Beyond the window shutters, birds chirped as the sun beyond the horizon signaled the start of a new day. With its arrival, light began to peek through the cracks, gradually dispersing the darkness of the bedroom. The warmth of the sun’s touch defrosted the stillness of the frozen room and revealed the distant bed. Unlike the birds who were only now waking, the individual occupying that bed was already conscious, and bitter because of it.

Jake lay in the center of the mattress, his eyes open, pupils locked on the ceiling with a slight scowl. He didn’t move and remained silent, as he had been for almost an hour already, breathing slowly while his ears listened to the singing of the birds. The scent of food eventually wafted to the room, creeping through the door and filling his nose with evidence that he wasn’t the only human being awake anymore.

Though upset over his early arousal, he wasn’t tired and actually felt rejuvenated after such a good night’s rest. The comfort of the bed compared to the hard ground was incredible. However, his body had grown used to the short sleep cycles he’d kept to in order to travel as quickly as possible. Like clockwork, he had woken up when the sun had begun to rise. It didn’t matter how late he’d laid down or how little sleep he actually got. When the sun was up, he was up, and his muscles were ready for it. And that detail right there made him angry. He wanted to sleep more and wished the day hadn’t come so quickly. How hard was it to be a little lazy for just one morning?

Jake tried to remain still and force himself back to sleep. He tried keeping his breathing slow, deep, and controlled. He tried shutting his eyes, covering his face with a pillow, and even increased the temperature of the room. In the end and after an hour of fussing, nothing seemed to work. Yet he still didn’t get out of bed. Rather, the stubborn decision to not admit defeat meant he continued laying there, bored, staring into the darkness.

He focused his breathing and steadied into a deep, slow rhythm. His heart rate dropped and Jake could feel himself drifting, but sleep never came again. Something itched at his neck, at his mana, and he couldn’t quite settle down the unnerving feeling in his chest. His body still ached from all of the walking and yet it knew there was still more to do. Jake had only made it to the first checkpoint of many.

After that hour of defiance, failure, and the inevitable coming to terms with the fact that he wouldn’t get another minute of sleep, he accepted his fate. He could smell that breakfast had been started anyway. If he went to sleep now, he would just get woken up in a few minutes to eat. Then he’d definitely be grump.

“Fine…,” he mumbled, finally sitting up from the comfort of the mattress. The chill of the morning touched his skin and he felt his spine straighten from it. He’d slept naked to let his skin breathe, only now realizing that might’ve been a mistake. Even with the heating rune in the wall, the difference in temperature was noticeable enough to tickle his chest. He would need to find some nightwear to keep from dealing with rough mornings like this one.

While dealing with the groggy sensation tugging on his eyes, Jake splashed water over his face and then scrubbed his teeth with a brush. Plague had built up and his mouth tasted horrendous after a few days of not cleaning his teeth properly. Afterwards, he put on his clothes and leather armor, adjusting the fit to keep it all snug. The village was safe, he believed that. The show of force with the Guards was enough to prove such a point. However, he didn’t trust this place or its people. Not yet.

The potential for someone to be a threat lingered in the back of his mind so he forced himself to be ready in the event someone decided to pick a fight. There was also that annoying sensation in his head that he couldn’t quite shake. Something was in the air that unsettled him. An instinctive feeling of potential danger. While he wasn’t exactly one to be superstitious, he’d learned in the Ravine to trust his gut.

Something wasn’t right about this place, or there was something else he would need to be aware of. Until he could sniff it out, he’d keep his guard up.

Just as Jake tied his swords to his hip, a knock came from the door. He triggered his Sensory Magic and spotted the familiar figure of a man on the other side of it. Paired with the smell of breakfast in the air and his prior evening request, he already knew who it was.

“Yes?” Jake called, shutting his borrowed chest and locking it.

“Mr. Furrow, good morning. Breakfast will be served shortly if you’re still interested in joining us.” Ralph said from the door.

Reacting to the delicious smell in the air, Jake’s stomach growled. Painfully. The lack of a good dinner left him running on empty. “Thanks.” Prior to stepping out, Jake placed a pair of Alert spells in the room to warn him of any possible intruders. One was placed on the window, so if the shutters opened he’d be notified. The second he placed at the base of the door to trigger if someone stepped inside. Satisfied with that, he headed out for breakfast.

Stepping out into the hall after his morning preparations, he noticed Ralph was now standing in front of the room next door. Ralph knocked twice, much like he’d done with Jake, and called out to the individual inside. “Miss Rosaline? Madam?”

Ralph called out to the woman inside twice more, and Jake stood by to watch. Ralph noticed and gave him a wry smile. “She’s a bit of a heavy sleeper.”

“Right.” Seeing that there was no trouble, just another bad morning person, Jake turned away and started for the stairs. The door to the room opened as he began his descent, with Ralph laughing and notifying the occupant of breakfast.

In the main hall of the inn, two other individuals were already seated at one of the three tables. Two men wearing plenty of Adventuring gear, primed to step out at any moment. One was armed with a sword and shield, the other carried an ax and a shield. Both were human. One sported a beard, brown hair, green eyes. The other had long blonde hair, a shaved face, blue eyes. Both white skinned. The blonde had a scar across his left cheek. Little details Jake tucked away temporarily.

“G-Good mornin’!” A small voice perked up from Jake’s left as he stepped out of the stairwell. Following the voice, he spotted a young girl peeking over the top of the counter. She had long chestnut colored hair, bright brown eyes, a trembling smile, and a soft pink dress. Ralph’s daughter? Granddaughter?

