Waking up Orlando felt like he was beaten for several hours with a club and think about it that was exactly what happened. He checked his prompts that he ignored during the latter part of the training and noticed that his shield skill had hit lv 8. In excitement Orlando let out a little laugh "it's the little things " he muttered to him self. If he was honest with him self this status screen and seeing those little improvements have been one of the only things keeping him saine the past few weeks since entering this strange world. Well that and "Orlando it's time to eat, if you sleep in again you will go on contract hunger. " a melodious female voice said somewhere outside his cramped room.

With a smile Orlando got up and walked to the small room off the kitchen where the servants ate. Sitting there with a radiant smile was idra and dark skinned woman in her early 20s with lovely green eyes that Orlando could get lost in. Seeing his flustered and lost expression on his face her smile only widened. With a chuckle she pointed to the chair across from her with a bowl of rice sitting in front of it. "Eat up mighty warrior I've been instructed to tell you that you have already been contracted for the next two days. A local herbalist by the name of jade will be waiting for you next to the western gate " she said in a teasing way that made Orlando shove food in his face as fast as possible in order not to embarrasse himself further. "Do you know where were going " Orlando asked between spoonfuls. "Not a clue but it's probably not far if the contract is only two days just make sure to stop by the manors armory for your axe" she said with another smile that made Orlando's heart flutter. Orlando wished he had put points into Charisma but lord sky had ordered him to follow a attribute allocation plan that he wrote out for him. Thinking about that soured his mood and with a fake smile Orlando excused himself and collected his armor and weapon at the armory.

With the help of the attendant he equipped his gear and swiftly headed to the western gate to meet his newest contractor. Heading through the wineding streets he took the chance to marvel at the beauty of the city while doing his best to ignore the smells wafting in from the residents of the overpopulated streets. Reaching the gate Orlando saw a tall middle aged woman standing two teenage boys carrying packs. Catching Orlando looking at them the woman called out " you must be the bodyguard i hired , well let's get a move on then I want to be at the Thorne glade by sunset". With a nod to the gate guards she lead the group out of the city at a jog.

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For the the first few kilometers the road was flat and well maintained but the farther they got from the city the more run down it became. For the rest of the group who had made this trip before from what Orlando could tell this was a light Stroll but for him stomping down the road in heavy armor while carrying a shield was well as his axe this was almost worse than Kaleb beating on him. Gritting his teeth he focused on his feet which was why when they ran into the first obstacle in their journey Orlando was ill prepared.

With a shoute from jade thel looked up just in time for the herbalist and her appreciates jump to the side before he ran face first into something and sent himself and whatever he hit tumbling to the ground. Scrambling to his feet he looked at what he had slammed into. With thick brown vines and legs flailing tipped with green claws Orlando realized that he had just tackled what looked to be a four foot tall bear made out of plans. Winded and dazed from the long run and collision with the "plant bear" he did realize that his employer jade was shouting at his to attack. In a panic he reached for the one handed axe at his belt but at that moment the plant bear regained hits feet and charged him. Quickly side stepping and swinging his axe down he landed a glacing hit that caused sap to leak out the side of the monsters hide. Keeping close to it and using his advantage in weight to shove the bear around he pushed it back while hacking at its side. He was winning and he would have the thing dead in no time if it weren't for the bear having a higher Agility.

With a pained roar the bear throw itself away gaining the space to circle around and pounce on Orlando's side toppling over and making him drop his axe. Wrestling with the monster has armor took scratches but held strong. The bear opened its mouth wide ready to bite into Orlando's unprotected face when the bear went limp atop him.

Looking over he saw one of the apprentices holding the Handel of his axe with the blade in the bears neck.