I don't dawdle either and hang my sparse belongings from a branch on one of the trees at the edge of the clearing. Then I draw my blade and join my mentor, taking a casual ready stance a step and a half from him. For a moment or two he eyes me up, as we slowly circle each other, moving in lazy circles around the open space amidst the trees. Then, like a coiled snake Wiktor strikes.

I have been expecting it, yet I'm hard pressed to respond in time. I bring my blade up to parry only to realize almost too late that the attack is nothing but a feint. As I move to block he takes half a step back and adjusts the angle of his attack. The high thrust becomes a low strike.

I'm too slow and too committed to the initial parry. The difference between his skill level and mine shows. I'm entirely out of position to either block or parry his sword due to the changed angle. I have to dodge. It is in this case my only option. Taking the hit is entirely out of the question, as we are using real steel here and not dull practice blades.

[*Ding!* Your skill Dodge has leveled up to level 5!]

Well, there is that at the very least. I'm doing this to improve my skills after all, thus this notification is highly appreciated. Time to see if I can polish up my other sword skills a little too.

Since I'm already in motion I go for a feint myself. It's nothing as elaborate as Wiktor pulls off apparently so effortlessly. I simply angle my blade for a low strike at first only to perform a high one in the end.

Of course he doesn't fall for it, but it seems my efforts are still good enough to earn me another notification.

[*Ding!* Your skill Blades has leveled up to level 5!]

I'm sure that my [Bluff] and my [Melee Weapons] skills both improved a little too.

Wiktor in turn is quick to retaliate. This time I know what to look for though. As a result I'm ready for the feint this time around. Instead of dodging, I neatly parry his sword, which earns me my third divine whisper in short order.

[*Ding!* Your skill Parry has leveled up to level 2!]

I should have, or course, known that this too is only a set up. With our swords out of the way to the side due to my parry and me more than a little proud and satisfied with myself, I'm wide open for the knee that connects with my abdomen.

[*Ding!* You have been wounded! Health reduced by 1!]

I guess I should be glad that my defense is pretty solid already. At least the hit improves my [Clothes] skill a little. I guess it's better to do it like this than by taking a sword to the gut. Although the hit is far from disabling it still drives me back a step.

Wiktor takes this opportunity for a little banter.

“So you really want to join up with the adventurers' guild?”

Even as he finishes speaking though he goes on the offensive again, thus I'm in no position to answer right away.

It makes my heart bleed a little, but I'm forced to actually block his attack this time around, edge on edge. My blade is good enough to take the abuse, but I still rather wouldn't defend myself like this. Sometimes you just don't have the luxury of other options though. At least the successful defense is rewarded with another divine whisper.

[*Ding!* Your skill Block has leveled up to level 3!]

As we part again I finally have a chance to catch my breath. I take this chance to answer Wiktor's earlier question and pose one of my own as well.

“I want in on the hunt for that King Boletus. And membership with them might provide other opportunities in the future too. Do you think I should get a small shield or a buckler?”

He nods, as he starts circling me again.

“I'm not exactly certain, but a fight against a creature like that might just be a chance to earn a regicide achievement.”

He flashes me a toothy smile before he continues.

“Just be careful who you let know. An achievement like that can be a double edges blade. As for your question … go with a small wooden shield with a metal edge first. I know many fencers would scoff at the choice, but it's a little more versatile and not to mention cheaper …”

Even as his words trail off, he moves to strike again. This time I'm a little more ready for it though and manage to properly parry, which results in yet another notification.

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[*Ding!* Your skill Parry has leveled up to level 3!]

Very nice! This little practice session is already paying off handsomely. I don't wait for him to regain some distance this time around. Instead I go for a light jab right away. My elation sores sky high as I actually manage to catch the more experienced fencer off guard with it.

[*Ding!* Hit! Wiktor's Health reduced by 10!]

It's not exactly a deep cut, but my blade still leaves a noticeable nick as it slices through the sleeve of his shirt. There is blood. Not much, but still.

Still basking in satisfaction as both my [Blades] and my [Melee Weapons] skills increase a little, I raise my blade in a guard position and speak up.

“Should we quit for today? So someone can stitch you and your shirt back up?”

He blinks at me at first, then he breaks into laughter. As he lowers his own blade, he nods.

“Fine. Lets stop for today. Just so you know I could still keep going all day. Did you at least get something out of our little session?”

I nod as well, humming happily, as I grab a leave to clean my blade. I'll have to properly take care of it later anyway.

“Yes. Five level ups and a few partial increases. About that shield you mentioned, any suggestions where I should get one? And how much would it cost me? I … uh … I might be a little short on coin right now. In fact I still need to get my hand on some to join the guild tomorrow.”