“Morning.” Jake gave her a smile before picking out one of the unoccupied tables to sit at. Before he took his seat, Jake slid his swords from the loops holding them to his waist and set them down within arm’s reach against the wall. Then he pulled the chair out. He moved it slightly to the right around the circular table, orienting it so he could see as much of the room as possible. As he took his seat, tucking his cloak behind him and out of the way, his fingertips brushed the pair of knives tied to his belt. A subtle movement to ensure they were both there and remained concealed by his cloak.

As he chose his seat, the young girl hopped down from a small stool she was standing on and her little feet pattered around the end of the counter. Jake looked up in time to see her step to the edge of his table, her puffy face barely peeking over it. Her heels lifted as she stood on her toes in order to see him properly.

“S-Sir. Drink?” She asked, setting what looked to be a list of drinks down onto the table. Her voice was rather shaky but she seemed determined. It was cute, watching her manage that anxiety of hers. Ralph must have told her to watch the front of the inn for him while he was off gathering the patrons..

Jake maintained his warm smile and picked up the menu. There wasn’t much of a diverse drink selection but there were a few flavors of juice available. Something Jake found surprising with the village being so isolated. There must be a rather frequent influx of goods here to support such a stock. “Hm…,” Jake hummed as he perused the options. A theatrical performance, as he already knew what he was going to ask before he’d even looked at the menu. “What kind of juice do you recommend?” He raised an eyebrow and peeked over at the girl.

“Apple is my favorite!” She quipped, a bit more bubbly than Jake expected. Her cheeks even changed color a tad.

“Ah, then we’ll have to go with that then.” Jake set down the menu close to the edge for the girl to reach. “One apple juice, please.”

“Okay!” She flashed him a happy grin and snatched up the menu. Her feet pattered away as she rushed behind the counter. “Mimi! Apple juice!” She yelled, using her entire body to push open the door so she could access the back room.

“Mimi?” Jake thought, watching the girl disappear. He stifled a laugh and settled into his seat, patient for his drink and the eventual food that would come later. As he relaxed, he took notice of one of the men glancing his way. They whispered to themselves, keeping their business private, but it seemed one of them had taken interest in the new face. Jake ignored him for now, passing it off as general curiosity. Jake was both foreign to this place and had even arrived late in the night. The sight of a new arrival was bound to set off some gossip in this sort of place.

The mood dulled when the sound of heavy footsteps thundered into the hall. The next guest had awoken, it seemed, and they stomped their way down quite angrily. With the vicious banging of foot to wood, low groaning poured into the air as a blonde haired beauty emerged from the second floor. Ralph followed behind her, a patient expression on his face as she took her sweet time announcing to the world that she was awake. She wore a soft blue skirt and a loose white blouse. One that tented due to the supple chest swaying beneath the thin fabric. Any thinner and it would be sheer.

The woman rumbled down into the hall, pinching the bridge of her nose in her own display of dissidence, and sighed several times as she tried to fend off whatever headache she had. “Water, please, Ralph.” Ah, a hangover then.

“Of course, madam.” Ralph slipped away from her the first chance he could and hurried into the back to fetch that drink.

The woman, either oblivious or not caring, approached the table Jake was sitting at and snatched the chair across from him. The legs dragged over the wood as she yanked it out with a grunt, then she plopped down into the seat. The entire time, her fingers never left the bridge of her nose. She squinted, as if trying to keep her eyes as closed as possible to avoid the intake of light. Once she was sitting, she shut her eyes completely and melted onto the table. Her blonde hair scattered across it and draped over her shoulders toward the floor, covering much of her face.

Jake said nothing. Sensing additional attention, he looked over at the other occupants of the room. They stared first at the woman, then met Jake’s stare. Both shrugged, offering neither explanation nor assistance. Feeling the same, Jake returned the gesture and stayed uninvolved with her brilliant show of discomfort.

Ralph and the little girl emerged from the back room together with their respective requested items. The girl pattered ahead in a bit of a rush, holding high the cup she carried with both hands as she returned to the table. “One drink!” She shouted with a happy smile, depositing the cup on the table. She placed it in the center between the two table’s occupants. A slight mistake.

“Tha-” Jake turned to reach for it, but another hand snatched the pottery first.

“Finally!” The woman jerked upright as she nabbed the cup. She jerked it to her lips and, in a single swig, dumped the contents into her mouth. She emptied the cup before realizing that what she’d practically inhaled wasn’t water. “What the-?!” Her eyes shot open as she looked down at the empty cup, then the girl, not realizing that Ralph was standing behind her. “I said water! Wa-ter!”

Beneath the shouts, the girl immediately backed away and clutched at the hem of her skirt. She flinched as her expression soured, tears appearing in the corners of her eyes. “I-I’m sorry… It wasn’t for you…” Barely audible, the little girl spoke up to explain herself.

The woman across from Jake didn’t seem to hear it. Or she didn’t want to hear it. “Hah?! Speak up, brat!” The woman barked.

Jake’s eyes narrowed, his blood curdling. “She said it wasn’t for you.” His voice snapped as he intervened without hesitation. Doing so caused the woman to turn her scowl toward him, which was fine. Jake didn’t like the sight of her face either. “What?” He spat. It seemed she hadn’t expected someone else to get involved.

