Riattus frowned, and he approached them both, floating.

- “You could be more thankful towards your Teacher, you know that, right?”

- “And you could be more thankful towards someone that took you out from that mountain, after so many years. If I died in that village, what would happen to your Card Box and you? Maybe that Goblin Shaman would not want to have you around and destroy your Card Box, along with the Cards inside. Or he could find a way to make you fight for him. I bet you wouldn’t like to be the killing instrument of a Goblin, right?”

Riattus turned pale.

- “Yeah… that would be a nightmare…”

While they were walking North, deep into the forest, Woof was sniffing in front. Riattus was silent, thinking, and Ronald was looking at the Cards that he got from the Goblin Shaman that he killed.

- “There are some strange Cards in here… But I can more or less guess the effect of the Spells and the Traps, just by the drawings. But the Magical Beings are strange, for a Goblin. I bet he took these Cards from someone else. How could he use these? You said that a normal person had to be in perfect sync with a Card, to use it…”

Riattus nodded.

- “Yes, I bet that Shaman tried a lot of Cards that his group took from people that they killed, to find those that worked with him. I also thought it was strange, the huge amount of Mana Orbs you got. That could only mean that there was a lot of Goblins in hiding and the Shaman had absorbed the Mana from the Humans that died in there. Leave those Cards aside, some people may recognize them and get suspicious. And please, keep my Card Box on your necklace with you, always! Preferably, hidden underneath your clothes.”

While Ronald was putting the Cards in his bag, Riattus was looking around while frowning.

- “I keep on forgetting that you are not as strong as I used to be. Summon a Big Rat, I would prefer one near us in case of danger. The dog is too weak to fight a Monster that could lurk in this forest.”

Ronald summoned the Rat, and Woof turned back as soon as he felt the whirlpool of the summoning. There it was, the Rat that he saw killing those Guards on the cave when he arrived at this strange World full of weird smells. Woof growled towards the Rat and Ronald stood in between them.

- “Stay, Woof! Look, he is friendly!”

The Rat nodded his big head while licking one front paw. Ronald put one hand over that big head, and he became amazed at how it looked real. The fur, the touch of the flesh, the breath coming from that big mouth…

- “This is so weird… it looks alive! Is this the one that I used on the Goblin Village? Or it’s another one?”

Before Riattus could answer, the Rat nodded, confirming it and showing his sides, fully healed, after the battle. Riattus smiled.

- “It seems it is the same. You used the same Card, the same Big Rat appears. That’s a good strategy because using the same Card will make him recognize you as the owner, and more willing to obey you. Now, if you tell him to protect you against Monsters, he will act as a bodyguard. If you see a prey, tell him to hunt it. Later on, he will learn how to recognize a prey and hunt when you order him. We don’t have enough space in this forest, but you can also mount him and use him as transport. But it’s better if you don’t do that anytime soon because after all, you are a normal Farmer, right?”

Woof was still growling in a low voice, he didn’t trust that big rat. Woof knew how rats looked back on Earth, and that one, despite being the size of a cow, it was still a rat. An ugly rat, that appeared on dark corners or alleys, scavenging food from garbage or screaking at him when he passed by on patrol. But that Human that gave him those soft cloths that he had on the neck, ordered him to stay, so Woof was going to obey. But obeying didn’t mean trusting on a rat…
Riattus asked Ronald about his life before arriving, and while they were travelling, he got to know a lot about the past of the man that rescued him from his incarceration. What worried him was that Ronald was too innocent, too friendly and not worried about what happened to him. He had to make sure that Ronald learned everything possible to survive in that dangerous World. At least, long enough to return to his homeworld. And that worried Riattus. What would happen if Ronald left and he stayed like that, like a weird ghost? Maybe if Ronald stayed…

- “Ronald, do you mind if I ask something?”

Ronald looked back while waiting that the two rabbits that Woof and the Big Rat caught, were roasted in the fire that he made previously, with a flint and a small dagger that was inside the bag that Riattus gave him.

- “Sure. As long it is nothing weird. You have a strange frown on your forehead.”

- “Well… I was wondering. Do you have someone on your World that you wish to see again? Because for what you told me, your life was very simple and sometimes unlucky. Despite the fact that your job in that restaurant could give you more opportunities in the future. Maybe with my help, and if you are prepared to work for it, you can have a good life here.”

Ronald threw some soil to the fire, to put down a flare that was burning a little too much, the rabbit’s meat.

- “No, not really. I never had the time, luck or opportunity to search for a woman. You said it, this World is a living hell, everyone is trying to get out from here, why should I stay? Unless you are worried about yourself, instead of me. You could say it without trying to fool me, you know?”

- “Yeah… Sorry, you are right, I am also worried about me. If you left, I don’t know what will happen to me. Maybe I could go with you, I could die for real, or go to Earth again…”

Ronald nodded while caressing Woof’s right ear.

- “Well, let’s think about that when that time comes, ok? I also don’t know if I want to stay here or not. Like you said, my life was not a big deal. Maybe here, I can have better luck. Who knows, I may even like to live in here, as long as there isn’t always someone or something, trying to kill me!!

Riattus smiled.

- “Yes, let’s talk about that when that time comes. In the meantime, I can show you this World, and explain many things about it. You saw from the top of my mountain, this World is beautiful. The people living on it, not so much.”

- “Yeah, you already said that. And that it’s weird. If this World is so beautiful as you say, and Magic can be used in this new and strange way, why are there so many bad people? The number should be lower. If so many good people left, there should be a lot more trying to make this World a little better.”

Riattus nodded.

- “I thought about that, many years ago. It was difficult. I had to bribe, kill, or steal some things, trying to gather answers. The Church had some written History, but they kept it in secret. The Elfians and the Dwarfs live twice as long as a Human and they also kept secret records. This, you can never tell anyone. I told to some friends, and they were the first to betray me. In the beginning, when this World was discovered, more than 1.000 years ago, it was chosen as a prison. A place where Earth, Myshkasyl and the Legosyl Worlds, the First Worlds, together with the following colonies, dumped the criminals they had in custody, filling their prisons or condemned to work slavery forever. Those first inmates started a new civilization in here, and their offspring continued to live here, trapped. Maybe because of their bad genes, but what started on their parents' time as some skirmish and grudges evolved to full-out wars between the Kingdoms, killing many of them.”

Ronald frowned.

- “That doesn’t sound good…”

- “It gets weirder. This next part, I only found out because the previous ones that were summoned here asked about it to Gaya, and they left records behind before leaving this World. Seems that two hundred years after the first inmates arrive, the Gods chose this World as the last chance for all the bad souls that died on those three Worlds and the colonies. In here, those souls that on previous lives did some very bad things would forget what they did in their past lives and start over. If they became a better soul while living a peaceful and gentle life, when they died or when they were judged by Gaya, they would be reincarnated or would be transported to one of the Three Worlds or the colonies. But if in here, they became evil or did bad things, when they died, they would have a second try. If they blew it for the second time, upon their death, that soul would be destroyed forever. Well, I need to clarify this part. A soul that blew up their second try would be reincarnated as a Monster. Upon the death of that Monster, the soul would cease to exist.”

Ronald became alarmed.

- “Wait a minute… You mean those Goblins that I killed, they used to be persons?”

- “That’s the correct grammar. Used to be. They weren’t anymore. All of them used to be persons that had two lives in here and on both, they didn’t get any better and were reincarnated as a Monster. I think it’s a good way of showing the ugliness of a soul. And that’s also the reason why there are so many monsters on this World. I didn’t know that when I went on a rampage, trying to kill every Goblin that existed. I always wondered why they kept on appearing. I found out about this, two or three years before my last battle, when I “died”. But even with all this, there were a lot of good people that Gaya granted passage. And a few crazy ones that instead of leaving, decided to stay, to help the people. About those, there were stories and music, telling about their deeds and kindness. I think that could still be some stories about me. I was an amazing villain and tyrant.”

Ronald was slowly shaking his head, overwhelmed by all that information.

