[ ––––––––– Ϫ Day 29 ––––––––– ]

Noemi negotiated very well. She was used to that since her work as a warrior often required to judge the adequate value of a tribute. More privileged villagers, like her, would also sometimes exchange trinkets that didn't suit their personal tastes, or equipment.

Arath's pay significantly increased, at the cost of a promise that he would tutor old and new cooks in areas of his proficiency. On top of that, Noemi and Arath would get a bonus for each newly introduced dish and small royalties for increased profits, based on their input.

In total, Arath worked ten hours a day, with a single free day per week, but he didn't complain. On the contrary, it was a motivating situation for him. In Lynn, he would work for twelve to sixteen hours, with zero coins going to his own pocket. Having an everyday place to sleep, and a meal to eat, was already a privilege that only a few, what included Arath, had.

After work, Arath would visit a local library. You couldn't borrow books and you had to pay a high fee per hour of reading, but it didn't bother the boy. Acquiring knowledge in an isolated place was a soothing experience to his soul, even If he himself would never admit it. Perhaps, because learning to read was the first of not many good things that ever happened to him, so there could be some restrained feeling of nostalgia.

Arath learned the lore of the labyrinth, some of the arcane and physical laws that ruled it, names of local fauna and flora, properties of attainable plants and animal organs, local statistics, and a four-hundred-year-old history of Zurno.

What was standing out, was that majority of book authors were retired adventurers. Many of their discoveries improved the quality of life in Zurno and it was a statistical fact that their every single documented discovery or benevolent action reduced the number of average deaths. To this city, adventurers were heroes.

Arath aimed to expand that knowledge over course of the next few weeks, but for now, he had to leave. Noemi was waiting for him at Augmi's house.

[ ––––––––– ֎ ––––––––– ]

Augmi welcomed her new acquaintances to her humble, rented, two-story house. The shop was on the ground floor. There was a wooden counter to the right and a massive storage cabinet behind it, filled with packages of dried herbs, jars of preserved organs, pots of powders, and potions. To the left, was a single round table with two chairs for the guest. Augmi brought one extra for herself.

Noemi and Arath sat down. While the human boy remained unbothered, Noemi curiously looked around. On the walls, Augmi had a lot of sketches, some depicted various beasts, other strange landscapes, or people of different cultures.

Augmi brought a fungi cake of her own recipe, an ewer with tea, three cubes of synthetic sugar, and a mushroom vodka. It was clear that she wanted to know the two better, Arath due to his expertise and Noemi because the girls liked each other.

“I've heard you picked up a job at Dekhan's Inn.” - Augmi started the conversation while pouring the tea.

“I did.” - Arath replied as usual, impassively, without a smile or eye contact.

Noemi was uncomfortable, but Arath's nature wasn't as tragic right now. He just appeared very stoical.

Augmi finished pouring and took a seat, then continued the inquiry. - “You're new to the town, so I hope it's not an affront to give you advice. Is it okay, If I do?” - She asked politely while moving small plates with sugar cubes to the guests.

Arath didn't know how to answer, so there was a big pause before he simply uttered. - “It's fine.”

“Dekhan might be stingy with money, so If you're getting the basic pay, with your skill, demand a rise.”

Noemi smiled hesitantly while scratching her nape - “That won't be a problem. We have it covered. We've negotiated the best possible deal.”

Augmi cut three pieces of cake, then started putting them onto the plates. - “Ohh... sounds peculiar. How did you manage to do it and what's are the terms?”

Noemi explained the details as short as she could, then summarized - “If it ends well, Dekhan agreed that we might become his small business partner.”

“It's good to know that you three benefit from each other... so, you're like Arath's manager?”

“Sorry, I'm not from here. What is the manager?”

“It's a person responsible for arranging the business part of someone's work.”

“Does it have anything to do with slavery?”

“No, it's a neutral term.”

“Oh, then it fits me!” - Noemi answered and sipped a tea. She was astonished. - “Delicious!” - It was even better than Arath's.

“Try to mix it with sugar.” - Augmi pointed at the brownish cube and Noemi did as asked.

After doing as requested, Noemi taste buds were on cloud nine. The girl savored the drink slowly, to fully enjoy new sensations. Augmi was visibly pleased that her guest enjoys the drink.

“How do you find the drink, Arath?” - Augmi asked, seeing that Arath wasn't as expressive as his female companion. In fact, the boy's face didn't change.

“It's excellent.” - Arath answered.

“What's the secret!?” - Noemi excitedly asked, while moving her cup to ask for more.

