The peaceful early afternoon in the town of Tambrill was disturbed by the sound of footsteps rushing through the streets. A squad of boys led by a girl in a barmaid uniform was carrying a wounded man to the healer.

Martin was bleeding a lot from the open gut wound caused by his own girlfriend with a stolen dagger. On the bright side, it saved him from having to break up with her but that would be worth something only if he survived.

"Go ahead and take him. You guys will go faster if I don't delay you. Hurry to the Beaten Hare. Boss Karen can save him if he gets inside the inn alive! Hurry up, don't let him die! Martin, you hang in there!" Cless pushed her anguish down and gave orders around. "The slowest among you stay with me, we are going the same way behind the vanguard."

Cless ran with the few boys that stood behind with her. She reached the inn hearing a commotion inside. Crossing the front door, she saw her aunt Karen crouched next to a bloodied Martin chanting. A golden light was emanating from her hands and going into the boy.

"How's martin? Lyle?" Cless asked.

"He'll survive, Cless," Lyle reported.

Without even thinking, Cless dove in Lyle's chest and cried. Lyle let his arms hung limply from his sides. After all, he was forbidden from touching women. He realized that moment that women were not forbidden from touching them, however. The other boys saw that and reached the same conclusion as Lyle.

"Cless. Cless. The innkeeper wants to talk to you." Lyle whispered.

She detached herself from him, blushing. "Yes, boss Karen?" Cless addressed her aunt and current employer.

"What happened here?" Karen asked.

Cless sighed and sobbed. "Vanessa had a bout of jealousy and stabbed Martin. The truth was she wanted to stab me but I asked Martin to stop her as I wouldn't believe Vanessa was able to hurt her own boyfriend. Ex-boyfriend."

Karen pinched the bridge of her nose. "Where is her now?"

"She was arrested by senior guardsmen Toby and his team," Lyle answered. "I believe she is being taken to the guard barracks."

"Vanessa's father is in the town council. I doubt something will happen to her," Karen commented. She turned to two of Cless' guildmates and pointed at Martin. "Room 4 of the second floor is vacant, take him here so he can rest on a bed. He lost a lot of blood but he won't die. The rest of you, scram. You are in the way of my business."

They looked at Cless. "None of you are to spend any stat point until I say so. We will all meet at the north gate tomorrow at the same time. Remember you are now employed by my delving guild so don't make any agreement that will conflict with my plans. Dismissed."

All sixteen boys shuffled out of the inn and quickly went on their way. Cless crashed on a chair. The tap room was empty and her barmaid uniform had blood on it. Not too much but against the white apron and frills quite noticeable.

"What a morning!" She vented. "At least nobody died, thank you very much, boss Karen!"

"Go get yourself cleaned, girl. And wash that blood off carefully. If it stains you are paying for it."

Cless went to her room, took a spare set of clothes and washed herself. No drunk molesters this time, fortunately. After scrubbing her uniform until the bloodstains vanished, Cless hung it to dry in the walled backyard of the inn and went in the kitchen to find something to eat.

She was finishing her impromptu lunch when Karen entered the kitchen, "So, how was your meeting with your boy disease?"

"God's mercy, aunt Karen. Are you going to keep hitting that nail until it gets into my coffin?" Cless groaned.

"Fine. How do you want me to call your harem?"

Cless glared. "I won't touch those boys. Or any boy for the time being."

"But you were very comfortable using Lyle as a crying board. Say what you want, you are starting to warm up to them."

Karen's conjecture was troubling, Cless noticed. She felt strange ever since she left that cursed warehouse. Confident. Cheerful. Defiant. Outgoing. What caused that change? She felt smarter the moment she allocated her points into Intellect but that alone couldn't justify the change in behavior. Even now her increased intellect was telling her that. It was the reason she noticed the change so it could not be the cause of the change.

"Aunt, why do you think I changed so much in a single day?"

"I have no idea, Cless. Maybe it is your Skill that is either enabling some hidden part of your personality you kept suppressed until now or the Skill itself changing you. Or your sudden spike in levels. You reached level ten in two days, that was untold of. People take a year to reach level ten. And those are already considered crazy and dedicated hunters."

Cless was not uncomfortable with what she was becoming. Part of what Karen said was true. In hindsight, she always felt repressed. She had to hold herself back to avoid drawing the attention of others. She thought she was worthless. Those notions were destroyed entirely. She had a Skill only told of in legends. She had money. She had family that would support her no matter what. She had levels. She was about to found a delving guild. She had a plan for her future, working those boys to the bone to get her wealth and power.

She was still Cless. She was still deformed. Vanessa's attitude and the women at the midwife's office showed her how the world saw her. The difference now was that she could bark back without much fear of retaliation.

"Cless is still Cless and will always be Cless. Maybe I am just growing up, what do you think, aunt Karen?"

"Do you feel a sudden urge to take over the world?" Karen asked in jest.