- “But… Why turn the bad souls to Monsters? What’s the point?”

- “Population control measure. Like that, the number of people living here would never exceed the capabilities and the natural resources of the World. It is also a good way to kill good people so that they can get reincarnated sooner into another World and kill the bad ones before they do more harm. Hey, why are you looking like that to me? I wasn’t the one to make the rules in here! If you want to complain, complain to God Seya! Or to Gaya! You should thank me for getting all this information free of charge because I had a lot of work to find out about this! It was one of the reasons why I was “killed”!”

Ronald gave a leg of one roasted rabbit to Woof, and he took a portion to himself. He started to eat in silence while looking at the Big Rat, that was sniffing the air around.

- “This World is really weird… And this big guy, when will he disappear?”

- “Only when he dies, you say that he can leave or, depending on your level. I think he will stay with us for one more day. After he disappears, you can summon him again, and he will be with us for another two days. When your level rises, the Magical Beings that you summon will stay with you longer. I had a flying horse with me for ten years. And a dragon for five. That one was a real menace. I used to ride him and scorch every village or army that didn’t obey me! The memories…”

Suddenly, Woof raised his head and growled in the direction of a bush at five meters from the big rocks where they were resting and eating. The Big Rat stood next to him, sniffing in the same direction. Before Ronald could say anything, five Goblins came running from behind the bush. The Rat was the first to attack, followed by Woof. When Ronald got up and even before he could summon anything, the Goblins died by the double charge of the Rat and Woof. Five red Orbs appeared where the Goblins died, and Woof was sniffing one of them. Riattus pointed at Woof.

- “He deserves them, right? He did a very good job, and Goblins don’t die easily.”

Ronald went near Woof and guided his right paw towards every Orb. They returned to the campfire and while Woof was licking his right paw, probably because of the tickling caused by the absorption of the Orbs, Ronald placed on the ground the Status Sphere. He then grabbed Woof’s paw and placed it on top of the Sphere. His stats appeared.

Race - Dog
Name - Woof
Age - 3
Job - World Traveller
LV - 3
ATK - 450
HP - 300
Skills - none
Hp Armor - 0
ATK Weapon - 0
Equip Intelligence - 0
Equip Wisdom - 0

Physical Attributes:
Strength - 10
Quickness - 10
Body - 10

Mental Attributes:
Intelligence - 10
Wisdom - 10

Special Attributes:
Willpower - 10
Mana - 50
Xp (x2) - 5

And then, some letters appeared, saying, "Each XP gives 5 points to spend on Attributes. You have 25 points. Choose the Attributes and the number of points to allocate". It then started to show just the Attributes.

Physical Attributes:
Strength - 10
Quickness - 10
Body - 10

Mental Attributes:
Intelligence - 10
Wisdom - 10

Riattus pointed at the Sphere.

- “Put five on everything. He will become stronger, faster, more intelligent and he also needs Willpower and Wisdom, for improving the effects of the scarfs that he has.”

Ronald did just that, and Woof’s stats changed.

Race - Dog
Name - Woof
Age - 3
Job - World Traveller
LV - 3
ATK - 450
HP - 300
Skills - none
Hp Armor - 0
ATK Weapon - 0
Equip Intelligence - 0
Equip Wisdom - 0

Physical Attributes:
Strength - 15
Quickness - 15
Body - 15

Mental Attributes:
Intelligence - 15
Wisdom - 15

Special Attributes:
Willpower - 15
Mana - 15
Xp (x2) - 0

Woof started to shake his head, and he then rubbed it on the grass on the floor. Woof looked at Ronald and tilted his head, puzzled. Ronald scratched Woof’s ear while smiling.

- “It’s my impression, or he got a little bigger?”

Riattus nodded.

- “Yes, he did. He looks bulkier and with more muscle. He now resembles even more with an alfa wolf. I wonder how big he will become, as he levels up. Strangely, your stats where ten and when you placed the points, it assumed you had zero. On Woof’s case, it added correctly. A glitch or it’s because it’s an animal? I don’t know, maybe that’s not important. So, finish eating, we need to get going. You can put some rabbit’s meat in the bag to eat later but remember to say the name of it as you put the meat inside so that you can retrieve it more easily. I am still surprised by how you managed to recognize eatable plants and leaves, to make a salad!”

Ronald shrugged his shoulders.

- “As I am, for you to have inside this bag some salt, salad dressing, and aromatic plants for seasoning this salad and the meat!”
---

As soon as the lunch ended, they continued. Riattus pointed to a small cluster of blue plants, that was hidden behind a huge rock that he found during the night, saying those were very rare and valuable because upon boiled, the liquid would serve as a Healing Potion, accelerating the cicatrisation of cuts and wounds, to an astonishing speed. Ronald picked the best leaves and placed inside a cloth, keeping it in the bag with the Compressed Dimension. During the rest of the day, they walked along the forest, using some animal narrow paths. Where the vegetation was too much, the Rat took care of opening a path. By the end of the afternoon, the Rat and Woof managed to hunt a deer and Ronald roasted it, cutting it into small portions to keep inside the one-shoulder bag. They finished the rabbit’s meat as a dinner, heating it on the bonfire that Ronald made for passing the night inside a small cave. Ronald and Woof slept together, wrapped up in a thick blanket, while the Big Rat was standing guard in front of the cave. Riattus had no need to sleep, so he spent the night thinking and walking around the forest, not too far away from his Card Box, but still, at a good distance so that he could be sure the night would be safe for Ronald.
---

Another day came by, and they continued on walking, while Riattus was telling some of his past adventures. Some of them were amazing, while many others were too violent and gross for Ronald’s taste. But Riattus seemed to have a good time remembering it, so, Ronald didn’t complain. Near the middle of the afternoon, the Rat disappeared inside his whirlpool, when they were almost arriving at a dirt path. It was at the exact moment because an open wagon was approaching. The man at the reins of the horse was puzzled by that sight of a man walking alongside the road with a wolf tied to a rope. As he passed Ronald, he greeted him:

- “Hello, stranger! It is unusual to see someone walking along this road. And with a wolf as a companion, it is even stranger!”

Ronald smiled while walking.

- “Hello, we are just travelling to the Kingdom of Loriath. Do you know if it’s still far?”

- “If you continue walking, you will arrive in the middle of tomorrow’s morning. If you are trustworthy, I may give you a ride and you can get there by this evening. You can keep me company, I won’t mind talking as we travel. I have been travelling all alone for the last three days, I am a little bored.”

Ronald nodded.

- “I would appreciate the ride, thanks. I can’t prove that I am in fact trustworthy, so I won’t think badly of you if you withdraw your offer.”

- “Well, if that wolf trusts you, and everyone knows how those guys are suspicious of people, maybe you are not as bad as you could be. Are you sure he will not try to eat my throat?”

- “Yes, I am sure. He is very obedient. Here Woof, hop on to the back! Lay down and don’t make a mess in there! Now, kind sir, may I join you at your side? Or do you prefer if I stay in the wagon with him?”

The driver pats the seat next to him.

- “By all means, sit here and tell me what you are doing, walking around here. That wolf is very obedient indeed. How did you manage to tame him?”

Ronald smiled while looking back at Woof that was resting his head on top of a cereals bag.

- “I guess he was just as confused as I was when we first met. But I managed to gain his trust. My name is Ronald and that guy over there, it’s Woof. Do you mind if I ask how things are nowadays, in the Loriath Kingdom? I was told it was a peaceful Kingdom for many years, but I am new into these parts, so I am not sure if I wasn’t deceived by a weird old man.”

- “I am Feebles, the Merchant. Pleased to meet you. Well, considering that Loriath neighbours the Kingdom of Breidan, right across that forest on your right, it is still a free Kingdom by a miracle. Breidan is always trying to increase its borders, but the Monsters that are lurking in the forest, are serving as a natural border. Every time that an army came from Breidan, more than half of it is killed in there. The rest dies when they exit the forest because the Loriath forces are called as soon as the noises of the dying soldiers are heard by the people that travel along this road. But did you cross that forest? How did you manage to not get yourself killed by some Goblin? Did you come from Breidan?”

