Yet Glenn had a date tonight, didn’t he? A supper date. He had to hurry home and change right now.

It was tempting to wear his Feast Day best for his supper with Becka and her father, but Glenn felt that wouldn’t set quite the right tone. He didn’t want to seem too formal with Becka’s father, and in his family, everyone dressed casually at supper.

Once he and Becka officially registered themselves as a Party and went off to Adventurer together, Karl Coldbreaker would become his family. Glenn felt it best to begin their first supper by treating Karl as such. Also, he hated having to tuck in his shirt, and the trousers he wore on Feast Days were so starched they felt impossible to run in. Given that Becka had suggested they’d be quite drunk tonight, he also didn’t need his only set of fine clothes stained by mead.

Though Gods, if he showed up at her house and Becka was still wearing that red dress...

Glenn shook his head and forced his mind back to his current task. He needed to jog home and get changed, and then find some way to manage his nerves for the next few hours until he arrived at Karl Coldbreaker’s house and announced himself for supper. It was strange to be nervous.

Glenn had been with Becka over six months, and they’d done literally everything together that Levos would let those who were common age do. Glenn felt impossibly comfortable with Becka, like he could tell or ask her anything, and being with her felt as natural as being with his family ... though, obviously, in an entirely different way. Still, he’d never been nervous around her.

Karl Coldbreaker was a different challenge entirely. The man had seemed both thrilled and grateful Glenn helped Becka escape the Deepscorn Woods, but how would he react if he heard about the accidentally groping that occurred in the night? Did he know how much they’d done together?

Gods, what if Becka flirted with him in front of Karl? Should he invite it? Return it? Act oblivious? He suddenly had no doubt that Becka would be doing absolutely everything to trip him up tonight, for the thrill of it if nothing else. He would need to plan very carefully if we wanted to survive.

Yet that realization actually helped his nerves. A quiet supper filled with awkward small talk was something he might worry about, but one where Becka was trying everything to trip him up actually sounded ... fun? It certainly wouldn’t be boring, and Glenn felt he could give as good as he got.

Though he definitely wasn’t going to mention anything about Becka’s apparently extensive collection of corsets. Glenn was almost certain Karl knew nothing about that, though … he did wonder where Becka had found that incredible dress. Her mother’s, perhaps? Glenn had been too young to fully appreciate Ana Coldbreaker’s beauty when he was little, but he knew Ana’s daughter took after her.

By the time he got home, assured his parents the Quest turn-in had gone well, and loudly vented about the absolute ass that was Mayor Coleman, both his parents seemed amused and proud. Tania ordered him upstairs to change, as she wouldn’t have it said a Redwood showed up for supper late. Also, she approved of his choice to dress nice, but casual, which made him feel better.

Glenn actually tried on all three of his shirts before he picked the one that was the best balance between a shirt he liked and a shirt he wouldn’t mind getting absolutely stained with mead. It was a deep red, a color only available in Lakebrooke. Any mead that stained it might not even show up.

Also, the shirt was comfortable and loose while still flattering his frame, which Becka would certainly appreciate. She often told him how much she enjoyed gazing at his muscles. Also, he was fairly certain the shirt was tough enough she couldn’t rip it, even if she got ... rambunctious.

Glenn picked a comfortable pair of pants that he also wouldn’t mind getting stained with mead—though the liquid would show up against the gray fabric—and one of his two pairs of nicer shoes. As he presented himself to the full-length mirror in his room and ran his fingers through his rowdy brown hair, he approved. He did cut a dashing figure when he chose to do so.

He tromped downstairs and walked for the door. Tania was still behind the counter, but she was busy stocking new and colorful Enchant orbs rather than watching him leave. He kept his steps light, hoping to exit without an awkward scene with either of his parents.

“Did you already grab a gift?” Tania called from her shelves.

Glenn froze in midstep. “A what?”

Tania rose from behind her counter, turned on him, and offered a thoroughly amused smile. “You aren’t telling me you planned to turn up at Karl Coldbreaker’s house for a sumptuous dinner, invited there by Wolfpine’s best Blacksmith to woo his lovely daughter, without bringing a gift?”

Glenn hadn’t even considered bringing a gift, nor had he known it was required. Now, however, he absolutely felt a gift was required. His mother wouldn’t tease him about something like this.

