“Ahh! That tutor is brutal!” Kenshi complained as the group gathered together in the common room for the servants quarters. Their were similar comments from the other students while the two adults just eyed each other knowingly.

“So what do we do now?” Kaylie asked getting everyone's mind on the game.

“Well it's morning here, first we should visit the kitchens for something to eat. I'd imagine at least 2 of us will be drafted for kitchen duty. Anyone here want to be a chef?” Casden asked. When he received no answer he asked a different question. “OK, is anyone interested in learning the cooking skill or at least willing to learn it?”

Tyden, Ani, Calina and Gai all indicated they were willing. Casden hid his surprise when Tyden volunteered but he nodded. “Good, That will take care our food this morning. We still have 8 pieces of bread left each so no press anything if we cant get any food to take with us today. Be nice to everyone you see and if they seem open try to talk to them. That's how you get quests and since we cant go out and fight to gain levels all we can do is quests to get stronger.”

With agreeing nods he continued, “They have two storefronts that faced a main avenue that many if not most people passed. They were popular since they didn't over charge for the products they made in house. There was even a blacksmith's on one side of the property that made the items that were sold inside. Anyone wanna be a tailor or blacksmith?”

Jessika or Jess for short raised her hand immediately “Um, I'm actually trying to be a fashion designer so I'd like to be a tailor”

“Blacksmith?”

“I'll do it,” said Nick. “We're here to support you guys and I have a little background in a similar profession.”

“And I think I'll have a go at being the parties cook,” Chen said agreeing with Nick. “If I focus on cooking for a bit I'd only need one of you as a helper or replacement in case I'm busy.” Ani decided to stay as shes been cooking her own food for years. Calina and Gai volunteered to work the storefronts. “There will probably be various errands and other small jobs to do and the rest of us will handle those. Lets give it our all, I'm sure we'll have the afternoon to go exploring the city on our own.” And with that they went off to their first day of work.

Kaylie and Casden were charged with cleaning all the rooms one on each floor. Tyden laughed heartily when he and Orion as the largest members were guided to the basement to clear out all the large furniture and debris Kenshi followed Thrala on her routes. It seemed that she handled all the deliveries and purchases so she basically used Kenshi as a mule. Shade was sent on various errands for Lady Laenaya who giggled sweetly when Tyden descended into the basement eyeing her with a grin.

Though they remained busy, it wasn't long before the group met once again in the servant common's room. “Sorry I'm late,” Jessika said as she rushed in closing the door behind her.

“Don't worry about,” Casden said waving it away. “I take it everyone's first day on job went well?” he asked seeing everyone is such high spirits.

“You know, I don't think I've ever enjoyed cleaning out the basement,” Orion said with a laugh. “There was so much stuff down there, we'll be busy for a week!” he finished with Tyden nodding in agreement.

“Today was awesome! I spent the first part of the day tearing fabric then sowing it back up.” Everyone laughed at Jessika's display with her squinting eyes and pursed lips. “That dwarf Dura was real standoffish at first. Someone told me that she just didn't like teaching dwarfs, but was otherwise a nice person. Well I was in the Kitchen at lunch eating and drawing on a torn piece of paper I found and next thing I know she slams a new piece of paper and a pencil and told me to draw it again. We started talking and when she found out I wanted to be a designer when I grow up she showed me her book of designs She's got like a THOUSAND original styles that she doesn't even sell in the store. She said if I prove myself to her she would give me a copy and a new one just for me!” At this she was jumping in place, cheeks rosy with color and hands clasped below her chin.

“That's great Jessika!” several people chorused as others said similar congratulations Her cheeks glowed with excitement. Many of the others told of similar circumstances for a couple minutes before the question of what to do next came up.

“We're going to the training grounds,” Nick broke in first. Nine pair of eyes were looking at him like he was crazy, especially the girls. He sighed as he realized he'd have to explain something so basic. “We're going to go out their exploring. Even if you are not a fighter you need to know at least the basics on how to protect yourself.” This last was said to Casden who looked back calmly.

The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

“Well...yeah, I see your point.” Ani said meekly. It took a little further convincing before the others were in complete agreement but the group were soon walking along the crowded streets headed toward the training center.

The leader of the training center was surprised when a large group of freemen came jogging down the street, single file while a man with short cut hair ran along side them singing a strange song that they repeated back breathlessly. After a short moment to run through some stretches they entered into his training center. He followed quietly behind as the group conversed together as they looked over the assorted weapons. Soon they each hand one, including the tall one with the tail. He carried a wooden great-sword with one hand and seemed to have only a slight problem with the weight. Even after the shorter of the two adults stopped him to question his choice before he could take his fist swing. What ever the creature said seemed to appease the other and he stepped back and observed as he took several swings at the practice dummy before nodding and heading to one of the females that had chosen a rapier like blade favord by female players. It didn't have much attack power but its size and weight allowed for more strikes allowing for faster players.

The training grounds instructor was then distracted by another freeman, to then carry on with his other duties. An hour had passed before the group left splitting off in smaller groups. An hour isn't very long to train the instructor thought to himself before shrugging his shoulders with a chuckle. He'd seen some that after striking a training dummy and having the sword fly out of his hands, smacking himself in the face. Just too storm off screaming how stupid swords were. “I wonder what ever happened to that kid?”

That kid in fact was running for his life in a dungeon. His entire party was wiped out, they'd cleared the entire first floor save for one monster. He and a friend WERE the last two when this monster showed up from know where stabbing his friend in the back killing him instantly. Now he ran. He was a fire-mage, a pretty strong one too. He focused on the element fire solely so his spells were quite strong. The only problem is this monster seemed immune to fire! Its body seemed very frail, sickly even. He didn't have time to look at the info on the monster before it lunged at him with a knife. He just jumped to his feet grabbed the front of his fire red robes lifting it clear of his legs and RAN!

It was right behind him! He could hear it breathing down his neck. The only weapon he had in his hands was a sword he was picking up after killing a ooze blob that held a dead skeleton inside. The Kid just ran as hard as he could hearing the quick steps behind him that included a sickly laughter. “I WISH I KNEW HOW TO USE A SWORD!” he cried out turning a corner disappearing into the darkness.

There second day in Royal Road ended where it began, with the group gathered back together sitting on whatever was handy as they talked about the things they saw after they'd split up. This evening was to be a more thorough search of the city and its attractions. Once back together they compiled all their maps producing a more detailed and complete map of the city. Kenshi even had information on the knights training ground which he explained that he was gonna be a knight if it killed him. “I talked to one of the knights that was overseeing the cadets. He said if I got stronger and was able to get sword mastery to beginner level 5 he'd allow me to join the other cadet's in training.”

“That's good new,” Casden said. “If you spend all of your off time in the training grounds you should reach that in no time.” Kenshi nodded in understanding and agreement. “Anyone else have anything interesting happen to them?”

“We found a Colosseum,” Shade replied. He'd gone out with Gai, Tyden and Chen when they'd separated “There was all this cheering and stuff coming from inside but we didn't have enough for the entrance fee. Can you believe they want 5 gold just to WATCH!”

“Me and Tyden are gonna see if we can find another way in next time.” No one noticed when one of the other party members looked up in interest.