The office space was cool and fresh as the air vents kept the temperature evenly cool. Papers flipping and the sounds of keyboards clicking away filled the airspace of this large office floor. A telephone rang as someone quickly answered with a quick hello and friendly tone. The coffee maker humming low as it boiled away. A co-worker yawns as he stretches his arms wide open up into the air from sitting for so long. In the back end of the office floor was a long table filled with workers on their laptops typing away and writing notes in a little pad. The table emitted the sounds of continuous tapping of keys from the workers.
"Hey man, have you gotten those reports from the head office of the company we just signed off on?"
A man in a brown suit asks his co-worker from across the table. He looked up from his work and fixed his glasses.
"Yeah, the reports are supposed to come in today. They should be here in the next hour or so, I'll send them your way as soon as I receive them."
"Oh man that's good to hear, thanks Roth. I was getting worried there for a second."
"No worries, companies like this one like to send everything till the last minute. It's really annoying."
The man chuckled as Roth gave him a complimentary smile. A woman slowly walks behind Roth hesitantly, afraid to ask him a question but taps him on his shoulder.
"Um excuse me, mister Malcom? I have some paperwork on the documents for the new requisition order we received, but I can't find the proper form to send them out on."
Roth turns over and receives the paperwork from the young woman. He takes a moment to study the order fill paperwork as he adjusts his glasses to read them. The woman stood in place feeling embarrassed for asking that question. As if feeling she was incompetent. After looking over the form he understood what she needed to do. He rips out a sticky note and writes down the form number onto the single sheet pad.
"Take this form and attached it to the front of the work order. After that, you should be clear to send it out."
"Oh my, thank you mister Malcom!"
"Don't mention it, happy to help."
The man sitting across from Roth made a chuckle and said a joking remark.
"Oh man Roth, it seems like you're the go to man for any type of problem. Even the new girl is asking for your help now."
"Hehehe... I mean.. I have been working here for a while. I don't mind helping a hand or two. We all started here as newbies, it's only fair to help them in the right direction."
The new girl looked at Roth with a sincere and soft smile before thanking him and returning to work. Roth's co-worker looks at her as she walks away then back at Roth.
"Looks like someone has a crush on someooooooone."
"Don't be ridiculous, nobody has a crush on anybody."
"Aw c'mon man, did you see the way she looked at you when she was leaving? She's totally into you man! Why don't you ask her out to dinner or something?"
Roth didn't look up to respond at his co-worker, he kept typing away as he had a slight blush on his face.
"I rather not date anyone from my work. It's bad practice to fraternize in the same work environment."
"Man... you really are stern sometimes with work. Aren't there things you at least do that help you relax other than working twenty-four seven?"
"I say my videogames and anime help me relax from the mundane life of modern society."
You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.
His co-worker squints his eyes at him with a questionable look.
"So you're a big nerd otaku that prefers 2D women than real women...?"
Roth closed his eyes with an annoyed look,
"I didn't say that..."
"Hey man, I'm not judging, whatever floats your boat."
"Roth Malcom, to the office please. Roth Malcom, to the office please, thank you."
"Ooooooooh someone's in trouble."
"Oh shut up, I'm not in trouble."
Roth slowly gets up from his worktable and makes his way to the office across the floor level. A women holding onto a land line phone holds it out to him as someone called for his name. Roth was caught off guard but took the phone from the woman. He responded saying his name and who was speaking. Roth's curious smile slowly and slowly started to frown. His smile now turned into disbelief. His eyes slowly began to water. He dropped and sat onto the desk as he heard the news over the phone. His co-worker who was laughing and wanted to see why they called him up ended his laughter as he saw Roth in pure despair and tears. Roth dropped the phone and collapsed onto the floor grabbing his head in frustration. All the other co-workers of his saw this scene and were extremely worried on what had happened to him. Few rushed to his aid, but before anyone could reached them, Roth opened his eyes and saw the rustic wood ceiling of the bedroom he was sleeping in.
He slowly rose up from the bed sheets exhausted on the vivid dream he just had. He looked out of the window and saw the bright moon shining through the windowsill. He quickly got up and got dressed and slowly headed out the door. He checked on the room next to him and saw Mina peacefully sleeping in her bed. He went on to the room across from Mina's and peaked in. He saw Amaya sitting on her chair as if she had been waiting for something to happened but fell asleep instead. He quietly made his way out to the front door and lean against the low stone wall that surrounded the house. The air of the night was warm and fresh. The sounds of frogs and crickets filled the dark blue night sky as they sang their harmonious tune. Suddenly a light flickered on from inside as it escapes through the windows that was next to him, it appears someone else is having trouble sleeping as well.
The front door creaked open and peering out of the corner was Sassa. She wore a light blue night wear with red straps and strings and walked over to Roth with a smile.
"You're up pretty late this time in the night mister Malvikun."
"I could say the same for you miss Sassa."
She chuckles and leans forward onto the small stone wall. She looks up into the night sky admiring the scenery.
"Beautiful, isn't it?"
"It sure is... it's peaceful."
"What are you doing out here all by yourself?"
"I just couldn't sleep is all. Just wanted some fresh air for a little bit. What about you? Also having trouble sleeping?"
"I heard someone moving around in the house. I decided to investigate what it was only to find you out here. If you were trying to be sneaky you failed at that haha."
Roth blushes and apologizes for his loud rudeness. They both sat in silence for a moment staring at the beautiful stars and few strands of clouds that floated through the sky.
"Can I ask you something mister Malvikun?"
"Umm, sure. What do you have on your mind?"
She nervously fiddled in place and began to blush or what seemed like blushing since her red scales made it hard to tell.
"Do you think someone like... a beast person... could be an adventurer like you?"
Roth looked at her with a strange look.
"I don't see why not. It's really not up to me to make that kind of decision, only you know your worth."
"True but I read stories and heard tales of hero adventures with amazing skills and magic. I also possess magic but it's only light magic. I feel like light magic would be useless in a fight with others who have power of fire and earth while I'm... stuck with healing or purification..."
"And who said light magic is worthless?"
"Well because... I-"
"All magic is important, even light magic. Some incredible feats can be done with light magic if you think outside the box. Train, train like your life depended on it. If you know you can't use light magic to the best of your abilities, then train with the sword. train until you have blisters forming at your fingertips. If you can use light magic greatly, then train it until you run out of mana. Don't just limit yourself or put yourself down because you think you have a weak magic skill. You'll never know until you push past your limits on what you think you can't achieve. I seen it all too well."
Sassa looks at him with hope and inspiration from his words. She takes a moment to digest what he said, and she softly smiles.
"Thank you. I never met an adventurer before, so I always wanted to ask that question. Thank you mister Malvikun, truly."
"Roth is fine, just call me Roth."
She smiled brightly and agreed.
"Very well then, thank you, Roth. I'll head inside now, I do hope you sleep well. Try not to stay up too late, goodnight... and thank you."
She quickly leaned over the wall and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and waved at him as she returned inside to her bed. Roth was stunned for a quick moment as he slowly rubbed his cheek surprised by that sudden kiss. Her skin was cold to the touch when she gave him that kiss. He tried not to read too much into it and continued to stare into the cool warm night sky as the stars shine brightly and the crickets sang endlessly.