A grey cat greeted the two visitors with two tails. The boy rubbed his hand on the cat's head. It purred in satisfaction as its fish-like tail swung giddily. As its yellow-blue eyes caught wind of the crimson-haired city guard, it hissed with malice, leaping on the shelves packed with trinkets and potions.

"Fion still hates me for some reason." Vonn sighed.

Then the cat landed on the shoulders of a friendly wrinkled man with a bushy mustache that partially covered his genuine winning smile. The cat slid down on his green leather vest as it scampered around the wooden floor of the shop.

"Vonn." The moss-colored-haired shopkeeper greeted.

"Hello." He replied cheerfully. "Who's the kid?"

"An Otherworlder looking for a job." He informed me about the situation.

"I see." He scratched his chin. "Did he have breakfast today?"

"Yes." The boy uttered nervously. He wondered why the shopkeeper's eyes stayed closed. He made a mental note that he will ask the question later.

"Good." The shopkeeper was satisfied. He walked up to the boy in rags. "Listen, for now on, I will be taking care of you, but you must do the tasks that I will give you. Understand?"

"Yes, sir." The boy replied without hesitation. He was still uncertain about his future, but he was sure that he could trust this person for some reason.

"What's your name, boy?" He asked.

"He is a Lost One," Vonn informed.

"Oh right." The shopkeeper noted. "I'm Lascze, by the way. You can choose your name tomorrow morning. For now, let's get you familiarized with the place. They opened a wooden door behind the counter. A person with a dove's head was busy reviewing and writing records on parchment under a sufficiently bright candle, lighting the room of boxes.

"This is Colarbo, my secretary." He whispered. "I advise not to disturb him when he's working."

"Why?" The kid asked cluelessly.

Lascze traced his finger horizontally across his neck, making an expression.

"Okay." He understood that gesture.

They walked around the counter, the giant crossbow dominating the space behind the counter.

"This is the kitchen," Lascze informed. The fireplace was silent; charred wood scattered under the black pot. Pots of preserved meat and vegetables were lined up on one side of the room. The rectangular table and its four chairs stood still. They left the room and turned to the set of wooden steps towards the next floor. The two traveled to the second level of the building.

"Wait here." He left the boy within the white hallway. He opened the wooden door to another storage room.

He wiped the dust off the bundle of clothes as he closed the door behind him.

"Here's your new clothes." He handed the old clothes to the boy." I don't want any employees of mine to be in rags."

"Thank you, sir." The boy expressed his gratitude.

"Call me boss." He said as he led him to the boy's new room. "This is now your room. Work will begin once you changed clothes."

The boy explored his new room. He placed the pile of clothes inside a cabinet, and he sat on the simple white mattress of his bed. He swapped his rags into the loose green shirt and brown pants he was given with the clothes he picked. He opened the shutters on his window. He felt a sense of awe; After that, he left his room after closing the shutters and walked down the stairs. The owner of the shop noticed the boy as he was going down the stairs.

"I'm going to appraise you with a Skill, 's that okay?" The shopkeeper asked.

"Sure? I guess so. What's a Skill?" The boy agreed, but he doesn't know what appraised means being. Or a Skill.

"Right, you're from outside of this world. I will tell you now that this going to be uncomfortable," Lascze warned. "[Greater Appraisal]."

The boy felt extremely uncomfortable as if his soul was being stared at—every fiber felt naked. Lascze saw nothing. No Levels, Skills, or a Class. Only an empty void. The shopkeeper took a step back after seeing nothing.

"For now, check if the items on the shelves are complete. Mark the box on the parchment if they are complete." The shopkeeper gave him a list of items attached to a wooden clipboard and a stamp.

The boy did what he asked. Shelf by shelf, he checked each batch of items displayed on the wooden frames. The boy saw all manner of goods. Necklaces, rings, bracelets shone even in the dim light of the store. Some of them pulsated with magic power. Clothes were hung beside the shelves, standing still and gathering dust. A few armor pieces were displayed beside the counter, well oiled within the shop's dim light; some of them seemed to be enveloped in faint colored light. The shopkeeper stored potions and balms on higher shelves and the weapons are placed beside the counter.

"I'm done." He told Lascze.

Lascze's [Secretary] came out of hiding. "I finished the paperwork." He told the [Shopkeeper]."

"Hey, accompany the boy first," Lascze commanded as his secretary was about to leave. "Give this to the [Blacksmith], boy."