How foolish of her.

“Who the hell are you? This is my table.” She snarled.

“Really?” Jake raised a brow and looked at the table. For extra effect, he brushed a hand across the wood. “I don’t see your name on it.”

Clearly not excited for the response, the chair rattled as she jumped to her feet. The table shook beneath her palm. The whole thing rattled. “I paid for this table and I’ve paid plenty at this inn! Do you know who I am?”

Ralph chose the moment to step forward and set the cup of water down on the table. “Madam Rosaline, please ca-”

The woman was about to turn and say something to Ralph, but Jake’s movement caused her to pause. Calmly, Jake leaned forward and pinched the cup of water between his thumb and pinky. Much like how she had stolen his order, Jake returned the favor. However, he only took a sip. He replaced the cup down in front of her, now half empty. Implying that she could have the leftovers.

“I don’t care who you are,” Jake’s eyes narrowed ever so slightly, revealing his irritation. “You’re loud, annoying, and you yelled at a young girl who did nothing to you.” His hand splayed on the table as he rose to his feet. Slow, methodical, dragging out the motion as he stood and began looking down on the woman. “If you open your mouth to Ralph, who’s done nothing but be nice to you…”

Ever so slightly, he leaned forward and lowered his voice. “...I’ll drag you out of here by your throat.”

Sensing the potential escalation, Ralph stepped forward to try and intervene. “Mr Furrow, I don’t think-”

“You’ve got quite a pair of balls on you,” the woman scoffed and glared up at Jake, her fingers digging into the table.

What a way to start the morning…

“I am Rosaline, a noble woman of the Hera Family. I also happen to be a Class B adventurer.” The woman finally introduced herself and planted her hands on her waist, her bosom bouncing slightly as she leaned forward closer to Jake. The intimidation didn’t have any effect, but the stench of booze on her breath made Jake grimace. “If you think you can do anything to me, I’ll have you hung outside as an example.”

Jake glanced over at Ralph, taking a momentary pause to check in on the one individual who would dictate his next course of action. Understanding the look, Ralph placed his hands together and bowed his head, begging for Jake not to escalate. Jake then looked at the other two men, checking to see where their allegiance was. Were they on her side, a pair of bodyguards or party members, waiting to join in should he lay hands on her? Or were they just bystanders at the wrong place at the right time.

Answering his question, Jake saw them sitting there, staring in silence and patiently sipping on their drinks. Their weapons remained against the wall and they looked planted in their seats. It seemed that no matter what happened, they were just here to watch.

Lastly, Jake looked at the little girl. The sole reason he’d let himself get riled up in the first place. She stared at the ground, shoulders and hands trembling. The grip on her skirt was even more tense than before. Her hair covered her expression but he could hear the sniffling. From the body language, she likely was thinking that this was all her fault.

That settled it.

“Then apologize.” Jake met the harsh stare piercing his face from Rosaline again, determined to make her repent. Even if it required some… coercion. “Apologize to the girl, and to Ralph, for being rude.”

“Hah?! Rude?! She brought me the-” Before the words could finish coming out of her mouth, she let out a painful gasp. Her blue eyes shot open wide and her hands jumped up, grabbing onto Jake’s forearm and wrist. Air choked in her throat as she struggled to breathe.

“Whoa-” One of the other men coughed. Ralph backstepped and the young girl shrieked.

Jake snatched her throat, light enough not to cause lasting damage but fiercely so that her airway was pressured beneath his palm. Digging in his fingers, he ensured his grip was firm. “I’ll tell you again, lady.” Jake snarled. “I don’t care who you are or who your family is. Apologize.” With a shove, Jake pushed the woman down onto her knees. In a more advantageous position, he let go of her throat. Allowing her to breathe.

Rosaline coughed and grabbed onto her neck. “Y-You bastard!” The woman coughed a few times as she struggled to get her wind back. Reaction and rage told her to stand but Jake grabbed the top of her head. He shoved her down to the floor, grinding her face against the wood.

“When you apologize, you can stand again.” His hand remained rooted in place as he held her down, easily overcoming the fighting and struggling of his new prisoner.

“M-Mr. Furrow, I beg of you.” Ralph moved around the table and held out his hands, uncertain of how to get involved and what to do. He did throw a pleading glance over at his other two patrons but they remained seated, not wanting to interfere with their morning entertainment.

For a long time, Jake held Rosaline against the floor. She grunted, growled, and swatted at him. Desperate. Unable to break his grip or get herself free from the humiliating position. The young girl stood off to the side, quietly sobbing as she watched. Her tiny hands pulled even harder on her skirt as tears trickled along her cheeks.

Finally coming to terms with her confinement and inability to break free, Rosaline turned her head to expose her mouth and shouted. “Fine! I’m sorry!” But, the sincerity failed to come through. Jake raised her face only to push her down again. There wasn’t much of an impact, yet the effect was felt.

“Louder, and say why.”

“Wha-!?” The woman tried to shout her contest but Jake only pushed down harder. She yelped, the increased pressure causing her cheek to scrape. “I-I’m sorry for snatching the juice! And for yelling!” She shouted her apology at the girl, desperate for freedom as Jake’s intense grip began to grow in severity. “I’m sorry! Please!”

Satisfied, Jake released the woman and stood up. Rosaline removed her face from the floor, reeling from the burning on her face. Her cheek was red and scuffed with small pieces of wood embedded in the skin from where some splinters had dug in. She scowled at Jake and the young girl, but as she opened her mouth to shout, Jake similarly opened his left hand. A threat that he would act again if she dared contest him further.

