Normally I wouldn’t dream of going out to eat in dirty clothes that I’d spent the day sweating in. These were not normal times. For goodness sake Deirdre and I even have blood spatter on our boots. Monster blood, unsurprisingly, trends towards red but also has some gummy bits of purple in the mix. Not very appetizing to think about, and yet somehow Monster meat is still delicious. Fortunately public works are alive and well in this world, or Waldonton at least. We end up washing our hands and faces at a kind of well-fed water trough. There are some magical devices attached to the water well which sparks my curiosity, however that’s something to think about another time.

For now Deirdre leads us to an out of the way establishment tucked into a short offshoot of a larger dirt road. It’s a post and plank structure similar to nearly everything in this town, but it’s got colorful siding and the walls are painted beige. Trellises line the outside of the establishment with flowering vines interwoven amongst them. I'll come right out and say it's pretty enchanting, very on brand for a fantasy world business.

A little bell rings as Deirdre opens the door. Inside are a scant dozen tables with only a few that could fit more than four. It’s not entirely empty, but there are plenty of open tables. 

The weirdest part is that this feels like a modern restaurant. As in, there is a little podium with a sign hanging from it, writing scrawled on sign reads ‘Please wait to be seated.’ 

Deirdre breezes past the podium and takes a seat at a table by a window overlooking the outside thoroughfare.

I’m scrambling to catch up and I’ve just dropped down into a blessedly cushioned seat when a tall woman with graying hair arrives at our table. She is thick like a tree trunk and I swear she has to do weightlifting in her spare time because she looks like she could bench-press a truck. Her features are mostly human save for her eyes which are nearly iridescent. One of these days I'll get a handle on the various races of this new world, but for now what she is still eludes me.

Our glowy eyed hostess looks to Deirdre, motherly affection dripping like honey from her earnest words, “deary.” 

“What's good today Mel?"

“Patience girl, introduce me to your friend first.”

Deirdre tuts under her breath but doesn't seem willing to oppose this 'Mel' woman.

"Mel, this is Evelyn, Evelyn this is Mel, and she makes what in my opinion is the best Colcannon in the world. Now, Mel, what’s on the fire, I haven't eaten anything all day and now that I’m here I’m starving."

Mel ignores Deirdre entirely and turns to me. I'm reminded of the abuelitas of my childhood that would declare I was 'too skinny' and 'not being fed enough,' and then proceed to shovel food at me during family get-togethers.

“Welcome welcome, always glad to have a fresh face in here. So what have you and Deedee been up to then?”

Before I can open my mouth to answer Deirdre interjects.

“We’ve been in Party, off Monster Hunting,” says Deirdre curtly.

The kind older lady doesn’t miss a beat and smiles back at Deirdre.

“Found yourself a good one then?”

“Yes yes, feed us please.”

“I have a piece of paper around here somewhere with our basic fare written down if you need that,” she says, addressing me again.

“Uh, I’ll just order whatever Deirdre is having,” I reply.

The old woman folds her hand in front of her, “we’ve got shepherd's pie up special tonight,” she explains to the both of us.

Deirdre is having none of that it would seem.

“Nope, bring us two of your roast fish, and two Colcannon.”

“If you insist, Deary. 1 Dallion or 8 Tae each then."

A mischievous smirk pulls slightly at Deirdre's lips. 

“How about a Newcomer discount Mel, Evelyn here only arrived a few days.”

Our hostess actually gasps.

“You’re that new? Goodness child why didn’t you say anything!”

Mel makes to swat at the back of Deirdre’s head but Deirdre ducks the blow. This only makes Mel more agitated towards Deirdre, but she turns towards me with nothing but kindness.

“Just one Tae for the baby bird then. I'll have that right out for you ladies.” The kind older woman turns and heads for what I'm presuming is a kitchen.

Aw, these two are so sweet, they must have history.

“Say Deirdre. I heard a rumor that I can get my hands on coffee. Do you have any idea where?”

The halfling across the table from me maintains her always aloof manner, but she answers me with just the slightest tinge of mock sympathy.

“Oh Evelyn, I’m sorry to have to be the one to break this to you. I know it hurts, and I know it isn’t fair, but coffee is pretty much off the table.”

“What? But Melissa said it exists here!”

This is outrageous, I was planning to buy a magic coffee maker as soon as possible, assuming they exist. Deirdre has me waking up at the crack of dawn and some caffeine would be a huge help with my morning routine. 

“Sure you could, maybe in Delcaster but certainly not here. Oh, and it’s expensive. A cup of coffee in Delcaster would probably cost you something like four Teal. Word of advice, learn to love tea.”

