Chapter 4 - The Experiencing

[ Following chapter contains depictions of something truly evil and truly cute -  read at your own risk ]

After leaving the Thieves Guild I was welcomed by a cool darkness of the night. Despite the location, between slums and merchant’s quarter, the surroundings weren't unclean or filled with beggars.

-' Hmm, lack of beggars could be easily explained, type of people that grace this neighbourhood tend to throw knives instead of coins. '

I left the main street in favour of less used alleys. I was beginning to wonder what I should do as my options were limited because night time caused many NPCs to close their shops and go to sleep.

-' I need to find out more about the mark and there's only one place I know that might have a lead. ' I shivered a bit at the memory, but instantly fought it back with anger.

With my mind set, I made my way to a tavern, in which I worked previously. I managed to avoid unsavoury characters that occasionally stalked the alleyways. Prowling through back streets felt oddly satisfying, Quick examination brought smile to my face as a long missing Stealth skill made its way onto the list.

Finally, I had arrived at an alley that was across from the tavern. I started examining brightly illuminated street, courtesy of a Mage's Guild it seems. It was one of less used streets, but it was still a*a proper* district, therefore magical lamps were hanging on the surrounding buildings, providing ample illumination.

I could see that the tavern was as busy as before and I had my doubts about coming inside.

I sneaked across the street and took a peek through a window. My vision was instantly glued to a prissy looking blonde with a wavy hair. She was wearing a white robe with yellow embroidery, I could see an ornamental staff made of white wood leaning on a wall behind her. She was with some people who looked like they had a class as well.

-' I thought that she was a cleric when we first met and it appears that I was correct. Still, how could she, and the others, get a class so early on? Hmm, she does not look like one of an early access people and it’s much too soon to be allowed out of the city, to farm mobs or something. ' I pondered, using MMO tropes for reference.

Finally, satisfied with finding her I moved back into an alleyway, it would be bad if I got caught while snooping around during the night.

-' This warrants further investigation, if there's a way to power level during the first month it could help me out considerably. '

I have decided to follow the cleric, hoping to find a clue.

Some time later I saw that the cleric was leaving with her companions.

-' One appears to be a warrior considering he's a big guy with an axe. Also there's a slim and tall elf with a spear... hmm hard to say what class he is exactly. Last one is, of course, a mage. ' I was thinking while trying to determine elf’s class.

-' Ok, I see only two possibilities since he has a spear. Must be druid or ranger, with my money on the latter. Personally I would not mind using a spear as a rogue, but I doubt in sophistication of randomly met users to utilize one of the best support weapons in favour of the class tropes. Anyway, he is certainly the most dangerous. '

The group travelled through the illuminated streets, and I followed them at safe distance while keeping myself to the shadows.

Eventually they left main streets and made their way to the city wall. I was curiously following them when suddenly an idea struck me.

-' Damn bastards! They are ratting in the sewers to level up! ' I had almost face palmed myself for not thinking about that earlier, not that I had any intention of doing the same, I have my standards after all.

I was at a loss whether I should follow them further or not, but eventually I decided to stick to my *Assassin 101*.

-' The enemy is likely stronger than me and definitely more numerous, I need to find out their weaknesses and stat distribution at the very least. '

Soon after, they arrived at a big and round entrance to the sewers. Iron grate was in such disrepair that someone was able to bend the bars creating an entrance into a filthy darkness below. I had readjusted the scarf to cover my face in vain effort of mitigating the smell.

I sped up to shorten the distance between me and the group. After all, I was not bearing any light and if we were to get separated I would be in pitiful state before I would be able to find an exit.

I was cautiously following them, making sure that I was not stepping on anything...bad. Luckily, with all of the light provided by Cleric’s gloving staff and Mage’s flare I had no fear of being spotted by the elven night vision.

The group continued to fulfil my expectations by going forward and killing all matters of unsavoury critters, like plague rats or slimes. Warrior hacked with his axe, elf supported him by stabbing things from his position behind the warrior, filling the gaps in defence.