She swallowed whatever she was going to say and clenched her jaw shut. Sucking her teeth, she stomped past the young girl and fled up to the second floor. Likely to clean her face. Jake returned to his seat. Content with that outcome.

Ralph let out a sigh and gently collected the young girl. “Are you okay?” He asked. She nodded, letting Ralph wipe the tears from her face. “Alright. Go back with Mimi and stay with her for the morning, okay?”

“Yes, ‘pa.” The girl hiccuped, sniffling as she hurried away. After she disappeared into the kitchen area, Ralph turned to face Jake.

He wasn’t happy but he also didn’t seem too angry either. It was more a mixed sense of relief and disappointment. “Please do not cause trouble, Mr. Furrow.”

Jake glanced towards the other two patrons. “Unlike most, I won’t sit by and watch someone bully children.” He looked over at Ralph after. “If it is her money that she dangles over you, then I will correct it before I leave. A kind man such as yourself does not deserve her attitude.”

“You truly aren’t from around here, are you?” Ralph smirked and chuckled. “It’s not the money that worries me, Mr. Furrow. It is who she is.” Ralph collected both cups from the table. He offered the water but Jake shook his head. “You heard her. She is a noblewoman. Even if I wanted to deny her service, I cannot. The moment she says anything to her family, my little inn and my way of life will be over.”

So, it was her name that carried fear. Even if she was scum and dirt of the earth, her name alone would carry her along. How pathetic. Unable to be someone more than your lineage and relying on it to solve all of your problems.

“If you need help, Ralph, I am willing to provide it.” Jake remained intent on giving at least some form of support to Ralph and his inn, his home, as thanks for his kindness thus far. However, Ralph was no fool.

Ralph gently set the cups down behind the counter. His back was turned as he spoke. “Are you willing to fight the world, Mr. Furrow?” Ralph asked. A brief silence lay over the room after his question. “Because that is what you are asking to do.”

Jake’s lips pressed together. His fingers tapped the wood of the table. Internally, his mind considered those words and what Ralph was truly implying.

“Say you help me. Say you hurt Rosaline or punish her. A noblewoman harmed by an adventurer in an inn where the innkeeper did nothing but watch. What happens next?” Ralph looked to his right at the two men. Both returned his gaze.

“I don’t know,” Jake muttered, his fingers settling against the table. No answer came to mind.

Ralph nodded. “She’ll run home.” He turned, facing Jake again. “She will tell her father, who will tell his friends, who will tell the lord of this frontier region. He’ll then send people to return the favor. By then, you will be long gone. So there will be no one here to exact revenge on or make an example of aside from the innkeeper. They will burn this inn, or maybe even this entire village to the ground.” Ralph turned to face Jake, placing his hands on the counter.

“Unless you are willing to fight all of those people, and all of the people who will come after them…” Ralph bowed his head, desperate for his message to be heard. “...then I ask that you please do not cause trouble here.”

“If you’re not from here, then take this as a lesson.” One of the other men piped up finally. The blonde.

“Oi, Rowen…” The bearded man muttered, trying to check his friend.

Ignoring the warning, the blonde continued. “She’s a brat and her dad is a doting idiot. If he hears about you messing with her, he’ll probably do just as Ralph said. It’s not my business what you do, but be more thoughtful. He’s right. We might leave, but they don’t exactly have a choice.” The blonde explained before finishing the contents of his cup. “Either way, I’m glad someone did something to shut her up. She’s a real pain in the ass.”

“Oi-” The bearded man hissed, his eyes glancing up toward the stairwell.

The blonde scoffed at him. “You bitch about her more than I do. Don’t even start.” Rowen rumbled the retort at his cowardly friend then turned in his seat. “I’m Rowen Alistar. Who are you?”

“Jake Furrow.”

“Quite the name for someone of your color.” Rowen tilted his head. “Where are you from?”

It seemed skin color was going to be a constant thing he would have to deal with during his travels. Hopefully it wouldn’t cause issues. “The desert to the east. My father is from the north.”

“A northman?” Rowen hummed and nodded. “I see. The name makes sense then. Sorry if my question was rude, just pin it up as curiosity.”

Jake shrugged. “It’s fine.”

The rather curt responses from Jake called for an abrupt end to the conversation. Rowen stared at him for a few moments before ultimately returning to his own table. Ralph sighed and escaped to the back room, bringing the cups with him to be cleaned. A short while later, Rosaline returned from the second floor and scowled at Jake. She sat down in the same chair she’d left and crossed her arms over her chest. The redness on her face was still visible but she’d cleaned up the wood stuck in her skin at least. It might take some time for the color to fade.

Her curiosity getting the best of her, her nose turned in his direction. “Who are you?” She spat, glaring.

Jake stared back, blankly. Even his voice was monotone. “Jake Furrow.”

She snorted. “I’ll remember that.”

“I’d rather you didn’t.” Jake huffed and closed his eyes, trying to keep himself from getting more involved.

She scoffed at him and leaned over. “I’m going to tell my dad about you. I hope you enjoy eating gruel.”

It seemed getting further involved had already been chosen for him. At least she mentioned him and not the innkeeper. Jake sighed and shook his head before waving his hand. “Please stop talking to me. Or at least wait until after breakfast.”

