Leo

As Leopold Argentshade, Junior Blazer, approached the tall wooden walls of the small town of Wolfpine, he eyed the Town Guards cautiously from behind the secure anonymity of his [Steel Helmet]. They looked just like Lakebrooke’s guards, with the same [God Armor] and massive shields. Even a year out from his trial age thievery, Town Guards still made Leo innately nervous.

It wasn’t long ago the unexpected sight of a Town Guard meant multiple nights in a rat-infested cell. It wasn’t long ago Leo had been desperately thieving on the docks of Lakebrooke instead of making his way in the Blazers. It still often boggled his mind that he’d somehow left that left to actually become a Blazer himself, but he was now.

He had nothing more to fear from any Town Guard.

Still, Leo kept his helmet straight ahead as he marched through the gates. Neither Town Guard so much as glanced his way, and he made sure not to glance theirs. So far, so good.

No one in Wolfpine had any reason to suspect Leo was a Junior Blazer—he wasn’t wearing his tabard today, by express order of Jenny Ambersun—so why would either look at or remember him? They likely saw dozens of Adventurers pass through these gates every day.

Still, once he was past the guards without issue, he breathed easier. A small trickle of pleasure rushed through Leo’s body as he officially stepped into Wolfpine. More Discovery experience, just like when he’d first entered Grassea.

Pleased to learn his hope to gain some more experience from this long Quest had come true, Leo opened his Status Sheet to check.

Name: Leopold Argentshade ==== Age: 18 Strength: 13 Level: 10 Divinity: 15 Class: Skirmisher Luck: 13 HP: 150/150 Vitality: 15 Blood: 110/110 Wisdom: 12 Experience: 64324/70000 Prowess: 16 Gear: Uncommon: [Steel Armor] Uncommon: [Steel Spear] (Enchanted/Demonslaying) Uncommon: [Steel Boots] Rare: [Unfilled Bag] Rare: [Junior Blazer Pin] Slotted Skills: Uncommon: [-Windborne Refresh-] (Skirmisher/Kya) Uncommon: [-Piercing Throw-] (Skirmisher/Kya) Uncommon: [-Windborne Recall-] (Skirmisher/Kya) Uncommon: [-Piercing Tip-] (Skirmisher/Kya) Slotted Blessings: Uncommon: [+Fleet-Footed+] (Skirmisher/Kya) Uncommon: [+Featherlight+] (Skirmisher/Kya) Known Skills: None Known Blessings: None Quests: Level 10: “Search Wolfpine for Anna Bronzelight” (Certified) (Uncommon) (Blazer)

Leo closed his Status Sheet with satisfaction. He’d gotten a full 50 experience by discovering Wolfpine, so between that and the 100 discovery experience from entering Grassea, he’d made as much progress as two days of Monster killing. A decent tradeoff for a three day walk.

Still, while his Quest to discover if the fugitive Anna Bronzelight was in Wolfpine felt absurdly simple for a Blazer, it was still a Blazer Quest. This was the first Quest the Blazers had entrusted him with since he first joined them a year ago. Leo wasn’t about to screw it up.

As he made his way toward The Mead Beast, the humorously named tavern where he was to meet his Town Guard contact, Leo eyed the few Townsfolk he passed. He had nothing to fear from a town full of Townsfolk, but this was the first time he’d ventured outside his home zone of Evolan, and he was curious if the folks here lived differently than in Lakebrooke. Why wouldn’t they?

In a town the size of Lakebrooke—almost 2000 souls—it was easy to get lost in a crowd. Yet in a town this small, just over 60 people according to Jenny, everyone must know everyone. Leo wasn’t sure which of the two he preferred—a crowded town where he could vanish, or a small town where everyone knew his name—but at least for today, it didn’t matter.

The town’s small size was simply another matter to take into account during his Quest. People gossiped, and small towns, he suspected, were the worst. Any unusual actions he took might be all over the town before nightfall, so he would be careful not to take any unusual actions.

Instead, he’d simply take the usual ones.

He didn’t know why Jenny had insisted his mission to search for Anna Bronzelight had to be kept so secret. He hadn’t asked. He wasn’t about to question a Rank 4 Blazer, and he’d trained under Jenny long enough to know she never did anything without reason. If she’d asked him to slip into Wolfpine in the guise of an Adventurer and ask around discreetly, she must have a good reason.

So Leo would accomplish his mission. Complete his Quest. He would earn his place in the Blazers and show Jenny and all the others that their choice to bring him into the fold had been a good one.

Yet by the time he reached The Mead Beast, Leo found the Townsfolk of Wolfpine seemed no different than those in Lakebrooke. They might talk a bit quieter, and they might walk a bit more leisurely, but ultimately, they’d live and die inside these walls. Leo didn’t envy them. Safe as their lives might be, he couldn’t imagine being stuck in a town of 60 people his whole life.

He stopped at the entry to The Mead Beast, whose hanging wooden sign featured an actual tavern with arms, legs, and teeth, and took a breath. Thus far, his Quest had been easy. What lie ahead was hard. He wasn’t sure he could actually go through with it.