The [Shopkeeper] handed him a receipt and two silver coins.

"Why is there a lost orphan here?" He notices the boy.

"He's our new employee." The [Shopkeeper] corrected it. "And don't be rude, or I will split your pay in half."

"Sheesh, Boss, it's just a joke." Colarbo backed out. "Come, kid, I will show you the way."

The two left the store, running his errands. The [Shopkeeper] sighed as they saw their figures disappear amid the crowd. He sat on the counter lazily, waiting for customers to arrive. He stared at his old giant crossbow, hanging on the wall behind him with a look of nostalgia on his face. The boy and the secretary walked on the streets of Balevizo.

The boy noticed that this district is full of stores and workshops specializing in different products. Throughout the city, I can hear the ringing of bells on the doors of stores occasionally. The clang of metal against new hot metal echoed from the forges. People came into the establishments, either satisfied or the opposite. The colorful stone brick buildings were shorter than the brick and stone multistorey buildings of the earlier district. The streets are sloped, the buildings beside the streets adjusted with the landscape. One's feet may hastily tire after trudging on the sloping streets, but the people got used to it. The two walked over one of the stone bridges on the canals. The streets are lively with activity, as wagons filled with various products made crowds swerve out of the way.

"Why do you choose to work here?" Colarbo's question broke the awkward silence between them.

Colarbo, a man famous for his perpetually grumpy attitude and love for liquor, wondered why he suddenly asked the kid a question.

Maybe he was curious about the kid who appeared out of nowhere. He was relieved at that thought that Colarbo will halve his workload. He rationalized that by being nice to the kid, he will indeed be obligated to help him.

"I don't know what to choose, so I ended here." The boy answered honestly.

"Heh." The white Garuda let out a small chuckle from his beak. He was amused by how honest he is. His mind wandered from the time when the boss taught him the ropes.

"This kid may grow up to be a good shopkeeper." He thought.

Colarbo halted his line of thought. Why did he think of that in the first place?

"Maybe I didn't drink enough yesterday. Taverns have been closed since the monster surge." He muttered.

"What?" The boy asked after hearing that.

"Nothing." Colarbo dismissed. "Let's get moving."

They turned left towards a tight alleyway. The two's clothes were lightly scraping against the mossy walls.

"Fuck," Colarbo muttered as moss brushed against his robes.

The boy stared at the sky while they trudged through the alleyway. The sea breeze flowed between the walls of the alley. The boy smiled, quietly enjoying the chilly salty breeze.

"Dead gods, that is fucking cold," Colarbo complained as the feathers on his neck ruffled.

They encounter three sets of steep stairs that possess a stone platform in between.

"I fucking hate this shortcut," Colarbo complained.

They traversed the long line of stairs. They were careful not to be caught on its steepness. Their legs tire the further they go as metallic echoes grew louder. Finally, they reached the top. Employees rushed within the stone streets to run errands. Customers strolled between shops, looking for something to buy. The scent of smoke and metal was mixed in the air as the [Blacksmiths] did their metalwork in their forges. The clanging of metal against hot metal deafened the shouts of smiths, and the hisses of red-hot metal dipped in cold oil. [Merchants] hollered crowds into buying their merchandise. A stone statue was being hauled into a wagon. Women wore necklaces purchased from a nearby jewelry store. A wagon full of timber was delivered into the [Woodcutter]'s shop. The two passed by them as the dove-man leads the way towards a particular smithy.

Meanwhile, a Catfish Beastkin supervised the blacksmith apprentices' training. The [Blacksmiths] hammered the red-hot metal into submission as their instructor inspected their creations. His slimy grey skin glistened in the fires of the forge, whiskers somehow avoiding getting singed. The master blacksmith held a sword blade on his tough gloved hands, an edge without a hilt. He inspected it, weighing it on the one hand. He scanned for any visible impurities in the metal.

"[Item Appraisal]." He further appraised the blade with a Skill.

"Good enough, but I can make this even in my sleep. Sharpen and temper it better." The experienced [Smith] sternly voiced his criticism. "Improve your craft. Also, put a proper hilt on that blade. You may go."

The apprentice attached a prepared hilt on the blade and locked it in place. He continued the supervision over the practice of their craft. Some of the senior blacksmiths were amused as they enjoyed their brief break. He slumped on his wooden chair after they finished their training. He smiled, not because he enjoyed verbally lashing his apprentices; the master smith sees it as necessary, but he was satisfied with the apprentices' growth. All of them made fewer mistakes than last time. Standard errors were stamped out, much like the impurities in raw steel after proper forging. The apprentices made mistakes, but nothing too severe to be worth a fiery scolding.

