Exhausted: You should have gone to bed hours ago, movement speed has been reduced, and all skills/powers/abilities now take extra mana and stamina to take effect.
She dismissed the menu. The inn looked like a house and knocked on the door.
“Come in,” a female voice rang out.
Jennifer opened the door and walked in to find a smiling woman behind a counter. The innkeeper, although rather large and well past being called young, moved quickly from her spot to stand before Jennifer. The smile vanished after giving Jennifer the once over, and a frown cemented in place.
Jennifer said, “The mayor reserved a room for me.”
“Have you been sleeping in the stables, girl? You smell like every horse on this shell ate bad tacos next to you. Get in the baths before going to your room.” The innkeeper covered her nose with her hand using her free hand to wave her towards the baths were in. “Just leave everything to be washed in the bathroom. We can’t have that smell here.”
Jennifer pulled the neck of her robes and took a sniff. She had been cleaning the stables for hours.
“What room number?” Jennifer asked before heading for the baths.
“You're in room one oh three. Ladies’ baths are on the west side. There will be bathrobes and towels waiting for you.” She said, while making hand gestures at Jennifer to hurry.
Jennifer did as instructed and found the showers. She left her clothes in a basket near the door. She turned the knob to release water while controlling the pressure. The shower worked just the way she expected, with red runes on the right side of a knob and blue runes on the left. She tapped her hand on the red rune three times to get a good feeling for how warm the water would get before refining the heat to a more comfortable setting. She only tapped the blue rune once to cool the water down a tiny bit.
Walls stood on either side of the showering alcove for privacy in the public space. There was a lot of room on either side of her, so even if she had not been alone, she would not have felt cramped. She upped the pressure a few times and used the shampoo and soap supplied. She wondered who she needed to talk to, in order to get them laundered.
She was tired, sore, and dirty, but at least she was fixing the dirty part in the shower. The hot water, along with the soap and shampoo, felt wonderful.
She left the shower alcove in a fluffy courtesy bathrobe only to find her dirty clothes had already been taken away. A hot tub filled with soap and water. She had no idea who had filled it, or even when, but Jennifer took it as an invitation. After getting into the hot tub, Jennifer realized she was not alone.
Her lynx-shark swam at the bottom of the hot tub. He rose to the surface of the water, with his dorsal fin being out of the water. Jennifer shrugged and entered the tub could have held at least a dozen more people Jennifer's size, with the middle going deeper than her height. She decided to just enjoy the soak, letting her eyes rest while her familiar enjoyed the swim.
At some point, she must have fallen asleep because woke up to find a cow entering the tub. The cow displaced even more water than Jennifer. The cow let out a “Mooo” of joy as she settled in.
Jennifer blinked several times, wondering how the cow got into the bath. Her mind moved like the mud she had cleaned earlier. Unsure what to say yet feeling the need to say something, Jennifer spoke very fast, loud and high pitched “Hello. My name is Jennifer. It’s my first time here. How are you?”
The lynx-shark's head popped out of the water. “My name is Woozle. I’m part shark, and I love the water.” Instead of waiting for a response he submerged again.
The cow said, “Moo moo, momo, moo.”
Jennifer glanced over at the cow. Trying not to stare, she noticed the black and white animal was wearing large, dark sunglasses. She wondered if this was the same cow she had spotted earlier in the field with the deer. “I’m sorry. What did you just say?”
One shimmering blur of vision later, the cow disappeared and was replaced by a blonde woman in sunglasses. The cheeriness of her voice was unmistakable as she said, “My name is Sarah No Val. I’m with Exports Du Universal. It’s my first time here too.” The lady had wrapped herself in towels, while Jennifer was in a wet robe, having entered the hot tub without removing it. While Jennifer was unsure of the etiquette, she had been too tired to think when she spotted the tub.
“I’m doing some quests to get into Bishop’s University and get some land in town. I don’t have a job, but I would like to be a working student.'' Jennifer needed someone to talk to, and she felt comfortable with this woman, especially since it was just her and Woozle in the tub. “Can I ask why you are wearing sunglasses inside?” Jennifer asked the blond woman.
“Oh my, I forgot I even had these on,” Sarah said, not taking the sunglasses off. Jennifer felt like something was off, but the smile on the woman’s face reached her eyes. “What do you think of this dinosaur king thing happening? I’m hoping to be able to reach a trade deal with the dinos.”
Jennifer put her hand on her chin as she thought about the question. “I honestly don’t know what’s happening. I just cleaned the stables. I was there when the mayor got the news, and he was able to use his mayoring skills to get everyone moving. By the time I reacted, the only quest left was to clean the stables.” She smiled sheepishly. “I don’t think anyone else wanted to do it. As soon as I stepped into the inn, he sent me up here for a wash.”
