I blinked.

"Are you using ... magic?" I asked.

She gave me a deadpan look. She made a show of looking around the tavern.

"Well, I don't see any other mages within kicking distance of this table, so let's just assume for the sake of our conversation that I am. Is that such a surprise to you? Where are you from? The outer lands?"

Her voice was deep and smooth, like the lounge singers in those black and white movies my dad would watch late at night, when he thought my mom and I were asleep. One of her eyebrows was raised in an incredulous expression.

"Uh, no, I uh, was just surprised. Is magic common around here?"

I realized that I had learned next to nothing about the world I was now living in, other than that I had a powerful mage as my "creator" and that there were street thugs that beat up and hurt old men. I felt suddenly very lost and afraid. One wrong word to the wrong person and I could be broken bits buried in the dirt again.

Sylvania blinked a few times as she gave me an appraising look. Her hand closed and the flame winked out.

"You know, It's a common practice when someone introduces themselves, for you to do the same. You aren't from around here are you?"

She looked down at her fingernails and crossed her legs under the table.

"Ah. Heh heh. Yes, well I'm not used to people just coming right on up and sitting with me who I've never met. Um, my name is Aegis." I held out my hand, awkwardly.

Sylvania tilted her head sideways slightly - almost like a dog who's heard a high pitched whistle. I suddenly felt very nervous. What if she learns about who and WHAT I am? I regretted shutting out Bright and Interface. I considered bolting from the table right then.

She took my hand tentatively, and glanced over at my left shoulder - my armless left shoulder.

"So, ah, what happened to you? Hurt yourself in a farming accident?" She clutched at a necklace as she talked. It was a dark green gem encased with a gold cage-like setting. I realized her eyes were also a deep green. Her whole presence was striking. Dark hair, heavy lidded eyes, calm, self-assured presence. I glanced around to see if anyone else was surprised to see magic being done, but no one else seemed to notice us.

"Uh, no , I uh got in a fight with some Goblins, and uh barely made it away alive."

I really needed to work on my story. I could see her expression changed to doubt at my paper thin lie.

"Listen, I'm sure you're amazing and all that, and I'll bet there's someone else in this tavern who would really like to hear all about your services and all. I'm just a tradesman's kid who's come to find an apprenticeship with some local merchant. I just got here today and I'm pretty tired." I yawned - unconvincingly.

"Listen, … Aegis … If that's your real name. I know a bit about this city. It's not a safe place for someone who's not aware of its … dangers. There are different factions of organized crime, the Iron Church, the Thieves Guild, and others. Not to mention those Goblins you talked about. You could use someone who knows what's what around here, to give you a bit of advice and perhaps guide you to what you are looking for? Hmm?" She made a small gesture with her hands and a tiny map appeared above the table -- almost like a hologram it slowly rotated in place. I could see that the streets and buildings corresponded with my own internal map of the town.

She had a point. And yet … what if she WAS one of the dangers of this place. I had played far too many games and seen too many movies to let someone who was as shady looking as her pull the wool over my eyes.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

"How do I know you aren't one of those dangers?" I asked, a bit more boldly than I felt.

She seemed taken aback. Her hand pressed to her chest.

"Me? A danger?" She looked off in the distance for a moment - seemingly pondering my words. Then she smiled. I felt like Alice did before the Cheshire Cat.

"Perhaps I am - " she started, but then a very large, very angry looking brute of a man bumped the table aside and banged his fist on it's wooden surface, making all the plates and cups bounce and clank.

"Sylvania! You worthless, pathetic, liar. You tricked me! Those weren't magic corn seeds you shoved on me. Those were just rotten horse feed you must have put some kind of spell on to look like magic seeds. I've been looking all over this city for you, and now you decide to show your despicable face here." He growled.

Sylvania looked stricken and stood up - shoving her chair backwards. A few other folks in the common area glanced over at us.

The rough looking man seemed to be one of the local farmers - if they made farmers that could pass as professional wrestlers back in my world. He was almost six feet tall with shoulders that must have been working the fields since he was a kid. I also stood up and backed up a bit. A chill traveled up my spine.

Sylvania put up her hands in a placating gesture. I could see in her eyes she was quite terrified.

"Now listen, Jordan, I had no idea those seeds were not exactly as I had described. I had just procured them from a reputable - " Her explanation was cut off as he grabbed her arm by the wrist with a beefy hand and yanked it upward harshly.

"I don't wanna hear nothing about your procurements! I want my money back, and I want it now!" With that he shoved her back hard and she stumbled backward into some other guests who screamed and backed away. The look on her face was completely different from the calm, self assured persona she had been projecting just a few moments ago.

Why was she not blasting this guy with magic? I thought. And why was she so terrified of him? But then she stood up shakily and balled her hands into fists.

She bit her lip and looked at the floor.

"I don't have it. " She said quietly.

The barmaids were shouting for the police just outside the tavern. People were scrambling back away from tables. I just stood there like an idiot.

"What?" The huge man yelled.

"I had debts to pay. Obligations." She seemed so crestfallen.

"Well, then missy, I'll take it out of your hide!" And the man she had called Jordan backhanded her suddenly and she hit the floor again.

Emotions raged up within me. A thrill coursed through my body. I couldn't let this woman get hurt by this hulking guy. But I also couldn't let everyone know I was some kind of superhuman monster the first night of my stay at a tavern. I needed to THINK, before I acted.

Then, it came to me.

"I have it." I said, assuming a swagger I didn't actually feel.

The farmer turned to me, eyes blazing with anger.

'Interface! WAKE UP' I screamed internally.

"What did you say, boy?" He snarled.

"I have the money. She was coming here to pay me. " I said, somewhat shakily.

Jordan the barbarian farmer looked at me. I'm only about 5 feet 9 inches tall, and this body was all about agility not bulk. I probably looked like some kind of puny kid to this … giant.

Sylvania was struggling to get to her feet. There was a harsh bruise on her cheek. And a bit of blood on the corner of her lip. I seethed. I wanted to rip this guy apart. But, really if she had cheated him like he had said she did, could I really blame him? But no, that did NOT justify him coming in like some Mad Max crazy person and hurting someone. Deep within me, that feeling arose again. That Guardian Spirit or something. I felt power welling within me. The orb on my chest was growing warm, and my senses seemed to be heightened.

Jordan laughed and pointed an accusing finger at me.

"You? You're nothing but some boy. Why would she need to pay …" Then his eyes widened.

"No! Nothing like that" I replied quickly. My only hand raised placatingly.

"I'm - a courier. She was paying me to deliver something." I lied. What was I saying? This was not going to go well.

Sylvania looked at me with pleading eyes. I needed to do something, fast.

"Look dude. The lady says she doesn't have your money. But I do. So ah. " I gulped and steadied my legs.

"Why don't you come and get it."