《Blurred Border》Chapter 3: A new friend

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I leave the guildhall with a heavier burden, literally and metaphorically. Where I expected to find my mentor and some help I only found Ria. I guess this is the reality, people have lives outside of the game and they will not be always there to help me.

I sigh as the dusty road greets me again, the pair of guards are still patrolling. I walk to them, with my hands low and visible. They exchange glances and stop their patrol. Their armor shine in the sunlight, almost blinding me. One of the guards raises his hand and shouts, "Halt, stranger! Show us your permit to stay in town or your passport!

I frown and reach to my pocket slowly, not wanting to provoke them. I take out the document and give it to the second guard. He takes it with a weird reverence, blowing the unseen dust off the paper. He tracks his finger around the lines as he struggles to read the words, "Thi- Di- This passpou-pazzport in-dee-cates that it o'ner is a cee-ti-zen of ze town."

"It pronounced pass-pourt Jerry," the first guard says, with a teasing note in his voice.

"Shut up, Kerry I 'now it," the second guard mutters with a blush on his face. He hands me my document as he coughs and refuses to look at me.

"I apologize for the sudden demand and suspicion citizen," the first guard says with an apologetic smile. Then the smile becomes a frown, "It just so happens that we are at full alert since yesterday."

Yesterday? I shake my head and ask the guards, knowing that they most likely wouldn't share the details, "I see, can I ask what happened?"

"One of the patrols got robbed," the second guard blurts, still refusing to look at me. Is he sulking?

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The first guard firmly shuts up his colleague and punches his armored shoulder. "Jerry! What I told you about babbling things we are not supposed to say to people?

"Don't say any'hing and let me do the ta'king," the second guard mutters again. His blush becomes even more evident as it creeps to his ears.

"Yes," then Kerry slaps Jerry's head, "Now stay quiet or I tell mom about it."

I-I don't have words to say, this sudden skit is just too ridiculous. I feel a little giggle raise up, I honestly tried to suppress it but betrayed look that Jerry gives to Kerry is golden. The giggle transforms into full-blown laughter.

The guards stop their bickering and look at me as my hood slips up. Shit, I put it back on but guards seem to notice it. Their expressions change from smiles to scorn as the tension rises again.

"Elf," Kerry sneers and clutches his halberd," What are you doing here? Your homeland is a long way from this town. "

This reaction became pretty normal, even welcome as I don't see pitchforks or torchers around. I keep my hood low as I say, "I am here to ask you about the wolf sightings."

"Who told you that?" Kerry replies with narrowed eyes, still clutching his halberd. Jerry on other hand is relaxed, looking at his brother with a confused expression.

"The guild."

"Guild," Kerry relaxes a little, "So you are an outlander. "

"Ye."

"Then you have my apologies yet again," he sighs and says, "The wolf you are looking for was sighted in the eastern part of town, near the forest. There is a hefty bounty for its head."

"I hope to claim that bounty for myself," I declare, lifting my bow dangling on my shoulder.

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Kerry shakes his head and chuckles, "Hah, good luck outlander." He claps his hand and says with an amused look, "Be aware that the hungry wolf is not something that you want near you."

"I'll keep that in mind."

---

The eastern part of town is filled with abandoned houses, a remnant of old times when the game was young. The road here is made from stone as the houses neatly placed together. Meticulous planning and work of hundreds to use the space as efficiently as possible.

I am carrying a dead squirrel in my hand, blood still dripping as I got it from one of the NPCs hunters. I wanted to buy it but once I explained my goal, they gave it to me free of charge. They even gave me a pair of steel arrows, scoffing at my iron heads as something that will not even pierce a chipmunk's hide.

I reach the divide between forest and town and I see the canine footprints on the ground. So the wolf was here. I kneel to the prints and touch the ground, still soft. So he was here not a long time ago. I don't hear or smell anything out of ordinary, not even critters.

I leave the dead squirrel on top of the footprints and take a position in a nearby house. I cover myself with a bunch of leaves and sit on the first-floor bow in hand, waiting for my target to show up.

Around fifteen minutes pass, every minute is agony as my clock ticks. I have five minutes before I need to leave the game. At last, my target arrives, a scrawny-looking wolf quietly walks forward. He is dragging his left leg and I hear him whine as he sees the squirrel.

It's not what I expected but I need money. I draw my bow, steel arrow shining in the noon as I almost let it loose. But I stop once I see my target clearly. I catch a glimpse of his face. Sunken cheeks and flopped ears, a wet nose sniffs the bait. This is not a wolf.

An honest to god dog is here, a rarity that I not expected to see. Frowning I leave the house and approach it. I keep the dagger ready, just in case. The dog is still devouring the squirrel, its tail wiggles as its maw crunches the squirrel's neck.

"Hey," I address it with a smile, hiding my right hand with a dagger behind my back.

The dog takes a step back, wary of a sudden guest. I see its brown eyes look at me as it freezes in place, its injured leg is visible and I frown seeing it. How did it survive with an injury like that? And how did anyone mistake it for a wolf?

It whines again as I approach it, not even showing teeth or defending himself. Dogs ears fall to its head as it closes its eyes and lowers its head in submission.

I pet him and drop my dagger on the ground. It whines again as I touch its ears, dirty with mud. I never had a dog but it feels good to just lose myself in this childish show of affection.

"Who is a good bo- are you even a boy?" I gushed at it, "It doesn't matter, good dog, good dog."

My words seem to relax it as the dog stands up, showing its tongue and panting. I smile but then the clock shows it ugly way. My time was up.

"I will be back tomorrow!"

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