Arthe had been carrying the old man for about 2 hours now and he had come to the conclusion that the guy was either completely insane or an unrivaled genius at torture. He had also discovered that the old man's name was Mathis and that he was once a Knight Captain of Baldur's Royal Guards, which meant he had some serious skills in his youth and that he must have considerable influence with the current generation of the Royal Knights.
Because of this discovery Arthe was able to get past the anger and irritation caused by Mathis' barrage of insults and concentrate on what he hoped would be some fairly decent quest rewards. he had also manged to gain a number of stat points and even a new skill whilst carrying out the old mans errands.
Strength rises by 1 point. (+1 STR)
Vitality rises by 1 point. (+1 VIT)
Agility rises by 1 point. (+1 AGI)
Stamina rises by 1 point. (+1 STAM)
New Stat: Sustenance
New Skill: Stoicism
Sustenance
You are likely to use less stamina in action. You are prohibited from distributing stat bonus points to this stat.
Stoicism
Due to containing your emotions and pressing forward with the job at hand you are able to use your stats more efficiently
When activated for the cost of 20 Mana per second you are able to increase the effect of your stats by 2%
Higher Levels increase the Stat boost by a further Beginner 0.5% Intermediate 1% Advanced 2% Master 5%
This Skill can only be increased during strenuous physical exercise
Arthe was quite pleased with the new skill as it would come in handed when fighting mobs, coupled with Sustenance it would mean he could fight longer and more efficiently even at lower levels. He also wondered if Mathis knew these bonuses would occur when he offered the quest, but Arthe shrugged off this idea as being silly. No one was that good at being able to predict what bonuses would come with specific actions, were they?
After another 10 minutes of walking, Mathis shouted into Arthe's ear "we're here pork chop! you can let me down now, or is that beyond you in your current exhausted state?"
"Not at all sir, please allow me to kneel so that you can get down without hurting your legs, as they must be quite sore from gripping my shoulders for the last 2 hours" Arthe replied with utmost politeness and false cheer.
"Haha that's good kid, if my legs are sore then yours must be in agony, Hahahaha"
"Of course not sir, if they were how could i help you with your other errands after we have delivered that masterfully polished armor you are holding, to the favored individual able to receive such a priceless gift from the hands of a distinguished personage like yourself"
Arthe was very pleased by this sentence as it sounded like excellent flattery but in reality was his irritation spouting forth as bitter sarcasm.
"Ho that's quite a slippery tongue you have there, be careful not to trip over it. Anyway lets get this delivered shall we." Mathis said whilst grinning widely.
Arthe had been to busy catching his breath and talking with Mathis to notice that they were finally at the Castle, which was a stunning building with large buttresses and flying turrets all sheathed in gleaming white mortar. The pennants flying from the rooftops showed a golden wyrm coiled around a silver tree on a sable background. Below that was the personal crest of the royal family, a silver tree laden with fruit over a black mountain with white as the background.
Whilst looking at these Arthe heard the clashing of arms and the hoarse cries of men at arms calling orders, he smiled as he realized that he was about to be introduced to some of the most high ranking soldiers in the kingdom.
As Arthe and Mathis walked through the main gate a man in gleaming armor carrying a massive claymore across his back called out to them.
"Hey old timer, what took you so long? Gout acting up again or is it the arthritis in your knees?" Arthe winced and prepared to bear witness to what promised to be an epic verbal blistering.
"Oi Cassis, I've told you over and over I don't have gout or arthritis its just old age, plus i can still kick your butt around this parade ground faster than a dragon could eat a virgin!" chuckled Mathis as he started to head over with his hand outstretched.
Arthe gaped at Mathis, what the hell was this? After two hours of physical and mental trauma he was looking forward to some other poor sod getting tortured and instead he gets this. Seriously there is no justice, he thought to himself.
"I don't doubt it old friend, is this the armor you've been promising to deliver for 2 weeks now" the knight, Cassis, asked whilst looking at Arthe quizzically.
"Indeed it is, and I'm sorry it took so long but i couldn't find anybody willing to carry me and it up to the castle until today. That's where this giant who calls himself a man comes in, he looks like a bit of a barbarian but he's got a tongue on him as bad as my wife, just more polite. Arthe this is Cassis, Cassis this is Arthe."
