Zachary King

LVL 1 Human Villager Age: 19

Location: Uknown Village

EXP: 0 / 100% to LVL 2

HP: 100% | MP: 100% Error: Status cannot be displayed.

My dreams were really strange while I was unconscious. I kept seeing bits and pieces of video and sound flash behind my eyes, all broken up and incongruent. Most of them were of people and places I didn’t recognize, but there were a few familiar things.

One of the visions had been Maude in full battle regalia, her huge fists held up in front of her as she switched between stances.

Hrm…fist fighting style? She might be a monk, then.

Her cheeks glistened with sweat and blood that I hoped wasn’t her own. I couldn’t see who she was fighting with, or even where this was taking place. Hell, I couldn’t even make out the result of the battle. I was able to make out the sounds of war all around her, but it was as if everything that wasn’t her had been blurred out. I wasn’t able to focus on any of it.

The vision of Maude had startled me, but it wasn’t the one that affected me the most. The last vision I saw just before I woke up had been of my parents. They were in our neighborhood church seated in the front row, dressed all in black. I could see a lot of our extended family, too, and even some of my friends from school. Someone was standing up and giving a speech or something. I could just barely hear the boring lilt of elevator music in the background…but I stopped caring about everything else as soon as I saw my mother.

What on earth…? Mom…

She was leaning on Dad’s arm with her cheek pressed against his shoulder, sobbing silently. I hated it whenever my mom was sad at all, let alone like this. She’d only been this upset a few times before that I’d known of…like when my grandmother died from cancer a few years ago…seeing her in crying back then hurt so much worse than the pain of losing Gram. What could possibly have happened to make her cry like this now…? It must have been something really bad…even my father had tears in his eyes.

I didn’t get the chance to figure out what was going on, though. Even as I reached out towards my parents to comfort them, to let them know I was okay, I felt myself wake up. No matter how hard I scrabbled to try and stay there in the dream, I knew I couldn’t fight it. I wanted desperately to console my mother, to ease her fears…but I couldn’t even ease my own.

Feeling useless and defeated, I let go of the dream.

I sat up bolt upright in a strange bed stuck in the corner of a darkened room I didn’t recognize. Panting and gasping, soaked in sweat like after a really bad nightmare, I had trouble catching my breath and setting my thoughts in order. I forced myself to calm my breathing and looked around the room to reign in my racing mind.

The room was simple but furnished tastefully, with a dark wooden floor and cream painted walls. The bed in which I sat seemed big enough for two, even three people, with a thick mattress and soft blankets, was pushed against the wall in the back left corner of the room. There was a short table with two matching chairs opposite the doorway to the right, a sturdy, carved wooden coat rack by the door, and even a small bookcase against one wall with a few lean tomes on it. Next to the bed was a short chest of drawers which held a round ceramic basin on top. Next to the basin was a matching ceramic pitcher, filled with what I assumed would be water, and a small folded hand towel. It was a spacious room, all things considered, and rather comfortable.

Where is this…? What’s the last thing I remember? Oh…right. Maude introduced me to her assistant and…

Then my memories caught up with me. Or, at least the ones from before the mashed potatoes incident did, anyway. I must have blacked out. Someone probably carried me up here to sleep it off. I bet this is one of the Inn’s rooms.

Unfortunately, they weren’t the only things that caught up with me. Images of my distraught parents flashed once again through my mind, bringing with them a pounding headache and the terrifying sense that I’d lost something important that I could never get back. The combination of physical and emotional pain made my vision swim, and I let out a long, low groan.

I did my best to ignore the pounding in my skull. Pain or no pain, I still had things to do and a lot more to figure out. To be honest, I was no longer sure this was all just a dream...I mean, after all, I passed out, right? Then shouldn’t I have woken up back home, in my own bed? The fact that I was still here told me there was more to this than I originally suspected. Worrying about it now won’t do a damn thing, though. I need more information before I can come to any conclusions. And so…

Step one: get out of bed!

My first instincts were to check over myself and then to look for my stuff. A quick glance under the blankets told me that I was still completely dressed, except for my boots, so I wouldn’t have to worry about clothes. I could see the backpack I’d brought with me hanging on the coat rack and a quick glance toward the floor told me that my boots by the side of the bed. I threw back the covers and swung my legs over the side of the bed, feeling very determined. Knowing where my things were made me feel much better, even if I didn’t really have much in the way of belongings. If this was truly not a dream, after all, then these few things were all I owned in the whole world.

