“The Elders of Warwood, Aspen, Black, and your’s truly. Having come to recognize what you, travelers are really capable of! And have debated over this topic since you accidentally killed the forest guardian, Theodore. And have come to the conclusion that you may need a tighter leash. Yes yes I know it was an accident and didn’t know about our standing peace with Theodore.” Redwood said, taking a drink from his flask at his side.

“Are you alright there lad, you're looking a bit paler than usual.”

“I’m sort of bleeding out” Marlow said weakly lifting up his leg getting a disgusted reaction from everyone in the room.

“Came here to pick up a healing potion form Jazz actually.”

“It’s not a healing potion, it's a minor regeneration elixir.” She explained for the umfteenth time, pulling out a small red bottle from her clinking bag. Gently grabbing it down the cold red liquid already feeling slid down and fixing his ruined body.

“Please continue.”

“We have come up with a compromise. Since there are three elders and three of you we shall publicly take you as your new apprentices.”

“Question? Why are you an apprentice? You barely even know us so why take us under your wings?”

“Good question, Bowmen. You see you have been stepping on a lot of peoples toes and it is getting on everyone's nerves. So we are going to fix that. During this time we will also enhance your capabilities. By no means are we going to teach you one of our town’s trade secrets. But rather improve upon your existing skills. When your eventual departure from this town comes near we will swear to impart another pact upon you to ensure that you will not speak about your time here.” Redwood declared, pulling the atmosphere of the room into himself.

“We each have chosen who we would like to cast our apprenticeship to, though you may decline our offer. Any questions?”

“Could two of us apprentice under one elder?” Le0n wondered aloud.

“Yes and no. They would meet with you every other day. On your days off, you will still have to make Warwood a more defensible town.”

“So who are you going to ask?”

“Why, you bowmen. I feel as though you may be running into a lot of political trouble and you like to improve and argumentative skills. I may not be able to wield a weapon of your caliber, but offer you some more valuable advice on how to make deals. Would you, Bowmen, like to become my apprentice?”

“Yes.”

“Excellent! Now two of you out of here I need to begin teaching my new pupul!” Redwood exclaimed, gently and firmly shoeing out Jazz and Marlow of their own room. As they climb the twisting staircase, Jasmine decided to fill in Marlow with their most recent adventures.

“After we completed our daily characteristic point training, you should really join us for that. We headed out and decided to go inform Mr Lithophyte, the guy we got the quest to go clear out the mine.”

“The one where we did it three times, right?”

“Right, that quest. He basically said we could finish it at a later date and since he was just happy with what he was doing currently. From there he gave us a box of armor to go drop off at the town’s wall. From there we got another quest to go grab some breakfast for the guards. After that the baker asked if we could go check up on her house to make sure her cat was still there, it was. After that we ran into a group of carpenters who needed help stripping logs. And since we have that nifty ‘legend’ title for killing Theodore we got double the reputation every time we completed a quest.”

“That's amazing! So how did the Elders come into all this?”

“Just about to get there. After doing the chain quest from the carpenters our reputation score jumped up to ‘neutral’ then a few minutes later Redwood found us and brought us here and a few minutes later guessed who came in!”

“Mr Black?”

“No, gross, silly you. I really hope Aspen picks me. I can not stand that.” Jazz stopped as she opened the heavy door, only to receive the biggest krama slap in existence on the other side.

“Hello, traveler. I would like to make a deal with you.” Mr Black demanded a point crooked between the two of them. Not waiting for the silence to grow, he continued.

“You are quite new here. So you need experience aquanting yourself to our culture and may be a powerful seeker of knowledge. I can provide you with both of these things. Along with rare ingredients, you may find quite fascinating with it’s unique effect on the living and dead! I offer you a chance to come study in my library only if you become my public apprentice. Do you find this deal acceptable?”

“What kind of plant do you have? I’ve gotten a few rosen-guard bells.”

“Oh you want to? Become my apprentice?”

“Well that may depend on what plants you have?”

“I’ve currently growing a few night blooms but those are for a project I'm working on with Elder Aspin. That’s all I’d like to say, until you become my apprentice.”

“Night blooms! You really have some! Aren’t those restricted plants!”

“Only to those who don’t know how to properly care for them.”

“Mr Black I’d guess I’d like to temporarily take you up on that offer.”

