least try to. I slowly turn the door''s knob until I hear a click, indicating that the door is ready to be open. My heart beats fast while my hand begins to sweat. (Why am I so nervous?) I question myself even though I already know the answer. I slowly opened the door wide enough for my head to peak through, only to be surprised by a massive corridor that stretches all the way both, left and right. Its walls are literal wood logs stacked upon each other while the ceiling is made out of polished slate stone. Just like in the bedroom, the floor is made out of oak wood, covered by long strips of different coloured furs. I turn my head from left to right, scouting the area. The left part of the corridor is completely empty, but on my right however I see a figure approaching me. Due to the distance between us she is not able to notice me, so a plan came to mind. I closed the door and begin to readying myself. I double check my clothes in the mirror and slap myself in the face a couple of times trying to regroup my thoughts. (Ok Marcus, you are just going out. It¡¯s a beautiful day. Who doesn¡¯t like a beautiful day?) I take a deep breath and exhale slowly then place my hand on the handle. (Three, two, one) I open the door and leave the bedroom. Now being in the large corridor I decide to go towards the figure, trying my best to keep my face still and serious. ¡°Lord Marcus?¡± A soft voice comes from the figure. I could not see it¡¯s face as it was covered by a helmet. I could tell she was female from the armor she is wearing. ¡°Yes?¡± I quickly responded, keeping my voice sharp and heavy. ¡°I apologize for my curiosity milord, but where are your personal guards?¡± ¡°My personal guards?¡± I question the knight back, trying to stall while I come up with an answer This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. ¡°Yes milord, has the Inn not provided one? (Thank god) ¡°No, I believe they haven¡¯t¡± ¡°Well that is just absurd, forgive my selfishness but I would like to escort you to your destination¡± (I didn¡¯t know it was this serious, are assassins interested in me?) ¡°Of course, I am heading to the reception. Lead the way Dame...?¡± ¡°Elizabeth, milord¡± The knight turned around and began walking the way she came from. I hastily follow. ¡°So tell me. What do you do around here?¡± I said in an attempt to ignite a conversation. ¡°I work for the Inn as a knight, I ensure guests safety and sometimes perform servant duties on the side¡± ¡°I see, so you were patrolling around the corridors?¡± ¡°Yes milord¡± (The Inn must have a lot of money to hire knights as guards, that would make a lot of sense if they provide accommodation for lords and nobles.) I begin rubbing my chin (Interesting) ¡°Excuse me for asking milord¡± The knight interrupted my thoughts. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°How does it feel to be a powerful sorcerer?¡± (A sorcerer? Now that¡¯s something new. I didn¡¯t know I was a mage.) ¡°It''s a lot of responsibility, no matter who you are, with power comes great responsibility.¡± ¡°Of course milord, thank you¡± (I just said the most random shit and it worked. Damn I am good) After walking through a few large corridors, we finally reached the reception. A large and a busy hall to be exact, a lot of people are scattered around it. Some are sitting on the nearby couches, others are walking to their rooms while some are talking to the receptionists. The hall has the same design as in the corridor and the bedroom. Logs of wood serve as walls while the ceiling is made out of polished slate stone, the floor does not contain any expensive furs like the corridor but instead, carpets with fitting designs are laid out in asymmetry. (That¡¯s a lot of people, from the looks of it not all of them are noble. While I see that some are wearing what looks like to be expensive jewellery, there are those who look of a middle or lower class. Perhaps this inn provides lodging for everyone) ¡°Thank you for the escort Elisabeth, I will be on my own.¡± ¡°Oh but milord are you sure you want to wander around without security? I can call people to accompany you.¡± ¡°Yes Elizabeth I am sure.¡± I said with a more serious tone ¡°Apologies milord. Please take care¡± I nod in agreement and proceed to walk through the reception hall. Almost instantly I notice how much attention I gathered. Humans, orcs and elves all around began looking at me, not with disgust or fear, but with joy and happiness. Their genuine smiles and ecstatic face expressions uplifted my mood and I began smiling myself. Something that I did not expect. What did I do before my amnesia? I find question myself once again. (Why are these people so happy to see me?) ¡°Oh Lord Marcus, it¡¯s so good to finally see you again¡± A gruff voice came from behind I turn around and find an old small man standing with two knights by his side. ¡°A pleasant surprise indeed¡± I reply (Shit) ¡°So how you finding the Inn lad?