“Is the healing not working?”

“No, I think this is magic depletion.”

“How did that happen? He only used it once.”

“I don't know, but it is a new magic so it's possible it drained him in one go.”

“Do we need to carry him home?”

“I think he'll wake up on his own soon, but we should plan on it.”

“Can you carry him or do we have to make a stretcher? Should I go cut some branches for poles?”

“I don't think so, I think he might be coming out of it. We have a bit of time let's wait a few more minutes.”

It was the smell of wet leaves that brought me back to my senses. What had happened? I'd just completed casting Metal Rain and I felt like my entire body had been drained. I was instantly completely exhausted and unable to function. That couldn't be normal.

I opened my eyes and found myself once again in Crue's lap. Good guy, willing to sit in the mud for me.

“Hey, there buddy, how are you feeling?” Crue asked helping me sit up.

“Like I got hit in the head with a sledgehammer and I forgot to sleep for a week.”

“I thought so, You used up the majority of your MP didn't you?” Crue asked.

“I have 64 MP normally, I thought it only cost 6 to cast the magic. Looks like I was wrong, I've only got 6 Mp now.”

“You used up too much of your MP at once. Your MP is too low to be using that magic. I wouldn't be using any other magic until you bring it up to at least 84. That way you can practice the skill without passing out from magic depletion. You have to stop when your MP gets to about 18.”

“I wish one of the books would have told me that,” I said ruefully. Not that the book would have helped. I could have sworn the magic cost was only 6 MP.

*Metal Rain, as your MP increases that increase will also strengthen Metal Rain, this means a swifter response. This does not mean the attack is stronger, just that the range and time delay between attacks is shorter.~

So it would cost more MP as I leveled up, but there was a max of 400. This wonky system. At times it made little sense. I shouldn't complain too much though. Metal Rain was a lost art and who really knew how it originally worked. After all, dragons were fundamentally different.

“I think it's one of those common knowledge things that people who write books just assume that the people reading them knows the standard. After all, you normally wouldn't have a magic that you weren't taught by someone else first,” Illia added. “I didn't think you were that new to magic.”

“I suspect it might be this magic, in particular, that's giving me the trouble, but I'll keep your advice in mind and level up my MP before I try again.” After all Metal Rain was a high-level magic that had been dumbed down for my low MP.

“Well, when you think you can walk we should probably be heading back. I think we've done enough for today and we still have to stop by the Guild to turn in the kills,” Crue said.

“I'm looking forward to dinner tonight. I'll be able to splurge a little after we turn in the kills,” Illia smiled.

“I was just going to grab dinner at the inn, then maybe nap some more,” I told her my plans. It was true. While I had initially planned to do some exercising before bed, I didn't think I'd be able to muster up the energy today. I was just feeling drained.

“I don't think I'll be able to join you either, I've got some paperwork I need to catch up on. While I'd love to join either of you, I was planning on grabbing a meal in my room and catching up on work. I need to get everything in order before I officially go on leave.”

“Well, I guess the celebration party will have to be put on hold. Let's try again tomorrow.”

“Sorry,” I apologized. I did feel bad for putting a damper on her enthusiasm.

“No, it's my fault for not thinking and getting carried away. Please don't worry about it.”

Crue began talking about the different places around town that we could have our little celebration tomorrow. Killigan's, Marge's, and Bo's were all mentioned, but so were a few others. I was more than willing to try other places around town. The place depended on the type of celebration though. Crue was leaning towards sweets and pastries, while Illia wanted snack foods and ale. Both were going to be bad for the diet I hadn't really been following. I was never going to lose weight at this rate.

They debated all the way back. It was friendly and there was a lot of teasing of the other's preferences. I finally broke the stalemate by reminding them I had an inventory. Why couldn't we have another picnic and each of us choose something to bring? This was clearly the winner, and I was delegated to pick up the drinks at Marge's since I was staying there. I was to meet Crue in front of the bakery in the morning before our run to get fresh sweets and Illia in the afternoon after she got off work to get snacks. We would also be grabbing a quick lunch. She wanted to go to a few places to pick up her favorites. Crue told me to pick up some non-vegetarian options while I was at it. He would get some things from Tuck and eat lunch at the temple.

