“What did’cha say again, boy? Didn’t catch that last part,” Raust said while turning his ear to better hear the last bit that he expected Mathias to repeat.

But Mathias did not oblige.

“Nothing, Sir. It was nothing important. I already told you my name. Now, if that is all, I would like to get going to the city’s Adventurer’s Guild. Excuse me.”

However, Mathias’s desired end of his interaction with the carriage did not happen. Raust was not satisfied. Mathias’s subtle dodgy answer and abrupt intentions to cut their conversation only further piqued Raust's curiosity. The carriage driver was already too invested in knowing more about the strange, walking contradiction. Raust had a sixth sense for certain off things, and the ‘off’ feelings honed in strong on Mathias.

The carriage driver closely eyed Mathias, scrutinizing everything, first trying to read the pale-skinned face that warped with caution. Looks only, the well-structured, high cheek-boned face without flaws appealed to most people’s taste. Raust’s gaze further traveled down, noticing the straight yet slightly withdrawn posture that pulled into Mathias’s shoulders.

“Kid be cowering a lot. ‘Em, bad habits ingrained ‘emselves to his good posture. Wonder who or what did that to him?”

But not only was Mathias’s form examined. His soft and polite - maybe almost to the extent of being a pushover - mannerisms were taken into account. Even his polished shoes that shined in a glossy finish and the well-maintained armor that seemed practically brand new and without a spec of grime spoke volumes. All of Mathias was inspected, down to the neatly combed strands of brown hair that split down the middle of his head and folded over to both sides.

Most would call the nonchalant staring by the carriage driver rude. Maybe even creepy. But Raust did not care when sensing useful dirt from something or someone, just like that which emanated from this peculiar passenger. The walking contradiction was obsessively clean and seemingly perfect on the outside, but the insides likely harbored messy piles of experiences from a complicated past. A dirty and messy past was what Raust sensed from Mathias. And the snooping carriage driver considered it the good kind of dirt, full of hushed secrets and grimy information that someone would likely pay decent money to know.

Greed filled Raust’s dark brown pupils, wich dilated with delight. Many colorful, self-assumed possibilities filled Raust’s mind.

“Kid really might be some spawn of ‘em ass-folk. A bastard, illegitimate child of some noble and their servant maid. Boy be tryin’ to be lowkey with ‘em seemingly basic-looking armor and undergarments, but that ain’t foolin’ my eyes. I been dealin’ in luxury goods long enough to know. Kid comes from money. No other way that weak-looking kid be havin’ expensive thangs like that.”

Examining Mathias's physique, which didn’t completely fill the spaces in the slightly oversized, ebony-black wyvern-leather armor, Raust calculated, “With his scrawny build, stealing such quality goods and surviving this long ain’t possible either. But da boy don’t seem like da thief type per se. But ya never know. Though if not stealin’, then ‘em pricey wear gots to be given by someone with authority and power. Boy’s daddy or mama gots to be one of them ass-folk nobles.”

Grinning with devious thoughts, Raust concluded, “Which means I gotta keep a close eye on this one and do some diggin’.”

Mathias shuddered from the creepy eyes that seemed to dissect every aspect of himself. They picked at every point of his body, trying to seemingly infiltrate, reveal, and assess all of his being. His instincts told him to stay away from the carriage driver who eyed him up and down as if he was like a highly coveted Dungeon Core. He did not like the penetrating stare.

Mathias was well versed in the matter, personally experiencing many gazes of various different looks.

High expectations. Affection. Appreciation. Greed. Disappointment. Anger. Rejection. Disdain. Disgust. Scorn.

The current look on the driver’s face reminded Mathias of his recent fiasco with nobles, especially the fresh ones that caused him to leave Elmswood. Raust’s grubby, piercing eyes were neither flattering nor the lecherous ones that stripped away clothes. Mathias assumed the greedy eyes of the carriage driver lusted not after his body but the unique clothing he wore - the clothing that he painstakingly obtained by his own hard-earned efforts with his bruised and battered hands. However, his efforts were dismissed as worthless and discarded by his previous employer, even though most of his achievements were taken by his greedy superiors.

Mathias frowned, heartbroken and fatigued, as he recalled his past, triggered by the same type of eyes from Raust that took everything from him. Mathias closed his eyes momentarily, a long blink, and also closing and stuffing away the painful memories of his last five years.

