《Commerce and Conquest [Isekai Progression Fantasy]》


 Chapter 1

    The winter temperatures and winds created bitter conditions for traveling in the northern plains where the small town of Frellon was nestled. The long route to the center of town from the small homesteads and farms scattered across the region limited its visitors, especially at night. The handful of shops and homes in town were prepared for winter with wooden shutters over their windows and stacked firewood behind each structure. These preparations and poor visibility prevented the few awake residents from noticing a small flash of bright light at the center of the town. From the light, a young and bewildered human appeared and his adventure was set to begin.


    ---


    Nick generally considered himself known for an easy going attitude and thick mop of brown hair that he rarely kept styled. He was never an over achiever but was ambitious even as a twenty-one year old college student from upstate New York. He already had big plans to make his way in the world as a business advisor and entrepreneur. Unfortunately, his plans started with an overpriced degree and a low paid job at a small local hardware store.


    Nick found the job rewarding in its own way, despite always working the closing shift alone, he enjoyed having the place to himself and made friends with a few of the customers that stopped by regularly. It wasn¡¯t unusual to have only a handful of customers in the evenings during the weekdays so on a chilly Wednesday night in October he wasn¡¯t surprised to find himself alone in the shop ten minutes before closing time.


    Nick drummed his fingers on the counter while watching the clock tick down over the back wall. There wasn¡¯t much left to do after taking care of his normal checklist earlier in the evening and he was thinking about checking the parking lot for any stragglers to see if he could lock up early. As the thought crossed his mind, the front bell rang and he glanced over and found an unusual sight. A figure dressed in a shimmering and flowing golden cloak stepped into the store. The figure slowly lifted its arms before pulling back the cloak¡¯s hood covering its face.


    The lowered hood revealed a breathtaking woman. She had flawless skin with strong cheekbones and eyes that shimmered between gold and platinum in the dim fluorescent light that buzzed overhead. Nick opened his mouth to speak but found his breath caught in his throat. The woman glided toward the counter with a smirk that seemed anything but innocent, making Nick gulp nervously.


    She gracefully approached and spoke with a commanding voice but it had a soothing tone causing Nick to slightly relax in her presence.


    ¡°I¡¯m honored to finally meet you young human. I¡¯ve been waiting for my next champion for far too long and fate finally led me to you. Fate is such a fickle thing at times but it seems there is something special about you.¡±


    She took one finger with a perfectly manicured nail and ran it down Nick¡¯s cheek. Her stare bore into him as if she could see right into his soul. Nick tried to speak but could only eke out a short gasp. There was an unseen pressure pulling down on him and an aura hung about the woman that made the entire room shrink until all he could see was her face framed in perfectly curled shoulder length blonde hair.


    ¡°Now now..no reason to be nervous. I won¡¯t keep you long, but I must make proper introductions and give you a little bit of a nudge in the right direction. Only the best for my champion.¡±


    She removed her finger and leaned back before continuing, ¡°I am Hez, goddess of traders and merchants, but not of this world. I am only here in spirit to guide you back to my world as my new champion. It is a common enough occurrence for us gods to have a little bit of influence over our world after all. And I must say, you have so much potential.¡±


    Nick¡¯s eyes bulged and he could suddenly feel her overwhelming presence even more clearly.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be frightened, I think you may find my world more suitable to your ambitions than your own. I am allowed one gift as part of the transition. A bit of muddling with the odds if you will and I think you will just love it. It will serve you well with the right application after all.¡±


    Her voice was ringing in Nick¡¯s ears as she leaned down toward his frozen body and delicately kissed his cheek. It was only the slightest whisper of a kiss but Nick¡¯s body ignited from the contact. He instantly felt energy spike through his body as if he was struck by lightning causing his muscles to flex uncontrollably and locking him in place.


    ¡°You will discover my gift soon enough. Learn what you can of my world and its potential will be clear. Alas, I can¡¯t give you anymore information. Pesky rules as they are, but know my allies and I will be watching and will push fate where we can to help. You must gain power and wealth before I can interact directly with you again. Good luck my champion. On Proelium you will need it.¡±


    The goddesses¡¯ last sentence hung in the air and as she lifted her delicate hand, a flash of light consumed Nick before he disappeared from Earth as if he never existed.


    ¡ª


    Nick reappeared in a flash of light and staggered disorientedly before collapsing to the ground onto his butt. The ground was frigid and immediately seeped through his jeans. He was momentarily stunned at the sudden change in scenery and the rapid temperature change. It was far colder than he was prepared to handle in his early fall attire. A breath escaped his lungs in a cloud and he darted his head back and forth in disbelief as he stood up to get his bearings and escape the frigid hard ground. He could feel there were rough cobblestones under him and spotted squat wooden buildings casting shadows in the distance.


    The night was dark and cloudy and the only light was coming from a structure of seamless white stone that reached three stories at its peak. The light reminded Nick of hazy moonlight as it radiated from the entire structure. He had appeared a few steps away from a small entrance to the structure with a set of shimmering doors that drew his attention.


    Nick hesitantly stood and stepped forward as if drawn to the light cast from the structure. He reached forward and as his fingertips made contact with the set of doors they smoothly opened without a sound. As he stepped past the threshold, his vision blurred briefly before he found himself in a brightly lit room that had a large holographic screen hovering right at eye level. There was no sensation to the transition and looking around he found only four blank seamless white stone walls and the strange hovering screen. The entire ceiling was illuminated with the same hazy moonlight glow he¡¯d found on the exterior walls of the building. It was hard to discern the height but it was a dozen meters at least.


    As he glanced around, his attention was drawn back by some movement in front of him and he noticed text rapidly scrolling across the screen.


    New scan initiated¡­


    Asset not found¡­


    New registration initiated¡­


    Complete registration with Frellon station?


    [Yes] and [No] appeared on the screen and an option for each began flashing within arms reach. Nick took a deep breath and felt the sting of the much warmer air hit his lungs. A wave of anxiety hit him like a truck as his brain began to catch up to the situation at hand.


    He couldn¡¯t think of any logical explanation for what was happening unless he was under some powerful drugs. He had apparently been teleported by a goddess to a different world to be her champion and everything else was a mystery to him. He took another deep breath and thought through the interaction to try and piece together some further explanation. None of it made sense to him and he had no idea what it meant to register. He stared ahead in shock for a solid minute to try and let his brain process what was happening. Even after a minute, it still made no sense to him and he was struggling to keep his roiling emotions in check.


    Nick continued his deep breaths and tried to focus only on his breathing. It was a meditation technique he had learned as a kid and used in times when he found himself overwhelmed. One breath in and one breath out, he repeated to himself mentally. Nick knew he had to calm down in order to process everything happening. Nick had a hard time believing Hez, a supposed goddess, was real and he was supposed to be her champion. It sounded like some sort of fantasy story to him. Stolen novel; please report.


    Nick hesitated slightly in his deep breathing while trying to calm his racing thoughts remembering the gift Hez mentioned. He suddenly felt a jolt in his left hand pushing him toward the hovering text for [Yes]. His mind was beginning to slow from his racing thoughts and he realized he didn¡¯t see any other way forward. The room he found himself in had no doors and the sensation he felt in his hand felt natural in an odd way, like it was the right choice in that moment. He took one more breath focusing on the decision in front of him. One step at a time. That became his motto, to calm the storm of emotions raging.


    He tapped [Yes] by instinct at the encouragement of the sensation he had been feeling and the screen¡¯s text began scrolling again.


    Registering¡­


    Active skill [Identify] added.


    Class generation initiated¡­


    Recommended class [Merchant] identified.


    The screen flickered another message and another prompt.


    Accept recommended class [Merchant]?


    He selected the [Yes] option again with the same familiar instinct as the same sensation returned to his hand.


    [Merchant] class assigned.


    Skill generation initiated...


    Active skill [Personal Station] added.


    Registration complete.


    As soon as the text finished scrolling, Nick found himself back outside the doorway he¡¯d entered and was standing in the chilly night air. He stood shocked for a moment before a gruff voice called out to him and shook him from his momentary stupor.


    ¡°Welcome to Frellon stranger. Aye, a bit late for a station run though.¡±


    Nick turned to see a stout man with salt and pepper hair wearing a thick hide coat holding a flickering lantern.


    "Station run¡­?" Nick responded with uncertainty.


    "Aye, what else would you be doing? You merchants are always a bit eclectic I suppose. I''m heading to the tavern for a night cap, come join me and get out of the cold. I wouldn''t mind hearing talk from the latest towns you''ve visited in the region."


    Nick stared uncomfortably long at the man before another chill ran down his spine due to the frigid night air, reminding him of the vulnerable situation he was in. The man didn''t stick around for a response and turned away. Nick jogged to catch up to him and followed a few steps behind as he crossed a packed dirt road and approached one of the larger buildings in view. The building was sealed up from the cold but light peeked out around the doorway and the shutters covering the windows. Nick began to hear conversation from inside as he approached.


    The man pushed open the heavy wooden door to reveal light and a warm rush of air spilling out onto the street.


    Nick entered closely behind the man and pulled the door shut behind him. He found himself in a tavern right out of a medieval town from the movies and TV shows he¡¯d watched. His eyes lit up in surprise as he scanned the room and caught sight of a dark green skinned hulking creature sipping on a mug at the bar.


    Nick glanced around the rest of the main room and realized that wasn''t the only oddity. There was a stout and short woman behind the bar that could only be a dwarf from the story books he read as a kid and a trio of light orange skinned creatures with floppy ears chatting in the corner. Nick gaped at the sight in disbelief.


    He didn¡¯t know why he was so surprised considering his last few minutes were spent meeting a goddess and apparently being teleported to another world.


    ¡°Of course there would be other races.¡±, Nick mumbled to himself.


    Nick continued mentally reminding himself to focus on breathing to prevent himself from being overwhelmed by anxiety.


    After snuffing out his lantern and hanging his jacket on a thick iron hook, the man Nick followed inside turned to address him. He saw Nick¡¯s shocked look and cleared his throat to get his attention.


    "So what brings you to Frellon this late in the season? I can''t remember the last time a merchant was in these parts at this time of year."


    Nick was at a loss for words. He panicked as he tried to figure out what to tell the man. He considered telling the truth and informing the older man, who appeared human as far as he could tell, he had no idea where he was or how he got there or¡­ he could try to make up something to fit in. Lying seemed stupidly risky to Nick, but he had no idea how the man would react to his bombshell of being from another world. One step at a time Nick reminded himself before he decided on a half truth.


    "Yeah, I seem to have gotten lost during my travels and stumbled across this town by mistake." Nick said awkwardly and not particularly convincingly.


    The man initially responded by looking over his attire of blue jeans, flannel shirt, and boots suspiciously. Nick didn¡¯t take it as a great sign.


    "Lost, aye. Seems hard to believe you would stumble across our little town. Why don''t we grab a drink and you can tell me a little more about where you were heading?" he asked.


    Nick fumbled, unsure for a moment how to respond. "Uhh.. Yeah sure. A drink can''t hurt."


    The man pointed toward a table on the far wall away from the other patrons then turned to the bar and approached the bartender with the steps of a regular. In no time, he had two frothy mugs and Nick sat at the table across from him looking down at a thick wooden surface stained and scratched from years of abuse.


    "Alright kid, I''m Frederick Gristal. I consider myself a bit of a peacemaker for our town and it seems you might make a mess here so let''s get one thing straight. We don''t want any trouble. We are simple farmers for the most part, providing our goods to support the war efforts like the rest of the Dillid Plains. If you and whoever you are traveling with need food or drink that is all we have to offer in these parts."


    Nick released a breath he didn''t know he had been holding and realized he desperately needed an ally above all else in that moment. To Nick it seemed Frederick wanted to avoid trouble. That was what Nick wanted as well and it was possible Frederick could provide some answers about what happened to him. He seemed friendly and frankly Nick had no other ideas on what to do.


    "Trust me I don''t want any trouble either and I''m not here with anyone. I''m Nick Solis and I truly am lost. I don''t know how to explain how that happened," Nick said carefully.


    Frederick took a long draw from his mug before he replied.


    "You say you can''t explain how you were lost. Did ya come through the station network? I saw ya near there but it''s unusual for any locals to be bringing over new folks, let alone in the middle of the night."


    Nick decided he needed to rip the band-aid and said, "I don''t even know what you mean by station network nor how I got here."


    Frederick''s eyes widened a bit at the statement and he glanced around before speaking in a hushed tone.


    "The stations are known by all. You have a class so you must know about them. Are you saying you aren''t from Proelium?"


    Nick lowered his eyes while taking in all the information. Getting confirmation he was not on Earth anymore was slightly shocking even though it was already obvious. It was almost too hard to believe but the abundance of evidence including what could only be described as an orc sitting at the bar across the room from him made it hard to question.


    "I''m not from here wherever here is", Nick whispered.


    Nick grabbed the mug and took a gulp of the drink offered to him to help calm his nerves. Nick was surprised at the rich taste and smooth finish. It was better than all the craft beers Nick had over the years from the microbreweries that seemingly popped up all over town. He took solace in at least finding one good thing about whatever world he was in. They knew how to make some good beer.


    "Unbelievable. So the rumors were true. Travelers from other realms are whispered every decade or two but they have never been widely accepted."


    Frederick trailed off with his last words, taking a big swig of his beer instead. He seemed a bit rattled by the revelation.


    Nick gave him time to process the information and nursed his beer. The drink helped warm him up slightly and the familiar taste helped his anxiety more than he expected.


    "I don''t know much of why I was sent here. Something about fate."


    Frederick looked up and met Nick¡¯s eyes at the mention of fate. He stared at him for a few long seconds before nodding to himself as if he came to some internal decision.


    "Listen  Nick, let''s get ya back to my place and we can talk without others overhearing. I may have little to gain from knowing about the existence of a traveler like yourself but the same can''t be said for others and with the outfit you have on let''s just say it didn''t take much to convince me you aren''t a local."


    Nick took that as his que to shut his trap and they took a few minutes to finish their drinks in silence before departing back into the frigid weather. Nick didn''t miss Frederick''s earlier mention of war and it was obvious to him the world wasn''t going to be all sunshine and rainbows. He would need to be cautious. ¡®One step at a time¡¯, rang in his head as he headed into the dark night toward the outskirts of town.

 Chapter 2

    Frederick''s home was well kept and neat for a bachelor. He was a simple man and didn''t keep much beyond the basics, but he kept his small wooden cottage tidy. It was on the edge of town and well provisioned for the cold winter nights. He settled into a comfortable cushioned chair once they arrived and threw some logs onto the hot coals of a dim fire that kept the freezing winds at bay. Nick sat across from him on a worn wooden bench and tried to get comfortable. They both enjoyed the heat from the fire burning along the wall in the stone hearth between them for a few minutes


    It had been a cold walk back to the cottage from the bar and Nick was clearly lacking appropriate attire. After taking some time to look around the rustic living area and warm his hands near the heat, he turned to Frederick and saw him closely watching him.


    "So if ya don''t know about the stations how did ya get a class?" Frederick questioned.


    "I don''t understand what you mean by class." Nick replied hesitantly.


    He rubbed his chin thoughtfully before continuing, "Look at me and try to glean more. [Identify] me."


    Nick tilted his head perplexed as he reflected on Frederick¡¯s words. He had no idea what Frederick meant by [Identify] but as soon as the word crossed his mind it became abundantly clear. A block of text appeared clearly in his mind..


    Class: [Carpenter]


    ¡°What the hell!?¡± Nick gasped.


    He was astounded. It was like one of the video games he grew up playing where you roleplay a character. You¡¯d pick a class like [Warrior] and you could unlock abilities and skills. If that was true he realized that meant the strange building he entered earlier was the station Frederick referred to and he had already been given a class and several skills.


    "You are a [Carpenter]. Do classes give you magic and abilities?" Nick asked excitedly, momentarily forgetting he was stranded on a different world.


    "Some classes have magic aye and abilities is one way to describe what skills provide. It is pretty simple. Ya select a class or take the recommended one when you register at a station for the first time. The class unlocks the [Identify] skill which everyone has and a skill tied to your class. As ya level your class, you can gain new skills or existing ones may improve and evolve. Leveling is a bit of a mystery and can be vague depending on the class you have but it''s generally understood new skills will be granted on average every five levels.¡±


    Nick took a moment to consider the gravity of what he just learned and then realized he wouldn''t be a great warrior saving the princess of the realm. He was a [Merchant]. Unless..


    "Can you change classes?" he asked hopefully.


    "Nope, assigned for life. It has been a research topic for ages though. There are plenty who wish to change their choice for something else but it is a sad reality for most that end up as farmers or tailors wishing for excitement. At least they have an excuse to live a little longer instead of dying on the frontlines or in frontier lands. Think of your [Status]. What skill did ya get from your class?"


    Nick frowned at the news. He wasn''t sure what it meant to be a [Merchant] but it seemed he was stuck with it unless he found a different way to get a new class from the station. It made sense if he really was transported by Hez, goddess of traders and merchants. He put the thought to the back of his mind and did as Frederick suggested, thinking of his [Status] the same way he did with [Identify] earlier and got similar results.


    Name: Nick Solis


    Age: 21


    Race: Human


    Class: [Merchant]


    Level: 1


    Skills:


    [Identify]


    [Personal Station]


    Nick sensed his class and each of the skills listed had additional information he could access.


    He focused on them in order to reveal a description for each.


    [Merchant]


    Each successful trade provides experience.


    The term successful left him with questions. How did these stations determine what was successful? Could he simply trade an item and money back and forth between another merchant and level endlessly? It was no doubt not nearly that simple, but it gave him something to think about as he moved on to the descriptions of his skills.This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    [Identify]


    See any sapient creature''s Class.


    See non-sapient creature''s Threat Level.


    Range: Eyesight


    Limit: None


    [Personal Station]


    You control a personal station node that can access the station network from any location.


    Range: Self


    Limit: None


    Nick was completely lost on what to think about his class and skills.


    "Beyond [Identify], all I have is some skill that says I get access to the station network from any location.. Seems pretty lousy. No fireballs or summoning magic that''s for sure."


    Frederick looked at Nick in disbelief before sputtering out, "Anywhere... without limits?"


    "That''s what it says.What does station network access mean exactly?." he replied sheepishly.


    Frederick seemed shocked and took a moment to collect himself and his thoughts. Despite Nick¡¯s lack of understanding, it was clear Frederick wasn''t prepared for the implications of his skill.


    "Nick, ya don''t understand how dangerous and violent this world can be. Stations are a driving force behind much of the violence on Proelium, but stations also provide infrastructure to every nation. The problem is station access is restricted to nodes and they are strictly controlled by the nations that control them. They provide the means to run commerce, and allow the movement of goods and people. As a [Merchant], the station market will be where you carry out most of your trades."


    "I''ll have to take your word on it. This is all a lot to take in and I don¡¯t really understand enough about why that would be so dangerous." Nick said before releasing a deep breath and trying to focus on the most important revelations. "What is the station market all about? That seems important if I am to become a successful merchant."


    "The station market is a global hub and facilitates the majority of all trade. You need to test this skill of yours and then you will understand. Station nodes are highly valued and protected. The kingdoms that hold them can assess taxes on their populations making them crucial for managing their people and a key objective for many wars. The problem is when conflict occurs, station network access locks region wide and as the front line shifts the ability to reinforce new areas and supply troops becomes a logistical nightmare. Having access anywhere could change the way battlefields are managed."


