Locating and mapping three al-Mi'raj warrens was trivial. The vicious horned rabbits didn't even smell us moving around them.

They were a curious type of monster. Ordinary rabbits were herbivore prey animals but the al-Mi'raj were vicious predators, even at the bottom of the food chain. They charged at the enemy with their sharp horns, leaping and headbutting without regard for their lives. Most people who died to al-Mi'raj attacks had themselves to blame. They either froze, tripped, panicked, or otherwise.

Heck, the centaurs of the steppes sent their children under ten years old to fight these vicious little buggers. They made a whole sport out of it, making the young foals pit themselves against the bunnycorns in an obstacle arena.

But with our mission complete, we went back to town and then the guild. Hector went to claim the bounty on the trophies and the mission, while Miranda examined me. The attention made me blush but I steeled myself and returned the courtesy.

"Is something the matter?" I asked her.

Miranda startled, then she pinched the bridge of her nose and shook her head. "I'm sorry. It's just that... you remind me of him too much."

I felt rampaging emotions swirl around my heart and mind. The grief that was suppressed by the task gurgled up my throat. "My father?" I croaked as my voice broke like a prepubescent kid.

"Yes. I'm sorry. I met him for the first time fifteen years ago. You look like a younger version of him."

I closed my eyes and clenched my teeth. Reigning in the maelstrom, I tried to soften my expression, hide my pain, and smile. "Thank you. It means a lot to me, that people remember and cherish him."

Miranda's eyes glistened. She nodded, the shine crystallizing into a couple of tears that flew off. "You will make him proud."

A tap on my shoulder broke the magic of the moment. As I turned around, Hector tossed a coin pouch straight at my nose. My System-enhanced reflexes allowed my hand to dart up and catch it a few inches away from the target. The adrenalin was just enough to knock me off my bedlam.

"Your share of the Goblin camp," he said with a gruff voice. "Kid, if you need help, ask. And if Miranda is too much for you—"

The Ranger lady's bow smacked against the back of Hector's leg. "Let's go. The kid has another meeting to attend."

She jerked her head and we looked at the row of counters. Alice was behind the busy receptionists, her iridescent eyes beckoning me. I tossed the coin pouch up, then caught it on the descent.

"Better not leave my employer waiting. Cya, guys," I said as I moved quickly to the back.

*

*

I was sitting in front of the desk in the Guild Master's office, eagerly waiting for my evaluation.

"Everything seems fine," Alice said as she accepted my report. "We will post these and wait for someone to complete the quests. Now, why didn't you report the Goblin camp? Going after these al-Mi'raj warrens was a waste of time!"

"The Goblin Chieftain seemed dangerous," I replied.

Alice wasn't convinced. "The truth, George," she said firmly. "If culling the village was the purpose, why didn't you join them? By the Divine Triumvirate, I've never seen a level zero novice with a ranged attack leave Experience on the table!"

"I didn't feel like killing things today."

Alice shook her head again, then stood up from her seat. She hummed a chant and wove her arms around her, making delicate gestures with her fingers. Magic spun around her and flowed like silver rivers to the corners of the room, sinking into the walls and activating runic wards. The runes etched along the walls, hidden from sight in normal circumstances, glowed silver like her magic for a few seconds.

"There. Now not even the High Seers of Carnabalt can eavesdrop on us," Alice said and let her shoulders sag as she sat. She slumped on her chair. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't put such undue pressure on you."

Alice leaned forward and whispered, despite her claim about the wards. "I know of your father's Parallel Progression. And I assume you inherited it."

I froze and all my instincts told me to get out of there. This was not a subject to bring up even with one's close family or lovers. Indignation flared next. Even though it was Alice, a line had been crossed. People whose Status statistics were exposed, people who had a special spark such as Scout's Duty, quickly found themselves in an early grave.

Those in power loathed competition.

"I won't confirm nor deny it," I replied through clenched teeth. "What is your point?"

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

"Scout's Duty would be invaluable for the Guild," Alice said as a plea.

"Fuck, no," I roared as I stood up and slammed the desk. "You couldn't get my father, now you want the second-best thing? Alice, you..." a sob, then a wave of anger. "You went too far. I trusted you my whole life, but you don't get to make that offer."

I spun on my heels and made a beeline for the door. Alice didn't stop me.

*

*

Furious, I moved out the front door and into the busy street. Adventurer's Lane gravitated around the Guild and its members, catering to their every need. Alchemists, Enchanters, Blacksmiths, Fletchers, Armorers, Leatherworkers, and a Bank branch. Not to mention a general store.

Right across the street was one such general store, taking over the ground floor of the three-story stone building. "Whisperfizzle's Emporium," the sign read. Run by a Gnome Merchant, the rent on the lower two floors was my primary source of income now that I blew it with the Guild. From waterskins to perfectly measured ten-foot poles to impermeable backpacks, Whisperfizzle had everything an Adventurer needed in one spot.

I missed the storefront and went to the side door. Unlocking it with my key, I slipped inside and locked the door behind me. Only then I let my guard down as I rested against the wall.

"Shit, shit, shit, shit!" I cursed and punched the solid rock wall in front of me.

