Andrew leaned against a wall watching the guild hall intently.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Adventurer's Guild Hall in Crownhold was the largest in the kingdom, featuring a spacious central hall where adventurers lounged and sized one another up. When Andrew arrived, he was swiftly dismissed as useless. Nobles, particularly former nobles, had a poor reputation among adventurers. His role as a healer and support made him virtually unhirable. Despite this, he knew he wouldn't struggle to earn money.

 

In this world, while many had easy access to basic healing magic, removing conditions and restoring attribute damage were significantly more costly. During his first few days in town, Andrew took on some rather embarrassing low-level quests, which mostly involved sewer work. Also, there was always the need for enchanters and crafters. No, he wasn't here for a job. Money wasn't a priority, getting the lay of the land was his top priority at the moment. That, and to watch for opportunities.

 

Andrew was relaxing after clearing out a cellar infested with a Dire Rat King—a literal mass of giant rats fused together by stray magic. Although it only took one disintegration ray to handle, he put on a big show for the client before returning to collect his modest pay. He was finishing his drink when a commotion erupted across the room caused by someone forcefully shoving open the main entrance.

 

Opportunity.

 

A wide disk, about five feet across, floated three feet off the ground, bearing a petrified female elf wizard. Three men and a young woman pushed the disk through the door. "HEY!" one of them shouted, likely the leader judging by his large sword and armor. "We need the guild wizard! We encountered a strange bull on the tenth floor, and our spellcaster was turned to stone!"

 

One of the young women working at the front desk looked up, clearly distressed. "Petrification? Oh dear. I believe everyone who can handle that is currently on quests." She began flipping through a logbook. "Ummm... stone to flesh, stone to flesh... who can cast..." Her frown deepened. "Err... well, we’ll have someone who can handle that scheduled to be back in town in..." She glanced up, "Three days."

 

"THREE DAYS???" The party yelled in unison.

 

The receptionist looked taken aback, but nodded, "Yes, I'm afraid." She gestured to the statue, "I mean, she's not going anywhere. So, I'm sorry, but you can wait three days."

 

"SHE HAS OUR ONLY BAG OF STORAGE!" He pointed at the elf, "She's got all our treasure and everything we were planning to sell!"

 

The receptionist didn't seem to care, "Well that was stupid of you. Still, it'll be three-"

 

The disk holding the statue up winked out of existence.

 

The statue dropped to the ground.

 

Both her arms broke off.

 

Everyone stared with the widest of eyes.

 

Andrew did a spit take before finishing his cup of water. He got up to walk over and take a closer look. As he approached the party gathered around to stare at their fractured friend, "Holy..." A short man asked of the leader as he reached down to pick up one of the arms, "Did... we just kill her?"

 

Nobody said anything.

 

Andrew sighed, "Does nobody know make whole?"

 

The room turned to look at him.

 

Andrew smacked his forehead. "OH ASCLEPIUS GIVE ME STRENGTH!" He walked up, snatched the arm while pushing the man aside, "Back off, you dolt. What the hell are you people thinking? Don’t you know the duration of a floating disk?" Rolling his eyes, he picked up the second arm and held both in place. "{Make Whole}." A brief flash of light followed, and the arms were reattached.

 

The group breathed a collective sigh of relief, but Andrew wasn't finished. "Help me get her upright. I bet it was her disk, and you pushed her all the way here from the tower, right?" The leader nodded to confirm Andrew's speculation as the party assisted Andrew in standing the statue up. Just as the leader was about to express gratitude, Andrew suddenly flicked the statue's nose and uttered, "{Shatter Enchantment}."

 

The female elf spellcaster staggered and let out a terror-filled screech as she transformed back into flesh before everyone's eyes. With her remarkable beauty, Andrew presumed she was more likely a sorcerer of some sort. She didn't appear to be the type of spellcaster who relied on a spellbook or divine guidance. As she glanced around, she attempted to speak, but no words escaped her lips. Weakly staggering, her mouth moved silently, resembling a fish out of water.