Ronald pointed with his head to Woof.

- “That guy helped when we were in a pinch. I was also very careful, by travelling during the night and avoiding any village or weird noise. I came from the far East of the Kingdom of Terbik. I had a lot of experience with dealing with Goblins while I was living there.”

Feebles nodded, visibly impressed.

- “I understand… Terbik always had problems with hordes of Goblins. I bet you are a very strong Adventurer, for risking to cross a forest well known to be the lair of many Goblin Villages.”

Ronald slowly shook his head.

- “No, I used to be a Farmer. I left Terbik because I lost my family and the memories were too painful. I am trying to find a job with a group of Adventurers if one of them would have me. I can be just a Farmer, but I am also very strong, and I think they won’t mind having a companion that doesn’t mind with some hard work. I can also cook, so I guess that could count.”

Feebles nodded.

- “I see… I am sorry for your family. I know the Guild Master of the Adventurer’s Guild in Durant, the Capital of Loriath, to where I am travelling. If you want, I can introduce you to him, maybe he can help with finding a Party of Adventurers that are searching for a Carrier or a Cook.”

- “That would be a huge help, thank you very much. As I said, I am new in these parts and I spent all my life in Terbik. I am a little ignorant of the state of things in the World. I don’t know what the names are and where are the Kingdoms, and which year is it. I kind of lost track of time, during my grief. I don’t know if I was lost in my pain for two years or ten…”

- “Things are as they were for all these past few years. The Diocese of Thetria is always in a military disagreement with the Kingdom of Breidan regarding the scripts about God Seya, Breidan is trying to invade the nearby countries to expand its borders, Zakrosia is a region where only Monsters live, the Principality of Rediorumia and Homysodia are still trying to be neutral without directly supporting Breidan or Thetria, while the rest of the Kingdoms try to continue living as they have, for all these years while fighting their local Monsters. Last week started the Ary’s month of the year 1.540. I have an extra copy of the Map of this region, and if you can take care of today’s dinner, I will give it to you.”

Ronald smiled.

- “I can do that. Do you like deer meat? I have some portions with very good size on my bag. I don’t have rice or potatoes, but I can prepare a good salad.”

Feebles smiled from ear to ear.

- “Deer meat is very tasty, expensive and very difficult to come by! I can provide some potatoes as a side dish, but how did you get a hold of deer meat?”

Ronald pointed with his head to Woof, that was sleeping under the afternoon sun, with his head over a cereal bag.

- “With that guy’s help. I scared the deer right into his mouth full of teeth. We had a lot of work to kill it, it was huge and dangerous. After a few bites in his throat and a clean pierce with my sword, we managed to take him down. It provided meals for us, for the last two days. But I still have a lot of smoked meat.”

Feebles was nodding.

- “A very good way to preserve the meat, really. And in my humble opinion, it makes the meat even more delicious. You indeed have some experience as a Cook. Any Adventurer’s Party would be more than happy to have you if you can even hunt for making their meals!”

Ronald shrugged his shoulders.

- “I hope so. I need to find a different kind of job, for not remembering my past. Becoming a Farmer again would bring back some memories that I wish to forget…”

Feebles nodded in silence. It seemed this new voyage partner was still very sad about the loss of his family and that could be the reason for venturing such a dangerous voyage to go to Loriath. Coming all the way since Terbik, crossing the Kingdom of Pigliapo and Breidan to get to Loriath, with enough opportunities to get killed and even like that, he managed to accomplish it without any visible wounds or lost members, that was an achievement in its own way. Either he was lucky, suicidal, crazy, or he was stronger and more dangerous than he looked. But even with those suspected flags, he was very friendly, polite and managed to get the trust of that big wolf, one of the most dangerous wild animals around. Perhaps he was just blessed by God Seya, as a compensation for his loss.
The rest of the voyage was a lot of fun for Feebles. He had many stories from his past years of Merchant and an avid listener that was marvelled by everything that he told, even when he exaggerated a tiny bit. By the end of the afternoon and when the walls of the capital could be seen in a distance, they stopped so that Ronald could prepare their dinner. While Feebles provided the pots and the potatoes to be cooked, Ronald took from his bag three big pieces of deer meat that smelled divinely. He cut some slices as an appetizer for Feebles and Woof, and while the potatoes were boiling, he was happily listening to one more of Feebles adventures.
When the potatoes were ready, they ate. Woof sniffed one potato that Ronald offered him but turned back and went straight to his big portion of smoked deer’s meat. Feebles laughed because of the surprised look of Ronald. As if a wild wolf would ever eat a potato when he could eat meat!
After dinner, Feebles did as he promised, he offered a copy of the Map to Ronald. He was very grateful and offered him another portion of deer meat for him to eat at lunch the next day, still wrapped in a cloth, that he quickly took from his bag. Feebles wondered how he managed to carry all that meat inside the bag, without showing any signs of tiredness because of the weight.
After they cleaned the pot and put everything in their place under the driver's seat, their journey continued. Sometime later, Ronald was looking up, surprised by the height of the gate and the wall that surrounded Durant, the capital of Loriath. A Gate Guard had a torch in his right hand and was looking at him and at Woof, inquiring him why he had a wild wolf tied to a rope in his hand and that dangerous beast was peacefully lying over a bag of cereal. Feebles vouched for them both and because the two Gate Guards that were on duty knew him from previous visits, allowed the entrance of that strange pair, upon the guarantee that Ronald would never leave the wolf run loose, without being strongly tied to that rope.
While they were going along the main street, in the evening and with torches already lit on the top of high poles to provide some light, Ronald was admiring the houses. Wood and rock were the common materials, with some houses with big and bulky metal doors. Businesses and shops, probably. There were more opulent houses as they approached the centre of the Capital as if it were an indication of the social place of the inhabitants. Right at the centre, there was a large City square. Feebles stopped the wagon in front of an Inn, next to a big building with a sign at the top of the entrance, “Adventurer's Guild”. A boy came running from the Inn and he grabbed the reins of the horse that was pulling the wagon and he smiled towards Feebles.

- “Welcome back, Mister Feebles! You and your companion are staying with us for tonight?”

Feebles frowned, and he looked at Ronald.

- “I am sorry. I never asked if you had money with you. I suppose you need a place to sleep, right?”

Ronald nodded.

- “I have money, but I think I may need your help, figuring out the fair price for a stay in this Inn. I don’t know how much the usual price in this Kingdom is.”

- “Well, it's not that expensive as it may seem, it’s very affordable. Sleeping in this Inn costs three copper coins per night with one meal. A meal costs one copper coin. Is that reasonable for you?”

Ronald looked at Woof.

- “I guess so. I just don’t know what they will think about having him sleeping in a room inside the Inn. I can’t leave him outside or near the horses. You heard the Gate Guard, he must always be near me.”

- “I can have a word with the Innkeeper and explain your situation, don’t you worry about that. I am a regular here, I think there will not be a problem.”

The boy was looking at Woof, that was now standing on top of the cereal bag where he was sleeping previously.

- “Mister Feebles! A wolf!”

- “Yes, I know, don’t worry. That wolf is the companion of my friend, Mister Roland, here. Now, take care of the horse, ok? Here, a coin for you, my boy. Mister Ronald, shall we go have a talk with the Guild Master? It’s still early, I bet he is in his office.”

- “Sure, the sooner the better! Come here, Woof! Good boy… Now, don’t growl or bark to anyone, understood? Behave properly, I don’t want people getting scared because of you!”

Woof made a low bark as if he was saying that he would do that. That reaction dumbfounded Feebles and the stable boy. Ronald just rubbed Woof’s ear and looked at Feebles.

- “Can we go? I think he will be a good boy and don’t make a mess in there. Unless someone is crazy enough to pick a fight with him!”