    "It seems like you know a lot about the war efforts¡­¡± Nick said tentatively.


    Frederick sighed before he replied with a serious tone, "I''ve lived longer than most in this world aye. I worked in the capital for many years before relocating to this small town. It was time to move on before I got myself killed and I''m glad I did. Focus on your station skill and all will be clear if it works as I expect."


    Nick nodded seriously and felt his skill naturally activate when he focused. A figure flashed into existence as soon as the skill was active. The figure was a faceless featureless bipedal and a robotic voice began to speak from its location despite having no discernable mouth.


    "Activation of Solis station node completed. Select station avatar specifications."


    An arm from the figure raised during the last statement and a display panel appeared with a list of features and options that could be edited. Nick looked over at Fredrick in confusion before  looking back at the options. They appeared to let him customize the appearance of the station avatar into almost anything he wanted.


    Frederick, sitting across the room, cleared his throat and explained, "A station avatar is provided to the owner of each station node. The local nobility generally controls each node and its avatar. The avatar will be able to answer most any question ya have about stations and their function. The information granted to station owners is not well known but I know the basics.¡±


    Nick was amazed. He had never imagined anything like the stations and his mind was buzzing with the impact they would have across virtually everything in Proelium. The entrepreneurial spirit in him was blazing to life as he considered the implications.


    Frederick cleared his throat as he noticed Nick¡¯s distant look. ¡°I''m going to get some rest but stay the night and learn what you can from your assistant. We will get ya some new clothes in the morning."


    Nick came back to the conversation and managed to compose himself momentarily. "Thank you for everything. I am lucky to have met you when I did. I might be freezing to death out there otherwise."


    "Aye, don''t mention it. Rest up, ya are going to need the energy."


    Frederick stood and grabbed some blankets and a pillow from a cupboard in the corner. He laid them on the floor near the fire before he headed into the back room of the cottage and left Nick alone with the station avatar.


    After Frederick left, the gravity of Nick¡¯s situation started to sink in for him. He was in an unknown world with no clue what the local society or customs were. Not to mention, there was magic and apparently mythical creatures. He took a deep breath and released the anxiety that had built up. He was nobody back on Earth. He hadn¡¯t had any special skills that made him stand out but that had suddenly changed.


    Based on Frederick''s reaction he was unique and people didn¡¯t randomly get teleported between worlds often enough for it to be commonly known. Nick had knowledge and perspective that could be world changing if he could figure out how to recreate some of the things from Earth. He thought if he could learn how to take advantage of his knowledge from Earth and build something of value it would be more than he could have ever hoped to achieve in his life on Earth. Nick clenched his fists at the thought.


    The only thing that made him hesitate was his family. Nick was a single child and his parents would be devastated at his disappearance. He had no idea why Hez chose him to send to Proelium but it seemed like it had to be tied to the station skill in some way. He thought if he could learn more about his personal station and understand how it worked maybe he could find a way back. He thought of what Hez said about this world being a better fit for his ambitions and perhaps she was right. Nick took in a deep breath with conviction and released it while unclenching his fists. It was time for him to get to work.

 Chapter 3

    Nick turned his attention to the station avatar after Frederick closed the door to the bedroom of the cottage. It was more of a blob than anything due to its barely recognizable features and it was creepy after more than a passing glance. The first thing Nick did was find the race setting and adjust it to human. The avatar instantly shifted into a new form that was clearly human but still bland and hard to look at.


    Nick took several minutes to adjust sliders and settings to create the avatar into something a bit more comforting. He modeled it after the concept of a friendly old man that might be found as the keeper of some archive of magical knowledge in some of the video games he previously played.


    The end result was a white haired elderly man wearing a thick gray cloak, with glasses on the tip of his nose, and a warm smile. Nick nodded, satisfied with his changes. The last thing he could set was a name. He gave it quite a bit of thought before entering the name ¡®Vander¡¯.


    "Alright Vander, I guess I need whatever serves as the dummy''s guide to station nodes."


    "Very well sir. I believe it best if we start from the beginning,"  Vander said with a surprisingly high brow accent. It reminded Nick of a Victorian era butler.


    Vander lifted his hand and a screen materialized depicting a birds-eye view of a building that looked identical to the station building Nick entered when first arriving in Proelium. Vander began narrating in a voice that matched his persona as a wise scholar.


    ¡°The stations were forged during the creation of Proelium. The Pantheon of Ancients gave life to the sapient species and allowed them to gain classes and skills from the stations to help them prosper and grow."


    The video shifted to show a figure dressed in armor and holding a spear.


    "The stations reward those that achieve in their classes. The rewards are generous to those that make a mark on the world."


    The spearman was shown on a battlefield stabbing enemies and as the images flickered by he became more proficient. He was moving at inhuman speeds and releasing blasts of energy into his opponents which became hard to track.


    "The rewards vary greatly but they are always powerful if utilized appropriately and make those who wield them powerful in might or influence. ¡°


    The spearman was depicted standing on a battlefield overlooking countless slain enemies. The spear they held was shimmering with power and magic.


    ¡°The stations provide services beyond rewarding achievements. They contain more mundane functions to facilitate trade and commerce, but as importantly functions that encourage exploration and adventure. Proelium is filled with dangerous creatures and monsters that roam in countless numbers. The stations reward those who seek to civilize the wild areas above and below the surface. The corpses of non-sapient  creatures can be sold to the station for coins to reward those that adventure and conquer the untamed frontiers. The higher the threat level of the creature, the more coins will be rewarded. Additionally, currency is regulated by the stations and comes in four units: Copper, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. The smaller denomination takes 100 to equal the larger with copper being the least valuable and platinum being the most."


    The images shifted back to the station. Large groups of people and goods were entering and leaving. There were also corpses of various types being hauled inside by carts and people.


    "The Solis station operates differently. There is no permanent structure but you can summon a temporary station entrance to move goods and allow others to access the station network."This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    The images showed holographic doors grow until they solidified and a group of people entered. Then the doors shrunk back down again until they disappeared.


    Nick was astounded by the information. It seemed the stations were incredibly complex and just as mystical. He immediately recognized the importance of taking the time to understand as much as he could about the options and how they impacted his skill. One thing was clear to him though: he needed coins for any of it to matter.


    Vander waited patiently for Nick to digest the information before continuing.


    "As mentioned, the station network facilitates transportation and trade across all of Proelium. This is achieved by the transportation function to move between station nodes and the global market that enables free trade across all stations."


    With another wave of his hand Vander summoned a screen with a huge amount of text. It was constantly updating with market listings and their bids in real time.


    "Your station node provides access to the station market. Transportation is a core feature to allow goods and people to traverse between stations. It should be noted, distance between nodes will affect the taxes applied by the station for transport."


    "How do taxes apply?" Nick inquired as he looked over the constantly updating list of bids displayed for weapons, armors, equipment, food stuffs, all manner of services, contract workers for hire, and surprisingly slaves. Some of the types of species and creatures listed were recognizable to him from folklore but many were a complete mystery.


    "The station requires a tax on all transactions, but moving more volume at a time offers a scaling discount. The cost per unit of goods decreases as more are added. For example, for one unit it may be a 1 silver tax charge per unit but for one hundred units it could be 90 copper per unit. Depending on the skills and level of the merchant, the value of the goods, and the type of transaction the charges will fluctuate. Typically central locations are designated within regions to move the largest armies and supplies to cut down on station taxes."


    Nick ran a hand through his shaggy hair as he digested the information. He realized he had a ton to learn about his new world. He was even more thankful to have encountered Frederick and it made him realize Hez may have planned it that way from the start. She said she could affect fate in some ways and it seemed improbable he would be sent to a station at random. There was too much risk in that based on what he had learned from Fredick and simply looking at the variety of species flickering on the auction. If his first encounter was some creature out of a storybook he doubted things would have ended well.


    Nick drummed his fingers on the bench in thought. He knew if he was going to make something of himself in his new life in Proelium he would need to learn how to start earning some coins as a Merchant. He also knew it would be a long road until his skill would show its true value but he wasn''t in a rush. He smiled to himself as he realized how much potential he had to impact the world despite not being any kind of warrior or mage. And if Vander was telling him the truth, impact was how achievements were earned which could result in some powerful rewards.


    Nick looked back at Vander and nodded in determination. "Vander can you help me sort the market and query for specific goods."


    "Yes, as the owner of the node I can assist you directly with market transactions; others are limited to using station terminals."


    Nick smiled again as he realized access to a station avatar would be invaluable to him as a merchant. He stretched before releasing an unexpected yawn. He hadn''t realized how exhausted he had become and was sure it was in no small part due to the shocking events that transpired over the last few hours.


    "Thank you Vander, we have a long journey ahead of us it seems."


    Vander nodded his head and disappeared, understanding he was being dismissed. Nick could feel there was a partial mental connection between them that made verbal commands unnecessary for simple requests. The idea of a mental connection to a mystical being would have shocked him to his core hours before but his mind was already adjusting to his new reality.


    Nick settled in for the night in front of the warm fireplace with a small smile on his face despite the stressfulness of everything he knew he would have to face. He was worried he might have trouble sleeping but he soon drifted off into a dreamless sleep.

 Chapter 4

    The morning brought clear weather to Frellon and Nick was anxious to learn more from Frederick and Vander about the world he had been transported into, but before he could mull over those thoughts in detail he was in for his first culture shock as he learned modern plumbing was not especially common. He found himself shivering in a small outhouse a dozen meters away from Frederick¡¯s cottage to take care of his daily ritual, but on the positive side he was certainly wide awake by the time he made it back inside.


    Thankfully, Frederick offered him a warm breakfast and they settled in around a small round wooden table to eat a simple meal of eggs and potatoes. Nick figured it was a good time to learn a few things and figure out what he should do next with some insight from Frederick.


    "I guess I need to figure out the best way my station skill can be used. It is overwhelming knowing so little about this world. I don''t even know where to start." Nick said.


    Frederick speared a potato before he replied. "Ya have options but be cautious with whoever you reveal things to. The nobles would chain ya up and drag ya to the front lines if they found out you could circumvent station locks. Ya should look into hiring some bodyguards as soon as possible."


    Nick nodded thoughtfully at his advice. He was definitely worried about the threat to himself, ensuring his safety would have to be a top priority. He couldn''t take too many risks before he was confident in his protection. He felt things were simply moving too fast though and he felt the spike of anxiety start to rise back up in his chest. Bodyguards were a good idea but he knew he needed to know what they would be protecting him from first and ensure they didn¡¯t inadvertently draw the wrong kind of attention if Frederick¡¯s warnings were to be taken seriously.


    ¡°Do you think there is anyone in town that I should be worried about? I don¡¯t want to rush into anything with my limited knowledge. I feel like I need to know so much more about well¡­everything.¡±


    Frederick took time to think before he replied. ¡°I suppose your brief appearance at the tavern last night could raise some suspicions but the folk of Frellon are the friendly type and unless ya give them a reason to think otherwise they should be easy enough to deal with.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t suppose you could give me some advice on blending in?¡±


    ¡°Well the first one is easy. New clothes. You have some interesting fabrics from wherever you come from.¡±


    Nick glanced down at his wrinkled shirt and worn boots. He hadn¡¯t bothered to ask Frederick for a change of clothes the night before and the excitement of everything that happened made it a secondary thought.


    ¡°I suppose that makes sense. Are fashions from various cultures and regions not diverse in this world?¡±


    ¡°Fashions certainly vary but we don¡¯t get many folks from beyond the kingdom¡¯s borders this far into the plains. We are simple folk and don¡¯t have the coin for anything beyond what will keep us warm and protected.¡± Frederick said thoughtfully over a sip of some steaming tea.


    "That is a problem though. I don¡¯t have any money or coins I should say. Does the station purchase goods directly if there are no buyers?"


    Nick reached into the pocket of his jeans and pulled out his cell phone. He had found it was completely dead the night before. It didn¡¯t power on or give any indication it was still functioning.


    "Aye, it will but beyond corpses there are generally much better prices to be found on the market and it will only purchase finished goods, raw materials can¡¯t be sold directly to the station. What sort of device do you have there?" Frederick inquired.


    ¡°It is a communication device from my world. They are quite expensive where I come from and use some fairly rare metals in their construction. Perhaps it could be worth something to the station even though it doesn¡¯t function here.¡±


    Nick gave a slight mental nudge toward his skill to summon Vander and in only a moment he appeared next to the table looking exactly as he had the night before.


    "Good morning Vander. Can you tell us how much the station would purchase this for?" Nick inquired as he placed his phone on the table.


    A familiar screen materialized and displayed the value 4 gold and 75 silver after a description of his device make, model, and technical specifications were listed. He was shocked at the value as well as the level of detail Vander was able to pull from his device. Based on the prices he saw in the market the previous day, gold coins were worth a lot.


    "Wow, 4 gold and 75 silver. Well that certainly could help me get started." Nick said excitedly.


    Frederick whistled in surprise. "That really must be something special. Ya might be able to get even more on the market for it."


    "That seems like a pretty big risk. I don''t want to inadvertently expose myself by putting it on the market. Are there ways to trade anonymously on the market?"


    ¡°Not directly. Others won¡¯t be able to view the history of trades you make directly with the station but there are records created for all transactions between station users. The stations are diligent about tracking reputation and that includes for merchants and traders. Despite the horrors the station can cause it is at least fair, for the most part, in the transactions it facilitates.¡± This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Nick nodded thoughtfully as he made a decision.


    ¡°I think it is best to be safe until I know more and a little coin to get me started can¡¯t hurt. Is 4 gold and 75 silvers enough to purchase some supplies and hire a bodyguard?¡±


    ¡°Aye, should be plenty for the basics and some reliable bodyguards once you decide where you want to go.¡±


    Nick tapped the sell option on the display and his cellphone vanished and was replaced by a small stack of gold and silver coins. He smiled as he snagged a gold coin off the top of the small pile and felt the weight of it in his hand. He had never held such a hefty coin before and he had to admit there was a certain appeal that paper money couldn¡¯t capture.


    Frederick didn''t bat an eye at Nick¡¯s phone disappearing act and the sudden stack of coins on his kitchen table.


    "It is wise of you to keep a low profile." Frederick commented.


    Nick placed the coin back on the table before responding.


    The more he learned the more he realized he was out of his depth and rushing into anything would not be a good idea. He realized he needed someone like Frederick to advise him on the workings of the world, at least until he got a better understanding of things. He had no clue about contracts or bodyguards without his advice.


    "Frederick I feel like you are the only person I can trust as fate brought us together. Would it be possible to stay with you until I get my bearings? I can even pay some coin to help out with expenses.¡±


    Frederick gave a low chuckle. "Visitors are scarce this time of year and I don¡¯t mind the company. I could use some help in the workshop if you are willing to learn a little about my trade. I¡¯ll give you a place to stay in exchange for some labor and I can help you learn what you need to get by."


    Nick smiled brightly and internally felt a weight being lifted. He hadn¡¯t realized how much anxiety had been building. Knowing he had a place to stay and learn a bit more about the situation he¡¯d found himself in was a huge stress relief.


    ¡°It would be my pleasure to help out and I am grateful for any knowledge you can provide.¡±


    Frederick chuckled again at Nick¡¯s excited reply.


    ¡°How about we take the morning to get some of your questions answered. Then we can purchase some new clothes for ya.¡±


    ¡°You are too kind.I guess to start. where exactly is Frellon located and what else is around?"


    Suddenly a new screen appeared and a spinning globe was displayed. The landmasses were completely unfamiliar to Nick and the sea to land ratio was way off from what he was used to seeing from Earth. It was closer to an equal split compared to Earth''s largely water covered surface.


    Frederick smiled at the visual assistance as he replied. "We are in Frellon, as ya know. A small town in the heartland of the kingdom of Repstrom. I know little of the rest of the world but we fight wars to the North and West. The frontiers stretch South and East. There are constantly new stations found and settlements pushed into the frontier but it seems never ending. The stations open up the whole world to ya though. You can accept contracts to help tame the frontiers from across many kingdoms or pay a transfer tax to move into stations open to settlers. Contracts are generally a safer option however. Settlers are always at risk of being transported into dangerous situations."


    "Incredible! Vander what is the size of the planet compared to Earth?"


    "Unknown. No record for a planet named Earth was found in my records."


    Nick drummed his fingers on the table in thought. He was troubled by not having a grasp of the size of the world he was in.


    "How many humans are there on Proelium?" he asked, hoping for something to go off of.


    "Approximately 29.4 billion." Vander replied.


    "Good lord. That is insane, the planet must be enormous to support that many. What is the most populous sapient race on the planet?" he asked in a state of temporary shock.


    "Ratkins with a population of approximately 284.9 billion individuals."


    Nick was once again momentarily speechless. He realized the numbers shared by Vander meant there were likely trillions of sapient creatures on Proelium living, fighting, and dying leading to many more questions and some disturbing thoughts.


    "Frederick, how large is the capital city in this kingdom and are there races that inherently dislike and fight one another?" Nick asked hesitantly.


    "Aye, the capital city Fretton is home to at least five hundred thousand peoples. Wars are fought regardless of race. The nobility of our kingdom is of the human race but there are lots of races that live under their rule. Some as slaves but many are free. The front lines are made up of several other nations and are constantly shifting as battles are fought. There is a Dwarven kingdom to the North and an Orc kingdom to the West but there are no true loyalties to one''s race. Coins and the opportunity to level and get achievements is all that matters to most." Frederick answered.


    Nick reflected on the brutality of Frederick''s statement. He knew he would have to toughen up to live in his new world and understand that peace was not the objective for most, but it seemed at odds with the peaceful sleepy town of Frellon.


    "Vander, how many stations are there on the planet?"


    "That information is unavailable. The number and location of stations is restricted information." Vander replied.


    Nick nodded. He recognized stations were incredibly important to every aspect of how people lived and were highly coveted. It would be dangerous if information about them was readily available and it gave him some peace of mind that information about his personal station would be protected.


    Frederick cleared away the plates and said "There is never a lack of folks looking to take advantage of the opportunities provided but danger is always present. Perhaps Vander can give us some clothing options for ya from the market..¡±


    Nick nodded in agreement. If he wanted to stay unnoticed, some new clothes to help him blend in would be a good place to start.

 Chapter 5

    Vander responded to Nick¡¯s nod and a new screen materialized along one side of the room displaying scrolling market listings in real-time. Nick noticed it was oddly similar to the auction sites from Earth and even included filtering and search options to specify criteria to limit the results. Despite the familiar filtering, the number of vendors and items being sold was still overwhelming.


    ¡°Vander, how does anyone find what they are looking for with the volume of trading happening?¡± Nick inquired


    ¡°It is common for buyers to shop within their local region to eliminate or reduce the station taxes paid for delivery. This will limit the market results displayed significantly. Clothing is a common good and will most likely be more affordable locally due to the station tax waiver.¡±


    The idea of taxes levied by the stations raised a lot of questions about currency circulation. Nick decided it was a thought to explore more later.


    ¡°That helps I suppose. How many stations are controlled by¡­? What kingdom are we in again?¡± The amount of information had been a bit overwhelming and the name had already slipped his mind.