Mage was not casting any spells, which actually piqued my professional interest. I was Mage Extraordinaire for most of my gaming career after all.

As they approached sizeable group of slimes I finally had a chance to witness magic in action.

-" Ok, your turn Simon, those dastardly things would melt our weapons three times over if we were to kill them normally. " The warrior said.

-" Got it, I will get them extra crispy with my new spell " Simon answered passionately.

A premonition of doom gripped my heart as a realization on what the mage had in mind dawned on me.

-' Wait! ARE YOU RETARDED?!! ' I barely kept myself from screaming out, but focused on trying to get the fck away. I could feel tears of desperation welling in my eyes.

-" Open the maws of Devastation and bring forth the purging flame ~ Fireball! " I looked back to see basketball sized, glowing red orb flying from mage’s hand, my gaze inadvertently following the fiery sphere. In doomed horror I could only watch the high heat explosion that blossomed in the midst of slimes.

I managed to cover my face with a scarf just in time to face a gigantic cloud of noxious, foul smelling fumes that were unleashed by slimes evaporated by the heat.

-' NOOOO! ' I screamed silently as the cloud engulfed me instantly, throwing me to my knees. I tried my best to keep myself from retching and crawl away. Even trying to hold my breath had little effect.

Unprepared adventurers were instantly sent into less than dignified state.

I was doing my best to keep myself from vomiting. My burning eyes let out a river of tears and every breath brought me close to fainting.

The ordeal was aggravating and I don't know how I managed to arrive at the sewer’s entrance. When I noticed the light of the exit my heart swelled with hope. I stood up and tried to walk, that's when I noticed that I was wet and there were splashing sounds coming from my boots...

At that moment I just lost it and started to cry.

[ After a while... ]

I managed to stand up and stumbled ahead, with my steps making squeaking sounds.

In a daze I had arrived at a random inn and fumbled inside. I made my way to the counter.

If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

-" Bath, room and clothes. " I said dejectedly while putting my money on the counter.

[ It was whole five silver from earlier if you need to know ]

I was then led to a small room, it had a stone floor and a wooden tub placed in the middle of it. Mindlessly, I had removed my clothes, which I couldn't even smell any more. Then I got myself helped into the tub.

Still in shock, I let myself be cleaned up and watched blankly ahead as someone was doing something to my hair, dunking my head under the water from time to time and ordering me around.

Everything was a blur, it took a while before I finally noticed that someone was trying to take me out of the tub. I complied and eventually managed to get out, then I put on some clothes that were handed to me. Afterwards. I was led upstairs and fell on a soft bed, I was already losing consciousness when someone put a quilt over me...

* * * *

I woke up and stretched sleepily, I bent my legs under myself and managed to get into a side-sitting position. I rubbed my eyes as everything was blurry.

I was wondering what I was doing in an unfamiliar place and everything around seemed so crude, almost as if it was just a shade too big. I looked at my hands noticing how delicate and finely shaped they were, then my sight reached the rest of my body, small mounds of my chest covered by some light nightgown [camisole] and graceful white legs ...

-" ARGHH, SIMON! YOU DASTARDLY A*HOLE! FOR THE SIN OF UNCOMMON STUPIDITY I SHALL RIP YOU APART AND FRY THE WOUNDS SO YOU WONT DIE! AND THEN DO IT AGAIN AN... " I screamed in earnest when a memory of yesterday finally penetrated my stupor.

The door busted forth as a middle aged woman in brown dress barged in.

-" ...AND AGAIN! ".

-" By the Gods, What has happened? " She asked while looking around in alarm, trying to understand what's happening.

I looked at her wildly trying to switch from *Raving Mad* to English. Woman closed the door, barring the view of the curious onlookers who started gathering outside, and approached me.

-" Don't worry, you are safe here. " She said soothingly and extended a hand to pat my head.

I smacked her hand away and said vehemently, while looking straight into her eyes:

-" I need clothes. "

She was shocked by my attitude, though  she pointed to a nearby chair, I could see that there were indeed clothes placed on it. I hastily moved to the chair and started putting them on, undergarments, long white skirt, leather sandals with knee high straps, linen shirt and long purple tunic split at the sides. I had also found a Beginner Pouch which turned out to contain water jug (1L) and 9 loaves of rye bread.

