Chapter 4
“Jake did you already try to be an adventure again?”
“Yes Iantien”
“You know the adventure guild needs someone as low level as you to gather these herbs for [Weak Healing Potion] but you should have trained more before coming back”
“I am much stronger”
“Then why do you look like that?”
Iantien gestured with her hands up and down my body to prove her point. MY cloths her once again dirtied and cut up and there was a hole on my left arm from a healed wound (thank you Hela) with stained blood on it. I thought with my huge boost in strength things would be different.
That morning after taking in Hela waving me off I went to the Adventure’s Guild and once again pulled off the quest for the herbs to the smiles of the two receptionists but Iantien looked displeased. Another difference was something actually popped up after taking the paper:
Request To Gather Herbs:
As the only Adventure this low of level in the entire town it is up
to you to gather the herbs needed. Head back to the hill and gather
as much as you can.
Relative Difficulty: Hard
Time Limit: None (For Now)
Reward: 25xp, $1x (Number of Herbs)
Wow this sure is a change must be from those blessings, things sure are looking up. But after walking for that hour and getting to the hill the outcome was the same as before. When the Horned rabbit attacked it dodged every one of my attacks and rammed itself into my legs once again making me fall down. It had taken the horn going into my arm to get a sure hit with my sword. This time the sword lodged itself deep inside its body and after two more hits was dead.
Now the area I fought on was just a small portion of a large, flat hill. Dozens of rabbits were on this hill. The closer a person get into the center the higher level the Horn Rabbits. Beyond that I had no idea such it was already a life and death battle versus one of the lowest level. After the fight it was another one hour walk of shame to Hela who healed me (free of charge) bring me back to the present. I also acquired this after the battle:
Title Acquired [Desperate] Lv. 1: For someone who does not know when to give up when they should. +1 Endurance
[The God of Perseverance is Pleased]
“Quite the Tale Jake, it sounds like you need to learn a fighting style”
“What’s that?”
“Bless the Goddess, you truly have lost all common sense”
“I can’t handle anymore fatal shots to my sense of self-worth Iantien”
“I apologize Jake, usually something like this is learned by children. A fighting style is just like how it sounds: A style of fighting based on based on the weapon or weapons you choose along with your abilities”
This confuses me, I understand the weapon you use but what does that have to do with my ability scores?
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“Explain to me the abilities part of the style”
“Yes, let’s take for example to exact same warriors in the sense they both use just a two-handed sword. The difference is one of the warriors has high agility so he follows the creature while someone who has Endurance who try to outlast them”
“So, what about someone like me who is focused on strength?”
“Hum… then it that case you will not hit often but when they do they have to count. Ways to support yourself would be to get a weapon with a long reach and maybe a shield”
Okay, great. I know now ways to improve by an expert in this stuff, next means to get a shield and a fighting style.
“Where can I get those things”
“You’re in luck! We offer services to someone looking for a fighting style. I know your tight on money so you should know that it will have to be a private lesson such nobody else is lacking a fighting style”
This is it, this is how I die. Not by some deadly bunny everyone else laughs at but when the debt collectors come for my skin.
“How much is it”
“Give me a moment… The current price is 5 slivers. If you look at it a certain way it’s quite cheap”
My only response was to gag on the non-existent thing in my mouth. It cost 500 coppers! That was what it cost to get the simple gear from the church Hela, in other words my debts would more than double.
“I don’t have 5 slivers”
“Not to worry we offer loans!”
Seemly already prepared for my answer Iantien pulls out a letter of debt. She quickly wrote 500 in the middle of the document where there was a blank space then signed her signature at the bottom before handing it to me.
“Sign here”
I did so, then she wrapped it up and put it somewhere under where. There it is, proof of my failures. There will come a day when these are paid off or I will be dead so here’s to hoping for a good road.
“Now you said I should get a shield, right? How much will that cost”
“Maybe nothing at all”
What is this? Now is it my time for some good luck, did that good road already appear!
“Yes, if you look in the trash there should be a broken one! Just head around back and it might be there”
There it is, the catch to end all catches. I can get a shield but it will be broken to an unknown degree let alone the smell. The issue is the person who I am now literally can’t afford to be picky about any sort of help.
“…Can I go pick it up now?”
With my pride all but gone I walk around to the back to the Adventures Guild to see a huge trash bin. I take off everything but my underwear since these are my only cloths and as lightly as possible step into the horrors that is a dumpster. Slowly I make my way down the layers while holding my breath as much as possible.
“Come-on, come-on, where are you”
Starting to get cuts from broken potion bottles only made me want to find it faster. Not knowing how long it finally had taken me but other yet another ruined belt of some creature had to be the shield that was spoken of. The Iron Shield had nearly a third seemly bitten away by some creature that I never want. Climbing out with the broken shield I try to wipe my arms on the side of the dumpster and carry all my cloths in one hand and the shield on the other.
“Okay starting tomorrow, I have lessons. That means training in the morning then docks in the afternoon. Just have to keep in mind to avoid the monks”
The little boy that I threw the herb at a few days ago tried to get my attention about getting more herbs because he needed them but I just walked faster. My next stop was the Dock to work for money and since it already smelled bad my smell almost was masked. When I got to the church Hela gave me a very disapproving look and forced me to clean before food would be given.
“Really Jake you have more debt now when you already owe the church?”
“I am lacking in many ways but it had to be done, here is what I made today”
Sticking out my hand with the pouch of coins Hela grabbed it with only two fingers and quickly went inside the church to put it away. My days where becoming longer so the only option was to just brace myself for what happens next.
Earning for Today Current savings: Debt:
$25 0 -$830(455-25) -500
Class: ??? (Rare) Level: 1 Titles: [Desperate]
Stats:
Strength: 15
Agility: 8
Endurance: 11
Intelligence: 10
Wisdom: 10
Overweight (-2 Agility)
God of Perseverance Blessing (Class, +5 Ability points)
[Desperate]: +1 Endurance