    ¡°We are located in the Kingdom of Repstrom. The kingdom currently controls 43 publicly listed stations.¡± Vander added helpfully.


    ¡°Thanks Vander. Let¡¯s see what is available locally. I don¡¯t need anything fancy, in fact, the more in line with the fashions of Frellon the better.¡±


    The screen flickered and the list of items scrolling by immediately slowed to a crawl. Vander took the liberty of filtering down to only clothing options by sellers within the kingdom and even further filtered it by the most basic types of fabric. By that time, Frederick had returned from cleaning up the dishes from breakfast and had settled in to advise Nick on his purchases.


    Frederick let out a low whistle and said, ¡°I have to admit a station avatar is quite handy. I know the nobles and local mayors have access to them but I wasn¡¯t aware how helpful they could be for sorting the market and insight into broader geopolitics.¡±


    Vander responded to the statement with quite the bombshell, ¡°Station avatars¡¯ capabilities are dependent on several factors but primarily influenced by user skills. Leadership classes may have skills to increase avatar capabilities. I have the maximum sophistication available to station avatars as a result of Nick¡¯s unique station skill and you will find I have better insights to provide as a result.¡±


    Frederick laughed at Vander¡¯s explanation and slapped Nick on the shoulder with his thick hand.


    ¡°Hez has blessed you more than I first believed. Don¡¯t take this gift lightly Nick. The station avatars are controlled by those with wealth and influence to consolidate power among the elite. This is a boon on top of a boon.¡±


    Nick rubbed his shoulder gently at the sudden impact. He noted Frederick had to be much stronger than he looked based on the strength he displayed so casually with a slap on the shoulder. A skill perhaps. The more Nick learned, the more questions arose and it was hard to stay on track.


    Nick took a deep breath and got refocused.


    ¡°I will have to learn more about your capabilities soon Vander, but for now clothing is in order. I don¡¯t know anything to base the worth of coins on at the moment and it is difficult to shop without some context. Is there a baseline coin to goods ratio you can describe? Like a loaf of bread or some common staples.¡±


    ¡°Market conditions will affect the cost of any goods but generally a copper coin can buy you a day¡¯s worth of food. A silver coin can buy a reliable dagger. A gold coin can purchase a set of well trained horses and a platinum coin can buy luxury items or real estate inside cities.¡± Vander outlined in his calm yet exacting voice.


    Vander¡¯s wise scholar look was becoming more cemented in Nick¡¯s mind by the second. He had a feeling he would be listening to many more explanations in the future from him.


    ¡°Excellent, so some reliable clothing should only run me a handful of copper coins. At least based on the types of effort I¡¯d imagine going into procuring and manufacturing the examples you described.¡±


    Nick glanced back to the screen that showed the market listings and seemed to find his assumption to be aligned with the prices presented. There were simple descriptions for each listing and even what appeared to be an icon to examine the goods visually. Then the name of the seller or vendor in the case of a shop and the price of the item.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    ¡°Aye, the prices are a bit higher this time of year with the winter setting in but you should be able to reliably find a full set of clothes for less than 10 copper.¡± Frederick added.


    Nick took a moment to direct Vander on the displayed results and within minutes they had identified a couple sets of winter appropriate outfits as well as a warm pair of fur lined boots for a combined 24 copper coins. The boots ended up being the most expensive at 9 copper coins but it seemed worth it based on Nick¡¯s expedition to the outhouse earlier that morning.


    With his purchases picked out, Nick slipped a silver coin from his pocket. He realized he had quite a tidy sum after Vander¡¯s explanation of value. It would be foolish to spend it carelessly since he knew bodyguards would not come cheap and it was going to take some money to carry out any venture he could come up with. The initial beginnings of a plan were already turning the gears in his head but he knew it would take time to come up with something actionable.


    The goods Nick purchased arrived in bundled packages with a stack of copper coins in place of his single silver coin he¡¯d placed on the table. Vander seemed to have control over where items could appear from the station but it was restricted to a small area around Nick¡¯s person.


    Nick slipped on the surprisingly comfortable clothing in place of his earth threads and was already thankful for the added warmth. He even got  3 copper coins for his old clothes from the station. Like his phone, Nick felt it was smart to simply take whatever the station offered for his old possessions.


    With their first chore of the day completed, Nick looked to Frederick for direction.


    ¡°Do you need to get going? I assume you don¡¯t sit around your cottage all day even in the winter?¡±


    ¡°Aye, I have a workshop in the town square. As you know, I am a carpenter and it is a year-round job as there is always something to be built or repaired. I generally have less orders this time of year but try to stay on top of things for when the spring planting comes and orders pick up. You can give me a hand and I can answer any other questions you may have as we work.¡±


    ¡ª


    Frederick¡¯s workshop mirrored the simple style of his cottage. It was well built and tidy but didn¡¯t have any luxuries. Nick discovered it also served as a storefront for his customers to place and pick up orders. Frederick was the only true [Carpenter] in the town and his skills made anything he made far more sturdy and reliable than normal. It was an interesting thing to watch for Nick as Frederick was able to easily mimic power tools with simple hand tools that would have taken others hours longer.


    As Nick watched Frederick work and chipped in where he could, he asked plenty of questions about the world. It was clear there was a lot Frederick didn¡¯t know but his life experience gave him insights most others lacked. He was more well traveled than his humble shop in a small farming community made him appear.


    He explained he was a well respected craftsman in the capital of the kingdom before he relocated almost ten years ago. He explained he lost his wife to a tragic accident and wanted a fresh start somewhere new. Nick didn¡¯t push for more details but he gave another short mental thank you to Hez for pushing fate to bring them together because he certainly knew more than Nick would expect for a simple carpenter.


    Nick learned more about the state of the kingdom and the various noble houses and families that controlled it. Frederick was not up to date on all the latest court drama but he indicated the noble family was well respected and had been in power for many generations. The ability to maintain a never-ending conflict on two fronts was no-doubt part of the appeal. Nick couldn¡¯t imagine managing a war with the multitude of skills involved for the different types of warrior classes and professions.


    Frederick explained war was a natural part of the world as stations were only too willing to reward achievements in combat to not only the soldiers and warriors but all those involved in the war effort. This included the farmers and craftsmen that supplied materials and foodstuffs to the military. It was unbelievable to Nick that a victory on a battlefield hundreds of kilometers away would somehow give experience to a farmer sowing wheat but it gave a small but measurable increase to experience gain if the food was being provided to active participants in conflict.


    Frederick mentioned the same benefits applied to merchants. The trades conducted in support of conflict would give more experience and help those involved level up more quickly. The desire to do anything possible to acquire new skills was simply an accepted reality. There were numerous stories of a poor soldier or craftsman stumbling onto a powerful skill that turned them into a strategic resource for their kingdom overnight. It brought wealth and power as well as the ability to lift their family and friends up with them. It made it easy for Nick to see the appeal.


    It was another layer of strangeness to add to Nick¡¯s future plans and he would have to find a way to accept the violent nature of his new world. He wasn¡¯t necessarily squeamish but his years on Earth had not prepared him for a life on the front lines of battles with swords and magic.


    The day fell into a more quiet affair after Nick realized he needed to spend some time processing everything he¡¯d learned that morning and it was actually a good distraction from his racing thoughts to help Frederick in his workshop. Nick was undoubtedly nothing more than a gopher to move things around or help hand Frederick tools but it seemed to speed up his progress which was enough for him to feel useful.


    Towards the end of the day, they decided to skip the tavern and head back to the cottage. Nick was still a bit wary of making an appearance again and Frederick agreed with his idea to lay low for some time before introducing himself to the other town¡¯s residents more formally. They saw a few folks in passing as they went between the workshop and Frederick¡¯s home but it was nothing more than a friendly wave and curious looks.The new clothing gave Nick some relief in his ability to look like the locals. The dull colored clothing of spun wool and furs was aligned with local fashion and bundled up with a hood made it hard to pick Nick out from the locals with only a passing glance.

 Chapter 6

    Settling back into the warmth of Frederick¡¯s cottage after a productive day in his shop was surprisingly satisfying to Nick. They had made excellent progress on two separate orders. Despite Nick¡¯s lack of skills in carpentry, the extra set of hands helped significantly. According to Frederick, the large farmhouse table they spent the majority of the day crafting would be ready several days ahead of schedule if they continued at the same pace.


    It was hard to describe the satisfaction that came from working to create something from raw materials and elbow grease. Nick had seen plenty of craftsmen and manual laborers from his time working in the hardware store but never tried his hand at any real projects. The assembly of pre-fab furniture certainly didn¡¯t compare. The skill Frederick displayed in his craft was a sight to behold in itself and having a small part in it made Nick feel a strange sense of pride.


    For dinner they enjoyed piping hot bowls of stew that included a hearty amount of meat and potatoes. Frederick had started it over the coals of the fire earlier that morning and Nick found it comparable to a slow cooker meal with tender meat and well seasoned vegetables. It was strange to compare an essentially medieval society to the luxuries of modern Earth and it made Nick wonder what other ways the people of Frellon and the broader world dealt with a variety of infrastructure and industry.


    Nick was thankful how quickly he¡¯d been adapting to his new world but there was still so much mystery and after spending the day focused on woodwork his mind was ready to dive into more of his burning questions. As Nick finished his bowl of stew, he re-directed their conversation about the work still to do on Frederick¡¯s open orders in the shop to his curiosities.


    ¡°There are incredible abilities granted by the stations but it seems like people are still struggling to get basic necessities. There don¡¯t seem to be any clinics, schools, or other public services. Is that normal?¡±


    ¡°We are simple folk in Frellon as I¡¯ve mentioned before. The type of folks that come to live here aren¡¯t looking for much and don¡¯t need much. The population is too small to warrant many of the things ya¡¯d find in a big city or even larger town. If there is an emergency the station can be used in a pinch even if it would be more expensive than having specialists local.¡±


    It made some sense to Nick that there were less specialty services based on the small population of the town, but he was still struggling to understand why there wasn¡¯t more advanced technology. It was like an itch at the back of his head that something wasn¡¯t adding up.


    ¡°I¡¯ve seen what you can do with wood as a [Carpenter].  It seems like with skills in other crafts things would be more advanced than they are technology wise. If someone could mold metal in the same ways you shape wood for example.¡±


    ¡°You have to remember where we are, Nick. Frellon is a backwoods part of the kingdom and metal is not as plentiful in these parts as wood. Not to mention, metal also makes for better weapons than wood. We are one small part of the machine that funds the war efforts to maintain the safety of the kingdom. There is little time or funding dedicated to luxuries and that exists across any kingdom I¡¯ve heard of.¡±


    ¡°You mentioned that before but it seems unbelievable people would risk so much. Are the benefits offered by the stations so grand to warrant such needless conflict?¡±


    ¡°Not to all. But to most. There seems to be nothing more appealing than the skills and gifts granted to those who earn it from the stations and the most efficient way is through blood. Your world surely has conflict?¡±


    ¡°More than I¡¯d like to admit and I probably don¡¯t even know about most of it, but it was waged by those in power with influence over those without.¡±


    ¡°It is the same here at times. But the stations offer something more. There is opportunity for anyone to rise above their peers and become something truly special. High leveled warriors are highly valued by any kingdom and receive the status and power aligned with their worth.¡±


    Frederick gave Nick a lot to think about. The motivations of the people on Proelium were hard to appreciate, but he had only gotten a glimpse of the powers granted by the stations. Frederick made it clear by his reaction to Nick¡¯s skill how important they were to society across the planet. It was going to take some time for Nick to fully adjust to the idea that people were willing to slaughter each other and risk their lives for what the stations offered, but if the other races that populated Proelium had the same amount of greed and naivety as humans it wouldn¡¯t take long for him to be convinced.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°I want to know more about classes and skills. How varied are they and what sorts of things can a high leveled person do?¡±


    Frederick took a moment to answer Nick¡¯s question, rubbing his chin in thought for a time before responding. It seemed obvious the answer would be complicated.


    ¡°That is a question asked by many people for as long as the stations have been around. The simple answer is the variety is endless but that wouldn¡¯t provide you much insight. The reality is most people end up with classes across a handful of types that are well accounted for in terms of the skills they may provide and what types of things give experience to level them. There are entire libraries dedicated to tracking class skills and upgrades but generally there are combat and non-combat classes with a few that fall somewhere in between that some consider support classes.¡±


    Nick nodded thoughtfully as he continued.


    ¡°The combat classes can range from [Lightning Mage] to [Archer] to [Berserker of the Tarric Seventh Tide]. The cultures and races one comes from may have a big impact on the types of classes recommended, but there is not inherently any class better than any other, but leaning into the specialty is important. I¡¯m a non-combat class but that doesn¡¯t mean I can¡¯t fight with a sword or shoot an arrow and kill monsters. I simply won¡¯t gain experience or get a skill that will help me with those things so I am better served crafting and utilizing my skills to their fullest if I want to earn experience.¡±


    ¡°I think I¡¯m starting to better understand. Specialization makes efficiency of activities even more important. I will never be able to craft wood as well as you so ensuring the work most suited to you makes its way to your shop is critical. Division of labor is deeply defined by classes. That makes it even more sad for those that end up with a class they dislike or find doesn¡¯t fit them.¡±


    ¡°Indeed. Class regret is a big problem and many find themselves lost in life. Unfortunately, a lot of them end up as part of the less savory parts of society. Many find themselves doing things illegal or unethical to make coin if they can¡¯t find a way to accept the class they choose.¡±


    The implications of some of the information Frederick shared with Nick was troublesome. The type of specialization he was talking about would make it almost impossible to be competitive in an industry without the right class and it would be important to make sure to pick a class that had a demand or else you could still end up scraping by on the edge of society to try and find a place with the higher leveled competition.


    ¡°It seems I still have a lot to consider.¡±


    Frederick nodded but gave Nick a warm smile, ¡°Take your time. The winter still has a ways to go and I could use your help in the shop. You make a fine assistant and the company would do me good this time of year.¡±


    Nick smiled back and again felt incredibly thankful toward Frederick. He had no idea if the gods were pushing fate to allow them to meet but it was a mercy to Nick that they had done so. He was still feeling bitter toward Hez about being ripped from his world so abruptly but he could already feel himself warming to the idea of what lay ahead.


    Frederick and Nick found ourselves winding down in front of the fireplace after dinner. The nights were long during the winter so it was still early despite the lack of light coming from outside. He introduced Nick to a game of his world involving wooden dice and scoring. It was oddly similar to Yahtzee that Nick played as a kid sending his thoughts back to time with his family in the mountains during summer vacation. The memory sent a pang of loss into him as he remembered his parents, but he did his best to put it aside in his mind. His thoughts of Earth and the friends and family he left behind still tugged at him but the future laid in front of him was a welcome distraction.


    The evening passed in contentment as Frederick shared stories of his life and Nick commented on how strange he found some of their way of life on Proelium. Nick learned about some of Frederick¡¯s time in the capital and a bit more about his experience working with some of the influential upper class that explained his insight into some of the ongoing conflicts and historical politics. Frederick was apparently quite highly leveled in his class and offered some of the most well-made furniture to be found. Nick reflected on the pain and emotion in the man when he explained the loss of his wife. He decided on a simple life away from the memories of her from the capital leading to his shop in Frellon several years prior.


    As they started to wind down before bed, Nick also learned how different their hygiene patterns were between worlds. He admittedly had been feeling a little self conscious about the stench he¡¯d been putting off after a day of working in the shop and learned deodorant was an alchemist''s product in Proelium and it was highly effective. Between deodorant and some other personal hygiene products mass produced by a variety of classes to ensure cleanliness, disease was kept under control despite most people showering no more than once a week depending on the season.


    Needless to say, Nick spent a handful of coppers in the station market to purchase a few supplies and was feeling much better about maintaining a respectable level of cleanliness. He also found healing tonics and potions in the market that would resolve all types of ailments and injuries but they were expensive. Frederick explained they were used primarily by the military or as a last resort if a [Healer] could not be found due to the rarity of their ingredients.


    Nick was still unsure of his future but things were coming together in his mind as he drifted off to sleep once more on the floor of Fredrick¡¯s cottage.

 Chapter 7

    A couple weeks passed uneventfully as Nick settled into a routine with Frederick. He was starting to feel more confident around town and among the eclectic group of townsfolk. He spent his downtime doing research with the help of Vander and getting his endless questions answered from Frederick when he needed context for the way the stations were utilized in certain scenarios. He was surprised how many races were represented in the small population of Frellon.


    Frederick explained that the majority of homesteads outside of town were owned by humans while the residents of town skewed more diverse. It came down to the classes as with most things on Proelium. The [Farmer] class was more common among humans in the kingdom due to a mix of familial lines and the yearning to live and work on wide swathes of open land.


    Frederick made a few short introductions and they ironed out a simple cover story to explain Nick¡¯s presence in town. There weren¡¯t a lot of questions once they mentioned a sad but common story about death and grief. He was posing as the last remaining relative of a close family friend Frederick knew from the time he lived in the capital.


    That was how they found ourselves enjoying a few drinks at the tavern after a productive day in Frederick¡¯s workshop. The tavern was surprisingly active in the early evening and the townsfolk were sharing stories and gossiping about the latest news and rumors. Nick found it a peaceful feeling to be able to comfortably share a meal and listen to the other patrons despite the horns, fangs, tusks, and scales on display.


    During their second round of beers, a creature with rough skin that looked like worn stone approached. It was around the average height of a human and had friendly facial features including an outstandingly maintained mustache that was impeccably styled. Nick took a moment to [Identify] him and was surprised to see he was a [Merchant].


    ¡°Frederick, it is a pleasure to see you. Mind if I join you and your friend for a drink?¡± the mustached man asked politely.


    ¡°Good to see ya made it back safely, Callum. This is Nick. A friend visiting from out of town. Callum is part of a trading company that helps negotiate deals for some of the farming collectives and shopkeepers in town. He brings orders from the capital from some of my old contacts that might need some custom work at times as well.¡± Frederick introduced them smoothly, explaining a bit about Callum¡¯s role in town at the same time.


    ¡°It is a pleasure to meet another [Merchant]. We don¡¯t see many making the rounds to Frellon. A shame if you ask me.¡± Callum said as he settled into a spare chair at their table and twirled his mustache with a finger that was several inches longer than Nick expected.


    ¡°I have a new order for you when you get the time.¡± Callum said as he pulled out a piece of parchment from his coat and placed it on the table before continuing. ¡°There is also news from the front. The Drovlin tribes re-engaged the fortification line to the West of Trolx.¡±


    Nick recalled some of the local politics he¡¯d discussed with Fredrick and recognized the names Callum mentioned. Trolx was one of the two nations currently at war with Repstrom. Drovlin was an isolated barbarian tribe that was known for its brutality. Frederick didn¡¯t have many details as the kingdom did not share a border directly with them but the atrocities reported made it clear the barbarians operated under a different moral code than most civilized races.


    ¡°They re-emerged sooner than expected after the last invasion. They must have grown in number faster than the strategist''s anticipated.¡± Frederick replied thoughtfully.