“Wonderful come, sapling. We haven’t got a candle to spare.” Mr Black said, turning around and letting his finger lead him away. Jazz waited just a moment before being enticed by new ingredients.

And then there was one. Since he had no clue what Aspins routine was he decided his time would be most beneficial if he continued to do what he’d been doing before all this. Gathering wood.

It wasn't until late in the night as the moon reached its peak in the sky. When the third portion of the ever growing tedious chain quest was considered complete.

Quest Completed (Chain Quest) A friend in need: After chopping down many unsuspecting trees you have finally gathered enough wood and brought all the lumber you will need for the recognition of the wall. Please go inform Ebony to claim your reward. Rewards: Go and talk to Mr Black.

Dusting off the sawdust off of the final mount he finished reading over the quest information. Not knowing where Ebony was he asked the guards to find him. With such great adlight they told him could find Ebony up his but. Deciding to go find a gynecologist to help extract Ebony from that uncomfortable position he did so with great pleasure. Eventually coming across a coup on a night in the town he asked for directions and was informed that he could actually find Ebony at the library.

Knocking twice Marlow patiently waited on the ornate porch of the library steps. Waiting for some to answer the door he decided to check over his character sheet.

Name: Marlow, Risky II.

Class: Beast Tamer

Character Level: 5

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Experience: 548

Experience points until next level: 14,452

Profestion: Animal Handler, Level: 1

Experience: 348

Experience points until next level: 652

Hit Points: 220

Mana: Locked

Mana reg: Locked

Stamina: 72

Strength: 15

Dexterity: 11

Constitution: 17

Intelligence: 12

Wisdom: 14

Charisma: 21

Perception: 14

Luck: 24

Karmic luck: -3

All n all not bad, for being level five. Then again he hadn’t ever seen another person's character sheet. Now the one question he asked was where did he get experience for his profession from?

Tapping on his profession log he read over its information. And nearly belted out laughing. Apparently he was gaining experience from his rat colony from all the small critters and bugs they killed just from today. At this rate he’d catch up to Jazz and Le0n in no time!

“Marlow, is it?” A creaky voice asked him.

“Yes I am Marlow, who might you be- oOH!” Turning around from the ruff shoulder tapping to come face to face with an ape. More specifically Pogo, Aspen’s pet monkey.

“I suppose it’s my time to make you a deal. You’ll be working with me from now on. Currently you're no better than a hobo in the woods. In exchange, well we'll see what you'll learn. Do you find this acceptable?”

“I’m sorry I just don’t want to get tied down here.”

“Why are you planning and running off from this place of power? I've seen how quickly you trained those rats. You’d be lucky if you ever find such a place as accommodating as this.”

“Honestly I don’t care at all. When I came here all I wanted to do was find my family. Instead I got adopted by an old farmer, after that I was accepted into a guild I don’t even know. Then next thing I know the guild packs up forcing me to go with them, taking me away from the kingdom where my family should be. Then I’m sent on a quest to go find unclaimed land for the blasted guild.” A gentle hand found a perch on the ranting young man’s shoulder halting his rambling.

“Do you really want to be here?” Aspin said, handing the young man a rag.

“No, I just want to go back home. To at least be with my family, I don’t even know if they made it here.”

“There, there, youngen. Are you sure you don’t want to learn from the sage of the wild.”

“Yes.” Marlow said, trying to suck back in the tears falling down his face.

“Will you keep this place a secret?”

“I honestly don’t know where we are.” Marlow stammered falling to his knees. Letting all his stress and anxiety roll over him.

“Then I shall set you and your friends free.” Aspin said, letting herself and Pogo into Mr Black’s library.

‘What if you didn’t make it? Did the storm already roll over his quiet little neighborhood? What about mom? She always had trouble with the stairs. Did dad pick up the phone from the down stairs or up stairs, I think there was an echo so that meant he was upstairs, not downstairs.’ These were some of the painful thoughts that entransed Marlow. At that point exhaustion finally overcame him. Not noticing the return of Jazz, Aspin, and pogo.

He continued to sink deeper into his ever growing anxiety, ignoring being dragged across the ground. Tears began to well up, when he thought of his sister and mother. Pogo bent down and picked up the overwhelmed teen carrying him down the spiral staircase. Marlow batted off the heavy blanket just wanting to lay there in the dark. Pogo backed off leaving the weeping human being, climbing up the staircase meeting his master at the door.

