JarsForJars cursed her luck. After she lost her status, she checked her companion UI, and found some forums where people had received the mercenary job. Almost everybody who had posted complained about the loss of status, then the work required to build back the reputation that they had lost.

Why did she have to visit the Barracks, and show interest in this stupid test phase. She decided to not abandon the job immediately, maybe there was light at the end of the tunnel. What point would there be to add something so punishing. She quickly corrected herself, realizing that the System regularly offered players a punishing playstyle with no obvious benefits. If players could successfully navigate these trials, there would be interesting rewards.

She just dropped off her first message generated from a contract. Paying a whopping 4 credits, this job wasn't even worth her time, being able to bake bread and sell for more money. She was walking over to the city bakery to do just that, she wanted to upgrade her cooking skill. If she was going to be an outcast, at least she would be able to eat well.

She plopped down at a station in the bakery, and dropped a large bag and a small bag on the table. She pulled a large metal bowl from her storage bag, then 12 bread pans. She upended the large bag into the metal bowl, filling it with flour. She set the bowl aside, and reached over and turn the water tap on, and filling a small glass with water. Reaching in the smaller pouch, she pulled out a handful of yeast and dropped it into the water.

After a minute, she dumped the water into the flour, and mixed it up with her hand. She then pulled small handfuls of the dough and put them into the bread pan. She opted not to let the dough rise, not needing the extra healing bonus. She placed each pan into the stone oven, and closed the door. She tapped her foot, and after counting down from 60, she opened the doors and pulled out the pans. She admired the perfect loafs of bread, as she let them cool on the table, she brought up her job tab.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

She smiled, hitting 100 cooking, and finally hitting the max for the basic cooking level. As she was closing out the windows, her mercenary tab plinged at her. She opened it, and her jaw dropped.

** Incoming contract offer - Extra conditions apply, review and accept **

** System enforced NDA agreement applies. Any discussion of the attached contract, or any conversations between you and the employer is prohibited. Tower AI and Security AI will be following up with additional contract information. **

She read the window three times, excitement growing inside of her again. She asked herself if there was any reason to refuse this contract, and having one answer. Did she really want to follow this path, the introduction crushing her by taking away her Honored Guard title. If the beginning of this chain of quests made her feel so low, would she actually be able to make it to the end?

She shook herself free of her train of thought. This is what she digitized for, finding quests that were hidden to the greater population. She had yet been the first to find a quest, but she did find quests that were buried into the corners of the companion UI network. She accepted the NDA, and the window vanished, replaced by a new window. Her jaw dropping further, this was well beyond what she was expecting.

** Contract information **

Contract Details: Protect the employer from the Dragon Threat.

Contract Value (credits): 10,000

Duration: Variable

Employer: Pylioth

She was overflowing with questions. Someone was under threat of the dragons? She was going to have to fight against the dragons? How was someone outside of the gates? What did it mean the duration was variable?

A new window appeared.

** Contract accepted. Accept Summon? Yes // No **

She moved the window to the side of her UI, and began to pack the cooled bread into her bag. After tidying up the cooking station, not wanting to face a cleaning bill after her contract finished. She equipped her warrior battle gear, and drank her standard combat elixirs. Her health shot up, she felt her skin tighten, as it hardened to adapt to the new defense boosts.

She drew her massive sword from her back, took a breath, and accepted the Summon.