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I got up early feeling refreshed and energetic as usual with my mana topped up — everything was fine.
I stretched and woke Freya.
She opened her eyes right away, though it took some time until she was fully awake.
I waited until we were ready to go down, and she got rid of the last traces of sleep before dropping the bomb.
“So, you must be curious about why we changed inns, and where’s Zeph, right?” I asked.
She nodded, looking curiously towards me.
“Well, we got attacked by an assassin while coming back to the room. Zeph is dead, and I nearly took the eternal nap too,” I explained, seeing her eyes go wide.
Maybe it’s not the best way to start the day.
“The reaper didn’t do its job properly, though. I bitchslapped him back to hell so many times that it’s scared of coming near me lately, hahaha,” I laughed to lighten the mood.
Then she looked at me doubtfully, up and down.
I waited for her to speak, though I already guessed what she wanted to ask. I didn’t look injured after all.
“You don’t seem to be injured,” she said after a few seconds.
Called it.
“Indeed, I wasn’t. He hit me with a strange Skill that stopped my heart and lungs from working. Scary Skill for sure, but not enough to stop me! Well, not permanently at least, I kinda passed out for a while, but anyway! I willed them to work again, and here I am. There’s nothing I can’t solve with enough willpower!” I boasted.
I didn’t tell her the whole truth, since I wanted to wait and see if she could sense mana or go through the evolution before I shared. I wanted to stay vague about my powers, both because I didn’t want to give her false hopes or expectations, in case she failed, and also because I wasn’t sure she would have the same experiences as me. It was better to wait until she either saw a Status Screen, or she felt mana, then I would tell her.
Besides, it wasn’t even a lie, since willpower was definitely a factor.
“Well, Zeph got his head twisted around. I don’t think willpower will do much for that, but who knows, maybe he’s got some strange contraption for that. I think he’s dead, though,” I said frankly.
“So, any question?” I asked, curious about her reaction.
She hesitantly shook her head, then she paused and asked, “Are we in danger?”
“No, he was there for Zeph. I was just in the way,” I answered. “After he hit me with that Skill, he killed Zeph and went away while I was passing out. He also took the corpse. Given all that, I’m pretty sure we’re safe.”
She didn’t answer, looking a bit lost.
I suppose it will take time to digest it. Time for a morning run to clear her head, I thought as I turned around.
“Come on, let’s go get warmed,” I told her as I opened the door.
After running and making her do some light exercises, we went to the Explorer Guild’s bar to have breakfast and talk with Markus.
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He didn’t pry when I told him I didn’t plan to leave the city anymore, only saying he’d let me know by the end of the week after he talked with his friends.
He was a bit surprised when I asked him if I could include Freya, though. I asked her opinion while coming here, since I wasn’t the one that would train her directly, and it wasn’t part of our agreement to teach her how to fight. Since she agreed, I didn’t think much of it, but the old man thought differently.
“Are you sure? I don’t think it’s a problem to start now if you want her to learn about business, but traveling in the wild can be arduous, and there could be dangers. She’s still a bit young,” he said with a hint of disapproval in his voice.
“It’s not early, she’s thirteen. Don’t you have anyone coming here after their first blessing at fourteen? Just a year early doesn’t make much of a difference,” I asked, confused.
She said she was fine with it, and that’s all that mattered to me. It was, in fact, better to start early, in my opinion.
The old man sighed.
“Yes, and they expect to be ready to explore the world sword in hand just a week after they’ve got their Class. Fortunately, we have some regulations for taking Quests outside the city, or we’d have to prepare a plan for daily funerals. There are already enough accidents as it is,” he lamented, sighing again.
I shrugged.
“Well, there won’t be a problem for her. There will be me and those friends of yours with her when she leaves the city. I won’t make her do anything outside her capabilities, and, if they’re decent teachers, neither will they,” I told him.
He looked at her for a few moments, while she gazed back at him uncomfortably.
“I will ask them. They’re the ones who will be teaching, so I can’t promise anything,” he said in the end, moving his eyes away.
“Good. How much will I have to spend for all this?” I asked, hoping it would be within my budget.
Maybe I should have asked about this before, I thought as Markus started talking.
“Mm, I’m not sure. I don’t have any idea what my Merchant friend could ask you. For the others instead, the cost may vary depending on what they’ll have you do and how much time they spend on it, so you’ll have to talk about it with them later. If it’s just some theory, they’ll probably explain a few things and then tell you to read some books, so you won’t have to pay too much. You can also share the books with the girl,” he answered, looking up in thought.
“The outings will be costly, though, but they won’t give you the rate of a guild quest. As I said, for them, it’s just something to idle away the time, so they won’t bring you too far from the city and there won’t be much danger. I’m not sure, honestly, since it depends on what they’ll plan to do. I think that they’ll just ask for a few silvers for each theory lesson and a dozen or two for leaving the city, depending on where they take you. It’s all just a guess, though,” he concluded as he lifted his gaze, looking at a few customers that were leaving their table.
I frowned.
“That’s not cheap,” I stated, hoping he’d give me a reason for such a price.
He did.
“The ones I’m thinking to ask are above Level 40. Even if it’s not a proper quest, and they’re mostly retired, it would be insulting to pay them a few coppers. They also have much to teach compared to younger men with a lower level,” he explained patiently.
Well, he’s got a point, I thought.
“Ok, got it, I suppose I will see what they ask and then decide how to proceed. Thanks for the help, then,” I told him.
It seems I wouldn’t be able to haggle much, but I’d have to search around for prices of quests and other things to be sure. Markus seemed like an honest man, but I didn’t know him for long, and it was always better to check.
“Glad to be of service, my young friend,” he responded cheerfully with a smile.
He’s been really helpful until now. I’ll have to find a way to give him some of those fruit and herbs he wanted for his liquors, I thought, making a mental note to keep my eyes open for them. Maybe I’d find a merchant selling exotic fruits in the market one day; there’s always a chance of one stopping by here.
I then asked another question.
“So, is it possible to use the training area of the guild now? I forgot to ask when it’s open,” I said, after he handed a drink to a guy.
“Of course, you only need to ask the receptionists. You can enter whenever you want so long that we’re open, and you have permission, but you’ll have to pay at the reception first, and they’re there from six in the morning to eight in the evening,” he said he turned towards me.
“If I remember right, there should be a discount if you pay for a year in advance. Just keep it in mind if you want to visit often,” he added suddenly. “But I’m sure the girls will tell you about it.”
“Ok, thanks old man,” I said as I left the counter, followed by Freya. He just nodded with a smile.
A discount would be nice. I’m sure that I'll drop by often if it’s a nice place, but five coppers per visit is a robbery. I’ll have to come just a few times a week if I can’t get that discount.
Time to speak to the receptionists.
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