11. Talks and being merry

After a short wash Zar´car made his way to Fernhards office. The district head of the A.S.S. and an old friend of his smiled as he came through the door and, as always, just took himselfe something to drink.

You´r back soon. Does that mean that everything was easy, or that they did a good job?

Well, a little of the first and a little of the second. Zar´car replied. Eleven Beastrats and only one of those had been awakened for more than a few weeks. And they didn´t all attack them at onces.

He sat down and got on. We had only a minor injury, and that healer girl took competend care of it after the fight.

What happened exactly? Fernhard wanted to know.

Herbarth was trying to pull apart the warren with ab ax as the last four atacked. One of a high agility evolution tried to go for his neck, but he got his left arm in the way and needed no help to end it. The daughter of that Artist might have had the more dangerous, the big one had it clearly out for her.

She repelled it? I have quite high hopes for the possibilitys of her Class together with her Affinitys.

No, she hadn´t any stone armor at that moment and was pulling at that warren, too. It will take time and training until she is able to hold such an armor for long enough time.

The Nymph tackled it from the side, changed its trajectory and then they ended it together without any risk for them.

I tell you, there is more to that one than she told us. She is at least more than a healer with just some weapone training.

What do you mean?

First, every time she attaced she moved way too fast and precise for her own abilitys at fighting, and I think I can assess those already good enough after watching her half a day.

Second, she emits always Essenz, I did not one time felt Exessmana coming from her. She got to have some Skill, that she uses all the time, and from the way she fights it must be some form of Bodyaugmention. A form of Bodyaugmention, that she can crank up if she needs to fight.

But she can heal others. Fernhard spoke surpriesed. There should be no question that she has an Aura Skill Class. To have learned some other Aura Skill already would be an acomplishment, but to have learned a Body Skill and be able to use it in a fight!

Not only that, but she also showed that she is able to do some basic sensing with her Aura, even if it was just the existence of fresh Essenz. She claimed that´s all she could do.

Zar´car looked at his friend earnest. I had my resevations about the gossip, that she comes from a world of a higher order, but I belive it now. I think we need to find out as much as possible about the training she got there, and we have to watch out, that none of the Clans or so snatch her up before us.

How is she otherwise? Fernhard asked.

Eradic and all over the place most of the time but concentrated in a fight. Her fighting skill is raw, but that is no wonder for a Copper.

Well, we will do our best to bind her closer to the Association, but we would have done that anyway with a Healer. What about the others? I know a little about Gretha, but those two boys are unknown to me.

Nick and Rick, no last name. They have a basic Fighter Body Skill Class, both. Zar´car answered. I think they are brothers, even if they themselfe don´t know for sure. Street kids that were part of one of the gangs, but they of course have sworn, that they are not with it anymore bevore joyning up. Nick is the more hotheaded of the two and Rick is quieter. They did good in the fight, but that is no wonder after being raised by the streets. As soon as I find out what kind of weapon and style fits them, and if they train good, they can go far.

The girl, Gretha, well she seems timid. I mean, she didn´t speak up much until she was asked. But she did good in the fights, so I´m sure she will benefit from the training I will give her.

And our Herbarth? As Fernhard had been a part of the team, that had included Herbarths parents too, he of course was up to date on the boy’s life.

Well, at least he has learned to take his bow with him wherever, even if he thinks he will not be able to use it. Said Zar´car and chuckled. All five are using the washing facilitys at the moment and are planning to go for a victory drink after that.

Wait a Moment! Gretha was shouting as Alexandra turned and wanted to go through a doorway. We can´t go in there!

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Alex stopped and turned around. The twins were grinning, Herbarth looked inocently surprised at Grethas outburst and the girl in question had a red head. Why? She asked innocently, quitely enjoying Grethas embaressment.

That´s a …! It´s…! Gretha stammered. It´s a filthy place, you know!

What? Alex played surpriesed. I life here for the last few days, and I can assure you it´s very clean. Who told you such wrong stories about such a nice establishment?

No, not filthy in that way. Gretha stammered on with her embaressment. It´s a…! Wait, what do you mean, you live here?

Well, as I had quite a tough time behind me, with all that getting flung into another world and so, I thought I could treat myself to some nice relaxation and luxus. So, I asked for a nice brothel that treats it´s personal right and got the Gilded Rose recommended.

What? Herbarth spoke up getting a little red himself. That´s a brothel?

Yes, but come on. Just because we go in there and have some drinks dosn´t mean you have to do anything other. She took Grethas hand and pulled her throug the door. And you need to try the drinks, I showed the bartender how we make drinks where I come from. It´s not the same as he has not the same ingredients, but I tell you they are good.

