"Status!"

Status WindowName:LeothAlignment:NeutralLevel:1Class:N/ARace:ScionGender:MaleTitlesN/AFame:0Infamy:0-Health:100 / 100Health Regen:1.75 / SecMana:100 / 100Mana Regen:1.75 / SecStamina:100 / 100Stamina Regen:1.75 / Sec-Strength:10Agility:10Vitality:10Intelligence:10Wisdom:10Leadership:0Luck:10-Attack:10-10Defense:10

Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:Detect DangerNovice10%From meeting with the God of Death, you are able to barely sense: Powerful Auras; Killing Pressure; God of Death himself; and Fatal strike/blows directed at you

Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:Blessing of MarethyuMASTER9999%Through the constant nagging of Maya, the God of Death, Marethyu, has granted you the ability to slip past a near-death experience; As long as you have 2 hit points or more, all fatal attack damage will just minimize your HP to 1 hit point

Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:Blessing of MayaMASTER9999%Through charming the Goddess of Gateways with your smooth talking, she has granted you the ability to; Be able to warp to any and all explored/discovered dungeons or towns, cannot be used inside a structure or in a magic-deprived area, cooldown: 12 hours

While I was distracted with my status screen we didn't know that we actually walked out into a plaza of street vendors and bustling people, almost all were in a hurry, running, power walking, bumping into people, bumping into me and Thalia.

"Stop daydreaming! You're blocking the way!" said a buff guy who tackled me to stagger a little, almost falling over

I could see Thalia sticking out her tongue behind his pompous back, she wasn't happy, she had a nerve popping out on her wide forehead and went to check up on me quickly before returning to her duties

"I'm fine, I'm OK besides he might get back here if he sees you back-sassing him."

I said with a smile while walking towards a less crowded area

she just kept making insulting faces and gestures behind the buff dude's back while she clung closely to my elbow, apparently the dude was a blacksmith, he just stopped in front of an anvil outside the cobblestone house and made quality steel weapons and armor.

"Keh!, What can he do about it?, is he going to pick on a little girl and a teen who's done nothing wrong? I dare him! I double-dare that motherfucker!"

"OK, OK Thalia, calm down I know he sucks hard but we need to keep our heads in check and that means keep your temper to a low, because you're going out of character"

"Fine but I still don't like him, promise me if we're going to find some work to start us off, we won't work for that old gorilla"

"Sure that's a deal but let's ACTUALLY find some work first, let's go find a bar or a tavern, maybe the owners there might know of some places in need of our assistance"

"Unn!" she finally nodded in ecstatically, I just hope there won't be a time where she doesn't rely on something worse than insulting gestures when she blows a fuse

A minute walk over the next few blocks later, we find a huge wooden shack with huge double-doors and a sign that had a mug and a pig guzzling it down painted on it, 'The Tipsy Pig'

BANG!

Some people fly-out the double doors with a cringing face plant, they butts pointed high in the air and positioned in an awkward way because they were half-naked, no pants, shown in all their glory

I quickly covered Thalia's eyes so she wouldn't see more than that, I'm not gonna risk her innocence over something comical as that

"They don't have pa... Hey! I can't see, is there something wrong Leoth?" she said with a poker face, her arms waving up and down like an anime school girl would

the double-doors busted open again and a leprechaun trudged out, he was friggin tiny, did those guys lose to him?, I couldn't stop myself from laughing at that fact

"AND STAY OUT!, YOU FUCKIN' DARE HARASS MY WAITRESSES, MESS WITH MY FOOD AND MOCK MY HEIGHT!? IF I WASN'T JUST A RETIRED GENERAL, I'D END ALL OF YOU ASSHOLES TO TARTARUS!"

his baritone voice screamed, it was very weird and it didn't fit to his appearance

his body was like a goblin's, complete with pointy nose though his skin color was that of a human, a handlebar mustache that looked too silky smooth with wax, and he wore an apron on top of his breeches and poloshirt, his face as fuming by the way

once his opera sessions to the fallen dudes was over, they immediately scurried off to the alleyways while food and gold dropped out of their pockets on the way

the gob-midget then made his way towards us looking quite embarassed as he kept fiddling with his mustache

"I apologize for that unprecedented event, I hope what happened doesn't keep you from enjoying my fine establishment"

he snapped his fingers as his face filled with delight as though an idea came to him