Then we would meet at the gate and hunt for a few hours. We would turn in our kills and request the use of one of the tables in the dining hall. They allowed you to bring in your own stuff as long as you paid for the table by tipping the waitress and by having everyone order at least one thing. Both Illia and Crue said that the food at the Guild was ok, but the cook tended to be eccentric with the spices. Thus, why we weren't just getting all our food there.

I practiced my bow a bit on the way back. I was able to shoot down 3 apes. I missed one and lost one of Crue's arrows, but I could feel my aim was getting better even without my using Exp to level the skill.

Perhaps archery would be a good test case for my theory on skill dynamics? No, maybe not. I did have some experience in archery from earth. I wouldn't be able to adequately judge the skill gap. Well yay, that meant I was free to add Exp to it and level it up. I would become Robin Hood! No, that was just fantasy nonsense. Just to be able to hit where I was aiming would be a plus. Don't get cocky me.

There was some activity at the gate. I suspected it was unusual from the way Illia and Crue looked at each other, but I didn't have any frame of reference of why. There were a few guards huddled around the gate and they were talking animatedly. As we approached one guard ran off.

“What's going on?” Crue asked as we showed our Ids.

“Missing kid, he disappeared sometime last night and still hasn't gone back to the temple. They are sending out alerts to all the guards,” the guard told him handing back the card.

“What do they think?” Crue pressed.

“Runaway, the kid was supposed to be doing penance at the temple, but he was discovered missing early this morning. They think he ran off last night. The kid at the trial with the gods? It was him. We don't think it's very serious yet. We don't think he's left the town. He's just acting out because of what happened. Still, we have to look don't we?”

“I would hope so!” Illia huffed, “From everything I've heard that boy was a budding monster. The gods were right in saying he'd become a sociopath.”

“We are keeping that in mind, miss,” said the guard.

Well, it seemed to me as if they were being kinda lackadaisical about it. It could just be this particular guard though. Maybe he was the slow and didn't care about much type? Like the burnt-out cop who just coasted along until retirement.

We were dismissed and sent on our way. I had the idea to help in the search with my map, but we had just had a conversation about getting on the kingdom's radar. Presumably, guards had been finding runaways for years now without my help. If he was still missing tomorrow I would take a look and talk to Crue about what actions I should take. Until then, we were due at the Guild.

The 16 apes I had in my inventory added up to 10 silvers and 40 coppers. My share of the Red Wolf kill was 3 silvers and 34 coppers. I had to take out some charges for dismantling so I ended up with a total of 14 silvers and 55 coppers. Not bad, and I'd be able to pay my rent.

We separated at the Guild. Illia seemed unable to wait to spend some of her money and wanted to head to the market and buy some things. Crue headed back to the temple and I went back to Marge's Tavern. I was really very hungry and I was looking forward to dinner.

I was surprised to find a gathering out in front of Marge's. Seven women dressed in the same dark brown dress were shouting at people going by. They got particularly animated if anyone tried going into the inn. What in the world was going on?

Cornering a man who was watching the spectacle from across the square, I asked him what was happening.

“The Sisters are protestin' again,” he told me.

Well, that didn't tell me much and I didn't want to look like an idiot for not knowing who the 'Sisters' were. What should I do? Should I try and go around the side entrance?

As I neared I could actually make out what the women were shouting about. It just pissed me off. My plans of going through the side entrance evaporated. These intolerant bigoted bitches could go get tossed. Anger fueled me as I walked up to the lead bigot who was blocking my path.

“Move,” was all I said. I was ready for a confrontation and I wasn't about to back down to some middle-aged harpy.

“Don't step in that den of filth! Marriage is between a man and a woman! Not men who wear dresses! It makes them worse than Demon Kin!” The woman spat in my face. Spittle dripped from my chin and down my neck.

“The only filthy one's I see are standing in front of me. MOVE,” I shouted as I wiped spit from my neck, “or be moved. The choice is yours.”