Cless smiled, trying to be creepy. "Maybe? Taking over the world... How exquisite a goal." She broke in laughter, "No way I want to burden myself with everyone's troubles. Mayor Godrick only has to care about our problems here in Tambrill. Can you imagine someone that takes over the world? They'd die of exhaustion in one day. Probably that's the reason nobody did that already."

She shook her head, "No. I just want to carve my own place. I want to live my life and be my own person. Have enough money to give back to the church and to buy me comfort. The strength to resist being pushed around and to protect those I care for. Like you, aunt Karen."

Karen smiled. "You want to protect me?" She smirked. "You better get a hundred more levels fast, child."

"Speaking of levels, I need to pick my class and professions."

"Yes, that would be wise. Want to drop by the Adventurer Association?"

"That was my plan all along. I'd be delighted to have you with me, aunt."

The women left the inn and made good time to the Adventurer Association. The building had a big shield with a battle ax and a sword crossed over it hanging from the wall of the second floor.

Cless entered and discovered a tavern on one side and some booths not unlike the bank on the other side. Strong men with battered armor and worn weapons were drinking and chatting. They stopped to look at Cless and some scowls appeared on their faces. Just a typical Cless meets stranger type of routine she was used to. They were scary but she had company. Karen entered after her and the scowls became raised eyebrows. The eyes also veered from her. Cless followed the gazes and found them dead set on her aunt.

"Well, well, well. What do we have here?" A middle-aged man rose from his table and walked in Karen's direction. "Karen Deephearth, I didn't think I'd see you set foot in this place ever again. I wondered why did you call me here in the middle of nowhere."

"The world changes doesn't it, Balthor Thunderaxe? And I am here only to escort my niece. She will register and get her professions and class today."

The man approached and gave Karen a strong hug. Cless thought he would break her aunt's ribs but she didn't sound hurt.

"A niece? Pleased to meet you, girl. You can call me uncle Balthor and anything you need, ask me. I am a good friend of your aunt here," Balthor boasted with a wink.

Cless released the breath she didn't realize she was holding. The man was two heads taller than her and as intimidating as the gates of hell.

"Yes, sir! I am elated to make your acquaintance." She fumbled her words.

"Hear ye, scoundrels!" Balthor shouted. "The lass here is Deephearth's niece, anyone that harms her should get their will updated!"

Some old-timers raised their tankards and Balthor clapped Cless' back. The girl stumbled forward, almost falling to the floor in a heap.

"Take care, Balthor," Karen chided the big man. "The girl's build is not focused on the physical."

"Oh, sorry," He rubbed the back of his head.

"Well, at least now you know what you'll be working with for the next few months," Karen nudged her head in the direction of her niece. "Cless is your new pupil. I'm calling in that favor."

"No shit!" Balthor cursed. "Why does this frail girl need warrior training?"

"I've seen my share of weak girls being taken advantage. Even if she turns out to be magically powerful, I want her to hold her own in a bar fight."

Balthus scratched his chin, "What level of bar fights are we talking about? There are bar fights and then bar fights."

Karen held Cless' shoulders from behind. "The girl is sturdy and resilient, Balthus. Make her into a killing machine that wouldn't lose even in that kind of bar fight, and we are even."

"Good. I want to hear from her though," Balthus got down on one knee to level his eyes with Cless. "I am a good trainer but a harsh one. Soldiers and knights weren't able to put up with my training regime. Tell me, Cless. Do you think you got what it takes?"

Cless brushed away the hair falling over her head. "Uncle Balthus. Take a good look at my face. My body is not far from what you see here. The whole world hates me, except for a few people. I bet I've been kicked around in my fifteen years more times than you've swung your sword. I've had enough. I don't care if you break my bones. Make me strong."

Balthus chortled so hard he choked. "Uncle Balthus? That's rare!" He slapped his thighs. "I'll do as you wish, Cless. I'll break every bone in your body and reforge them a hundred times stronger."

"If you can do that, I'll be your apprentice and follow every training menu you make to the best of my ability."

A contract has been established. Cless owes obedience to Balthus as her instructor until such a time he deems her training complete. The favor owed by Balthus to Karen will be cleared. Awaiting acceptance.

Cless mentally accepted the training contract. She saw Karen and Balthus doing the same.

The contract has been accepted by all three parties. Cless earns 2,000 Experience Points.

Balthus was obviously looking at his notifications. Cless noticed he had not the blank gaze the boys had when they were perusing theirs. He looked at Cless and told her, "Now that is something. We'll talk about it later, disciple."

"Yes, master." The words came naturally for her. Was it the power of the contract? Probably yes. Cless would have to take care to not offer too much in the future.

She registered at the Association as an adventurer and also got her guild charter. Registering cost one ducat but the guild charter was one crown. Karen paid for her and refused any complaints, saying it was a gift. Cless named the guild "The Blind Eye." Cless was then directed to the trainer that would grant her a class. It was a big choice. A class could be chosen at the fifth level and would shape the person's development. One could change classes but would give up all the advancement in the abandoned class.

"Adventurer Cless, this is the book of classes. Choose wisely."

Cless flipped through the book of classes. She reminded herself that she would choose the classes for the nineteen boys as well so she should study these with great care.