¡± ¡°It¡¯s amazing, especially the food I received earlier. Need to personally thank the chef¡± ¡°Glad you like it, how was the maid? I handpicked her just for you¡± ¡°She was beautiful indeed, hard to find these days¡± ¡°I would drink to that. It was hard finding a maid with a big rou-¡± ¡°Lord Belos! I would advise you to refrain from making inappropriate comments in the presence of Lord Marcus.¡± A knight interrupted Lord Belos from finishing his sentence. ¡°Ahh, apologies¡± Lord Belos said while grinning and winking at Marcus. ¡°Well it was a nice chat but I must get back to my duties, the Inn won¡¯t run itself you know¡± He said with a sigh. ¡°Pleasure was all mine Lord Belos. Take care¡± I turn around and begin walking out of the establishment. (Well that answered some questions. That guy or should I call him ¡°Lord Belos¡± Is in charge of the Inn. He is a Lord but must be a lower ranking as a knight was able to talk to him nearly as an equal. Maybe that knight in particular is of high status himself.) As I walked through the large open entrance doors, warm sunlight hit my skin. While a slightly cool breeze blew at my face and hair. What a lovely summer afternoon, I think to myself. The entrance of the Inn is surrounded by a massive yard. Flowers and trees are planted around it, making it a perfect area for families and children alike. Next to the entrance a stable is located, where customers can leave their horses to be looked after and cleaned. Few guards are stationed at the entrance while others patrol the Inn. However, in a wealthier part of the Inn knights are stationed, as they provide better protection for nobles and lords. This Inn itself is larger and more complex in terms of structure when comparing to other Inns and lodging establishments, allowing even more customers to visit at once. The Inn is located on the hill right below a large city. It is about an hour''s walk from the Inn to the city but takes longer when walking back up the hill. Near the Inn, a smalltown is located. Not only do most workers from the Inn live there but the village also provides fresh meat and vegetables, hence the amazing quality of food that the Inn serves. I take a deep breath of fresh air. A pleasant smell of the flowers fill my nostrils while my ears pick up the noise coming from the bustling town. I avert my attention to the town. (That must be what I was hearing whilst in my bedroom...) (I need to gather as much information as I can, the local tavern is perfect for that) I decide to set out on a journey to thetown, I hope it will clear some things up and I will find more about this world. Chapter 3 Mid-day, clear sky and the sun is shining bright. I leave the Inn and begin following a wide stone road, surrounded by a blooming and noisy forest that is full of life. The wind in the trees calm down my nerves, and my body uplifts as my mind becomes clear. Every few minutes or so I encounter different people, some of them are humans while others are orcs and elves. Most are travellers and local townsfolk, looking for lodging or going to work at the Inn as it is not too far away. I carry on walking until I reach a crossroad with a wooden sign in the middle showing the directions. To get to the city I have to take the right road but for a town a left road. Without taking too much time I begin walking on the left, heading for town. I notice how the road quality does not change but rather improves the longer I walk. Something that I did not expect. Few dozen minutes later, still surrounded by a forest, my eyes noticed a large town in the distance. Wrapped in huge stone walls with a wide-open gate, allowing traders and travels to enter and leave the town without problems. (That must be the town. It''s way larger up close, almost like a city.) I thought to myself as I approached the town closer, while the forest around me slowly began disappearing with each step I took. Moments later I saw a person travelling with a carriage. I could tell that he is a trader as his carriage is loaded with goods while his clothes are of a simple look. (A trader, perfect.) As soon as we were in the speakable distance, I asked the man a question. ¡°Excuse me, are you travelling from that town?