Chapter 3 – Mercenaries

The state of the village changed slightly as the wagon went further in, and soon the muddy road was replaced by gravel and the houses were in slightly better conditions. But the majority of the people were still the same, covered in dirt and ragged clothing.

“Are you merchants?” I asked, turning away from the very disturbing view to look at Meredith, who had now moved from her seat on the floor and was rummaging through one of the boxes to look for something.

“Indeed. Well, my husband is.” Meredith answered as she leaned back up with a large folded black cloth in her hands. She unfolded it and gave it a few flaps before turning towards me, and I notice that it’s a large hooded cloak. “We’ll be staying here for the day, so here, put this on.” I blinked and gently took the cloak in my hands before I looked at her with clear confusion in my eyes. Why did she give me this?

“This place isn’t safe for a beautiful woman like you.” I felt my cheeks burn slightly at her words, especially since Aisha started nodding eagerly at her mother’s words. Shouldn’t she also be worried about herself too then?

I shake my head and sit up so to put the cloak around me and use the hood to cover my face. It was long enough that it would reach my ankles and possibly hide my wings too, especially since I wrap them around my legs so to not let them be in the way.

Oh right, I didn’t check my Status since I entered the wagon did I?

Kaera

Race – Artificial Fallen Angel

Class – Soldier Lvl. 5

Stats;

(Body) – 6

(Vitality) – 6

(Agility) – 8

(Mind) – 7

(Spirit) – 9

[Available Status Points: 10]

Personal Skill/s;

[Analyze] – Lvl. 2

Class Skill/s;

[Frost Bullet] – (1/10)

[Blaze Bullet] [+]

[Healing Bandage] [+]

[Fake Bullet] [+]

I Leveled Up twice?! I just killed two Rock Ants! Do they give that much experience or was I on the cusp of Level 4? Too bad that they are hard to kill, especially since they can seemingly call for reinforcements.

My foot is still numb after I kicked just two of them, so I highly doubt I can just keep on toppling them over.

I now have ten Status Points, so I’ll put two in Body, two in Vitality, two in Agility, three in Mind and one in Spirit. This slightly evens out my Status now, so perhaps I can start focusing on raising my Mind and Spirit more.

As for my new Skills, I instantly leaned towards Healing Bandage. A Healing Skill will always be incredibly useful, especially since I don’t know how dangerous things will get in the future. Plus, the Skill description instantly had me hooked too.

[Healing Bandage]

Speeds up the healing process of the wound wrapped by the bandage.

Attack Skills are welcome and all, but Healing Skills even more, so I directly ignore Fake Bullet and pick Healing Bandage as my next Skill without hesitation. This will surely become incredibly useful in the future.

Kaera

Race – Artificial Fallen Angel

Class – Soldier Lvl. 5

Stats;

(Body) – 8

(Vitality) – 8

(Agility) – 10

(Mind) – 10

(Spirit) – 10

[Available Status Points: 0]

Personal Skill/s;

[Analyze] – Lvl. 2

Class Skill/s;

[Frost Bullet] – (1/10)

[Healing Bandage] - (1/5)

There we go, much better now. Healing Bandage has five less Levels than Frost Bullet, not that it helps me much since I don’t know how to Level them up just yet. Either through continuous use or through some other means that I do not know of.

I perked up when the wagon slowly came to a stop. I quickly grabbed my rifle and walked out first as I took notice of the many unfriendly eyes staring straight towards us, and my appearance and weapon made many instantly look away. I tightened my grip around my rifle as I heard Meredith and Aisha step off the wagon, her newborn in her arms.

“’Completely fine’, huh?” My lips twitched as I heard Meredith speak from behind me, and I turned around just in time to see her husband gulp nervously and take a step away from the very pissed woman.

“Miss.” Meredith paused as I called for her and turned towards me with a raised brow, and I simply offered her a plain looking rolled up bandage. I’ll need to grow a lot stronger because creating a single Healing Bandage took away more than a third of my Mana, or Mind. I should also take into account how long it takes for me to recharge my reserves. “This should help.”

“Is this…?” Her eyes widened, but she quickly paused and stopped whatever she was about to say as her eyes darted to some of the people still lingering around. It appears that Healing Skills are rare and might be treated with some kind of importance. Are there no Healing Classes or are they very rare? “You’re really a godsend.” Meredith sighed softly as she took the bandage with a soft smile on her face, which quickly disappeared once she rounded on her still nervous husband.

