When I crossed the guild's doors I was still covered in blood and dirt. Everyone was staring at us. Uncomfortable.

I was just too tired, aching and depressed to add another stop. I just wanted to get it done quick and return to the inn, so I could bathe and die on the bed.

My young friends didn't look any better but at least Ellin had spare clothes for her.

We told the guild's clerk about the second troll, showing him the clipped ears we had collected as proof. He saw our sorry state and went to talk with the guild master.

When he came back he apologized for the bad information and added an extra 40 gold coins to the reward on the counter. My friends only took 15 coins each and pushed the rest to me.

「Allen: Huh?」

I frowned in confusion.

「Grastel: You killed the second one... alone...」

He said looking downcast.

Namrick nodded, the side of his face was still swollen.

Ellin gave a sad smile and spoke.

「Ellin: IF you hadn't been there...」

Her eyes teared, but she kept herself together. Damn, I didn't like this gloomy atmosphere.

「Allen: But... you guys saved my ass twice befo-」

Namrick punched my shoulder. OUCH!

「Namrick: Just... shut up and accept it.」

He looked tired. We all looked tired. I sighed.

I gave up and accepted the 55 coins. Even through my frozen corporate heart, I could feel the warmth of their gratitude, and it made my eyes water. Just a little.

They're good kids.

If not for that healing potion we bought, because they were worried about me, this would have turned very badly. Shit. This is not the kind of life these kids should be living.

We went a little too close with this one. The sickly bone-crunching sounds resurfaced in my mind and I shook a shiver.

The trio decided to take a break from adventuring after that, to train and polish their skills. I was on the same page.

More importantly, I really needed a bath. I excused myself and walked away, attracting the curious gazes of passersby.

Yeah, I needed that, I thought myself while sitting in the steaming bathtub. I felt the dread wash away along with the caked blood and grime.

I thought about my next steps. Now that I had money, I could enroll for more lessons. Or should I wait and practice the basics until next month? Hmmmm.

Let's beat the iron while hot.

The classes would begin in a few days, I still had time to decide which ones to take.

Unlike the basic magic course, enrollment for the next courses works differently.

Instead of a single focus schedule, for a fixed fee the students can attend different classes, depending on their level.

For example, a beginner like me, for 20 gold coins can enroll for a month picking any beginner class I can fit on my schedule. There are other levels, like intermediate, which costs 30 golds and expert, 40 golds each month.

The upper-level students can still attend any lower level class.

There are also other expenses for workshops to add separately. Like reagents for alchemy and the such.

I thought about it a little... I should definitely take Alchemy. Being able to brew potions on my own would definitely take some pressure off my coffers, also I might be able to sell some for extra income.

I was still unsure about the other choices. I had to get on with my plan of combining spell triggers and hallucinations, but I also needed some firepower. I scratched my chin, lost in thought. I'll see what is available when I stop by at the academy.

I thought about the trio, they were pretty shaken and depressed. No good.

I decided to treat them to a dinner in order to cheer up their morale. I'll prepare something tasty.

I didn't have much time for great preparations so I decided upon a quiche lorraine and for dessert whipped cream mixed with a fruity syrup.

I left all the ingredients in the restaurant kitchen. Corgas was glad to see me, I hadn't shown my face much lately, I warned him to reserve a table for us later. I made some preparations and went looking for my friends.

I stopped at the guild to see if they were hanging out there.

As I entered I was greeted by a cheer.

「Allen Skullcrusher!」

「Allen: Huh?」

I looked about me, confused.

Some people I didn't know got closer and started chatting. I had been surrounded.

「Man: We heard the tale from Grastel. Did you really club a troll to death until he stopped regenerating?!」

Just leave me alone.

「Allen: I uh... yeah... I was just trying to buy time for my friends.」

I got a slap on the shoulders by someone else and a wave of laughter rose. A dire assault into my personal space.

I don't like notoriety. People... ugh.

They forced me to retell the tale from my POV and drink a tankard of beer. THIS IS NOT WHY I CAME HERE!

It turned out my friends had already left.

Finally, I disentangled myself from the crowd walked back to the inn. I asked the innkeeper to send the trio to me when they showed up. Then I retired to my room and did my magic exercises and meditations.

It's almost like I'm cultivating. I couldn't help but smile a little to myself. Deep breath... focus.

A double knock from the door woke me from the focus, I opened the door, revealing Namrick on the other side.

He still looked a little down in the dumps.

「Namrick: We're here, the innkeeper said you were looking for us?」

I nodded.

「Allen: Yes, this evening I'm treating you all to dinner!」

I had just served the food. We were sitting together at the table. Although my friends weren't as energetic as usual, once they tasted the meal a faint smile had crept back on their faces. Good enough for me.

「Thank you for the food.」

Conquer their stomachs to conquer their hearts.

「Allen: You're welcome.」

I wiped my mouth and took a quick look. The heavy atmosphere had somehow abated.

It was time to share my future plans. I wanted to hear their feedback.

「Allen: I'm going to attend more magic classes. I want to learn alchemy, and... something else, maybe an offensive magic. I'm not sure what yet.」

Ellin looked at me, wiping her mouth.

「Ellin: I've been told that heat and cold magic are easy to learn. The advanced forms are hard to master, though. But even at a beginner level, they come in handy. You could try that.」

I took a mental note. Fire and ice. I was eager to learn practical skills, to become a proper magician. Just a few days!

Ellin turned pensive for a few seconds.

「Ellin: I too... need to improve. I was powerless... if I had studied a spell to sense enemies we would never have been surprised by the goblins or the other troll. I focused too much on healing magic.」

She said with her eyes downcast.

Maybe, but it had to be said, her healing skills were top notch. Closing wounds without leaving scars and mending the bones properly? Ellin is no pushover. At first, I thought that was the standard. But talking to more people I came to realize that our priest-looking girl was, in fact, a prodigy.

「Allen: I think we all need more experience.」

Namrick and Grastel nodded in unison, saying nothing. They looked like they had a lot on their minds.

I raised my glass.

「Allen: To getting stronger and staying alive!」

We clicked our glasses together, with a determined expression drawn on our faces.