Wiktor doesn't seem perturbed.

“Ah yes, the admission fee. A minor obstacle, if you ask me. If you cut the right purses you should be able to easily cover it. Or do you have something else in mind?”

“I was planning on exploring some attics in the city tonight. Maybe I'll find something I could turn into coin at the Paws and Pawn.”

He nods in understanding.

“That's not an unreasonable approach either, as long as you don't expect to get rich quick without any effort whatsoever. The things stored up in the attics are hardly ever the most valuable ones after all. No, it's usually things that are out of fashion, or things that show a little wear and tear. Maybe even just things with an emotional value.”

He pauses briefly, to make sure he has my attention.

“Leave the latter be if you can. Some people go to unreasonable lengths to recover things they are really attached to, even if they really aren't worth anything.”

I nod and add another little detail he hasn't mentioned so far.

“And of course the pawn shop wants to earn something too, so the prices Beldrogar will be willing to pay won't exactly be stellar either.”

He nods.

“True. Very true.”

I join him as he makes his way back towards the city and for a little while we walk in silence. Finally, before we actually reach the outskirts of the city I decide to ask another question of no little importance.

“The guard. You know about their clumsy schemes, right? Has anyone ever done anything about that?”

He looks over at me, raising an eyebrow before he answers

“They really are a little heavy handed about it, aren't they? Well … no, not really. Well, except for the lord founding the night watch to limit the guard's influence inside the walls.”

For another little while we walk in silence once more. He isn't quite done talking yet though.

“We could confront them. We don't though. They most certainly would push back if we did and overall they are better equipped even if we could match them in regards to manpower. And they represent the law and at least to a degree the lord of Riverrun. Thus making a move against them could be considered an act of rebellion … its a rather troublesome situation.”

I nod. They are trouble, but doing something about it could unleash even more trouble. How very bothersome.

It seems he can tell that this puts me in a mood. Thus he speaks up again to elaborate a little further on the guild's stance on this topic.

“If one or another bothers you real bad though and you decide to do something about it, we won't stop you. Just make sure to be discreet about it. And for the lover of … of everything you care for, don't get caught!”

Now it's my turn to raise an eyebrow. So if one of them were to go missing, maybe together with the tolls they collected that day, nobody would raise too much of a fuss. Especially, if maybe the guard in question were to be seen leaving the city in one direction or another. Well, well, well. It seems I have options. I decide to keep my thoughts to myself though. In the end I simply nod and drop the topic. Instead I return to the topic of attics worth exploring.

“So, got any suggestions which attics will be worth my time? Or which ones I should avoid?”

He taps his chin thoughtfully.

“Can't really say anything about the former. It's been a while since I did this kind of thing after all. About the latter though, there is one piece of advice I can share with you that is about as true now as it was back then, when I was still a grasshopper like you. Stay away from the guild houses. Blacksmiths, bakers, butchers. It doesn't really matter. They tend to rent out the attics of their guild houses to the guild's apprentices. They hardly ever have anything worth taking and the chances that you'd be caught are entirely too high. So, don't bother.”

It seems he isn't wrong. Judging by the fact that I can feel my [Gather Information] skill improve ever so slightly, this probably still is valuable advice.

“As for a shield. Check what Beldrogar has on his shelves. Just ask him to help you out. Otherwise it'll take you forever to find anything. And of course you can check the various second hand shops around the upstream waterfront. One way or the other you should be able to find something that suits your needs. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to get myself and my shirt stitched up.”

He winks at me and tugs playfully at the cut in his shirt. Then, without waiting for an answer he disappears into the alleys of the district outside the walls.

It seems, that from her on out I'm on my own again. Not that I really mind. The day so far has been both quite exciting and rewarding after all.

I get moving myself in the general direction of the city gate. I'm not exactly in a hurry though, thus I take great care once again to blend in with the crowd. Once the gate is in sight I step to the side, where I can have a look at the wares on sale in the shops along the road. More importantly though, while I do some casual window shopping I keep an eye on the guards on duty too.

As I do my best to blend in, I receive the most satisfying notification of the day so far.

[*Ding!* Your skill Stealth has leveled up to level 8!]

Very good! Awesome even!

Sadly none of the guards currently manning the gate are any of the ones that have managed to draw my ire so far. Too bad. I wouldn't exactly have minded following one of those home to rob them blind in the dead of night.

Oh well, can't have everything. I keep watching a little while longer anyway. Eventually, before any of the shop clerks can get upset with me for not buying anything, I leave to slip into one of the nearby alleys. And as the sun sinks I pick a good spot to cross over the wall, keeping the timing of the patrols in mind too, as I do.