“Dave? Which is the closest area to see if quests can be created?” SJ asked. When they entered the town again, SJ visited several shops where goods were sold after finding many closed. Many of the usual market traders were not running the stalls in the square through obvious fear of the wyvern returning. This gave the town an eerily quiet feeling compared to normal. She had ordered what she needed and arranged to deliver most of the items to the cottage, saying she would be back there later that afternoon. The open traders had been more than receptive to her requests and grateful for the custom on such a day. Darren was standing in the tailor’s shop looking for new clothes to replace his ruined ones.
SJ had shown him inside and introduced him to Fizzlewick’s Quarterling form. She now stood outside, waiting for him to finish. She couldn’t get used to him being in there, but she knew he was Nexis, wherever Nexis may be now. She had enquired, but no one had seen him return since last night, and she wanted to speak to him about the Rock Gobbler recipes but didn’t want to bring any suspicion by talking to his Quarterling version.
It was still mind-blowing, considering she knew who he was and that he was a God performing the menial tasks of shopkeeping, but the smile on the Quarterling’s face showed that he really did enjoy the daily interactions.
“The easiest option would be going to Asterfal. Designated cities do not have level caps. So, you can go there and try. It is a four-day journey, so you are looking at an eight-day return journey.” Dave said.
“Is there nowhere closer?”
“There is, but it means going into the desert region to the south and crossing it. The region is not very large, but the dangers there are quite real compared to travelling the much safer route to Asterfal. The main route is regularly patrolled, especially as you get nearer the city. It helps keep the bandits away. If you go via the desert region, you could get across and back in four days. With your flying speed, it may work out faster, but the temperatures can be limiting, so I suggest wagon travel. Either that or flying at nighttime, but more hostiles are around at night.”
The sound of going to the desert region wasn’t very appealing to SJ, but she wanted to see if she could assign a quest, and eight days seemed too long to wait with the wyvern threat or to try and make Darren stay in Killic. She needed to devise something to keep him here in the meantime. As they walked through the town, the streets had been empty, and the usual hustle and bustle had been subdued. There was also an increased guard presence with pairs of guards walking the streets, one carrying one of the large pikes while the other holding a crossbow or bow.
Darren walked out of the tailors ten minutes later, holding a large bundle of clothes under his arm. He scratched his head with his free hand as he looked at SJ.
“I spent much more than I expected, and the Quarterling is strange. He kept asking how I knew you.”
“Oh,” SJ replied. “I am a regular customer and his apprentice tailor. He has helped me out quite a bit.”
“It was like being questioned by a relative of yours.”
SJ laughed nervously, “Did he? I suppose he is a little protective of me being his apprentice.” She could not get the thought out of her head that a god was quizzing Darren.
“He said he is leaving soon, and someone new is taking over. Is that not going to mess your training up?”
“No. The person taking over is a skilled tailor, and I know them already.” The conversation was making SJ feel a little uncomfortable talking about herself. “I bet an alchemist in town could help with your training. It would probably be easier to increase your basic levels in a starter town?”
Darren tilted his head slightly, considering SJ’s comment. “I suppose it could make it easier. Do you know who the best alchemist is?”
“I haven’t a clue as I have never investigated it, but I am pretty sure I can find out and confirm easily. I have worked for one of the regular healing balm sellers, Grewlas, who could be a good place to start asking questions. I know you mentioned Master Rui, but I have never heard of that name in the town before, although it doesn’t mean it isn’t true.”
Darren scrunched his face at the reference to the name. “I am not sure either.”
SJ watched him visibly slouch as he walked, reflecting on the previous evening’s issue. Turning, she headed toward Grewlas’s store, Darren’s dejected form following her. Not surprisingly, the shop, like many others, was closed after the attack.
“It looks like we are limited today after the attack. At least you have new clothes and can stay at the cottage tonight. Then tomorrow, we can investigate finding you an alchemist,” SJ said hopefully.
“When is the next wagon run from town?”
“I don’t know. Never having used it. I assume someone at the stables would know.” There were so many aspects of the town that SJ was still unaware of herself. “If you head back to the cottage,” SJ said, removing a key from her inventory. “I need to call in at the barracks and check on a few things. I will meet you later and find out the details for you.”
Leaving Darren to head back to the cottage, SJ headed to the barracks to speak to Zigferd or Alice about her plans.
Darren let himself into the cottage and dropped his bundle on the table, sitting heavily in one of the armchairs. He couldn’t believe how stupid he had been or the problem he had caused with the alchemical solutions he had brought. If only he hadn’t been focussing on the experience gains, correctly stated by the Innkeeper, he might have considered that the whole quest had seemed too good to be true. The experience alone had been high, but also, being paid the 15 silver to cover expenses, he hadn’t even considered the details. He could have kicked himself for his stupidity.
What intrigued him the most was SJ. She appeared so naive in the ways of Amathera yet had successfully achieved revered status with a starter town. He had only achieved a popular status within his village, and he had helped who he could when he could, completing their quests, but had never managed to progress further. With the restrictions on the level cap when he reached it, he had no choice but to leave and find new areas to continue his growth. Thinking back, he knew that he would have happily stayed in the village if it had offered him further growth.
Killic was much larger than the village he had started in had been, and it had much more to offer in the long term. Because it could now accommodate growth to level 20 and from what SJ had told him to keep gaining further growth, it was an interesting thought. If he could find an alchemist trainer, he could just stay here for a short time, at least to begin his levelling process. With the expense of paying for the damage he had caused to the inn, his funds were even more restricted now. He still had the other moonstone but didn’t want to sell it unless it became essential.