- “Ok, but grab the rope really tight, he might get scared by the noise and some sudden movements. Adventurers are always a little jumpy and overly excited after a few drinks!”

While the stable boy drove the horse to the back of the Inn, Ronald followed Feebles. As soon as they entered the Guild, the noise that could be heard on the outside came to a halt, because a stranger with a big wolf tied to a rope, just entered. Feebles nervously looked around and he pointed with his hand to the front desk where a young woman was, talking with three men that looked angry.

- “We must go talk with that young lady and ask her to call the Guild Master. It seems that there’s a situation in there, I hope there won’t be a problem if we wait near them, for our turn.”

Ronald was looking around with a small smile and he greeted some people that were looking at him with a slight nod of his head. While they were walking to the front desk, Ronald noticed a beautiful woman with dark hair tied into a ponytail, dressed in dark leather clothes, polishing a sword while seated at a table near three men. One that was a Human with a very serious face, another that was as beardy as a Dwarf that used to work with him at the market, and another one that had dark green clothes, a hood covering his head and was sharpening a short dagger while looking at him from the corner of his eye. An Elfian in disguise, for sure. The beardy one could be a Dwarf if it wasn’t for his height. The woman was probably their leader, judging by the way they all seemed to be waiting for her to say anything.
When Ronald and Feebles were almost near the front desk, one of the three men punched the balcony and shouted to the young woman:

- “What do you mean, by saying that you advise us to not apply for this Class A job? Are you saying that we can’t do it?”

The young woman waved both hands while looking a little nervous.

- “No… I wasn’t saying that… it’s just because two other groups already tried it, and they never returned. And one of them had five strong Adventurers, and even they…”

Suddenly, the men that punched the balcony, drew a dagger and approached it towards the woman’s throat.

- “You are annoying me, woman! Perhaps I should cut…”

Slam!

Before he could finish his threat, he was knocked down by a strong hit to the back of his head by Ronald, that used a bench that he took from the nearby table. Ronald calmly said to the woman.

- “I am sorry for this violence on my part and for my next actions, but a man threatening a woman must be swiftly punished.”

One of the friends of the knocked-out man, after realizing what happened, tried to draw his sword only to be struck in the face by another hit from Ronald’s bench. The third one had a dagger on one hand, but before he could approach Ronald, he had a sword close to his neck, firmly held by the beautiful woman with a ponytail.

- “Careful… Unless you want to lose some blood…”

The man looked at his side and he faced the woman.

- “Who said that you could intervene, you “bican”…”

Slam!

Before he could finish his insult, Ronald struck him with the bench straight to the mouth. Blood and teeth flew all over, dirtying the floor. The beautiful woman looked at Ronald, a little angry.

- “Hey, I didn’t need any kind of help!”

Ronald nodded.

- “Neither did I, but you still helped. I am sorry, but a man insulting a woman right in front of me, it’s something that I can’t tolerate. If you excuse me, I still need to properly punish this guy that was threatening the receptionist.”

Ronald bent over and he grabbed the man’s right hand, the one that had the dagger with which he threatened the young receptionist. He then opened the hand, palms down on the ground. Ronald said with anger in his voice, while raising the bench:

- “For raising a hand towards a woman, the punishment is the loss of that hand.”

Ronald struck the man’s hand with one foot of the bench. Three strong hits turned the man’s hand into a bloody pulp. He then cleaned the bench with the man’s clothes and placed the bench near the table from where he took it, right in front of the dumbfounded eyes of Feebles. He was astonished. The friendly voyage partner that he found earlier, had so much hate on his eyes that he looked a different person.
The silence in that room was overwhelming. The woman slowly placed her sword on her sheath.

- “You know, coming here and knocking out three Adventurers from another City and completely destroying the hand of one of them, could gather you a lot of grudges from the Adventurers in here.”

Ronald looked around with a serious face.

- “What? From all these cowards that looked away while a woman had a dagger against her throat, pretending to not see anything? Why are you all looking at me? Did I say any lie? None of you moved a finger to help her! None! And you call yourself Adventurers? You should all be ashamed…”

The same looks that were previously looking at him with anger were now looking away or at the glass in front of them. Ronald gave a serious look to the woman that helped him.

- “I came to this Guild looking for a job, but if all these guys around are an example of the calibre of this Guild, it’s better if I go to another one.”

He then turned to face the young receptionist.

- “I truly apologise for all the violence that I did in front of you. If you lend me a piece of cloth and some water, I will quickly clean the blood on the floor, it’s not fair if my actions give you more work than you already have.”

The receptionist quickly waved her hands with a shine in her eyes and a big smile.

- “No, by all means! It’s the least I can do, clean up after you so boldly helped me! I didn’t know what to do, maybe I caused all this because I didn’t explain properly my concerns!”

Ronald slowly shook his head.

- “No, it was their fault, for disrespecting you. I thank you for your understanding. I shall take my leave then, I will continue my journey and go to another Guild.”

From a corner of the balcony, a strong male voice was heard:

- “Nonsense! After giving such an accordingly treatment to those rude men? No way I will let you leave without convincing you to join this Guild! I was a little too slow to arrive, I rushed from my back office at the sound of your first blow, but you were too fast, and all ended before I could intervene. Mister Feebles, where did you find this guy? Come, let’s all talk in my office! And to the cowards that didn’t budge to help my daughter Mira, I will remember this!”

Everyone in the room became restless. They all knew far too well what a warning like that from the Guild Master meant. They would have a lot of trouble for him to forgive them. The woman with the ponytail raised his hand.

- “Guild Master, do you mind if I join you? I am a little curious about our visitor.”

- “I don’t see any problem with that. And you, young man?”

Ronald shrugged his shoulders.

- “I don’t see any problem either. I would also be very honoured if such a beautiful and strong woman accompanied us.”

The woman laughed.

- “Ahahahah! Yes, you should be very honoured because I will grant you with my presence!”

The Guild Master looked at Woof, that had a rope tied to the scarfs around his neck, with the other end of the rope strongly held by Ronald.

- “This wolf is tamed? I would prefer if he stayed tied outside in the street. Having a wild animal in here is not a good idea.”

- “I am sorry, but that was the agreement that I made with the Gate Guard for him to be allowed entry into this City. He can’t leave my side. Outside, someone can get in a problem if they annoy him. I can reassure you that he will behave properly while near me. All alone, I can’t promise anything. He may try to kill everyone in here if I let him loose.”

The Guild Master pointed with his hand to the back of the front desk and he then looked around to the Adventures at the tables.

- “Ok, let’s go then, I want to hear more about him. And you as well. And you guys, take those three from my floor and throw them in the back of the building, with the rest of the trash!”

Feebles, Ronald, Woof, and the woman followed the Guild Master to a room on the back of the balcony while a group of Adventurers rushed to obey his orders. After closing the door behind him, Ronald took a look around while sitting at a chair that the Guild Master pointed. Some shelves with books, a table full of papers and a Status Sphere in the middle, a lot of flasks in a corner on top of a small table with a light blue liquid inside. Ronald was looking at those, they had the same colour as the leaves that he picked up in the forest, the ones that Riattus told him that could be prepared to make Healing Potions.
The Guild Master noticed where he was looking.

- “Right upon entering, evaluating the space, the exits and the most valuable possessions... You intrigue me, young man.”

Ronald turned to face the Guild Master.

- “I am sorry, it was rude of me. I was curious, and those flasks had the same colours as some plants that I saw recently.”

- “Yes, those are Healing Potions made from the rare Blue Brittlebush leaves. Very rare and extremely valuable.”

Ronald made a slight smile.

- “Really? How much does it cost, a handful of those leaves?”

- “Well, considering that all those flasks were made from only three leaves and they cost one silver coin each, a handful would be a huge amount.”

Ronald slowly nodded his head.

- “I see… Well, I have a bunch of those leaves with me that I am more than willing to sell…”

The Guild Master made a suspicious smile while caressing his chin. The woman at Ronald’s left side, changed the position on her chair, to more easily face Ronald.