¡± I said while pointing my finger at the town behind him He gave his horse a signal and the carriage stopped. He lifted his hat, as it was covering his eyes, and looked at me. ¡°Why yes I am mate¡± A croaky voice replied ¡°If you don¡¯t mind me asking, are there any taverns in the town?¡± ¡°Of course mate. There is a large tavern in the middle of the town called The Armed Orc.¡± ¡°Assuming you new to the city I advise you to watch yourself, the town is not as safe as it looks, especially at night. ¡°Well thank you for the warning, I''ll be careful¡± I said with a smile ¡°Take care mate¡± The carriage began moving once again while I carried on walking to the town, the forest around me is now nowhere to be seen. (Hmm) I look down at my clothes (I might want to change, these look expensive and brand new, I don¡¯t want to draw any attention) I soon find myself near the town''s gates. I notice how many people are on the outside, waiting to be allowed in the town. Most of them are traders that¡¯s why a bigger line is formed on the right, while a shorter line of travellers and the town''s citizens is formed on the left. Multiple guards are stationed at the entrance, checking the goods and registering the visitors. I decided to stand in the left line and await my turn to be let into the city. (From the hill this town looked way smaller. I will have to ask a city guard for directions. I know the tavern is in the central part of the town but I have no idea where it is exactl-) My line of thought broke as I hear a female scream and a sound of someone falling behind me. I turn around and see a female elf on the ground, apples are scattered around her while her hand is rubbing her lower back. ¡°Ouch¡± She said as her hand is trying to soothe the pain Blonde, long layered hair almost fully covers a long and cheerful face, while her clear violet eyes will leave anyone mesmerized with its beauty. There''s something charming about her, perhaps it''s her cheerful and innocent face or perhaps because she an elf. I lean down and reach out my hand to help her stand up, as soon as she sees my hand she grabs a hold of it and pulls herself up. ¡°Are you all right?¡± I ask while I crouch down and pick up all the apples, immediately joined by her. ¡°Yes, thank you very much¡± A shy and quiet voice replied. I notice that her small and thin pouch is torn due to the weight of the apples. I look down at the ground where she fell.Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. (How did she manage to fall? The ground is dry and there is nothing there) ¡°Umm, do you need help carrying these?¡± I lift arms full of apples ¡°O-oh no no, there is no need. I w-would not want to take more of your time than I already have.¡± ¡°Erina!¡± A voice from called out from behind her Another female elf came out running, her hair is short and blond while her hand is holding onto a leather pouch that is filled with apples. Both of the elves appearances are very similar with only one noticeable distinction being the difference in hair. ¡°I told you to wait up.¡± She said as she jogged towards us ¡°But I wanted to hold a line in the queue, you know how long they are¡± ¡°Wait, what happened? Why is your pouch torn and why are you holding the apples?¡± ¡°I ran too fast and the pouch broke. The apples fell at my feet and I tripped¡± ¡°You are so clumsy¡± She then averted her attention to me ¡°And who is this? Your boyfriend?¡± Erina blushed and puffed her cheeks ¡°Ayla!¡± ¡°I am only joking¡± Ayla laughed ¡°Hello, I am Ayla, nice to meet you¡± She said as she reached out her hand towards me ¡°Marcus, likewise¡± We both shook hands before she started speaking again ¡°Your accent is different, you''re not from around here?¡± ¡°No I am a traveller¡± ¡°That explains it¡± ¡°Ayla can you take the apples from him?¡± Erina pointed out ¡°Oh, I didn¡¯t even notice¡± She laughed I hand her the apples, all of them fit into a different leather pouch strapped to her waist ¡°You are collecting apples?¡± I asked in curiosity. ¡°Yep, we have some in the city but they are not as juicy as the ones that grow in the forest. We often leave and collect some.¡± ¡°They must be worth it¡± She holds and lifts up one of the apples ¡°They really are. These apples in particular are fused with mana, while it may not be a mana potion it provides unique and sweet taste¡± ¡°Now I must go and get some¡± I chuckled ¡°Be careful when you visit the forest though, all kind of nasty things live in it¡± I turn around and see that the line to enter the town is almost finished. I am next. ¡°All right I have to go but would you happen to know if there is a tailor store in the town?