 

"Annnnnd {Heal}," Andrew concluded with a final flick to the nose. She abruptly began gasping, gulping down air like a drowning person pulled from the ocean. Turning to the party leader, Andrew remarked, "Sounds like you stumbled upon a Fiendish Gorgon." Raising a finger, he added, "Fiendish Gorgons don't just petrify you; they also inflict a poison that makes you a water breather while also unable to breathe air. So, if you ever restore someone back to flesh after being hit with Fiendish Gorgon breath, make sure you can cure the poison and cure disease, or they'll suffocate. Best just to use a full heal."

 

The elf was clutching at her throat as the color returned to her cheeks. She looked at Andrew, "I'm... I'm alive!" She moved to hug him, but Andrew deftly stepped back, "Whoa! No touchy!" He waggled a single finger at her, "That's rude." He lowered the finger and turned it into an offer of a handshake, "Drew."

 

The Elf looked boggled as if this was the first time anyone objected to being touched by the well-endowed, yet beautiful enchantress. However, she didn't complain and shook his hand, "Lynallya. And thank you." She glanced at the rest of the party, "And you all as well, for getting me back here."

 

Andrew returned a firm handshake, "No problem. Try and be more careful out there." He tipped his hat and turned to leave. Everyone in the party stopped and looked at each other, confused by what just happened. As Andrew reached the exit, the leader of the party shouted, "WAIT!"

 

Andrew stopped and turned around, "Hrmm?"

 

The leader of the party looked confused, "I am Strothgar of the Iron Will."

 

Andrew's eyes darted from side to side, "Oh... kay?" He held up his hand and rolled it in the air to indicate he was expecting more.

 

Strothgar squinted at Andrew then pointed at Lynallya, "You saved her life." Andrew nodded and kept rolling his hand in the air.

 

Lynallya stepped closer and asked the obvious question, "How much do we owe you?"

 

Andrew paused, then suddenly smacked his forehead, "OHHHHHH!!!" Snapping his fingers, he exclaimed, "Ah, I see. You appeared to be in quite a predicament. No need to fret. Consider it on the house." After a brief pause, he suggested, "However, if you're feeling generous, perhaps consider dropping by the orphanage and making a donation. That'll settle the score, yes?" With that, Andrew turned and walked out.

 

The room was completely silent.

 

Strothgar leaned closer to Lynallya and asked out of the side of his mouth, "Lynallya, you're good with numbers. How much would the guild wizard have charged us?"

 

Lynallya blinked a few times, "Thirty-three hundred." There was a pause, "If we went to the church, maybe ten grand." The silence dragged on.

 

Strothgar eventually cleared his throat before speaking.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Anyone know where we could find that orphanage?"

 

 

---

 

 

"Do you know why you were called here?"

 

 

 

Andrew was sitting in an office on the second floor of the Adventurer's Guild. He was occupying an isolated chair that wobbled, oh-so-slightly. Across from him sat the Guild leader and several other significant associates of the guild, their expressions betraying dissatisfaction.

 

Andrew shrugged.

 

The Guild Leader Laodice, an older man with many battle scars, white hair, and a full beard looked down his nose at Andrew, "You have been repeatedly violating the guild's laws. With increasing frequency, I might add."

 

Andrew shook his head, "No I didn't."

 

A rather portly man sitting next to Laodice spoke up, "How dare you interrupt your betters!"

 

Andrew looked at the chubby fellow and said, "I find people who make false accusations are inferior to those who state the truth, even in the face of intimidation and claims to authority without evidence."

 

Laodice was about to speak up when Andrew cut him off, "I'm not an idiot. I know exactly why I'm here. It's bloody obvious why you summoned me. I have no intention of dealing with you. Instead, talk to my representative." And with that, Andrew snapped his fingers while turning away to stare off into the distance.

 

Perched on Andrew's shoulder, Miriam dispelled her invisibility. She appeared as a stunning woman with the wings of a monarch butterfly, while dressed in a smart charcoal grey business suit with a stylish mid-thigh skirt. Adorning her face were circular glasses, delicately perched on the tip of her nose. Her fiery orange-red hair was elegantly tied up in a bun, giving her a remarkably professional appearance, despite her diminutive size.

 

"Greetings." Miriam began speaking to the surprised quartet, "I am Mister Edgar Drew's Legal Counsel. You may refer to me as Miss Rim." She crossed her legs while perching on his shoulder, "Now then…”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Would you be so kind as to explain why you are wasting my client's valuable time?"