"Will you just go away! Stupid annoying beast."
"Shoo, fuck off."
"Ahhh, you fucking pest, I can't spend all day up here."
This is not really how I imagined my day going, I best leave this out when I finally persuade Mum to let me go adventuring.
Perhaps it was best to count this day as a simple trail run, what kind of real adventurer spent their day hiding up the closest climbable tree whilst his quarry stalked him from below?
He had not only failed to ambush and dispose of the relatively weak mimic creature, but he had failed in so much as drawing a drop of its blood.
Although in his defence, there was just something unnerving about fighting a monster that could turn into an identical copy of him at will. A factor Rohl would preach in his defence should anyone ever find out about this incident.
Who would not been disturbed and fled when the mimic's small green form suddenly grew to his height, leaving him face-to-face with a perfect copy of himself? It had his brown eyes, same short dirty blonde hair, same angled face, it had even copied his raised striking arm and held the exact same grip he had, even without a trowel in its hands.
Within a moment of the sudden transformation, Rohl had abandoned his ambush and ran, but with the beast hot in his trail, he had only one choice, to climb up the nearest tree and hope to vanquish the monster another way.
But with no weapons, Rohl's chances of acting out that plan were rather limited, especially since he had essentially given the creature the upper hand. Should he drop from the tree, the creature's fangs would be on him in seconds with little chance of him ever being able to defend himself.
"Just go away will you, shoo, shoo." As if to demonstrate his annoyance with the beast, Rohl threw a small broken branch at the creature, an attack that did nothing except make the creature flinch slightly as the stick bounced off its head.
With the attack proving completely futile, there was little Rohl could do but thank the gods that mimics were rather stupid. Despite having the ability to literally transform their bodies, the creature hadn't thought to make its copied size any larger. If it had made itself only a little taller, then Rohl was sure its outstretched hand would be clasping at his ankles. But instead, the weak monster just stood there staring aimlessly at him.
It may be stupid, but it is still deadly. If I had a true weapon or just something, anything to equalise the field.
The sudden shock of the creature's transformation and charge had long since faded and now Rohl was sure he'd have the courage to stand up to his clone but not without some sort of weapon. Fighting his clone with a sword was one thing but having to beat a copy of yourself to death with your fists was an entirely different experience that Rohl wasn't quite ready for. Maybe when he was an actually experienced adventurer then he could tackle such feats but until then, Rohl could do nothing but fiddle around in his pockets for anything that might be of use.
Unfortunately, when he left the house this morning, he hadn't planned to do any monster slaying which left his options rather restricted.
All his quick pocket scouring revealed was a few scraps of bread, an apple and his Uttas Guitar or as Rohl called it his ukatar for short. The food would do him no good in this scenario, the mimic's fangs told him everything he needed to know about the beast's diet and how surely useless it would be to use the food as bait. His ukatar, on the other hand, held more promise but despite how useful it would surely be as a club, Rohl couldn't bring himself to even think about using it as one.
The Uttas Guitar was one of the few family antiques that the Bluedawns still had. It was a magical instrument that could shrink to fit in his pocket and a device Rohl used almost daily to practice his musical skills. If it was broken or damaged in the attack, Rohl wasn't sure he could forgive himself and he was fairly sure his mother wouldn't either.
He would rather face death by mimic than deal with the wrath of his mother besides Rohl treasured his ukatar far too much to even consider using it as a weapon. He hadn't so much as scratched its sleek brown form in the years he had owned it, and he wasn't going to start now by covering it in mimic blood.
But with there being no possibility of him using the durable magically enchanted instrument as a weapon, Rohl was left right back where he started. That was until he heard the sudden sound of rustling in the thicket below him, shortly followed by the gentle thud of the mimic's body crashing into the floor.
"Whatcha doing hiding in that tree Rohl?" Came a quiet voice from below the tree, a voice that Rohl, unfortunately, recognised as that of his sister.
Ah, wonderful. Out of everyone in the village.
"Ah, you know just hanging out. What does it look like I'm doing Sami? I was chased up here by a monster," Rohl answered with a somewhat un-thrilled sarcastic tone in his voice. Still, he was grateful for the assistance, even if he couldn't let his sister know just how precarious the situation had been. There was little chance of him ever living it down if she knew the full truth.
"What, this one?" With a raised eyebrow, Sami reached to the ground and easily lifted up the corpse of the mimic. A task made easier by the creature having returned to its natural form, that of a tiny green man with beady eyes and small fangs that barely peered out the edges of its mouth.
"Ahh, what? No. Truly this beast was something to be feared. I have absolutely no clue where that mimic came from," Rohl answered back although he knew how little the chances were of his sister buying anything he told her about the event.
