What a start to a journey that had been. Alfred had been promised by Elin that things would be exciting, but if they told him that this was what would happen… He might have elected to opt out. He had been picturing seeing the sea for his first time, maybe finding some exciting new mushroom.This was rather slightly past what he had thought were his limits.

But oh well. He had made it without falling off the graceful creatures, and was feeling braver for it. But bruised. Very bruised. Hopefully he would be able to find some good ingredients around these parts. He was a [Ranging Herbalist] after all.

Today was their second day of travelling these tilted plains. Although they moved at a snail’s pace that first day as everyone recovered from their prior mode of transportation.The grass was bordered by the forest they had come from, and their caravan was still quite high up and looking ahead for a way down to the valley proper.

There was excitement in the air still, when Alfred would have expected it to have slowly evaporated by this point. Then again, they had made the journey so fast that this was only their second night of sleeping outside. Plenty of time for it to happen still.

Alfred was not bothered. He knew that even if the rest of the party’s morale dropped, he could just head out and spend the waking hours walking alongside their route. As expected he was actually feeling more in his element on the journey than he had back home or than he expected to on arrival in this new random place outside Dormata which their company was apparently aimed at.

Not that they were making him feel unwelcome. That guy Oscar who was probably closest to Alfred’s own age had been making some efforts at getting to know him, and he seemed alright.

That did not compete with gaining new levels though, and being out here was a rare opportunity for someone with Skills like [Bloodhound’s Muzzle] and [The Unbeaten Track] which allowed him to see which path was the one less travelled by Human and animal alike, and thus more likely to have its treasures remain unmolested.

The socialising that was going on at each evening’s dinner campfire was plenty if you asked the [Herbalist]. That was the perfect dose of banter and getting to learn some stuff about all these strangers.

But you could not get along with everybody.

Pain. Everything hurts.

Albert had wanted to drop dead and rest for a week when they finally got untied from the ruthless beasts that someone had had the brilliant idea of travelling by. When they would not let him he almost cried.

In the end he had settled for getting massively drunk and holding his peace instead. Which could have massively backfired and loosened his tongue, if not for the exhaustion that had him sleeping like a drunk zombie within the second hour.

Today everything hurt even more.

He knew he was not popular, and what a stark difference it made to life in general compared to when you were. He did not have the energy to do anything about it at the moment, but his awareness that he eventually would ensured that his motivation to keep himself on his best behaviour stayed strong.

It was just damn hard.

They finally stopped the day's jostling journey just as Albert got finished with his second turn on one of the carts. He had had to time that in order to not be one of those who only had one go.

His feet hurt the most. I should have bought better shoes.

When they got the evening’s fire going and served porridge, spiced with nothing but some dried fruit, he almost lost it.

Biting his cheek and focusing on the fact that at least he had his apple drink to go with it was the only thing that let him keep his cool.

Everything hurts. But it will hurt less tomorrow. “Thank you Livia, I bet this will really restore my energy!”

She gave him a quick smile and a nod, already scooping for the next person.

Getting some warm food and a bit of alcohol in him did provide some reprieve, but then after another couple of hours the pain reminded him of what real life was like again. Just keep it together. Keep it together. It will hurt less tomorrow and then we can get started on finding a place of some kind among these people.

If there was one thing Albert feared even more than travelling it would be being all alone in a foreign place like Dormata. He had heard some horror stories of big city life. And despite being forced on this journey, he had decided that returning on arrival was not an option. It was both too humiliating but he also had no idea what he could do with his Class for the rest of his life if Bunke would not have him.

His mood was switching between nervous and angry at nothing, at everything and he found himself unable to calm despite the hour getting late.

What finally made him snap was seeing Alfred working with a small homebuilt brewing kit, making a tincture out of whatever he was digging up out of the gatherer's satchel he had been filling all day as they travelled.

“What is that?” He asked the younger lad.

“I am making a muscle relaxer with a little something to aid with my recovery. No need for worry, I will have enough to sell everyone what is left over,” The young [Herbalist] was leaning over his mortar and pestle with a smile, slowly adding things to his brew.

The lad was apparently the brother of Elin and had just recently chosen his Class, according to Lena anyway. “You’re kidding, right? Why would anybody want to waste money on something you made in that when there is enough apple drink to go around still?” Albert could not help but raise his voice, which attracted the attention of the others around the fire.

Alfred looked up for the first time, finally registering who it was that had been asking. “Uhm, well this doesn’t get you drunk, it is made out of raspberry leaves, yellowmoon grapes and batnip, it’s a different kind of relaxed. Plus apple drink will slow down recovery, not make it swifter.”

Albert glared at the younger boy challenging his opinion. “This is still proper apple drink, brewed using more than four active Skills and distilled at the Salcret brewery. You are making that in a pot,”

That was when Livia decided to butt in. “Albert, he is right about alcohol not being good for recovery. You are settling for temporary relief, but will have to pay the piper tomorrow: as you must have noticed today with the way you drank last night,”

Albert was about to snap back, but what held him back was knowing Livia was the key to his one potential life raft out here.

He could still not control his eyes, and his glare made Livia glower right back.

“In fact you should brew that together and see if maybe you two don't have a Skill or two that synergize well. You are both part of the same expedition now, even if it is only temporary I expect everybody to cooperate for all our benefit,”

Albert stiffened at the idea of having to work on something with the guy he had just been insulting. He glanced over to see how the younger boy was taking the directive.

But Alfred simply looked resigned, and Albert could even spot his older sister nodding her head in agreement right behind him.

Sigh. Apparently the kid was more used to this.

“Alright... Fine, I will see what we can make.” Albert walked off to grab his few portable tools, but despite his earlier affected competence, he was feeling rather lost out here so far from his workshop, now his mind was searching frantically for a way he might contribute. Add apple drink? No, I have to come up with something more. The Cloven Honey? No, Livia will just take credit for that, or she will have no reason to share it. Gah, will I really have to see what kind of stuff that damn [Herbalist] picked up today? I should have picked some stuff up too, I actually saw some very fragrant rosehips back there. No, that’s ridiculous, I would have had to carry it in my hands and I don’t even have the Class.

As the older [Hometown Brewer] walked off Alfred decided he should make some things clear. “We are still making a muscle relaxer, but it needs to aid recovery too so do not try to add your damn apple drink,”

The words made Albert hunch his shoulders and want to shout something back but instead he took another few stiff steps and managed to fight the feeling down.

That night they bickered a lot, but ultimately they made a new creation that Livia would later name Zlapple. Because it made you just as relaxed as someone getting swatted into unconsciousness, she claimed.

She forced Elin to do a power pose with her when she explained the name.

Come his third morning since leaving Salcret Albert was greeted by these words from the [System], finally earning him his capstone and a little something extra on top.

[Class evolution granted: Hometown Brewer -> Travelling Brewer]

[Level 20: Travelling Brewer]

[Skill granted: Preserved Ingredients]

[Skill granted: More the Merrier]

[Skill granted: Fathomless Culture]

[Skill granted: Temperate Fruits of Labour]

He woke up like he heard thunder and jumped for joy, marking a distinct shift in his attitude to waking elsewhere than at home in his own bed. He noticed with glee that his body did not even ache anymore. Not much.