    ¡°Indeed. There are rumors of a new campaign in the south to capture new stations from the frontier while Trolx is otherwise occupied. The nobility is anxious to open lands for new estates to reward the successful summer skirmishes. Frellon will be seeing plenty of traffic heading through come springtime.¡±You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    Frederick glanced toward Nick at Callum¡¯s mention of a new campaign to the frontier. Nick immediately recognized the excellent opportunity on the table to gain experience and discover ways to capitalize on his unique station skill but kept his face neutral. The frontier was known to be incredibly plentiful in opportunities to gain experience and level. The risk of death and violence was equally plentiful however.


    ¡°There hasn¡¯t been a new frontier campaign in almost a decade. I guess that is overdue as well. There should be plenty of young folks willing to participate. Can¡¯t say I¡¯m thrilled at the prospect of all the traffic we will be getting coming through but can¡¯t be helped I suppose. Any news on if they are hiring mercenary companies?¡±


    Callum chuckled at Frederick¡¯s question.


    ¡°So they are. I didn¡¯t take you for a saber rattler these days Fred. Are you going to join a company like the old days?¡±


    ¡°You know me well enough to know the answer to that question. I¡¯m not going anywhere with these old bones and tired hands.¡±


    ¡°Fair enough. But you know the kingdom would be lucky to have you back on the front. What about you Nick, interested in getting involved in the new campaign? I¡¯m sure the kingdom will need plenty of up and coming merchants to handle supply acquisitions or you could join a company like this old timer used to do.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps.¡± Nick said non committedly as he gave Frederick an intrigued look. Nick noticed Frederick tended to avoid discussing much of his past so it was interesting to hear he was involved with some mercenary companies in the past.


    ¡°Don¡¯t give Nick any bad ideas.¡± Frederick chimed in.


    ¡°I would never disgrace myself to a fellow traveler of the roads of trade and suggest something ill advised.¡± Callum replied with an exaggerated affront before directing another question toward Nick. ¡°What brings you this far south this time of year lad?¡±


    Nick knew he had to be cautious in how much information he revealed considering how easily he could stick his foot in his mouth with a veteran of the kingdom.


    ¡°A bit of a break away from things. Taking time to decide what comes next for me and visiting with Frederick to clear my head.¡± he said plainly.


    Callum chuckled in reply. ¡°This sleepy town and time with the old timer certainly creates plenty of quiet days for pondering. Don¡¯t let him fool you though, he misses the days of adventure and danger.¡±


    ¡°Those days are better left in the past for me. I enjoy the quiet life and a visitor every now and again is all I need to be content with my life here.¡± Frederick added.


    ¡°You really have turned into quite the softy Fred. It makes me think about my own retirement someday. I¡¯ll have to find something a little bit more fun than this sleepy hollow though.¡±


    The three patrons soon settled into small talk about the latest gossip from the capital. Nick didn¡¯t have much to add but the new campaign to the south had the gears of his mind turning. He felt it was a great opportunity for him to get first-hand experience and would give him the ability to test the value of his personal station.


    Nick ended the evening with a heady buzz from the strong beer and easy conversation. Callum proved to be a wealth of information and he learned a lot about being a [Merchant] from his stories and experiences. It was clear he knew Frederick well and they traded barbs like old friends throughout the night. As they made their way back to Frederick¡¯s cottage Nick wore a big smile and it was the best he felt since he¡¯d arrived in his new world.


    Nick knew it was about time to decide on his next steps despite the risks they might bring. The itch to explore more of his new world was hard to scratch in Frellon and it was clear his time with Frederick was dwindling. He had to strike out on his own at some point and despite Frederick¡¯s hospitality he was starting to feel restless. It was coming time to experience more of what Proelium had to offer a champion of Hez and he had a feeling that sense of restlessness was exactly why he had been chosen.

 Chapter 8

    The next dawn brought clear skies and a hint of warmer weather. The start of spring was still a few weeks out but Nick took the break in the frigid temperatures as a positive sign of his intentions to move on from Frellon and head south. He was finally ready to start his journey beyond the safe confines of Frederick¡¯s village and the opportunity to explore a newly opened frontier seemed like a good fit.


    Frederick had already left for the day to head into town after he had taken the morning to assess the custom orders Callum had brought from the capital. Nick had broken the news of his fast approaching departure and received a warm smile of support in return.


    He found himself sitting in his familiar spot on the bench in Frederick¡¯s cottage with Vander standing nearby ready to provide the assistance he would need.


    ¡°Vander, it¡¯s time for us to plan for the future. I have always had a desire to be an entrepreneur and after learning about mercenary companies it seems like this world has provided a golden opportunity for me to start my very own.¡±


    It may sound bizarre for a level 1 [Merchant] but Nick¡¯s plans were dependent on the freedom that came with operating independently. His discussions with Frederick about his time as a mercenary gave him confidence in the decision despite the upfront costs. He would have total control as the sole owner and felt he could build the reputation and size over time as he grew in level and experience.


    Vander nodded and carefully adjusted his glasses. ¡°A company offers many benefits for organizing and signing contracts, trading goods, and building reputation.¡±


    Nick had learned the stations helpfully handled the bureaucracy of all types of organizations including mercenary companies. There was a fee but it was worth doing things officially to have the backing of the station network to enforce contracts with debilitating penalties for negligence and contract breaches.


    "This will be our first step toward establishing ourselves as a premier company. With your help, we have a significant advantage over most so we will do our best to take advantage of it." Nick said with a hint of excitement in his voice.


    ¡°First thing¡¯s first we need to set up a company. From what Frederick described, if we want to take contracts issued by the kingdom, we need to set up one classified for independent mercenaries.¡±


    Vander nodded and waved his hand with a flourish. A screen flickered into existence with a list of pre-populated options in a registration form for creation of a new mercenary company.


    Name: <>


    Ownership: Sole Proprietorship


    Type: Company


    Sub-Type: Mercenary


    Affiliation: Independent


    Maximum Capacity: 50 + 1 (Owner)


    Registration Fee: 1 Gold, 50 Silver


    Vander began to explain the details, ¡°You can change the type of ownership in the future if you see fit but without investors you will be restricted to a sole proprietorship. However, this will give you full authority over contractual terms entered by the company. The affiliation will impact the areas the company can accept contracts and tax rates based on local station control. Some station owners will only allow companies with certain affiliations to accept contracts or do business. The initial fee for registration of a new organization is 50 silver. The capacity is measured in units of 50 with a 1 gold fee for each unit.¡±


    ¡°This seems like the right fit for now. The upfront cost is high so we will need to be strategic with our remaining funds. I guess I will need to select a name.¡± Nick said in reply. He had been mulling over several names but had not yet landed on one.


    Nick wasn¡¯t sure why he already started addressing Vander as part of his company but it seemed like he was as much a partner as himself. He was tied to his skill which in turn was tied to himself so he considered Vander an integral part of his plans.


    After a couple minutes of tossing around a few names in his head Nick landed on a decision. ¡°Solis Trading Cooperative or STC for short.¡± Nick said as he placed the required fee onto the table.


    Vander nodded and the funds vanished. A new line entered Nick¡¯s status screen indicating his ownership of a new mercenary company established with the station network.


    ¡°Well that was a bit underwhelming but now we can move onto the more exciting stuff.¡± Nick said with a smirk.


    "Vander, let''s start by filtering for contracts that provide bodyguard services. We need someone that can be both a valuable addition to the team for their skills and also advise me on common pitfalls to avoid. I guess that advice part probably applies to anyone we hire in the short term. I still have a lot to learn."


    A screen appeared and a cascade of listings appeared with the auction timer expiring on some of them as soon as they appeared. The costs varied depending on the level and skills. The variety seemed endless with some contracts for individuals and others for full teams fit for high end nobility.


    Nick tapped a description from one of the postings and dug into the listing to find it was a small team of four with a Level 85 Air Mage commander looking to sign a 30 cycles contract for 5 gold. Vander clarified cycles were days and they were approximately the same length as Earth at 24 hours with 30 cycles equaling one month.


    Nick had no explanation for how another planet could be so similar to Earth, not to mention the fact everyone seemed to speak a common language. He had to simply shrug and point to the deities and the stations as an explanation. It was worth more consideration in the future but he decided to table those rabbit holes for another time.


    "Pricey. Is there a level cap?" Nick asked a question that came to mind to get refocused.


    "There is no cap but the higher levels become increasingly difficult to achieve."


    Nick nodded understandingly. He wasn''t clear on how difficult it would be to level up but Fredrick shared he was only Level 79 after many decades which indicated it was a slow process. It also seemed support classes would be slower to level than combat oriented ones but the risks were much less considering you didn¡¯t have to frequently fight in potentially deadly situations.


    "Do you have the ability to assess the capability of these contracts and find a team that can be discrete and are experienced enough to keep me safe while we establish ourselves into a fully operating company?"


    Vander waved his hand and the listings filtered down to three. "I''ve narrowed the available contracts to those that may best meet your requirements and budget based on our conversations to date. These contracts are undervalued based on current market conditions."


    Firebranded Bodyguard Unit


    Commander: Lundrick Drakfall - Level 45 Dwarf Fire Mage


    Reputation: 5/10If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Status: Mercenary, For Hire


    Roster Size: 4


    Roster Breakdown:


    1 - Dwarf Fire Mage


    3 - Dwarf Axe Berserkers


    Price: 1 Gold, 15 Silver


    Contract Length: 30 Cycles


    Nightfall Mist Bodyguards


    Commander: Larissa Nightfall - Level 58 Night Elf Archer


    Reputation: 3/10


    Status: Mercenary, For Hire


    Roster Size: 2


    Roster Breakdown:


    1 - Night Elf Archer


    1 - Night Elf Assassin


    Price: 1 Gold, 25 Silver


    Contract Length: 30 Cycles


    N/A - For Sale


    Commander: Darren Krin - Level 23 Human Swordsman


    Reputation: N/A


    Status: Slaves, For Sale


    Roster Size: 5


    1 - Human Swordsman


    4 - Human Spearman


    Price: 80 Silver


    Contract Length: None


    Nick read through each listing thoughtfully. The last listing surprised him the most as they were slaves and not mercenaries.


    ¡°I don''t understand how mercenaries are more expensive than slaves if the contract terms are limited."


    ¡°Slaves, while bound by the station contract to not harm their owner, still must be motivated to perform. The contract price goes to their owners making them unreliable and difficult to control without appropriate infrastructure. Mercenaries are incentivized by coins and maintaining their reputations.¡±


    "What do you mean by bound?"


    "All slave purchases through the station market have three oaths they must follow. One, they can''t attempt to harm their owner or their owner¡¯s compatriots. Second, they can''t willingly leave a one kilometer radius from their owner without permission. Three, they can''t access any station without their owner''s permission."


    "And what happens if they don''t follow one of these oaths?"


    "They are stripped of their class and blacklisted from using any station in the future. It is worth noting that owners are required to feed, cloth, and provide general necessities for any owned slaves or else similar punishments may be levied against them. There will be warnings given to both slaves and owners before a punishment is applied to allow compliance."


    Nick sat in thought for a few minutes. It was clear slavery was not frowned upon on Proelium and even incentivized through the use of station contracts. It was hard for Nick to not feel a bit disgusted by it, but he refocused on the matter at hand and asked, "How is reputation score generated?"


    "Reputation is based on completing contracts in line with agreed terms. They provide potential employers with a baseline but many reputation scores suffer from poorly constructed contracts."


    "Are you able to better assess reputation beyond the scores found in the market listing?"


    "Yes, the scores for these units are close to perfect if you remove uncontrollable events from previous contracts."


    Nick rubbed his chin in thought. He was extremely uncomfortable with buying slaves, especially human ones but he considered the idea of freeing them and trying to negotiate a contract with them for protection. That would be ideal if he had more coins but with his limited funds he knew that was a huge risk if it didn''t work out. It would have to be a future goal to try and work out a way to free slaves and convert them into mercenaries for his company but that would have to wait.


    "Tell me more about the night elves." Nick said.


    "Highly skilled sisters trained to protect high value nobles, but were forced to flee their home when an invasion overran their city. They are an excellent value based on their levels and background despite being the most expensive and smallest unit."


    "Refugees. I imagine there are a lot of people out there forced from their homes due to war. Okay I think they are our best bet. I am drawn to the ranged and stealth aspects of their classes as well. I plan to hire plenty of warriors and mages directly for the larger company ranks. How do we negotiate a contract with them for protection while venturing into the frontier?"


    ¡°The base criteria for the contract is satisfied in the contract listing. In this case,


    bodyguard services. The more specific details of the job can be communicated through the station market for acceptance. I¡¯ve drafted a contract that should meet your requirements.¡±


    With another hand flourish, a contract appeared on the hovering display. Nick gave it a quick review and nodded as he read through each section. It seemed to cover anything he would encounter to accomplish his goal of exploring the frontier and mainly focused on ensuring his safety as a priority.


    ¡°Excellent Vander. Nice job. Let¡¯s send it for acceptance.¡±


    A few minutes later a message displayed confirming the elves acceptance of the contract. Trusting Vander''s assessment, Nick confidently tapped the purchase option and a shimmering door appeared in the middle of the cottage. After a few long moments, the door opened and two lithe women with skin the color of ash and long braided hair walked out fully armed and looking ready for battle.


    They wore dark cloaks over leather armor that was covered in daggers and pouches. They both carried small packs on their backs but the one in the lead stood out with a large bow the color of obsidian on her shoulder. They had similar features but the bow carrying woman was taller and more muscular with an air of confidence. The other elf was shorter and thinner with a softer more approachable demeanor.


    As the door closed and then vanished behind the two women, they were immediately on alert scanning the room and drawing long daggers from sheaths on their hips. Their movement was so fast a dagger was at Nick¡¯s throat before he could get a word out.


    Dagger drawn and at his throat the lead elf said, "What is this place? Where is the station transfer hall?"


    Nick gulped nervously feeling the cold metal against his neck before getting words out, "Uhhh.. right. I apologize I didn''t think about that part. I''m Nick Solis, your employer. I guess this isn''t normal for station travel but I have a special skill."


    Vander flickered and then reappeared facing the women before saying, "Perhaps I can help explain."


    The ladies glanced toward Vander threateningly but hesitated briefly and their eyes both widened in awe as they received a station message from Vander before they stepped back and sheathed their weapons.


    The front woman kneeled and said, "A station avatar. We are honored to be in your presence. I am Larissa Nightfall and my sister is Nuri Nightfall. Please forgive our rudeness."


    Nuri joined her sister in kneeling. Nick looked on awkwardly for a moment before clearing his throat to get their attention.


    "Please stand. I am looking for bodyguards to help keep me safe while I put together a mercenary company to travel to the frontier. I seek experienced warriors that can share their knowledge and protect me from threats we may face in this endeavor."


    The sisters both gave Nick a calculating look as they rose and the tense air seemed to dissipate allowing him to take a deep breath of relief. He was learning the sleepy town of Frellon was a poor representation of the broader world.


    --


    Further introductions went surprisingly well with the Nightfall sisters despite the shocking first interaction. The elves were eager to work for Nick after finding out he owned a personal station node and the contract included a confidentiality clause that would protect his anonymity which was a standard for bodyguards. Nick was interested in learning more about the sisters but it was clear they were all business until they were more comfortable.


    He learned their initial reaction was due to the unusual arrival location. Station to station travel was conducted through standard trade halls that housed units waiting for contracts to be filled. The bodyguards were expecting to enter an adjoining trade hall and instead ended up in Fredrick''s cottage.


    Nick checked his remaining coins and realized they wouldn''t go as far as he initially hoped. He was pleasantly surprised however when he checked his status and found a flashing Level up notification. The transaction had resulted in his first level up and although he did not receive any new skills he felt like he was making progress toward a goal.


    Name: Nick Solis


    Age: 21


    Race: Human


    Class: [Merchant]


    Level: 2


    Currency: 3 Gold, 49 Silver, 74 Copper

 Chapter 9

    The Nightfall sisters were immediately diligent in their bodyguard duties. They demonstrated their experience by quickly establishing a perimeter around Fredrick''s cottage and even questioned the man himself to ensure he wasn''t a threat when he returned from his workshop to check in on how things were coming along. Nick felt a little guilty for intruding on Frederick¡¯s hospitality further but he still had some planning and purchases to organize before they could depart.


    Nick carefully stacked his remaining coins onto the table. 3 Gold, 49 Silver, and 74 Copper. It was a hefty sum for a simple villager but it wouldn¡¯t go far in hiring mercenaries and equipping a company with all the gear and supplies they would need. Nick knew he would need to be careful about how he spent his remaining funds until he could establish a reliable source of income.


    Sitting around the small stack of coins on the table were Frederick, Nick, and Larissa. Nuri had barely spoken a word since the sisters arrived and was still outside the cottage monitoring for threats despite Nick¡¯s assurance the village was completely safe. He was thankful to have someone watching his back after all of Frederick¡¯s warnings though so he didn¡¯t actually mind the extra vigilance. He was certainly going to be relying on the sister¡¯s expertise to keep him out of trouble in his new world and anticipated the threats were yet to come.


    Nick began laying out the next steps of his plan for Frederick and Larissa in order to get their input, ¡°Alright, we need some transportation south. After speaking with Vander, the station transfer fees seem a bit too steep for us at the moment but we can afford some simple mounts. The new frontier campaign is being organized out of the town of Torrst. Assuming the weather cooperates we can make it to Torrst in about a week based on the maps Vander can provide. From there we can look for a contract and hire some muscle.¡±


    Nick learned a bit more about how fees were assessed for transportation between stations from Vander during one of their late night chats. In short it was expensive, especially if you were not part of an organization affiliated with the station owner. Being an independent company came with plenty of benefits but it would cause increased costs and taxes to be assessed compared to those affiliated directly with the kingdom who controlled the station. The transfer fees to hire the Nightfall sisters were included in the contract costs and were significantly reduced based on them being in a nearby nation.


    Nick was learning the station infrastructure created significant complexities to economics and trade between nations that had to be carefully managed to ensure stability. It helped to have a specialized support class like [Economist] or [Accountant] with their associated skills but as a [Merchant] he would need to figure out how to best manage the impact fees and taxes would have on his company. At some point it may be prudent to even hire his own support team to ensure he was optimizing things as much as possible. Fortunately, he had a bit of a cheat when it came to selling his goods as he could exempt himself from taxes when selling from his own station.


    He would need to be careful to not raise any suspicions but once he made it to the frontier he was confident there wouldn¡¯t be anyone around to cause him problems. It was also a slight bonus to the members of his company that used his station to purchase and sell goods that could be added to contracts.


    Frederick brought Nick¡¯s thoughts back to the present as he vocalized his thoughts, ¡°The trip south will be harsh this time of year but with the right supplies it shouldn¡¯t be a problem beyond some cold nights. The temperatures will be warmer once you make it through the Gazt mountain pass. It is about three days south by wagon. The roads are kept clear of ice by the kingdom patrols with some special alchemical products. They came through a couple weeks back so you should be able to make steady time.¡±


    Nick chuckled internally at the thought of a medieval society essentially salting their roads to make it easier to maintain commerce. It was fortunate for him though as it would make travel far more pleasant during the current season.


    Larissa chimed in to provide her input next, ¡°We will travel the most efficiently without a cart or wagon. There are plenty of reliable mounts that would be suitable for this climate and can manage a rider as well as supplies. I leave it to your discretion. Nuri and I are trained to ride any mount suitable for humans.¡±


    Nick thought it over before turning to Vander. He had previously reviewed the market for mounts for sale but he didn¡¯t recognize many of the species names and lacked any real experience even during his time on Earth with ridable animals. The most he had ever experienced was a guided horseback ride as a kid.


