Okay, second chapter, enjoy!

On a curious side not, 1 of my reviews hit number 4 on the weekly reviews! Icookies for everyone! and pride, little bit of pride.

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Steel groaned as he lay on the floor, completely depleted of mana and stamina. He had been trying for a few hours now to cast the spells Mary was trying to teach, but he hadn't managed to get the hang of using mana yet.

Mary had eventually given up, saying, "You really need to get a class for this."

"But don't I get class options if I become able to use spells?" He had asked her.

"Yes, but if your having this much trouble, then most likely your the kind of guy that needs a class to assist your spell casting, rather the skills that come with the class to help you." She explained.

"Er how does that work with travelers." He asked confused.

She shrugged, "You people just like us, so like some people in the world are predisposed to be mages or warriors, its the same with you travelers."

'This isn't working' He thought on the ground, 'I should just go back outside the wall....Wait!'

Steel shot up, surprising Mary with his sudden movement.

"Sorry Mary, I just remembered something I have to do!" He moved to leave, but Mary grabbed his arm.

"Boy, don't think you escape me so easily." She said with a sweet smile, "I'll come with you on your...errand."

He shrugged, he didn't care too much, at least he'd get an attractive companion to ogle on occasion.

"Okay, I'm heading to the armorer to get my new armor, lets go." He smiled at her and took her hand in his. He turned just in time to miss the blush that spread over her face. He waved goodbye to the receptionist as he left with Mary, wondering why she was holding a thumbs up at him. He figured she was congratulating him on getting Mary out of the tower.

'Sorry lady, I'm not that far along with her.' He smirked to himself, "But I bet she's a real firecracker."

(Dear lord he'd learn that out later.)

The two made their way through the city toward the armorer's shop. Steel was looking forward to see the giant Bob again, even more so to see the armor he'd made out of the devil wolf.

He noticed Mary kept looking around the streets with interest, almost as if she was seeing some of this for the first time.

'I bet she only leaves the tower at night." He thought, 'Guess I had better treat her."

"Mary, would you like something while we are out here?" He asked.

Mary blushed furiously, "Foolish man, why would I want anything on this street. This teacher of yours has no need of such trinkets and snacks." She said this as she led him to a stall that was selling a type of sweet on a stick.

Reading between the lines, Steel bought two and gave her one.

"Fool, I'm only taking this because it would be a waste." She said, sinking her mouth into the sweet in her hand, "Ish not that good."

Steel chuckled, figuring she was putting a show for him.

"That's cute." He said before turning back to the path. He felt her fists on his back, she must have tripped.

They arrived at the armorer's shop to find it busy. The shop was quite different in the daytime, compared to when Steel had been there last. The store was half outside under a canopy and half store inside. Cheap armor lined the majority of the shelves, the more expensive armor closer to the register, where a young man was sitting, reading a book.

Wondering why the armor was out in the open for someone to steal, Mary grabbed his arm and subtly pointed at the shadows. With her guidance, Steel realized that there were a few humanoid looking things guarding the merchandise. On closer inspection, they were just bodies displaying armor, but thanks to Mary's earlier training he could see a small flow of mana coming off the mannequins.

Steel strolled up to the counter, "Hello, I'm here for a pickup for Scout Steel." The boy looked up and studied Steel. He jerked his finger toward the back and returned to his work, rather his book.

Mary shot him a look for his rudeness, but Steel waved her off. They went into the back.

The hall ended with two doors: one leading to the room Steel had seen before, and other leading outside, where a clanking sound could be heard. Walking toward the sound, the two came out into a courtyard/blacksmith shop. Bob was hammering away at a piece of metal. He looked as they approached with a grin.

"Little traveler is back hm? Ready for his armor then?" He rumbled. Bob's eye passed to Mary and studied her. She made a shhing gesture behind Steel, making Bob grin knowingly. "Hm, young Mary is with you I see."

"Yeah, Mary has been a big help trying to teach me magic." Steel said, "It's a lot harder than I thought."

"Bob bets." He chuckled at a glare from Mary, "Bob sure you'll be able to use magic at some point, take time for some of us, or be like Bob and have no magic."

"You can't cast spells Bob?"

He shook his head, "Half-breeds like Bob don't usually have magic. Blood mixes funny, makes the mana slow." He put down his hammer and walked by them. "Wait here little ones." He commanded as he walked inside the building.

They heard some shuffling as things were moved and mutter from Bob. He returned with a set of very furry armor.

Excited, Steel examined the armor:

Devil's Fur Coat

Type:Leather armor, torsoDurability:100/ 100Quality:Yellow/RareRequired Stats:Strength:5

Agility: 15

Effects:+3 Agility

+5 Vitality

+10 Charm

Traveler Steel Only:

+5 darkness resistanceA set of leather armor made from a devil wolf. It was slain unusually by the Traveler Steel, and holds a strenge bond with him as a result. Deals well with impact damage, not so well against slicing damage. An ominous feeling comes off the armor.

Devil Wolf's PantsType:Leather Armor, pantsDurability:100/100Quality:Yellow/RareRequired Stats:5 AgilityEffects:+3 Endurance

+2 AgilityLeather Pants armor made from a devil wolf. Made to be worn with it's upper counterpart, an ominous feeling comes from the armor.

The armor looked great to Steel. He put in on quickly as soon as Bob handed it to him.