“Is it true the stables have three floors?”
“Oh yes. The first floor is split with one side for normal mounts, the other side for big mounts. It was more like two barns stapled together. The second floor has a landing strip and cages for the flying mounts, and the third floor seems to be the offices for those blue messenger birds.”
Sarah snuggled down into a more comfortable position in the water before speaking. “I just got to town today. Would you be able to get me to the roof of the stables? It would help me get used to the area.”
Jennifer waved at her and in a circular manner. “Sure, but later, I need to get some sleep in me first.” Jennifer stood up. “Arg, what time is it?” Jennifer’s menu showed the time as 0805. “How about we meet downstairs for lunch? After that we can go take a peak around together.”
Sarah said, “Oh, let me buy you lunch. It’s so nice to find a friendly face around here.”
As Jennifer walked towards the door, she put on a dry bathrobe over her wet one, before letting the wet robe hit the floor. Woozle slipped out of the tub and followed her. To Jennifer's surprise, rather than having his fur soaking wet and leaving a trail of water, the lynx looked like he had come out of a light rain. A smirk grew on his face, Woozle said. “My shark half gives me underwater breathing and a high resistance to water, Meaning I can only get so wet even if I’m under water.”
Jennifer easily found her room. Hanging from the doorknob on a coat hanger was her freshly laundered starting gear. She swore she was going to get more clothes soon. She opened the door, carried the clean clothes inside, and lay down on the single bed. a large window in the room, but the curtains had already been drawn. She closed her eyes and went to sleep.
Chapter break?
A haunting distinct, loud, and low pitch whistle. It was coming from outside the room, the only context she could place on the sound was one of loneliness. The note played again, Jennifer's mind worked on where it was coming from. She said slowly pushing herself to a seated position[RM3] . Woozle was curled up at the end of the bed, he was asleep. On the third long pitched whale, she brought herself to the window. On the edge of town stood a blue train. It was in the shadows, with the noise coming from one of the three protrusions on the top of the machine. Squinting her eyes, she could make out the numbers 313 written in black. The word “Pretty,” escaped her mouth as she went to rub the sleep from her eyes. She opened her eyes again to an alarm going off. “Did I set that?” Looking out the widow the train was gone and an alarm close was in front of her with the time reading “WAKE UP." For some reason no matter how many times she tried to press the snooze button with her hands, the alarm did not turn off. Flopping back into the bed with the alarm still going off, an icon that was Woozle’s face moved to cover the snooze button before it stopped. “Five more minutes,” was all Woozle said.
The bed was the right blend of firm and soft. With some resistance from the warm blankets holder in her down. It was Rover poking her face when she knew it was time to get ready for the day. She put on her starting gear. As soon as she was fully dressed, Rover appeared on her shoulder as if he had never left.
Your pet
The prompt told Jennifer what Rover had been up to. Letting her mind pass over her menu, she found a log stating the spider was able to gather five healing moss yesterday, and ten today. She smiled at her spider and gave the spider a well-earned head scratch. “Good job, little guy.”
The spider leaned into the positive affection placed on him. Deciding that was a good amount of praise, she turned to go. Jennifer picked up the lynx-shark, placed him in her hood, and left the room with her spider on her shoulder. On her way to meeting her new friend in the eating area, she reviewed her menus for the buffs and debuffs. A ten percent experience bonus from her nap with a two-hour timer. Jennifer searched for the tired debuff, but she could not find it, which she decided to take as a good sign.
This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.
She entered the common area. A lunch crowd gathered in the eating area. A total of three tables out of the dozen or so were being used. Jennifer felt a wave of loneliness wash over her. The world seemed so big and yet so empty. Everyone in the almost empty lunch rush seemed to be wearing the same large dark glasses. Jennifer assumed this to be a local fashion trend.
She noticed Sarah waving her hand. Jennifer smiled and waved back, not feeling as lonely as before.
As Jennifer sat down, the innkeeper showed up with a cooked egg and lettuce sandwich, with a side of what seemed to be deep fried scales that were about half the length of her pinkie finger, and just as thick. There were no utensils, but there were two napkins. Jennifer looked down at the plate in front of her. She was used to pointy metal sticks for when she ate, or at least small tridents like metal sticks people placed great emphasis on using with great ceremony.
Looking at the food in front of Sarah. She was eating some kind of fruit with a thin, green skin and what could be viewed as rubbery orange inside. The fruit had been sliced into eight wedges and came with a side of what could be long grass salad. Jennifer searched her memories looking for what to do, she was unsure if there should be words before a meal, or if she should just start eating, was she the guest in this case, or the host.