All that mattered now was that none would hire Mathias of Elmswood, holder of the rare class: Artificer Researcher. Especially after his position was passionately terminated by his boss’s boss, Sir Fredlylic Elmswood, Head Chair of the Gray Mage Tower and the Duke of Elmswood. Mathias’s career was practically over, years in the making that was ended by a few words of a duke. And the much-needed resources, that were partially provided by his ex-role, to progress his class were now difficult to obtain in a place where he was ostracized. Which was why Mathias ended up in Engsted Fortress, the place that most nobles and scholars avoided - a rural place where many came to escape but also to find fortune.

But such places came with high risks.

However, regardless, Mathias’s current situation was unsettling. It was time for Mathias to bolt, distancing himself away from the greedy carriage driver to be safe. He came for a new start, taking on a new Class, and hopefully building a new life.

“I will be going now. Goodbye, Sir. Thank you for the ride,” Mathias politely said, bowing his head and quickly turning to walk away toward the long line of people waiting to enter the city.

“Hold on, boy!” Raust shouted, rushing and jumping in Mathais’s way. “First time to Engsted Fortress, right? Place be big - big enough to be findin’ ya-self easily lost inside. It so happens, I be headin’ to drop off some thangs and rooming at dat very Adventurer’s Guild ya speak of. How’s about I show ya the way?”

Mathias hesitated. He would have taken the charitable offer prior to being entirely surveyed like some feeble prey of a ravenous hawk - checked out by what he assumed to be a likely thief.

Noticing Mathias’s reluctance to give in, the driver/partial salesman quickly asked, “Boy, how many years ya be? 16, 17, 18? Newly an adult, right?”

Mathias didn’t reply, now even more on guard as he squinted at Raust with dubious eyes. “What is this guy up to? Did he notice the materials of my garments? Does he think that he can take advantage of me and steal my work just because I am young? Just like everyone else?”

However, the carriage driver disarmingly put up his hands, saying, “Hold on. Look, son. I only be trying to help ya out. This place - Engsted Fortress - it be like a Dungeon Maze. Wonderin’ aimlessly around the place will get ya lost, and then ya be meetin’ up with real trouble. Or trouble will find ya instead. And there be a plenty number of ‘em trouble makers in town. I ain’t no thief, boi, if that’s what you be thinkin’. Ya know dat the livelihood of Express Guaranteed depends on our good word and reputation, right? We ain’t never failed in delivering packages nor sensitive documents from d’em nobles. Let alone openin’ or stealin’ anythang.”

Mathias couldn’t refute Raust’s claims. They were true to some extent. If packages were lost, which rarely happened, Express Guaranteed reimbursed all costs and hunted down the culprits. Most avoided feuding with the transportation giant.

That was why, with his limited remaining funds, Mathias was willing to take it upon one of the largest and most trusted names under the Continental Trade Union to get him to the boonies of the Hurthle Kingdom where Engsted Fortress lay. The Merchant Guild, Express Guaranteed, promised safety from roaming bandits and monsters while ensuring the fastest route to one’s destination. And they repeatedly lived up to their word, making them highly reputable. Upon hearing the carriage driver emphasize their well-known motto, a bit of Mathias’s wariness eased.

“What is the catch? Are you going to charge me? I do not have much coin left,” Mathias asked the carriage driver, poking with half-truths to see the man’s response as he was still not completely convinced.

This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“No catch, boi! It’ll be on the house! Ya remind me of my old self durin’ my youth, tryin’ to make it somewhere in dis unforgiving world. Ain’t gonna charge ya, boy. All we’d be doin’ is talk whilst I show you around. If ya want, maybe I can also show ya some tricks and tips that I been learning. So what do ya say? Let this old veteran help a new fletching out?”

Mathias paused, pondering the carriage driver’s proposal. The innocent front did not completely hide Raust’s deeper intentions, but Mathias nodded in agreement, saying, “If you are not charging and holding up to the good name of your guild, then… I could use some help in this new city.”

“Deal sealed!” Ecstatic, Raust shouted inside but replied calmly with a hidden smile on the outside. “Alright! Atta boy! Follow me! We be needin’ to get in line to be inspected before enterin’.”

Looking at the baggage-less Mathias, who only donned a sheathed saber and armor, Raust immediately remembered the first thing required for entry into the fortress.

