Max pulled on his pants and loose shirt. They were comfortable enough but not his usual style. Anita saw him tugging at his pants to get them to sit right.
“Maybe you should get yourself a Mage robe now that you’ve made your first level,” Anita said. “You can find magically enhanced robes that offer protection against any threat like cold, fire, lightning, missile weapons, and even swords.” Anita walked over to Max, her staff clicking lightly on the floorboards.
“I’m not sure I’ll wear a robe,” Max said. “These pants are ok. I think I’d rather wear a pair of jeans.”
“Who’s Gene?” Anita asked, “And why do you want his pants?”
Max didn’t quite understand what Anita was talking about. As he grabbed his burlap sack, he looked at the outer weave and let it twist and turn until his stats formed so he could check his new level.
>
>
> Max
>
> Level 1
>
> Class: Mage
>
>
He opened his Mage Book to the first page and looked at the spells he’d prepared the night before. He saw two Magic Missile symbols, gold and sparkling, that almost looked as if they were floating above the page. He turned to the page where his Magic Missile spell was written. The strange words for the spell seemed more familiar to him now and were gold, shimmering on the page where they had been a dull brown the night before. The hand symbols also sparkled gold, and they moved as if an animated hologram hovered over the page. Max turned one of his hands to follow the pattern.
“Stop,” Anita said, laying a hand over Max’s.
Max glanced up at her deep-green almond eyes. She was a strange beauty indeed.
“Why?”
“You don’t want to cast a Magic Missile spell in here. Not until you know what you are doing. You’ll just waste it, and you might do some damage. You don’t want the landlord chasing you with a bill for damages to his property, right?”
“Oh, yeah.” Max closed the book. He dearly wanted to cast the spell but knew Anita was right. He would definitely cause damage. It was exciting to think he had such power at his fingertips.
Max dropped his Mage Book into his sack, his small collection of gold coins jingling as the book landed on top of them. He looked at the weave of his sack and let it form his inventory.
>
>
> Inventory:
>
> • Light clothes
>
> • Soft boots
>
> • Good boots
>
> • Coat
>
> • Staff
>
> • Mage Book
>
> • 20 gold
>
> • Burlap sack - upgrade available
>
>
Max considered his burlap sack, the one he’d taken from the scarecrow and his first outfit in the world of Eveirea. He had used it to carry his few belongings, but now it had a logo over it: upgrade available.
Max wondered if it was as simple as when he’d leveled up. Was this a new level for his sack? He let the words flow around the list of his inventory.
The burlap sack lit up and spun around in his hands, caught up in a sparkling whirlwind. When it stopped spinning, it had been upgraded, and now Max held a satchel. It was made of the same rough burlap, but it had a sturdy shoulder strap, and the inside was lined and rugged.
“Cool! Upgrade,” Max said and slung the strap over his arm, grabbed his staff, and walked downstairs with Anita.
In the tavern, Max spotted Elderon sitting at the same small table they’d occupied the night before. The fire in the central pit had burned low. Only dark red-and-black embers remained, but it still gave off a good heat. The minstrels had long gone, the bar was clear, and a drunk was sleeping off his flagon of dwarven ale under a table in a dark corner of the tavern.
On the table in front of Elderon, a board held a loaf of dark bread, a chunk of hard cheese, some fruit, and some slices of ham.
“Sit,” Elderon said as he chewed the dark bread. “The mistress of the Dancing Pig has put together a breakfast for us.”
Max and Anita sat. Anita tore a chunk off the loaf and handed it to Max. A tankard in front of him contained a foaming brew.
“Breakfast ale,” Elderon said as he picked up his tankard. He drank deeply.
Max took a sip. No one wanted to see ID here in the Dancing Pig, they even served beer for breakfast.
“When in Rome,” Max said.
“Where?” Anita said.
“You know, Romans? The Colosseum? Gladiators?”
Anita looked at him, puzzled. “Is that where you are from?”
Max opened his mouth to answer, but he couldn’t find the words.
“Come on, eat up,” Elderon said, grabbing another chunk of dark bread. “We have a long day ahead.”
Max didn’t want to think about a long day ahead just yet. He took a sip of the ale, which tasted good, light, and refreshing. It gave him a kick like a strong coffee, but it was a fizzing brew. He drank again and felt awake, strong, and fit. He checked his Health.