“You wouldn't dare harm an Oracle of the Goddess!” She shouted back. I still didn't know what bat-shit crazy goddess they worshiped, but I was about to get on her bad side. Here's hoping Amoris had my back. Maybe I should be praying for Edomael to have my back just in case. He was a tad more reliable.

“I AM an Oracle of the Goddess, you dingbat! An Emissary too! So MOVE your butts out of this square or I'm going to move them for you with Amoris' divine permission! Or do you want her to pop back down here twice in one week?” I was laying it on thick, but the ladies at the inn were all devotees of Amoris and she had set a precedent for not putting up with shit.

Some of the women became a bit uneasy at that threat. Amoris had just shown up and was part of an execution. One of the ladies was stage-whispering to the leader.

“He was there, she confirmed it in her own temple, Sister Uptence,” she was tugging on the leader's sleeve.

“Edomael likes him too. I heard him call him son,” another woman hissed. Really? Were these harpies everywhere? I had thought no one would really take notice of me at that execution, but this time it worked in my favor. I crossed my arms and tried looking stern.

*Skill Gain- Intimidation~

*Title Gain- Devotee of Edomael~

*Title Gain- Oracle of Edomael~

Hold up, What? So scaring off a bunch of bigots got me intimidation, I understood that. Where did the titles come from though? It was really random how those worked. I mean what the heck? Follow some sort of logical pattern already, damn.

*Incoming Message. Please check your inventory.~

Oh, well then. I had a feeling I knew who the message was from before I even opened it.

*Eri,

Go get em! Those Sister's of Haidee are a pain in the ass. Amoris has been having 'dealings' with them for centuries. So it's fine with both of us if you scare the feathers off those thrice damned chickens.

Edomael~

*Intimidation has been automatically activated. Please check your status.~

Well, guess I didn't get much more approval than that. I'd been a bit distracted by all the notifications and the letter. So I'd missed part of the Sister's whispered conversation. I'd been able to keep my face nice and stern, probably due to Poker Face, but I really needed to work on multitasking while using the Gamer Glass.

The lead harpy looked at me and winced. She actually winced. Was intimidation that powerful? I doubted it, the skill was only at level 1. I wasn't ugly, after the reincarnation I'd place myself at above average, so it wasn't my face. So why did she wince? I was mildly offended, but since the goal was to scare her off I tried not to show it.

I wasn't ugly, damnit. Shit, was I? Was I just being overconfident and I was actually a short fat little troll? So many past insecurities began to well up inside. Shit.

“Let's go Sisters,” the lead bigot said turning from me and walking away.

The rest of the Bigot Sisters followed.

I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding. Jumping into confrontation is how I got killed the first time. I wasn't concerned I was going to be killed by a group of middle-aged women in the center of town, but it seemed I still hosted some hind-brain fear.

There was some sporadic clapping from some of the people sitting at the cafe nearby. Poker Face failed me as I blushed from my neck to my ears. Damn, I was ok yelling at harpies but fell apart with a little praise. I nodded my head in the direction, not even making eye contact with the few people there, then I bolted into the inn.

The inside was quiet for the time of night. Marge was behind the bar and only one of the girls was serving. Only two of the tables were taken. Normally, at dinner, she'd have at least one girl on tables and one outside for customers. I saw why she didn't today, and it made me upset all over again.

“They're gone,” I told her sitting down at the bar.

“Thank Amoris,” she moved her stool over to where I sat so it was easier for her to talk.

“Do they come around often?”

“About twice a month. They have rounds they do around the town. Sometimes it's us, some days it's other temples, but most days you can find them protesting in front of the brothels.”

“Won't the guard do anything?”

“Not really, they aren't violent themselves, but they've gotten in trouble before for inciting violence in other areas, so they are careful. They never step a toe from public property. What they say is horrible but they have the right to say it, unfortunately. As long as people don't get violent they are fine doing what they are doing.”

“Don't people try and stop them?”

“They are backed by a goddess, not many people want that sort of negativity looming about.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, no one wants to have Haidee angry at them. They'd get a group of Sisters protesting at their door. No one wants that.”