“That Beast tamer of yours, isn’t alright in the mind. He’s probably been thrust from place to place not getting to catch his breath. Now you listen here Witchy, as a beast tamer he has a certain bond with animals. Judging he has bonded to a bunch of wild rats that means he’ll eventually be as feral as those furry buggers. It is your job to dream weaving him back to normal. Else he might make some sort of beast kingdom. Calling out to monsters to be at his side. Deities above only know what kind of havoc that could cause.”

“How did you know that I’m a witch?”

“Really that’s the only thing you take away from this conversation. Of course we know you're a witch. We each know all your class information as soon as you step into the training coliseum. Children these days, not building up any inspection defences.”

“You said something about him bonding to those rats? The only real bond he’s mentioned is with his giant chicken? So how do the rats come into play?”

“Rats are considered somewhat feral vermin so when a tame opens their center to them they exchange a bit of their personality to make a meaningful bond. I believe you can see where I’m going with this.”

“You said something about ‘Dream weaving’. I'm almost at level ten, so how can I start working my way towards earning that career?”

“Well you see Mr Black already has that profession, so you gonna have to go talk to him about that. I recommend taking the first watch, so that when he falls asleep you weave him.”

“Yah no, I don’t suppose you know how to make some potions that could make him better?” Jazz smiled and then realized just as Aspin said it alot.

“Mr Black is also our town resident witch, so you better go learn from him.” Getting a grimace Aspin saw the traveler turn around and begin heading back to the musty library. Patting her pockets Aspin pulled out a little book, jotting down something before snapping it shut.

Meanwhile Le0n was having a difficult time holding his tongue. The old crones had been bickering over a bag of flour for the past hour and a half. Meanwhile the towns elder was just patiently standing there occasionally adding a common thing that only fulled the small argument. The only upside to this is what the single point of constitution training he got from grinding his teeth.

“Ah there you are Elder Redwood. I decided to drop by, since my apprentice wandered off.”

“Blackwood, welcome. I was just teaching my new apprentice the art of being patient!”

“Ah I do believe that teaching this back talker some sort of restraint might actually help him. I know that I would never follow someone who would lead me into battle with no plan.”

“Well that’s not what I would say, but yes you do get the point across. Also do you know the progress on the wall? We may have to start actually training our guard.”

“The wall is going along well, if we continue to process at this current pace it should be done by this weekend. As for our guard I’ve been trying to brew a strength potion for our guards until their training can be complete. Already hand them out.”

“Ah, well. Are these potions aren’t addictive? I don’t want another repeat like last time.”

“No, I did not use any of the same ingredients as last time I made sure to burn that batch. Of course when the guards are fully trained I’ll start giving them weaker and weaker potions so that they may rely on their skills instead.”

“Good, is that all or did you have something else to say?”

“No, Redwood. I just want you to know that everything is running smoothly.”

Parting ways Le0n had to skip to catch up with Redwood. As he began walking towards the town’s gate. Saying nothing, Le0n checked over his own charter sheet.

Name: Le0n, Legend.

Class: Ranger

Character Level: 9

Experience: 1,245

Experience points until next level: 43,755

Profestion: Tracker, Level: 12 out of 20

Experience: 12

Experience points until next level: 77,988

Hit Points: 350

Mana: Locked

Mana reg: Locked

Stamina: 420

Strength: 45

Dexterity: 49

Constitution: 40

Intelligence: 45

Wisdom: 40

Charisma: 55

Perception: 55

Luck: 19

Karmic luck: 5

So far he was looking pretty awesome for a level nine. Then again he had no frame of reference to compare to, oh well.

“-And that is why you’ll also help with building. Any questions?”

“Um what?”

“None? Great, now get in there and put your shoulder to the wheel!” With a pat on the back he was shoved into the carpentry shop. Even though he had been in that same morning, he was still met with a neutral face as everyone continued their work.

He had a feeling that something was off, but could place a finger on it. Nah, couldn't he have just gotten to neutral with the town, so what other reason would that have for kicking them out? They were welcomed. Their end of the bargent was fulfilled, so why would these digital entities go back on their word, code?

Sitting down Le0n picked up where he last left off. Stripping the bark from the logs to make charcoal. Still trying to get his mind off of the sense of suspicion he had wiggling in his mind. But something just wasn’t right. Did carving wood really get them to neutral that fast something was up or was there some unseen string.