It was all Alice's fault. I couldn't believe such a charismatic Elf would commit such crude faux pas. She had no right to talk about Scout's Duty, no permission to capitalize on it. Invaluable to the Guild? Please.

I weighed my options. I could sell the building and leave. I knew Whisperfizzle wanted to buy and the Gnome had the funds. Then I could skip town and restart elsewhere, under another name. Whatever the reason, I couldn't work for the Guild, not with Alice at the helm.

Funny how a decade and a half of trust can erode in a single day. What Alice did was unforgivable. Prying about someone's System statistics like that? Especially something that could put a death mark on his back? Worse than death, he could be imprisoned, then placed under a Geas.

Fortunately, there was no slavery in this world. Many nations tried in the fifty thousand years of history since the Gods made Koiphyvv habitable but they all failed miserably. The Gods themselves made it clear they would not tolerate slavery.

The next best thing (for those who wished to have power over people) was indentured servitude. As a fair punishment for a crime recognized by the Gods, one could be made into an indentured servitor with the help of a priest. They had rights, could own property but they were forced to work for their master. Or the master and servitor could go to the temple and reach, with the guidance of a priest, an exchange of value for service for a period of time. But nobles and Royalty had a way to make an offer one couldn't refuse.

Breaking the servitude carried a heavy penalty. It could be a debuff, a curse, or something else but it always blocked the person from earning more Experience.

Anyway, I climbed two flights of stairs to my home and decided to spend the rest of the day indoors, munching on my thoughts.

*

*

Hours later, the doorbell to my apartment chimed insistently. Someone was pulling on the rope downstairs like an emergency was underway. I blinked the cobwebs as I stood up, my afternoon nap ruined by the rude visitor.

Glancing out the window, I noticed that the Suns were about to set. This time of the year they were on the other side of the planetary ring. The nights would be exceptionally dark.

I went to the front lobby and threw the dark cloth of the periscope over my head, peeking into the lens and mirrors optical contraption. The cloth was to keep whoever was on the other side from seeing me.

It was Alice. She seemed flustered. The elf tugged the rope one more time, then glanced at the periscope, then at both sides of the street.

I opened the brass tube that would carry the sound of my voice two floors down. "What do you want, Guild Master?"

Alice flinched when I addressed her with such detachment. She leaned forward to look at the periscope porthole, then leaned on her end of the brass tube. "George, we need to talk. I must apologize."

I snorted ruefully. "Have a good afternoon, Guild Master. We never signed the employment contract but I quit."

I slammed the tube cover and pulled my head away from the periscope. Next, I wedged a piece of wood near the bell to keep it from moving whenever someone tugged the rope downstairs. I heard the rope creak but the bell didn't ring. I didn't care if Alice spent the night tugging on that rope. Or if it broke.

Since she wouldn't let go, I went to my room to pack my things. Come morning, I would sell the deed to the building to Whisperfizzle and get the fuck out of town. Scout's Duty was too dangerous a secret and Alice wasn't in the circle of trust anymore.

*

*

I woke up in the middle of the night. It was dark and Yolanthe, the Witching Sun, painted the world purple. A dangerous night.

Koiphyvv was a trinary System. Lucia, the blue star, dominated the skies. Her lover, the smaller yellow star, orbited around Lucia. Between the two lied the Goddess ring, a gateway the Star Knights used to visit other worlds in their metal ships. Our planet orbited the binary suns and far away in the outer orbits of the star system, Yolanthe lurked. Legend said that the yellow star was originally Yolanthe's lover but Lucia stole him when she arrived. How such a massive blue star could "arrive" was beyond any Astronomer's guess. They also said that a purple Sun was impossible but just a glance at the sky in nights like this and you'll know that was false.

Though I digress.

What woke me was the sound of banging on the door. The third-floor door. I put some clothes on, took my short sword still in its scabbard, and walked in absolute silence. Our floor was made out of stone, with no floorboards to creak and tell our position.

More banging, this time accompanied by a man's voice. "George, open up! It's the City Guard!"

"What is the matter?" I asked cautiously. It could be any number of things. Given the current circumstances, I was deciding if I should fight or run away. Who was I kidding? It wouldn't even be a fight. The Guard was well-trained and they had several levels on me.

"Welfare check!" The Guard shouted.

Veins popped in my neck. "I'm okay. Tell that crazy elf to get off my case or I'll press charges for harassment!"

"Open the door!" The Guard warned.

There was a big possibility that the welfare check thing was a lie. I ran back to my room and started to don my equipment. I would need to escape through the back and then sneak out of town.

Fuck you, Alice. My father was under the ground for not even a day and you already screw with his legacy. Fortunately, he had devised an escape tunnel into the building. It wasn't documented in the project nor the blueprint. I lifted the concealed hatch and dumped three duffel bags full of clothes, dried provisions, and equipment. Then I entered leg first, closing the hatch behind me. A quick exertion of Will activated an Earth Meld rune that turned the hatch into part of the wall. It was thick enough that tapping on the rock would not reveal the hollow tunnel behind it.

Then I slid down into the underground, collected my things, and walked to the other end of the tunnel.