“Rare leaves and alchemy.” - Augmi spoke while pouring more tea. - “That's why it's not served at the Inn. Ingredients are too expensive and Dekhan's restaurant is for commoners. Guilds and private persons are my main clientele.”

Noemi saddened.

“Are you fine, darling?” - Augmi concernedly asked.

“I was hoping you could teach us to brew.” - The lizard girl answered.

“Oh, If you would like to drink more, you can always come to visit.” - The mouse was sympathetic.

“It's generous of you, but that's not it!” - Noemi politely argued. - “I just wouldn't want to abuse your hospitality...”

Noemi allowed Augmi to reply, but the mouse took a pause to reflect. - “I'm willing to teach one of you brewing...” - Augmi looked at Arath. - “...but you must know it's a trade secret. I wouldn't want knowledge to be shared without my permission. We would have to acquire ingredients, so you would have to do a quest for me...”

Augmi explained in short where to find the rare leaves, what else they could collect for her as payment, and what dangers might await, then continued - “...but please, don't go without any guild recruits. It's too dangerous. I can put a note on the notice board once you're ready to undertake a task. Later, you'll need a guild to enter the labyrinth anyway.”

“I'll definitely join a guild and go! Don't worry.” - Having an errand made Noemi happier, since, like Arath, she would quickly have a job.

[ ––––––––– Ϫ Ϫ ––––––––– ]

Meanwhile, while the girls continued to chat, Arath, already had consumed his piece of cake before anyone touched theirs. Contrary to all other meals he ever ate, including the excellent tea, it wasn't 'just a food'. It actually tasted good. Arath's heart hurt, he felt like garbage. Tasting 'good' wasn't normal, it was intrusive, like something drilled a hole in his stomach and crushed his chest. Like it tried to remind his of something he tried hard to forget, like it tried to resurface something painful. Memories flooded his brain... being fed only a single rotten potato, stale bread, or chewed bones... then the time on a street when he was feeding on leftovers and garbage... hunting his first rats and eating their bland or overcooked grilled meat... suffering from diseases and parasites, being on verge of death every single day of his childhood... but it was normal, so very, very normal, so why would it bother him right now?

[ ––––––––– ֎ ––––––––– ]

Noemi sensed the sudden change in Arath, but he continued to eat the cake – If he stopped, the eyes would be on him and he would admit that something is wrong, questions would be asked. He didn't want to be bothered and he wouldn't know how to answer.

“Is it good?” - Noemi asked concerned.

“Very.” - Arath managed to return to his neutral expression.

Noemi used a spoon to take a piece of cake into her mouth. - “Mmm.” - She didn't know the taste of sweets other than fruits. The substitute for a sponge cake was miraculously fluffy and perfectly light. The mild taste of sweet fungi was further enchanted by a berry syrup on top, so the girl was confident she never ate anything better in her life. - “You're amazing! You should be selling these!”

“I am. They too are a luxury item...” - Augmi replied, proud of her work. - “...but that's a sample, for next, you will have to pay. Don't worry though, I will give you a discount.”

“Can't we bring you ingredients, like with the tea?” - Noemi's gluttonous side took over.

“I'm afraid you won't be able to do that.” - Augmi responded. - “I will explain it another day when I show you the city.”

“Then, it's a promise!” - Noemi smiled brightly.

“It is.” - Augmi smiled back.

[ ––––––––– ֎ ––––––––– ]

The girls finished their cake and Augmi prepared three glasses, then started pouring vodka.

Arath, however, put a hand over his glass and responded. - “I apologize, but I don't drink.”

Augmi smiled to show that she understands and put the bottle aside, then asked If Arath would like more tea instead. The boy nodded affirmatively.

“Let's toast to your success in business!” - Augmi suggested.

Noemi lifted her drink and grinned brightly, then she and Augmi took a shot. Arath was kind of the third wheel at the time, but he didn't bother, he just lifted his tea and sipped it by sheer chance at the moment, so it looked like he joined.

Girls paused the talks as If to restart themselves after a strong kick. Augmi rested her elbows against the table and dreamily started looking at pictures on her wall.

Noemi immediately caught on. - “I was curious since we've entered here, what are these sketches?”

“I've purchased these from various adventurers. They're just places I've never visited and things I didn't see.” - Augmi answered.

“You look like you would love to visit them all.” - Noemi turned to look at the pictures too.

“Yes, that's my dream, but it's impossible.”

“Why?”

“To see other places, I would have to conquer the dungeon, but that didn't happen for eighteen months.”

“How so!? What is the guardian monster?”

Augmi looked surprised. - “Didn't you know? It's impossible to know what challenge awaits you at the layer's end. There's always a system or mechanism that conceals the boss and there's no return.”

