~~~(POV: Justin Xander)~~~

~~~(Location: Walking, Geonia City, Aeternitatem Genesis)~~~

~~~(Day, Date, Time: Sunday, April 14th, 8:48 AM PST)~~~

~~~(Current Age: 19 Years)~~~

Players and NPCs have swarmed the streets of Geonia. Most shops are officially open, and players who logged out last night should be getting on about now. I've been searching the city at a slower pace for a cartographer's shop.

A bad habit I had in my early days as a game player was my impatience. It still exists today, but not in the more obvious ways it used to.

One of the manifestations of my impatience flaw was rushing through quests and content. Only being concerned with the rewards and end result. I was around 14 and 15 then, and it's been four years since I stopped doing that.

I've learned that taking my time can help me see things that I would've missed if I rushed things. For example, if I just ran around searching for a cartographer's shop. I would've missed seeing all this.

NPCs opening their shops. Welcoming and selling items to players. Witnessing how alive the world really is. When people play a game, they usually forget to have fun with it.

While I make a living playing games, it's not like the next month or year is uncertain. I've learned to stop and smell the roses.

But to be fair, I need to find and clear (Reds Hold) by Tuesday. Meaning I have today, tomorrow, and the day the quest is due to actually finish the quest.

I walk around for a few hours and take in everything that's happening within Geonia. There are a lot of unanswered questions I have at the moment, but I won't bother thinking about them. Not when I'll be logging out tonight and taking a break.

As I make it to a new part of the city I've not seen yet, I look down the line of shops to check out their signs. One catches my eye as it depicts a map. It's a cartographer shop. I go down the street and stop in front of the shop door.

Players and NPCs alike come and go from the medium-sized shop. Telling me there are players already exploring the outer areas of Geonia.

With hundreds of millions or billions of players, I wonder just how many cities across AG are as busy as Geonia.

As I enter the shop, what takes my immediate attention are the maps that decorate the walls. Some are small and are the size of a metal tray. Others are the size of tables. One of the big ones depicts the entire Edaria Kingdom and its major routes.

My curiosity only continues to rise as I stare into the shop's back half. Where there are NPCs working on maps, some are drawing on paper. Others are consulting books and documents.

It looks like the work of real scholars.

"Would you like some help?"

A feminine voice grabs my attention as I pull my eyes from the guys working on the products they sell. The owner of the voice is one of the people tending to the front desk. Seeing a good chance to get what I need, I walk forward.

"Yeah, I'm in need of a map of the surrounding areas and how to reach a location called (Reds Hold.) Outside of an escort, I don't know how to navigate the lands around here."

An exasperated smile creeps onto her lips as she releases a long sigh. From that reaction, she's been dealing with this a lot.

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"Figures."

She bends down, and I witness something I don't intend. Her tiddies literally smack together. Making an audible sound. I have to blink a couple times from the sudden assault. Catching a guy off guard like that isn't cool.

As she rummages through the papers below the counter, I get a better look at her. She's pretty. Looks around 28 to 30. I didn't pay attention before, but the curves she's got are unrealistic.

If I hadn't witnessed what I just did, it's likely I would've left this shop not recognizing this superior specimen of the fairer sex.

"Ah, here we go!! Maps of the surrounding area around Geonia, and how to reach (Reds Hold.)"

She pops up with energy, and I sigh briefly as I close my eyes. The bounciness of those weapons could stop a war. As I open my eyes again, she places two seperate maps on the counter.

I take a look at them, and they map routes using main roads, trails through forests, and other paths to get around the local area.

The maps seem to include everything within an 800-kilometer distance around Geonia. At least, according to the key in the corner of the larger pair of maps.

What I notice is there are also some small villages around 400 and 600 Kilometers out from Geonia.

"Okay, from what I can see from the labels, it's 2 Bronze for both maps. But since you're a cutie, I'll give them to you for 1 Bronze."

How 'bout that!!

I'll take half off whenever it's offered.

Mom always said I was a cutie...

I immediately accept the price, and the 1 Bronze is taken from my inventory by the system. In exchange, the two maps disappear in a flash of light, and two new inventory slots are occupied. Not wasting a second, I click on them.

And hit consume.

Just as Haleen told me to when I asked her questions, the maps disappear, and knowledge enters my head. It's the strangest thing. I'm so used to a mini-map being on a HUD, but just as Haleen said. It's a mini-map inside my head.

I know exactly how to get to (Reds Hold) from Geonia, along with everything else of importance and status around Geonia.

But that begs a question.

"Thanks for the amazing discount! I feel like I owe you now or something."

I'll be honest; I don't mind owing such a bombshell. A graceful smile appears on the woman's features, and a calm rosiness appears on her cheeks.

"You're just yummy, aren't ya..."

Her voice is slow and teasing. I can't stop a smile from forming on my lips. It's not like I haven't had women in the past. In fact, I say I'm pretty successful. Blake taught me all his moves, and he's a hound.

"Let me know if there is anything else you need..."

She speaks slowly and in a whispery voice. As much as I want to try something with this amazing woman, I have my priorities. A man's downfall is not prioritizing what's important. And since she offered, I've got some questions.

"Since you're offering, do the maps I've just received include all possible information on the locations around Geonia, or are they only important locations deemed necessary for the map makers?"

A thoughtful and impressed expression takes form on her. She leans over the counter a little, relaxing on it. Unintentionally emphasizing her excessive bust and cascading dark hair. Framing her lovely face and hazel eyes.

"Cutie, you ask the right questions."

She squints her eyes a little, and I can't help feeling the heat rising a bit here.

"The maps you've just got mark out the villages, roads, paths, and important locations around Geonia in an 800-kilometer distance. However, there are minor locations that aren't marked. Like dungeons and places to explore."

Now that's valuable information.

As I process the information in my mind, I watch her eyes glide up and down my body. It's hard to resist inviting her to do activities of a mature nature. But it's not something I should be prioritizing.

Sex with virtual women isn't something I've taken part in as much as real women. But I've done it before.

"Thank you for all your help..."

I intentionally draw on the sentence for a name. Her eyes stop gliding over my body, and she looks me in the eyes.

"Sierra. Sierra Zarra."

A smile forms on my lips as I step closer to her. She's still leaning over the counter in a relaxed posture. I get around six inches from her face with my own.

"Thank you, Sierra. My name's Zaediel. When we're both free from responsibilities, I'll come by and give you a proper thanks."

The blush that spreads across her cheeks isn't overt or obvious. It's faint, but I can see that I've said the right thing. When it comes to women, indecisiveness is destruction, which is why I'm not.

"I promise."

My promise leaves my lips as I step back and go outside the cartographer's shop. I look down the street, and with my new intimate knowledge, thanks to the maps, I know exactly where I need to go.

In Geonia and anywhere around it. Including how to reach (Reds Hold.) And that's the current issue.

It's almost 110 Kilometers away. Getting there and back on foot by Tuesday isn't something I'm gonna try.

Luckily, the maps I've consumed mark out a stable at one of the entrances to the city. I'm sure a horse will be way faster than going on foot.

Even if I ran, I still wouldn't get there and back on time.

But a horse will change that.