“Adventurer…”

Keirlan lingered on that word. It was a “dead” profession, yet many carried and worked under that title. It was a profession that should’ve disappeared with the guilds decades ago, yet it persisted. It lives on thanks to the world’s desire to cling onto remnants of a past they can never reclaim. Obsolete, stupid, a word that brings death to most who grab onto it, there are many ways to describe his current job.

“It’s fucked, is what it is.” He said in a mocking tone, still not getting out of bed. The ceiling stared back at him while he waited for some sarcastic response from somewhere.

He didn’t want to get up. The only jobs that opened up recently involved putting up fences on some farm, or hauling materials for said fence. He didn’t want to do it. Hammering logs into the ground and hauling wood didn’t scream “adventure” and it paid coppers.

But coppers was better than nothing.

Grabbing the shirt beside his bed, he pulled the alcohol-stained sheets off of him. He glanced at the sword leaning on the wall at the other end of the room. Leave it or bring it? The damn thing was barely used and when he did use it, wood and vines were the only things it chopped. He doubted anyone would hire him today for monster slaying, so why even bother carrying it around?

Yet he continued staring at the thing, waiting for a response that would never come. With a sigh, he walked over towards the old blade. It had seen better days, just not with him. His fingers wrapped around the tattered leather of its hilt. Rust used to cover the blunt blade, but a month’s pay and a trip to a blacksmith changed that. It was a wonder that the elements did not destroy the blade.

A sigh left his dry throat as he decided that it would be a good idea to bring the damned thing after all. He wrapped a leather strap around its guard to secure it firmly on his belt.

“Okay… Sword is here… My bag, my coin pouch with no coins…”

A pat for each item and Keirlan knew it would be another day, another copper to throw at a game of dice or some ale.

Keirlan locked the door to his room and made his way out of the inn. It was empty, like most days. The somber silence felt eerie, but he had grown used to the quiet strangeness of many places. The town had plenty of those.

“Finally slaying a monster today, Keirlan?” A girl was sweeping the floor of the usually empty dining hall. He didn’t notice her, but then again, her small frame and plain looks did not grab the attention of most people. Which is for the best, Keirlan thought.

“Morning, Ars.”

“Not even a good morning?” She pouted, her hazel eyes sneaked a glance at the sword on his side. “I thought you’d be happy with the news.”

Keirlan raised a brow. “News? What news? And I’m always happy, you know?”

“Hmm… Well, from what I heard, a handful of undead were spotted last night. Nothing too dangerous, and not a lot.”

“Oh? Wild magic or a necromancer?”

Keirlan leaned a bit on the last word, his voice lowering as he said it.

Ars shrugged. “I don’t really know. But it resolved itself, apparently. So maybe just a bit of wild magic raising the dead. Although… I think a few are still out there, so… I guess you can finally be a monster slayer!”

Keirlan rolled his eyes while Ars smiled at him, thumbs pointing up in an attempt to encourage him.

“Maybe I’ll bring back a skull.”

“Bleh! If you actually do that, I’ll kick you out!”

Keirlan waved her goodbye, laughing as he seriously considered bringing the young innkeeper a skull. It would be funny, but she was also the only innkeeper in the town who did not hound him for rent.

Mist hung over the town, hiding the roughly patched buildings and decrepit houses. There were days when the mist would lift, but it was not one of those days. It was a strange affliction that had plagued this town for decades, Keirlan learned. The lingering effect of the rampant magic unleashed upon the world more than a hundred years ago.

Figures moved in the mist. Some entered buildings, others walked on towards some unknown destination. Keirlan kept a hand over his pouch and an eye on people walking close as he moved. The mist was the perfect cover for some lowly pickpocket, and he did not want his single copper coin to be stolen from him.

What could a single copper even buy at the tavern? If he was a good gambler, he could turn it into a nice meal. Keirlan shook his head. Never again, he thought as he clutched his pouch. He would go in there, ask if help is still needed in some of the farms, and earn a day’s pay by building some fence somewhere. Nothing more, nothing less.

… Maybe he’d ask about the undead problem. Hunting monsters earned a lot, at least back in the days of adventurers and guilds. Maybe monster parts are still worth something these days? Keirlan tried to remember the stories his grandfather used to tell him a decade ago.

“... Adventurers, huh? Dungeons, slimes, and treasures, what else did they do?”

Keirlan muttered to himself, his feet tracing his usual route through the town that passed by the old fountain that had dried up some decades ago. Usually, he would’ve walked by it without a second glance, but…

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“Adventurer? Oh! Finally! An adventurer! Excuse me!” A child’s voice called him. He whirled his head and saw a figure, sitting by the fountain. “Yes, you sir! Hello!”

Keirlan looked at the child, or Halfling. Are there even any Halflings around here? Keirlan pondered while the child stood up from his seat and walked over to where he stood. Not a Halfling, Keirlan thought to himself.

“Good morning! I’m sorry if I caught you off-guard, but I overheard you talking about adventurers!” The kid looked around. “I couldn’t find the Adventurer’s Guild.”