He drank his tea, red hot after applying his Skill, [Scalding Touch] on the ceramic cup he bought a week ago. He rested his legs on a wooden counter. A duo suddenly stopped by his shop.

"Store's closed." The [Blacksmith] shooed.

Then he looked closer. He realized that one of them is his old friend's employees.

"You're finally here, drunkard." The [Blacksmith] greeted Colarbo as he lowered his feet out of the counter.

"Not my fault that he forgot the receipt and payment for the raw materials," Colarbo replied. "Give him the receipt and the coins."

The boy placed the receipt and the two silver coins on the counter.

"That bastard is forgetful as always." The [Blacksmith] remarked. "I remember when he forgot to bring ammo for his crossbow." He chuckled."

"Crossbow?" Colarbo clarified.

"Haven't you seen that big ole' lass lately?" He asked.

"You mean the long crossbows behind the storage room?"

"Not those little ones, you drunk, the fucking portable ballista he keeps hanging behind the counter!"

The dove-man had a momentary lapse of clarity.

"Oh right," Colarbo muttered. He remembered just now that his boss used to be the strongest adventurer in this tiny kingdom. He wondered if his boss is one of the Famed Adventurers in the world. He once saw him wrestle a Harbor Serpent. And he effortlessly won.

"I made that, you know?" The veteran [Blacksmith] muttered. "One of these days, you'll be gnawed on by a monster, and you will be too drunk to notice."

"Yeah, yeah, sure, old fart. I can't even get a lick of liquor because of the recent nightly monster surges for the past week."

"Then help the Guard or the adventurers in eliminating these Lairs for Hefha's sake if you want to drink sooner, dimwit."

"I can only cast three Tier 2 spells and one Tier 3 spell, you old fart."

"Then grit yer teeth and drink boiled saltwater, you drunk. Tonight, I and the lads will help the Guard and the Adventurer's Guild in destroying the final three Lairs in Cofrafeze District."

"Really?" Colarbo asked.

"Yeah." The [Blacksmith] confirmed. His eyes turned to the boy standing behind Colarbo. "Who's that kid behind you, Lascze's lovechild?"

"Dunno, probably." He answered. "Vonn brought that kid in our store and started working here.

"Vonn's kid, then." The [Blacksmith] grinned. "Even if that idiot finally got married, I'd tell her spouse about the women that he charmed."

"Probably." The [Blacksmith] joked. "Everyone knows that he's a sleazy bastard. A good one at that."

"Hah." Colarbo chuckled.

"Anyways, what's your name, kid?" He turned to the child.

"I have no name, sir." The boy honestly answered.

"He's a Lost One," Colarbo explained.

"Oh, that explains it. I'm Orbetto, by the way. Sorry for the late introduction."

"It's fine." The boy answered.

"Well, we gotta get going. Work." Colarbo uttered.

"Bye," Orbetto said his goodbyes. "Don't let the monsters eat you."

The two made their way towards the shop. The nearest temple made their bells heard in sync with their mana clocks. The three bongs of the enormous bells signaled for the end of the morning. They arrived at the store and opened the door. After buying a heavy mace and some medicinal balms from the store, a group of adventurers passed them. Like Lascze, they prepared for the Lairs subjugation that plagued half of the city-state for weeks. An infrequent occurrence since Aquinox is considered one of the "paradises" in the New World.

The door slammed shut. "Colarbo, reactivate the wards," Lascze ordered. "Boy, help me set up the barricades on the windows."

The boy did what the shopkeeper told him, but he was wondering why. He asked if the Lairs that they are talking about are where the monsters came from. The boy helps to lift the box of fortified wooden pallets to the showroom. They attached the wooden barricade behind the closed shutters on the ground floor and the upper floor. The backdoor on the storage room was blocked by wooden boxes full of metal ingots that he was planning to sell. Colarbo had finished resupplying the wards around the shop with mana.

He unwittingly collapsed to the floor. "Boy, get a mana potion from the left shelf. The ones labeled Lesser Mana Potion. Quickly, before he goes cold!"

The boy searched for the ones with that label. He hastily grabbed one of the ceramic flasks, nearly knocking down the line of potions. He handed over the potion to the shopkeeper. In a flash, Lascze hunched over Colarbo's side. With two fingers, he opened his beak and poured all of the magical liquid. He laid his hands over his feathery neck, feeling the mana rushing through his veins, exhaling heavily. "Don't push yourself too far." He was relieved that he avoided dying from mana dehydration.