    ¡°Vander can you sort mounts for something that fits our requirements for climate and hauling capacity?¡±


    ¡°Certainly.¡± Vander replied politely.


    A new screen flickered into existence visible to all three participants of the conversation. The display shifted until only a handful of listings remained.


    ¡°These listings meet the basic requirements and offer the best value under current market conditions.¡±


    Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    Heavy Stock Horse


    Vendor: Prism Breeding Incorporated


    Type: Pack Mount


    Status: For Sale


    Price (Per Unit): 8 Silver, 49 Copper


    The Heavy Stock Horse is a robust, broad-bodied breed known for its endurance and ability to carry heavy loads. These horses are perfect for traversing rugged trails or hauling goods over long distances. Their calm temperament makes them suitable for riders of all skill levels.


    Eastern Krora


    Vendor: Bastion of the Green Forest


    Type: Light Mount


    Status: For Sale


    Price (Per Unit): 12 Silver


    The Eastern Krora is a majestic, elk-like creature with six powerful legs, making it an ideal choice for navigating dense forests and uneven terrain. Its antlers can be used for defense, while its nimbleness allows it to maneuver gracefully through obstacles. The Krora is a symbol of pride for the Bastion of the Green Forest and is well-suited for long journeys.


    Miniature Strox


    Vendor: Mutation Munitions


    Type: Pack Mount


    Speed: Low to Moderate


    Status: For Sale


    Price (Per Unit): 9 Silver, 99 Copper


    The Miniature Strox is a smaller, ox-like mount bred for strength and durability. It has a muscular frame and sturdy legs, making it perfect for carrying heavy loads across rugged terrain. Known for its calm demeanor, the Strox is ideal for slow and steady travel, even in the harshest conditions.


    Nick scanned the list and took a moment to view the display images of the krora and strox as the names were completely unfamiliar to him. The krora looked similar to a deer or an elk but it had multiple tails and its skin appeared to be made of a thick tree bark. The strox was intimidating. It was clearly related to some type of ox with massive shoulders and thick muscles but it had a thick coat of dark fur and an additional set of back legs. Both creatures were bizarre as far as Nick was concerned.


    ¡°I can''t say I am familiar with these options besides the horses. Any opinions?" Nick asked with a bit of embarrassment at his ignorance.


    "They are all acceptable mounts. Strox are slow but sturdy and never tire, making them excellent for hauling monster corpses back to stations. Krora provide the most flexibility and won''t shy away from predators but are limited in their hauling capacity. Horses are nothing if not reliable and offer a reasonable middle ground but would not be capable of operating as efficiently in the frontier." Larissa replied.


    To Nick, that made the decision easy.


    "In that case, kroras are the optimal choice. Vander, will the station market hold the mounts until we are ready to depart?"


    "Certainly. You will need to make a deposit and the remaining funds have to be held in escrow. The hall will allow purchases to be held for up to 24 hours for this vendor. Other vendors may offer different criteria which may be a consideration for future purchases." Vander added helpfully.


    "Excellent. Please proceed with the purchase of three kroras and we will take possession once we have our other supplies sorted."


    With a simple hand wave the stack of coins on the table shrunk and a helpful chime confirmed the purchase allowing Nick to shift focus to his other needs.


    It didn¡¯t take long for Nick to pick out the remaining supplies needed with minimal input from Frederick and Larrisa. Food, water, temporary shelters, and some miscellaneous sundries were cheap by comparison to reliable mounts and totaled 1 Silver and 76 Copper. Nick wasn¡¯t required to pay for food and sundries for his bodyguards but felt it would earn some easy goodwill with the sisters and purchased them climate appropriate supplies and food for their journey in addition to his own.


    With the final supplies purchased and a clear morning there was nothing to delay Nick¡¯s departure any further but he was still hesitant to leave the now comfortable cottage and village. He knew it was necessary to seek out his own fortunes but it was still bittersweet to leave Frellon and Frederick after spending close to a week with him. He was more emotional than he expected and had to take a few moments to settle himself as the final supplies were being loaded onto his new mounts in front of Frederick¡¯s home.


    Fredrick noticed Nick¡¯s far off look and approached to offer some final advice and best wishes.


    "There will always be a warm place for ya here, not that ya would need to come back to this sleepy hovel. I know we haven''t known each other long but I know ya will find your way in this world. Stay safe and let your bodyguards do the heavy lifting. You can send me a message through the station for a small fee if ya ever need anything." Fredrick said as he slapped Nick on the back, sending him stumbling slightly.


    Nick smiled at the man with a little regret at the back of his mind at not getting to know him more. He had only known Fredrick a short time but he considered him a friend and knew he would be grateful for a long time to come for having had their time together.


    "You don''t have to worry about me. I''ve got plenty of protection thanks to your wisdom. I hope we meet again when I''m swimming in coins and I can come back to buy this town." Nick replied with obviously exaggerated confidence.


    They shared a quick embrace before Nick nodded toward the Nightfall sisters and loaded up onto his mount. He was happy to note the saddle was well padded and the creature had a smooth trot that was easy for his body to adapt to as they made their way out of the yard. The three members of his small company gave some final waves goodbye before directing their kroras onto the well worn road heading south and into a great unknown for Nick.

 Interlude 1

    ¡°Your new champion seems¡­what is the word for it¡­bland. He must become commanding and hardened or he will never achieve anything.¡± said a mountain of a creature as it swirled a goblet full of shimmering liquid larger than a barrel. The creature''s voice was deep and every word was a bellow compared to the delicate words of his companion.


    ¡°He is still young and ignorant of the world. Give him time Fyndor. He is not a leader yet but he has potential.¡± Hez replied with a gentle smile as she glanced over at the hulking God. He was a brute at times but she considered him a close ally and they had been friendly since the dawn of time due to their shared interests.


    Fyndor represented the watchman of the roads, rivers, and thoroughfares of the world. These individuals served to keep trade flowing and caravans protected from bandits, monsters, and other threats. Some were known as rangers, guardians, keepers, or other names depending on the culture, race, and history.


    ¡°Ignorant is right! He takes risks traveling the roads without more protection. Champions seem to attract trouble like a siren¡¯s call.¡±


    Hez relaxed back into her padded lounge chair with a sigh before deigning to respond. ¡°He is still in the civilized land. Give him time, the fates seek to give him an opportunity to learn for himself the ways of blood and war before he is too challenged.¡±


    Hez had been meticulous with planning and aligning all she could to give her Champion an ideal starting place in the world. As time stretched, her ability to bend fate in his favor was waning but she still saw her preparations were in line with her expectations and an encounter that Nick was due to experience was soon to arrive.


    ¡°The others will be curious to see what this long awaited champion of yours can do. It has been long since you were involved with your own¡­too long some would say.¡±


    ¡°They can talk all they want. Let the results speak for themselves when that time comes.¡± Hez replied with a confident tone despite her anxiousness.


    Fyndor chuckled in reply, ¡°Yes, actions speak louder than words as they would say. I wish others would speak less. Their ramblings grate at the nerves after the first million years.¡±This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    Fyndor slammed his goblet onto the table as he stood to depart.


    ¡°You never were one for many words. One of the many things I like about you. Nonetheless, your support is appreciated and I suspect the coming days will give us a glimpse into the wisdom of my decisions.¡± Hez said.


    ¡°Indeed. I will visit again soon to check in on the newest Champion of our order.¡±


    Fyndor paused halfway out of the door and turned his head back to make eye contact with his host. With a softer than normal tone he said, ¡°Don¡¯t doubt yourself, Hez. You were always the wisest of us all.¡±


    With that, he made his way out of the room and departed for his own accommodations on the floating island that made up the physical reality of the Pantheon of Ancients known as Asphodel. Each deity could manifest themselves onto the island. Many never bothered but for some like Fyndor and Hez, they found it valuable to live as the peoples of Proelium. It gave them a perspective they would never achieve otherwise.


    Hez¡¯s villa, where she spent most of her time with her allies and other friendly deities, had one of the best viewing pools among the pantheon. Anyone on the grounds of her estate could access the pool and pluck at the strings of fate on Proelium. It was one of the amenities that she gained from going so long without a Champion. The gods and goddesses were limited in the ways they could interact with the world of which they created.


    The rules were unbreakable but they could be bent with a little convincing and the right application of power. It still took eons for Hez to amass enough power to construct infrastructure capable of providing even the slightest impact on fate. She had been patient, frugal, and used her unique powers of trade to haggle and bend the rules to make it happen.


    She was finally experiencing the rewards from such a long investment by tracking Nick on his journey out of Frellon. She had to admit Fyndor was right about the softness he had presented so far. He had yet to see the brutality that was soon to become a constant when he reached the frontier. She only hoped what she had planned would be enough to give him the perspective he needed before he was overwhelmed by it all or killed due to the inability to make the tough decisions required.


    With a sigh she rose from her chair and made her way to her meditation room. It was something she found herself in far more since her Champion had been summoned. It was stressful to have such important matters left to her chosen without her direct influence. She was hopeful at some point she could interact with Nick again more directly but it would be some time for him to have enough wealth and influence to make that happen.


    As she settled into a meditative pose, she felt her lips quirk into the barest hint of a smile as she reflected on Fyndor¡¯s parting words.

 Chapter 10

    The afternoon brought clear skies and a crisp chill to the air. The layers of warm clothing kept the worst of the cold at bay and Nick found himself enjoying the steady pace of travel south. The roads were smooth and his mount that he spontaneously named Plumb was surprisingly comfortable to ride. The streak of purple bark-like skin on her side inspired the name and Nick was thrilled at how obedient she was after some treats and soothing words.


    The Nightfall sisters were a bit less enthusiastic but Nick was simply happy to be making progress towards his destination and didn''t let their seriousness affect his good mood. He decided it couldn¡¯t hurt to learn more about his companions seeing as they would be traveling together for quite some time and looked over toward Nuri that was riding alongside him while Larissa rode ahead.


    "So, how long have you been doing bodyguard work?" Nick asked Nuri.


    Nuri looked over with a blank expression. The two had spent little time conversing and Nuri was still working to figure out Nick¡¯s history and motives before coming to an evaluation of him. She had agreed to his contract with her sister due to the favorable terms despite their poor reputation. The non-disclosure agreement enforced by the station was not unusual for bodyguards but she was not prepared for the station skill Nick possessed. She was still rattled thinking of the dire consequences his skill could cause if it was leveraged by certain leaders and conquerors.


    ¡°About three years,¡± she replied blandly, hiding her curiosity about her strange employer.


    ¡°I see. So you¡¯ve probably seen some crazy stuff, huh?¡±


    ¡°Perhaps to some.¡±


    Nick paused his questions at Nuri¡¯s lack of enthusiasm. He opened his mouth but then closed it again deciding maybe it was best to let her warm up to him more before pressing for more details about her history.


    She surprised him by voicing a question of her own. ¡°How does a [Merchant] of your age seem to know so little?¡±


    Nick was a bit caught off guard by her question. He had known she was highly perceptive based on her class and the handful of conversations he had participated in since he had hired her but this was the most direct she had been.


    He stumbled over a reply. ¡°I¡¯ve been..uhh...sheltered. I didn¡¯t get my class until recently and grew up in a really closed community.¡±


    She stared at him for a long time before saying anything. ¡°That explanation is unlikely to hold up against most scrutiny. I know there are things you can¡¯t share but it would be advisable to let us know a bit more about your background for the sake of protecting you from yourself.¡±


    ¡°I guess that is fair,¡± Nick replied.


    He was cautious about revealing too much. He certainly felt like he could trust Frederick but his bodyguards were paid contractors and not his friends. He was certain the contract would cover him in terms of what information they could share about him but it would take some time before he truly felt comfortable explaining his rather unusual appearance into their world.


    Nick settled for a more general approach. ¡°I frankly don¡¯t know how to explain it without sounding crazy. I guess to put it simply. I essentially know as much as a child about the ways of the world and culture but have a spattering of deep knowledge about random topics that most would find unusual for the typical level of education I¡¯ve come to understand is common.¡±


    ¡°And these random topics include enough to make an expedition into the frontier a wise plan?¡±


    ¡°I believe so. I have much to learn and I hope you can share more of your experiences with me but I do think the premise of my plan is reasonable. We take some time to get our feet under us once we reach the frontier, hire some muscle, and smack some sense into the monsters while generating some coin to expand the company one contract at a time.¡±


    ¡°You make it sound simple but I assure you the reality will not be as such. Frontier expansions are competitive and there will be politics to contend with.¡±


    Nick nodded as he was sure Nuri¡¯s warnings were warranted but he felt confident his skill would help them avoid much of the red tape.


    ¡°And does my skill change that equation at all?¡±


    ¡°Perhaps,¡± Nuri admitted cautiously.


    ¡°I know I¡¯ve got a lot to prove to you and everyone in fact, but together I think we have the opportunity to do something incredible. We will have to adapt plenty as we go, I¡¯m sure, but the foundations are solid.¡±


    The conversation fell off after that as the two companions rode on in comfortable silence. Both of them had a lot to consider and the trip south would provide them plenty of time to do so.


    ¡ª


    The next three days passed uneventfully. The weather left much to be desired when snow began to fall and nighttime temperatures dropped to well below freezing but progress was steady during the day and the group of travelers arrived at the foot of the Gazt mountain pass that would take them to warmer weather and out of the central plains of the kingdom and into the rugged lands beyond.


    Nick looked up at the mountains, they were imposing and larger than any he had ever seen or heard of from Earth. There were peaks that were shrouded by the fog and clouds above and it was impossible to tell how tall they were from the ground.


    The pass was man-made according to the Nightfall sisters. The evidence of [Earth Mages] or similar classes was present and a tunnel had been carved directly into the side of the mountain. It was not what Nick expected but it was technically a pass through the mountains so he didn¡¯t give it much more thought.


    The poor weather resulted in only a handful of other travelers on the road but the majority were traveling between small homesteads or villages spread throughout the plains not making their way south. Nick and his companions found themselves alone at the entrance to the mountain pass and its imposing darkness only lit by some dim crystals that had been embedded into the walls a few dozen meters apart.


    ¡°How long is the tunnel?¡± he cautiously asked.


    ¡°The other travelers mentioned it was a half day journey through the pass,¡± Larissa replied.


    She had a thoughtful look on her face as she observed the entrance and looked around the area. As the weather worsened she had become more on edge and alert. The snow and fog significantly reduced visibility and it made her job as a bodyguard more difficult.


    ¡°We should camp the night at the entrance. There is a clearing that has been used by other travelers through the pass that would be suitable. It would be unwise to attempt to sleep within,¡± she said after a few moments.


    Nick nodded despite his desire to continue toward their destination as quickly as possible. He had been looking forward to getting beyond the mountains and to warmer weather once the snow began to fall.


    The company dismounted and began to establish a campsite for the evening. They had settled into a bit of a routine after the first two days and each attended to their own tasks. Within a half hour a fire pit had been dug, a fire was being started, and their small canvas tent had been pitched nearby. The tent was made of a thick material and was surprisingly durable considering the typical material Nick was familiar with from his handful of camping trips as a boy scout.


    The three companions huddled around the fire and stretched their muscles from a long day of riding. Nick in particular was feeling the aches and soreness that came from an inexperienced rider. He had taken to walking for some parts of their journey despite the tough terrain simply to give his backside a break from the repetitive motion of riding on Plumb.


    Plumb turned out to be an ideal mount for Nick. She was responsive and seemed to have already taken a liking to him. The little snacks and treats he snuck her way certainly didn¡¯t hurt their quick connection. The kroras were settled onto the ground nearby resting for the evening and gently snoring. Their sounds became a comfort to Nick each night as he drifted off to sleep.


    As the party began to prepare a dinner from their limited supplies, the final rays of the sun disappeared beyond the mountains around them. Long shadows became pools of darkness with the small fire keeping the cold and night at bay.


    Nuri¡¯s neck tightened at the sudden deepening of the night. She was comfortable in the dark being a Night Elf. Her night vision was among the best of any race but her instincts began to whisper that the darkness was not welcome that day. She didn¡¯t speak but met the eyes of her sister and knew she had felt it too. Nick meanwhile chattered about his fascination with camping in the wilds and how it reminded him of field trips.


    Nuri focused on their surroundings, letting Nick¡¯s conversation die on his tongue as he noticed the tense looks of his companions.


    ¡°Is something wrong?¡± he asked quietly.


    ¡°Maybe. Stay close to the fire and keep this close,¡± Nuri said before tossing one of the small daggers to his feet and not looking back at him. Her employer didn¡¯t make her job easy being so lightly armed and armored but she had no right to complain as they were still far from the frontier and the threat of monsters. She hoped the small blade would be unnecessary but it was a precaution that had saved lives in the past.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    She rose from the small round of wood she¡¯d been sitting on and carefully slipped out of the light of the fire.


    Nick glanced down at the dagger and his face went pale.


    ¡°What is going on? Is something out there?¡± he said while fumbling for the dagger.


    Larissa, already standing, looked down at him. Her gaze shifted to the darkness and her nose twitched before she replied.


    ¡°Prepare the kroras to flee to the pass. The air smells of demons this night.¡±


    She unslung her bow and strung it in one smooth motion, already preparing an arrow.


    Nick¡¯s already pale face went even whiter and he felt a cold sweat sweep down his spine. He was at a loss. Demons weren¡¯t real. Then it hit him. He was traveling with night elves and riding mythical creatures. Demons were most certainly a possibility and he had been casually walking around without a clue. He became frozen in fear at the realization.


    Larissa had slowly made her way over and poked him sharply in the ribs.


    ¡°Get moving,¡± she hissed, with no room for questions or arguments.


    Nick took a deep calming breath before scampering to the kroras and gathering the supplies to get them loaded. The kroras had been unsettled by his frantic movements through camp and were already on their feet by the time he arrived.


    Nick looked back to the fire but couldn¡¯t spot Nuri or Larissa. They had both disappeared beyond the light of the fire and unlike them he had much more limited vision in the dark. The minutes passed slowly as he felt like he was taking ages to strap down all the supplies.


    The silence was suddenly broken by a screech that was straight out of horror movies. The noise made Nick¡¯s entire body freeze in fear. Thankfully, the kroras simply stamped on the ground restlessly at the noise but seemed otherwise unfazed. The next sounds seemed to come from all around as wails and shrieks began echoing off the mountains.


    He went back to the fire searching for a long enough stick to use as a torch to light his way if he had to leave the camp. Before he could find anything a shadow streaked toward him and Nuri appeared, blades drawn and dripping with blood.


    ¡°Time to go,¡± she said tensely.


    Nick abandoned his search for a torch and began hustling toward the kroras. He hesitated to look over his shoulders but Nuri was gone again and he began to hear the shrieks growing closer. He grabbed Plumb by the rope tied to her saddle and began pulling her along while urgently whispering commands to the other two creatures.


    Thankfully, they listened and he made his way toward the mouth of the pass at a quick jog. The kroras kept pace easily with only the exhale of their large lungs and crunching snow underhoof to indicate they were behind him.