“Ya got identification, right? Guards gonna check ‘em kingdom-issued papers. Bastards always check. Loyal hounds of as- AHEM! I mean hounds of the noble Lord Engsted will always check. Even when they been seeing ya for some time already. And they gonna be checking everythang. Ev-ery-thang. Besides ‘em papers, they also gonna be searching all ya bags and pockets, even bodily nooks, and crannies. All of them. Fair warning to ya now, boy.”

“Ah, yes. Not to worry. I know,” Mathias replied with a nod before lowkey patting his chest. “And I have my documents safely tucked away.”

Oddly, something invisible on Mathias’s seemingly unadorned hands clinked as he patted his chest. But it could not escape Raust’s observant eyes. The knowledgeable carriage driver saw the slight distortion of an enchantment of concealment flicker from the middle finger of Mathia’s right hand.

Raust’s dark brown eyes enlarged, about to drop out at the sight of the faint outlines of Mathias’s plain silver ring, but he quickly calmed himself and relaxed his telling gaze.

“Damn, that be un-merchant like of me! But damn! A storage ring!? Knew this bastard be someone from money! Brat’s got a spatial storage device worth a minimum of ten of my dang carriages! Shoulda spent more on that enchantment of concealment though. ‘Course maken it noiseless and completely invisible woulda been next to impossible. At least by enchanters in this small kingdom, anyway. Maybe the rare high-leveled ones in da Eliyute Empire. But meetin’ those be like meetin’ unicorns.”

However, Raust kept the secret of the hidden storage ring to himself. He dared not expose such dangerous knowledge to the open surroundings. The carriage driver didn’t want to draw Mathias’s aversion either by talking about the concealed ring. He may be a sly merchant and was no thief, but that did not mean there weren’t any in the rural, isolated western border of the Hurthle Kingdom. Actually, far from it. If anything, the secluded area lured in more of those with troublesome backgrounds. Mathias included.

Moving closer to Mathias, Raust whispered in a roundabout way, almost only mouthing, “Boy, seems like you kinda know better ‘bout yer circumstances. So get back in the carriage and get ya papers out first. Ya know, you should get a bag and put some of yer useless stuff in the thang. And keep it out while people be around. Ya be less suspicious that way. I advise to change ya armor too. The black color can hide certain details, but an experienced eye can tell its true worth. Also for ya other thangs, too. Do it for ya own good, kid. Free advice. So take it.”

Mathias was taken aback. He thought the seemingly above-average carriage driver was just that - a bit more knowledgeable than others. But now he suspected the man knew more than he let on. How much, however, Mathias didn’t know, and it bothered him.

Yet, Mathias was also perplexed by the sound advice he received from Raust. “Maybe this sneaky guy is not so bad after all.” Mathias thought, but his guard was still up.

Though, it did seem like Raust genuinely looked out for him.

Mathias nodded and authentically responded with gratefulness. It had been some time since he had been shown good intentions. “Alright, I will do so. Thank you, Sir. I appreciate the offer and advice. I shall heed them. Excuse me now as I use your carriage.”

Waving his hand in front of his nose, Raust shooed Mathias off. “Yeah, yeah. Don’t be all sentimental now. Go on.”

But Raust slyly followed Mathias with one curious look from the corner of his eye as the brown-haired man climbed back into the carriage and closed the door.

“Haaaa… I should get a different job. Ain’t liking what it been doin’ to me. Dang Class requirements. Not much other thangs I could be doin’ instead of this driving job, given my current level.”

The carriage driver let out a long hot exhale, sighing as he walked to his tamed monsters.

Caressing the smooth gray scales on their heads that felt hot to the touch, Raust whispered, “What do y’all think, Ect, Ert? Suspicious, yeah? I smell money. But… That boy, he be too nice. Hard to sell out ‘em people like that.”

“Rraar, raar,” Ect, the first twin Snake-tailed Leopard, replied with growls, nodding in agreement.

“Rar,” Ert the younger twin said with little interest, focusing on licking the tops of his front paws.

“Ah come on, Ert. Surely ya got more for me than dat. What d’ya think?”

Ert looked up at Raust with his large feline eyes, giving his tamer the lazy eye, and shrugged, replying, “Rar? Raar. Rar, raar.”