¡± ¡°Yeah sure, there is one in the centre of the town, next to a blacksmith if I remember right¡± ¡°Got it, much thanks¡± ¡°Take care Marcus¡± I walked over to a guard that is standing with a clipboard, recording all visitors. ¡°Purpose of visit?¡± The guard said as soon as he saw me approach ¡°Visiting¡± ¡°Duration of the visit?¡± ¡°A couple of days¡± The guard recorded my detail on a list and took out a shining blue stamp. ¡°Please roll up your sleeve¡± I roll up my sleeve and a blue stamp is pressed against my arm, printing a glowing magical symbol on my skin ¡°What is this?¡± ¡°This is to know where visitors are located, just in case of an emergency. (In case of an emergency? Why would you need to know their location?) ¡°All right, seems fair. I can now proceed to the town?¡± ¡°Yes. Enjoy your stay¡± The guard smiled and moved aside. Letting me through. I walked past him and stood at the town¡¯s entrance, the bright sunlight allowed me to inspect the town in detail. Set on the end of woodland, the town of Thornvale is home to multiple races and beings, ranging from humans to elves and orcs The town itself looks grandiose. With its ash wood rooftops, elm wood walls and oak trees alongside the roads. Thornvale has a delightful atmosphere, as joyful sounds of children playing could be heard throughout the town. While local traders are trying their best to sell their latest goods, boosting the atmosphere to the fullest. Thornvale has a booming economy, which is mainly supported by its agriculture, ale brewing and blacksmithing. ¡°Beautiful.¡± I let my thoughts slip (All right, first of all get to the tailor store.) I walked forward and approached a public map, it showed my location as an arrow and where are the key locations of the town are. I placed my finger on the arrow and began tracing it to the centre of the city, where the tailor store should be located. (Got it. So, I pretty much just got to head north. The main road should lead me to the town centre but if I get lost I will ask the guards) I began walking down the bustling main street, all of the shops are open with traders shouting over each other, all offering better deals than their competitors. I am surrounded by a mass number of people, some are buying food and goods, others are busy running their own errands, while some are gossiping about the latest rumours. The children could also be seen and heard running around, playing games of tag and hide and seek. (That¡¯s a lot of people) I think to myself as I notice how cheerful everyone is. ¡°Excuse me sir!¡± A young boy ran up to me, his face is red while tears are flowing down his cheeks. ¡°M-my friend is in trouble, h-h-his leg got stuck by a metal plank, and I don¡¯t know what to do. Please help!¡± The young boy began crying, his dirty hands trying their best to wipe the tears. ¡°Let me call the guards¡± I said in panic ¡°There is no time, please I need someone to help right now or he will die. Please!¡± I hesitated for a moment ¡°All right, lead the way¡± ¡°Thank you sir¡± The child sniffed and began running down the alley next to the main road. I follow him through what looks like to be a maze of streets and alleys. ¡°Come on, we are nearly there¡± The little boy said to me before we reached a dead end of the dark alley ¡°Good one Michael¡± A voice came from behind me I turn around and see three men standing, their hands are equipped with daggers andmaces The boy that was behind me ran to them and began standing behind them. (Oh, I see) ¡°This can be quick and easy, or long and hard. Your choice brother¡± ¡°I have no money, if that¡¯s what you are looking for¡± ¡°Come on we all know that¡¯s bullshit. Clothes say a lot about a person, especially if they are rich or not¡± ¡°So give us your money and you will go unharmed¡± A different man began speaking ¡°As I said I don¡¯t have any¡± The man in the middle sighs ¡°Let''s get him boys¡± The three men slowly began approaching me, two from the sides and one in the middle. Although the situation is new to my mind; my body does not seem to react. As though this is normal and happens often. I take a defensive position and ready my fists. In unison the three thugs attacked, but something seemed off. For whatever reason they are very slow and I can see their movement very clearly. The guy on my left was the first one to reach me. As he swung his dagger, I moved back with incredible speed and kicked him right in the stomach. His body was sent flying into the wall behind him. The other two thugs stopped as soon as they saw what I''ve done and tried to run, unfortunately for them I was too quick and managed to get myself in front of the only exit. I punched one of them in the face with less strength, knocking him out cold. The other man slowly began walking back, with every step forward, he took two back until hisspine was pressing against the brick wall. I punched through the wall next to his head and looked straight at him. His face sweating, his lip is shacking and his pants are wetfrom his own piss. ¡°I could kill you right here right now, but I want you to give out a message. If anyone dares to mess with me again, I will give them the first-class ticket to the afterlife. Got it?