Cindy was skipping through the crowd as the ground shook behind her with everyone of Dad’s steps. He was listening so well now that they were here. He was lecturing at home trying to teach her so much about what was coming even though she had years before she had to worry about it. A warmth spread in her chest as she skipped now that her Dad was going to join her. Now he just needed to learn about the guild and how to take missions.
She had already done most of the missions that post on the board but he didn’t need to know that. She had grinded through the Boroclops gear in the first week and worked her way up to Elizards and Shademonkeys. She was almost ready to take on her first true large monsters. She had done plenty of the medium monsters pretty easily and was feeling much more confident now that she had someone she could rely on.
Dark thoughts clouded her mind about the first week she was in Gaia and she shook her head vigorously and felt her hat almost fly off her head. The guild building stood slightly taller than Dad’s new form and was made of huge curving bones and hides stretched under them. A massive board filled with pages and pages of requests for Boroclops meat that always was posted every day. The request for Elizard hide, a waterproof material that made good beginner armor that the blacksmith sold for starting adventurers.
Her Shademonkey Witch outfit swirled around her as she looked at her impressive collection of runes. She needed only to use a rune once for her to keep it thanks to Gaia and she had used plenty of things on her adventure. She was almost ready to go to the next town but wanted to make sure her dad had some skills that would be useful.
She felt the last step of Dad behind her and out of the corner of her eye saw him kneel next to her and she turned her head and looked up at him with a smile. “This is the request board. People ask the guild for jobs to be filled and adventurers go out into the world and finalize the requests. Once its fulfilled you get some tennies and other rewards.”
A muscular man rippling with strength strode out of the building covered in scars and potent Ragenky armor that looked like Arabian dancer clothes but offered amazing skills in return. It scintillated in dozens of colors like a swirling rainbow. On his back was a pair of truly massive cleavers made out of sharpened bones. Chains dangled from their handles with rings of gems forming each link.
“Guild Master! Let me introduce the newest member of the Adventurers Guild! Dad!” She flared out her hands and shook them about presenting her giant dad.
“Oh, Dad huh. Silly name. A giant though, haven’t seen one of them in ages.” His voice was surprisingly light and she had seen him dance circles with his amazing swiftness stat around monsters when he hunted the second day she had been here. The very massive Regenky had come and registered as an Elder Beast but he handled it like it was a stray puppy.
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“Not a silly name,” Cindy pouted and stomped her foot.
“You can call me Daryl,” Said Dad. Cindy rolled her eyes at this. He was supposed to be Dad here. “Now before my daughter starts overexplaining everything why don’t you tell me what this building is supposed to stand for.”
Cindy fumed that she had been cut off and stomped over to him and kicked Dad’s shin with all her 5 strength. It did nothing, not even a single point of damage. “Dad, I'm the one showing you everything.” She pouted and crossed her arms.
“Badger, I can’t hear you while you mumble. Guild Master… what’s your name?”
“Bondertrout, Cinderflame here has been an amazing adventurer. To be shown around the town by someone that has been so helpful is great.” He pointed to the board, “Simple, take the job, do the job, turn in the job. Get money and items. That is all.”
“See Badger was that so hard,” Dad said with smugness in his voice.
“Dad,” Cindy stared daggers at him. “I wouldn’t have gone on and on like you said I would. You can trust me Dad, I know what I am doing.”
The sighing breath almost knocked her as he exhaled, “Badger, you ramble. You know you ramble and this is a new place and I’m doing my best not to freak out. Bondertrout was kind enough to help explain things pretty simply. Now why don’t we go and take the Demon King contract and go take care of it right away.” Cindy watched as Dad leaned forward and squinted really hard trying ot read everything on the board.
She walked forward and grabbed onto his arm and tugged to get his attention, “Dad, we aren’t ready for us to fight the Demon King. We have to get gear, spells, and skills. We have to have potions and herbs. Buffing inventory stones and talons. We aren’t ready yet. We won’t win without being ready. You taught me that, you have to be prepared.”
Dad scooped his massive hand around her as he carefully sat with his legs crossed taking up most of the intersection in the road. “I’m not comfortable with you handling something this dangerous. Show me the basics and Dad will take care of things.”
Cindy hugged his thumb and leaned into the warmth of it all, “Dad, I’m the hero too. I’m pretty sure neither of us could do this alone. Trust me, we should be together.” There was a deep sadness and hurt in her voice.
“Badger, is there something you need to tell me?” Concern laced Dad’s voice.
She shook her head violently and took a deep steadying breath, “I just got lonely when you weren’t around. I don’t want to be alone again.”
“Ok Badger, you will never be alone while I’m here. We will stick together.” A massive finger stroked her head knocking her hat off and running down her back rubbing it gently back and forth. “What gear do you think I should get, you’re the one that knows what's going on right?”
Cindy snatched her hat and put it back on. “You should get he same gear I’ve gotten. Elizard and Shademonkey. They’re the small and medium monsters around here. When you’re ready we will head for our first large monster.”
“Of course there are categories.”
“Of course Dad,” She tightened her arms and closed her eyes. Basking in the warmth of Dad’s hand.