Duncan left the dirty clothes on the bathroom floor as he tiptoed to his bedroom naked. He quickly dressed himself, before he checked the [ LOG ].

As he suspected from the flashing [ LOG ] the Butchering skill leveled up.

[ You have Learned Butchering Level 10. ]

Strength +1

Dexterity +1

Duncan only gained two stat points but they were in the physical department where he was the weakest. He was satisfied with the result.

“I should probably go down and say something about my absence since only Wazsh truly knows where I am going,” Duncan thought, although he was not feeling any desire to socialize. He knew that Bolgar and Elland would be worried if he didn’t come up with an explanation.

He went back to the bathroom and packed up his dirty clothes in a sack and left them by the stairs in the kitchen together with the coins inside.

As he entered the bar he noticed Wazsh was still alone resting his head with one arm on the bar counter and flicking a glass.

“Don’t worry. I am sure they will come soon,” Duncan said.

“I am not worried. Just bored,” Wazsh said and yawned.

Duncan nodded. “I will be gone for a few days after dinner. Can you give my dirty clothes to Clara to wash? I left the clothes and money in the sack by the staircase. ”

“Sure,” Wazsh said with a bored expression. “Are you hungry? How about a beer?”

“I am both. Hungry and thirsty. What can you offer me for dinner?” Duncan replied.

Wazsh’s eyes sparkled, “You can have seared Boar steak with mixed vegetables or Eagle breast meat with vegetables.”

Duncan thought about it. “That’s new. Give me both. And one of your beers.”

Wazsh waved his hand on a nearby table and two plates from which an enticing aroma spread appeared on it. After that, the cutlery and beer along with a glass joined the dishes.

“Enjoy. I made this today. Finally used some of the vegetables I grow,” Wazsh explained.

“Why didn’t you use them before?” Duncan asked.

“Bolgar doesn’t care for vegetables and Elland seldom eats here,” Wazsh explained.

Duncan sat down and started eating when Bolgar came inside. He looked at the boar and the green vegetables beside it. “Give me one of those but keep the greenery.”

“You see?” Wazsh said as he produced a plate with just the steak and added a beer.

“You are reading my mind again,” Bolgar exclaimed when he saw the beer.

Wazsh shook his head, “It’s really nothing so impressive.”

Duncan swallowed a mouthful of unknown vegetables which were surprisingly tasty. “Did you finish the swords?” he asked Bolgar.

“Yeah. Finally done,” Bolgar replied and downed the beer.

“I will be gone for a couple of days,” Duncan said.

Bolgar nodded before he replied, “Be careful. I may need your help again.”

Duncan rolled his eyes and continued eating. The seared steak was excellent. He was afraid it would be bloody inside which was a big mistake to make for pork on earth but it was perfectly timed. The roasted vegetables complemented the meat and the beer brought the meal to perfection for Duncan’s limited experience with fine dining.

“This is really good,” Bolgar exclaimed. “In fact, I think I will have another,” he added after a while.

Duncan finished the steak and continued with the breast. It was darker than normal white meat and has a special taste he couldn’t quite pinpoint. He had just ordered another beer as Elland and Marykah came in.

“Good evening,” Wazsh greeted them with Duncan and Bolgar joining him with full mouths...

They returned the greeting and sat down at the same table where Bolgar and Duncan were devouring the dishes.

“This looks good. Something new?” Elland asked.

“It’s a level 39 Boar steak. Duncan got the meat for me,” Wazsh proudly announced.

“I meant the roasted vegetables but the boar looks good too,” Elland replied.

“Yeah. They are from my garden,” Wazsh replied with annoyance.

“You have a garden. You never told me you grow vegetables,” Elland replied.

“You never asked. So what can I get you two,” Wazsh replied.

“I will have a plate of roasted vegetables,” Elland replied.

“And for you Marykah,” Wazsh asked her as she looked at the dishes Duncan and Bolgar were eating.

“I will have what Bolgar is having,” she replied.

Wazsh put down the dish in front of her with cutlery.

Wazsh puckered up his mouth before he produced an empty plate and another Boar steak with vegetables. He used a knife to move the vegetables over on the clean plate and set it in front of Elland along with cutlery. The boar steak he set in front of Bolgar.

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“Elland decided to buy your meal,” he told Bolgar and to his surprise, Elland didn’t protest.

“Anything to drink?” Wazsh asked.

“Yes. Give us a bottle of your wine. We are celebrating today,” Elland exclaimed.

“Oh, really. What’s the occasion if I may ask?” Wazsh inquired.

“Marykah’s sister is finally strong enough to walk by herself and seems to be cured,” Elland happily announced and Marykah nodded.

“Well, that’s a good cause for a celebration,” Wazsh exclaimed and put a bottle of wine with two glasses on the table.

“What did your sister do before the illness? Do I know her?” Bolgar suddenly asked with a look of suspicion.

Marykah nodded, “She was an enchanter before she and her husband were attacked by a Shade.”

“Denyrah is your sister?” Bolgar exclaimed.

“You know her?” Marykah asked surprised.

“I used to get her to enchant my stuff all the time. I was really sorry to lose such a valuable business part– I mean it was tragic what happened,” Bolgar replied.

Duncan looked at Marykah’s facial expression which expressed joy and sorrow at the same time. She was obviously proud that Bolgar remembered her sister and also sad because of the things that occurred to her.

