The next thing Kai knew he was waking up and a man was standing over him with a somewhat concerned look upon his face.

The man said, “We still only get one life to live. Be careful with it. Death still can’t be healed.” With those words the man straightened up and walked away. Kai took a moment and recognized him as the healer from the tournament.

“What happened? Did I win?” Kai looked at Alric. Alric could tell he was serious with his question and this made him laugh all the harder. Kai heard laughter from somewhere to his right and turned his head. “Who is laughing over there?”

Dahlia stepped into his view and shook her head while she laughed. “You did not when. But I hadn’t realized I had blasted you that hard. For that I am a bit sorry.” She bowed to him. “It was a pleasure to spar against you Kai. When you are further in your development I look forward to doing so again.” She turned to Alric. “He really should go out with a scout team. His skills would probably explode from the experience.” She walked away in a different direction from the man earlier.

“So uh, what exactly happened? I remember the match starting but not much after that.”

Alric chuckled that evil laugh he had. “Well, you at least got Dahlia to take you seriously and give you a compliment. She used a lightning blast on you from point blank range. Blew you about twenty feet outside the sparring ring. Dahlia won the tournament but you at least came in second. A very good showing for being here six days. Makes me wonder about the ones you beat and who was in charge of their training.” Alric shook his head. “I think Kensley came from another town so it’s forgivable I suppose. But Jaxson just didn’t take you seriously. Oh well. They are not my responsibility. Come, we have more daylight before you get to rest.” Alric stood and began to walk away.

Kai got to his feet and jogged to catch up. “Come on Alric. I’m exhausted. I was up all night with Leona. Then those three fights and getting blasted by that lightning woman. Don’t you think I deserve maybe an early day today and some rest?”

“No. There are some chores that need doing. As a way to pay for your training and the potions you have been given you will be doing those chores before you go to bed tonight.”

Kai sighed, at least it wasn’t the obstacle course again. He had never been a fan of chores but he had gotten some great support so far. The least he could do was a few chores to repay the town. “Ok Alric, let’s get these chores over with. What am I doing?”

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Alric kept walking and didn’t answer.

Thirty minutes later they walked into a large hall and Kai was reminded of his high school cafeteria. Alric continued past the tables into the back kitchen area and walked up to a rather large woman in a white apron. “Helga, this is Kai. He is yours until after the evening meal. Make sure he doesn’t sleep until after the evening meal.” Alric nodded to Kai and walked out.

Helga looked him down and then up. She huffed. “I suppose you’ll do. Cut those.” She pointed to a barrel of potatoes.

Kai walked to the table next to the potatoes and grabbed a knife. “Sure. How many do you need?”

“All of them. As you cut them place them in the empty pots on the bottom shelf of that table.” With those instructions Helga walked to another part of the kitchen.

Kai got to work and the time passed. As he neared the end of the barrel Helga walked up behind him. “You are still chopping?” She looked in the barrel. “Ah good. You are almost done. Over there,” and she pointed two tables away, “is a barrel of carrots. Cut those when done with potatoes.” With that command she walked away.

Kai finished the potatoes and moved to the carrots. He was lost in a trance, he cut and cut. Finally he reached the bottom of the barrel. Helga somehow knew he had finished and appeared from another part of the kitchen. “Nice work. Follow Tracy here and do what she tells you to.” There was a petite woman hiding behind Helga’s massive girth.

She moved with quiet efficiency and led Kai to another building that held multiple cauldrons of water and old style wash tubs. He had a sinking feeling that he knew what his next chore would be. Laundry.

It turned out he was right. Tracy explained the process to him. Dirty clothes were brought in and dumped into scalding hot water and scrubbed in the various wash tubs, there were apparently levels to these from standard, designed to clean clothes from before the system, all the way to level 20. The level 20 tubs were designed to wash various armors, apparently dirt and grim got harder to clean just like anything else in this world. After seeing this Kai prayed there were no high level viruses to be found.

Kai started on the standard tub and washed clothes for the rest of his life. At least he would have sworn it was that long.

It had been late afternoon, or early evening when Kai started in the laundry house, by the time Tracy returned to check on him it had become full night. “You seem to have gotten these fairly clean. Have you had dinner yet?” Kai shook his head no. “Well get yourself fed at the mess hall and get to bed. You seem dead on your feet. Next time your back tell them you may be ready for non-standard washing.”

With those words she shoved Kai from the laundry hall and out into the night. There was no one there to guide him or force him to his next destination. He was free to do what he wanted. He decided dinner was overrated and immediately went to the barracks and to bed.