"You're a traveler right?, My name is Roger by the way, how about I treat you two to some mead and breakfast, it's on the house, besides, I get the feeling you're someone who's probably not quite a disappointment judging from your appearance"

he then gestured us to go inside, Thalia could only shrug and go inside, her hooked arm tugged my me to follow, well even if this was a scam and I get dragged into a dangerous situation, I won't die easily thanks to my skills

*Time Skip to 2Hours*

We just finished eating the breakfast and fermented smooth wine they offered us, so far none of it was poisoned nor was it tampered with, the owner of 'The Tipsy Pig', Roger was all smiles, none of it was weird or out of place, he didn't have this face filled with ulterior motives, he really was acting out of hospitality.

"So let's continue where we left off.

What business do you two have from me?

I highly doubt you planned to have a date with this lil' missy over here?"

He said breaking the silence out of the quiet inner-room, he had gone out of his way just to invite us to his VIP section, we also met his wife, his elfish, pregnant wife, he said he'll tell us the story later, he told us the town we were in is called, Gertrude, specializes in fishing, herbs and alchemy

but aslo has a few drunkards here and there but nothing the townspeople couldn't handle.

I stood up and cleared my throat as to fix my composure

"We intended to ask you if there were any people in this town who are need of any workers and we're not really on a date, she's my--"

Thalia tried to immediately jump in the conversation

"I'm his fian--"

"SISTER!, she's my sister, don't believe what she says, people might start to misunderstand"

she started to pout and tried to kick my shin a few times but her legs lack the length to reach it

Roger just arched a brow from our earlier acts and just shrugged it off as something he wouldn't bother with, as it was unnecessary, he reached for some papers bulleted on a board hung behind his desk

On the table he placed 4 fliers

"Here we have at least. four people in need of some elbow grease: there's Argus who works as a blacksmith, he's in need of some people who could fetch him a few tons of iron in his personal mine; there's Yura an alchemist who needs some brave subjects to experiment her prototype potions on also she ran out of healing herbs lately; Darius the clockmaker has called me in for personal help, he asked me to find a 'worthy' man to send to his shop and help with his troubles without getting too nosy; last bit not the least is Ursula a hostess who is in need of some extra help in her brothel she probably means someone who can commit some 'physical' labor without complaints"

he held out is arms as if a businessman giving a customer an ultimatum

"Well? which one do you pick? all are high end jobs with a healthy pay, you might even get some real life experience or some professions, each one lasts a total of 5 days"

I thought that we wouldn't get good jobs, but what we got is actually profitable, though almost all has a downside

Blacksmith: probably the guy who bumped into us, we probably won't be able to handle his asshole of an attitude, plus I wouldn't be able to hold back Thalia who'd probably pummel him on sight

Alchemist: I'd love to learn how to brew potions but her request sounds too dangerous, too many variables and if we just accepted the herb gathering quest we'd probably be forced to be her labrats

Clockmaker: His request sounds simple, but he wouldn't give details about what his problem is, he could be someone high-class from something bigger, Roger did say he called a personal favor so why was it so important as to ask help fom a retired veteran?

Hostess: Nope not even gonna think about it, its too mature for us, I'm not even legal yet I'm still 17 and Thalia's probably younger, it'll be a scandal if she signed up and I wouldn't allow her even if my life depended on it

"I'll take the Clockmaker's request but could you recommend any more safer jobs for my 'sister', the rest sounds like it'll be too much for someone of her age"

Thalia was kicking my shin like a machine gun right now, I feel sorry for treating her like a kid but I feel more sorry for my legs

Roger scratched his chin for more effective thinking methods, he kept saying 'maybe just maybe' then his smug face turned into a toothy grin

"There is one job, she could work here as a waitress, she'd be raking in huge crowds if I could add her in my repertoire, it would make all my male customers more than happy for someone like her to serve them and added to that you'll probably get a once in a lifetime opportunity like say, your sister in a maid outfit?"

my mind was in overdrive I couldn't think properly, I had to take his deal, think of all the picture I could take of girly self, and sell them for some gold

"DEA--Ggehoo" Thalia just karate chopped my adam's apple, My head dropped to the table, my mouth slightly frothing from the internal blow

she stood up in denial of his offer with more dramatic effect she pointed towards the Alchemist's flier

"No!, I won't be a waitress!, I'll take that chick, Yura's request for all I care, don't act like I can't make my own decisions, I'll just learn alchemy, that way I'd be able to help my 'b-brother' so it's my decision and that's that! I don't care if she's probably gonna experiment on me, I'll do it!"