As if to punctuate that belief, Sami's reply was accompanied by equally suspicious eyes "Sureee. Mum sent me to fetch you anyway, it's time for dinner."
"All right, I'm on my way," Rohl replied as he quickly hopped down from the tree and landed with a somewhat shaky landing. Once his feet were once again secure on the muddy dirt, Rohl turned to face his sister.
"How'd you know where I was anyhow? I told Mum I was heading to the market," asked the failed adventurer.
"I heard some girly screaming and went to have a look."
"How lucky for me that the mimic did that."
With his reply only met with an unconvinced look in return, Rohl did the only thing a brother could do in this situation. Annoy his younger sister by rubbing her on the head as a reward for killing the mimic.
A feat that Rohl wasn't surprised she was capable of, even if he found her apparent eagerness to kill a clone of him quite unsettling. Despite being younger and shorter than him with similar features and long blonde hair, Sami was hardly incapable. In truth, her appearance of an innocent farm girl was deceptive given how she seemed to have the physical strength equal to, if not greater than him. It was likely she could have taken down the mimic even without it being distracted staring at him.
And with that fact in mind, Rohl quickly ended his teasing before his sister got too annoyed by his actions. Of course, the slight frown and sharp-eyed look she was giving him as they moved away from the tree didn't give Rohl too much confidence that he had gotten away with it unscathed.
But before she could enact any kind of revenge as they strolled back through this small section of forest, they were soon distracted by their own conversation.
"So, how's the practice adventuring going?"
"Not well. How's the peaceful farming life going?"
"Meh," Sami replied with a small shrug. Despite Rohl being rather focused on becoming an adventurer, his sister hadn't quite found her own calling yet. She seemed torn between enjoying a peaceful farming life in Shrewsborough and going to find her own way in life.
Her own indecision was something Rohl quite understood, not everyone wanted to risk their life adventuring and if it wasn't for Rohl's own fantasies of the life, he was quite sure he wouldn't be too keen on leaving the safety of Shrewsborough either.
As much as Rohl loved the small farming settlement, he had never been able to dispel the adventuring fantasies his father had placed within him long ago. And it wasn't just his father's legacy that drew him out towards the wider world but also the fact that his village was, in truth, rather dull.
Sure, the village had everything its mostly middle-aged population needed for a harmonic farming life, but Rohl like most of the dwindling youth that lived there, was rather bored. There was no adventures guild, no lively inns, or pubs, only a small market hamlet and fields stocked with wheat. It was a village that bred a close-knit community that given its location near Shiresbridge Woods and one of Offa's main roads had never wanted for anything.
But out of the two hundred and eight settlers that lived here, there were always those like Rohl who wanted excitement, wanted the adventuring dream.
Even with Sami's indecision, Rohl was not the only one who dreamed of becoming a true adventurer and making his family proud, but much to his annoyance, he could see his main competition slowly making his way out of the village and towards them.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
Despite the distance, Rohl knew who it was, he could recognise the other youths' expensive embroidered tunic easily, he was the son of the villagers leading merchant and had no qualms with showing off the wealth that such a job provided.
This day really can't get any worse.
On a good day, Rohl could handle the other youth easily enough but today he would have preferred to still be stuck in that tree over dealing with Tarquin. But given how it was now far too late for Rohl to take a sharp turn away without it being obvious, he had no choice but to continue along his path and deal with the blessed approaching him.
Why couldn't he be like Mr Honberry, he's actually bearable if a bit of an old grouch and besides he's actually earned the respect he's given. He knows what his blessing is. The Chosen of Hephaestus, able to make his skin as hard as metal, now that's a cool ability. If that old veteran was as demanding as Tarquin, I'd probably be okay with it.
But before Rohl could continue to get lost within his own thoughts, the sound of Tarquin's voice quickly drew him back into the real world.
"Rohl if you wanted to go monster slaying. You should have just let me know. I'm always glad to teach those less skilled how a true blessed does it. And a little practice to sharpen my skills is always enjoyable."
As annoying as Tarquin's tone and words were, Rohl wasn't too bothered by it, but the fact the other youth was standing elegantly with the posture and appearance of someone who had already accomplished great deeds or slayed a monster for that fact, was enough to make his eyes twitch in annoyance.
The blessed even went as far as to twissel the long streak of black hair that hung loosely near his chiselled face.
"Yeah thanks, maybe next time," Rohl muttered half-heartedly in response as he and his sister didn't stop to chat, instead forcing Tarquin to pick up pace beside them as they left the dirt track and entered the villager's rough stone pathways.