"Watch him, tell me if something happens to him," Lascze ordered. "I'm going to make dinner."

The [Shopkeeper] rushed to the kitchen. He put his hand over the charred wood.

"[Spark]." Even if he wasn't a spell caster, he still knows some basic Tier 0 and Tier 1 spells. From the spark from his finger, the first log caught fire. Within minutes the fire came alive. He smelled the clam chowder that he made earlier to make sure that it hadn't gone rotten. After confirming its edibleness, he reheated it over the open fire. He grabbed another pot, this time full of thick noodles submerged in water. He dropped all of them in the clam chowder with his bare hands, and then he mixed them with a wooden ladle.

As the first bells of the afternoon announced themselves, Colarbo woke up from his mana-deprived slumber, feeling more tired than before.

"Kid, how long was I out?" Colarbo croaked.

"I don't know." The boy honestly answered.

"How many times the bells rang?"

"One."

"Good." He leaned on the stone wall, struggling to get up. "Where's the boss?"

"Cooking." The boy stood up. Their noses perked as they smelled a warm and flavorful breeze.

The door creaked as they pushed the door open.

"Dinner's almost ready," Lascze informed.

They sat on the chairs. Colarbo rested his head on the table. He suddenly rises from his stupor and grabbed the wooden bowls and spoons from the cupboards. Lascze grabbed the handle of the scalding-hot pot and hefted it on the table. The moisture from the chowder burst out as soon as Lascze removed the cover. He put out the fire on the fireplace.

"Thanks." Colarbo expressed his gratitude. The boy's mouth watered as he smelled the delicious concoction of clams and vegetables his benefactor made. With the wooden ladle, Lascze distributed the chowder equally. He filled the bowls of his employees. As soon as the meal filled his bowl, the boy devoured the noodles. Food filled his mouth with glee as he chewed the noodles. The three ate silently as time passed by. The three stopped when the food ran out.

"That was delicious." Colarbo smiled.

"Yum." The boy exclaimed.

The second bells of the afternoon echoed throughout the city.

"Time for me to go before the monsters come out." Colarbo stood up.

"Safe travels." Lascze sent his goodbye.

"And now, I must go," Lascze announced. "Sleep early. I will be back." He reassured the boy.

"What if those creatures broke in?" The boy asked, worried. He remembered his last encounter with them.

"Don't worry, Fion will protect you. And besides, the wards will keep them away."

The cat purred beside the fireplace. The boy wondered how that weird-looking cat could protect him. He also asked if the wards are those glowy things scattered inside the building were the wards they were talking about.

"I'll be back tomorrow," Lascze reassured him. "By the time I come back, our nights will return to normal again, so go to your room."

After Lascze left the shop, the front door automatically activated its magical ability. With the enchantments [Minor Fortify] and [Lock], the wooden door became even sturdier. The boy locked himself in his room with the shopkeeper's cat. The cat seemingly guarded the door with his fearless gaze. Colarbo rushed outside the shop. He hurried to his apartment before the apartment complex will lock their doors. Luckily, his house is only a few blocks away.

Along with him, merchants are starting to close up their shops. People rushed towards their homes in a panic. Many of them were running towards the nearest rickshaws. Coaches urged their mounts to go faster. Many people chose to stay at the temples for safety before sealing their temples with physical and magical barricades. Adventurers were in a hurry to retreat to the Adventurer's Guilds to receive rewards from their quests before going home; many groups also went back to their inns before they closed. The bravest and most opportunistic of them that volunteered for the Lairs' subjugation headed towards the rendezvous in Covrafeze. Harbors were closed early. Hired guards readied themselves for the night to protect their goods. The nation's navy vessels retreated to the waters of the border districts of Aquinox to guard against monsters.

Half of the city prepared themselves for the night.

As the fourth bells of the afternoon arrived, the people hiding in their homes emptied the streets. The guardsmen lit up the remaining warding lights within the roads while the civilians hid in their homes.

Even before the sun sets, the citizens of Covfrafeze were hastily evacuated, bring their belongings with them, including their slaves. Some slaves were left behind in their masters' homes, left to fend for themselves. Within this district's canals, darkness stirred beneath its waters and on its walls.

Sets of eyes were staring from the darkness, ready to prowl.