As I was dressing up the woman put a hand on my shoulder and asked:

-" Tell me girl, what happened? "

-" Some retarded Mage’s experiment backfired, so now I am going to rip his guts out and watch him die. " I said vehemently.

Suddenly I was rattled so strongly that my teeth clattered.

-" What kind of language is that, child! What kind of demon had possessed you! " She said while she shook me violently, she was unexpectedly strong.

-" I...I am...sorry " I managed to say and the shaking stopped. -" It’s just that there are things I need to do now, please don't try to stop me. " I said as I regained semblance of sanity.

She looked at me doubtfully, but unhanded me.

-" How much do I owe you? " I asked and looked on a bed and clothes.

-" Nothing Child, you have given us plenty enough. Actually, you could stay few days more. " She said while looking at me in a strange manner.

-" I see, I might take you on the offer sometime later, but I need to depart for now. " I said while putting on the rest of the clothes and strapping up the sandals. -" Do not worry I wont be doing anything dangerous ".

She sighed deeply in response and took out a brush. Seeing that she blocked the door, with her bulky silhouette, I gave up and sat on a chair, allowing her to brush my hair.

Finally, I was let out of the room and, as I was preparing to leave the inn, I was handed a burlap sack.

-" Take this and eat when you are hungry. Remember that you can always return here. " The woman said, with teary eyes.

-" Thank you, what is your name? Mine’s Almisha. " I asked, this time not dutifully.

-" My name’s Samantha, now be safely on your way child. " She said and I nodded to her before going outside.

My eyes were wet for some reason, so I stopped to pack my lunch into the Beginner's Pouch, using it as a cover to dry them up.

[ Beginner's Pouch can obviously store a lot of goods, compared to it’s size ]

I made my way to the well to refill my water jug and then headed to the Training Center. When I went inside, I headed straight for a barrel of training swords, I did notice that there was some change since my last visit.

Gerhard was teaching someone and only gave me a cursory look, but upon realizing it's me his eyes suddenly opened in alarm and he jumped back to get his sword, which was hanging on a nearby wall.

I ignored his antics and pulled a pair of training swords out of a barrel. I sent him a condescending look with my eyebrow raised.

-" I have not come for you Gerhard, but I might feel a bit better if you are offering to take their place? " I said without specifying whose place he would be taking.

-" I respectfully decline, Lady. " He replied quickly and put the sword away, his hands shaking slightly.

-" Then I will take you on your hospitality and use the facilities instead. "

-" Please do as you like, Lady " He said , while the guy in a beginner's garb looked around, befuddled by the event. -" Hey, shouldn't you be hitting that scarecrow, no break for you! Man up! " Gerhard turned his attention to the unfortunate beginner and silenced his protests forcefully.

In the end I had used two swords to hit scarecrows for long hours that day...

[ Meanwhile elsewhere ]

It was a sunny day.

*Bleeegh* *Blurrgh* *Barf*

Four unfortunate adventures were still incapacitated in the sewers, but encroaching slime monsters were closing in to ease their pain.

But that is a story not for me to tell.

[ Suffice to say - the forecast was a spot-on ]

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Hey~, Authors here~ :P

Readers, I do hope that you have had at least half the fun I had writing this chapter.

Keep the comments up, so I know how you feel.

PS Comments also boost my hype levels :)

[ PS2 I want more of the cute Almisha ]

[ PS3 What?! Narrator can have their own likes too! ]

EDIT: I have just gotten off the chat with my friend, there's high chance for new cover :)

EDIT: New Cover is already in place :P

Cheers,

Mea The Overlord (luckily, otherwise you would have had lost an author due to severe blood loss)

NEXT CHAPTER: Chapter 5 - The Starting (Special Chapter)

*Final form of next chapter is thanks to Owlbear General - who knew Owlbears are versed in arts?*