“I see,” so most people ignored the Sisters because they were such a big nuisance they didn't want that sort of asshattery taking up in front of their homes or businesses. Seeing how they killed off the majority of Marge's dinner rush I could see why confrontation was avoided.

“Anyway, Daisy is cooking stew today. I sent Netty home when the Sisters showed up. No point in having her stick around when there's no one to cook for.”

“I see, well I'll have the stew Daisy is cooking and some tea.”

“Tea?”

“I overexerted myself today so I think tea would be better for me.”

“Alright, tea it is. I'll be right out.” Marge stepped down from the counter and went to the back.

She came back with a tray with a small teapot and cup on it. She also had a jar with honey. Placing these in front of me she poured my first cup. She smiled as I sipped the tea before deciding it didn't need sweetening. Did Marge blend her own tea too? I wouldn't put it past her.

Daisy's stew came out shortly after. It was a tomato stew with onions, lots of green pepper, minced meat, and rice. I also got a side of bread. It was spicy! Oh, boy! Daisy added more than green peppers to that stew. There were some 'kick you in the pants' peppers in there. It wasn't so spicy to be intolerable but I broke out in a light sweat. I did end up finishing the entire pot of tea much to Marge's amusement. She went to fetch me a refill.

“Hey.” A woman sat down beside me at the counter. “Saw what you did out there, good job.”

She was dark-skinned, coffee with milk shade. Her eyes were also dark, and her hair was black and curly. It was up in a ponytail, but still long enough to fall down her back. Her face was smooth and her cheekbones were high. She had a slightly pointy chin and a rounded nose. She was beautiful.

Her clothes were more on the mundane side, even if she was wearing pants. They were obviously Spider Silk and they fit her a lot better than they fit me. Her top was a simple loose fitting blouse that fell to her hips. She wore a dark red woven belt around her waist.

I'd missed how tall she was when she sat down, but from the looks of those legs, she had an inch or two on me. She stretched out a leg as if she had caught me looking. Then she crossed them.

“My name's Ave, nice to meet you,” she held out her hand. She had a smirking smile on her face. I was unsure if I had been caught ogling her legs or not so I decided to err on the side of ignorance.

“Nice to meet you,” I shook with her, “I'm...”

Marge came back with my second round of tea right at that moment distracting me from my introduction. She glanced at the newcomer as she put down the pot.

“I'll have what he's having,” Ave said anticipating Marge's question. Marge nodded and returned to the back. I poured another cup of tea from the pot determined to get through this stew.

The woman, Ave, was sending me these coy looks. I assumed they were coy, I'd never really flirted with someone across a bar before. Was she flirting? I was out of my element. Maybe she was a prostitute looking for a John? If so, I wasn't interested and if Marge found out she'd be tossed out unceremoniously.

The smile slipped from the woman's face. Then it appeared again.

“I meant what I said, what you did standing up to the Sisters was something.”

“I just got angry and let my temper get the best of me.” I didn't know how to interact with this beautiful woman so I was focusing hard on the stew stirring it around mindlessly in a vain effort to cool the heat of it.

“I've seen you at the Guild too. Are you an adventurer or something else?” She asked as Marge placed another pot of tea in front of her along with a bowl of stew.

“Be turning my place into a tea house next thing you know,” Marge grumbled to herself and she went to talk to the customers at a table in the corner. She must have known them because she took a seat.

“I was just hired as the new Surveyor. I'm currently in training,” I answered Ave's question.

“Oh, so that's why. I had wondered why Crue had been at the Guild so much recently.”

“You know Crue?”

“Only by reputation, I'm just your average adventurer, but like you, I'm new in town.”

“You're not from Yellow Springs?”

“Nope, I like to travel. To see new places, experience new things. Adventuring allows me to do that.”

“You're not staying long?”

“I go when the whim takes me, but I am really enjoying the hot springs. Have you tried them yet?” She took a big bite of stew. It didn't seem to affect her at all. Well, didn't I look like a wimp.

“Only the one at Amoris Temple. I haven't been to any of the other's.”

“Amoris Temple is a good one, but you should visit the one at Erasmus Temple, it's probably the best one in town that I've found so far.”

“What makes it better than Amoris?” I asked her genuinely interested.