The Health bar was green and full, but it looked bigger than yesterday. Elderon must have noticed Max staring at it and said, “Your Health will improve with every level. You will be able to take more damage but do try and avoid taking any damage if you can. I will stay here with you in Burke for a day or two and teach you what I can, but I cannot stay long. I am on a mission from the Mage Council to discover the source of the darkness that is infecting Eveirea, so I will have to continue my travels.”
Max took a chunk of the rich-tasting bread that satisfied his hunger in a few bites. He was remembering his dream about Janet, the beautiful laboratory assistant. If it had been a dream?
“I will go with you,” he said, looking up at Elderon.
Elderon shook his head. “No, young Mage. My quest is too perilous for a Level One Mage. I will teach you what I can in the next few days, and you can make yourself useful here in Burke. They will be glad to have a Mage in the town. Use your Magic Missiles to slay a few Rats, help keep the wolves from the gate. You will gain your levels, and one day we may meet again.”
“Yes, Max,” Anita said. “I, too, will have to move on. You will be safe here.”
Max didn’t like the idea of staying in Burke. He was sure Meg would keep him company in the steamy cottage, but he would rather travel with Anita.
“I know the source of the darkness.”
Anita looked puzzled, but Elderon fixed him with eyes dark like a heavy metal.
“There is a dark portal entering the world from dimensions beyond my understanding. But I know I have to find the dark portal and close it.” Max spoke with a confidence that almost scared him. “I think I might be the only one who can close it.”
Anita and Elderon stared while Max avoided Elderon’s piercing gaze. Those dark eyes too often had a look of danger about them.
“A dark portal?” Elderon said.
Max nodded. “Help me find it so I can close it.” He took a deep drink of his breakfast ale.
Anita was scrutinizing him with concern. Elderon was thinking, but then he nodded and made a low growling noise. “It is true that a novice leveling up for the first time can be gifted with some insight. How did you come to learn of this dark portal, Max?” Elderon leaned in.
“I dreamed last night that I was falling. A white spirit told me a dark portal has opened. It will be creating strange and dangerous effects as long as it remains open, and she said I need to close it.”
“A white dream guide. That is a powerful vision, Max.” Anita leaned closer, her hand on Max’s arm. “Maybe it was not by chance that I found you.” She turned to Elderon. “I have been seeking the darkness that has corrupted animals in the Kingdom of Breamor for the last several weeks. Maybe Max is right.”
Elderon grumbled, “I must inform my Mage Council brothers of this. The nearest Mage Stone is on the border of the Breamor Kingdom and the Kingdom of Faregent. We will travel there, you and I, young Mage, and we will confer with the Mage Council through the stone.”
“And I will accompany you,” Anita said. “My Druid order must discover what is driving the animals to darkness. I am committed to this quest.”
Elderon laid one gold coin on the table. “This will pay for the room and the meal. We should get going before it is too late. The Mage Stone is many leagues from here. Let us make good progress while we can.” Then Elderon put a hand on Max’s shoulder. “I will have to instruct you as we travel. I hope I can teach you enough.” The old Mage leaned in, his eyes growing darker. “For we travel in dangerous lands in most dangerous times.”
Max grabbed the rest of the loaf and dropped it in his satchel. He finished off the rest of his breakfast ale and felt strong and healthy.
Outside the Dancing Pig, the town was fresh and cool. The rain had passed, and the sky was a deep blue, with a bright sun that warmed Max’s skin although the air was cold. The narrow streets were still muddy but would soon be firm. At the main street, Max headed toward the town gate.
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“Hold on,” Anita said. “There’s a good general store here in town. I think we should stock up on supplies before we head into the wilderness.”
Max looked over at Elderon, “What do you think? Do they have anything useful to us there?”
A smile crept over Elderon’s wrinkled features as he answered.
“They have everything we could possibly need.”
“Then let’s go!” Max said with excitement in is voice.
Anita nodded and then walked ahead. “This way,” she said and headed back into the maze of side streets.
After a few twists and turns, Anita stopped at a wooden door that was as low as it was wide. The small store looked much the same as the many cottages, low-thatched with smoke rising from a stone chimney. Max followed Anita inside.
