Dominic wasn’t sure how long it’d been since he’d really slept.

Nor was he sure how long ago he’d fled the only life he’d ever known. After a while, all of the running, hiding, and resting blended together like death itself was waiting for him.

Staring out across the open field in front of him, he felt like a man gazing at what he suspected was a mirage. That or he was dreaming about having finally made it to their destination.

Again.

“Well. This is more real than the last dream I had,” Dominic said aloud, staring at the distant walled city. “Cause last time… the city was made out of bread. A lot of bread.

“And beef. Bread and beef. Pretty sure that was just the hunger making the dream that way, but… hey… this one’s a lot more real.”

“That’s because it is real, Sire,” Lucian murmured. “I recommend we find the main road, which appears to be just north of us, and get on it.

“Be sure to stick to the backstory we came up with. It’s so boringly realistic and, mixed with parts of the truth, it’s most assuredly going to work.”

Nodding his head, Dominic hitched up his pack and then started moving again. He couldn’t deny the backstory they had agreed on was simple and very workable.

His name was Nick. He had come from a village in the East near the mountains that had gotten wiped out, and he’d fled to Ashcroft because he supposedly had family here. Only to find out, after going inside, that his family had long since left and no one seemed to know them.

“After we’ve checked in at an inn, we need to go see a Skill Doctor,” Lucian reminded him once again. “Establish your basic Fighter skills with him so that if anyone asks, you’re just a Fighter.”

“Yeah, yeah, heard you the eighth time,” grumbled Dominic. “Considering how hard you’ve been mothering me, it’s a wonder you didn’t read me a bedtime story last night.”

“Given that you’re as cranky as a young boy needing a nap and as sarcastic as a teenager, I wasn’t sure if you needed a story or to be grounded, Sire,” replied Lucian in a dry tone. “I’ll work harder in the future to make sure you get those naps in. Maybe with a snack just before, so you don’t wake up even crankier.”

Reaching the road, Dominic turned and started down it.

“I do like naps,” confessed Dominic, “and snacks.”

Lucian didn’t respond.

Smirking to himself, Dominic stayed silent right up until he reached the gates of the city. Ashcroft’s entrance was completely open and only had two guards in front of it.

Neither of the guards seemed particularly interested in him, though they weren’t ignoring him either.

“Welcome to Ashcroft,” said one of the guards in a bored voice. “Name?”

“Nick,” said Dominic, coming to a stop in front of the guards.

“Reason for coming to Ashcroft?” asked the same guard.

“Uh… family. I’m lo—”

“Any merchandise?” asked the guard, interrupting Dominic.

“No?” replied Dominic in a confused tone. “I’m h—”

“Entry fee is two brons with identification, one smiv without,” said the second guard, also interrupting Dominic.

Reaching into his backpack, Dominic felt around in it while accessing the bag’s contents. Selecting the coin purse, he withdrew it from his backpack.

Holding it tight to his chest, Dominic peered into it. He knew that the contents wouldn’t match what it could actually hold since it was also a dimensional bag, but he didn’t want the guards to know that.

Reaching into it, he feigned poking about what he had in there, then withdrew one of the small silver coins. At the same time, he was doing his best to absolutely hide the extreme surprise he was feeling right now.

In opening the bag, he’d discovered the contents of it.

Bronze (Brons): 914

Small Silver (Smiv): 12,314

Large Silver (Liv): 9,874

Gold (Golder): 2,669

Small Silver - Counterfeit: 842

Large Silver - Counterfeit: 188

Holding out a small silver coin, Dominic pushed the coin purse back into his backpack.

“Look, if you get your adventurer’s identification amulet and come back before I go off duty, I’ll give you the change back,” muttered the guard. “Duke will just spend it on whores or wine anyway. Doesn’t do me a damn bit of good if you pay the low or the high price, but I gotta follow the law.”

“Oh, yeah, thanks,” Dominic said, standing there.

The two guards stared back at him.

“Off with ya, then,” said the second guard.

Realizing he was done, Dominic moved forward and entered the city of Ashcroft. With any luck, he’d lost his pursuers long ago with three corpses and that was the end of it.