I bent over to pick up the first boot, intent to slide it on, when something fell off of me and landed on the toe of said boot with a wet, gravy-covered splat. I blinked at it several times before I realized what it was. Another glob of mashed potatoes slid off my cheek and nearly fell right inside the damn boot, but I managed to move it out of the way in time.

“Seriously…? Seriously?? They put me to bed still covered in food? It figures.”

I put the boot down again, sighed loudly, stood up, and went straight for the wash basin. It took me several minutes to get the most of the white and brown lumps off my face and out of my hair. There was no saving my shirt, though - it was soaked through at the neckline with gravy. I didn’t have another shirt, so I did the best I could to get it as clean as possible. It still smelled like gravy when I was done, but at least step one had been accomplished! I was out of bed!

“Step two,” I said to myself, “Go downstairs and actually rent a room this time.” Thankfully, I had some money in the backpack that I could likely use.

I tried to put this room back to rights as much as possible, since I technically hadn’t paid for it. Mom always said that I should leave a place better than how I found it. I remade the bed, noting happily that none of the mess had gotten onto the blankets, and put the pillows back to where they looked like they should go. I’d cleaned my boot already, and had both of them on again. Turning to go, I tried to not feel so guilty about leaving behind a basin full of cloudy potato-water, and took myself and my pack out into the hallway and then downstairs.

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The Inn’s common room was much more lively now that the sun had set and the workers were done for the day. Several of the large round tables had every one of their seats filled with brick-dust-covered construction workers, happily eating, drinking, and conversing loudly with their compatriots. The sconces around the room had all bit lit, throwing out flits of golden light that gave the whole place a warm, welcoming feel. Even the burble of the wall fountain added to the effect - this place felt comfortable.

Wow, it really does feel like a story or game. Straight out of a D&D campaign.

I spotted Maude behind the bar holding five steins in each of her large hands, laughing merrily while she filled them in deft, practiced motions without spilling so much as a drop. Torri bustled about the place, quite the mother hen as she waited on tables, gathered empty platters up, and brought out new trays laden with hot food for the hungry workers. The two women were in their element here, and it showed.

Torri, unfortunately, caught me watching her with a loopy grin on my face. She was holding a small tray of empty beer mugs with her left hand when she sauntered over to me, her white rabbit ears twitching from irritation. “Eh? Awake at last? Took you long enough.” The demi-demon strode past me, though, without pausing and disappeared into the kitchen with her tray.

This time, I was able to study the way Torri looked from afar, without being put on the spot or made to feel like a perv. From behind, I could see that she had a little white tuft of a bunny tail to match her ears, and there was a shimmer of white peach-fuzz all along her arms and legs that made her look incredibly soft, like the most expensive suede. She was short but lithe, and she could move faster than any of the humans in the building. Demon blood or no, she’s very beautiful. Quick on her feet and strong, too.

But I didn’t get much more time to think about Torri. Maude must have finished with her customers for the time being because she’d also noticed my presence…and decided to make a big deal out of it. Much to my humiliation.

“Well, lookie here, the scrawny runt is awake!” she boomed, clearing the space between us in only three long strides. The whole the common room turned to watch and raised their mugs, cheering loudly as Maude scooped me up like a ragdoll into a death-grip of a hug. Bears could learn a thing or two about hugs from this woman.

This definitely was not the reception I’d expected, but if the shock showed on my face at all then Maude didn’t seem to notice. She just kept on as though this were the most normal thing in the world. Maybe it is normal here? Wherever here is…

“I was just telling the boys aboutcha! Told them we got our first customer today!” The common room erupted into a roar of cheers and whistles at her words while she grinned from ear to ear. “You ain’t from around here so ya wouldn’t know it, but this village? It ain’t been here only about a month. Didn’t exist. Just flat-ass land on the border to th’ feywood.”

Maud plunked me right back down in the same chair at the same table we’d been at before, except it had been cleared off. There was distinct pride in her voice as she continued on, “These fellas here, yeah? They damn hard workers! Busted their asses for weeks with barely any notice. But that’s okay ‘cause we got us a town, now, right boys?”

Cue more cheers and pounding on tables.

Torri emerged from the kitchen once again in the midst of all the racket, this time with only one plate in her hands which she sat down in front of me. It was a miniature version of the feast from earlier with a little of each dish arranged around the edge plate and a big pile of mashed potatoes and gravy smack dab in the center. I took one look at it and despite my earlier scuffle with potatoes, my stomach rumbled like I hadn’t eaten in days.