Blinking to adjust to the gloom inside, Max waited while his eyes adjusted, and then he saw lines of rough, wooden shelves stacked with strange items. Max wandered between the shelves with a feeling he was being watched, as if a cat was stalking him. There was a scurrying, scratching sound from the shelves at Max’s shoulder height. It moved along the shelves, keeping pace with Max. He whipped around abruptly and caught a glimpse of a small green man on the shelf next to him. He was only a few inches in height, no bigger than the colorful bottles he hid behind.
Max was startled by the little figure. He tried to get a better look, but the little man stayed just out of sight.
Anita came to his side, and Max leaned close to her.
“Is that the storekeeper?” he whispered.
“No.” Anita sounded surprised and amused. “It’s just a store imp. Do they not have them in your town?”
“No, they don’t,” Max said as he tried to get a closer look. “What is he doing?”
“They check that no one steals anything,” Anita said. “The storekeeper must be busy in the back, maybe still having his breakfast. It is quite early.”
Max leaned forward and studied the store imp. His features were that of an old man with deep wrinkles, a short, pointy beard, and thin moustache that was dark black. The imp had a long green nose and clothes that were well made and fitted perfectly, but he had no shoes. Max saw the claw-like feet like that of a bird of prey. Those must be so much better, Max reasoned, for the imp to clamber over the shelves.
“But what would he be able to do if I did steal anything? He’s tiny. I must be a hundred times bigger than that imp.”
Anita grinned at Max. “Try it. Put something in your satchel.”
Max shrugged. “Ok.” He saw a small box on a nearby shelf filled with tiny glass bottles, all standing upright and padded with straw.
“What’s this?” Max asked, picking up the bottle.
“Looks like a Potion of Basic Healing,” Anita said.
Max wrapped his hand around it. The store imp watched him. Max made a few wild movements to distract the imp and then snuck the bottle into his bag.
The imp shrieked a piercing, warbling cry like an anti-theft alarm in a regular store back home, and Max had to cover his ears. It was painfully deafening.
“Make it stop,” Max said.
At one end of the line of shelves, Elderon appeared, his staff tapping heavily as he came. Max could see he was not happy.
At the far end of the line of shelves, a short man appeared. He was stocky with a huge beard and shoulders built like blocks of concrete. He moved fast for a man only four feet tall and built like a stack of house bricks.
“What in the name of the Kraken is going on? Who is stealing from Tibult?”
The dwarf named Tibult grabbed the imp and slipped the tiny creature into his pocket, whereupon the shrieking stopped.
“My apologies, Tibult. I made him do it,” Anita said.
“Anita,” Tibult said, frowning. He folded his arms over his big beard. “I might have known you’d bring trouble.”
Anita bent over and hugged the hairy dwarf around his big shoulders.
“Good to see you, old friend,” Anita said.
Tibult grumbled, but Max was sure he saw a smile in that thick beard. He took the bottle out of his bag and showed Tibult. “I didn’t know what a store imp was. Anita dared me to do it.” He turned to Anita. “You could have just explained it to me.”
Anita shrugged and smiled. “But that was more fun.”
“She’s nothing but trouble,” Tibult said.
“Max’s new around here,” Anita said. “I just wanted him to know how effective a store imp is at protecting a storekeeper’s wares.”
Max put the bottle back where he’d found it while Elderon picked out a handful of the small bottles. He dropped them into his bag one at a time, counting them as he did so, then he went to another tray of similar-sized green bottles.
“Take a look around,” Elderon said to Max. “Find something you think you might need. I’ll take care of our potions for now until you know what potions to look for.”
Max left Anita, who was catching up with her old friend, Tibult. Elderon kept picking out small colorful bottles of strange potions. Max went to the front of the store where he saw a rack of swords.
All sharp and heavy, the swords had different hilts, decorative or basic pommels, various bindings on the grips, all kinds of cross guards, but the blades were all made from the same dull-gray metal.
Max picked one up. It was very heavy, and he was barely able to drag it from the rack. He held it with both hands and found he could hardly pick it up, so he balanced it back on the rack. There were other swords at the end of the rack that were even longer. Max didn’t even try to pick up one of these. A small box next to the rack contained a range of long knives, some curved, others straight, some double-sided blades, and some with decoration. He picked one of these up. It felt light and comfortable.