So I could afford a cup of coffee, but it would take me a couple days of work? Damn it all.

“I was lied to, this really is hell.”

***

Dinner is unique, but delicious. I gather that the plants of this world are a lot like the people and animals of this world. That is to say, similar to Earth, but slightly different. They they diverged at some point in history.

The not-fish, not-potatoes, and not-onions, and everything else is pretty good. I don't exactly know what sorts of spices and herbs they have to work with, but I can tell they do a great job packing the food with flavor. Deirdre was right to say this place was a treasure out in the open, even when they start charging me properly I’d still want to come back.

We talk about Monsters while we eat. Deirdre offers a few insights into how she goes about choosing her patrol paths, and what sort of terrain offers what sorts of dangers. When she's talking about Monster Hunting she gets really serious, it's slightly scary.

By time we're about finished with our food Deirdre turns our talk back to serious subjects.

“You’re a good support caster Evelyn because you're willing to actually put in the work, unlike a lot of people. Will you be joining me for another hunt tomorrow?”

I don't even have to take time to think about that question because I've been mulling it over in my head all day.

“I’m happy to keep this up. I think our skills work well together, and I can’t complain about the money. So yes, lets do it.”

Who knows, this could be the start of a great partnership.

I am full to bursting, but I’m not yet ready to lay down and digest just yet, it’s maybe 6pm and there are some more hours of daylight to go. 

I’m hyper aware of the temporary things I’m taking advantage of right now. That means the free room and food from the Newcomer building, as well as my loaner weapon. 

A new sword is too expensive for me right now, and honestly I might not even need it since I'm useless with it anyway.

I should start poking around for somewhere to stay. Deirdre can be tight lipped as it is, so I don’t think I want to badger her with questions while I’m still freeloading off her goodwill.

After a polite goodbye to Deirdre and an agreement to meetup again tomorrow I'm off on my own again.

I figure a nice place to live is going to be somewhere in the central parts of town, so I make my way in that direction. A few structures here are two story, but most are still single story.

After psyching myself up I ask a few merchants still peddling wares at this hour where someone might find places for rent or a boarding house. I get pointed in a few different directions. 

One place is part tavern, with rooms upstairs. It’s a sturdy looking building that is well built and decorated, but after the barkeep tells me about the room rates I decide that this is well outside of my price range. 

Another building is something I could optimistically describe as a boarding house. The rooms are narrow and the place doesn’t seem like the most quality of establishments. I might not be able to afford to be too picky so I do find the lady running the place and ask to see a room.

They rent by the week or by the month and they’re mostly full. The room I’m shown is a run down solitary room. Nothing but a ramshackle bed, a stool, table, and a rickety looking wardrobe, basically a crude dorm room, slightly smaller size than the Newcomer room I’m currently sleeping in. Not tiny, but not larger. The price is manageable. 10 Tael a week, or 32 Tael per month. Which is something like $250 a week in terms of my old Earth money.

I’ve got enough I could buy a week on the spot, and at the rate Deirdre and I are going I could be bringing in 40 Tael a week easy, even accounting for food I’m well in the black in terms of my budget. I’ll probably need to set aside clothes expenses, and other expenses as well. 

Still, I’m not entirely satisfied, and I tell the woman that looks in the same desperate need of coffee as I am that I’m going to consider my options first. 

I don’t think I’m really looking for a lot of space right now. Mostly, I just want a nice place to sleep at night. Outhouses are the norm with most of the apartment style accommodations from what I’m seeing. So I’m probably not going to be getting an ensuite bathroom. Luckily some enterprising artisan of the past has invented magical outhouses, and they’re more than just bearable. Baths on the other hand seem to come in the form of going to the river and scrubbing down in public for the destitute and down on their luck, or using a basin with magically pumped warm water and bucket for rinsing like the Newcomer Building has. I shutter to think of the poor unfortunate souls that cannot afford a warm private bath.

I will happily put up with the warm scrub baths until I can afford whatever the equivalent magic shower costs I’m sure wealthy people have. It's unsurprising even here in a magical world there are people with means and people without. If only I could snap my fingers and do something about that.

Two more places go by like the first place I investigated. They seem to be for short stay travelers or people with enough money not to care about the price gouging. 

I’m sorely tempted to learn to not care about the price gouging myself. 

The next boarding house I find is a two story affair, it feels a lot like a modern apartment building but I try a different approach.

“I’m looking for your smallest room. I just care about a nice bed. In fact if you have a cheap room, and if you’re willing to move a nicer bed into it I’d be immensely happy with that too."

