The Orphanage was no different from earlier that day. Taotuz opened the gate and let Ms. Johnson and the kid go by before I follow suit. The kids are still playing around the yard but the energy is pretty low. It is about bed time for them so I could understand. Tapping Ms. Johnson on the shoulder.

"How about i take the kid off your hands so he can show me where the hole is?" Ms. Johnson smiles and nods. Squatting down to the kid at the eye level.

"Now tell Mr. Taotuz where you escaped from alright." the kid nods slowly. I take his hand and he leads me off to the side of the house.

"Please mister don't make me show you. I want to go out and see the world." The kid starts using his puppy dog eyes on me.

"I am sorry little man but Ms. Johnson might not be able to find you next time. You never know when something bad might happens." he lowers his head and points at a bush that was lining the fence. Looking behind it I see pretty banged up piece of fence. Going back i take the kids hand again and was about to head back to the front when i hear a pot fall inside the house. Looking inside the window I see Ms. Johnson was the one who dropped the pot and looking too tired to even pick up the pot. Squatting down and looking at the boy I point at the bush.

"Alright little man make me a promise that you wont go through there and you wont tell anybody else about it alright." He nods his head and starts walking away. I go through the front door and head into the kitchen. Ms. Johnson had already picked up the pot but she was looking at the stove through unfocused eyes. I knock on the counter to gather her attention. She shakes herself to attention. "Is everything alright Ms. Johnson?"

"Just working a bit hard that is all." she moves by me and picks up the food from the pantry.

"Where are the other nuns?" I ask concerned for the nun. She smiles meekly.

"Only person here is myself. The other nuns can't stand the mischievous nature of children. Most of the nuns aren't even old enough to be mothers much less look after other people's children." She looks down at the food she was holding with a deep sadness. Her body starts trembling and drops of water fall from her face and hit the vegetables in her hands. Putting a hand on her shoulder I grab the food into place it onto the counter.

"Don't despair how about I help with making dinner. The kids can't see you like this alright." grabbing a towel off the counter. I wipe her eyes with it. "Now there lets begin."

Looking up she nods. I pick up some of the vegetables and start to separate the vegetables. Then I notice there is a group of potatoes. A stupid thought goes through my head but I have very few filters. "Potatoes Potatoes Boil them Mash them put them in a stew Potatoes Potatoes"

Ms. Johnson gives a confused frown at me. Glancing at the vegetables she lets out a sigh. "I don't know what to make and its to late to make a stew."

"It is just a song let me see what I can do. By chance do we have any meat?" She nods and pulls out some meat from a medieval fridge. I open a couple of drawers looking for the utensils and find the knifes. Placing the knife off to the side I wash my hands at the counter.

*Ding

For washing your hands before making a meal you have earned a temp bonus.

(low) Increase in Quality of prepared food.

'Well that is nice.'

"Alright Ms. Johnson I have an idea. It shouldn't take too long either to make. First we need to cut the meat and vegetable in to inch wide pieces." Ms. Johnson and I start to cut the meat and the vegetables. She picks up the potatoes. "Not the potatoes I have a different idea for though."

After a portion of the food has been cut I get some skewers from another of the drawers. I stab the vegetables and meat on each one. After about 25 are made I throw them on a cookie sheet and into the stove and turn it on. I go back to cutting the vegetables and meats.

Time till completion 00: 04: 59

'That better not be in 4 hours.'

Time till completion 00: 04: 33

'Good.'

After I make about 50 more there is no more food to put on any of the skewers. I start peeling the potatoes with Ms. Johnson. At completion of that i slice long ways and make French fries. After the kebabs are all done cooking I place the fries in the oven.

Time till Completion 00: 10: 00

Ms. Johnson looks outside at the kids she turns towards the exit of the kitchen. Grabs the frame of the door and stops and whispers, "Thank you Taotuz."

Walking out she calls the kids to clean up and get read for dinner. A stampede of feet come through the front door and two kids peek in through the door then go to where I believe the bathroom may be. A couple of kids just came into the kitchen without cleaning up and try to grab a kebab. All of their hands met the end of a wooden spoon sharply.