Next to the sword rack, he found a basket containing a number of shortswords. He picked one out with a shining blade and a grip covered in soft animal skin. He swept it back and forth. It was only about two feet long, but Max felt it to be a very powerful weapon.
Max slipped the shortsword into the basket. Next to it was a sword that was much longer but still very light.
“That is a katana,” Tibult said. The dwarf had moved silently and was suddenly at Max’s side. “It is a good weapon. Sharp. Strong. Perfect for one with a Warrior’s heart if not a Warrior’s arm. It comes with my special guarantee of quality.” He plucked the imp out of his pocket and tossed the creature onto a shelf, and the imp scurried off to keep an eye on the wares.
Max held the sword out in front of him and admired the light reflecting off its long blade.
“You will lose all your active Mage spells if you equip that weapon,” Elderon said, dropping a selection of potion bottles on the counter. “Short blades are the only swords acceptable to the Mage class.” Then he drew his long silver sword. “That is, until you can find a longsword like this, forged in the ancient fires of Essillt.” The blade was of the whitest silver, almost like a shaft of sunlight. Elderon sheathed the longsword.
Tibult took the katana away. “A young Mage,” Tibult said with a hint of admiration. “A powerful class indeed. Let me show you my collection of daggers and shortswords.”
Max looked again at the shortswords. He picked up a shining blade with a red hide-covered grip, a single-bar crosspiece, and a plain ball pommel.
“That sword will cost only twelve gold coins to a young Mage such as yourself.” Tibult leaned in. “That is a friend’s price since you know my good friend Anita.”
“Come on, Tibult. You can give him a better deal than that!” Anita said, goading the storekeeper. She had a collection of herbs and potions in her arms. She dropped them to the counter for Tibult to add up the cost.
Tibult wagged a finger at Max. “Only because Anita is teasing you so much,” he said. He went behind the counter and produced a belt with a scabbard. “You can have these at no extra cost.”
Max smiled. “That sounds great. Thanks.”
Elderon placed two small bottles on the counter in front of Max. “Buy these too,” Elderon said. “They are Potions of Basic Healing. Keep them with you just in case you get separated from me and Anita.”
Anita packed away her herbs and potions—and a pouch filled with stone bullets for her sling.
Max looked at the crossbows and then to Elderon. Elderon shook his head.
“Light crossbows only for a Mage,” Elderon said. “Tibult doesn’t have any light crossbows. We might find you one on our travels.”
“What about a sling like Anita?” Max asked Elderon.
Tibult was at his side in a shot, a leather sling in one hand, and a pouch of stone bullets in the other.
“Only the finest items in my store, young Mage. Perfect slingshot for a young Mage. Only two gold.”
Max checked his inventory. He had six gold coins left.
Max dipped his hand into his satchel and then spotted a catapult hanging behind Tibult’s counter.
“What about that?”
Tibult ambled around to the back of the counter. “Ahh, the young Mage is clearly using spells of Find Item to spot that particular item. That is a catapult. A very powerful missile weapon and perfect for a Mage. It will allow a simple sling bullet to cause extra damage.” He unhooked the catapult and laid it on the counter in a ceremonial fashion. “Alas and alack, it is my last remaining catapult, and I promised a Ranger who passed this way only a few days ago that I would hold onto it for him. I couldn’t possibly let you have it for less than eight gold.”
Max felt crestfallen. He was only short a few gold coins. He didn’t want to ask Elderon or Anita for funds to help him buy it. He briefly considered creeping back in and stealing the catapult after they had left, but out of the corner of his eye, he saw the imp glaring at him as if it had read his mind.
Max studied the hook the catapult had been hanging from. It was slightly hidden from sight but still viewable for anyone who looked for more than a few seconds. It was both hidden and on display. Max wished he did have a spell of Find Item, for he was sure Tibult had a box of these catapults somewhere behind that counter.
Max knew this dwarf’s game.
“Ahh, Tibult, you old crook,” Max said with a laugh and a smile. He leaned one elbow on the counter and stared steadily down at Tibult. “You are too good a storekeeper to run so low on such fine stock. I wager a tankard of good dwarven ale you have a box of these tucked away in the back. Last catapult in stock, indeed?” Max patted Tibult on the shoulder. “Good one, Tibult, you clever dwarf. I can see why you are such a successful merchant. Now come on, how much in truth?”