I couldn’t help but smile softly as Meredith grabbed his ear and pulled him into the carriage so she could bandage his ankle. Luckily it didn’t seem to be a horribly deep wound.

I took in the area around me and hum softly as I notice that the wagon stopped near a stable, not quite inside of it just yet, but lingering around the entrance. It didn’t look like it was full, so I wonder why Meredith’s husband didn’t stop inside.

I glance down once I feel something brush against my leg, and I smile softly when I realize that it’s just Aisha. She seems to be afraid of the people still lingering around and not so subtly glancing towards us, some not even bothering to hide their stares or intentions.

“Don’t worry, they won’t hurt you.” I comfort her gently as I ruffle her hair, and I couldn’t help but swoon at the adorable smile she gives me in return. I gently lead her near the back of the wagon so that she can see her parents and even join them in case she doesn’t feel safe, and I make sure to keep my guard up just in case.

This place gives me the creeps. I can’t wait to get out of here as soon as possible.

“There you go.” I hear Meredith speak up, followed by a hiss from her husband and a slight giggle from Aisha, and I turned back to stare at the man that is now rubbing his side with a grimace on his face, possibly caused by either a punch or a pinch.

“Right, I didn’t introduce myself to our savior…” He groaned and sat up, making sure to lean onto his good leg so to not worsen the injury on his ankle. “I’m Jacob, and thanks for your help back there. We wouldn’t have gotten away otherwise.” I shake his hand with a cordial smile and simply wave off his thanks. I consider the ‘debt’ already repaid since they helped me reach civilization and got me out of that place filled with far too many powerful ants for my liking.

Now all I have to do is just find the Guild and see if I can become a Mercenary, then start making money while looking for clues about who I am and my past.

Albeit I don’t really feel good with leaving Meredith and her family without protection just yet. These guys staring towards us might try something once they see me walk away, but I can’t just leech on their generosity forever.

“This place doesn’t look so welcoming…” Jacob grumbled as he pulled Aisha closer to his leg, his eyes narrowed towards the people keeping an eye on us. I tried to hit them with an Analyze, especially since it’s Lvl. 2 now, but it doesn’t tell me their Class or Levels, just the species and if there is anything wrong with them like malnutrition and stuff. It’s kind of annoying since it won’t help me know who is dangerous and who isn’t, but I guess I can’t have everything.

“Actually…” Meredith suddenly spoke up, and I perked up as I turned towards her. “Say Kaera, would you like to work as our bodyguard until we reach our destination?” I blinked as she turned her head to stare towards. That could actually work! I can get paid and watch over them until they are somewhere much safer.

“That would be lovely.” I relaxed my shoulders as I smiled, and Meredith happily clapped her hands at my words. This is truly the best course of action so far, now all I need to do is just get registered at the Guild.

“That’s perfect! Give us a bit, I’ll lead you to the Guild once we settle everything down.” I nodded my head with a smile and stepped back, then gently took Aisha’s hand into mine when Jacob and Meredith stepped away and walked into the old building by the stable.

I blinked then looked down at Aisha, then stepped back and looked into the wagon before relaxing when I noticed Fredrick’s small form sleeping in a casket. I didn’t even notice he wasn’t inside Aisha’s or Meredith’s arms until now.

It didn’t take long for Meredith and Jacob to come back, and I waited as I watched Jacob get back on the carriage and take it within the stable, where he released the horses and let them free to get their fill of food and water. I guess they needed permission to enter the stable.

“Okay, we’re good to go now.” Meredith states as she approached me, then patted her daughter on the head before sending her towards Jacob who was watching over the horses and his newborn son within the wagon.

I grasped my rifle tightly and let her walk ahead while I kept a watchful eye around, but I relaxed slightly when I noticed that pretty much everyone that was watching us had now left. Maybe they don’t want to take any risks and rob something that is within the stable? It is probably owned by someone important.

Yet none of them are following me and Meredith, but I doubt my presence has warded them off. They are either planning something or I’m overthinking the fact that they left without making a fuss.

“Say Meredith.” I spoke up, and Meredith hummed softly to show that I had her attention. “Is there… anything special about the Forgotten? I was pondering on that since you were able to tell that I was one almost instantly.” I asked her as I let my eyes wander around the buildings. Some were clearly houses, while others looked like shops, but everything was so rundown that it was hard for me to identify what was what.

“You will likely notice it soon, but everyone you’ll run into will look… restless, agitated. Me included.” I nodded my head at her words. I had already realized this, and I mostly thought that those watching us were nervous, and that Jacob was too, but it appears that it wasn’t nervousness that made them look restless and agitated.

