When dragons fight, it is the trees that are burned.

- A Quassian aphorism.

Through a raised visor, I munched on some laverbread, the flavor almost an afterthought for me. Encased in solid steel, I felt more confident and safe. Skipping beside me, Larynda was her usual whirlwind of effervescence. She had decided to wear a dagger at her waist and took with her one of the wooden practice staves I had bought for her long ago. The staff looked a little different now, strange symbols were carved upon it, in the design of animals and plants. Kidu’s work, if I was not mistaken.

Words continued to spill forth from her mouth in a cascade of curiosity and praise. In the midst of her relentless inquiries and scattered compliments, my mind drifted to the events that had led to my current predicament. A task that I would take no pleasure in.

*****

It all started as she had helped me into my plate harness. Whoever Naira had commissioned to repair my armor had done a good job. The thoughtful innkeeper had also acquired for me some iron bolts for my crossbow without any prompting. Free of charge, I hoped.

As we slowly put on my armored skin, I remembered the fight I had with the masked woman in the Silk Quarter. With sufficient levels and points invested into my attributes, I was sure I could eventually match her skill and speed. That was, after all, the nature of the game. What I could not match, at least not yet, were her lithe and flexible motions. An inkling of an idea on how to rectify this formed in the back of my mind. I would require Kidu’s help.

I found the wild man in the common area, drinking already, despite the early hour. His deep laugh was infectious, his brash ribaldry causing some of the female staff to blush. However, some had chosen to linger a touch closer, and a touch longer, than would be expected.

“Morning to you, Kidu! I see this morning finds you well!” I called out.

“Yes, this city life. It agrees with me much. No hunting for five hours in the snow. I can see how the warm landers grow soft! Though this place is hot, not warm!”

“Just so! I have come to ask a favor from you. It requires your great strength,”

“Ask,” he returned gruffly, looking away as he swallowed another bite of his breakfast.

*****

The experience had been surprising and, admittedly, a bit costly in terms of Mana. Larynda watched on in astonishment as I began to instruct Kidu. Ensuring I was at full Health, I had him force my body to stretch, tearing away unsuspecting ligaments and muscles. I then cast Heal on myself each time to mend the inflicted damage. Larynda winced painfully at the sight, but it was important to demonstrate that some achievements require sacrifice. After all, as the saying goes, ‘No pain, no gain.’ Fortunately, in this world, I could conveniently do away with most of the pain if I was careful.

Thus, I became more flexible and limber in movement than I had ever been before.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

“It is as Elwin speaks. You are an odd duck,” stated Kidu a little unbelievingly, his usual deep voice a shocked octave higher.

“No, it was as you said. God-touched, yes? Without them, I would not have been able to do this. I just decided to use their blessings a little creatively,” I stated simply.

The small half-elf looked at me as if I were a loon. “Why you have to go that far, though? I know you didn’t cry out, which was scary an’ all, but it still musta really really hurt like… So why?” interrupted the small half-elven child.

I thought about the encounter with the masked woman again, remembering being bested. Searching for an answer, the real reason was just experimentation. Primarily, it was to see if I could, and to do what was necessary to improve the state of my body, to get whatever small advantage I could get. However, I doubted that would be a satisfying answer for the child. Remembering the guards’ of the caravan blatherings, I decided to make that the answer.

“The Festival. I intend to enter. It will be a good test of might and will require a small degree of flexibility, no?” I answered glibly.

“I guess so,” she replied weakly.

“If Gilgamesh of Uruk is entering this Festival, then so too is Kidu of the Three Bears! These warm landers will learn how real men do things!” roared Kidu in declaration. “This I do swear!”

“If Kidu is doing it, it must be fun. So I might too!” bubbled the little girl as she stood a bit taller, getting caught up in the flow.

I quickly turned my sneer into a smile and shrugged my shoulders at the tall man, realizing that my eyes barely reached his chest.

“But before that, a little training is required, no? I have always believed that to learn by doing is usually the best. Larynda and I were going to do some tasks for the Adventurer’s Guild. Will you join us?”

“Pah! Not unless I have to… I must do my own training. This Festival is a test of might with no weapons, yes?”

Larynda visibly paled at Kidu’s words.

“Just so,” I succinctly answered. “No matter. Suit yourself, son of the Three Bears. Come now Larynda, we must register you with the Guild. This was your dream, right?”

*****

Registering Larynda at the Al-Lazar branch of the Guild had been a relatively simple, if not expensive affair, at six silver. More surprising than the cost was that it was allowed at all. Such contrivances that we all took for granted, such as child labor laws, simply did not exist in this world.

The woman who had taken down her details was a timid creature, too pale by far for this part of the world, and her skin was paying the price. Freckles had invaded and taken over much of her face. Still, she was efficient, and that was all that mattered in the end. Her name was Aldina, if I remember correctly.

She led the little girl upstairs to meet with the Guildmaster, no doubt to touch the Bonding Crystal and say the oath or whatever initiation rituals the Guild required. I waited on the ground floor, availing myself of the services provided. Purchasing a Health and Mana Potion, I could not help but think that the prices were, of course, horrendous. But that was the price you paid for convenience.

Like a miser checking over his hoard, I kept on checking my Mana. I willed it to rise, debating whether or not to consume my recently bought Mana potion. In the end, thrift won out and Larynda came back with a new copper badge and even more skip to her step.

Should I check on the Necromancer Vincenzio? No, I decided. The man had said he would send word, so wait I would. I would be amply awarded for my patience so I decided to let the matter rest for a bit longer.

Now was the matter of getting a job.

Walking over to the large board, only a few scraps were left, even at this time of the day. The inconvenient, impossible, or simply loathsome requests were all that were left behind. I ground my teeth in frustration, ripping out one of the notice requests.

Slay 20 Sewer Rats (Tails Required) - 8 Silver, the notice read. A hollow laugh escaped from my lips as I registered the contrived silliness of it all. Receiving a few odd looks and I worried frown from Larynda, I simply had to admit to myself one thing. If this wasn’t proof that this world was nothing more than a game, then I do not know what would. It was almost as if the universe itself was mocking my earlier resolution to take this world more seriously.