¡± ¡°Y-Y-Yes sir, sorry sir¡± The man whimpered. I leaned over to his ear and whispered ¡°Now run, before I change my mind¡± He quickly ducked and ran past me, not testing my patience. Suddenly writing appeared at the side of my eye
Experience + 0
(The fuck was that!? Experience points?) ¡­ (I am so confused. Ahh fuck it I¡¯ll deal with it later.) I approached the first man that I kicked in the stomach. I placed two of my fingers under his neck to check for a pulse. (Dead huh? Looks like I overdid it. What about the other guy?) I approach the second man that I punched and check his pulse as well (Alive. Good) I stand up and look at my hand. (Where did that power come from? I knew what to do and how to act in that situation, even though I don¡¯t remember a single time fighting. Muscle memory perhaps?) I look at the dead body (I just killed a man and I don¡¯t feel any remorse. Strange.) I turn around and see the little boy standing. His face and body still from fear. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you run?¡± I asked him ¡°I don¡¯t know sir, I thought you would kill me if I was to move¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I will not harm a child. But I have to ask you to do something¡± "What do i need to do sir?" ¡°Call the guards and bring them here, tell them you don¡¯t know what happened and you found those guys like this. Do not mention me, got it?¡± ¡°Yes sir¡± ¡°Go¡± The boy swiftly began running away. (What a mess) I scratched my head I looked around the alley (Now where the hell is the main road) Chapter 4 *Ding* A doorbell rang as I entered the tailor store ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°One minute!¡± a voice came from the storage room located behind the counter. I look around an empty tailor store, few empty boxes are scattered around while pieces of different clothing are hanging around the store''s walls. As expected, fancier and more colourful clothes are worth gold while basic and simple clothes cost no more than a few silver coins. ¡°Hello sir, how may I help you?¡± A small man came out of the storage room. He has short black hair and brown eyes; his hands are holding onto the counter while his body is leaning forward. ¡°Hello, I would like to sell used clothes.¡± ¡°Of course, are the clothes with you?¡± ¡°Yeah I am wearing them right now¡± I lift up the upper part of my shirt. The man stopped leaning and pointed his finger at my clothes ¡°Can I?¡± indicating that he wants to check the material. ¡°Yeah of course¡± He left the counter and walked up to me, he bent his body forward and rubbed his fingers through the material. His eyes lit up in admiration as he realized the quality and the craftsmanship of the clothes. ¡°The material on this...Amazing¡± He said, still focused on the piece of clothing ¡°How much is this worth?¡± I asked The man stood up straight. ¡°Because it is used, I will give you one gold piece and twenty silver¡± (Judging by the other pieces of clothing in this shop, this is a reasonable price.) ¡°Deal¡± I said without thinking too much The shop keeper walked back to the counter ¡°I would also like to buy a piece of clothing, deduct its price from this sale¡± ¡°Of course, what clothes would you want to buy?¡± I walk and look around the shop once again. (Hmm this one might be good) My eyes focused at a modest piece of clothing, it does not look fancy nor does it look cheap. A perfect blend of a middle-class citizen. (Imma go with this one, it looks like it can fit me and the price is not too bad either, only sixteen silver) ¡°I like this one chief¡± Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. ¡°Perfect choice sir, the changing cabin is right there¡± He said as his hand pointed to the back of the shop, where 3 small cabins are located. I grabbed the piece of clothing from the hanger and proceeded to change. Surprisingly the clothes fit me very well, not baggy and not tight. A perfect match. (Nice) I thought as I took my old clothes and brought them to the shopkeeper. ¡°Yeah I will take these, perfect fit¡± ¡°Would you like new shoes as well?