    Before Nick had even made it halfway to the pass entrance a small shadow darting in from his leftside caught his eye. He dove to the ground but whatever had passed by caught his shoulder and a sharp pain shot into him. He spun to the ground and hissed in pain. His shoulder screamed at him in agony and he felt the blood pooling and soaking into his clothes within moments. He was completely panicked by that point without the ability to see the enemy or hear anything beyond the shrieks and wails of the demons in the night.


    Nick clamped onto his shoulder with a handful of snow in his palm and pressed hard. He was running on instincts and adrenaline as he scrambled back to his feet. He abandoned his whispers and simply yelled for Plumb and the other kroras as he began sprinting toward the pass. He had no other ideas on what to do or where to go. He made it another dozen feet before he heard a deep bellow and his heart sank. One of the kroras had made the sound and he knew couldn¡¯t go back or do anything to help. He had to hope Nuri or Larissa were able to handle the demons. He didn¡¯t have the skills or abilities to do anything and the dagger he¡¯d grabbed was already lost somewhere in the snow when he fell.


    Nick made it to the opening of the pass within a couple more minutes using the dim light from the crystals embedded at the entrance to guide his way. By that time his shoulder was pulsing in pain and the blood had started to run down his side and the hand he had pressed into it. Two kroras were at his heels as he entered the narrow pass no wider than a two lane road. His heart sank even further when he realized Plumb and her easily recognizable streaks of purple were not among them.


    He almost charged back out into the clearing but his shoulder screaming in pain reminded him of how poor of an idea that would be. The next few minutes were a tension filled mess of emotions for Nick. He huddled along one wall while trying to keep pressure on the wound in his shoulder that was still seeping blood. He had prevented some blood loss but his head was light and he felt his legs were close to giving out on him.


    Finally, after what felt like ages, Larissa reappeared and tossed a small orb onto the ground that bloomed into a red glow of light. She was coated in sweat and her quiver was less than half full since the last time he saw her.


    She ran her gaze over Nick and the kroras, assessing the situation.


    ¡°Imps and crawlers. They caught some other travelers and enough spawned to be trouble.¡±


    She made her way to Nick and took a closer look at his shoulder.


    ¡°Nuri is dealing with the remaining demons. Once she returns we will tend to the wound. Do you feel any heat in your extremities?¡±


    Nick shook his head at her question.


    She nodded, ¡°Good. Unlikely the claws were poisoned. I didn¡¯t get a good look at the skills the demons were using. You will be alright with a little time.¡±


    Nuri met them soon after with a frown.


    ¡°The creatures have all been put to the blade but the injuries on the other krora were too much for it. We are down one mount for the rest of our travels unless we can afford another.¡± She said.


    Nick¡¯s heart broke a little at that.


    Nuri looked at Nick and sighed. ¡°I feel we are cursed. Another injured client is not going to help our reputation, Larissa.¡±


    ¡°Hush sister. We will tend the wound and avoid any further issues,¡± Larissa said sternly.


    Larissa moved over to Nick and began removing bandages from her pack. Within a few minutes the bandage and a healing salve were wrapped around Nick¡¯s wound and he immediately felt its effects reduce the pain and impact of the blood loss.


    Larissa looked up at Nick, ¡°Demons are rare. The presence of them here in settled lands, even more so. I don¡¯t have any excuses to offer beyond that. We have failed to keep you safe and have only our services to offer. If you will have us, we will extend our services for another 10 cycles for no cost.¡±


    She bowed deeply and Nick could see the guilt on her face at her perceived failure. If anything he began to suspect it was his fault this had happened. He was a champion of a goddess and there was no telling what that meant. Could demons be drawn to him somehow?


    He sat back with a sigh before replying, ¡°You have no need to apologize. I accept your services as I fear I need them more than you know, but I think we need rest and I need time to process everything that''s happened. Then I need to share more with you both that might explain the demons and other things to come.¡±


    The sisters both nodded before Nuri retrieved their tent and set it up right inside the pass. Larissa announced she would keep watch at the mouth of the entrance the rest of the night and it would be good to get rest and recover.


    Nick¡¯s arm was heavy and lifting it made the pain spike. He carefully removed his outermost layer that was still damp with blood and created a temporary sling. It helped to support the weight of his arm and relieve some of the stress but it was far from ideal.


    The pain made it hard to think straight and it took Nick far too long to remember he had access to the station market that would almost certainly contain a way to help his condition. Not to mention a pile of steaming demon corpses piled outside in the clearing where they''d made their first camp. He was sure they would be lucrative considering they were supposed to be rather rare.


    With a thought Vander snapped into existence. Nick had not been conversing with the station avatar much during their travels and it was the first time he''d summoned him since they had been on the road.


    "We encountered a bit of trouble as you can see. I need to get something that can heal my arm or at the very least help with pain and speed it''s healing." Nick said wearily, nodding toward his arm.


    Vander took only moments to analyze the situation before replying, "The wound can be addressed by a number of alchemical products for sale or you could hire a healer to join the company although the cost will be significant. Healing classes are difficult to safely level and are highly sought, resulting in inflated prices.¡±


    ¡°A healer can wait. Get me something that can deal with this.¡±


    ¡°Very well. I recommend a mid-tier healing tonic produced by Salves and Stags Brewing Company. They have an excellent reputation for producing quality healing products. The cost for one mid-tier tonic is 9 Silver and 90 Copper.¡±


    ¡°Damn, that is expensive.¡±


    ¡°Indeed. The ingredients required are difficult to acquire and special classes are needed to properly prepare them prior to being brewed.¡±


    ¡°It can¡¯t be helped. Perhaps the demons will fetch us some coins. Go ahead and process the purchase.¡± Nick grumbled at not only the pain that was wrecking his body but the wrench it threw into his plans and his coin purse.


    Vander nodded and a small glass bottle with a clear liquid appeared in his hand and the small coin bag at Nick¡¯s hip lightened slightly. He shook the bottle for a few seconds and unstoppered the bottle causing the liquid to glow slightly, before handing it to Nick.


    Nick took the bottle with the hand on his uninjured arm, ¡°Do I drink the whole thing?¡±


    Vander nodded, ¡°Yes, this variety requires consumption according to the label.¡±


    Nick glanced down at the small paper label and noticed a short list of instructions including the shaking Vander had performed before handing it off.


    ¡°Weird. Well, bottoms up.¡± Nick said before swallowing it all in two gulps. The bottle was small and only contained approximately 2 ounces of liquid. It made his tongue tingle as it went down and tasted a bit like a strong seltzer water flavored with something acidic.


    The effects only took moments to start. The throbbing became a dull ache and soon Nick could feel the strain of weight from his arm relaxing. He carefully removed his makeshift sling and found the puncture wounds had closed over with fresh scars.


    ¡°Not bad, but I¡¯d prefer to avoid a similar situation in the future.¡±


    The night attack had left Nick feeling deeply unsettled. He felt like he had been getting his head around his new world despite the dire warnings he had received from Frederick and others about the brutality around every corner. He was unprepared to face that head on with an almost deadly encounter within days of being on his own.


    Nick wasn¡¯t able to do anything beyond sleep after his would had healed. The blood loss and coming down from the adrenaline took all his energy and he couldn¡¯t do anything else until he was rested and had time to process the experience. He had been introduced to the dangers of Proelium with a first hand lesson and while he did not enjoy the experience, he would be damned if he wouldn¡¯t learn from it.

 Chapter 11

    Nick woke up the next morning frustrated and stiff from the injury to his shoulder. The agony from the night before was gone but his left arm was still sore from the deep puncture wounds in his shoulder. The morning sun exposed the extent of the wound and the amount of blood he''d lost.


    He realized how unequipped and ignorant he truly was. It was time to sit down with his small team and stop acting like a child. If the world he was in was going to punch him in the mouth he wasn¡¯t going to take it lying down. A small spark of something had ignited in him and he had no intention of letting it go out but would turn it into a bonfire. He was a leader, boss, and owner of his own company now and that meant he had to be prepared to deal with all the challenges that came with it.


    Nick took a breath before stripping off his blood soaked clothing and tossing it to the side of the tunnel. The cold air hitting his bare chest stung but it did nothing to dampen the small fire that was burning in him. He grabbed his pack from the ground nearby and pulled on his spare set of clothes before stepping out of the tunnel to find his bodyguards for an overdue discussion.


    ¡ª


    The Nightfall sisters were thankful for their years of intensive training and abilities granted by their associated classes. Their ability to stay up for multiple days without affecting their awareness was a key part of their training. The demons had caught them unaware the night before and despite being severely outnumbered they had been able to eliminate them without injury, but their client wasn¡¯t so lucky. It had been a continuous string of poor luck for the sisters.


    They had been working as bodyguards for years with a flawless reputation but the last handful of contracts all ended with contract breaches or failure to protect their clients from unexpected threats. They had discussed looking for a different type of work entirely after their last reputation hit before suddenly finding themselves under contract with a low leveled merchant in a farming village with access to a station avatar of all things.


    It had caught them by surprise and the situation was bizarre but after working with some eclectic nobles and wealthy scions it was easy enough to shrug off and focus on their job. The appearance of demons was not something they had been equipped to handle however. It added a complication that could turn much more dire if their client had a curse or carried a grudge with some of the high-leveled demons that commanded legions of troops.


    They found Nick approaching them from the tunnel with a look of grim determination. His arm was no longer hanging uselessly and he wore a fresh set of clothes. It was a drastic contrast to the night before when he was pale from blood loss and struggling to get onto his bedroll to recover from his injury.


    ¡°It¡¯s time for me to be a little more open with you both about my history. It might explain what I understand is an unusual encounter with demons in this part of the world.¡± Nick said with a voice that demanded attention.


    The sisters glanced quickly at each other before turning back to Nick. Larissa spoke for them both. ¡°That would be appreciated.¡±


    ¡°I am not from Proelium and recently found myself in your world. That may explain much of my obvious ignorance and low level. More than that though I was brought here as a champion of Hez. After some thought, it seems likely these demons were here at the direction of another champion or deity that is on unfriendly terms with her.¡±


    ¡°A champion. Ancestors spoke of such things and the favor they held with the gods and goddesses.¡± Larissa said in a hushed tone.


    ¡°Yes, I believe they have a more active hand than I initially believed. I am from a world without pantheons or magic. In fact classes are also a complete mystery to my world beyond stories of fantasy and magic. Hez indicated she will be able to provide more direct assistance if we can achieve greatness and I intend to do just that by making a company that is known across the world. I¡¯m not going to roll over because of some putrid demons.¡± Nick declared passionately with an upturned nose at the pile of demon corpses nearby.


    The sisters'' eyes widened slightly at Nick¡¯s declarations. The new information was troubling for a number of reasons but also opened opportunities they never dreamed of. The champion of a goddess would have unique advantages and his retainers would benefit greatly.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    Before the sister¡¯s could reply, Nick pointed to the demon corpses and said, ¡°Vander are those worth anything to the station?¡±


    Vander had been a few steps behind Nick as he approached and stepped forward. ¡°Unfortunately, demons are sentient beings and will not be purchased directly by the station, but demons are unique in that there are many valuable parts that are harvested from them. May I suggest we list them for sale in the station market? While unusual for this area of the world there may be a crafter interested enough to purchase them and earn us some coins.¡±


    ¡°A wonderful idea Vander. Please open a station entrance for us and arrange a listing for an appropriate price based on the quality of the corpses.¡±


    Vander nodded and a shimmering door appeared next to the pile of corpses. Nick wandered over and with only a slight hesitancy he grabbed the leg of the first corpse and tossed it through the doorway. The pile consisted of over a dozen dark skinned creatures that leaked foul smelling blood of dark red almost black in color.


    There were two types of bodies in the pile but they were both the stuff of nightmares. One had fleshy wings and spindly long arms and legs with sharp talon-like nails. The others were slender bi-pedal creatures with hooves no taller than a meter and clothed in dirty rags. Nick spotted a mouth full of fangs and sharp teeth.


    It was bloody work but the sisters stepped in to help and within a couple minutes the pile of corpses was through the doorway and all that remained was a pool of black grime and blood on the ground.


    Nuri smirked and said, ¡°I was going to suggest we burn the corpses but this is a much easier solution.¡¯


    Larissa simply nodded and appeared to be deep in thought.


    ¡°Yes, we will be taking advantage of being able to travel and access the station market to carve out a nice place for ourselves in the frontier, but first I need more protection. It is clear the company needs some changes to be more effective. As of this moment, I am promoting myself to President and Chief Executive Officer or CEO of Solis Trading Cooperative¡±


    A station screen shimmered into existence showing an organization chart of the company helping explain Nick¡¯s intended changes.


    ¡°Vander is now the Chief Finance Officer or CFO.¡±


    Vander cleared his throat before commenting, ¡°I must recommend against assigning me such a role. I am not equipped to meet the requirements of such a position.¡±


    ¡°Screw that. You are the best person I know to run the finances of the company and ensure we are profitable. If you aren¡¯t equipped right now I will find a way to make it so you are in any way I can. You will be traveling with us more permanently moving forward. You will be included in any and all discussions about the company moving forward and unless it is infeasible I will be keeping you summoned at all times.¡±


    ¡°I will do my utmost to live up to your expectations.¡± Vander said with a deep bow.


    ¡°Good to hear. You will do great.¡± Nick looked back toward the Nightfall sisters before continuing.


    ¡°I know that you are under contract with me as mercenaries at this time but I¡¯d like for you to consider coming on as full-time employees with a monthly salary and benefits after your contract expires. I will find an appropriate salary for you both and we can figure out benefits in the future. Maybe some type of assurance of healing and survivor benefits.¡± Nick waved his hand in the air indicating it would be worked out soon.


    ¡°I will be setting up many more departments in the future but I¡¯d like you to be in charge of my Executive Protection team. You will get a budget to hire and support a team that is responsible for protecting the physical health of all executives. Vander and I will be the first but as we find reliable folks that list will expand. Give it some thought and even if you don¡¯t intend to take the job I¡¯d like input on other options and budget for such a setup.¡±


    The organizational chart updated to show a dotted line between the section for Executives and the Executive Protection team.


    The sisters took in all the information and were at a loss for words. They understood some of the roles and looking at the chart gave some context but it was clearly a new concept to organize a mercenary company as Nick described.


    After a long pause, Larissa responded, ¡°I think we would be interested in at least exploring the opportunity. There are a lot of strange ideas in what you¡¯ve described but perhaps that is why you were chosen as a champion.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I expect corporations aren¡¯t quite as common here, but nonetheless if I¡¯m a champion of Merchants and Trade, we are going to build a company based on the most profitable organizations I know. To that end, I believe it is time to hire some additional staff. The demon attack showed we are ill-equipped to handle what may come our way with only the four of us.¡±


    ¡°Vander, I think it''s time for us to find the company its first Chief Infantry Officer.¡± Nick said with a slight smile. His new approach was building his confidence quickly.

 Chapter 12

    The small party of weary travelers found themselves around a fire in the brisk winter morning. There were no other travelers passing through to distract them and Nick was finding the heat from the fire stoking the flurry of ideas that were coming to him about the future organization of his company. Once the idea struck him of how to get organized, he had an avalanche of thoughts roiling in his mind. He was a CEO and needed to be decisive, reliable,  and confident. Nick pulled out his coin pouch and counted a quickly shrinking pile. He was left with 1 Gold,  52 Silver, and 8 Copper after his most recent emergency medical purchase.


    ¡°Alright Vander, we have low reserves of coin but perhaps you can find us a suitable candidate to advise and lead our infantry unit. I want someone with some combat experience.¡±


    Vander nodded and the familiar station screen flickered into life. ¡°I have identified a few candidates for your review. I believe the new company organization best fits the purchase of a single commander type class with the opportunity to recruit additional units that would best fit their style.¡±


    Thraindil Dawnrunner - Level 29 Elf Bladedancer


    Reputation: 9/10


    Status: Independent Commander


    Roster Size: 1 Roster


    Breakdown: 1 - Elf Ranger


    Price: 1 Gold, 50 Silver


    Contract Length: 30 cycles


    Grommash Hellscream - Level 33 Orc Warrior


    Reputation: 6/10


    Status: Independent Commander


    Roster Size: 1 Roster


    Breakdown: 1 - Orc Warrior


    Price: 1 Gold, 45 Silver


    Contract Length: 20 cycles


    Xavius Shadowstalker - Level 29 Half-Elf Rogue


    Reputation: 8/10


    Status: Independent Commander


    Roster Size: 1


    Roster Breakdown: 1 - Half-Elf Rogue


    Price: 1 Gold, 20 Silver


    Contract Length: 20 cycles


    Urzak Ironhide - Level 27 Hobgoblin Sergeant


    Reputation: 5/10


    Status: Loyal to the Highest Bidder


    Roster Size: 1


    Roster Breakdown: 1 - Hobgoblin Sergeant


    Price: 90 Silver


    Contract Length: 30 cycles


    Nick looked over the list carefully. It was certainly a wide list of races and classes to consider.


    ¡°Do you have more information about each of these candidates and what made you select them?¡±


    Vander waved his hand with a slight flourish and a list of backstory fell into place under each candidate.


    Thraindil Dawnrunner - Level 29 Elf Ranger: Thraindil was born into a long line of elite elven bladedancers, and from a young age, he was trained in the art of blades. Despite his noble birthright, Thraindil chafed at the constraints of elven society and yearned for adventure. He eventually left his family and became a freelance mercenary, traveling the world and using his skills to defend the innocent and protect the weak. Thraindil has a reputation as a skilled fighter and a fearless warrior, and he is highly sought after by those in need of his services.


    Grommash Hellscream - Level 33 Orc Warrior: Grommash was born into the brutal and warlike orcish clans of the mountains. He rose through the ranks to become a fearsome warrior, and he quickly gained a reputation as one of the most brutal and uncompromising orcs of his generation. Despite his loyalty to his clan, Grommash was eventually banished for a series of violent outbursts, and he became a mercenary, traveling the world and taking on any job that would pay his fee. Grommash is a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield, and those who hire him are guaranteed a formidable ally.


    Xavius Shadowstalker - Level 29 Half-Elf Rogue: Xavius grew up on the streets, honing his skills as a thief and a con artist. Despite his criminal background, Xavius possesses a quick wit and a charming personality that have often helped him talk his way out of trouble. He eventually became a freelance rogue specializing in leading small but elite infiltration units.. Xavius is known for his stealth and cunning, and he is a valuable asset to any army or organization in need of his services.


    Urzak Ironhide - Level 27 Hobgoblin Sergeant: Urzak was born into a hobgoblin tribe in the east Badlands and was trained from a young age to be a soldier. He quickly rose through the ranks to become a sergeant, and he was known for his martial prowess and his unwavering loyalty to his superiors. Despite his loyalty, Urzak was eventually betrayed by his commander, and he was forced to flee into the wilderness. He now works as a mercenary, offering his services for coin. Urzak is a formidable warrior and a skilled tactician, and those who hire him can expect a fierce and determined ally.


    Nick was simply astounded at the level of depth and history Vander was able to provide on each of the candidates.


    ¡°Is this all information found in the station?¡± he asked after he read through each description.


    ¡°I have used my access to station records to create succinct histories of each candidate. The station records are accessible by avatars with the right level of access.¡± Vander replied matter of factly.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    ¡°You never cease to surprise Vander. Great work.¡±


    Nick rubbed his chin in thought as he re-read the descriptions. He found himself pulled toward a particular candidate but he wanted input.