"you mean you actually asked a barbaric looking stranger , no offense Arthe, to carry you from your home in the lower city all the way here and he actually did it! Damn that means i lost the bet i had with Serest about how there's no way anyone would carry a foulmouthed old man like you on a delivery run"
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"No offense taken Cassis, but i only did what anyone in my position would do when asked by a respected elder to help." Arthe interjected, determined to build intimacy with this obviously high ranking knight who, from the looks of it, was wearing gear that if sold would feed a poor family for at least 5 years.
"Hahahahahahahahaha", Cassis guffawed, " respected elder that's brilliant, it's obvious he's new in town Mathis. Everybody knows you're the most disreputable old man in the entire kingdom!"
Mathis shrugged and then grinned wryly before turning to Arthe, " he's right you know, you must have the patience of a saint to have put up with me on the trip here. Freya knows i was trying my utmost to send you into a rage so i wouldn't have to reward you for your help, my apologies for that."
Arthe grinned, he knew that was what was happening, nobody is that sadistic and insulting in reality. It takes a lot of work to come up with some of the, frankly, incredible epithets and curses that Mathis had poured into his ears on the journey.
"Don't fret Mathis i would still have helped you even if you had set fire to my hair on the journey. that is my code of honour and i have yet to face anything that will prevent me from sticking to it" Arthe said after thinking that it never hurt to appear chivalrous and honorable whilst speaking in front of a knight
"Where on Versailles did you find this one Mathis?! He's so unspeakably chivalrous that he puts all the knights here to shame. I'd better snap him up quick and train him before he goes and gets himself killed rescuing damsels from towers guarded by dragons." Cassis exclaimed.
"That's exactly what I was hoping for, if he didn't give in to anger I was going to recommend him for knight training." Mathis replied. " well first things first, I'd better give you the reward for carrying me up here hadn't I lad?"
Quest Complete!
A Strange Old Man's Request
By helping the old man with his errand and managing to stay calm whilst afflicted by cruel and unusual insults you have discovered that the old guy has friends in high places. Staying calm under pressure will aid you greatly in the future.
You have leveled up
Intimacy with Mathis increased. You are now friends
Intimacy with Cassis increased.
New Stat: Charisma
Charisma increase by 1 point (+1 CHAR)
You have Received Mathis old training armor
Mathis' Old Training Armor:
Durability: 50/50
Defense: 10
Old but durable Training armor made of hardened leather
Equip: Reduces time requires to improve stats by 10%
Requirements: Friendly with Mathis.
Stoicism Skill
Can only wear Until Level 10
Woah, this training armor is excellent; Plus it appears to be a unique item, hmm i read that using the scarecrows at the training hall will boost stats permanently and that if you pass you receive a sword better than the ones available at the noob stores. That means this armor will greatly reduce the amount of time i have to spend hitting an inanimate object with a stick, which can only be a good thing. Arthe thought to himself whilst thanking Mathis profusely.
"alright, alright, enough of that. i was glad to help such an honorable and patient man such as yourself. Now then Cassis here will train you until you are ready to enter the knight hood, won't you Cassis?" Mathis said, giving Cassis a 'if you don't I'll make your life hell look'.
"Of course i will, it'd be my pleasure. Are you going to stay and watch, Mathis?"
"hell no, you've seen one knight in training, you've seen them all. and I've seen more than my share! Arthe, when you've finished your basic training come find me and I'll give you something useful." Mathis responded whilst giving a cheery wave and briskly marching out the main gate.
"Huh so much for those weak legs of his" grumbled Arthe.
"Is that what he said to get you to carry him, hahahaha. Neither of us were joking when we said he could still kick my butt, he's the toughest man i know." Cassis remarked, "anyway come with me and I'll get you set up with a scarecrow and a sword. By the way do you prefer 2 handed weapons, dual wielding or sword and shield?"
"Hmm I think I'll try sword and shield combat, that way my superior height and weight can be used to turn my shield into a weapon as well" replied Arthe.
"Excellent choice, especially for someone as chivalrous as you. Proper shield techniques will enable you to defend your allies as well as allow you to take on some of the toughest opponents out there solo. Well then, we'd better get started if you want to be done in time for the grand melee in 3 weeks."
Arthe smiled brightly, a grand melee! That sounds like fun, plus it'll give me a chance to use my abilities in real combat.
"Hmph too bad Steve won't be there to see how I'll have changed, not that he could recognize me anyway!"