“Who ordered the food?” She did not mean to ask the question aloud.
“Oh I am not sure, I cannot remember the last time I even told anyone what I wanted to eat. How long have you been in the system again?” Sarah asked Jennifer.
Jennifer faced down as warmth spread across her cheeks. She held three fingers up.
“Oh, three years and you’re already staying in the best inn in the city. I’ve been here for nine years. Since I have to travel around a lot, I’ve had to learn the little habits here and there. I’m sure I’ve made my own mistakes here and there too. Only parallels order their own food, most of the time the cooking staff are already preparing the meal. Most greeters, if not the server, have a skill to predict what someone is going to order.”
Jennifer did not feel any better and quickly shook her head.
“Not want you wanted to order or Not three years?” Like a teacher searching the class for students with an answer, “Did you mean three months? That is even more impressive,” Sarah said, with a bit of awe in her voice.
Jennifer moved her head to face Sarah’s and whispered, “This is my third day here.”
Not much noise in the dining area before. Now it has all stopped. She swiveled her head taking in the room around her. One of the other patrons was holding his sandwich up to his mouth about to eat it, but his hands and face were frozen in shock. One of the customers had his large, dark sunglasses that weren't large enough to cover his bulging eyes and raised eyebrows. Once he noticed her noticing him, he resumed eating as if nothing had happened.
Sarah let out a long exhale before speaking. “How did you end up staying in this hotel?”
Jennifer simply pulled out a healing potion from her inventory to show her friend, and then picked up a deep-fried scale with her other hand. Leaving the potion in Sarah’s grasp, Jennifer could not find her voice to explain the deal, so she decided to first focus on the meal in front of her. Jennifer put the deep-fried scale partly in her mouth and took a bite.
She was expecting to chew on something tough and leathery that had been battered, salted, and put into a deep fryer. Little resistance met her teeth as she bit on a firm but chewable morsel in her mouth. It was soft on the inside and crisp on the outside. Despite just coming out of the kitchen, it was not hot. “This tastes a bit like a French fry.” She said, partly in shock. She took another bite.
She looked up before eating her second deep fried scale and saw Sarah still holding the healing potion. She realized everyone in the room was eying the potion. Taking a combing breath, before explaining her situation. “The mayor traded three nights here for one potion. After selling the thing, I can only craft three healing potions rather than four for the next week. Do you think if I get multiple bottles that would change? Right now, I have another quest to gather healing moss. I think the mayor wants to sell the moss or to get me to craft more. But I don’t want to give up any more bottles.” It felt like everyone in the room was staring at her, wherever she looked, they were looking at her.
“You’re an alchemist?” astonishment laced Sarah's voice.
“Yup, I’m a techno-necromancer-alchemist.” Wanting to add more she added, “My familiar is a rocket-powered lynx-shark. I have a pet armored, gathering, trapdoor spider.” She thought about what else she could share about herself. “I’m descended from giants, and my primary weapon is a mop. What’s your class?”
Until she was given a question Sarah’s eyes never left the potion. Handing the vile back to Jennifer. She left it on the table in front of her plate. Sarah opened and closed her mouth several times, “Well I, umm. You see I,”
Jennifer picked up the sandwich and took a bite.
Sarah looked down and smoothed out her clothes with her hands. “I’m a Hunter-Gather. I’m only level five, but I’m hoping to get the deal maker prestige class. I took a trader sub-skill as well. That gives me a bonus in negotiations.”
“My classes were more or less a random choice for me, I only really got to choice one.” Jennifer admitted.
“I also did not get to choose my classes, their system gave me my primary and secondary powers. I do get to choose my prestige and other abilities.”
Jennifer could not help asking, “Knowing what you know now, what would you have chosen?''
Sarah made eye contact with Jennifer, causing her to quickly look away. “I guess—" a disembodied hand protruding from a bright purple jacket with blue glowing lines where the seams should have been grabbed it. Like heat waves coming off of a large rock the rest of the person appeared.
“Hey, that is not yours!'' Sarah said.
Startled at the sudden appearance of a brightly coloured person, Jennifer gave the man a once over as she quickly swallowed a mouthful of sandwich.
Like most people Jennifer had met already here, the guy was short, maybe reaching her chin. The bright blue hair that stuck up in all directions had a slight glow. Half of this persons’ face could not be seen because of the bright purple fabric covering his nose and chin. Wrapped around his forehead above his violet eyes was a bandana with a metal bar on it. The metal bar featured a stylised pinecone. This guy wore a jacket despite being inside and the weather being on the warmer side. His jacket was zipped up and the same purple color as the mask the dude wore. His pants were black, but again on the seam lines there was the glowing blue. He wore a black glove on his right hand, and the knuckles of the glove had a hardened outline. The man’s left hand was covered in an outline of a dragon on his gauntlet with the pointy fingertips ending in hard angled points.