Yet he saw no better way to both direct the gossip around Wolfpine and discreetly meet his contact. Jenny had even said his infiltration plan was a good one, and her praise had felt better than any accomplishment he’d had in months. He could do this.

So with one last, steadying breath, Leo entered The Mead Beast to start a fight.

Yet once inside, to his disappointment, Leo found not a single Adventurer in the tavern. In fact, there was no one in the tavern at all save for a bored-looking red-headed girl in a modest barmaid outfit and an older, dark-haired woman behind the counter in the back. Likely the tavern's Culinarian, or perhaps the Merchant who owned it.

There was literally no one else in the entire tavern.

Leo only then realized that in all the time spent developing his brilliant plan, he’d badly miscalculated. He’d traveled through the night on the Safe Road to get to Wolfpine, intent on accomplishing his mission as efficiently as possible. He’d also failed to consider that at this time of day, all of Wolfpine’s Adventurers would either be still in bed or Leveling in Grassea ... not drinking mead.

Devilspit. He’d just started this Quest, and already he was mucking it up.

Still, perhaps an Adventurer would happen into the tavern sooner rather than later. Leo had nothing to do but wait for one to show, though he regretted making his Town Guard contact wait as well. Hopefully, she would turn out to be the understanding sort.

The dark-haired woman behind the counter waved eagerly when she noticed Leo standing just inside the door. “Welcome to The Mead Beast, the best tavern in Wolfpine! I’m Sadie Wintershade, your host! Grab a seat anywhere you like! We’ll be right with you!”

Given such an invitation, Leo supposed, a seat must be grabbed. He chose a small table halfway into the tavern where he could sit with his back to a wall and an eye on all the doors leading into the main space. He’d grown up making sure he knew every entry and exit from a space, and those skills served him well as a Blazer.

He’d no sooner settled on his bench and removed his [Steel Helmet], which he set on the table beside, before the common age redheaded girl sashayed over, obviously trying to impress him with her barmaid skills. She came to a stop by his table with a wide white smile.

“Gods be praised, you’re way cuter than my usual customers! My name’s Randi. What’s yours?”

Leo cleared his throat to make sure his voice came out right. “Leo.”

“Well, Leo, what’s your pleasure? You diving into the mead early today, or having a late breakfast?”

“Water,” he said calmly. He kept his eyes studiously on her face.

Randi’s smile faded. “That’s not nice.”

Leo couldn’t help but be a bit confused. “What’s not nice?”

“Teasing me.” Randi pouted visibly as she artfully tossed her long red braid. “I asked a perfectly fine question, so it’s cruel to tease me like that.”

“I...” Leo struggled a moment. “I really do want water?”

“Try again,” she said evenly. “We don’t serve water here.”

“Oh,” Leo said, as he belatedly figured it out. “Right. I’ll have some mead, then.” He’d have to order something alcoholic to stay in the tavern, so he’d simply nurse his mug until someone else arrived.

All at once Randi’s smile returned. “One mug of mead, coming right up!” She spun and strolled away, looking entirely too satisfied with herself.

Leo turned his eyes to the tavern door. Not one Adventurer? Didn’t any of them come in for lunch or drinks? What were they all doing out today?

The bar remained empty. A mug of mead thumped onto his table so loudly Leo nearly jumped, but managed to keep his calm. Barely.

Randi leaned close again, her red braid dangling. “Just let me know when you’re ready to order. I’ll all yours right now.”

Leo offered her a studious glance. It would be rude not to. “Order?”

“Food,” she reminded him. “This is a tavern. We serve that here.”

Leo held back a grimace. “I’m ... sure. I’ll take a menu.” He’d actually eaten on the road before he arrived, and wasn’t remotely hungry, but refusing her offer felt like a very bad idea.

Randi slapped a menu down on his table before he finished the sentence. He hadn’t even seen where she’d kept it before that. She straightened, waved, and stepped back.

“You drink up while you decide. I’ll keep your mug topped off all day, just ask.”

Gods, this girl really was determined to take his crescents! Yet having struggled badly to put two crescents together when he was her age, Leo found he actually respected both Randi’s enthusiasm and work ethic. She obviously took her job here as seriously as any Adventurer.

Also, obviously, Leo had a huge pouch of coins hanging off his belt. Randi couldn’t have failed to notice that, since Leo had intended everyone to notice his bulging coin pouch. The majority of those coins, of course, weren’t his. All he had was a small stipend to pay for room, board, and a few meals.

But an Adventurer carelessly carrying around a big coin pouch was just begging to lose it.

Also, an Adventurer like that would drink mead and eat greasy tavern food. Leo was supposed to be an Adventurer, so he should act like one. He offered a respectful nod. “Keep ‘em coming, girl.”

Randi tossed a salute. “Yes sir!” She winked playfully before heading back to the bar.

Leo sipped his mead. He eyed the menu, but mostly, he eyed the door. Gods, why wouldn’t someone just walk in already?

And then, thank the Gods, the doors opened. And someone finally did.