¡± ¡°Umm¡± I looked down at my shoes. ¡°No, these will do¡± ¡°All right, one gold and four silver. ¡± The shopkeeper placed the heavy coins in my hand. ¡°Actually, before I go. Do you have a pouch that I can buy?¡± ¡°Yes, I have pouches ranging from five, ten and fifteen silver, which one would you like?¡± ¡°Can I have two pouches that are ten silver each?¡± ¡°Sure¡± He reached under the counter and pulled out two pouches. I gave him the gold coin and put the rest of the change in the newly acquired pouch. ¡°That''ll be all. Thank you¡± ¡°Of course, come again¡± The shopkeeper said with a smile and a wave A busy and loud street once again, this time however I am right in the centre of the town. A town square to be exact. In the middle a statue of a man is present, its body made out of bright stone with patches of gold around the shoulder area, highlighting the statue and making it more visually pleasing. (Odd) I think as I focus my attention on the statue''s face (Why does it look so familiar? I''ve seen this face before, but where?) ¡°Marcus?¡± I turn to my left and see Erina and Ayla, the two female elves I met at the town¡¯s gate. ¡°Oh hey guys, what are you doing here?¡± ¡°Just hanging out¡± Alya replied ¡°We almost didn¡¯t recognize you, fortunately Erina has a sharp eye¡± Ayla added, making Erina look away in embarrassment. ¡°What happened to your clothes by the way? Change of style?¡± ¡°Yeah, the ones I was wearing weren¡¯t too comfortable so I decided to sell them¡± I said as I looked down at my new pair of simple clothes. ¡°Say, why don¡¯t we go to a tavern? Me and Erina can check out some new quests and you can find out more about the town, the tavern owner really likes traveller and often tells tales and stories.¡± Ayla said with a smile ¡°Yeah sure, I don¡¯t mind¡± ¡°You all right with that Erina?¡± Ayla looked at Erina, ensuring that she was happy with the situation. Not saying a word Erina replied with a simple nod. ¡°Let''s go then!¡± The group took off to the tavern. While the streets are noisy, they were still able to have conversations, of course Ayla and Marcus were the only ones speaking. Erina as always quiet and shy with new people around. ¡°So, how long you¡¯ve known each other?¡± Marcus asked as the group walked through the busy street. ¡°Pretty much our whole lives, we are sisters after all¡± (Of course, what a stupid question Marcus. They look so alike.) ¡°What about you Marcus? Do you have any brothers or sisters?¡± (Now how the hell am I supposed to answer that?) ¡°Umm, no not really. I was born as the only child¡± ¡°Where were you born?¡± Erina asked. Her voice quiet and shy, making it even harder to hear in the bustling street ¡°I was born at a small village, far away from here¡± ¡°I could never see myself living in a small village¡± Ayla said ¡°You would never know unless you try¡± Erina added ¡°I know, trust me¡± Throughout their short walk Marcus learned a lot about the sisters, they are quest hunters, a certain type of adventurers that travel the land and search for the quests best suited for their skills. Though they travel through the land, they have decided to stop at this town for a small break and to repair their equipment. ¡°Here we are¡± Ayla said as the group stopped in front a large tavern From the outside the tavern looks delightful, warm and clean. Clay and hardwooden tree trunks make up most of the building''s outer structure. Though the windows are made out of stained glass, sounds of people''s laughter and uplifting melodies within could be heard when approaching the tavern. As we enter through the thick, wooden door, we are welcomed by a strong smell of alcohol mixed with a pleasant aroma of freshly cooked meat. The tavern is charming inside as it is on the outside. Wooden beams support the upper floor while the walls are packed with all sorts of weapons and armor sets, most likely collected by the owner over the years. The uplifting melodies of harp and flute greatly accompany peoples chatter and laughter, boosting the tavern¡¯s pleasant atmosphere to the fullest. While the bartender is extremely busy, he still manages to welcome us with a friendly nod. A group of adventurers can be seen standing by a quest board, choosing their next quests with care and precision. I could tell by their equipment that nearly all of the adventurers are warriors and archers. Warriors wear heavy armor plates and are equipped with swords and maces, while archers wear thin leather and