“It's hotter for one and for some reason the spring bubbles. It's so nice. All the little bubbles on your skin.” Sounded like a hot tub to me.

“That sounds really great, when I get some free time I will have to check it out.”

“There is a small one at Edomael's Temple too. It's small, but because it's small it's more private and you are more likely to be able to soak on your own. You don't even need a towel if no one else is around.”

I was getting the feeling that Ave was becoming a hot springs enthusiast. It made her a bit more approachable. I was starting to relax a bit.

“I wasn't aware that Edomael had a hot spring.” I didn't know Erasmus had one either, but I wanted the conversation to continue.

“I don't think many do. It's not normally the temple you go to when you think of relaxing baths.”

“I guess not. Though the priests I've met seem very friendly,” I paused. She caught my pause and prodded me.

“And...”

“Well, I ran into one Edomael priest that was a bit crude.”

“Really? Many of them that I've met have always had great manners. They seem to have this aura of respectfulness about them. It's like it's part of the Edomael priestly code.”

“I wonder if part of that is a projection of other's expectations. Considering what Edomael's a patron of. There is a mystery around death that some people find eerie.” I was remembering the morgue attendants at my Gran's funeral.

“You're probably right about that.”

The conversation seemed to die off. Hell, what was I thinking bringing up death? Of course it would be a conversation killer. Stupid me. I mentally beat myself up while trying to think of something else to say.

“Well, I better get going, see you around Eri.” She got up, left a few coins on the counter, and walked out.

Well, that didn't go as well as I'd hoped. She seemed friendly enough, but it's not like she was that interested in me. She had been intrigued by my intervention with the Sisters, but my bumbling attempts at flirting and conversation, probably put her off.

With a sigh, I finished my stew. I'd probably never run into her again. I really needed to work on my personal relations skills. I couldn't even introduce myself right.

I waved to Marge and headed upstairs to bed. I was tired and I had a lot of thoughts to think through. So many my brain wouldn't shut down. I ended up taking another dose of sleeping powder.

Name- Eri Veritas

HP 2500/2500

MP 12/64

Level- 11

Age- 18

Race/Species- (Human) Unknown

Gender- (Male) Unknown

Occupation- Surveyor of Adventurers Guild

Exp- 8370

Physical Power- 220

Stamina- 280

Defense- 348

Agility- 492

Intelligence- 101

Magic Power- 8

Metal Rain Lv 1

Lightning Magic Lv 1

Healing Hands Lv 1

Paralysis Resistance Lv 3

Mind Magic Resistance Lv 1

Skills

Staff Fighting Lv 2

Basic Sword Lv 2

Skull Bashing Lv 2

Martial Arts Lv 2

Stance Lv 1

Smooth Movement Lv 1

Archery Lv 1

Spear Lv 1

Stalking Lv 1

Scouting Lv 1

Jumping Lv 1

Running Lv 2

Pain Tolerance Lv 3

Deception Lv 2

Intimidation Lv 1

Poker Face Lv 1

Etiquette Lv 3

Dismantling Lv 1

Appraisal Lv 1

Cooking Lv 1

Leather Work Lv 1

Metal Work Lv 1

Replication Lv 1 (Lv 10 for Succuba Star only)

Rock Throwing

Dancing

Singing

Harvesting

Empathy

Telekinesis

Small Talk

Discretion

Party Tricks

Restraint

Alcohol Tolerance

Monster Biology

Entomology

Zoology

Botany

Special Skills

Abyss Walker

Racial Ability-

Hidden Among the Masses- 20

Stealth- 95

Party- 10

Items Equip

Inventory Bracelet

Succuba Star

Gold- 1g 4s 55c (1455c)

Blessing 1- All Map Exploration

Blessing 2- Exp Points Required by Level Up / Current Level

Blessing 3-Exp Increase X Current Level

Blessing 4- Item- Gamer Glasses

Titles- Emissary of Amoris

Devotee of Amoris

Devotee of Edomael

Oracle of Amoris

Oracle of Edomael

Prince of Dreams

Grateful Petitioner

Lover of Leaves

Enemy of Apes