Nightfall was here. The moon, half bathed in clouds, was watching from above, watching as three people, sitting on a fallen tree trunk, were checking different pieces of jewelry. "I guess that’s all..." yawned Angela, dark circles forming under her eyes. Luke, a night owl most of the time, wasn’t bothered, yet there was one thing on his mind: what should he choose. Mark, on the other hand, kept thinking about ways to combine these items, to make them work together in the best manner. Even pieces of armour were laying around, pieces that he found inside certain monsters.
"Well, I can’t exactly say that what you found is amazing, but it sure is better than your average gear. I just wonder how many of these monsters you had to defeat, and how weak they were to be killed so easily."
"Well, they were weaker than the one we took down, but it took me some running around to find them all," Mark grumbled.I ran amok through the whole forest, swinging and slashing, tearing whatever came my way. I don’t even remember how many I killed, yet I know that some of them had more than one artifact."
Luke was now fiddling with Mark’s ‘interdimensional storage’ bag, which did exactly that. "Man, which monster did you get this from? Considering how usefull it is, I believe it was pretty dangerous."
Mark tried to keep his eyes opened, "Well, that was one weird encounter. It looked so weird, like something was sucking it in from inside. I guess that this bag tried to eat its host."
Both Angela and Luke looked a bit terrified, Luke throwing the bag down with a thud. "I still can’t believe you even found some magic armour in those things." inquired Angela as she was analysing a chestplate.
Mark shrugged, "I found something which might be related, yet that’s a problem for another time. What matters now is that we have the items needed to start working." cheered out Mark as he held up a few rings and necklaces. "They increase strenght, we can make-do with them.
"Tomorrow, we did work today, and I’m tired..." yawned out Luke before covering his mouth. They went back to the village, awaiting a new day.
The new day came, and it also went by just as fast. The cycle kept repeating, days going by faster than they were coming, and progress was being made. Slowly, from the very base, up to its roof. Made from scratch, a chainsaw, a forest and three people mad enough to pull this off. That was needed to complete it: a brothel.
"We did it!" exclaimed Luke, happier about this than everyone else. The building itself was pretty basic, similar to a wooden cabin, yet bigger and better. Even its location was good, near the road, where travelers should be coming from.
Mark decided to state the obvious, "Now, it's time to find someone to work here, in every domain...", he said, drawing a dark stare from Angela, who hadn't gotten over what he'd said before.She sighed as Mark shut his mouth for good, not saying anything else. "Well, let’s go inside now."
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Luke did the honours, slowly opening the door, revealing the large room filled with tables, and the forever appreciated bar. It was still to be filled with drinks and food, and most importantly, clients.
"Just as I designed." exulted Luke, a fiery look in his eyes. "Now, we need staff, and food, drinks, and a lot more things than we can afford."
Mark, searching through his mind for whatever information could be helpful, found an answer. "How about I go trade some of the artifacts I found? Perhaps we might earn something."
Angela, feeling somehow guilty of having him sell what he fought for in order to solve her problems, tried to jump in and suggest a different way, yet Mark’s expression told her it was fine with him.
"Well," asked Luke, "when are we going into the city? I guess that’s where the merchants come in, and even the pretty ladies.", followed by a chuckle and him rubbing his hands in the same old way he does when he has a plan.
Mark, wanting to see this world and what it has to hide, turned to Angela." I hope you have at least a horse or something."
"We do, how do you think that we manage to earn something? We do go to the market from time to time, trying to sell or trade whatever we can."
"Great! Then we have a plan. I guess we’ll go tomorrow, but for now I want to go into a room and make myself at home. I’m tired of sleeping on Angela’s floor." cried out Mark as he was pointing to his back, Luke feeling exactly what he meant.
"I want to do the same thing. Fortunately for us, I did add two rooms for us, as Angela already has a place to stay.It’s us who need one. Let’s go, our rooms are upstairs."
Luke went first, followed by the other two, who were checking out the hall, looking at the doors. A few more steps, and they reached it. Two doors, right at the end of the hall, one on the left and one on the right.
"I’ll take the one on the right. Don’t worry, the rooms are the same." stated Luke, before making himself unseen in his room.
"Well then, guess I’m going in. Come in if you want to see how it is."
He opened the door, revealing an empty room. No bed, no nothing. Just a window showing the forest, the wooden shutter allowing fresh air to make its way inside.
Both Mark and Angela were speechless.
"I should have expected that..." grumbled Mark, to which Angela replied with a chuckle.
"Now then, if you’ll excuse me..."
He went inside, took out his bag and pulled out a woolen blanket, leaving his guest speechless.
"Now I can sleep peacefully here."
He sat down on his back, his legs still on the floor.
"Come on, sit down if you want, it’s not like I’ll bite your or anything."
She came in, one small step at a time, as if unwilling to come in, yet she laid down beside Mark.
"You know, I feel tired, so don’t be surprised if I just..." and his eyes closed, followed by a loud snore and nothing more. Angela, confused, closed her eyes for a second, only to fall asleep as well.