"Don't be too disheartened Rohl, every great adventurer needs a stable hand, a luggage carrier or even a bard for that matter. Why not stick to your instrument, with a little work you could become a decent bard. Perform for me now and I'll even throw a few twilling's your way. You're always playing for food from the other villagers, this is a step up."
As much as Rohl was used to such sour words from Tarquin, he could help but flinch in annoyance at the words. Their families' wealth was obviously something Rohl didn't like to discuss with Tarquin or anyone for that matter. Whilst Rohl was not prideful enough to reject any sort of extra help he could get but taking it from someone who acted like their poverty was their own choice was too much, they had not asked for Malpox to steal away the Bluedawn patriarch, they had not asked to struggle to feed themselves but no matter the need, Rohl couldn't bring himself to accept anything from Tarquin.
The loss of their father to Malpox had been something they never could have prepared for, it was a disease that cost hundreds of coins to treat and to top it off, a disease not even native to this area. As far as Rohl knew it was released from decaying dungeons, well that was the going theory anyhow. No one had actually slain a dungeon, but should a section of one be damaged enough to start decaying, the area was always cleansed with fire or otherwise, the dungeon's foul rot was believed to cause outbreaks of disease.
And even though their father had been a cautious overprepared man, not even he could not have suspected such an outcome, but the past was the past and as much as it hurt Rohl to do so, he had to force away such memories for now and keep his mind on the present, or more specifically his currently present annoyance.
"Thank you for the offer but we've to get back home, come on Sami, let's go," Rohl answered without giving any more chances for Tarquin to find another avenue of conversation.
Fortunately, the blessed didn't seem too bothered about continuing the conversation, a small reprieve for Rohl who had other reasons for wanting to get away from the youth. Apart from his personal grievance with the other villager, there was another reason why Rohl couldn't allow Tarquin to keep speaking. More specifically he was worried about what his sister would attempt to do.
Even as his hands gripped her shoulders and attempted to steer her in the way of their home, Rohl could feel her fighting the urge to turn and strike Tarquin. Even though Sami was usually calm and collected, she did have a renowned temper and Rohl was sure that if he let her, she would happily turn violent and unleash such temper on Tarquin. Something Rohl couldn't allow, not unless he wanted to annoy Tarquin's father, the main buyer of wheat in the whole of Shrewsborough.
Fortunately, Rohl did know another way to diffuse some of his sister's anger, specifically insulting Tarquin behind his back.
"He's such a dick," Rohl muttered as he heard the faint traces of laughter soon emit from his still-aggrieved sibling.
"The biggest."
"At least when he goes off on this adventurer, we might never have to see him again," Rohl added as if this fact was a huge boon for the family.
"It's your fault he always talks to us, you're the tool who used to be his friend," Sami chastised as she went as far as to splash a bit of water from a nearby puddle in Rohl's direction.
"Please, I didn't see you running in the opposite direction whenever he came by."
"Oh Mum, you'll never believe where I foun-"
"Oh, that's how it is, fine it's all my fault," Rohl interrupted as he watched his sister fail to stop the laughter that was threatening to erupt into a full guffaw.
Still, the few jokes had managed to dispel Sami's anger and prevent any sort of incident that could worsen their situation anymore, a small titbit of good luck that Rohl was glad for. Especially since the peace that now enveloped them would allow him to focus on the return journey back home.
Whilst it was a journey, he had made countless times and there was very rarely anything exciting occurring within the centre of the small village, there was always the tiniest chance that Rohl may overhear some far-off news or glimpse an adventurer passing through on his way to a quest.
They weren't too far off the main road that such an occurrence couldn't happen but as Rohl stared at the Shrewsborough residents manning the market stalls or peddling their wares, he could not spot anyone he didn't recognise amidst the crowds. There were no adventurers examining the wares of the blacksmith as he hammered away at his anvil nor were there any passing criers bringing in news from the big cities.
At best, the only exciting news he heard was that a handful of rangers were likely to pass by as they patrolled the area. Hardly anything too exciting for Rohl.
Still, even if he found nothing truly exciting as he and his sister quickly nipped through the village's market, he could at least enjoy the idyllic image the village gave as its small wooden and straw houses blended with the tranquil countryside in an almost god-worthy picture of peaceful bliss.
The view of the old windmill surrounded by fields of flowering fields of wheat only added to this image, and it was a sight that Rohl never failed to appreciate as he and his sister quickly detoured away from the village's residential district and entered one of its many farms.
Of course, Rohl's fascination with the view did bring out a small snort of laughter from his sister whom Rohl knew was likely fighting the urge to trip him as they walked. But even she lost her mischievous spirit as the sight of the home finally came into view amongst the fields of crops.
