A chance to finally move out of this village and study to become a warrior or a mage?

"It doesn't look like I have much of a choice do I?" Han laughed and rubbed the back of his neck. "I want to get stronger, so of course I'll accept this opportunity!"

"Atta boy!" Old Man Joe gave him a grin. "I suggest you pack up your things and say your farewells. I'll talk it over with Moe on how we'll get you to the Capital. If you have any other things you need to finish, better get them out of the way."

Han nodded, "Alright." With a courteous bow, he stepped back into the village. There were hardly any people out, instead they seem to have still gathered inside the saloon. It reminded him a lot of an inn in medieval times. Most people did find their relaxation by spending time together.

As for him? He trekked outside of the village, heading back to his hut by the cliffs—well if it was still there. It was one of the moments in a game before one moved to another map. You had to finish every mission you had before getting to the next area. And well, it didn't really seem like he had other missions left.

When he arrived at the cliffs, it was bare and empty. Desolate of the hut that once stood there, only small pieces of wreckage were to be seen. And someone else.

Their back was turned from him, he was at the edge of the cliff.

It was the young man around his age—was he trying to jump off the ledge?

"Hey, stop!" Han found himself running towards the edge. "There's still a lot more to live for! This isn't a solution! Hold it right there!"

And the man glanced behind their shoulders.

A sigh escaped their lips.

"Oh, it's you." He muttered and shook his head. "Of course it would be you." The young man turned his attention below the cliffs and carefully stepped back. "I won't let you have the satisfaction of watching me—I was simply looking at the waters is all. How'd you survive it?"

Han had a feeling that the man wanted to jump, but despite that. He didn't feel comfortable revealing why he managed to survive. "Well..."

"Are you some kind of water demi-god." The man sniggered at him. "When I look at the waters below, I can already see the dark silhouettes of jagged rocks beneath… and yet you survived. I don't think I have much luck as you if I were to do the same."

"Well, I don't think you'd like to find out."

"Ah, Han, you were always the special one between us weren't you?" The man glanced at the missing spot of his hut. "But I was right, trying to live at this spot, it made sense that your hut would be blown towards the cliff."

"Um well… yeah."

"So what business do you have here?" The man grumbled. "As you can see, your shambly hut is no more."

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

"I did want to check if my hut had survived the ordeal...but then I saw you trying to jump off the cliff."

"I'm not as weak-minded as that. As I said, I was simply observing the depths." The man's shoulders shook slightly before they stiffened. "I'm leaving." It was with steady steps that he began to walk past Han.

He sighed and lowered his head. "I'm sorry for what had happened… losing someone." If the talks earlier in the saloon were right. This man lost a family member, it must have hurt a lot. It didn't matter if they were an NPC or not, they were grieving.

"My mother… well, I'd like to think that she's in a better place now. At least she no longer needs to deal with me." The man's voice softened slightly.

"And what about your father?"

"What about my father? He's not here either." The man's tone turned as sharp as the rocks in the water. "I didn't think that someone like you was a nosy one."

Han winced. He was trying to absorb every piece of information that he could gain his hands on, he failed to realize that it could also be not so well received. He could feel his reputation bar now diminishing. "Sorry for talking about a touchy subject."

"Don't let it all get to your head or inflate your ego—a hero. All because you had a monument in our village and even got a fair maiden fawning over you. It irks me."

Han blinked. "Fair maiden?"

"Miss Becky, who else." The man's eyes twitched at him.

Han struggled to keep a straight face. "Oh, right…." Was the amount of people in this village so limited that they had Becky as the town's beauty? "Hey, um, dude…?"

"Why are you referring to me as 'dude', what derogatory term is that?" The man's gaze narrowed at him.

Man, this world needed a vocabulary upgrade. Han shifted uneasily. "I forgot your name." Of course he couldn't remember every character even if he just conversed with them yesterday!

"Ah, such arrogance. It's Timothy you dimwit."

"Guess I'll call you, Tim."

"Don't act so close with me to give me nicknames." Tim glared at him. "Why am I even bothering with you, I'm leaving."

He wasn't so sure why, but he couldn't help but blurt this out. "I'm leaving for the City of Gloria soon."

"Well, isn't that good for you." Tim rolled his eyes and then began to walk away. "This place can get a lot more peaceful without you around."

"Hey would you like—"

His world turned gray and time stopped in that moment.

[ Would You Like To Continue With Your Intentions? ]

What was this popout? Of course he was sure!

[ The Consequences Of Such Actions Rests On Your Shoulders. ]

Why was the screen appearing now all the time? Out of all the nonsense he'd be doing in the game, this was something that they were finding trouble with now?

"Hey, Tiim, would you like to join me to go to the City of Gloria? I'll be training under the Kraelonia Academy for Warriors and Wizardry."

Timothy blinked and stared at him for a moment. "What are you trying to pull? That's the most prestigious Academy under all the realm."

It was?

"Nothing. But I was thinking that since you're kind of like me, in a sort of a similar position… why don't we both head on to the City and embark on this together?" Han shrugged. "It sounds like a good adventure, so I'd like someone to kind of show me the ropes of things."

"You sound like you want me as some sort of footman."

"What no-no…I mean, you could help me out. But totally not a servant! Why did that even slip through your mind pfft!" Han laughed. What was going on?

Timothy sighed and rubbed his forehead. "Well, whoever is funding this trip of yours, if they don't mind me joining—sure, why not."

"Cool. Cool. I'll go talk it over then. So if you have things you need to do—well, it's best you get them done as soon as possible."

The guy rolled his eyes. "I know, I'm not a dimwit. I'll suffer your presence for this opportunity. See you when I'm done with my preparations." Timothy left after that and left Han at the cliffs.

A notification appeared as soon as the man left.

< First Companion Acquired! >

"Oh. I just gained him as a companion, so that means I can check his stats or something—I need to talk with that Elf before anything else though. Or should I check the Universal Chat? I'll talk with Grandma Moe when I'm finally through with things."