The man before me, who perhaps maybe glows a bit like there is fire under his skin grunts much more than he responds with words, but he grabs a keyring off the wall and motions for me to follow him.

After a quick trip upstairs he shows me their smallest room which is about the size of a closet, and I bid him show me something a tad larger. 

He settles on a room back down on the first floor that's roughly the same size as my Newcomer building room, and much bigger than the previously visited closet. It might be workable. The bed though, looks small and in less than stellar repair. 

I creep into the room and loom over the bed taking it in. Yeah, definitely not going to work. 

“What about a nicer bed?” I ask, glancing back towards my grumpy guide and potential landlord.

“We might can arrange that if you can pay. This one will run you 60 Tael a month. We don’t do weekly."  

Heck, that's like $1500 monthly in my old Earth money. That also comes out to about 15 Tael weekly. Meaning roughly a third of whatever I make would need to be set aside, and assuming I take weekends off.

“Does not include a nicer bed though? That’s my real question. I don’t see a basin in the room, will I have access to one, and are your bathrooms enchanted like most others?

“No, yes, and yes,” he grunts curtly. 

So yes on basins, and yes on magic outside privy. 

“I really care about the bed though.”

The man grumbles some more and waves for me to follow him again. We march back upstairs and he opens a door to reveal a nicer looking bigger room than the one I’m considering renting. Basically the deluxe version of my room. This one looks lived in, or rather based on it being half cleared and cleaned, and with simple nicknacks still tacked to some of the walls, perhaps someone has moved out and this isn’t ready yet.

“This bed suit?” he mumbles looking displeased with me, himself, and everything around us.

Walking over I see that this bed might very well suit. Once it’s all laundered up at least.

If this world has bedbugs I’m going to tear my hair out.

The bed is large enough for two, something equivalent to a queen size back on Earth. It's a winner, it will absolutely work for the foreseeable future.  

“Yes! This should do nicely.”

“It will cost extra,” he says.

“Can't you just have this one moved down to that other room? I’m newly Reborn, I just arrived here last week, pretty please?” I say batting my eyelashes as best as I can. I’m not against using any advantage I might have to secure myself a comfortable bed in this otherwise exhausting world. 

The grump of a man gives me a dirty look.

“I don’t much care Lady. I’m running a business.”

Uh oh. This guy’s attitude might sink the next ask I’m going to present him with.

“Also... I cant afford 60 Tael all at once. I can give you 10 today and the rest soon? Or maybe I can make a deposit towards rent to hold the room until I can pay the rest?”

The man is incensed, he’s pinching the bridge of his nose and squeezing his eyes shut.

“I’m a Monster Hunter, I’ll be able to pay, I promise, I swear.” 

“Oh of course you are, and how do I know yer' not lying to me?"

"Uh, oh, just head over to the Newcomer Building, they'll totally vouch for me! I'm new, and I'm a Hunter, I really am."

Glum acceptance is etched on this man's face.

"Fine. Listen. 10 Tael today. I’m kicking you out in two weeks if you cannot pay for the rest of the month by then. I will have the damn bed down by tomorrow afternoon in time for you to move in, but I’m still charging you an extra Tael for this month. Don’t let anyone say I’m not nice to you damn blasted Reborn folk.”

He stomps back towards whatever backroom he was hiding in when I first arrived, and I follow like a distraught duckling. We exchange names as he grabs of all things, a fairly normal looking pen.

He’s got papers for the contract for me to sign, which is nice. I’ve missed this, documents that is. 

It's a simple sort of contract, just a single sheet of paper, in duplicate. I could exploit the hell out of it even without a legal team backing me up, but I doubt there is a court around to hear the eventual dispute. 

His name is Paul, but the document shows his name has elected to contain a bunch of extra vowels where they don’t really belong. We shake on it, and I’m given two keys.

That’s it then. I’ve got an apartment I can afford, and I’ve got work to bring home the bacon. Like Deirdre said, even if we decide to split ways soon I shouldn’t have a problem teaming up with someone else. 

I decide that I’m going to come clean about just how quickly my Mana regenerates. I think she’s a pretty reliable teammate. She may be prickly but she’s been kind to me. I am getting the feeling like I need to lock her down before someone else poaches her talent. I don't want to see everything through the veil of corporate warfare, but old habits die hard. 

“51 Tael, Two weeks from today, starting now. I will kick you out,” says Paul before I depart.

Delivering the good news to the kind folk at the Newcomer Building goes well all things considered. Mellisa frets over my sudden plan to move out, but ultimatly just reassures me that I can drop in to talk whenever I'd like. Evans offers to help me with my things, but I don't really have much to move, so I decline.