“Oh? Does my voice bother you?” She smirked and rumbled at him, as if picking a fight again.

Jake understood that she was trying to rile him up, and it almost worked. So, the man maintained his calm. Keeping his breathing steady, the heat in his face receded and his mana eased. Fighting the urge to shut her up, he forced himself to remain planted in the seat. As much as he wanted to snap her mouth shut and make her sit like a child on her hands, he wasn’t exactly in a position to do so nor did he want to challenge Ralph’s kindness any further. The future Ralph shared with him didn’t sound all that great either but it wouldn’t be too much of an issue. While extreme, Jake figured it was partially true and he didn’t want anyone else involved in his messes.

“Listen lady,” Jake opened his eyes and stared straight ahead toward the wall across the room. “I just got here and I’m trying to leave as soon as possible. If you don’t like looking at me, then crawl back into your bed for another round with your hand. You’ll get more out of that than scowling at me all morning.”

Her face flushed a bright, rosy red as she listened to him expose her. The other two men chuckled to themselves as they listened. “You-!” She threatened to cross the table, but the door leading to the kitchen area of the inn opened. A delicious scent wafted out into the hall as several dishes were carried out by Ralph, the little girl, and an older woman. That must have been Mimi.

“Breakfast!” The young girl shouted, cutting off Rosaline’s angry berating. Rosaline continued to scowl at Jake, her nails digging into the wood as indecision impeded her from acting now that Ralph and the girl were back. She struggled to decide, wasting enough time for the trio to dispense the first round of plates to the other table. When the group came to place the food in front of Jake and Rosaline, she finally elected to keep her hands to herself.

“Good choice,” Jake muttered as Ralph and the young girl set out plates for them.

Eggs, vegetables, sliced fruit, grilled ham, slices of cheese, what looked to be a hot bowl of creamy oats. Slices of lightly toasted, buttered bread. A jar of jam. And finally, a large jug of milk to be shared. Ralph retrieved utensils for the tables and additional plates for the patrons to use for their meals.

“Enjoy, everyone!” The older woman shouted as she stepped away, disappearing into the back of the inn again. The young girl followed after her, leaving Ralph alone behind the counter.

Ralph smiled over at Jake, quietly thanking him for being patient. Jake nodded and then set to his food, using his fork to pick out his portions. Rosaline did the same, albeit more greedily. She snatched the milk jug first as well, pouring herself an ample amount before placing it back down. Jake ate in silence, filling his painfully empty stomach with plenty to serve as fuel for the day. Rowen and his compatriot laughed and chatted more comfortably with one another, enjoying their meal as well.

Though he actually ate more, Jake finished first, eating his fill in a more efficient manner. He cleaned two plates worth of food and downed two cups of milk before deciding he had ate enough. When he stood up, Rosaline glanced over at him.

“Took you long enough. Now I can actually taste my food,” she muttered. Speaking just loud enough for his ears to pick up her voice. She even huffed at him. Such a delightful woman.

Jake didn’t respond and returned his swords to his hip. He placed a silver coin on the counter. “Both for this morning and for the food. Please thank your wife for me.” Before Ralph could say no, Jake stepped away and left the inn.

Outside, the village was still waking up. He could smell food in the air and noticed puffs of smoke flowing out of several other homes. Evidence of the various morning meals being shared. A handful of people were already outside, setting up stalls or preparing their stores for opening. A couple adventurers seemed to be awake and ready to go as well, their feet leading them towards the Guild Hall already. The tavern was open next door and several individuals occupied the seats both inside and out. Serving them was a pair of waitresses. Their bright smiles and cute tufts of hair bobbed as they moved between the occupied tables, running dishes, cups, and processing payments in one elegant dance.

Jake huffed and stepped out into the chilly air, exhaling his annoyance with the individual he had shared breakfast with. Following the other adventurer-looking individuals, he headed for the Guild Hall. The other groups entered before him but a few individuals mingled outside, loitering near the door or on the ground nearby. When Jake approached, he earned quite a number of looks from them. Looks he didn’t reciprocate as he stepped through the wide open double doors leading inside. The mix of expressions from them told him enough of what they were doing- sizing up the new face and seeing his worth.

Beyond the door, the high ceiling and wide walls were incredibly inviting. The lighting from the windows brightened the hall, illuminating every corner of the room. Though the space wasn’t actually large, the lack of a cramped ceiling and a spacious middle were enough to make it seem larger. Along the left wall, several tables and benches were set up to provide ample seating for patrons. Straight ahead down the center, a large counter cut the room in half, with a trio of women standing behind it as clerks to process transactions. Behind them, nearly a dozen others were drowned in paperwork. To the right, a board covered in papers stretched from one end of the hall to the other, stopping in front of the counter itself.

This was not the first time Jake had seen a building like this. While different in terms of layout and material used, it looked extremely similar in operation to the Scout Headquarters building from Ewana. Seeing this place, Jake understood where the Oryx got the idea. He also had a feeling he knew what was going to happen next

“Interesting…” Jake walked with his eyes wandering, scanning the large room to take in the small details. He did it also to avoid making direct eye contact with the curious individuals staring at him from the seating area. Strolling along, he approached the counter and stopped in front of a short, red haired woman. Her button nose, tiny eyes, and broad red, glossy smile would have been enough to catch his heart if he wasn’t wise to her task. She was quite the honey trap.

“Good morning, Sir. How may I help you?” Her voice was as soft and fluffy as her hair. Adorable.

