As he officially turned in the completed Quest, a rush of pleasure flooded Glenn. This was the nectar of the Gods flowing into his body and soul. The thrilling sensation wasn’t on par with reaching Level 5, a recent experience Glenn still considered the most pleasurable he’d ever had, but it was still quite incredible. And this was just a low Level Quest!

What did it feel like to complete an Uncommon Quest, or a Rare?

As Glenn watched his already open Status Sheet with wide eyes, numbers ticked madly. His gasp came from far more than the pleasure flooding his body. He’d never seen numbers rise so fast. When the flow ended, Glenn clutched the parchment and quill tightly. So much experience!

Name: Glenn Redwood ==== Age: 16 Strength: 14 Level: 5 Divinity: 8 Class: Unassigned Luck: 7 HP: 120/120 Vitality: 12 Blood: 60/60 Wisdom: 6 Experience: 24009/29000 Prowess: 9

...

Gods! He’d gained 2000 experience simply from completing one Quest. That was equivalent to ... 200 Monster kills, while solo. Incredible! It also meant Becka had gained the same amount of experience, which explained her quiet moan earlier. If he remembered correctly, she’d been less than 2000 from capping last night. So she’d just reached 21999/22000 as well.

Did all Quests award experience this impressive?

They might. Yet even as Glenn considered this blessing, he understood why it might only be impressive due to his low Level. A Quest like that he and Becka had undertaken had been more appropriate for a full Party of Level 6s. Four people.

Yet he and Becka had done this quest at Level 4, as Unclassed, and with only two people. All Adventurers who signed onto a Quest shared the experience from completing it, just as everyone in a group shared the experience from killing a Monster. Quests were what often brought high Level Adventurers back to low level zones. They’d solo Quests that required a whole party of lower Levels to gain the whole Quest’s experience for themselves.

So had a party of four Level 6s rescued Azalea Whitetalon, a task that would have been far easier for them than it had been for Glenn and Becka, each of those four Adventurers would have received 1000 experience. Still an impressive amount, certainly, but not this impressive.

Did the Gods award more experience for completing Quests that were far above the Adventurer’s Level? Zack certainly seemed to think so. Zack had always been one to take the risky and quick road to success, while Glenn preferred a steady, reliable approach.

Mayor Coleman waited a moment after Glenn handed back the parchment, staring bemusedly at the sky. Glenn realized Coleman was waiting for the Gods to smite either he or Becka for dishonesty. Coleman almost seemed disappointed when that didn’t happen. What a colossal jerk.

Coleman lowered his gaze and nodded. “Congratulations. Both Wolfpine’s people and I, her mayor, thank you for your brave actions on our behalf. As is custom, a portion of the proceeds used to commission the quest will be delivered to each of you, though as neither of you are yet adults, the coin will be delivered to your parents in your stead.” He effortlessly rolled up the Quest parchment and tucked it into his waistcoat pocket. “Coldbreaker, you can go. Redwood, a moment.”

Glenn bristled at Mayor Coleman’s casual dismissal of Becka. She deserved better than a brush off after all she’d sacrificed and risked. Did this Leveler jerk care for any of Wolfpine’s people?

Yet Becka squeezed Glenn’s arm before he could embarrass himself. “You’re coming tonight?”

Given how amazing she looked right now, it took a moment before Glenn remembered what she was asking about. “To supper? At your house?”

“Unless some other Blacksmith has invited you over.”

“Of course I am,” Glenn said, with a wide smile. “I wouldn’t miss it for anything.”

“Then just be aware it’s possible you might end the night quite drunk. So ... be ready for that.”

Glenn felt a trace of unease. “Is that really your father’s plan?”

“Oh no, Redwood. That’s my plan.” She smirked as she released his arm, but not before tracing her fingertips down his side. The way her finger touched his skin made him absolutely tingle.

She then turned back to the mayor, inclined her head gracefully, and walked off ... slowly. It was obvious she was still having a devil of a time keeping her balance in those strange boots, but Gods, the way her backside swayed as she walked distracted him beyond the ability for rational thought.

“Redwood,” Coleman snapped. “Your attention, please?”

Glenn pivoted back to face the mayor. “Yes sir?”

“As you may already know, we have received phantom correspondence stating a representative from the Blazer’s Guild will arrive in Wolfpine tomorrow. Since the Quest you and Miss Coldbreaker both completed is the reason they’ve taken an interest in my town, I trust you see how it’s in everyone’s best interest for you to delay your plans to enter the Chapel of Celes and choose your Class.”

Glenn blinked as that absolutely failed to make sense. “Sir?”

“You and Miss Coldbreaker have completed a rare feat,” Coleman said patiently, as if he were explaining a difficult concept to a small child. “You completing what the Quest Archive judged a Level 6 Party Quest with a duo at Level 4, and moreover, you personally have the distinction of turning 16 and reaching Level 5 the day after you did so. And now, a representative from the Blazer’s Guild itself will be present tomorrow to interview you.”

“Right,” Glenn said, as he considered the fact that Blazers were likely very busy people. “And ... why shouldn’t I gain my Class tonight?”

Coleman rubbed his face and unleashed a very put upon sigh. “Because of ceremony, Redwood! Being blessed as an Adventurer by the Gods and choosing one’s Class for the first time is an event that is blessed by Celes. You should do it in front of the town and the Blazers Guild representative.”

“Ah,” Glenn said, and understood.

He knew why Mayor Coleman was asking for this now. Coleman wanted to rub some of the sheen of Becka and Glenn’s accomplishment off on himself in sight of a representative of the vaunted Blazers Guild. He’d likely praise Glenn and Becka in whatever speech he chose to give to commemorate the visit, and also, likely, claim some credit for their bravery and success.