- “Oh, that is interesting, very interesting indeed…”

 

Slowly, Ronald let go Woof’s rope.

- “Woof, attention! Now, before any of you does any attempt against my life, I must warn you that Woof is very fast and obedient, and if any of you tries anything against me to relieve me of my cargo, you will not leave this room alive.”

The sudden change in the mood alarmed the Guild Master, and he frowned.

- “I don’t know what you had to face while you were travelling to get here to make you so suspicious towards other people, but you are among friends, no harm will come to you, you have my word!”

Ronald grabbed the rope again.

- “Woof, stay! Your word means nothing to me, I don’t know you. I was warned by a very wise old man that things around here are not so peaceful like in my home village. You must forgive me for being so careful. I do not intend to die anytime soon, especially from a sudden attack by another Human. And your body language was too suspicious for my taste, while this woman was getting ready to jump on me.”

The Guild Master strongly shook his head.

- “No, I was only thinking about your words and how much profit I would gain if I had enough money to buy your leaves!”

And the woman continued while waving her hands.

- “I was just surprised by what you said! Since you entered this Guild, it was one surprise after another.”

Ronald stopped to think for a moment and he then continued.

- “Ok… Well, I came here in search of a job. I was told that a Party of Adventurers could need someone like me, to be a Carrier or a Cook. And if I got a fair offer for those Blue Brittlebush leaves, it would also help me on filling my purse.”

The woman looked at him while frowning.

- “You seek a job as a Carrier? An Adventurer like you?”

Ronald nodded and asked the Guild Master.

- “I suppose that it is expected that I have my stats measured, correct?”

- “Yes, of course. If you could be so kind and place your hand on this Status Sphere, it would help me in figuring out where you could be used.”

Ronald put his hand over the Sphere and what they all saw in there, made their jaws drop.

Race - Human
Name - Ronald O'Sullivan
Age - 25
Job - Farmer
LV - 14
ATK - 2.130
HP - 1.420
Skills - none
Hp Armor - 0
ATK Weapon - 0
Equip Intelligence - 0
Equip Wisdom - 0

Physical Attributes:
Strength - 110
Quickness - 100
Body - 100

Mental Attributes:
Intelligence - 200
Wisdom - 200

Special Attributes:
Willpower - 200
Mana - 200
XP - 0

The woman was the first to speak.

- “No way… a common Farmer… Stronger than any Knight that I know… How did you manage this?”

Ronald answered with his cover story that he practiced with Riattus, about him being a Farmer from the far East of the Kingdom of Terbik, where hordes of Goblins were so common and were also the reason why his wife and daughter died and made in go in a rampage, killing every Goblin around, in a guerrilla tactic way of killing one and hiding, waiting for the next one. Like that, he managed to get a hold of many Mana Orbs that upon advice from a Priest of his village, made him place his Points on the Physical Attributes so that he could kill more Goblins. After some years and because the memories were haunting him, he left his village and travelled to get there, because he was told that it was a peaceful Kingdom.
The Guild Master was still looking at Ronald’s Stats.

- “A Farmer… A very strong one, but still a Farmer… Didn’t you ever try to change jobs?”

- “No, I didn’t even know that I could do that. But being a Farmer never bothered me, I won’t mind keeping it. Who knows, maybe one day I decide to settle in a small piece of land again. But for the time being, I need another kind of job. One that can give me money to start over while allowing me to forget my past life.”

The Guild Master looked at the woman, she was in silence and looking at the Sphere.

- “What do you say, Duza? You are always complaining that you could have someone to carry all your stuff, right? And your Party could use another member because after what happened with the last one, you never accepted anyone that I recommended you.”

Ronald frowned.

- “He died?”

Duza slowly shook his head.

- “Not immediately, I had him bleed for several hours before I let him die. He had the nerve to try to rape me when I was in bed recovering from a mission that went terribly wrong. The other members of my Party stopped him in time when they arrived to check on me. When I recovered, I sliced his male friend and watched him bleed to death. That’s why I am so curious about you, what you did to that guy that threatened Mira impressed me in a good way.”

Ronald made a frown.

- “Yeah, I always hated violence towards women. Even if the woman is strong and seems quite able to take care of herself, something pops inside of me when I see situations like that one. But you didn’t say your name. It doesn’t seem fair, considering that you already know mine, because of the Sphere.”

- “Fair enough. I am Duza Sonanji and that big Guild Master over there is Haje Sonanji. You already met my sister, Mira Sonanji.”

Ronald covered his face with both hands.

- “Great… A family business… I guess I won’t have any luck in here on finding a job, so, if we could just take care of the sale of my leaves, I shall go away.”

The Guild Master strongly shook both hands.

- “Nonsense! After what you did to help my younger daughter and after I found out how strong you are? There is no way that I won’t try to convince you to stay with us! I bet you are going to get even stronger. You will be a good asset to my Guild!”

Ronald went silent and answered in a low voice. He was mostly speaking to Riattus that was also in the room, but everyone heard him:

- “Great… I came here trying to find a peaceful place to live, and I already found people trying to take advantage of my goodwill. I am either too stupid or too kind for this…”

Riattus spoke from a corner, and only Ronald was able to hear him:

- “Don’t worry, I think you can trust these people. We just need to be careful with them not finding out about you.”

Haje, the Guild Master, tried to reassure Ronald:

- “I would never try to take advantage of you! But I would like that you could join Duza’s Party. Judging by what you did in there, I could bet that she would be a lot safer with you around. Not that I don’t believe that she can’t protect herself, far from that, because I made sure to train her since she could walk, but I would be happier if she had you nearby.”

Ronald looked at Duza that was frowning.

- “And what makes you think that I am reliable? I can easily be a crazy guy, pretending to be a good one, only to attack her on my first try.”

- “Well, you had to pass through her companions, first. And then, defeat her. Not an easy task, I assure you. Why do you think the other one tried his luck when she couldn’t stop him when she was almost dying from her injuries? But there’s something about you. Maybe that look on your face that I saw when you were crushing that bastard’s hand, or it’s just a feeling that I have.”

Duza spoke, she seemed annoyed:

- “I never said I wanted him in my Party, I was just curious. Besides, even if I said I wanted him, he still has to get approval from the others.”

Ronald smiled.

- “Do you mean those guys that were with you at that table? That serious Human, the Half-Breed Dwarf and the Elfian?”

- “No way… How could you tell? I found out about Ovaidel’s heritage almost a year after we started travelling together! No one besides my father knows that, not even my sister! And Ini has always above his head that big hood of his, for hiding his ears and looks!”

Ronald shrugged his shoulders.

- “I used to have two friends that were a Half-Breed Dwarf and an Elfian. I can recognize one of them when I see it.”

Feebles spoke, for the first time since the commotion started in the other room:

- “I knew it, you are not our average Farmer. I was suspicious when I saw you coming out of the forest with that wolf, but your smile and polite manners fooled me. You looked like a different person, in there! It was a little frightening, seeing you changing like that.”

Ronald strongly shook his hands.

- “I am really sorry, it was never my intention to scare you, Mister Feebles! I may have over-reacted in that situation. I need to be more careful, from now on. Besides, aren’t we forgetting anything? I thought we had a transaction to take care of…”

The Guild Master crossed his fingers on top of his desk.

- “Indeed… I would like to see those leaves, first, of course.”

Ronald nodded while opening his one-shoulder bag and saying the name of the leaves to the inside, in a very low voice:

- “Of course… “Blue Brittlebush leaves!” … Here it is, let me just open this cloth. I may have more, but for now, we can trade these.”

When Ronald opened the carefully wrapped package, a bunch of the best quality leaves of Blue Brittlebush that they ever saw, was on top of the white cloth on that table. The Guild Master gasped for a moment, Feebles had his mouth wide open and Duza was trembling. Haje Sonanji was the first to speak, after starting to breathe again:

- “These are the best Blue Brittlebush leaves that I ever saw in my entire life… Where did you find these?”