I just sat there jaw-dropped at what happened, d-did My girly side just destroy a fool-proof plan to make money out of her?, there was nothing I could say to change her mind, she is a part of me, she has a stubborn part too

"Well that's that, it's that missy's decision from the start anyway, a shame that my business won't be making extra gold anytime soon"

Roger said in reluctant defeat, both hand raised half-assed showing he surrenders

"It's also a perfect match, because young Yura as far as I can remember, she absolutely loves kids, so she'll probably accept you in a heartbeat; and young lad, you should be careful about where your heart lies with, cause with your looks and smooth talking, you'd probably be able to create a harem in this town in no time but stay away from my waitresses of course"

He rifled through a file case beside his desk, Thalia and I could just wait patiently until he slammed two parchments in front of us, it looked old, very old but it had a lot of markings

"Here's some maps of the town, marked and labeled every nook and cranny about Gertrude, these were mine and my partner's when we were still kids, I update the map yearly in case of changes, but now it's yours, it's your job to find your way to your destination using these so don't ask for any more favors"

Both Me's: "Thanks Roger!"

"Yeah, uh, your welcome, now scurry off before I take these maps back"

We ran out of 'The Tipsy Pig' not minding all the stares from unsuspecting customers and glares from jealous co-workers, we wanted to have our adventure as soon as we can, but first we had to make money and learn some survival skills

"This is where we part for now Leoth!"

"Yeah!, Thalia... don't look so sad, don't worry we'll see each other once we finish our quests, tell you what, let's meet up at 'The Tipsy Pig' once we're done with our quest or better yet let's become their apprentice!"

Thalia hugged me, her fingers held tight to the hem of my clothes, her hands were shaking her breathing heavy once again

"Thalia, let's learn as much as we can from our clients, you'll learn as much as you can with alchemy, I'll learn to fiddle with mechanics, we'll meet each other in five days, OK?"

She nodded, her body calmed down once again, once I reassured her, she needs to be able to learn how to be independent as soon a she can

"HEY BOY! CATCH!"

Roger threw an orb like object to me, it looked like it'll easily break, luckily I caught it but stumbled backward

"Try to attach that to one of your sockets and once you're done I'll teach you how to fight!"

How the hell did he know about the grooves on my back? did he somehow grope me while I was eating? pervert?

"Oh! uh, Thanks Roger and we will!"

with that note Thalia and I went our separate ways, we ran opposite of the other's destination, 5 days without each other, 5 days trying to figure everything out by ourselves, I hope she'll be fine without me

BUMP!

"Oooof"

a woman with a flower basket fell to the floor scattering a few posies, rose and lilies over the street, people don't mind her and just step over the flowers

"Oh I'm sorry lady!, here let me help you!"

"Why thank you, clumsy traveler"

she looked beautiful, a natural type of beauty that no make-up nor magic would ever recreate, a smile not even the sun would over-shine, her brunette hair was tied up in a pony tail and set over her shoulder, her apron had a few dirt and stains probably from gardening, I probably looked dumb blushing scarlet red staring at her

"Unm, there you go, I didn't catch your name didn't I?"

"It's Yura" she said with an angelic giggle, she took the remaining flowers in my hand, our fingers touched for a split-second, it was soft

"Wait... aren't you... Oh No! it's almost noon I have to hurry!, bye Yura!"

I hurried to the clockmaker's, Darius' shop with haste, I can't wait to start my first job

*Yura's POV*

"Love Pheromone Potion success, subject showed complete signs of infatuation, though the potion wasn't brewed to also make the subject polite and kind, further observation is needed for confirmation"

I then turned off my mana-powered voice recorder from Darius with a click*

though I didn't expect him to actually help me when he bumped me, I expected him to more or less, get distracted and move on, he was probably born with such a sweet trait

"He was kind of cute, I hope I get to see him again, or at least get to see more of how he'll react to the potion, giggle*"

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