carry bows with quivers full of arrows. The rest are most likely sorcerers as their equipment is nothing more than a simple pair of clothes and a book of spells hanging from their belt. Marcus looked around the packed tavern in search of free seats. Several long tables are occupied while smaller tables are also taken by groups of people and demi-humans. Nearly all the stools at the counter are in use while the bartender is trying his best to serve the people in time. The waitresses with immense beauty walk around, serving drinks and making sure everyone is happy with the drinks (Now I see why the tavern is popular. Wait where are Erina and Ayla?) I look around before finding them standing by the quest board, looking for any interesting jobs they might take. A few moments later I manage to find a seat on one of the stools behind the counter and prepare for what will undoubtedly be a great evening. ¡°Evening chap¡± The bartender, still behind the counter, said to me. A very friendly and calm voice said, accompanied by a large smile. ¡°Wha chu like to order?¡± ¡°Umm, something light and sweet¡± ¡°Starting off easy eh? One Tongue Twister coming up¡± The bartender said loudly as he quickly worked his magic over the counter. He grabbed a couple of bottles from the shelve behind him and poured it all into one big cup before shaking it violently, after a quick and strong shake he added a blue apple that melted inside the drink, turning the light green texture into a blue sparkling liquid. As he placed the drink in front of me, although it is sparkling, I could see a clear blue reflection of my face and the ceiling above. ¡°How much is it?¡± I asked and reached to one of my pouches with coins ¡°For first customers it''s on the house chap¡± ¡°How do you know I haven¡¯t been here before?¡± ¡°I am very good at remembering people¡± he said with a chuckle ¡°All right, much thanks¡± I grabbed the handle of a wooden cup and began drinking the Tongue Twister. As the name suggests my tongue began twisting as I could only taste bitterness and sourness. But to my surprise, the drink suddenly became sweet and very addicting to drink. I could faintly feel the presence of alcohol that is just overshadowed by different flavours, ranging from sweet apple to bitter orange to sour lemons. All mixed in one, twisting yet pleasuring my tongue at the same time. At the same time Ayla and Erina were looking at new quests to take ¡°What about this one?¡± Erina asked ¡°Goblins? Isn¡¯t Orcbolg in town? He will surely take this quest and I doubt he would want to team up with anyone ¡°Hmm, what about this one?¡± Erina pointed at a bounty Dead or Alive Name ¨C Beast of the South Abilities - Unkown Visual Appearance ¨C Bounty ¨C 3 Gold, 25 silver ¡°This one could do. 3 gold...that¡¯s a lot, the creature is probably strong. Let¡¯s consider this one¡± Ayla said and began looking at other quests. ¡°Ayla, I wanted to ask you¡± ¡°What up?¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t...Doesn''t Marcus look familiar to you?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I mean like, doesn¡¯t he look like someone we know? Or seen?¡± ¡°No, not really¡± Ayla looked at Marcus talking enjoying his drink and talking to the bartender, ¡°But now that you mentioned it, he does look kind of familiar.¡± The taverns door opened once again and the sound of heavy boots hitting the wooden floor could be heard. The bartender looked at the door to welcome the guests, but stood still, not moving an inch of his body. In fact, a few moments later the whole place died down, the chattering stopped and the players silenced their instruments. Marcus looked at the door and saw three knights standing still, their armor is made out of shiny silver while their heads are missing helmets. ¡°Ayla¡± Erina whispered ¡°Look at their armor¡± Ayla focused her eyes on the knight''s armor, trying to identify the symbols crafted on the breastplate. The knight in the middle has different symbols and pattern, making him stand out. ¡°Holy shit. They are the holy knights of Ferlon!¡± "The guy in the middle, look at his sword¡± A warrior adventurer standing nearby said. ¡°There is only one person who has a sword like that. No doubt...He is one of the guardians of human kind, the one who helped the hero of Ferlon in battle against the demon lord.¡± ¡°...What the hell are they doing here?¡± Ayla asked, still keeping her voice to a bare minimum The knight in the middle looked around until his eyes locked onto me. His face lit up and a wide smile came to his now less serious face. ¡°Finally found you Marcus!¡± (Huh?)