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Book 1 - Chapter 1 - Part 2
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Equipped with his new sword, Alexandros steps into the unfamiliar village just as the sun begins its descent. Dozens of people rush through the busy streets to get home before dark. Some look at him momentarily, but no one approaches or asks questions. Turning his attention forward, he sees a large building with a lit lantern out front to illuminate the sign for the inn.
Even though he doesn’t have any money, he decides to try and get a room anyway. When he reaches the door, his heart is racing with anxiety. Not wanting to give himself too much time to think about it, he opens the door and steps inside. The woman standing behind the counter gives him a strange look. “Is there something I can help you with, child?” Her tone is calming, though Alexandros still isn’t sure he trusts her.
Gathering his courage, he steps up to the desk and nods. “I would like a room for the night,” he replies, hoping she wouldn’t ask too many questions.”
“Do you have any parents with you?”
Of course, she’s going to start asking questions, he thinks to himself. “I don’t. I need a room for me for the night. I promise I will be gone first thing in the morning.”
The woman smiles. “How do you intend to pay for the room? If your parents aren’t here, where are they? Do they know you’re out here all alone?”
A cold sweat breaks out as Alexandros searches his mind for an answer that makes sense before finally responding. “I don’t want to talk about it. Honestly, I would like the room. I promise I will be out of your hair by morning.”
“You already said this, but I don’t think I can give you a room if you don’t have any parents here with you. Besides, considering there are no other villages around here for miles, this place is a little pricier than your average inn. You will still need to pay if you wish to stay the night here. The rate right now is 100 gold for the night.”
Hearing the price for the room, he feels his stomach drop as panic settles inside, causing his chest to tighten. “I don’t have 100 gold,” he replies quieter than before.
The woman nods. “I know. I’m afraid I cannot let you stay here for the night, but there is a nice alleyway out back that is shielded from the rain. No one is ever over there, so you can at least get a little rest before you leave.”
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Alexandros can’t tell if the woman is nice or highly condescending. Something about her doesn’t sit right with him, and he decides he’s wasting time trying to speak with her. “I think I will just figure out something else,” he said before walking out the door. However, before he can push it open, a quest appears.
Quest Available. This quest is available to anyone.
Quest: Help the innkeeper clean the inn during the day. Dahlia is a busy woman who doesn’t always have time to keep up. She would like you to come around in the morning and start immediately.
Requirements: The inn must be completely clean, you must arrive early, and you will do everything Dahlia asks of you until she deems the inn clean enough.
Failure Penalty: If you fail this task, you will lose relationship points with Dahlia, have nowhere to sleep, and lose 15% of any points earned during the quest.
Reward: If you can help Dahlia keep her inn clean, she will reward you with hot food, a bed to sleep in, and a new set of clothing. You will also receive 15 XP upon completion.
Accept? Yes/No
Alexandros stares at the quest before glancing back at the innkeeper, who is still smiling. The woman makes him uncomfortable, but he isn’t about to pass up the opportunity to sleep in a real bed and get food. His stomach grumbles loudly, making him realize it has been quite some time since he’s eaten. After tossing the ideas around in his mind for a little while, he reluctantly reaches forward and accepts the quest.
The second he accepts the quest, the innkeeper begins jumping up and down excitedly. “Thank you so much. I was starting to think you wouldn’t accept. Anyway, the quest doesn’t start until the morning, so I must take my leave for now. Unfortunately, I still can’t allow you to stay here if you can’t pay, so you must find somewhere else to rest for the night.”
Alexandros nods before making his way back outside without an argument. The last thing he wants to do is upset the innkeeper when there is still a chance she will give him a place to stay if he can work. He knows cleaning the inn won’t be easy, but he hopes it will help him gain a few levels to grow stronger. He believes if he gets stronger, he can keep a tragedy like this from happening.
He can barely see anything as he steps into the alleyway that Dahlia told him about. There are no lanterns or torches to light the way, and trying to start a fire isn’t a good idea, as he doesn’t want to draw more attention to himself. He carefully leans against the wall and rests his head. While he is hopeful that no one will come to bother him, he knows better than to take risks.
In the distance, he can still hear people wandering through the streets. Some laugh like they are having the time of their lives, while others shout in anger. This village is nothing like Heki, and he finds himself missing his home again. After a long day, Alexandros finds himself in desperate need of rest and drifts off into a restless sleep.