"Go get cleaned up then you can grab the kebabs." They stick their tongues out at me and walk away. Ms. Johnson enters the room and watches the kids leave.

"How do you get them to go get cleaned up?" She gave me a questioning look. I show off my handy weapon the mighty wooden spoon. She shakes her head and goes and pulls out a couple of stacks of plates and starts to place them next to our pile of food.

*Ding

New Skill Learned: Cooking

'Faster then expected but nonetheless thankful'

Ms. Johnson finishes up and looks back up at me. "You might want to grab a plate before the children are finished."

Taking her advice i grab 2 kebabs and a handful of fries. Placing my plate down i load another plate the same way. Ms. Johnson gives me a skeptical look but says nothing. I go back around the counter and sit the plate in front of her. Smiling she picks up a kebab and takes a bit of the meat.

"Taotuz for a new adventurer this is better then i expected." Taking a bite into the meat of the kebab she covers her chin when the juice spills out. She starts to laugh at the mess she is making. "Wasn't expecting it to be so juicy."

"Yeah it came out better then I was expecting" as we were finishing our first kebabs the kids start flooding the kitchen. Before they grab at the food I straighten up, "Now Now only two kebabs for now. You can grab seconds later."

After the kids start eating i see the sun has fully set. I grab a few more kebabs and pop a fry into my mouth. I look back at Ms. Johnson as she is making sure the kids are not causing any problems. "Have a goodnight Ms. Johnson it is time for me to leave."

Ms. Johnson looks at me and nods her head with a giant smile on her face. "Thank you for helping with dinner. Come back again when ever."

Heading out it is time to find Melody. I head off towards to the fountain in high spirits.

*******************************

Melody is out of breath after running through the entertainment and the crafting district so that Taotuz would she her coming out of the entertainment district. Trying to catch her breath she looks up and see him leaning on the bench they were sitting on earlier. He gets up from the bench and starts walking towards her with his arms open. Melody breath catches and beat skips just looking at him again. It felt like eternity learning those songs. She covers the distance with a skip in her step. Just holding him and hearing his heart beat melted any stress from her body.

******************************

"How was you day my love?" I look at her just enjoying my embrace. She peeks her head out from it and gives me big puppy dog eyes.

"It was terrible i had to lift some weights for hours and then my teacher kept hitting my hands when i did something wrong." she hides back into my chest. I would have held back my laughter but since she was so close to my chest she would have heard it anyway.

"Well i got beat up by a girl all day if that makes you feel better." Even though i can't see her face i feel her laughter in my chest and from the trembling in her body. Looking back up she gives me a huge smile.

"Soooo did you get your class yet." her smile is growing bigger by the minute.

"Yes i did but there is more training tomorrow ingame." Her smile grows smaller after that. I bet she got her class too.

"Pfft. I got my class too and learned all the basics from them. My teacher asked me to go to another guild to learn basic maneuverability." She gives me a smug face. I tap her on the nose. Her face distorts looking like she is between sneezing and trying to get something off her nose. This turns my face into a loving grin.

"Look at you being all adorable. So what are we going to do till sunrise." As I say this her stomach growls. She goes into her inventory and grabs a slime jerky. "I have something you can eat besides slime jerky."

She looks down at her slime jerky like she is really thinking if it was worth it. Popping the jerky in her mouth she open her hand waiting for the other food i had. Rolling my eyes i hand her the kebabs I grabbed on my way out. I grab her hand and bring her to the bench while she eats the kebabs.

***********************************

Melody focuses on the stars in the night sky. The thoughts of today washed over her eyes. Letting out a sigh remember about her choice in instrument. Taotuz brushes the hair out of her face.

"What is wrong my love." Taotuz asks with a tilt of his head. She knows they agreed on not telling each other their classes but not even able to play a piano in battle might have been the wrong choice.

"I know we already agreed but I choose the bard class." Moving her face away in shame. She could feel his chest rise as he gets aggravated that she told him.

"I assume there is a specific reason you told me this right?" He places his chin on her head. Hot air comes from his nose on her hair.

"Yeah the instrument was the piano but i cant carry a piano onto the battlefield." He takes his chin off her head and lays it back on the bench.