The armor for his chest was black leather, conforming to his body easily. The collar had fur on it, outlining his head in black fur. A wolf's head had been etched into the middle of it, and the shoulders had a strip of leather with e studs in them. The pants were similar, more a brownish black with fur around the waist and endings on the legs. The leather fit snugly on his body, almost as if it had been waiting for him.

He admired his new form, turning around to the other two.

"How do I look guys?" He asked proudly.

Bob held a massive thumb up, Mary blushed and looked away saying, "Changing in front of a lady, what gall you have today."

"What are you talking about? I didn't remove anything."

"Idiot, it's the thought."

Shrugging off Mary's comments, Steel thanked Bob ans shook his hand, and Bob shook his body.

The two left Bob and Steel turned to move toward the gate.

"Steel, why are we heading that way, the tower is this direction." Mary pointed at the very obvious tower.

He shook his head, "I was thinking more of a practical magical lesson." He pointed at the wall, "Let's go out the gate and try in the grassland."

Mary became very still, "Outside, the wall?" She said slowly.

"Yeah, what's wrong, never been?" He asked.

"Hmph, to ask such a foolish question of me." She declared, "Of course I have been outside the wall, just with daddy on business trips." She muttered that last bit to herself so Steel wouldn't hear her.

"Then its fine, come on then." He said happily as he half dragged Mary with him.

They arrived a the gate to find it a flurry of activity. Guards were running back and forth, not in a panic but they seemed urgent. One of the guards noticed them and ran up to them.

"Scout Steel, Guard Captain Harkin requests your presence in his office as soon as possible." Having delivered the orders, the guard turned back and rejoined the rush.

Shrugging, Steel headed into the guard house with Mary and up the stairs to the office. After delivering a knock of Manly Gusto, he walked into the office. The offices was a lot messier than last time, charts and maps covering the surfaces and walls. Captain Harkin was musing over a report in his hand when he looked up at the two. His eyes narrowed a moment at Mary, but his face relaxed as he got up to greet Steel.

"Scout Steel, good of you to make it," He greeted, "Please sit, and nice armor by the way." He added as an after thought. When Steel and Mary were seated, he began again, "Ever since you came back with that devil dog, I've been doing some searching through reports. It seems that the rabbit poaching encouraged the demon and devil dogs to expand their territory. A few have approached the walls, but the guards took care of them from the walls."

He paused and got up, looking out the window toward the wall.

"As much as it pains me to say it, I need your help, and you most likely will not survive the experience." He said finally.

Mary shot up and began yelling at the captain, "What! Are you telling him to go die? What are you telling him to do that's so dangerous?" She exploded.

The captain shot her a glare that froze her, "Sit down and calm yourself Mrs. Mary." She sat, shivering a little under his glare. He softened, and returned his eyes to Steel's, "I can't afford to spare my men for this, and you've already survived one encounter. Otherwise I would never consider this normally." He sighed, "I need you to scout out the forest for the den of these monsters. Until it's cleared, it'll keep spawning them until they overwhelm our defenses."

"How did rabbit poaching lead to this?" Steel asked.

"The poaching helped the problem, it didn't cause it." The captain explained, "We've always known of a den in the forest, its why we don't send patrols often into it. They were a nuisance, but never a problem because of their trauma and fear of the Hungry Bunnies that lived in the grassland. With the rabbit population down in the forest and grassland, the wolves are hungry enough to venture to us for food."

The captain looked Steel in the eye.

"Will you undertake this for the city?"

Quest ReceivedScout out the forest to find the Corrupted Wolf LairDifficulty:HardRequirementsHigh Intimacy with the guard

Perform a feat of daring and show proof[/tds][td2]RewardRostwood will prepare to conquer the lair, you will be asked to join

+Intimacy with all factions in Rostwood

Choice of boss drops in the lairFailure to complete quest will result in Rostwood being sieged by wolves

-Intimacy with all factions, hate from the common folk

Refusal is not possible

Steel was trapped. Facing the one devil wolf had nearly killed him, now they wanted him to find the lair. Not only that, the quest could not be refused. Most likely, by killing the devil dog he had activated one of the series quests of Rostwood. He groaned, this was a bad way to start the game.

On the other hand, if he was victorious, he would be invited to join the expedition to the lair. That meant lots of exp for him, and choice on a boss drop that he could normally never reach.

Having little choice in the matter, he said, "Of course captain, you can count on me."

Having accepted the quest, the captain's face relaxed into a relieved smile.

"Thank you boy, we are in your debt for this." He handed a bag over to Steel, "Here, we've supplied you with 10 health, stamina, and mana potions for your scouting, use them well, for the lair is deep in the forest and guarded."

"Thank you sir, I'll leave immediately." Steel got up, but was pulled back down by Mary, who glared at him.

"You aren't strong enough Steel, I won't let you go unless you take me with you." She declared.

Harkin's eyes widened slightly," Now Ms. Mary, I cannot allow that, your father would throw a fit and..."

Mary interrupted him with a silencing glare, "I'm old enough to take care of myself, and I need to finish teaching this guy magic. You won't stop me." She declared.

Harkin seemed to think for a moment, than nodded, "Okay, head on out then."

Smiling triumphantly, Mary starting leading Steel to the door, when she slumped over unconscious into Captain Harkin's arms. He held her gently and shook his head.

"Sorry girl, you're too special to let die." He frowned apologetically at Steel, who shrugged. If he died, he'd come back, but she wouldn't, he understood.

Saluting the captain, Steel headed out the gate toward the woods. His first epic quest was underway.

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Hurt my eyes writing this lol. Hope you guys enjoy it.