The outside is as desolated as the inn, though not as homely. I see a pair of guards patrolling the road, their halberds shine in the morning sun as I let them pass through. One of them gives me a glance but moves forward seeing my indifference.

The guildhall is near the inn, almost neighboring it. I feel droplets of sweat form on my brow as I walk towards it, heat blazing through my hood. The road was as dusty as always. No matter how many times they sprinkle little stones in it the wind always finds a way to raise dust.

I open the doors to it and right away someone approaches me with a smile that shows too many teeth. And that expression of pure unadulterated greed. She starts talking before I could even lower my hood, "Oh, are you a new player? You made the right choice approaching us!" She jumps and grabs my hand, almost smothering it in her ample bosom.

Her voice chirps away my sanity as she continues to jabber, "We made this guild to help people like you! To teach them the basics of the system and give them their starting capital!" Then she takes a piece of paper with a feather and inkwell out of nowhere. I could have sworn her dress doesn't have pockets. She smiles again, "Sign here and there we can begin!"

"I already signed that Ria," I sigh and free myself from her grasps. Her nails almost pierced the cloth, but this is Ria for you. Always trying to get new slav-members.

"Sofa?" her voice instantly loses that false sweetness and resting bitch face comes back. It's a shame, I liked seeing her false smile and forced altruism, looked ridiculous.

"Ye."

"What are you doing back in town! I thought you left to hunt?" she says and unceremoniously inspects me, "And where are your bow and armor?!"

"I died."

"Again!? Ria shrikes and lowers my hood, locking my eyes with hers. She pinches my cheeks and says with a harsh tone, "How many times did we tell you to be more careful you stupid girl." Before I could shed a tear that she cares about my life, she ruins it by her next line, "We need every piece of copper we can save."

I sigh and admit, "Ye, I got too cocky and lost the track of my surroundings." Not the first time. I expected Ria to be calmer but feels like I only made it worse by my attitude.

I swear there was a bulb lighting up on her head right now, as she asks, "Did you see your killer? Maybe we could find him and demand compensation!"

"Nope, just arrow that killed me."

She smirks and declares, pinching my cheek again, "You really are hopeless Sofa, we could find some lonely shmuck and accuse him of your murder!"

"That's low even for you Ria"

She fakes a look of offended innocence as her hands cover her chest, "What you mean even for me?"

I swear this woman thinks she is a good actress or something. Seeing my skeptic look she breaks into a giggle, "That was a good idea admit it."

This was good banter but I come here for a reason. I address the issue directly, not trying to sweeten the situation, "So about the new equipment..."

"What do you need?" Ria asks with practiced ease, her hands are playing with the iron key. Where did she get that, I swear she has an inventory system on her.

"A belt and bow, a set of leather armor if you have one."

Hearing this Ria puffs her cheeks and leaves the hallway, I follow her as she heads to the arsenal. I wait for her as she enters it using her key. I hear her open and close chests, and her loud curses as she accesses the situation. Seems like our finances are not doing good.

She comes back with a belt and bow in hand and quiver filled with arrows on her shoulder. She says with an annoyed look, "I can give you a new bow but we are out of leather armor."

I take the bow in my hands, identical to my previous one. I test the string and slide my fingers through the wood. Good condition. The quiver has thirty arrows, their heads are cheap iron but good enough to kill small animals.

I put the bow on my shoulder, and equip the belt. Then I bind the quiver and my dagger onto it, finally feeling comfortable. Who knew that a simple belt would be my biggest concern.

I address Ria who waited patiently for me to be done, "Thanks, where are the others by the way?"

She clicks her tongue and plays with a flock of her hair, "I don't know, seems like they are all offline at the moment. Workday and all that stuff."

I smile, seems like I was not the only one with restrictions, "Ah, I wanted to ask Glen about something."

Ria puffs her cheeks and pouts, as she mutters under her breath, "You can me ask me about anything."

"Do you know any quests that popped up recently?"

She says with a bored expression, "Nothing major, the usual stuff like reports of the wolf sightings. Patrol offer, and other boring shit."

A wolf? The town is close to the forest but the wolf getting close and being noticed, something is amiss. I frown and say, "I see, maybe I'll hunt that wolf down, sounds easy enough. Where did they see it?"

She dismisses my question, "I don't know, ask guards about it." So much for ask me anything.

"Hmm," I shake my head and prepare to leave the guildhall. The weight of the bow is a pleasant feeling, a reminder of my strength, the choice I made. Before I could depart a quiet voice breaks the blessed silence, "Just be careful okay."

"I will."