Livia's Skill [Pitch Perfect] had worked ahead of her brain and found the words that might work on the experienced [Healer]–who had to learn to cope with watching people die in her arms–and keep thinking of ways to help out the next time.
They worked less well on someone who had just lost three of his siblings.
The family of Sten had gotten used to tragedy over the years, it was true. But that didn't make it easier to lose someone who had been there the entire seventeen years of your life.
All three of the fallen siblings had been older than Sten; and though their father was known as one of the most formidable fighters in the village–and had managed to keep their constantly pregnant mother safe through thick and thin–the style of fighting which he taught to his children was one involving a great deal of risk.
That did not mean everybody in the family had a careless streak, as some in Salcret were wont to say.
Sten for one had done what he could to prevent tragedy striking again, it was why a year ago–as he turned sixteen–Sten had become an Aspirant at the healer’s house.
This was a tough decision, made despite the constant mockery of not just his father and their rivals in the village, but of his siblings; some of whom were now dead.
Sten had been an Aspirant [Healer] for quite a while now, without locking in, despite being offered a low tier Skill.
Now he had to face how all that he had learned was proven useless in the face of his siblings' fate.
It was the reason why his father had finally snapped after the battle and told him enough was enough.
Now Sten was a level 4 [Pugilist].
His father had leveled him there, all in one night. Nearly killing his boy in the process.
What the old man remained unaware of, along with everyone else–and what was eating Sten up inside–was that the young man had been offered a tier 10 Aspirant Skill whenever he prompted the [Pugilist] Class.
Even though it had not been confirmed until he locked in… Sten was still the reason it did not happen sooner. Anybody in his family learning of that fact scared Sten to death.
He might have been able to save them.
He just didn't want to fight.
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[That was a shit show.]
Livia's first attempt at recruitment went about the opposite way she had been hoping, but she tried to look on the bright side: learning about Sten did provide some hope for the future.
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A fighter who wanted to be a healer; Livia knew of ways to work with that when upgrading the Class.
Although with the first impression she had made… It would probably be smarter to send someone like Roldy or Kalle to speak with the guy.
And so Livia ended up going over to chill out at Lena's, and ordered herself a drink to take the edge off her disappointing day.
Just an hour in she spotted Oscar heading for the [Guild] house, presumably looking for Livia, so she called him over and told him all about how her day went.
As usual he acted the barkeeper-quality sympathetic ear: "Ouch, not a good start; but I do know of the guy, and it’s true that he's surprisingly sensitive coming from that family,”
When he saw Livia theatrically fall into despair he hurried to add on: “But he's not the type to hold a grudge, and if we can impress him somehow then I’m sure he’ll hear us out,"
That was good news at least, they had an in.
"So, tell me who else you’ve considered approaching this week?" Oscar knew she usually jotted these things down, so he held out his hand.
Livia went through her list of youngish people who were known to have rare Classes, or even who had let slip their surprisingly high tier Aspirant Skills to the rumor mill.
Of course, there was no way to really check and confirm.
"What about Lena, have you asked her?"
The thought actually hadn't crossed her mind, Lena was just over thirty and had the common class [Weaver], although it was above level 20. Probably even approaching level 30, but that was not enough to make Livia's list yet.
But there was something to be said for recruiting where there was a personal connection. A [Weaver] with experience as an innkeeper, maybe there is something there.
When they went over to run the idea by Lena she was surprisingly open to it, Livia even got the impression she had been considering it far before Livia and Oscar brought it up.
In the middle of talking specifics Livia was suddenly struck as if by an idea made of lightning.
"Party tents!" She exclaimed.
Oscar and Lena both gave her an odd look, not recognising the terms mushed together.
Livia gave ‘em both a proper Duchenne smile in return. "How big can you make a weave?"