The great city of Olnset was all that stood between the Terian Kingdom and the hordes of monsters to the north. Thousands of warriors gathered here to fight off the beasts, and of course, to make a profit.

On this faithful day, a knight and his steed had entered its walls. After scouring the entire city, they found what Seth believed to be the adventurer’s guild.

‘All great adventurers, knights, and overlords have lackeys, I mean companions,’ he decided. ‘Today, I’ll get myself a cook.’

After wiping off the saliva which threatened to spill out of his mouth, Seth gathered wind magic around his foot and kicked open the door. The old wooden plank flew off its hinges and smashed into a nearby group.

One of them fell unconscious. All eyes turned towards the entrance. Like a couple of cowboys raiding a den of thieves, Seth and his shivering steed walked in without a care.

“You’re gonna have to pay for that,” a gruff voice came from the bar. It was a fat, old lady with a mean expression. All sorts of bottles surrounded her along with a large double handed axe she was considering grabbing.

“Put it on my tab,” Seth yelled before spitting to the side. “That too.”

After checking on their door stricken companion, five men rose up from their table and walked towards the pixie.

“Who the hell do you think you are?” one of them asked. The man was six feet tall, built like an ox, and with a sword on his back the size of his body.

“Momo,” Seth called. When the squirrel approached, he tapped the ring on his neck. A huge burst of wind shot out sending the assailants flying in every direction. One of them smashed into the bar. Another three destroyed tables and chairs. The large swordsman flew through the back wall smashing head first into a nearby building.

‘A ring that can even condense mana,’ Seth grinned. ‘Lucky.’

“My Inn!!” The lady behind the bar wasn’t feeling so lucky.

“Put it on my tab,” Seth shouted once again.

“Pay! Now!!”

Though slightly annoyed, the pixie flew over to the angry woman and tapped Momo’s ring. A shiny blue rock the size of her head popped out. It was so full of mana that it started floating.

“Oh, my Lord,” the woman gasped.

“We good?”

“Of course. Would you like accommodation? Food? A bottle of our century’s old wine?”

“All of the above,” Seth nodded while flying to a nearby table.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

“She’s ripping you off,” a slithering voice was heard from a corner.

“Mind your own business!” shouted the woman while rapidly hiding the gem.

From a dark corner of the mercenary guild, an even darker man rose to attention. He was dressed in a black, blood splattered robe and carried a thick book with tiny skulls painted on the cover.

“That chrystal is worth more than this building,” he explained while floating towards Seth.

“Really?”

The woman squirmed.

“I expect my change in gold,” Seth added ruining her plans.

“The name is Alastar the wise.” The creepy mage sat at their table. He looked to be in his mid fourties, with sharp eyes, neatly trimmed black hair, and a large bald spot.

“He's also known as the soul sucker!” said the woman from behind the bar. One of the mage's eyebrows twitched.

“You look like you could use some help, young man. And, I happen to be looking for a generous patron.” He winked towards the pixie while smiling.

“See? I told you,” cried the woman while counting Seth's coins.

‘Shut the f**k up,’ thought Alastar while summoning half a fireball. Unfortunately, he couldn’t spill blood in front of his patron. The mage was a professional.

Seth analyzed him up and down. In the meantime, he had manipulated the table into forming two small chairs for him and Momo. The woman behind the bar saw this and added the damage to their tab.

“Can you cook?”

“…No.”

“Then, you’re useless. Next!” Seth shouted while waving him away. On the other chair, Momo shook his head in disappointment.

“But, young man, I would be a great asset.”

“How?”

"I can suck out your enemies' souls and melt their intestines,"

“Next!”

The mage started tapping his book. 'He must be a tree hugger. In that case...' “How about I show you around town?” he said with the charming smile of a serial killer.

This caught Seth’s attention.

“Can you read a map?”

“Yes!” Alastar rapidly pulled one out of his robe and placed it on the table. “Where do you want to go? I can take you anywhere. I can even use blink.”

“Where’s the fun in that?”

“I can get you the best carriage in town.”

Seth frowned deeply.

“I can get you a really shitty carriage and we can butcher our way through.”

Finally, the pixie smiled. Momo nodded unwittingly before understanding his words. ‘More fighting?’ he inwardly cried.

“So, am I in?” asked the mage while adjusting his face.

“One final question. We can’t allow just anyone into our group. What sets you apart from all the other wizards in blood spattered robes?”

Seth crossed his arms as did the squirrel. They both eyed him expectantly. Fortunately, Alastar was not one to crack under pressure. After straightening his back and taking a deep breath, the man spoke in a clear voice.

“I am Alastar the wise," he explained while hiding the skull book behind his back. "I am a man of great knowledge and strength. And, I always seek more.”

“Why?” asked Momo while holding his tail.

‘It can talk!?’ The man dropped his book before making it float back into his hands. “Ahem, for the only purpose that truly matters, my dear... squirrel. To solve the one riddle that plagues us all.”

“Get to the point,” said Seth.

“Immortality,” answered Alastar with a malevolent grin. “The only goal worth pursuing. The end of our eternal struggle. The…”

“The dumbest thing one can ask for.”

“Huh?”

Seth shook his head.

“You’re an idiot,” he declared while getting up from his chair.

“Why?” the mage's eyes went wide. The insult pierced through to the lowest depths of his soul.

“Also, you’re fired.”

"...Why?"

After getting on his Loyal Steed, Seth and Momo grabbed their change and flew upstairs. Left behind, alone and dejected, Alastar’s head fell on the table. Dark, blood colored mana flew out of him, slipping into the nearby wood and rotting it from the inside.

“Why?” he mumbled like a broken record.

“You’re paying for that,” answered the woman from behind the bar.

“Put it on my tab...”