“I’m looking for transportation north,” Jake started. Of all the places that could likely arrange for travel north, Jake figured the Guild might be the best place to start. Merchants could provide it whenever they needed to make a delivery or travel, but in this region he assumed that speaking directly with a merchant might be troublesome. Especially if the Guild was ingrained in the normal functions of the area.

She nodded and smiled. “There are weekly caravans that come bringing supplies. So long as there is additional space on their return trip, which there usually is, you are welcome to pay a fare to travel with them.” Her eyes drifted down to look at the pair of tools dangling off his hip. “As an alternative, you can also agree to be a guard for them during the trip. Consider it a payment with labor. Protect the caravan from monsters and bandits during the trip and you’ll have a free seat.”

While he wasn’t hiding his intentions, or his weapons, he thought the girl to be fairly astute for offering more information based just on how he looked. He didn’t give her many points for the obvious but at least she wasn’t an idiot. “How do I register to be a guard?”

“Are you affiliated with the guild?”

Jake shook his head. “No. I am not.”

She sat up straighter and gave him another broad smile. “Then unfortunately we cannot do so. Only registered Adventurers and Guards with the guild are given the option.” She gave him the bad news and Jake bit his tongue. “I can still take payment as a traveler and reserve you a seat if you wish.”

He sighed and glanced over at the board along the wall. “That. Is that some sort of job request board?”

She followed his eyes. “Yes. The Guild takes requests from locals and also puts out regional quests based on the needs of the Guild itself. Some do require a bit of traveling, though.”

“And payment?”

“Of course. Upon the completion of your request and after showing proof of fulfillment, the Guild will provide compensation. Some requests will give more depending on the presumed difficulty, the offered reward by the requester, and also the amount of resources collected should it be a request requiring collections.” The girl explained how the requests worked, and her information aligned almost perfectly with what Jake dealt with in the Ravine. Just, the goal here was money rather than the safety of the village. It made his stomach churn a little. However, there was a meaning behind it all aside from money. Money was both incentive, and compensation. To be an adventurer cost a lot of coin.

Unlike in the village, just existing would cost him money. Unless he lived in the wilderness and hunted animals everyday for food, Jake needed money for both. In a world run by compensation, he had two options; sell merchandise or perform tasks. Ewana and Hawa both provided everyone with enough money to survive so long as they did their assigned role as there was no need to travel or gather material- it was all provided by caravans and roving suppliers.

Now that Jake had left those two semi-utopias of resources, he would need to earn his keep. The money he’d pilfered from the Arachkin Den would run dry at some point unless he replenished his expenses. On its own, the coin and items he could sell would provide him with enough to travel for a short while, but it wasn’t bottomless. At some point along the way, he would need to keep himself afloat with labor of some kind.

Though it was the obvious choice and the easiest because of his skillset, Guild work would be boring and tedious. Regularly completing requests would be very labor intensive and require him to deal with crap he didn’t care about. That was clear by the abundance of parchment on that wall. However, the consistent money would be useful and there would always be work to do. So long as there was a Guild nearby or something similar, Jake could make money by picking from that sea of problems. Such was the life of an Adventurer.

“Are there Guilds everywhere?” He didn’t assume there would be. Villages like this would likely be few and far between. On top of that, the Guild system was likely only set up in places friendly with the Guild and its owners. Anywhere that hated them would obviously be lacking in that department.

“No. Unfortunately the Guild is unable to be present in every possible location.” The girl affirmed. “However, the Guild does have influence across most countries and you can at least find similar representatives that conduct similar businesses. While the Guild here may not be the same, we can assure you that showing your identification card will be enough to earn you work in the other location.”

Jake raised his brow. That was interesting but also not surprising. Hunting monsters, dealing with people’s problems, and providing a central location to find easy and cheap labor from fools willing to do the dirty work for money and fame was probably a global problem. Especially in places like this, far removed from the protections of centralized forces. Much like in Hawa, though the country had an army, the village ran its own guard force and established hunting teams to kill Dune Beasts.

“How do I register?” For now, Jake figured signing up wouldn’t be a problem. He wouldn’t bind himself to the Guild like some lackey but he could at least utilize it if he had no other options available. Besides, if he found himself bored along the way he could nab a few requests to busy himself.

Still smiling, the girl retrieved a paper from beneath her desk and set it in front of Jake along with an inkwell and a pen. Having seen such a paper before, Jake began to scribble down his information. It was eerily similar to that of the Scout Association but, like the hall itself, he shouldn’t have been surprised to see it. His father had mentioned places like this before in his stories.

“Oh? Have you done this before?” She asked, taken aback by the lack of a needed explanation.

“In a way, yes.” Jake scratched the pen across the parchment until he’d filled in every block. When asked what role he was, Jake paused. “Roles. What does the Guild consider Roles?”

This wasn’t the Ravine. While the Oryx had only a few identifiers, Jake had seen several different types of adventurers this morning from those with shields to those who carried twin swords, staves, and other various weapon types. Bows and arrows. One individual even had an animal laying at his feet.

“Ah, we have a list for that.” The girl plucked another piece of parchment from behind the counter and set it down in front of Jake.