“Elland. When do you think she will make a full recovery?” Bolgar asked.

“Another week or so should probably do it. The Wraith antidote potion was a big help,” Elland replied and Marykah looked at Duncan who was quietly eating and paying attention to their conversation.

Bolgar nodded. “Maybe she can take Duncan as an apprentice,” Bolgar suddenly exclaimed after that. Duncan had a coughing fit as the unexpected exclamation from Bolgar sent a piece of vegetable down his windpipe.

“I am sure she would be willing,” Marykah exclaimed and then quietly continued, “But the thing with enchantment is that it’s really up to the talent of a person. I wanted to learn it too but was unfortunately not talented enough.”

“Don’t worry about that. He learned the Blacksmithing skill to level five in a couple of hours. Hahahaha,” Bolgar stated with a boisterous laugh before he continued. “Elland, how long did it take him to learn Alchemy?”

Elland almost spat out his wine before he caught himself and replied sternly, “He got to level 7 in less than 10 hours if I recall correctly.”

Marykah was looking at him like seeing a monster with disbelief as Duncan answered her unspoken questions, “I have a skill for learning skills which gives me a headstart.”

“I can teach you the tailoring skill if you want?” she replied unaware.

“Sure. When I come back. I still have to get measured for clothes too,” Duncan replied.

“Are you going somewhere?” Elland asked.

“Yes. I am going to the wilderness with the guards for a few days,” Duncan replied.

He felt bad for lying to them but he didn’t want to talk about his world right now.

“I will talk to my sister about you. I am sure my sister will be happy to teach you Enchantment as well,” Marykah stated before focusing back on her food and keeping her head down.

“Thank you in advance,” Duncan said before he downed the rest of his beer.

“Another one please,” Duncan asked Wazsh. He was not worried about a hangover in this body tomorrow so he decided to drink as much as he felt like.

After that debate, they discussed the Mayor’s search for Rathan’s killer and her motives for closing up the town.

“I have never even seen the Mayor,” Bolgar announced.

“Neither have I,” Wazsh added.

“I have. She is quite a stunning woman,” Elland replied.

Marykah nodded, “Yes. She is very pretty. I could not put a name to her species though.”

“Isn’t she human?” Elland asked.

“Humans don’t have a tail growing from the back of their heads,” Marykah stated.

“What did you say? A tail?” Wazsh asked and grew agitated.

Marykah looked at him startled, “Yes. It looks like a braid from afar but it’s actually a tail covered with her hair. I saw it up close when I was measuring her for her clothes the first time. She can move it like an appendage.”

“I should have known,” Wazsh stated and started pacing about the bar.

“Known what?” Duncan asked with worry written on his face.

“She is a Mahondrian,” Wazsh yelled startling everyone.

“A Mahondrian?” Elland asked.

“Yes. They are a race that worships conquest. It makes sense why I am locked here now,” Wazsh said to himself deep in thought.

“Any of you heard about them?” Elland asked.

They all shook their head not wanting to interrupt Wazsh who grew frantic and mumbled, “Those stupid… They just had to get the Mahondrians too… And to think they even made her my superior. ”

“I think we should call it a night,” Duncan suggested seeing Wazsh was not calming down.

Elland nodded before saying, “Take care out there. Try to come back. I will loan you more books if you do.”

Marykah smiled at him, “Thank you for everything, and good luck out there.”

Duncan nodded at both as a hard slap from behind hit his shoulder rocking him forward in his chair.

“You better come back. I ain’t doing those shitty swords by myself ever again. You hear?” Bolgar yelled in his ear.

Duncan nodded as he caught his breath.

“How bloody strong are you Bolgar?” he thought as they were leaving and his back still hurt. Wazsh ignored everyone as he still paced up and down behind the bar.

“They left,” Duncan yelled to get Wazsh’s attention who stopped and turned.

“Oh. Did they pay?” Wazsh asked.

“I will pay. Now tell me, what is this about?” Duncan asked.

Wazsh scratched his head. “Where do I begin?”

“At the beginning. Of course,” Duncan replied.

Wazsh nodded and started explaining, “At first there was a planet around a star on which life was formed..” Duncan started rolling his eyes.

“No. This is important for context,” Wazsh yelled.

“Life was formed and thrived and at the peak of the evolutionary tree, stood us, Gormians,” Wazsh stated proudly.

“And then?” Duncan asked for him to continue.

“And then after thousands of years, we noticed a new star in the sky that was getting brighter and brighter. In the end, it got so bright it became our second sun. The problem with that sun was that it was not just our sun. It had its own planet with sentient life. Mahondrians. As soon as it was possible our two civilizations met and clashed in space. We wanted to discuss peace but for them, death in battle is the highest honor. So the clash continued until there was nothing left to fight for. Not that either side destroyed the other. Our very suns grew so close that living on either of the planets became unsustainable. Then the employers came and now I am here. They must have struck the same deal with them as with us,” Wazsh explained.

“And that is bad why?” Duncan asked.

“You don’t know Mahondrians. They treat killing and conquering like a religion. For them there is no need for peace, They thrive in the chaos of war. They want it and need it for their religion. They are like cancer spreading through healthy tissue. Like arms dealers on your world,” Wazsh said.

“I doubt arms dealers in my world are swayed by religion,” Duncan replied as the analogy took him by complete surprise.

“Oh, they are. But their religion is tangible and very real. It’s called money,” Wazsh replied.