- “Come on, are you really asking that? What is important is a fair price for these, so that I can go meet Miss Duza’s Party and see if they allow me to join them. You said that three leaves could make all those flasks and each of them is sold at one silver coin each. I suppose there are ten or twelve flasks in there, so I guess that each leaf cost almost four silver coins. And these ones, are top grade, so it could be a little more, like five or six silver coins. So, I have here… 43 leaves, 20 silver coins total. Considering the work to boil the leaves, that must be at an accurate temperature of 115 degrees for thirty minutes, pouring the mixture into flasks, the price of some pretty flasks and the top-grade quality of the leaves, you are looking at a pretty good profit, if you have 18 silver coins. These would be able to make high-grade Healing Potions, that can go as high as two silver coins for one flask.”

The Guild Master raised one eyebrow.

- “You… are really willing to sell me all these for 18 silver coins?”

- “Yes. Even if I don’t stay here, that’s the price. I think it’s very cheap, considering you can sell the flasks for more money than those over there.”

- “You are completely right… But I don’t have so much money right now. Maybe next week, if all the jobs of last week are complete. I can pay 15 silver coins right now.”

Ronald wrapped the leaves and delivered the package to Haje Sonanji.

- “I will trust you on this. I know someone that would make a fuss because I trusted with something so expensive to someone that I just met, but I guess I will take that risk.”

Haje opened the lower drawer of his desk and from there, he took a small money purse that he opened. He took 15 silver coins that he handed over to Ronald with a smile.

- “Thank you for this, I will have more silver coins by the middle of next week, for sure. I don’t know how many, so I hope you wait for it.”

- “I think I can. Even if I don’t find a job in here, I will use my free time to learn a little more about this Kingdom, so that I could decide if I will remain here or go to another one.”

Haje smiled and asked Duza:

- “What do you say? Have you decided?”

Duza got up and looked at Ronald.

- “Come, Mister Ronald O’Sullivan. Let’s see what the others say about you. I am still intrigued, I guess it would be interesting having you around. I am also a little tired of the quality of Ovaidel dishes, every time we go on a job.”

Ronald frowned.

- “Ok… I guess… Mister Feebles, thanks for your help. Can we meet again tomorrow? I would like to have lunch with you, to speak a little more, if you could grant me that honour.”

- “By all means, Mister Ronald, of course.”

Ronald followed Duza, with Woof next to him, still firmly tied to the rope. Upon his exit, Haje was opening the cloth with the Blue leaves.

- “Mister Feebles, from where do you know him?”

- “I just met him today’s afternoon. I saw him coming out of the forest and walking alongside the road with that huge wolf, happily at his side. I thought it was weird, but after travelling with him and having dinner, I found out that I was comfortable near him. I wasn’t suspicious, afraid or felt that I was in any kind of danger. He seemed… real? Or maybe that’s not the best word… Like if he was truly kind and not pretending to be one to fool me, you understand?”

- “Yes, I got the same feeling… Weird, right?”

In the main room, Ronald approached the table where the other members of Duza’s Party were seated. The Human was the first to notice their approach and he elbowed the other two at his sides. Duza seated at her place and invited Ronald to sit at her front.

- “Everyone, meet Mister Ronald O’Sullivan. For what you all saw previously, what do you think of him? He is looking for a job as a Carrier or a Cook. Mister Ronald, meet Reylom Doggom, a former Priest from The Diocese of Thetria, Ini Tumrul, a Tracker and Hunter from Homysodia and Ovaidel Satsin from the Kingdom of Pigliapo.”

Ronald smiled and made a small greet with his head.

- “Hello. A former Priest? Really? If I may be so bold as to ask this on our first encounter, would you mind one of these days telling me more about the doctrine among the Diocese of Thetria? I know that there is some disagreement between Thetria and the Kingdom of Breidan, but I am not familiar with the reasons for it.”

Reylom smiled, the first one that Ronald saw from him since entering the front door of the Guild.

- “I would be more than glad on taking you into the right path of God Seya’s teachings!”

Ronald turned to Ini Tumrul and spoke in his best Elfian Old Language:

- “May God Legolas guide your Life, Tracker!”

Ini looked at him from the corner of his hood and made an almost imperceptible nod with his head. Ronald then faced Ovaidel and greeted him in the Dwarf Old Language:

- “May God Legolas give strength to your axe and that it never loses its sharpness!”

Ovaidel turned to Duza with anger on his eyes but before he could say anything, she explained:

- “Don’t look to me like that, he figured out as soon as he saw you both.”

Reylom was puzzled by that conversation, but before he could say anything else, Duza told them that Ronald was stronger than he looked, with higher Physical Attributes than a Knight. Because he could also cook, it would be a change from Ovaidel dishes. Ronald told them his cover story and they all remained in silence for a while, thinking. Ronald got up and excused himself:

- “I will let you talk among yourselves and decide, I need to go see the receptionist and apologize again for my violent actions.”

Ronald left to the front desk and Duza was looking at him leaving, surprised by that big wolf that kept on walking next to him, like if Ronald was the Alpha Leader of the pack. Ini smiled when he noticed her looking.

- “Seems he made quite the impression on you… I never saw you looking so puzzled towards anyone.”

Duza nodded, looking a little surprised.

- “Yeah… I don’t know why, but I am really intrigued by him! He has such a true smile and he is so polite that I find hard to believe that he is the same man that crushed the hand of that guy like if he was nothing more than an annoying insect…”

Ini looked at Woof, that was seated on the floor while Ronald was talking to Mira, at the front desk.

- “Yes, and speaking so perfectly two old languages, with the proper greeting way and knowing the name of the God of my ancient World, that is also remarkable on its own. Even that big wolf seems happy to be at his side. Yes, I am also very intrigued. And more suspicious than I would like to be…”

Duza lowered her voice.

- “He told me that he had two friends, one Dwarf and one Elfian. Maybe those were the ones that taught him. Or he could be a Breidan spy, trying to analyse the defences of this Kingdom.”

Ovaidel slowly shook his head.

- “No, I don’t think he is a spy. I sense something in him that I didn’t felt for years. I only sensed that when I was near my younger brother. That guy over there has a kind soul. I don’t know why he remains on this World, he should have left years ago. Maybe he decided to stay because of his family. I felt a dark cloud around him when he talked about them. He is still recovering from that loss.”

Reylom was looking at Ronald, still smiling.

- “That is someone who God Seya’s teachings can truly help. I wouldn’t mind helping him…”

Duza crossed her fingers over the table, with a thoughtful look. After a few moments, she asked:

- “So, we are in agreement? We can use him?”

They all nodded, with Ini correcting her:

- “Not using, accept him… Duza, sometimes you say things in a way that concerns me…”

While Duza’s Party were deciding on Ronald’s future, he was talking with Mira Sonanji:

- “Hello again, I am sorry for intruding during your work. I wish to apologise again, you saw a very ugly side of me, one that I thought I got rid years ago.”

Mira turned red and she stuttered for a while:

- “No… I… want to thank you for what you did… I was so surprised and a little scared with that dagger against my throat that I didn’t react. If it weren’t for your quick intervention, things could have turned out really bad… My father would have killed them, and that would certainly make him arrested. But… I think you need to be extra careful, from now on. Those guys might try to catch you by surprise, to get revenge. And judging by the angry looks that our Adventurers in here are making towards you, they didn’t like to get on the bad side of my father…”

Ronald stopped to think for a while. He then looked at Woof, but he was really, questioning Riattus:

- “What do you say? Shall I let things stay like this or do I make sure that none of these guys tries to slice my throat during sleep?”

Woof looked at him with his head tilted sideways, but Riattus was the one to answer:

- “If it was me, I would kill half of them, just to make sure that the others understood it was unwise to do anything against me. You can let things stay like this and conquer them with your smile. Or, you can challenge the one that looks stronger and beat him up. It’s your call.”

Ronald smiled and he turned to Mira again, that was puzzled.