“Now it begins,” Lucian said with a dark laugh. “Randolph shall rise again!”

Laughing nervously, Dominic moved to one side of the wide road. There were a great many people thronging through the middle.

More people than Dominic had ever seen in his life if he were being truthful.

While he was fairly certain he could spot a con man, pickpocket, or thief fairly well, he had no such confidence in his ability to navigate a city like this. It was all too big, too loud, and too fast for him.

“Let’s consider the change lost,” said Lucian. “It would be worse for us if they remembered us any further. The fewer people that can remember our arrival, the better.”

Dominic could only agree with a nod of his head. He was doing his best to keep aware of everyone around him, while also doing his best to not stand out.

No. Not Dominic.

Nick. Nick. I’m Nick. Nick.

Moving with the flow of foot traffic, Nick managed to get an initial idea of where he was. Most of the inns were actually located in this part of the city. The farther into the city he went, the more it became shops, residences, and dungeon facilities.

Not to mention, where the nobles and the Ducal house of Ashcroft dwelt.

Rather than fighting much more with the crowd, Nick stepped into the entrance of an inn and out of the busy street. The door closed behind him with a soft thump, leaving him in a front room that had only a counter, door, and little else.

Huh. No bar. Interesting. I thought they were all supposed to have attached bars.

“Most do, some don’t. Depends on who they cater to,” Lucian replied to Nick’s thoughts. “Often those without bars charge a bit more, but also have better food and beds. Less noise, as well.”

Less noise. Yes.

Yes, that is… yes.

I’d like that very much.

An older woman in her late forties stood behind the counter and watched him curiously. She looked like she had spent much of her life working with something heavy. From what Nick could see of her, her frame was made of muscle, and while older, she hadn’t lost any of it.

Her dull-blond hair was cut short and drawn back in an almost impossibly small ponytail.

“Uh, hi,” Nick greeted, coming over to the woman. “I’ll be honest with you, I’m new to the city, and I’m looking for a place to rent. You’re the first place I’ve tried and I have no idea what to even say to you. Oh my god, I’m babbling.”

Staring at the woman with wide eyes, Nick had no idea what to say anymore. His mouth had run away with his brain in tow and there wasn’t much left to do now.

Dad really didn’t prepare me to talk to people.

Or women.

Or anyone!

He kept me reading books all day and night and only let me out to do chores.

Snorting, the woman continued to watch him, then started to laugh. Her eyes crinkled and she raised up one hand to press it to her brow.

“You’re straight off a farm from somewhere, aren’t ya?” she asked while still laughing.

“Yeah… I am. Never been anywhere but home and now here,” Nick said rather sheepishly.

A nod of her head was her only response as she continued to laugh. After at least ten seconds had passed, she put her hands on the countertop in front of her, shook her head, and took a deep breath.

“Alright, farm boy, that’s fine. You’re welcome to stay with us,” said the woman, still smiling at him. “Price might be a bit high for you, though.

“You’re looking at three smiv a day. Includes two meals, two drinks. If I’m being honest, we’re definitely on the higher side as far as inn prices go, but we’re also safe, clean, and we don’t let in just anyone.”

“Yeah,” Nick said, nodding his head. He definitely agreed with the woman’s assessment. From what he could see of her, the entryway, and her demeanor, it definitely felt like he was speaking to someone from his family.

Rather than someone from the village.

“Okay. Sure, can I have a room for a month?” Nick asked, pulling his backpack off and then reaching down into it to get his purse out. “I plan on learning the adventurer trade, so I want to use the city-dungeon here.”

“Yeah, that’s fine,” said the woman. “I’m Sandy, by the way. A month’s lodging will be nine liv. You sure you can pay that?”

“Yeah. Farm did well, saved all my pay,” said Nick in an offhand way as he pulled out his coin purse. Leaving most of it inside his backpack, he fished out the required coins and then dropped the purse back into his backpack. “While we’re talking, do you know of a good Skill Doctor? I need to confirm my skills before I go get set up at the adventurer’s guild.”

Sandy grunted at that, then looked down at the countertop as Nick set the coins down on it.