    ¡°What do you think about Urzak? The others seem to all have benefits depending on the direction we take the company but Urzak seems like he would have the discipline and experience to put together a fighting force we could rely on.¡±


    ¡°A suitable choice if you intend to create a force that mirrors hobgoblin legions. Hobgoblins are often cunning, organized, and militaristic, making them well-suited for leadership roles in an infantry force Many hobgoblin nations are feared due to their well trained legions and are sought after by many when they take on mercenary contracts.¡± Vander voiced.


    Nick looked to the Nightfall sisters and received approving nods.


    ¡°I have encountered hobs in the past and they are well-known for their organization and discipline.¡± Larissa said.


    Nick clapped his hands lightly and motioned toward Vander. ¡°Very well. Let us hire our first Chief Infantry Officer. Ensure he is aware of the standard contract stipulations required of a member of our company Vander. We will use the contract period to evaluate his performance and if we believe he fits what we are looking for we can make a full-time employment offer at the end.¡±


    Vander nodded and within a few minutes a shimmering portal materialized and an armored hobgoblin with deep orange skin walked through. Vander had helpfully worked out the contract to include the unusual transfer location and spoke with the candidates so there were no unexpected surprises for incoming units signed by the company.


    Uzark carried himself with a straight back and had a military air to him. His armor was polished and he carried a sword at his side and a small shield on his back with his helmet tucked under one arm. He looked to the seated group with a bit of wariness before coming to attention and addressing Nick with a surprisingly stout voice for a creature no taller than five feet.


    ¡°Reporting for duty, sir.¡±


    Nick stood without hesitation.


    ¡°Welcome to Solis Trading Cooperative, Uzark. I have high hopes for our partnership together. The company is small but we have big plans and will grow quickly. We recently encountered some unexpected challenges and need to bolster our ranks. You will be responsible for hiring and leading a strong and adaptable infantry unit,¡± he said with far more confidence than he felt.


    ¡°I welcome the challenge sir. I understand from the contract terms you seek to face the challenges of the frontier.¡±


    ¡°Right you are. We are heading south and within a few days will take on a contract to help tame the frontier. We have limited coin to get started but will quickly grow our company with investment of any coin we earn while slaying monsters and completing contracts.¡±


    Nick took a moment to explain the benefits of his particular station skill and received a sharp toothed smile in return from his newest companion.


    ¡°You have quite an interesting road ahead. There are many skills necessary to ensure a well rounded unit but due to lack of coin I suggest you begin with warriors trained to hold their own in a fight without relying too heavily on formations and some scouts to ensure we don¡¯t draw more attention then we can handle.¡±


    Nick smiled, already pleased at the recommendations his new commander was providing. He knew his inexperience would lead them into trouble if he didn¡¯t get expert advice and Uzark seemed to know plenty about fighting in the frontier.


    ¡°These are welcome suggestions. Between your experience and that of our other companions I believe we can find some well suited units to help us travel safely into the frontier.¡±


    Nick spent a moment introducing Uzark to the Nightfall sisters and they joined the discussion on what would be ideal for the first batch of infantry for the company. Uzark was also filled in on the demons encountered and the potential to face similar threats in the future. The hobgoblin gave the news of demons a few long moments of thought before grimacing slightly at the blood stained snow nearby. Nick was quickly learning demons were not a race that were viewed favorably by most others.


    Uzark was a stoic professional throughout the discussions and took favorably to the input of Nuri and Larrissa. He was already proving to be a good hire in Nick¡¯s eyes as the discussion continued into the types of classes and weapons that would be ideal based on the types of monsters typically found in this part of the Repstrom kingdom.


    With the help of Vander the group learned there were already contracts being issued that described the monsters as some form of massive insect that went by the name of Homels. They were burrowers that came in different varieties but were all covered in thick exoskeletons that made arrows and piercing weapons less effective.


    Vander interrupted as the conversation wound down to share some positive news. ¡°The demon corpses have been sold for 45 Silver and 94 Copper. Unfortunately, the damage to the corpses resulted in a significant loss of value but the sale was within standard market rates for this region.¡±


    Nick was pleased despite the potentially lost coin. It was enough to bolster the company finances to hire the units they would need and additional supplies.


    ¡°Alright Vander, I think we have a good idea of what sort of forces we need to hire and hopefully with the additional coin we can find some good value. Do you have a recommendation for us?¡±


    Vander waved his hand and the station screen materialized and before long Uzark had narrowed down the list to a unit that fit his criteria under the considerable budget restraints.


    Pasem Highlanders


    Commander: E''kar Ostr - Level 19 Orc Brawler


    Reputation: 7/10


    Status: Mercenary, For Hire


    Roster Size: 5


    Roster Breakdown:


    1 - Orc Brawler


    2 - Orc Axe Warriors


    2 - Orc Slingers


    Price: 1 Gold, 5 Silver


    Contract Length: 30 cycles


    The group immediately agreed the Pasem Highlanders would be an excellent choice for what they intended to face in the frontier. Nick confidently purchased their contract despite using almost all of his remaining coin.


    After a few minutes'' wait, a doorway appeared on the road beside the cleared camp and Nick stood to greet the new troops. A small column of thick framed Orcs marched out with little fanfare.


    Nick nodded gratefully to Vander before addressing the new contingent of Orcs that towered over him, "Welcome to the Solis Trading Cooperative."


    The Orc commander stepped forward and eyed Nick suspiciously. He had massive gauntlets with sharpened metal spikes melded into the knuckles hanging from his hips and wore little armor beyond a thick metal vest. His orange eyes shifted and lingered on Larissa, Nuri, and Uzak before turning back to Nick.


    "We are here to gain experience and achievements. As long as we can fight monsters, there will be no concerns,¡± E¡¯kar grumbled with a voice that sounded like grinding stones.


    Nick looked up at the Orc Brawler with a grin, "I think you will fit right in."


    The orc warriors didn¡¯t take long to integrate into the company once introductions were made and despite the oddness Nick felt toward a hobgoblin commanding orcs they seemed to recognize Uzak¡¯s authority without complaint. Nick realized he would need to ensure he didn¡¯t assume anything about the various species he had heard in storybooks from Earth. There was a depth and personality to each individual from any species considered sentient according to everything he¡¯d learned about Proelium.


    A small order of supplies was purchased without much fanfare and loaded onto the two remaining kroras. Nick had seen Plumb¡¯s corpse dragged away in the night by one of the sisters and didn¡¯t ask about it further. He knew it wouldn¡¯t be the last casualty he would have to endure. The newly enforced company broke camp and made their way into the pass on foot. According to Vander, it would take another day to reach the frontier town without mounts if they kept to a standard marching speed but it couldn¡¯t be helped.


    The pass was foreboding at best after the attack from the night before but Nick felt confident with a half dozen thick muscled orcs surrounding him and he was secretly looking forward to seeing what the thick gauntlets on an Orc Brawler could do to an enemy.

 Chapter 13

    Nick found the pass to be eerie with no wind or animals to add sights and sounds to the journey. The steady stomp of boots and the clang of weapons and armor worn or carried by the warriors was all that could be heard in the dim passage. The passage echoed any sounds in the confined space and made the two mounts skittish and hard to handle. The small crystals meant to illuminate the journey left Nick feeling particularly uneasy. The crystal''s light created long shadows that flickered as the small company passed them in a small column.


    The newly hired orcs led the way and kept tight ranks. There was little to scout in the passage and any other approaching travelers would be heard well before they appeared. The steady sound of dripping water broke the steady thumb of boots after several hours into the journey. The large drops could be heard splashing into a puddle ahead.


    The company soon discovered the source of the dripping water. A small opening no more than  three meters wide was found along one side of the passage. The opening was surrounded by loose rubble and led to a natural cavern containing a small pool barely visible from the dim light coming from the passage. Nick watched as a large drop of water fell from above and splashed into the pool echoing out with a haunting ripple.


    Larissa carefully approached the opening. She took a few moments while the rest of the company rested to examine the piles of rubble scattered into the passageway.


    ¡°This is a recent breach.¡± she said wearily The demon attack had her on edge.


    She drew a small blade and a crystal from her belt pouch. The crystal activated in a flash of red light exposing the cavern¡¯s depths. The cavern stretched far into the mountain. The red light couldn¡¯t illuminate the entirety of its depths and a foreboding chittering echoed off the walls as Larissa stepped inside.


    ¡°What was that?¡± Nick immediately asked at the new sound.


    Vander standing nearby replied hesitantly. ¡°That matches the sounds of a dragolith.¡±


    Larissa¡¯s dark complexion slightly paled at Vander¡¯s statement.


    ¡°What the hell is a dragolith?!¡± Nick said.


    ¡°A monstrous reptilian creature that dwells in the darkest recesses of underground caves. Adult dragolith can grow to enormous sizes.¡± Vander replied.


    Nick looked back toward the cave and saw a flicker of light reflected off two green specks in the distance right at the edge of the crystal¡¯s light. The chittering grew in volume and a screech of stone and claw shattered any sense of calm.


    Urzak, who had been standing nearby, didn''t hesitate to start commanding the troop of orcs. ¡°Larissa return to the formation. Slingers activate any penetrating skills and weaken the creature before it arrives. Frontliners close the gap with steel and shields.¡±


    To Nick¡¯s surprise the orcs seemed almost giddy at the prospect of a fight. He stepped well back from the opening in the tunnel and soon enough the slingers were sending their payloads into the darkness with grunts of effort. The solid stones they¡¯d loaded into their slings impacted with deafening cracks and the roar of pain from the dragolith echoed through the tunnel loud enough to rattle Nick¡¯s jaw.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    Larissa had her bow drawn and released three arrows in a matter of moments as the slingers reloaded for a second volley.


    ¡°A juvenile, luck favors us it seems,¡± she said as she lowered her bow and let the orcs with their large battle axes and E¡¯kar with his thick gauntlets jumped into the gap.


    There was another loud screech from the opening and a sudden thud followed that sounded like a speeding car slamming into a concrete wall at the suddenness of the impact. The creature was in sight in the opening by this time and Nick saw an astonishing sight. E¡¯kar¡¯s arm was elbow deep into the head of a scaled beast the size of a sedan. The creature was at least twice his size but it simply twitched as he shook off its corpse.


    The orcs began to shout and celebrate the kill as Urzak stepped forward.


    ¡°Well done, the slingers cracked the natural armor making it an easy victim to the blunt damage,¡± the hobgoblin commented.


    He spoke with the orcs in a commanding voice to get them back in order and within moments the creature¡¯s corpse had been brought forward for disposal in the station portal.


    Nick¡¯s eyes followed all the activity but his adrenaline was running too high for him to process it all until a couple minutes passed. As his mind settled, he started feeling satisfaction. It was an odd sensation at first but after a short reflection it was a result of everything that led to this situation. The demon attack, the creation of his company and now his new forces operating with swift efficiency to meet a deadly threat. That threat now laid at his feet and would soon turn into coin to be reinvested into his forces to make them even more fearsome.


    A smile settled onto Nick¡¯s face as he opened the station portal and a couple orcs tossed the corpse inside netting Nick an easy 32 silver coins. Vander explained this was due to the threat level of the creature. Nick hadn¡¯t had the opportunity to [Identify] the dragolith but it was considered by the station system to have a threat level of 6. According to Vander, threat levels determined the amount of coin rewarded by the station for viable corpses with more coin rewarded for higher threat level creatures.


    Nick felt he was starting to grasp something that had been escaping him up to that point. The motivation to push forward and level and build something rewarded by the stations. It was exhilarating beyond what he thought and now he had all the pieces in place to continue forward on his journey to greatness.


    ¡ª


    The rest of the journey through the pass was largely uneventful. There was nothing else of note and soon the company reached an opening into a wide valley. The evening light stretched into the tunnel from the exit carved into the mountains and Nick found himself looking down at a fortified town set into the mountainside around the exit.


    It was a shock to see the stone and wooden buildings spread along the slope of the passage compared to the complete absence of people or structures on the other end. At Nick¡¯s surprised look Vander stepped beside him and provided an explanation.


    ¡°South leads into the frontiers and presents a border to the kingdom. It has to be guarded in case of an intrusion by another force or in the unlikely event of a monster outbreak that leads to the loss of stations. The pass serves as a natural defensive point to guard the rest of the kingdom in case of an invasion.¡±


    Nick nodded thoughtfully and began to notice a significant number of the town''s residents were wearing uniforms in the colors of Repstrom. Looking back at the pass entrance there were solid stone blocks set on chains that could be released to completely block access and towers were set up to give a view down into the valley where the road continued south on from the town.

 Chapter 14

    The company caught the attention of a well muscled soldier that was standing sentry at the tunnel exit. Nick, Vander, and Urzak began to pass the line of orc warriors to inquire about what was needed to pass through the town. Nick panicked momentarily as he realized Vander¡¯s identity as a station avatar may be compromised. He quickly glanced over to Vander and let out a relieved breath as he found his Identify skill shifted from identifying Vander¡¯s class as [Station Avatar] to simply [Financial Advisor]. Certainly a strange class to have traveling with a mercenary company but not a danger to Nick¡¯s anonymity as the holder of a special skill.


    ¡°Greetings travelers. Welcome to Mountain¡¯s Watch.¡± the guard said as the three approached while motioning to the town spread out behind him.


    ¡°Thank you for the warm welcome. We are the Solis Trading Cooperative. We are making our way south for the frontier contract we received word of.¡± said Nick with a friendly wave despite his slightly strained nerves.


    ¡°Ahh. You are the first company to make it through the pass heading toward the frontier. We weren¡¯t expecting any companies for another few weeks considering the season. The kingdom administration will surely be pleased to have you. If you are looking for a place to make a camp before continuing your journey there should be plenty of space in the mustering grounds just outside town.¡±


    ¡°That sounds like just what we need.¡±


    ¡°I will need you to fill out a permit and you can be on your way. If you can follow me to the sentry station I can have you sorted in a few minutes.¡±


    Nick and Vander walked with the guard to get the paperwork sorted and Urzak took initiative to get the rest of the company out of the tunnel and ready to make the final march of the day to their temporary camp. As promised Nick and Vander were back with the company within a few minutes, having briefed the guard on the trouble they encountered in the passage. He seemed worried about the breach and assured them it would be investigated the following day. The town kept a mage on hand that could shift stone and address any issues with the passage due to the importance it held to the kingdom.


    Nick and Vander soon joined the Nightfall sisters and Urzak in leading the company to a cleared and flattened area that had seen little use based on the numerous weeds sprouting between the packed earth. The company traveled light with canvas tents and little else for shelter but the weather on the south side of the mountain range was pleasantly warm compared to the north side.


    The warriors had begun shedding layers and thick muscled orc arms were on display by the time the company finished settling into camp. Nick speculated that the difference in temperature could only be explained by the size of the mountain range. He looked back to the North and the mountains were still too tall to see the peaks. Reaching out into the sky farther than his eyes could discern.


    It was on that warm night around some small camp fires that Nick was able to really appreciate how much laid ahead to explore in his new world. The frontier was only a day away and he was anxious to see what it held for him.


    Vander joined Nick by the fire while he ate dinner despite Vander¡¯s own inability to eat food.


    ¡°We will need to start thinking about auxiliary company members soon. We can¡¯t eat off of rations indefinitely and will need cooks, general labor to help with camp and all manner of support staff the larger the company becomes.¡± Nick said thoughtfully before taking a bite of some tough salted jerky.


    ¡°There are many such individuals that can be hired. There are some species like orcs that culturally tend to lean into warlike classes but there are others that have found a niche in support classes. If you support hiring a variety of species we are likely to find high leveled specialists willing to join a company in the frontier. Reputation will be important to maintain as it reflects on a company''s ability to protect auxiliary and support units. They will not be expected to participate directly in any combat.¡± Vander explained.


    ¡°I prefer to judge people on their skills and merits rather than their appearance. If we can find some of these specialists willing to join then I am more than happy to hire them.¡±


    Vander nodded. ¡°I will begin assessing the market over the next couple of days for affordable options.¡±


    ¡°Excellent. I expect once we make it to the frontier we will have more opportunities to add new employees.¡± Nick said with a grin.


    The sun set shortly after Nick finished his meal and the company settled into their tents for the night with only a few sentries posted to keep an eye on camp. Mountain¡¯s Watch kept a vigilant watch for any suspicious activity but Urzak was a professional and ensured a trusted company member could alert the camp for trouble. Larissa was more than happy for the assistance in keeping a constant watch as she had taken her new role of protecting the executive members of the company with gusto. Nick had frequently caught her having quick conversations with Urzak over the last day indicating they were already working together smoothly.


    ¡ª


    The morning brought another warm dry day and the camp was quickly broken down for the final march to the frontier city being used as the staging area for the larger push south. Nick learned the city was named Crosston and was established during the last frontier push over a decade prior. It contained the furthest southern station in the kingdom and was well suited to organize the expansion further into unclaimed lands.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    Nick felt the excitement in the air as the company began a rapid march down the well worn road from Mountain¡¯s Watch. They were now sharing the road at times with other travelers coming from other surrounding villages or traveling between Crosston and Mountain¡¯s Watch. It was in stark contrast to the almost desolate roads they¡¯d traveled between Frellon to the mountain pass. It seemed the warmer weather made for much better commerce and trade no matter the time of year.


    The company only stopped for a short lunch and so by early afternoon they crested the final hill before getting their first look at Crosston. The city was not what Nick expected. It featured a large stone keep in the center but otherwise contained relatively small buildings and the walls protecting it were made of thick timbers instead of stone. It was clear the city had not received significant investment beyond the keep but it was teeming with activity that could be seen even from the hilltop over a kilometer away.


    The wagons of traders and other companies were lined up outside the walls and the amount of soldiers seen on the walls appeared to be more than a standard detachment. Nick concluded the kingdom was being proactive against troublemakers with the frontier contract being issued. There was sure to be an uptick in crime in the city with criminals looking to mix with the newcomers entering the area.


    The final march to the town walls took less than half an hour due to the well packed gravel road. The company split at the gates, with the martial forces being led by Urzak to a staging area set outside the walls for companies to make camp. Vander, Nick and his diligent bodyguards headed into the town to get more information about what to expect further south and register for the contracts being offered for monster subjugation.


    Nick was impressed by the efficiency of the town and traffic flowed smoothly inside. There was a steady stream of carts, wagons, and pedestrians traveling toward and away from the keep at the center of town. As Nick''s party passed under the large gate built into the northern wall he got his first glimpse of the importance of the location.


    The second station Nick had ever seen stood before him at the center of a large roundabout at the foot of the keep. The station structure was on a different scale than Frellon. It was easily two or three times the size with many more entrances. It was still only a few stories tall but it was the size of a small warehouse as opposed to the small home sized station he had seen in Frellon.


    Nick turned to Vander to inquire about the unexpected sight, ¡°Are all stations different sizes?¡±


    ¡°The station owners have some flexibility in the size and configuration of stations, but there are limitations based on the amount of commerce that passes through the station. A lightly used station will be limited in the changes to the structure compared to a station that sees heavy use.¡± Vander explained.