He held the potion up, inspecting it. Without turning to acknowledge either Sarah or Jennifer, they said, “Scan,” and a white sphere appeared. From the sphere, a blue light shot out, which produced a grid pattern surrounding the vial holding the potion. When the white sphere stopped analyzing the vial, the glowing one showed no sign of giving the potion back.
Jennifer slowly put down her sandwich, stood up, and reached out to take back the potion. Once her hand touched the vial, the man spoke without meeting her eyes. “How much” There was no questioning tone in his voice, it was more monotone akin to sounding like an old computer reading a line of text rather than a human.
Jennifer's cheeks burned, and she narrowed her eyes. He had not asked to see the potion, had not even acknowledged their presence, nor shown an ounce of courtesy. Jennifer glared at the newcomer but answered him in the same tone he had used on her. “No.” Snatching the potion away from the neon garbed one, she put it back in her inventory. He turned his head to face Jennifer in the eyes.
Critical success. Giant’s intimidation has caused fear for 10 seconds.
The notification pops in her menus. The man’s eyes went from steely to wide-eyed fear only made her smile widen. She had not meant to trigger it, but happy it did go off.
“Can’t handle looking a girl in the eyes, ninja?” Sarah spoke in a mocking manner.
The ninja responded with “Listen, Cow—”
But Jennifer cut him off with a louder and more forceful tone, saying, “No.” She slammed her hands into the table for emphasis.
The ninja fell silent.
Jennifer glared at the man, deciding what to do. “First, apologize to Sarah for being rude.”
To his credit, the ninja turned his full body to Sarah and bowed at the waist. “I apologize for my earlier rudeness.”
Before the ninja reverted from his bow, Jennifer continued to raise her voice. “Secondly, you are going to sit silently while my friend and I finish our meal together.” As he moved to recover from his bow, she added more volume to her voice. “If you want to talk to me about my potions afterwards, you will show my friend the absolute respect she deserves. And no name calling.”
Sarah had her eyes and mouth wide open.
Jennifer did not know if it was her knees or the table that was wobbling. She sat back down hard. The innkeeper had the same shocked appearance as Sarah. “Excuse me, innkeeper. Would it be possible to get some fruit or berry juice please?” The innkeeper nodded once, closed her mouth, and ran for the kitchen.
Jennifer took a calming breath, collecting her thoughts. She had a lot of questions but did not want to pester her friend. “You said you wanted to be a deal maker. Is that one of those side power sets?” Jennifer was not particularly interested. She just wanted to get the conversation going again.
“Huh?” said Sara, in shock. Once she recovered, she said, “Well, I’m level five, the area cap is level fifteen, and the level max of this shell segment is level fifty. At level fifty, we unlock at least one prestige class. Deal Maker is one of the possible prestige classes. Although, I’ve been told it may be unlocked with a quest line.”
“I’m still only level three.” reviewing her bars, and with a mental search command found her experience bar. She was not near leveling up.
The two continued to speak and share what their goals and ambitions were. Jennifer wanted to go to school and make the world better, while Sarah wanted to climb the ranks within her company.
One of the servers took the empty plates off the table, leaving a tall glass of dark berry juice. Jennifer closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. She held her breath for five heartbeats before opening her eyes and turning to the neon-coloured ninja.
“Okay, Mr. Ninja, you were asking about my potions.” She stayed polite, but Jennifer knew her smile did not reach her eyes.
“I would like one of the healing potions.” The ninja spoke with no inflection or emotion.
Jennifer let her frustration speak for her. “Why?”
It took some time for the ninja to speak. As Jennifer waited, she counted the heartbeats it took for him to respond. She got up to twenty-two.
“I do not currently have any self-healing. This would allow me to adventure more and save more people.”
“Do you currently need healing, Mr. Ninja?” Sarah asked.
“My name is Large Soup Bowl 14, I am currently at ninety-eight percent health.”
Jennifer blinked. “That's technically a name . . . I guess.” She gave the ninja a once over again. “Tell you what, Large Soup, I’m going to show my friend the view of the village from the top of the stables. After that, I have to visit the museum.” She had no intention of explaining the lobsters and shifted in her seat at the thought. “Then I’m going to gather healing moss in the forest. If you would like to join me, and if we get enough healing moss, I should be able to craft you a healing potion. Maybe. It will be my first time trying . . . to do so.” Trailing off, she shook her head and collected her thoughts.
“Agreed. I will follow you then complete the quest together.”