Chapter 2

“It feels so much better mentally to not have a hole in my body. Thank you as always Hela”

“Really Jake this has happened far too often in just a few days, you should not have caused this much growth in my [Recovery] skill.”

I could only awkwardly laugh as I sat there being slowly healed with the cold truth she commented on while my strength went away. There were at least two types of healing magic, the lesser [Recovery Healer] and the ‘normal’ [Healer]. The difference was [Recovery Healers] used the inquired persons own stamina along with the healer’s mana while [Healers] just used mana which made it the clearly better class.

Saying my thanks, I went outside the church and to the adventures guild making my way up to the front desk that was of course not busy at all. The desk I went to was meant for the bottom ranked people like me and giving that almost nobody was that low of level I was pretty much the only person who came here.

“Iantien I have retuned once again, here is what was request and some extra”

“Hang in there Jake” she said clapping her hands together

Iantien could tell how drained I looked and rushed to bring the money together so that I could get rest. Really was a nice woman and an unusual one at that. She was the only Half-elf in the entire town but even lived here her entire life she handled the cold badly. It was another one of my small pleasures seeing her thick winter gear when it was only slightly cold outside.

“Here you go and I assume you are done for today?” Iantien looked almost hopeful

“No, I will take the dock request again”

With a disappointed look on her face Iantien handed me 15 coppers and a slip to be a hired hand on the docks. Giving a thumbs up I walked out and went straight to the docks. This job would pay 10 coppers for the rest of the day and given how poor I am can’t really refuse to make money.

“I was wondering when you would show up, head over there and help them”

Norladar said as soon as he saw me while pointing down the dock where half a dozen men were helping unload. I gave him the slip and went to do my grueling part time job.

“Dormir help me with this”

“Sure, thing Jake”

Dormir was the closest thing I had to a friend here, it helped that every single time I worked here we ended up working together. Another reason was we were both the weakest people so a box all the other workers could carry by their self we needed each other.

“Did you…hunt…rabbits?” Dormir managed to barely say while we carried a crate

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“Yes… it sucked”

We put the crate down just in time since our arms were shaking so much the crate was shaking as well.

“Are you going to keep doing it?”

“I don’t want to live like this, I have things I need to do”

“Are you talking about the shrimp?”

Dormir was one of the people I had asked before if he knew where the deep-water shrimp was but just like all the others had no idea. We did not say anything more to each other and had to get back to work. For hours, all we did it pick a box up and put it down, this port was busy enough where the breaks were few and far between.

The sun was shining bright today still and in the water, I could see a boat always, either coming in or going out. Apparently, this was the only port for quite the distance given how widespread the monster issue was. In this world while they were kingdoms, empires and the like still a massive amount of the land was un livable.

“Jake, Dormir, her is your pay for today” Norladar gave each of us a very small bag.

Mine had 10 coppers in it while Dormir had twenty for working the entire day. While both amounts were disappointing there was already a difference in what we made by me hunting for herbs. Now if I could just get over the hurdle of almost dying every time some real progress might be made. In this world in seemed that 1 copper was about 1 dollar from my world. So that means I made $25 dollars for life and death work.

 We said our goodbyes to each other and went our separate ways as the sun started to fall on another day. In front of the church there was a small line that formed for the daily soup kitchen that was set up for the homeless and poor like myself.

“This won’t last forever” I told myself while waiting in line

When it was my turn I saw Hela with her hair tied back and an apron helping the volunteers pass out soup and chuck of bread.

“It seems you worked very hard today here is something extra”

Hela gave me slightly more soup and bread, I thanked her and put my back on the wall of the church watching the line of people get their food. I had to take my time with the soup because my hand was shaking so much. Before I knew the soup and bread were gone but I was still hungry. My eyes went to the small restaurant that was across the street. Seeing the happy people made my hunger worst but my eyes would not move.

“It’s okay you know? I know Jake worked very hard today so you should spend some of the money you earned to eat more”

Hela was kneeling next to me while holding my shaking hands the held the empty soup bowl. I closed my eyes and struggled with what to do, it was so easy, she already gave me permission that means I can pay her back later for the weapon.

“No” I pushed the bowl into her hands and gave her all the money I made today

“You have helped me so much, everything I have is yours”

Hela faced turned red at my proclamation and could only nod in response before taking the money and bowl and walking away. It felt good to say that to such an attractive woman even if I was in no way confessing. Being in this world to get Shrimp is one thing but for this single action was completely by my own choice.

“Alright let’s head inside since it is far to awkward to be around here” I decided after seeing the people around me stare and whisper about what just happened

Inside I just laid flat on my back listening to the sound of breathing, the issue was my bodies condition was getting worse as time went on. At first my thought was it was all in my head but beads of sweat were rolling down my head and different parts of my bodies had spasms. Needing to move around I got up and walked outside and by now everyone had already left as was asleep.

“Okay let’s just practice a few swings”

Taking my sword out I began to practice trying to take my mind off of letting myself get sick already, right after making the big deal of paying back Hela! Over and over I just kept cutting the air in front of me when suddenly the sword was no longer in my hands. I looked down and saw it laying there and that’s when I noticed there was no feeling in my arm.

“Is this how it ends?” was the last thing  I managed to say before falling faced first into the ground and passing out.

[The God of Healing approves of your words]

[The God of Perseverance supports you]

[Class ??? Unlocked (Rare) Quality]

[Skill Perseverance (Rare) Quality Bestowed]