“Yeah, I got some people I can recommend to you. Armorer and weaponsmith,” Sandy said, then scooped the coins off the countertop and into her other hand. “Herbalist and general store, too. I’ll slip a piece of paper with a map and their names under your door in a bit. Though, come round and talk to me before you go do anything in the city-dungeon.

“I was a Knight once upon a time and I’ve got some experience with this one here. Happy to share it with you. Seem like a nice enough kid.

“Third room, first floor. Just take this here door next to me and keep going until you see a door with a three on it. That’s yours. Make sure you utilize your Home and Hearth spell so you can take temporary ownership of the room.”

A key appeared from Sandy’s hand, then was laid on the counter.

“Welcome to Sandy’s Garrison,” said Sandy with a grin.

Oh, proprietress and owner.

Neat.

Taking the key, Nick nodded his head at Sandy, opened the door, and left her there.

Entering the new area, he was presented with exactly what he had been told. A hall with doors that were numbered.

Moving toward the third door, Nick found it easily. Sticking the key in the keyhole, he turned it and then pushed the door open.

Inside was what he expected, but also not what he expected.

A bed, chest, a small table with three chairs, and a desk with a chair. Far more than he’d been expecting given what he’d read and heard of places like this.

Closing the door, Nick let out a slow, low breath. For the first time in days, he felt safe. Or at least, momentarily safe.

“We did it, Luke,” muttered Nick.

“Lucian. And yes, we did,” said Lucian. While his tone was crisp, there was warmth in his voice. “Good job, Sire. Now… bind the room, and let’s go see about equipment. We need to keep moving forward as best as we can.

“Though, I’d say we should keep our backpack with us for now. We’ll need the purse to make purchases and it’s safer in the backpack. Not to mention, we’ll need to carry back our purchases.”

Nodding, Nick lifted his left hand and then tried to use a spell he hadn’t cast since he’d gone camping with his father.

Looking back at even this memory, Nick could see his father’s fingerprints on everything. With each passing year, his father had worked to prepare Nick in every way that he could possibly need in the future.

He’d just run out of time.

Instantly, the single spell that every person on the face of the planet could cast, went off.

Home and Hearth.

The room became temporarily Nick’s. No one would be able to enter this room without using a great deal of magic power. So much magic power that the inn would be more likely to explode, than for someone to break into the room.

Unable to help himself, feeling the sudden crushing weight of all that’d happened, Nick slowly sunk to his knees. His backpack fell from his fingers as they went limp, and he bowed his head, unable to hold up any longer.

“It’s alright, Sire,” whispered Lucian. “It’s alright. You’ve done well and you’re allowed to let it out now. You’re safe. You’re allowed to feel.”

Nick felt his shoulders shake with an uncontrollable sob.

Then he began to cry, slowly curling into the fetal position on the ground.

“There, there, Sire. We’ll get through this,” Lucian promised. “We’ll make them all pay. Together.”

***

Nick pushed gently with his fingertips against the door to the Skill Doctor’s office where Sandy had sent him. Opening with a bell chime, the door moved easily inward.

“Hello?” Nick called out, stepping into the interior of the building.

When he entered, he found a simple layout that had a small alcove with six or seven chairs lined up. There was no desk, no attendant, and only a door on the other end of the room.

“Ah, hello?” Nick tried again.

“One moment!” called a voice from the back.

“Remember, Fighter skills only,” Lucian reminded him. Which was seemingly becoming his job as of late.

Not responding, Nick just waited. He stood with his hands fluttering from his sides to his back, then in front of himself.

The door that went deeper into the building opened. A man in the same age range as Sandy stood in the doorway. His dark hair was starting to go white and his eyes were a hard-gray color that looked like shale.

“Hello, indeed,” said the man, giving Nick an odd smile. “And what brings you to my business?”

“I need a Skill Doctor to make sure I’m ready to start… to start working,” said Nick. “I got your address and location from Sandy. At the Garrison. Sandy’s Garrison, that is.”

Blinking much like an owl, the man continued to stare at Nick.

“Sandy sent you,” he said after a pause.

“Yes. She said you were a Skill Doctor she trusted. I’m a Fighter and I wanted to check my skill setup,” Nick said, trying to keep his explanation clear. He was at least thankful he wasn’t tripping over his words as badly as he had with Sandy.