“... There’s no Adventurer’s Guild in this town.” Keirlan said. “Or any other town.”

A wanderer? Keirlan looked the child up and down, trying to figure out where the kid was from. Symbols that looked like a key or a setting sun, were embroidered in golden thread all over his strange robes. His “belt” was a thick rope, tied around his waist. Keirlan glanced up, finally noticing that the cloth over the robe was an old banner, repurposed and turned into a piece of clothing. A strand of his black hair was tied into a small braid, with the same symbol in gold hanging from it.

He was a strange one, Keirlan thought. The kid must’ve come from somewhere that still have Guilds, which is surprising. His eyes met the kid’s deep brown eyes, looking at him with eager curiosity and strange focus.

“Try the tavern. Most “adventurer” types hang there.” He said, pointing the street that led to the tavern. “I can take you there since I’m going there myself.”

The kid smiled. “Much appreciated! Lead the way, adventurer.”

Keirlan sighed, not even bothering to correct the child’s mistake. The kid followed close as they walked towards the tavern. His hand moved towards his pouch when someone moved beside the child.

But a glance revealed it was just him seeing things in the mist.

They made their way to the tavern in silence. The lanterns that hung just outside the door kept the mist at bay, and Keirlan saw people entering the establishment. It was unusual to see the tavern crowded with people, but Keirlan figured that it must be due to the undead problem. He opened the door for the boy and followed him as he entered.

He looked around, trying to see if Gil was nearby. It was easy to spot him. The old man was sitting at one of the tables near the bar, his large frame made it hard for people to move around him. People sat around him, writing their names on a ledger that looked like it would crumble to dust at the slightest touch.

“Hey kid.” Keirlan placed a hand on the kid’s shoulder. “See that huge guy over there? That’s where you go to put up a job.”

“Uhh… Okay.”

The boy looked unsure, but he walked up to the grizzled veteran. Keirlan shook his head and looked for another person among the crowd.

It did not take long to find Lancell. He could tell he had won a few rounds of cards from the small stack of coins on his table and his smug grin. The guy in front of him threw down his hand and Lancell immediately took the coins on his side of the table.

“Lucky today, eh?” The man spat out, his hand bringing his pint to his face.

“Hah! I’m lucky every— Oh! Keirlan’s here!”

Lancell placed his cards on the table, and the other person at the table let out a defeated groan and threw his cards as well. Lancell chuckled and shoved the handful of copper coins into his pouch.

“You signed up for a job yet or no?” He asked. The gambler handed his ale to the person he just swindled, a gift to soothe their loss.

“Not yet. I’m looking for something other than building fences the whole day.”

“Keirlan, the only job here is that, and chopping up wood for the fence. If you want something else, you can always join the watch. Or…” Lancell tapped his cheek. “Join the army.”

Keirlan shook his head at Lancell.

“No. I don’t want to fight Orcs and Goblins for the rest of my life.”

“Hey, they kill other things too. And you get to fulfil your patriotic duty!” Lancell laughed, nudging Keirlan’s shoulder while he did so.

“Haha, very funny. Did you even sign up for a job today or are you just gonna gamble all day?”

Lancell thought for a brief moment. Then, he gave his answer.

“Depends.”

Keirlan rolled his eyes and sighed. “Of course. Fuck it, I guess. I’ll talk to Old Man Gil and chop down wood the whole day.”

“You do that, and I’ll join you when I need more money.”

Keirlan was about to tell the people at his table that Lancell’s cards were marked when he heard laughter. He turned around, seeing the young boy from earlier sitting in front of the huge Gil. The old soldier had his arms crossed, his eyes glued to the boy.

“Boy, you want someone to accompany you to… put to rest the dead?” Gil growled, both amused and annoyed.

“Yes. I need someone to guard me from ruffians while I perform my duties.”

“Your duties? Boy, I do not think you should be playing make-believe in this tavern.” He waved his hand at the boy, dismissing him. The boy pouted.

“I have money, and it is important that I perform my duties as soon as possible.” His hands fumbled under his robe. “How much would putting up an escort quest for a week cost me?”

Gil, now amused by the boy’s persistence, grinned.

“Five silver. And another silver for my service but I’ll make it a single copper for you.”

“... Very well.”

Gil was ready to play along when the boy pulled out five single coins from the pouch he produced from under his robe. The laughter in the tavern seized immediately. Gil sat down, taking one of the silver coins.

The boy now had his full attention.

“I will need your name and details of your request.” Gil spoke in his usual serious tone towards the boy.

“Morstien Melvias. My request would be for someone to guard me while I perform my duties for during the week.” The child slid the rest of the silver and one copper coin towards Gil. “And I would like that person over there to be my guard.”

The heads around the table turned towards the person singled out by the boy. Lancell sat back down, trying to avoid everyone's gaze while Keirlan stared back at the boy pointing at him. He smiled, and Gil wrote something in his ledger.

“I hope we get along well, adventurer!” The boy called out before turning his attention back to the ledger. Keirlan, still confused, sat down and said only a single word.

“What?”