"What about a keyboard?" Shaking her head and waits a little longer for his next responds. "Let me see what I can do on my end who knows maybe something will come to mind."

'Some how I know he will figure it out.'

Turning over, Melody pokes her finger at Taotuz, "So what class did you get."

"Since you broke the agreement I could tell you." Taotuz puts on a serious face. "I became a.... ballerina."

She breaks into laughter. "I can see that with those sexy long legs of yours."

Taotuz nods, "yeah i wanted to become a paladin but they kicked me to the dancer guild where a little girl beat ballerina in to me. I even have the bruises to prove it."

"Alright joker what did you really get." Melody asks.

"I chose a monk. This way even if we go into the wilderness none stop i will have my body to fend off any monsters. I will go back to the Monastery and learn the staff mastery tomorrow."

"What will do till the sun comes up?"

"Well it has been 2 hours in the real world and we are playing while we should be sleeping. Lets see if the library is open and if not that an inn maybe get some newbs to lose some coin to us." Taotuz states.

'Its not a bad idea.'

"Alright lets go to the library first." Melody gets off of Taotuz and heads east towards the Entertainment District.

"Where are you going Melody. The Library is in the West District."

"Library are an entertainment Honey." Taotuz rolls his eyes and flick his map to Melody.

"Its in the west with the temples." Taotuz starts head west. Melody runs past him and flaunts.

'Yeah I bet he feels smart but he cant resist this.... AHHHHHHH'

While Melody was looking away Taotuz jumped on her back.

"Sorry I couldn't resist. PIGGY BACK RIDE!" Melody groans under the weight. "Faster piggy."

"Your a guy act like one." He places his arms around Melody's neck.

"Go my faithful stallion." Taotuz points west. Melody rolls her eyes and heads in the direction with a monkey on her back.

****************

We get about to the entrance of the west entrance when Melody finally collapses from me being on her back.

"How are you going to improve your stats if you don't use a little more weight?" She glares at me from her fallen position. I lend her my hand to pick her up. She smacks it away and tries to get up stumbling in the process. I grab her falling figure and start to princess carry her. "Oh look I got a message. It says for holding a great weight I get +3 to strength."

That tips her over the edge and she punches my chest a couple of times. No health points were deducted. I look down at her and smile. Kissing the top of her head. "I am kidding you barely weigh a thing. You must be a light elf."

"Really of all the puns that is the one you go for." Moving Melody from princess carry to piggy back ride Taotuz sets off towards the Library.

After a couple of twists and turns they find the library with a light still shining in the front door. Putting Melody down I check the door knob and found it is unlocked. Opening the door I see an assistant behind the counter. Clearly dosing off at his post he awakens as we get closer.

"Good Evening. Welcome to the Ridge City Library we are open 24/6. Closed on Saturdays for the day of rest. Is there any books you are looking for?" He pulls an orb from underneath the desk.

"I would like to look at different beginner cookbooks. At least 5 of them." I explain happily.

"Any book will increase my intelligence and wisdom right?" Melody asks the assistant.

"You should read to learn and enjoy reading but yes any book will." Assistant looks deadpan at her.

"Alright then I want to read Emperor Saga and Ages Online." Melody responds.

The assistant starts chanting causing the blue orb to shine. Seconds later 7 books float over and land on the counter. Handing the cook books to me and the others to Melody.

"The private reading rooms are to the right behind the shelves." The assistant picks up his book and continues to read it.

"Thank you sir," I walk towards the private reading rooms. Entering the room I see two light brown couches and a table in between them. I sit on one of the couches and open the menu options and click the Notes option. Swinging it to the side of my vision I open a cookbook and begin copying and pasting the information into my notebook of foods that sound good and give the bonuses.

Melody lays her head on my lap and opens her book. With one book in my hand and the other i brush her hair with my hand. She just nudges her head closer to me. I hear a couple of giggles from her reading.

"Why are their so many recipes for slimes in this book?"

Author's Note: I am going to be updating the Prologue and some chapters. This chapter just didn't roll off my mind very well and RL happened so here is it with.... 2751 Words

Third Call is the CharmTaotuz's Melody