Arath started to listen to the girls attentively. He already knew most of that information from the library, but perhaps there was something new that he could learn.

“The city should just send its best warriors! We could join them!” - Noemi declared valiantly.

Augmi shook her head. - “There were five attempts by not the best, but decent groups. All failed, even with loads of supplies. Guilds don't benefit from sending their best adventurers and are in disagreement. Even If it worked, there's always also a limit on how many people may enter the boss room and how often it may happen. In Zurno, it's a group of up to six people once per month.”

Noemi was visibly overwhelmed by the amount of information. She shrunk in her seat. - “...but ...I've to three months to conquer the dungeon, or there will be a penalty.”

“Don't worry, it's not deadly. Your mental or physical state will be altered over time. Many people suffer from labyrinth disease, but some get to live even for twenty years after the first symptoms. They even start families and their children are perfectly healthy, but at the cost of being unable to cross the boss gate.”

Noemi straightened, she knew her answer well. - “I'm a proud hero of On'tharian tribe. I face the challenge head on and I don't plan to live only for the next twenty years...”

“That's... very brave of you but for that, first you'll need a guild. Did you find any you would like to join?”

Noemi was caught off-guard. - “I didn't look into it yet.” - She admitted, slightly embarrassed.

“Oh, then allow me to present the options...” - Augmi started the lecture.

[ ––––––––– ֎ ––––––––– ]

There were eight guilds in Zurno.

Silver Sinners – An elite order consisting of usually upper-class adventurers. To join, you were required to own an expensive set of plates or full plate armor. Members had a strict assignment of responsibilities and daily schedule, which for recruits focused mainly on knight-like training. About seventy percent of silver sinners were humans.

Dune Boars – A small, closed and tribal society of humans of black skin color, who originated from a layer of savannas. They don't accept outsiders and strive to preserve their unique culture.

The Rust – A groups that accepts everyone and thus is the most accessible, easy and cheap to hire, but the quality of work isn't always the best and members lack training necessary to embark on harder quests. It almost entirely consists of rats from a dystopian metropolis, where majority of populations were slaves.

Night Heralds – Founded after the events of calamity known as 'The Darkest Night'. They follow principles of the former hero of these events and hunt down fugitive criminals for money. They're also an elite agency, but they've a wider lower-tier branch that functions as a town militia and is upkept by taxes.

Serpent Sorority – Alchemist union for women, but also hires mercenaries and permanent escort employees to gather ingredients. Has a huge monopoly, thus easily acquires most of rare ingredients. Augmi is a proud member.

Treelings – An enterprise focused on cultivating trees for development of Zurno and on maintaining vegetable farms. It consists in forty percent of anthropomorphic rodents or mammals other than rats, such as mouses, beavers, raccoons or badgers.

Roosters – Commonly known as 'cleaners'. Most often, they get up early and get rid off infestations threatening the city. Their club accepts everyone and exterminations are paid by tax money.

Cartographers – The sewer dungeon is ever-expanding and ever-changing, so it's necessary to map the new passages and discard the old. That's what cartographers' scouts do. They also gather information on new fauna and flora, but usually stray from combat.

Augmi finished with - “...I would recommend you to talk and work with the recruits first, but If you want to learn quickly, it must be the silver sinners later on. That's your biggest chance. Dune Boars are also strong and specialize in the spear just like you, but they obviously won't take you in.”

“Not unless I try to talk to them!” - Noemi optimistically declared.

“If you have the time, you may try, but the result is unlikely to change.” - Augmi said 'unlikely' but actually thought 'impossible'.

“I definitely will, thanks for all the advice, Augmi.” - Noemi grinned happily. - “One more question, did you get this sketch from them?” - She pointed at picture of five spearmen in orange robes, standing on the foreground of a great baobab tree.

“Yes, after their chieftain visited me and we agreed to a mutually profitable exchange.”

“It's a great sketch, it reminds me of my own family.” - Noemi's smile diminished, but was still there, although a bit sad and nostalgic.

“Do you want to speak about it?” - Augmi wasn't sure what to tell, so she asked with a profound care.

Noemi wanted time for herself. - “Yes, but not now. It's getting late.” - She forced a better smile. - “I have an idea! I sketch too, so as a gift, I'll bring you a drawing of my village next time we meet!”

“That's wonderful of you!” - Augmi smiled. - “I'll be happy to hear more about your culture!”

“...and I will be to tell!” - Noemi grinned brightly.

The two girls exchanged a few more pleasantries, then gave each other kisses and finally said goodbye. The hour was late, so both visitors returned to the Inn.