“Aside from children who have not yet awakened their system, only the Forgotten are those that aren’t restless and agitated, and instead look calm and composed. Everyone else will be like me and my husband, but there are some cases were it’s more… extreme.” I nodded and decided not to pry any further.

I do not know what makes them so agitated and for what reason, but if Meredith isn’t mentioning it then either she doesn’t know, or it’s taboo.

It doesn’t take long for us to reach the ‘Guild’. It was a large two story building, looking more well kept than the other buildings and far less dirty, but the windows of it were still cracked and the sign hanging above the open doorway was barely hanging there.

The sign was shaped like a flame, and inside of the flame was a shield with a pair of axes behind it. Since this building is the Guild, then this has to be their symbol.

To be honest, it looks kind of bland to me. It doesn’t look like something that can catch one’s eyes, but that might just be my opinion.

I drew my gaze away from the symbol and stepped into the building before Meredith, and instantly got hit in the face by a strong stench of alcohol that made me falter slightly.

The inside is a large hall with dozens of chairs and tables, and barely a tenth of them were occupied. The hall is… dirty, for a lack of a better word. There were some passed out people on the floor here and there, with mugs of beer or some other alcoholic substance spilled out on the wooden planks near them.

Stains of all kinds littered the tables, chairs and even the floor, with large spiderwebs covering the ceiling and the underside of many tables. On the outside it looked slightly clean, but on the inside it’s horrendously dirty.

At the other end of the building, right in the middle, is a large and circular receptionist desk that is attached to the wall, with a door right behind it. On either side of the desk are two counters, one for what looks like a bar, while the other is most definitely for quests as there is a large board right behind it with several paper fliers attached to it, all with some basic depictions of what looked like monsters and plants.

The other people within the hall that are awake seemed mostly drunk, and they all had the symbol of the Guild strapped to their arms or on their belts. And now the majority of them are staring straight towards me and Meredith.

“Don’t look back at them. They’ll take it as a challenge.” Meredith whispered as she stepped forward, and I lowered my head as I did as she said while following her towards the desk in middle.

The middle aged woman behind it noticed our approach and seemed to scoff slightly. She scrunched up her nose and took the smoking pipe out of her mouth while straightening herself. “How may I help you?” She asked, her eyes flicking between me and Meredith and quickly gaining a nervous glint to them when she noticed the visible barrel of my rifle through the open gap of my cloak.

“I’d like to become a Mercenary.” I stated directly, speaking up instead of Meredith. I’d rather get this done as quickly as possible and get out of here so to not put her in danger. She is a good looking woman, and the people within this hall are drunk and don’t look very friendly.

Not like the people outside look friendlier.

“Name?” The woman hummed, her shoulders relaxing as she opened a drawer from the desk and pulled out a bronze Guild symbol, then what looked like a pen with a glowing red tip.

“Kaera.” I replied, then watched as the woman flipped the symbol on it’s back and wrote my name on it before setting it down in front of me. “Can you read?” She asked, and I rose a brow at that but nodded either way.

“Here, this is the rule book. It explains how the Guild works, how Quest works, and how ranking up works.” She placed a small fist sized book on the counter beside the bronze symbol, then leaned back and returned to smoking her pipe.

Wha- Is this it? Are we already done!?

I turn to stare at Meredith with wide and confused eyes, but merely receive an amused look back. This feels so unprofessional and lazy!

I sigh softly and shake my head slightly before quickly grabbing the symbol and attaching it near my waists with the iron pin behind it, then grab the small book before turning around. “I guess we can leave now.” I shrug to Meredith, who merely chuckles and turns around to leave.

Only for her to almost be toppled over as a large and tall man walks past her, his huge arm slamming against her shoulder and making her cry out softly.

This of course didn’t seem to please the clearly drunken man, who instantly stopped and turned towards her with a nasty look in his unfocused eyes.

“I’d think twice before touching her.” I warn him, the barrel of my rifle a mere inch away from his throat as I glare up at him. Usually I would ignore such things if they were to happen around me, but Meredith wants to hire me, or already has since I am now a Mercenary, and protecting my ‘Master’ is a part of me.

Every part of my being screams at me that I am but a tool made to serve others, and right now I am serving Meredith, so of course I’ll protect her with my life until she frees me of my service.

The man glanced at the barrel of my rifle with narrowed and confused eyes, his body swaying left and right as he visibly mulled over his choices.