    Nick was intrigued by the explanation and it made sense for Crosston to have a larger station based on the almost non-stop activity around the station he observed. He put aside his other questions and the small group continued deeper into the town. They made a couple of inquiries with the local guard and confirmed the local nobles had set up a station contract that could be accepted by companies looking to assist with the frontier campaign.


    Nick took his time walking through town in order to take in the sights and sounds. It was obvious the town was experiencing an economic boom from the announcement of the frontier campaign and locals had set up stalls to sell their wares and food right along the streets. There were all types of goods on display including arms and armor of many varieties. Nick paused at a particularly gaudy stall and saw swords and shields that outshined all the others.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be fooled by the polish. Those blades will shatter as easily as the rest of the junk they are selling in this market.¡± Nira said after catching Nick¡¯s stare.


    ¡°I can¡¯t pretend I¡¯m an expert but they look like quality metal.¡± Nick replied.


    ¡°Quality weapons won¡¯t be sold in the streets of a backwater town. The station market will be where the best stuff is found for sale unless you hire forgers and metal-smiths yourself to craft you something. These merchants look to undercut the taxes and fees to find buyers. It can be successful in large cities with manufacturing capacity but here it''s scalpers and uninformed.¡± she said with a wave of her hand.


    ¡°Another department to add to the list. We will certainly need quality smiths to maintain our weapons and armor sooner rather than later.¡±


    ¡°The large companies keep many on staff. The trick is finding good ones.¡±


    Nick sighed as they moved on from the street stalls and made their way closer to the station. As they entered the large roundabout he took in the oldest part of the town. It was clear the town had been built around the station and keep built to defend it. There were mostly squat wooden structures on the outskirts of the town closer to the walls but the closer to the station the more stone buildings appeared. There seemed to be a number of government buildings at the intersections leading to the station as well. Nick reflected on the wisdom of having them placed there for both convenience and protection if it ever came to an attack on the town.


    The group didn¡¯t loiter on the outskirts long as the traffic kept them moving. There was little reason to delay so Nick and his retainers approached the closest station entrance. As they got to the doors Nick was fascinated to see people slip inside the doors and simply vanish. The doors opened and closed but all that could be seen inside was a dim light that would flash as people appeared or vanished as they crossed the threshold.


    ¡°Will we all appear together inside?¡± Nick whispered.


    ¡°Yes, the station will keep groups traveling together connected when they enter. Individuals may state different intentions as they cross into the station either verbally or mentally if they wish.¡± Vander answered.


    ¡°Station¡¯s can read minds!?¡± Nick gasped.


    He received a few strange looks at his small outburst but people seemed to be focused on their own tasks to give it much notice.


    ¡°Surface thoughts are the limit of its capabilities. It allows the station to support non-verbal species and individuals.¡±


    Nick¡¯s face changed to a thoughtful expression as the group reached the entrance. He pushed the door forward and stepped through trying to keep his mind clear of anything that would be interpreted as wanting to be separated from his group and with a quick flash of light he vanished.

 Chapter 15

    Entering a station for the second time was a much more pleasant experience. Nick materialized into a familiar room of white walls and clean lighting but the room contained a mix of comfortable chairs and a conference table appropriately sized for his group. The table and chairs were made of the same material as the walls and their stark white appearance made the place feel like a sterile operating room.


    A moment after appearing the other four members of Nick''s group materialized into existence an arms length apart. The small group only took a moment to orient themselves before finding seats at the table and directing their attention to Nick who was still trying to mentally bridge the gap between the medieval setting of the town they came from and the almost futuristic setting of the station.


    He cleared his throat before diving into the discussion while at the same time clearing his jumbled thoughts on the situation. He focused on the reason they had come to the station.


    ¡°Vander are you able to interact with the local station and give us information about the contract being offered for the frontier work?"


    ¡°Certainly."


    A typical station screen appeared across the table showing the contract issued by the Kingdom of Repstrom.


    ¡°The Hommel Queens seem to be of particular focus" Nick said as he reviewed the contract details and noticed the significant bounty being offered.


    "The Hommel Queens are responsible for leading hives of Hommel workers, soldiers, and drones. It is a common trait for hive mind creatures to be led by single individuals. The death of a queen will significantly reduce the coordination of the hive, especially the drones. Additionally, the Queens are responsible for reproduction of new spawn which develop into workers and soldiers over time. Eliminating the queen prevents hives from replenishing their lost numbers.¡± Vander explained.


    Nick nodded along thoughtfully. The monsters seemed eerily similar to what he knew about hives of bugs from Earth. His mind briefly recalled the movie he saw as a kid where alien bug monsters fought humanity across solar systems. The scene of a soldier having his brain sucked out of their head haunted his dreams for months after. He shuddered at the thought before refocusing on the contract laid out before him, expanding it in order to see the contract in its entirety.


    ¡ª


    Monster Subjugation Contract


    Issued by the Kingdom of Repstrom


    City of Crosston, Year 1182 of the Second Era


    ¡ª


    The Kingdom of Repstrom seeks capable individuals or groups to aid in the expansion of its southern borders. The untamed southern regions have been impeded by the infestation of dangerous creatures known as Hommels. These hive-mind insects pose a significant threat to the kingdom''s efforts to claim and secure this vital location.


    Contract Objectives


    Eliminate Hommel Hives


    - All nests, tunnels, and other hive structures in the targeted southern region must be destroyed.


    - Report any major infestations to ensure the area is fully cleared of Hommel presence.


    Neutralize Queens


    - The Hommel queens are the heart of the hive. Their elimination is critical to ensuring the infestation does not return. Each queen exterminated will result in a substantial bonus reward of 5 gold per queen.


    Assist in Securing the Station Site


    - If the Station site becomes accessible during the course of your mission, provide assistance to kingdom forces in securing the area.


    Threat Details


    - Species: Hive-mind insectoid creatures with immense strength in numbers.


    - Behavior: Highly aggressive when protecting their hives, and known to coordinate attacks through their hive-mind connection.


    Notable Classifications


    Drones:


    - Function: Mobile scouts and messengers for the hive.


    - Traits: Smaller but faster than soldiers, weakest member of the hive


    Workers:


    - Function: Basic laborers and gatherers, but will swarm enemies in large numbers.


    - Traits: Relatively weak, but overwhelming in large groups.


    Soldiers:


    - Function: Hive defenders, larger and more dangerous than workers.


    - Traits: Armored exoskeleton, venomous stingers or acidic saliva capable of melting metal.


    Queens:


    - Function: Hive leaders and reproducers. Rare but critical to the hive¡¯s survival.


    - Traits: Immense size, heavily guarded, and capable of birthing new swarms rapidly. .


    Bounties


    - Drones: 1 silver each


    - Workers: 2 silver each


    - Soldiers: 5 silver each


    - Queens: 5 gold each


    Additional Rewards: Mercenary groups or individuals who assist in the capture of the Station site will receive 1 gold per cycle spent defending the station while subjection is pending.


    Terms of Agreement


    - All participants are required to register at the Station in Crosston and maintain a station reputation of 5 or more.


    - A map of the designated area and known hive locations will be provided upon acceptance of the contract.


    - Proof of completion (e.g., Hommel remains) must be presented or sold at the Crosston Station to claim payment.


    - Participants must comply with the laws and directives of the Kingdom of Repstrom throughout the duration of the contract.


    Penalties for Failure


    Failure to abide by the contract terms will result in forfeiture of any upfront payments or guarantees and penalty to reputation. Any individuals caught sabotaging kingdom operations in the area will face severe penalties, including possible imprisonment.


    Signed and Sealed by Order of King Eldric V of Repstrom


    For glory and the Kingdom of Repstrom!


    ¡ª


    ¡°Seems straightforward, but requiring the return of monster remains to the Crosston station is going to be problematic.¡± Nick said thoughtfully.


    "The use of your personal station skill should allow us to bypass the requirement for a small transfer fee. The contract specifies the Crosston station to enable the local station owner can track and pay appropriate bounties. Due to the proximity, a small transfer fee will allow monster remains to be sold through the Crosston station from your personal station node." Vander explained.


    ¡°That''s a relief. What would stop someone from simply buying monster remains and reselling them in Crosston to claim the bounty?" Nick asked as he instantly thought about how to take advantage of such a system.


    ¡°The station contract prohibits those sorts of activity and if attempted the contract can be terminated by the originator and a reputational penalty will be assessed. The station network strictly enforces contracts to maintain the integrity of the system.¡± Larissa said with a grim look.


    ¡°We have seen the reputation damages firsthand for poorly managed contracts.¡± Nuri added sourly after a moment.


    "Interesting¡­that brings up another question. What prevents someone from starting a new company everytime they accept a contract to reset their reputation and avoid any prior penalties?" Nick asked.


    ¡°Reputation is tied to individuals. The company reputation reflects your own as the sole proprietor of the company. Typically contracts are created for any number of tasks and even children accept them as station contracts are the most effective way to ensure terms are enforced.¡± Vander explained.


    Nick checked the status screen and was surpsied to see his reputation was currently sitting at 10/10.


    "Does everyone start with a perfect reputation score?¡±


    "Correct.¡± Vander replied without further explanation.


    Nick considered the implications of such a system. It would mean his company was going to be dependent on ensuring he maintained a high reputation or it could quickly result in the inability to accept contracts. While the reputation system was helpful in some ways it could be punishing for others as he had seen for the Nightfall sisters. Most contract originators were more strict on accepting low reputation units. Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    After a few more minutes reviewing the contract, Nick felt confident it offered them a good opportunity. He reached across the table and selected Accept Contract on a screen  that appeared above the table once the full contract had been displayed.


    Contract Accepted.


    Without any fanfare the contract was added to the list of open contracts under the Solis Trading Cooperative status.


    ¡°A little underwhelming." Nick joked.


    The comment fell flat as he looked up from the table.


    He cleared his throat before continuing. ¡°I think we should discuss additional supplies we may need before setting off. Without any healers or support members in the company perhaps some healing potions or balms could be purchased. I also feel exposed at the moment with such simple traveling clothes. Is armor something you would recommend?"


    Nick looked to his bodyguards at the question. He subconsciously rubbed his shoulder that had been injured by the demon. There was a jagged scar from where the claws ripped into his skin and while the healing potion closed the wound it left deep scar tissue. The thought of going into the wilderness to fight monstrous insects without any armor or weapons made Nick shiver in fear. He knew he would never be on the front lines swinging a sword but his protection had become top of mind after his encounter with the demons.


    "Additional supplies and personal protective gear is advisable. Knowing more about the enemies we will face allows us to purchase more effective equipment. I recommend we discuss the merits of each investment. Effective equipment that will last will not come cheap and compromises will need to be made." Larissa replied thoughtfully.


    Nick nodded in agreement. He had spoken with Vander and Fredrick at length during his time in Frellon about the types of technology, magic, and equipment that could be purchased through the station. He learned a few key things.


    Firstly, the technological level of the world was hard to quantify against what he knew from Earth. The class and skill system made the implementation of mass manufacturing and use of advanced machinery irrelevant in almost all cases. The common skills given to crafters had to be directly applied to the creation of products. While some assembly line style crafting was possible it was only feasible for certain types of goods and was rarely implemented. It gave Nick a few ideas he wanted to try to introduce to his new world down the road but it required significantly more coin than he had available.


    Another key discovery was how frequently magic replaced most modern technology from Earth. An earth mage could dig tunnels, sewers, and any number of infrastructure projects. The alchemists and enchanters could create products to replace medicine and appliances. The lightbulb had been replaced by light runes and harnessing electricity was reserved to lightning mages.


    There were some advances far beyond Earth however when it came to architecture and fortifications. Enchanters and other classes could combine their efforts to create near impregnable castles and walls. The monsters of the world made them all but necessary in some regions. While Repstrom was widely safe from monsters the kingdom has spent literal centuries making such a thing possible. The expansive nature of Proelium meant many areas were still developing the infrastructure to provide that level of safety for their citizens.


    The last key thing Nick took away from his discussions with Fredrick and Vander was that industry had become almost entirely focused on arms and armor to support the near constant military action in all parts of the world. The focus did not make it cheap however. The demand far outstripped supply for quality equipment. The most effective equipment that included extensive enchantments or in some cases even inherent skills within items had starting prices in the platinum range so Nick wouldn''t be buying an amulet that shielded him from attacks anytime soon.


    ¡°I¡¯m willing to invest every coin I have to ensure our success. What do you recommend?" Nick inquired, returning his thoughts to the conversation.


    The Nightfall sisters gave each other a meaningful look before Nuri began explaining their recommended strategy.


    "Your protection should be the first priority. Regardless of any other casualties the company starts and ends with your survival and frankly we have both agreed our best hopes for the future are tied to your success. The infantry unit will need to be managed carefully until we can bring on additional support classes so until then a cautious approach is warranted. The drones and worker class monsters are well within their capabilities as long as the numbers are not overwhelming.¡±


    Nick nodded along thoughtfully. He felt a little guilty that the rest of the company members'' lives would be less valued but he wasn''t going to complain.


    Nuri continued after taking a moment to measure Nick¡¯s reaction. ¡°That being said, a better set of armor for your personal protection is a good start followed by a mount better capable of navigating a battlefield and protecting you directly. The mount will not come cheap but a decent set of armor for the level of threat we will face can be more affordable."


    Nuri glanced at Vander with an unsaid question and he raised his arm before a new screen appeared with an interesting collection of listings.


    "These are some options we have been discussing with Vander based on the current budget with an eye to upgrade in the future.¡±


    Ironwood Brigandine


    Vendor: Greenleaf Armory


    Type: Light Armor


    Status: For Sale


    Price (Per Unit): 24 Silver


    Crafted from reinforced ironwood plates stitched into a durable leather base, this armor is lightweight yet sturdy. It provides excellent protection against slashing attacks and blends well with forest environments, making it ideal for rangers and scouts.


    Chainmail Shirt


    Vendor: Ironclad Smithery


    Type: Medium Armor


    Status: For Sale


    Price (Per Unit): 16 Silver


    A flexible shirt made of interlinked iron rings, providing excellent protection against slashing and piercing attacks. It is light enough to allow decent mobility but may cause fatigue over long periods of use.


    Reinforced Padded Gambeson


    Vendor: Bastion Clothworks


    Type: Light Armor


    Status: For Sale


    Price (Per Unit): 12 Silver


    This thick quilted jacket features metal studs sewn into the fabric for added defense. It provides moderate protection against blunt force and cuts while being affordable and lightweight.


    Steel-Studded Leather Armor


    Vendor: Blackridge Traders


    Type: Medium Armor


    Status: For Sale


    Price (Per Unit): 18 Silver


    A combination of hardened leather reinforced with steel studs and plates. This armor offers a good balance of flexibility and protection, suitable for both melee and ranged combatants.


    Nick read through each listing and could see the merit of each. He noticed all the armor listings were either listed as Light or Medium.


    ¡°Is there a reason you didn¡¯t select any heavy armor to consider?¡± he asked as he looked back at Nuri.


    She tapped her lips for a moment before saying, ¡°The heavy armor would be burdensome to wear for extended periods and the cost is a consideration. The affordable options are heavy and bulky, limiting mobility. The most effective place for you to be during a conflict is on the move and out of harm¡¯s way. If you avoid a hit you don¡¯t have to worry about defending it.¡±


    Nick nodded thoughtfully. He agreed with the approach. The armor would be expensive but if the protection it offered gave him additional security against attacks it would be well worth it in his opinion.


    ¡°Can¡¯t go wrong with steel.¡± he said motioning toward the listing for Steel-Studded Leather Armor. He felt it would offer the best combination of maneuverability and protection.


    Vander waved his hand again and the listing flickered before a new list appeared.


    ¡°These are some mounts to consider. The price will be steeper than the kroras you previously purchased but they offer some considerable benefits to avoid potential danger.¡±


    Ironhide Charger


    Vendor: Crimson Forge Stables


    Type: Heavy Mount


    Status: For Sale


    Price (Per Unit): 52 Silver


    A robust and heavily armored mount for combat scenarios. Its magically enchanted thick, plated hide provides natural protection against attacks, making it a favored choice for those expecting dangerous encounters. While not the fastest, the Ironhide Charger is a reliable and durable choice for prolonged engagements.


    Dreadscale Boar


    Vendor: Ironfang Breeding Company


    Type: Heavy Mount


    Status: For Sale


    Price (Per Unit): 72 Silver


    The Dreadscale Boar, once known for its ferocious and unruly nature, has been selectively bred and trained to be a more reliable mount for riders seeking a balance between battlefield versatility and personal safety. This formidable creature retains its signature thick, spiked scales, offering excellent protection against both melee attacks and projectile fire. Its powerful musculature allows it to carry a rider through rugged terrain with ease, while its newly refined temperament makes it a dependable ally in the heat of battle.


    Brambleclaw Bear


    Vendor: Wildheart Mounts


    Type: Heavy Defensive Mount


    Status: For Sale


    Price (Per Unit): 75 Silver


    A massive, lumbering beast with thick fur and bramble-like armor growing naturally along its back and sides, the Brambleclaw Bear offers unmatched protection in the forest. Though slower than some mounts, its sheer power and ability to clear paths through dense undergrowth make it invaluable for challenging terrain and hostile environments.


    Leafscale Raptor


    Vendor: Shadowvine Breeders


    Type: Agile Combat Mount


    Status: For Sale


    Price (Per Unit): 54 Silver


    A quick and intelligent creature, the Leafscale Raptor is covered in green, leaf-like scales, making it nearly invisible in dense foliage. Its sharp claws and powerful legs make it adept at both combat and traversing thick undergrowth. The raptor''s loyalty and speed make it a prized companion for skirmishers and scouts.


    Mossback Lizard


    Vendor: Greenfang Traders


    Type: Heavy Mount


    Status: For Sale


    Price (Per Unit): 59 Silver


    A slow but incredibly durable mount, the Mossback Lizard has thick, moss-covered scales that blend into forest terrain. Its ability to climb rocky inclines and navigate muddy paths makes it ideal for dense and difficult landscapes. While not a combat-focused mount, its tough hide can protect the rider from minor threats.


    Nick frowned briefly at the memory of his krora, Plum. He had only owned her for a few days but her death hit him hard. It was the first death he had witnessed in his new world and he had quickly grown attached to her. It took him a moment to re-focus on the list and consider bonding with a new mount that would help protect him from danger. He felt guilt at the idea of putting another creature in harm''s way again, but knew it was a necessity. He was certain violence and bloodshed would be part of a new reality he would have to adjust to rapidly or he was sure to lose his ability to lead his company successfully.


    Nick took a breath before he studied the entries for a couple of minutes trying to visualize himself on each mount. They all seemed so varied and he was frankly thrilled with the idea of riding a bear or raptor, but one of them stood out more than the rest.


    ¡°These all seem viable, but the Dreadscale Boar looks the most reliable and versatile.¡±


    Nuri gave a knowing nod at Nick¡¯s comment while Larissa frowned slightly.


    ¡°The Dreadscale Boar are a formidable mount and are surprisingly agile in most terrain. It would serve you well out in the field.¡±


    Nick smiled as he looked at Vander and gave him a mental nudge to complete the purchase of his new armor and mount.


    Name: Nick Solis


    Age: 21


    Race: Human


    Class: [Merchant]


    Level: 2


    Currency: 0 Gold, 96 Silver, 78 Copper