“What should I bring?” Glenn asked.

“Not wine.” Hal Redwood emerged from the room in the back of Tania’s Enchanting Shop, which doubled as his office for his Scribe duties. “Karl Coldbreaker only has one love in this world, alchemically, and that’s mead. He’d probably politely take your bottle and toss it out the back.”

“And don’t bring flowers,” Tania said. “I always hated flowers. They’re pretty for a moment, sure, but the whole time you look at them you know they’re simply going to die.”

Glenn had actually been considering flowers, but in retrospect, his mother’s reasoning seemed sound. “What does a Blacksmith like Karl need?”

“It should be something rather unique,” Tania said. “If you truly wish to gain his blessing to Level with his daughter, you don’t want to show up with a gift anyone would provide.”

“Yet nothing too expensive,” Hal added, tapping his chin. “You don’t want him to think you’re attempting to bribe him for his daughter’s hand. It’s the thought that matters, not the monetary cost.”

Glenn was growing exasperated with all these rules. “Can one of you just suggest something?”

“And rob my son of a chance to learn and grow?” Hal said dramatically. “What kind of a father would I be if I did that?”

“Mom?” Glenn asked hopefully.

“Try the Merchants, dear,” Tania said, still smiling. “I’m sure you’ll find something lovely.”

Glenn ran down a hand down his face. “This was exceedingly not helpful.”

Tania shooed him with a raised hand. “Go, my son. Complete this new Quest. I’ve no doubt you’ll tackle it with the same vigor you tackle everything else.” She smirked. “Like Becka?”

Glenn groaned and grabbed the door handle. “I’m leaving now. Goodbye.”

“Good luck tonight!” Hal shouted. “Make sure you eat everything, even if it’s green!”

Glenn shut the door to his childhood home and walked off toward the center of Wolfpine, silently shaking his head. His parents were the worst, sometimes, yet at least they’d reminded him about the gift. He knew there was love in their constant teasing.

And he’d never have it said Glenn Redwood couldn’t complete a Quest.

Wolfpine’s central market actually ran along the street by the western town wall, with the town square kept clear for assemblies. Market Street, in Wolfpine, was a series of stalls owned by Wolfpine’s various Merchants, one of the more competitive Townsfolk Classes. Three Merchants currently lived in Wolfpine full time, and one or two were always visiting from other zones.

While Merchants couldn’t craft anything on their own, their early Skills involved transmutation, specifically of Monster Life Crystals. In service to Isdon, God of Commerce, Merchants transmuted Life Crystals to Isdon in exchange for Key Materials, rare ingredients based on the rarity of the crystal. Crafters, in turn, paid Merchants in coin for the Key Materials required to create new items, coin Merchants then paid to Adventurers for more Life Crystals.

Beside the passive experience Merchants gained from transmuting Life Crystals, Merchants also gained experience by making a profit upon completing any deal. The best and most successful Merchants made a profit both when buying Life Crystals off Adventurers and when selling transmuted Key Materials to crafters, Leveling their Class and becoming rich. Yet for every successful Merchant, five slaved away in their shadow. Glenn knew no Townsfolk class that was more competitive.

All in all, he’d rather fight Monsters than compete with a talented Merchant for customers.

Several Merchants called out greetings and offers as Glenn passed, yet their greetings were half-hearted. Every merchant here knew him by sight, even the two from out of town, and it wasn’t that they doubted he had Life Crystals from his night in the woods. They simply knew Glenn had already decided which Merchant he’d haggle with today. He walked straight for her colorful stall.

Beth Silverstone, Zack’s mother, smiled at him and leaned against her counter at his approach. She had a slim build, dark brown skin, curly hair bound in gold and silver ringlets, and warm brown eyes. Beth was a Level 16 Merchant, high enough Level to travel to Evolan if she wished, but Glenn knew she’d never leave Wolfpine so long as Zack remained in Grassea.

She’d never abandon her only son.

Glenn had always loved working with Beth, and it wasn’t just because with Zack’s father dead, Beth was her family’s sole support. Glenn genuinely enjoyed Beth’s keen wit and ability to intuit his needs, and she often cut him generous deals in exchange for watching out for her son. If anyone could suggest a suitable gift for Karl Coldbreaker, it was Beth Silverstone.

And if he was lucky, she might even sell it at a discount.