He finally decided not to test me and clicked his tongue, making me lower my rifle slightly so to let him walk past me and a nervous Meredith.

“Let’s go.” Meredith nodded and walked ahead as I lowered my rifle beneath my cloak while the large drunken man started to shamelessly flirt with the middle aged receptionist behind me.

“Thanks…” I just smiled softly once I joined Meredith outside, then I glanced back to make sure no one comes out to look for trouble with us. “This is why I hate the villages around the Forsaken Lands…” She groaned softly, and I filed the name of the place we were currently at in the back of my head.

I’ll have to find a map of this region soon, I hate being clueless about my whereabouts and surroundings.

“Good thing we’ll depart in the morning.” Meredith rubbed her shoulder and sent one last glare towards the doors of the Guild before we started walking back. Hopefully that doesn’t leave a bruise.

I lifted the small book in my free hand and flicked it open to the first page so to distract myself as we quietly walked. It was handwritten and the calligraphy was quite shaky, but still readable.

Mercenary ranks are Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Obsidian and Rainbow, and ranking up is actually quite easy, but at the same difficult.

Quests are given a difficulty rating in the form of ‘Stars’, from one to seven, matching with the number of ranks. To rank up, all the Mercenary has to do is complete a mission above their rank, simple as that.

Of course Rainbow difficulty Quests seem to be treated as warnings instead. Whoever wrote this book wrote that going on a Rainbow difficulty Quest is akin to suicide and that it is best to avoid them, lest we provoke a calamity.

Apparently, any monster that gains Seven Stars in the danger rating is something best not approached. That’s… quite terrifying.

I flipped through the pages while watching my steps, and quickly learned that Mercenaries have other duties aside from just completing Quests.

One of them is the constant search of ‘Dungeons’, spots where a ‘Dungeon Core’ appears, which is a large crystal that constantly gathers Mana. Monsters are attracted to Mana, it being a sort of sustenance to them and what allows them to grow, so they swarm and gather around these Dungeon Cores to grow stronger.

Mercenaries are tasked to report any Dungeon that is discovered and to gather teams in order to purge the Dungeon and retrieve the Dungeon Core, which is actually very valuable apparently.

Dungeons can also give birth to special monsters through their surroundings, which actually makes me think that there is a Dungeon near the place where I appeared because of the large amounts of Rock Ants there were.

I can’t be certain thought since I might have just appeared near their breeding grounds or something.

Mercenaries can also join in large group called War Companies, which are mostly large groups of Mercenaries that move around the area, either gathering survivors or slaying monsters and clearing Dungeons, all for a large sum given by the lord of the land.

They are also called in case of wars or large scale battles between Kingdoms, hence the ‘War’ in ‘War Companies’, and also why they are sent around to constantly fight monsters and clear Dungeons, so to very likely raise their Levels, thus their utility in battle.

Which also means that Mercenaries must answer to the King/Queen of the land they walk on if they request for their aid. They must answer such calls no matter what.

I couldn’t help but frown slightly at this. I am very much against this, as I only answer to the ‘Master’ that hires me, while the rulers merely ‘request’ for me. Their ‘request’ is more like an order of course.

Oh well, not something I should worry about. Even if such a thing happens, I won’t answer the calls if I am currently under the hire of someone else. I do not switch Masters until my task is done or I am relieved of my duty.

I close the book just as I reach the part with the regulations and what Mercenaries must and must not do, stuff that I doubt many follow, so I’ll give it a read later.

Mostly because we finally made it back to the stable, and I smiled when little Aisha ran into Meredith’s arms the moment she spotted us. Truly an adorable child.

“Everything went alright?” I perk up when I hear Jacob’s voice, and quickly notice his head peeking out of the back of the carriage, a very strong but nice scent pouring out from the small open door.

“Ran into an idiot, but Kaera scared him off instantly.” Meredith shrugged with a soft smile on her face, then sniffed a few times. “Looks like we made it back just in time to eat.” She hummed with a pleased smile on her face, only to pause when my stomach growled. Very loudly at that.

“And our guest is quite hungry too, so I hope you made extra!” I felt my cheeks heat up as Meredith chuckled, her hand coming up to give my shoulder a few pats before she walked near the carriage to receive her newborn son into her arms.

“We better eat and take a nice rest tonight. I’d rather we depart before the sun rises.” Jacob hums, his eyes warily glancing towards the street before his head disappeared back inside the wagon to finish the preparation of whatever divine smelling food is in there.

It turned out to be just soup with veggies and cuts of meat, but I only stopped once I ate three full bowls.