“A Fighter, are you?” asked the man, his head slowly tilting to one side. “Well, then I’m a Skill Doctor. My name is Dennis Palt.

“Well… come on then. No sense doing a skill check here in the waiting room. We’ll move into one of the rooms. I don’t have any more appointments today and my two assistants have already gone home for the day.”

Opening the door that Dr. Palt had come through, the man then looked at Nick.

“Shall we?” he asked.

Nick had no reason to not do as instructed and walked past the man, realizing at that moment he was just as tall as the other man.

“Go ahead into the first room on the left,” murmured Dr. Palt.

Heading to that doorway, Nick saw the door was already open. Moving in, he found a small table, a chair, a bench and some cabinets.

“Sit on the bench. This won’t take too long, I imagine, and we don’t need anything in here,” said Dennis, coming in behind Nick.

Sitting in the chair, Dennis folded one leg over the other, crossed his arms, and waited. His entire posture had the air of a man who felt like things were always moving too slowly for his personal taste.

Sitting down on the bench, Nick rested his hands on his knees and sat there.

“Well, go ahead and open your status window. You don’t need to share it with me, but you do need to try and share your ‘skills window’ with me,” prompted Dr. Palt.

With a quick nod of his head, Nick focused on showing Dr. Palt his skills window—while keeping his status to himself—and then Nick had nothing else to do. He sat there on the bench like a kid with a scraped knee waiting for his dad to fix it.

Frowning, Dr. Palt was reading something in front of himself. His eyes scanned from left to right and then back again. Moving over what Nick imagined was a line-by-line listing of his Fighter skills.

“You have all the normal ones that you would expect. No losses there,” murmured Dennis, lifting one hand to seemingly poke at the window he could see. “Slash, Pierce, Block, Slam. You also have a few extras that will probably be useful like Distract, Throw Dirt, and… Execute.

“I don’t see any extra abilities for defense or stamina building, so you might want to avoid any type of tank role. Focus on damage, preferably a Vanguard. Depending on what you promote into later, you could probably off-tank, but nothing serious.”

Blinking twice, Dennis Palt then looked at Nick and gave him a bit of a wolfish smile.

“I’m not sure why you’re only showing me about one-third or one-fourth of your skills, but I know you are. I would refrain from allowing others to see your skill window in the future,” warned the Doctor. He continued to stare at Nick as if he were contemplating what to say next. “Once upon a time, there was a set of people who could use the skills from more than one class, you know.

“There was even a bit of a shake-up in the kingdom recently. Apparently, the Randolph bloodline isn’t as extinct as everyone believed it was. Supposedly, there’s an heir running around.

“What do you think about all of that?”

Nick was already thinking as fast as he could about the situation. How to get out of it by any means possible.

Attacking the doctor, bluffing his way, bribing the man, running away and coming back in the evening to burn his building down.

Except Nick was tired.

He was worn out and lacked any type of mental strength whatsoever.

Slowly, his gaze dropped to the ground between himself and Dr. Pelt. There was no point in trying. The moment he did anything, it was more than likely the city would clamp down.

Even if he managed to kill the doctor, he’d be branded a murderer.

Any passerby with the right skill would pick him out of a crowd within seconds.

“I’m sorry,” said Dr. Pelt in a quiet voice. “Don’t show anyone your skill window in the future. If you need someone to look at it, come back to me. I don’t think anyone else will suspect anything. You seem more like a farmer who got lost in a city than anything else.”

Lifting his head up, Nick looked at the doctor and searched his face.

The curious and serious man with a predatory edge was gone. In his place was someone who looked like they genuinely cared.

“If you end up being forced to use some of your non-class skills in front of others, be prepared to claim you’re a class reset who failed promotion,” suggested Dr. Palt with an odd smile. “You’d be surprised how often that ends up happening. Now… go get some rest, go to the guild tomorrow, and register. Make sure you use an appropriate alias. You only get one shot at this.”

“Yes… yes, sir,” Nick said, dipping his head once.

“We have an ally,” Lucian said in the silence that followed.