The parchment provided a long list of various roles or jobs that Adventurers could classify themselves as. Each role had a brief explanation beside it. On that list, Jake spotted Battle Mage under the ‘Hybrid’ category of roles. Its description fit exactly what his skill set would achieve and also provided recommended positions in a party’s formation. However, Jake avoided taking the moniker. Rather he put himself down as Swordsman, slotting himself into the standard Fighter category and among the more typical Adventurers. Doing so would likely keep him out of the limelight should he have to show his identification badge somewhere. The less people knew about his magic, the easier it would be for him to travel.

“All finished.” Jake returned the pen to the inkwell and then slid the paper across the table.

The girl checked it over and nodded. “Right. I’ll be right back.” Satisfied with what he wrote, the clerk stepped away from the counter to the desks in the back. Jake glanced over to his right as he heard the steps of someone approaching him. A young fellow in light armor with a sword on his hip. He looked greener than the grass outside due to the generic grin stuck on his face.

“Hey! You a newbie? We’re looking for anoth-” The boy even sounded young as he began to attempt to ask Jake to join him. Or so Jake assumed from where his statement was leading.

“No thanks.” Having heard enough, Jake turned his eyes away, nipping that right in the bud. He didn’t need a party. Especially not with individuals who likely hadn’t even faced a monster before. Babysitting wasn’t on his list of tasks to complete while here.

The young Adventurer tilted his head. “You sure? We newbies gotta stick together ya know. It’s tough out there! I hear a lot of others have been getting injured lately. Something about there being bigger numbers of monsters grouping up lately.”

Jake sighed and shook his head. “I said no thanks. I’ll be fine.”

The fellow shrugged and huffed. “Alright then. Good luck out there, friend.” The green Adventurer turned on his heels and walked away, accepting his loss of a new party member. It seemed his other compatriots were a little disheartened by the failure but that was fine. They’d find someone else. There were plenty of individuals waiting outside for just such a question to be presented to them.

“Oi.” The voice came from behind and Jake found himself having to turn to see who was speaking this time. The speaker was tall, muscled, and battle scarred. He wore more a more piecemeal type of armor that covered only his important spots. Impressive but Jake could tell he would be even more trouble. “Yer a bit rude for a newbie. Why not pair up with that lot, hah? A baby chick like you won’t last a day out ‘ere.”

Jake fought the urge to roll his eyes and resorted to remaining curt. “No thanks.” He turned away and returned to the counter.

The man placed a hand on Jake’s shoulder and squeezed. “I wasn’t askin’, sonny. Go join ‘em.”

Jake clenched his jaw, restraining himself. “Are all of you so persistent?” Jake huffed, turning and gazing up at the man. “I’m not interested in partying up with anyone. Please stop bothering me.”

“Hah? I’m jus’ tryna look out fer a newbie!” The man rumbled, scoffing. “Fine. Have it yer way, kid.” Shrugging, the man released Jake and started to leave. “Can’t wait to ‘ear of you bein’ dead!”

The clerk returned and cleared her throat to get Jake’s attention. “Don’t mind them. You’re free to travel alone or with a party. So long as you stay safe! That's all we ask.”

“I’m sure.” Jake sighed again and brushed off his shoulder, adjusting the fabric of his clothes that crinkled from the other man’s touch. “So?”

“Here you are. This is your Guild identification card.” She slid across a small, stiff card. It had all of his personal information on it, his chosen party role, and also his rank. “Show this at any Guild or when passing through gates to enter different settlements. It’ll provide you entry to most places and act as a way for you to get work.”

“Great.” Jake plucked the card from the desk without looking anymore intently at it. He pocketed the card. “Can I sign up as a guard on that caravan now?”

“Mhm! I assumed you would ask and already did the favor of adding you to the roster, Mr. Furrow. The next caravan will be here in five days and will leave the morning after. Please ensure you are ready to leave by that time.” She held up a finger just after. “Ah, also. The Guild will not provide any resources for the trip, so make sure you purchase food and supplies prior to stepping off.”

Jake should have expected that, but aside from the lack of provided rations…

Five days, huh?” Jake pressed his lips together as he considered whether he should wait that long. He likely could walk to the next destination in five days. If he remembered correctly, the next village was directly north along the road. If he started this evening, he might make it in three days. Four tops. But, he’d have to walk, expend additional supplies he still didn’t have, and also would be out of the coin required to resupply. Coin that he wouldn’t replenish by working. A trade off of time versus coin. “Already having to make these kinds of choices, aren’t I?”

On the fence of what to do, Jake looked towards the request board again and tapped his teeth together. His canines lightly clicked in his head as he mulled over his next move.

“I’m the lowest rank in the Guild, aren’t I?” Jake asked, having not really looked at the rank on his card.

“Correct. You are currently Rank F.” The clerk nodded. “Are you considering the available work for you?”

“I am.”

The girl hummed and pulled a book over from her right. She popped it open and began to flip through the pages. “Rank F…” she mumbled. “Most lower ranking requests typically are resource gathering, guard work for the fishermen, and also hunting small animals for food restocking. Do any of those suit your fancy?”

“They don’t,” Jake said bluntly.

“O-Oh.” She jumped a little from the sharp response. “Er. Are you looking for something specific?”

“What are the Guild’s rules on taking higher ranking quests?” Jake narrowed his eyes on the book she had her hands on. It was full of requests, stretching the bindings. The ones she had thumbed through for his current rank were rather few in number, which told Jake this area had a lot more problems than resource and supply gathering.