Functionally, Glenn understood the reasons behind Coleman’s plan. Completing a Political Event with the attendance of the entire town and a high-Level representative of the Blazers Guild would net Coleman quite a bit of Politician experience, far more than he’d get by allowing Glenn to select his Class among family and friends. It made sense from an experience perspective.

Yet it was still so brazen and Level-grabbing it made Glenn certain he’d never become a Politician. Despite the danger, Glenn couldn’t help but push his luck.

“And I assume this request is a ... request?”

As Coleman’s eyes narrowed, Glenn immediately knew he’d made a mistake. What small disinterest the mayor had once offered had instantly been replaced with a directed, callous cold.

“I cannot force you to wait, if that’s what you think to imply,” Coleman said quietly. “Yet I would think long and hard about how you want to be remembered in my town before you choose to squander this opportunity to be recognized by your family and friends. It would be a shame if your actions reflected poorly on your parents, who, I remind you, will still live here even if you depart.”

Glenn wanted nothing more than to slug Mayor Coleman so hard he tumbled into the Town Guard, but that would be unwise, given the Town Guard was standing right there, with a God-Blessed mace hanging off his hip. Not that he could anyway. The Law of Consent wouldn’t allow him to assault Coleman without Colman’s permission. But still ... Glenn wanted to.

Yet letting Coleman see his rage at having his parents threatened would only dig his entire family in deeper. His parents had mentioned that Coleman was a bore and a Leveler, but never that he was a snake. Yet Glenn knew what to do when one angered a snake.

Back off slowly and avoid getting poisoned.

“Of course, sir,” Glenn said, and inclined his head. “I’m honored you decided I’d be worthy of such an event. I will claim my blessing as an Adventurer and choose my Class tomorrow, in the chapel, in sight of Wolfpine’s good people and the representative of the Blazers Guild.”

“I’d expected as much,” Coleman said dismissively. The cold anger Glenn had just seen once more faded into bored indifference. The snake had retreated under its rock. “Tomorrow, after nightfall.”

“I’ll be there, sir,” Glenn said, and once more dropped into a kneel.

“And once more, congratulations, Redwood.” Coleman turned to the Town Guard. “You are dismissed. Return to your post.”

After the swish of fine boots announced Coleman’s departure, Glenn glanced up to find something he hadn’t expected. The Town Guard remained despite being dismissed, and he now observed Glenn calmly. Only his gray eyes were visible through the eye-slits in his dark, full-face helmet, yet this man’s eyes looked almost ... apologetic?

Coleman was already walking way, yet the Town Guard didn’t. Instead, he nodded his helmet in what looked to be sincere respect.

Glenn stood and smiled. He recognized the gesture as what it was, and given this man’s Strength, he was honored by the acknowledgement. This man, at least, was no Politician.

Glenn offered his hand. “Glenn Redwood.”

The Town Guard shook his hand firmly, with a strong grip. “Logain Cliffbreeze. You may not know this, but I actually Leveled in a small Party with your mother.”

Glenn stared a moment as he caught up. “I never knew that! She knew you as Logain?”

“I’ve never changed it.”

Right. That had been a stupid question. Still, Glenn smiled again. “Well, it’s a pleasure to meet you officially, Mister Cliffbreeze. It’s odd that we’ve never, uh...”

“Met? Or spoken?” Logain paused. “Don’t let it bother you. When I’m wearing this armor and this helmet, most everyone either treats me as part of the scenery or skulks by fearing for their lives. And when I’m not wearing it, few dare speak to me for fear that they’ll offend me or run afoul of the mayor’s laws. Yet when we speak, Glenn, I’d be pleased if you’d call me Logain.”

“Logain, then.” Glenn immediately felt a bit bad for the man. “And if I’ve ever been guilty of treating you like you’re not there, I apologize. I certainly won’t do it after today.”

“I’ll hold you to that. Also, don’t let the mayor’s machinations take the shine of your accomplishments. You and Miss Coldbreaker did good work last night. I couldn’t speak to her while the mayor was standing next to her, but please, pass on my compliments.”

“I will,” Glenn said, touched anew by the man’s generosity. Then, he gasped. “Wait! You were the Town Guard who alerted Ziva Willowbraid that Azalea had gone out the town gate!”

Logain chuckled. “And you’re just now putting that together. Interesting.”

Glenn reflexively rubbed the back of his head. “Sorry. Becka only mentioned your name once, and, well, it was a rather exciting night.”

“That is one word for it. But needless to say, that’s only one reason I’m as pleased as anyone you two got her safely home. I only wish I could have stopped her.”

After a moment, Glenn thumped the man’s armored arm as he would any good friend’s. “No one blames you for that. You did all the Gods required of you. You did your duty, and if you hadn’t flagged down Ziva last night, Becka and I would never have known to go save Azalea.”

Logain’s helmet tilted. “I did my duty, true.” The way he said that sounded almost ... sad.

Glenn considered. He imagined the fact that the Gods had forced Logain to watch Azalea skip out to her possible doom might still bother him, so he made certain not to mention it. He summoned his easy smile again and inclined his head.

“Thanks for everything you do,” Glenn said. “I feel like we don’t say that enough.”

“No need to thank me,” Logain said, as he glanced once more toward the Mayor’s residence. “It’s my duty to protect this town, one given to me by the Gods Themselves. Now, I’d better get back to the walls before Kya decides I’m shirking my duty. Good day, Glenn.”

Glenn stared in bemusement as the big, gleaming guard walked away. “Good day, Logain.”

It was odd to look at a Town Guard, a hulking mass of God-blessed armor and Strength, and see a friend. Yet Glenn did feel like that now. He was absolutely dying to ask Tania about her old adventuring party, Logain, and whatever Adventures they’d gotten up to in their youth.