As she pulled Gretha in, she saw that the twins did so with Herbarth too. Both grinning from one ear to the other.

Inside was noticeably quiet, as it was just afternoon. She led them into the Saloon, where only Jaque and a Bard, who was lazyly picking on his guitar-like instrument, were.

Hey Jaque! She greeted him happily. These are my new friends, and we have our first real fight for the A.S.S. to celebrate. Make us five cocktails, please. Did you do some experimention already? I´m happy to try out what you got.

Yes, I have some new recipts. Jaque answered, But I told you I will not call them that. I will not use such a rude name for those drinks. I decided to call them mixers.

And I told you it´s not a rude word. She told him again; they had this conversation a few times already. A Cock is just a bird with very bright coloured tailfeathers.

That might be, and I´m not sure that you don´t try to pull my leg here, but as nobody here knows of those cocks, they would clearly think of the other thing. Now sit down with your friends and I will bring you a few samples.

As he had said, Jaque brought them three shot glasses each, just after they had sat down in a booth. After trying those out, he not only gave them a short explanation of the ingredients, but he also noted down everybodys opinnion to his creation. Alex liked the one with the sharp sour tast the most, that was made with the juice of a southern plum like fruit and a root spirit of the north.

As soon as everybody had a big glas of their favorite they raised their glasses to their victory against the Beastrats and after that Alexandra made her proposal.

So, I just wanted to say, that I think we are ourselfes quite the good party. I mean, as a team we could make it far.

We have Gretha to be the centre of a good front line. Especially if she gets more powerfull, she will be the rock on which every atack will breake.

Herbarth would be our ranged fighter, and he can scout too. And Nick and Rick can bring the pain up close. As we all go through the training in the Copperhouse, I want to propose we make it official and team up.

I think you are right. Said Herbarth and Gretha and the twins nodded too. And with you as a healer we have a better chance at survival than most teams. Most teams, even at silver, have to get their injured to a temple or have to buy potions. And they are way too expensive for copper or bronze teams.

What we could do, to make our team even better, is working on the Affinitys of yours. Alex said. I mean, it would be even better if we find out what kind of Affinity you three have and then get working on getting it stronger.

Wait, what? Interupted Rick. How do you mean that? We have no Affinity. That´s why we choosen the normal fighter Class.

Well, that´s not true, you have of course an Affinity. Alex explained. It´s just not high enough to give you acess to one of the Classes that need one. But there are ways to strenghten those Affinitys. Noticing the looks she was getting from the others, she asked. Is that not known around here?

After a pletora of negative remarks from the others, she got on. Well, I will have to make some inquireys with Alchemists, as the easiest, but also the expenivest, way are alchemistic prepared supplemants, but there are other ways too. And first we need someone with a good Inspector Class, that can tell us what kind of Affinity you have. You have to know exactly what you are strengthening, or all you do is usless.

Well, if you are all in with the team, I can do some checking into it, and we will see what we can do.

Okay, can I tell Zar´car about that? asked Herbarth. Or is that a secret?

What? No, it´s not a secret. Why should it, I mean everybody knows where I´m from. Just tell him, perhaps he can even help with it.

Some hours later, she had no clue how much time had gone by, Gretha carfully walked out of the Gilded Rose. She was not really drunk, and Herbarth, who walked beside her, was walking streight, too.

That had been a really strange day, she thought. Not only that, but she also had her first real combat experience, more because of what had come after and because of Alexandra. That girl was strange. And she was not sure if it was because she was another race, or it was simply how she was.

She lived in a brothel, where she used what they were offering. She had spent some time of the afternoon in the arms of a woman, as if it was the most normal thing in the world. When she hadn´t cuddled with that woman, she had been all over the place, drinking, telling fabolous stories to anybody that wanted to listen, dancing or even singing to the music of the Bard.

Having heard her singing had been a strange experience too.

From the beginning she had thought that Alexandras voice sounded different. Like it had it´s own little echo, but as soon as she sang it sounded as if two persons were singing. On her questions she had explained that she had two voices, like any other Elf. Well, it sounded great.

As they walked to their accommodations near the A.S.S. the bell was ringing, and she knew that it was not long after sunset. But after this day she just wanted to lay in her bed and sleep.

After all, they had another day in the sewers the next day. She was just happy to find herself in a good team already. She had been quite nervous about beginning her A.S.S. training. All her relatives were Crafter or Artists. It was not as if she had problems with her parents over her decision. At leaast after they had been convinced that she was determined in this way. But she would lie, if she said that she hadn´t been worried.

But now it seemed she would have actual friends going forward, and that was a nice feeling to have.