“Err, thanks, Torri. I appreciate it. And, uh…” I stammered, rubbing the back of my neck. I wasn’t good at talking to girls…never had been. I hadn’t ever been on a date, much less ever have a girlfriend, so I always felt awkward and out of place around women. Especially ones as pretty and exotic to me as Torri. “S…sorry about earlier. I didn’t mean to offend you,” I apologized, hoping my sincerity showed.

Torri just smiled ruefully and patted the top of my head, “Don’t worry. I’ll let you live it down eventually.” As she turned to go back to work - one of the rowdier tables was calling for service - she peered back over her shoulder at me and added with a mischievous grin, “Gravy-face.”

*  *  *  *

Hours later, the common room was empty of everyone except for Maude and myself. (Torri had cleaned up the kitchen and gone to bed already; Maude told me she lived in a private servant’s room off the back of the inn, near the stables, for free since she worked here.) I was perched on one of the tall barstools at the bar counter, emptying my coin pouch out onto the polished wooden surface. They were all shapes, colors, weights, and sizes, and I didn’t recognize a single one of them. I hope Maude does…and I really, really hope they’re worth something.

Maude, who was standing across the bar from me, picked up a fat silver coin in two strong fingers and gave it a look that had me worried. She furrowed her brow while bringing it closer to her face so she could study it. “Hoo boy, kiddo. I dunno where you got these, but…” She shook her head in dismay as she picked through the rest of the coins with her other hand. “These ain’t gonna buy you a mouse fart. Ain’t a single of em worth a damn to any merchant ‘round here. Kingdom uses paper money, now.”

Well, crap. I didn’t really have anything else, and certainly no other money on me, and I was almost out of food. At this rate, I…No, don't think about that yet.

I just stared at the pile of useless metal disks on the bar, unsure of what to do now and losing hope by the second. “But…I owe you for all that food, and…I don’t have a place to stay.” I don’t know how to get home, my phone doesn’t work here, and I don’t even know where I am…

The despair must have pretty plain in my expression because Maude straightened up and harrumphed loudly. “Hey. Don’t fret, yeah? I wasn’t gonna charge you any. We ain’t open yet fer business, anyway. Right now we’re just ta keep the workers fed, and the Capital sends us supplies for that.”

I just stared up at her, unsure of how to respond. I wasn’t used to kindness from anyone except Mom, and none of this was normal to me. “But…” I protested, weakly pushing the pile of coins in her direction, “I can’t let you do that, especially since I don’t have anywhere to stay so I need to rent a room somehow. But if they’re not worth anything, then…I don’t know how I cou…”

Maude cut me off mid-sentence. “If ye be needin’ a room, well, it just so happens that I could use a favor. How about I makes ye a deal?” She leaned in very close to me, her expression taking on a dangerous, almost predatory feel. “You do this itty bitty favor fer me and I’ll let you use one o’ the rooms upstairs in exchange ‘til ye can either pay for it on yer own, or ye gets a new place to go.”

I gulped, scooting my butt back on the stool a little more. “I, uh…what…what kind of…favor?”

“Oh, nuthin’ much,” said the demi-ogress, tilting her head to the side. “A real easy favor, I promise. Barely any danger to it t’all. 98% chance of survival. Can’t beat them odds. Besides, ain’t like you got any better offers, now do ya?”

I sighed loudly…no matter how much it sucked to admit it, she was right. I didn’t have much of a choice but to accept. It’ll give me some time to figure out what the hell is going on, and plan my next move. Besides, the favor can't be too difficult, right? Maybe she just needs me to run errands or something.

“Okay, fine. I’ll do it. Now, tell me about this favor?”

“Great, Zacky-boy! I knew I could count on ya! First things come first…” Maude reached under the counter and pulled out a silver key tied to a blue ribbon. Placing it atop the coins, she pushed the whole pile back toward me. “Here’s the key to yer room. It’s the same room I hadTorri carry ya to when you fainted earlier, so I assume ye'll know how to find it again, eh? You handle yer own clothes washing. Meals provided.”

Ah ha...So she’s the one who put me in bed, still covered in mashed potatoes… I picked up the key and slipped it into my pants pocket, then scooped the coins back into the pouch. Maybe I can find somewhere to exchange them? Later, though.

“Thanks, Maude, this is really helpful!” She smiled widely and…maybe a little too triumphantly. Something about it made me worried. This feels too good to be true… “Now…uh…what’s the favor?”

Maude’s grin only widened. It was the scariest thing I’d ever seen.

“Yer gonna take Torri out on a date.”