- “Before I do something stupid, I have with me some portions of deer meat that I caught yesterday’s morning. Would the Guild be willing to buy it?”

- “Of course! Deer meat is difficult to come by because many of them are killed by the Monsters lurking in the forest. We have a Quest posted, asking for deer meat. Do you want to apply to that Quest, considering that you already have the meat with you?”

- “Yes, what do I need to do?”

- “Just place your name on it… here. The Guild Master is taking care of your Guild Card, he seems to be sure that you will be joining us. As soon as he has it ready, I will give it to you. So, according to the Quest, it’s ten copper coins for a portion for two people. How much do you have?”

Ronald opened his bag and took out four portions, wrapped in cloths and big tree leaves. Mira opened them and gasped.

- “This… it’s still so fresh… like if you just cut it… and why did you wrap them on these leaves? Did you smoke it? The smell is divine…”

- “Just a method that a friend taught me, years ago, to preserve meat. Smoke and tree leaves, with a piece of cloth wrapping up everything.”

Mira nodded and she went to the back office, to get the money. When she got back, she placed the coins on the counter, in four piles of ten copper coins each. She then took the meat to the kitchen, wrapped in the tree leaves and the cloth.
While Mira was leaving to the kitchen with the meat, a big man on a nearby table growled to another man than was next to him:

- “The nerve of that guy… first, he makes a mess in here and now he flirts with our beautiful Mira… he may need a lesson, to know his place…”

Ronald went to that table and he stood there, looking directly to the big man that had an enormous sword at his side. Ronald looked around to be certain that everyone could hear him, and he addressed the big man that was looking at him with anger:

- “So, it seems that everyone here is angry with me because the Guild Master scolded you all. Normally, I don’t do this, but I want to make sure that everyone understands that its unwise to try to attack me by surprise. It seems that you are the strongest around here. I don’t know if you are the best fighter, but you sure look strong. I wonder if you are also fast…”

The big man smiled with a mouth full of teeth in a really bad shape.

- “I am faster than you, boy, no doubts about it, and if you…”

Before he could finish his sentence, Ronald rushed to his side, took his sword, slammed his head against the table and pressed the sharpest edge of the sword against the man’s left cheek.

- “You would be wise to not underestimate me… as all of you… I can be a strong ally, a friend, and a member of this Guild, but if any of you attempts anything against me, I won’t hesitate on killing you all. Do I make myself clear?”

Ronald looked around and he saw a lot of surprised faces slowly nodding.
Mira returned from the kitchen and her jaw dropped when she saw what happened in her absence. The sight of Ronald with a big sword against the face of Ma Yangfa, the strongest man in the Guild, that had his face being squashed against a table and looking terrified, was too surprising.
Ronald let go of the big man and laid the sword on its place again. He then let go of him and waited for his reaction. Ma Yangfa quickly wiped the cold sweat that was rolling down his forehead before anyone noticed. Ronald made a small smile and lowered his voice:

- “I am truly sorry for this. I needed to make a point and I used you for that. Let me buy you a drink as compensation.”

Ma Yangfa spoke in a hoarse voice. He was so angry that he was almost growling again:

- “For this, only one drink won’t be enough.”

Ronald nodded.

- “Of course, you are completely right. What do you say if I pay one drink for every meal that you take here, for one week? In return, I would be glad if you accepted my sincere apologies and tried to not kill me when I am distracted.”

The big man stopped to think for a while with a serious look. He then made a genuine smile.

- “Yes, I can do that. I am Ma Yangfa, and you, stranger?”

- “I am Ronald O’Sullivan. I think I just became a member of this Guild. At least, the Guild Master said that he won’t let me leave here without making sure that I joined.”

Ma Yangfa laughed and even the table trembled by the high, strong laughter:

- “Ahahah! Yeah, he tends to do that. He did the same when I first came here, two years ago. Do you already have a Party?”

Before Ronald could answer, Duza placed one hand on Ronald’s right shoulder.

- “Yes, he has, Ma. Stop trying to take every strong member of this Guild to your Party! Don’t you have enough members? Come, Mister Ronald, the others want to speak a little more with you.”

- “In a moment, ok, Miss Duza?”

Since Ronald didn’t move and was looking at her with a serious look, she slowly took her hand from his shoulder.

- “Yes… of course… when you can, then…”

Duza left and she looked a little dumbfounded. Ma Yangfa lowered his voice:

- “You are a little crazy, aren’t you? No one would say Duza to wait!”

Ronald shrugged his shoulders.

- “Maybe that’s why she thinks that she can do and say what she wants because no one ever contradicts her. That way of acting will not work with me, I am afraid. I need to tell Miss Mira about our arrangement with your drinks.”

Ronald lowered his voice again and winked one eye:

- “Don’t worry, I won’t stand in your way. But you are too slow, two years and you didn’t make a move? One day, when you gather the courage to court her, it can be too late…”

Ronald slapped Ma Yangfa’s back and went near Mira.

- “Miss Mira, I wish to open an account.”

- “A what? What…”

- “Oh, I mean, I talked with Ma Yangfa, and because of my misunderstanding and as an apology, we agreed that I would pay one drink for every meal that he takes here, for one week. Can you take care of that? I would pay on the same day or the day afterwards, if possible.”

Mira blinked a few times and she looked at Ma Yangfa and back to Ronald again.

- “Did… Did he force you to do that?”

- “No, of course not! It was me that made a mess, again. He may not look like it, but he is very friendly. And that powerful laughter of his it’s amazing.”

Mira nodded, turning completely red.

- “Yes… I always liked to hear him laughing… He is also very strong, and he never denies help to a member of our Guild…”

Ronald lowered his voice:

- “It would be better if you made him realize how you feel about him or one of these days, he may find another woman and you will regret it…”

Mira was even redder, and she stuttered:

- “I… don’t know what you mean…”

Ronald smiled and looked at Woof.

- “What do you say, Woof, shall we go to our Party members? Or it would be better to make Miss Duza wait for a little while longer?”

Riattus laughed from his side.

- “Ahahah! Yeah, let’s make her sweat a little more! What does she think, that you are her pet or what?”

- “No, Woof, let's go, she may think that I am being rude. Or the others… Not a good way of starting, right? Miss Mira, I think I and Woof would like to eat here. It’s possible?”

- “Sure, our kitchen is already preparing dinner for anyone that would want to eat. Normally, every Adventurer when he can, eats here. It’s cheap, you know?”

- “Ok, I think Miss Duza will allow me to join them for dinner, but if not, I can ask Ma Yangfa if I can join him.”

Mira smiled.

- “Yes, I am sure that either one of them, won’t mind having you.”

Ronald smiled and he went towards Duza’s table. He smiled at them as he seated. Ini was the first to speak:

- “You really like to search for trouble, don’t you? What was that about, with Ma Yangfa?”

- “Just a way to warn everyone. It was that or killing half the persons in here so that the others realized that it’s not a very good idea to attack me when I am sleeping.”

Reylom turned to him with a very concerned look on his eyes.

- “That… wouldn’t be a good way to keep you on God Seya’s path…”

Ronald smiled.

- “If I am not mistaken, God Seya was known for never leaving alive an enemy that would kill him by surprise. Before he became a Deity, I mean…”

- “Where did you hear such blasphemy? God Seya is kind and merciful, he would never do such a thing!”

Ronald frowned.

- “Really? What about the two armies that he killed with Fire Magic, and the two Castles with the Royal Families still inside?”

- “That… That was divine punishment!”

- “I see… I need to learn more about your points of view concerning God Seya. Please don’t think bad of me if what I was taught, differs from your beliefs.”

Reylom agreed, but he was still upset:

- “I… Will make sure to put you in the right path, young man. I swear!”

- “There is no need to swear, Mister Reylom. Just you be willing to speak to me about such a sensitive subject, would be enough.”

Ovaidel leaned forward over the table.

- “You know, hearing you calling everyone as Mister or Miss is starting to annoy me. Do you have to address like that everyone you meet?”