The girl frowned at his question and glanced at her compatriot on her left for help. The girls exchanged a look before she spoke again. “As a frontier outpost, we don’t exactly follow the same rules as the Guild halls from more populated areas. You are welcome to take any request you and your party feel you are capable of handling. However, should you have purchased insurance, the Guild is not liable for any requests taken that are categorized as two ranks above the average party rank.”

“So I can take whatever I want, then?” Jake asked.

The girl swallowed a lump in her throat and nodded sheepishly, likely already guessing where he was going with his question. “Y-Yes, b-but we don’t recommend it! Please stick to your rank or within the capabilities of your party!” Her frantic response came out a bit heavier than Jake was ready for. Her fear wasn’t something he dismissed, more something he was happy to see. It meant she cared, and also she had probably seen this before. A courageous and confident new adventurer ready to take on the world. An individual who overestimates his ability, bites off more than he can chew, and ends up dead in some hole. Forgotten and reduced to monster food. Another failure sent out to die.

“Good. Thanks.” Jake stepped away from the counter and made his way over to the board.

“Please don’t be reckless!” She shouted, the warning signals in her brain screaming as he walked away from her.

Jake ignored her of course. Having dealt with plenty of threats thus far, Jake was confident that anything in this forest would be rather easy to deal with. The only issue was balancing his spotlight with proper money intake. He wasn’t going to pick a boring request like resource gathering, but he also couldn’t pluck something excessive. Like hunting an Arachkin Den on his own.

He needed to both stay in his lane as a seemingly new adventurer and also find something that would pay enough for lodging and food. What fell into that window would likely be monster hunting. Killing things was always dangerous and Jake doubted there were enough brave individuals to handle the weight of the task.

As expected, there were several requests for various extermination or hunting tasks. The monsters listed were also predictable; Goblins, Kobolds, a Cave Troll, and also the raid request to take out Rey’ra’s Spider nest. A raid request that Jake predicted would disappear in a few days once his message was received.

The Goblins and Kobolds were both ranked E, while the Cave Troll was ranked C. The papers all provided recommended party sizes and formations, as well as payouts for each of them. The requests additionally provided what would be used as proof of completion. For the Goblins, it was their ears. For the Kobolds, their tails. The Cave Troll required a finger.

Of the three monsters, there were a larger number of Goblin subjugation requests. Apparently there were hordes and clusters of them within the local frontier. All causing havoc with their stealing of women, attacking convoys, and the pillaging of other local settlements. The Guild was offering five bronze coins for every set of ears retrieved and estimated each horde to have at least twenty Goblins. If the estimates were correct, each nest would payout a silver coin for a full subjugation. Unlike the Kobold request, however, the Goblin request recommended six party members, citing the monster’s witty nature.

“Goblins, huh?” Jake mumbled, plucking off two requests from the board. Should the estimated numbers be correct, he could collect quite a reward for just two of them. Enough to cover his lodging at the least. The pay would be even better if the estimates were lower than the actual count. Something he was counting on.

Scattered through the hall, several adventurers watched him peruse the board and return to the counter. Their eyes remained glued to him as he waited in line, their ears opening as he began to speak with the clerk. A nosy bunch, these adventurers.

Jake requested additional information on the locations of the two Goblin hordes as well as any other scouting information that could be provided. He wanted to go in with as much knowledge as possible on the locations to avoid any difficulties when he got there. Having never hunted Goblins before, he wanted to prepare properly. The clerk passed along what had been given by both scouts and other adventurers who’d gone to the nests, as well as recent updates to the requests themselves.

For the first request, two young girls were expected to be within the nest as they were reported missing within the last few days. If they were alive, additional pay would be given for their retrieval. An additional incentive to deal with the nest quickly due to the threat to human life. Knowing that, Jake prioritized that request and decided he would hit that location first. After sharing this with the clerk, she told him that should he find survivors, the Guild would be sending a representative behind him to collect them.

Along with the basic information on the Goblins themselves, the clerk provided a sketch of the region with the nests marked on a partial map. The first nest was only a few hours walk to the north east, towards the river. While the second was further north and nearer to the mountain range. The second was about half a day from the first. If Jake set out and had no issues, he suspected he would be back late in the night.. A bit of a long trip but one that wouldn’t be difficult.

He asked about suggested supplies but was given a more generic answer than he was happy with. Potions, bandages, rations, and more than one set of equipment in the case of damage or loss. She also slid in that the Guild could provide everything he would need but Jake presumed that the items would be sold at a markup to cover Guild fees and expenses to procure the items. He would pass and decided he’d heard enough. With time of the essence, he needed to get moving.

“Good luck and stay safe.” The clerk sent him off with a light wave, watching as he turned and headed for the door. She held back her plea for him to form a party or join another, nipping her lip to keep herself from shouting at the resolute figure growing smaller and smaller.

As Jake passed a group of five other adventurers, one of them scoffed at him. “See you soon, goblin food.”

Jake ignored the jab and left the Guild, already preparing himself mentally for the expected grind ahead of him. He doubted that Goblins would be as difficult as Maedra. Yet, the reward for their subjugation along with the higher party number recommendation made him wary. When fighting these creatures, Jake would need to keep his wits about him. There was no telling how the monsters would fight or what they might have in store for him. With the location being in a cave, they would also have the advantage of it being their home turf. Progressing might be problematic if the area was littered with traps or winding tunnels.

The man huffed at the idea of the requests becoming more annoying than he cared for them to be, but he’d complete them all the same. Whether it was done with his swords or with magic. It didn’t matter.

He’d kill every last one of them.