He owned another moonstone that he could sell but he needed an auction house to get the best value as he doubted anyone in the town could afford it or needed one. Looking at the town and its growth potential, there could be consideration for producing leather goods for sale. He could make scaled leather at the professional level of journeyman level 4. He had spent so long grinding that once he had gotten into a routine, he had spent every evening working on his profession with little else to do in the starter village.
This had accelerated his profession much faster, and the armour he wore he had made himself. It was not the best, but it was good for his level. The town was idyllic, with clear blue skies and beautiful weather. It is very different from the village, which had a much cooler climate with regular rainfall. He stood up from the chair, getting a glass of water before picking up the bundle of clothes and moving to the bedroom to get try on his new clothes. That tailor had been ridiculously persuasive and made him buy more than he would normally have.
He had just finished getting changed when there was a knock on the cottage door. Walking through, he opened it to recognise one of the traders they had visited earlier that afternoon.
“I have brought the goods as requested,” the trader said, indicating to the cart parked at the end of the small footpath.
“I will help you bring them in,” Darren said.
Several trips later, the dining room table was covered with all SJ’s purchased items. Darren believed she had bought pretty much one of everything that she thought may be useful at some point in time. He had been the same back on Earth when he had moved into his first home. The fact that she was looking to furnish and equip it so well for Darren meant that SJ had no plans on leaving Killic anytime soon. It was strange for him to consider making a home in one area, and the thought intrigued him. It cost her a small fortune, and Darren was surprised she could afford it all. When he left his village, he only had a couple of silver coins in his name after he finished his basic training and levelling.
Darren spent the rest of the afternoon until SJ returned, sorting through what had been purchased and turning the empty cottage into a home. He had always taken pride in his flat back on Earth and gone the extra mile, keeping it clean, tidy, and well-presented in case he ever entertained. While he was still finishing sorting out the first delivery, there was a second knock at the door, and the remaining ordered items arrived. Taking receipt again, he continued to make the cottage homely.
After speaking to Zigferd, SJ was authorised to assign quests on behalf of the town. She had also stated that she would need to travel to a 20-30 territory at least to attempt to create the quest ’s level. Zigferd was amazed at the consideration of the open protection quest. The only quests he had ever raised were basic town support quests that had no way near the expectations of what SJ was suggesting. He also mentioned Asterfal as the easiest as Dave had, but she really didn’t want to be away for 8 days, being concerned that Darren may just up and leave in that time. He had not appeared to wish to stay in Killic, and the sooner she could confirm whether a protection quest could be assigned, the better. At least that way, he would have a reason alongside beginning alchemy training.
Master Rui was indeed the town’s Master Alchemist, and Zigferd had told her where he could find him. He spent most of his time collecting herbs or similar for his potions, but he also trained apprentices and took them on field trips. SJ would take Darren to see him tomorrow.
They had discussed the wyvern attacks and the concerns over the ability to damage the beast. Apart from the town guard changes, all the hunters were being called in to support, and every able-bodied member of the town who knew archery would be issued a bow and quiver of arrows. The fallout from the wyvern visit had meant that two of the town had been killed. The orc SJ had seen when she had saved the Gnoll and a daughter of the family from the home where the wyvern crashed. The young human girl, SJ didn’t recognise the name of, had been crushed by an interior wall when it collapsed. SJ’s heart sank at the news. The funerals were already planned, and both were going to be private affairs.
Returning to the cottage, SJ heard the wyvern’s cry. Panic immediately flooded her, and she looked towards the mountains where the sound had originated. She watched the shape of the wyvern high in the sky, a distance away from the town itself. It appeared to slow and hover before she saw it dive, tucking its wings in and disappearing out of sight behind the buildings.
Hurriedly, she returned to the cottage. The wyvern had not cried again, and she kept looking towards where she had last seen it, but it hadn’t risen. Arriving at the cottage, Darren stood in the front garden area, scanning the surrounding skies. He had his armour on and stood with his bow in his hand, with an arrow knocked on the string.
“Did you see it?” he asked. Seeing SJ’s nervous expression.
“It dove into the forest area by the mountains away from the town. I didn’t see it rise again.”
“It may be hunting. I am guessing there is a decent hogling and deer population around here?”
“I know there are both. I don’t know how strong the population is, although there are always hunting parties out there.”
“If it has a ready supply of food outside the town and the potential of attacking it, I can’t see it moving away anytime soon. Having fought them before, they are tenacious regarding easy food sources.”
“I forgot to ask you about hunting them before. When was it?”
“Several months ago. I was completing a quest chain for my class, and the final stage was to kill a wyvern. That quest allowed me to learn the shock arrow skill.”
“I had no idea about class-specific quest chains.”
Darren looked at her, frowning, “Do you not have a class trainer?”
“No. I train my skills myself through both weapon and skill training.”
“That will mean that you have never started any profession quest chains?”
“No. Never.”
“They help with the progression of your class skills and give options to increase your skills. I would advise you to find a trainer as soon as you can. Do you mind if I ask what your skill levels are?”
SJ contemplated his request for a few moments before replying, “My skills are in martial arts and Subterfuge.”
“Really?” Darren looked surprised. “They are unusual. I have met a few assassins over the past sixteen months, and none have had that combination. It is a very specific set of choices. Not limited, but at lower levels, I bet it isn’t easy to achieve much.”
It was SJ’s turn to frown now. “I think I am doing okay overall at my level. I have both my initial skill choices open in each branch.”
“Well, I don’t know the skill trees for assassins, but without you having a trainer, you are stunting your growth. The quests they offer relate directly to skill opportunities.”
The screech of the wyvern sounded again, cutting off their conversation as they both looked skywards.
“It sounds distant still,” Darren said.
“I hope it remains that way. The impact on the town was bad today, but if it stays, it will get much worse.”