“Do I gots to bribe ya just to talk to me? Haaaa… fine, we can go to a Dungeon. Y’all be wanting some monster cores, right, Ert? Maybe y’all can level up this time.”

“Raaaar! Rar! Rar! Rrrar, rar, rarrr! Rar, raar!”

“Oh now ya wants to talk, Ect? Always perkin’ up when it be about food and eatin’.”

Ert nodded with glee, not even retorting the fact.

“Haaaah…”

Suddenly, Raust jumped as Mathias sprung up from behind and asked with an urgent and desperate tone, “Sir! Are you going into a Dungeon?! Can I come along and observe?!”

Turning around with a fist at the ready, Raust’s nostrils flared as he complained, “Holy crap! Dang it, boy! Careful! Almost turned around and bopped you one. Most people be on edge in Engsted Fortress.”

“Oh, sorry, Sir. My apologies. I got too excited hearing you were going to a Dungeon. Can I go with you?”

Raust was taken aback. “Ya came here to Engsted Fortress go Dungeon divin’? I mean, that would be makin’ some sense. But for some reason, I didn’t get the impression of seein’ ya doin’ dat. Have ya been in one before? A Dungeon, I mean.”

“Well… No, Sir. Please allow me to accompany you! You do not have to share any spoils with me either. I only want to learn about what to do when I go by myself next time.”

“You a newbie then? And ya want to eventually go by ya-self? Solo a Dungeon? Boy, ya wanting to shorten ya life or somethang? Find a reliable party.”

“I hope to, Sir. But I doubt many will take me. Especially, since I’m starting a new Class.”

Raust’s eyes widened, “A new Class?! Inside a Dungeon? Is yer old class high-leveled at least, so as to give ya some added stats? Classes that ain’t yer primary class are restricted and only give a fraction of their accumulated stats, but it be better than nothing.”

“Well… I would not call my old class "high-leveled" by standard means of evaluation.”

“Course not. You what? 16, 17?”

“17, Sir.”

“And ya sure ya not a spawn- AHEM! I meant offspring of ‘em nobles?”

“No, Sir!”

“Then ya ain’t high-leveled f’r sure.” There was a pause before Raust blasted, “And a kid like you wanting ta be Dungeon divin’ by ya self?! Ya got a death wish, boi!?”

“No, Sir! But… I know others will not probably not accept me to their party. Even the new adventures likely have Classes that they have worked on and leveled up since childhood. That is why I am asking you, Sir. I will not interfere, I will only watch.”

“What did I get myself into?” Raust thought. “Dammit, boy! If ya weren’t so polite, I woulda left ya to ya own dumb decisions. But I won’t be able ta sleep well now, knowing I let ya loose into the belly of those Dungeon thangs.”

“So you will let me tag along, Sir?”

“Tag along? Sure. But Ect and Ert don’t like sharin’ their spoils and kills. Heck, maybe I can do ya one better later. Find ya someone reliable to hang onto when I be leavin’.”

“Thank you, Sir. I appreciate the offer. But it will be difficult, maybe impossible. I will be okay by myself.”

“No, kid. Ya won’t. This is Engsted Fortress. Need I remind ya that this place be out in the boonies. Security is tight. But many monsters be roaming about in the open lands and also within the walls. Sometimes humans or Demi-humans be more frightening than some boss monsters in ‘em Dungeons. I’ll figure somethang out, kid. Got some people that owe me some favors.”

Raust tapped his head while deep in thought. Suddenly, a certain blonde-haired adventurer, the unwilling yet always returning passenger of his carriage, popped into mind.

“Longst. Of course. Haha! I’ma hit two birds with this one stone! Help out this new kid while getting back at the other cocky kid! Haha! Prepare ya-self, Longst. I’ma be cashin’ in some favors. Ya gonna be in for some tough times, kiddo.”

Feeling rather moved, Mathias asked, “Why would you go so far for me, Sir? We are practically strangers.”

“Why indeed, boy. Well, ya gonna be owing me a hell of a favor. So pay me back later, kid.”

“I will do the best that I can, Sir! Thank you!”

Raust smiled genuinely at the honest youngster, but he caught himself taking too much of a liking to Mathias and frowned, swiping off his grin.

“Alright, let’s get in line, brat. Ya got ya papers, right?”

“Yes, Sir! They are right here!”