Max was as charming as could be, and Tibult fixed him with a stony gaze for some moments before a smile burst over his face, making his whiskers bristle.
“The young Mage is a clever one indeed. Six gold for a quick sale and happy days for all.”
“Two gold,” Max said before Tibult had finished speaking.
“Four,” Tibult shot back.
Max slammed the coins down on the counter. “Throw in a pack of stone bullets, and you have a deal, my friend.”
“Deal.” Tibult scooped up the gold.
Max took hold of the catapult. The handle was dressed in fine leather and was soft in his grip. A brace hooked over his wrist to hold the powerful catapult in place when the launcher was fully drawn back.
Max inspected the stretchy brown material as he pulled the catapult back.
“Is this rubber?” Max asked, testing the catapult, pulling it gently back and forth and listening as it creaked.
“That, my young friend,” Tibult said, “is sinew taken from a Golden Roc. Only found in the Mountains of Drow on the Scarfel continent. Fine material. Very powerful. Very rare. Best in all Eveirea.”
Elderon took a look at the catapult. He cast a spell of Know Item and nodded in agreement.
“Yes, Golden Roc sinews, very durable. You be careful with that catapult, young Mage. It is very powerful.”
As they left the store, Max glanced back through the door as it swung shut. Tibult had a box on the counter and was hanging a replacement catapult on the partially hidden hook behind the counter.
“You must be charismatic indeed,” Anita said, hooking an arm over Max’s shoulder. “To haggle with a dwarven merchant so expertly. It must be why I like you so much.”
Max felt a flush of desire come over him. Anita liked him. He liked her too. She was so fit and looked amazing in all that tight leather. He’d never been one for cosplay before, but Anita was more than just a hot outfit and hypnotic eyes. She was irresistible.
She heaved a sigh, her chest rising and falling inside the tight leather top. She unhooked her arm from Max’s shoulder, and they walked in step down the main street to the town gates with Elderon a few paces in front.
The gates were closed, and a group of guards took turns peering out of the hatch in the little door in the main gate. Max wondered what they were looking at when he heard the sound of guards running along the main street.
Max stepped aside to let the guards pass. They slowed as they approached and stopped. One stepped toward Elderon.
“Master Mage Elderon, the mayor of Burke humbly requests you attend him at the mayoral hall.”
Elderon turned to the guards, a sweep of his cloak showing a glint of the long silver sword on his belt. He stood with his staff at his side.
“My party is about to leave Burke. We have a long day’s travel ahead. Inform the good mayor I will attend him when I am next in the county, but I fear I will not be back this way for some time. He should send dispatches to Essillt and request a Mage attend him when the Mage Council can accommodate him.”
Max listened with interest. Was Elderon telling the mayor to get lost? Max realized Elderon was not some random traveler. Mages were respected and had an authority of their own, enough to tell a mayor to get bent.
The guard stepped forward a pace, his companions following, all looking nervous with hands on their spears and gripping them tightly.
“Apologies, Master Mage. The gates have been closed. No one may leave or enter. The mayor has a matter he would like to discuss with you.”
Max considered the gate. He could get out if he wanted. Anita and Elderon were both powerful, and the nervous guards at the gate could not hold them. But he was also curious as to why the Mayor wanted to see Elderon.
Max spoke quietly to the old man. “Perhaps we should meet him.” Max looked up the main street to the big house on the hill. “It’s always good to have someone like him on our side. If anything, we should go just to keep us in his good graces.”
“Max is brave and noble, Elderon,” Anita said. “Natural good tells me we should see the mayor.”
Elderon grumbled low for a moment, before he swept his cloak across his body, again concealing the silver sword.
“We will meet the mayor,” Elderon said and walked forward.
The guards fell into marching formation in front of Elderon. “We will escort you,” said the lead guard.
Elderon elbowed his way through the group. “I know the way. Watch the palisades. See to your duty, and we will attend the mayor.”
Max was enjoying this. He advanced with his party up the hill to the big stone building, where he looked forward to being greeted by the mayor of the town.