- “No, but I prefer to be polite than to be mistaken by a rude Dwarf…”

Ovaidel started to snort, but before he could say anything, Ronald smiled and explained:

- “What? Votkir, my childhood friend and the most annoying Half-Breed Dwarf that you would ever meet, always laughed when someone compared me with a Dwarf, considering that he was always polite and friendly, and I was a total menace while growing up! I miss that guy… He named his first son as Ronald, just to laugh on my expenses, by saying that he now knows a Ronald Dwarf!”

Ini was curious.

- “What happened to him? Did he… died?”

- “No, he moved to a different City. But he never stays put, he really likes to travel. I never met a Dwarf that liked so much the outdoors!”

While Ovaidel was calming down, Ini smiled to Ronald.

- “Maybe you meet him again, on one of our journeys.”

Ronald made a small smile.

- “Yeah… that would be amazing… Or Vola… My dangerous and crazy Elfian friend… The most amazing Elfian that I ever met in my life. She used to punch me every time she saw me, just because fifteen years ago I said that she looked like a dried-up bush. She is an amazing hunter, able to track and hunt any animal or criminal that she sets her mind into.”

Ini raised one eyebrow.

- “You have an unusual set of friends…”

- “Yeah… That’s what normally happens when a person grows up in an orphanage… he tends to see people in a different way, willing to see the best in people, even if no one else sees it. Votkir was always in problems, trying to keep Vola out of troubles. Eventually, I joined the gang, when I had a minor disagreement with her that ended on Votkir knocking us out, to stop us from killing each other. We became inseparable. I learned a lot with them, including their ancient heritage. And it seems I also picked up the politeness of Votkir and the bad temper of Vola.”

Duza bitted her lip.

- “It seems you have strong feelings about her…”

- “Yeah… I was in love with her, and Votkir too. The problem was that Vola was also in love with him. In the end, they became a couple. But we remained friends, for all these years.”

Duza was a little restless, she couldn’t stay still on her chair.

- “And… What about your wife?”

Ronald went silent. A family was something that he never had, and that cover story that Riattus thought for him made him depressed every time that subject came up. Duza and the others thought that his silence and serious look towards his crossed fingers over the table, where a display of someone that was grieving the loss of loved ones. They didn’t continue speaking about that matter. Fortunately for them, before the silence became awkward, Mira and a servant came with the dinner.

- “Hello, everyone. Place for one more?”

Ronald got up and with a smile, pulled a chair for her, after looking at the others.

- “It would be great if you could join us, Miss Mira.”

Mira smiled and seated. She then looked down, because Woof was sniffing her left leg.

- “He… Is he smelling me to see if I am eatable?”

Ronald looked at Woof and he was seated on the floor and waving his tail.

- “He seems to like you. But he can also be hungry…”

The servant placed a small dish full of meat on the floor and a bowl of water, a little hesitant. Mira was watching while Woof sniffed the meat and started to eat.

- “Yeah, he was hungry. For a moment I thought the worse!”

Ronald laughed while tapping Woof’s back.

- “No, he only tries to eat someone when I tell him to. Most of the times, he is very well behaved. More than some Humans, for sure.”

- “But where did you find him? And what did you do for him to follow you around? I never saw or heard of a wolf doing that!”

- “We found each other, actually. At first, he was a little curious about me, but it seems that I conquered him. Lucky for me, because travelling all alone would be too dangerous.”

Mira started to eat while waiting for a full story. Since he didn’t say anything, Duza told her what she heard from him in the back office. Mira was munching some meat while thinking. After a cup of water, she asked him:

- “So, you came from Terbik… it’s a long walk from there to here. Did you cross Thetria to come here? And Breidan? And you came out from there, unscathed?”

Ronald shook his head while eating.

- “No, Pigliapo, Breidan by night, and also by night, the forest that serves as a border. I was looking for a peaceful place to live, not trying to get myself killed. I had more trouble in the forest than on all my journey, but I still managed to get here.”

Mira looked from the corner of her eye to Duza, and she saw her hiding a smile. So, she continued:

- “And your family? May I ask what happened?”

Ronald became silent for a while. He then answered, after making sure that Woof had finished eating.

- “Goblins. While I was in the field. The screams… Well, if you excuse me, I need to go to sleep. I haven’t had a proper night of sleep, for quite some time. Tomorrow morning, I want to take a tour around town. But… I don’t know if it’s safe to take this guy with me… Maybe it would be better if I postpone my visit. Well, I will see about that tomorrow. He needs to sleep too.”

Mira was caressing Woof’s right ear.

- “If you want, he can stay with me behind my desk while you go for a walk. If he doesn’t try to eat me, I mean.”

Ronald looked at her, surprised by the offer, but he shook his head.

- “Better not. And he prefers cooked meat, by the way. But if someone tries to threaten you, he may well kill the one that would be stupid enough to do such a thing in front of him. Maybe that’s not a good idea…”

Mira smiled while still caressing Woof.

- “That sounds just perfect for me. Many of these guys always try to annoy me. It would be great, having a wolf next to me, one that I could order to snatch a piece of someone that thought it would be funny, seeing me get mad.”

- “You know what, it really sounds like a good idea. So, let me just teach you some orders that he knows and obeys. You need to say his name and then the order. Like this. Woof, stay! See, he sits and looks at me, waiting to see if he can be at ease next, or if he must stay like that for hours. Woof, lay down! Good boy… See, if you say that he is a good boy and you rub his ear, he knows that he can relax. Let me see, what else… You can order him to get ready, and like that, he will be alert to any sudden movement and attack anyone that makes a move towards you. Even if it's just your father, that suddenly hugs you. And on an extreme case, if you order him to kill, he will aim for vital points, and will only stop when his target is dead, if you order him to stop or if he dies.”

Mira had her eyes wide opened.

- “Did you teach him all that? How?”

Ronald shrugged his shoulders.

- “I don’t know if he will obey you if you order him, but it should work… let me see… Woof, look at her, see? She is Miss Mira, a friend. Tomorrow you will stay with her, to keep her safe, ok? Speak one time if you understand me.”

Woof!

- “Ok… you really understand me?”

Woof!

Ronald frowned.

- “Yeah… seems he knows what I mean… Sometimes he surprises me and makes me forget that he has four paws and a mouth full of teeth… Well, thanks everyone, but we must leave. See you all tomorrow.”

Mira looked at Duza from the corner of her eye and she had an idea.

- “Maybe it would be better if Duza went with you tomorrow because you might get lost or lose the opportunity to visit some of the City’s most beautiful places.”

Duza coughed, choked with her water. Mira kicked her leg from under the table to quiet her down and made a signal with her head. Duza cleaned her chin from the spilled water.

- “Yeah… I can do that, if you want. It would be better, for you to not do anything stupid that might get you killed or arrested.”

Ronald made a small bow.

- “It would be my honour, Miss Duza. See you tomorrow, then.”

Ronald left with Woof at his side, held by the rope. Duza tapped Mira’s back.

- “Way to go, Mira! We were wondering how we could ask him about his voyage, to see if we could trust what he said in the back office, and you just made him open up. But that idea of yours, for me to accompany him… from where did that come?”

Mira made a weird smile and winked one eye.

- “What? Are you sure you want that such a good-looking man walks on this City all alone? With so many single women looking for a husband? Duza, Duza, sometimes you worry me… It’s not possible that I was the only one to notice the way you were looking at him since he entered the Guild’s front door!”

Duza turned bright red, but before she could say anything, Ini agreed with Mira:

- “We both noticed… But either way, be careful, we don’t know if he can be trusted. But it’s rather amusing, seeing the stubborn Duza getting so flustered for a man, like a normal young lady.”

Duza punched his chest with a powerful forward hit that made Ini gasp for air.

- “Are you saying that I am not a normal young lady, you piece of “shilum”?”

Ini winked one eye to Reylom that was laughing.

- “See… Really funny, right? Ouch, my chest hurts…”
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