Whilst it was hardly a luxurious abode or one that gave off any sign of wealth or status, it did have character. The small single-story farmhouse weaved into the countryside as if its nature itself had placed in there.
Its wooden panels, open windows and small chicken coop only added to the feeling of home it gave and that is what it was to the siblings, home.
And as the pair got closer, the faint whiff of freshly made soup began to fill the air, an aroma whose origin could now be seen as Rohl easily spotted the blurred image of his mother scuttling around the kitchen.
Even if soup wasn't exactly Rohl's favourite food, he was at least pleased by the smell, his mother was a great chef unlike he and Sami who had now been banned from entering the kitchen after a few too many disastrous attempts at cooking.
But even the pair's many apologies and promises to not almost burn down the small kitchen this time went ignored as the mother took on the duties herself despite obviously needing the help.
But as the siblings finally paced up the stony steps that led them to their door, the faint sound of their mother racing around the kitchen drew them to hastily enter and at least offer their assistance, even if that offer was met with nothing but a pointed look at the dining table from their mother's sharp eyes.
Torn between wanting to offer his help once again and desiring not to be shouted at, Rohl remained seated at the dining table as both he and his sister held an unspoken debate on what to do before eventually deciding to wait out their time in still silence.
I can't feel too bad about not helping, I do try and do as many of the other chores as I can.
Both he and his sister were hardly layabouts, they couldn't afford to be idle in this house, not when there were many chores that needed to be done both in the house and in their fields.
Fortunately, they were able to split and rotate most chores as needed and often competed for who would get the easier tasks, neither he nor Sam particularly enjoyed gathering firewood in winter after all.
But such duties and those that came with a farming life had to be done, even if they were not particularly glorious, there was little exhilaration or joy to be found in ploughing fields or collecting chicken eggs. To Rohl, the only true excitement could be found in the life of an adventurer and no matter how much Rohl loved his simple life, he still craved his adventuring dreams. But for now, he would gladly settle for a hot meal to end the day.
And with sentiment brewing within him, it did at least seem that Rohl would be getting one of his desires, specifically a meal of cabbage and onion soup.
It was hardly a meal Rohl was unfamiliar with, but variety was expensive and Rohl was certainly not going to complain as his mother gently placed the bowl down in front of him before taking her own seat at the table.
But much to Rohl's misfortune, he was not able to immediately dig into his meal and go about filling his stomach with a relaxing full warmth, how could he when his mother's calculating gaze was drawn to his elbow.
"Rohl, how did you get that graze on your arm? Have you been in the woods again? I told you not to go monster hunting anymore, it's too dangerous."
Despite posing her words as a question, it was obvious that his mother had been able to figure the truth without either him or Sami saying a word. But as Rohl saw the worry that was evident on his mother's face, the guilt that flowed through him dispelled any chance of him even attempting to cover his tracks. Their mother was already aged beyond her years with greying hair and seemingly permanent worry lines, Rohl would have had to have been heartless to not have almost become overwhelmed with guilt as he remained frozen by his mother's questions.
"I'm sorry. I-" Rohl attempted to apologise as his hands fidgeted nervously with his spoon.
"Why would you go out there again after I explicitly told you not to?"
"I wanted to train, to get stronger, so I can follow Dad..." The speech Rohl had planned out should his mother ever question him soon fizzled and died under her gaze. A gaze which even seemed to cow Sami despite her having done nothing but sit their in silence as she watched the argument.
"Rohl, sweety, ever since you were little you have always wanted to be a mighty adventurer and when your father passed, your drive to become stronger only increased.
After a deep breath, she continued, "But I want you to stop. Stop putting yourself in danger like this. We will be fine here, and I will not risk losing anyone else. Understood?"
"I understand." Came Rohl's sombre reply, his mother's words took away any notion of arguing with her.
"Good, now finish up and get off to bed. We've all got an early morning tomorrow. Sami and I need to head into town for market and you'll have your own jobs to get started on."
As much as Rohl loved his mother and wished he could obey her request, a part of him knew it would not be as easy as sticking to a few spoken words, but with the meal now over, Rohl didn't hesitate in turning in for the night.
He could hear the steps of his sister following behind as he moved to find her own bed but despite how hard his mother's words had been, Rohl still made sure to wish her goodnight.
"Goodnight to you both, you can have the leftovers tomorrow," their mother responded in kind as she began to clear away any dishes, doing her best to keep busy and prevent her concern and worry from showing. They all had to be up early tomorrow, and the earlier discussion would not make sleep come easy, no matter how comfy their beds.