It's mostly just polite encouragement from the good people of the Newcomer Building. One lady, Joann, is at least enthusiastically happy for me. It's easy to tell because her vines-for-hair wiggle with excitement to match my own.

 

***

 

The next morning I meet up with Deirdre for some more Monster slaying. Or rather her slaying and me standing behind her. I was going to tell her right away about my Mana, I really was, but I'm going to feel foolish if I’m wrong about this so instead I try casting on myself as we set out. 

Can I really keep up the pace? I cast Recovery on myself every minute as we begin our march out past the crop fields. By time we’re an hour into our route amongst the plains it occurs to me that this isn’t as tiring as before. 

My legs aren’t burning like a post workout blowout, my feet aren't killing me from trying to work in these new boots, and my knees and ankles aren’t complaining either.

I'm an idiot for not doing this sooner. 

“Hey Deirdre, quick water break?”

I think Deirdre is unamused with my wanting to stop for a moment so soon in the day. She seems to be pretty intolerant of relaxation, and besides eating fancy food and hawking Monster meat I can’t imagine what she gets up to in her free time.

"Fine I guess, but lets not linger, lots of ground to cover. I definitely want to take down at least three today."

So how am I supposed to explain this?

"Deirdre."

"Evelyn?"

She's giving me the same cold glare she wore as a mask before she realized I was just a baby adventurer.

“I wanted to say, I'm not tired at all. Actually, I’m good to keep going like this all day if need be. You see, I’ve been casting Recovery on myself all morning to prevent fatigue.”

“What why? Do you need a Mana break then?”

Now she looks just plain puzzled.

“Nope, no Mana break needed either, I mostly just want to stop to talk. If that's okay?”

"Okay? Wait what, what's the problem then?"

"What I mean to say Deirdre, is that I could do this for the both of us. Just keep casting Recovery while we patrol. Yeah?"

"What? No. That's like a gigantic waste of Mana. Even if your Spells only use a small amount each cast."

“But it doesn't take a small amount of Mana. It takes a significant amount of my Mana. An entire quarter each time I cast a Spell.”

“Okay then, that sounds like an awful plan. You’ll definitely run out of Mana.”

“No but that's what I’m saying, I regenerate Mana quickly. I can cast Recovery all day every minute and I’ll still have full Mana when we turn in for the night.”

“Really? That’s not right…”

She looks lost in her own little world. While we hunt for Monsters she keeps her frizzy red hair pulled back in a ponytail to keep herself combat ready. It makes the mystified look on her face plain as day.

“I figured this was just normal until yesterday.”

Her head it tilted ever so slightly sideways.

“I know Recovery isn’t that powerful Evelyn, but still... So you use a fourth of your Mana to cast one spell? And you regain an entire fourth of your Mana in just a minute?”

“Yes that about sums it up. Also, my Mana recharges quicker the less I have. Is that normal?”

“Yes, your body will pull in ambient magic to create new Mana faster when you're most Mana depleted.”

“Well I’m glad that's normal at least. Hey, I can try keeping all three going at once on the entire Party while we walk.”

Deirdre clears her head with a shake, like she is trying to break loose her errant thoughts.

"Sure, why the heck not Evelyn, do whatever."

As we begin walking again I cast Aegis, Recovery, and Empower on Party all at once. I drop down to 25% Mana.

I should probably update those Spells in my mental database now that I know more about them.

Hey that's better! I can always tweak it later if I need to. 

One minute later I’d be able to cast all three spells again, but I don’t have the Mana to do all three at once, so instead I stick to Aegis and Recovery.

“Huh. Not enough Mana to keep casting all three every minute.”

Deirdre just looks back and nods as we go.

Casting only Aegis and Recovery every minute I am able to keep up means my mana fluctuates never dropping below 20%, but never getting past 80% before I’m casting again. I figure if we run into trouble I'll swap in Empower for Recovery, but on the other hand that might be a bad idea. 

This method still leaves a thirty second gap when my spell effect has worn off, but I’m not ready to cast again. If we see a Monster, I’m going to stop casting all together for safety sake and I tell Deirdre just as much, and she seems to be fine with it. 

Deirdre’s focus appears to be on scanning for threats and judging the gullies and hills all around us, so I consider shutting up and keeping my thoughts and questions to myself.

Monster Hunting with Recovery active half the time makes the journey significantly easier. I bet channeling Mana while fighting helps Deirdre's body in a similar way, it could explain why she just never stops all day long. 

That or she’s a chronic work-aholic incapable of taking it easy.