The store Marcy led us to was as rge as a small department store back on Earth. Most of the floor was covered in various shelves with racks spaced between them. Clothes of all colors and types filled the racks and shelves.

  Without hesitation, Victoria pulled me over to a shelf in the middle of the room. Letting go of my hand, she grabbed one of the hanging garments and held it up to me. “This would go perfect with your eyes, and I think you would look good in it.” She stated with enthusiasm.

  It was a short-sleeved coat like thing. Though I couldn’t see the point, it even had a hood. Shrugging, I took it and slid my arms into the sleeves. The sleeves were loose and only came to my upper bicep. There was really no point to them given how little they covered.

  Though, I would have to admit, the feeling of the material put everything else I had worn to shame. It was light and soft. Because of this, the material seemed to mold itself to my body without the need to be too constricting.

  “That does look good on you.” Marcy said as she joined us. “Combine it with another shirt and pants in a darker color and I am sure you would blend into the forest more easily.”

  For the next hour Marcy hung back and just gave advice as Victoria went from shelf to shelf picking out things for either of us to try on. It was as if I was a mannequin that she was pying with. Not that it wasn’t fun, especially when we got to the clothes for her.

  A teenage girl came rushing in and ran past us without a second gce. Racing into the back. After a minute an older gentleman, probably the owner of the store, came out to talk to us. He bowed to us as he said, “I am so sorry about this, but I need to close early today.”

  “How much for the piles?” Marcy asked, pointing at two of the piles. One was of the maybes while the smaller pile was the ones we definitely were going to get. I didn’t care if I had to beg and ask for a loan. It would be worth it given how happy the outfits seemed to make Victoria.

  The old man quickly went through the piles. Opening and folding each outfit up with practiced ease before saying, “Four small silver, nine rge iron and six small iron coins.”

  “How much is that?” I whispered to Victoria. She shrugged. Marcy just handed over five tiny, tarnished silver coins to the man who once again bowed. The old man quickly put all of the clothes into a bag that Marcy held out to him. While he didn’t react to such a rge pile of clothes fitting into a tiny bag, I sure as hell did.

  Victoria grabbed my hand, giving it a squeeze as she whispered into my ear. “It’s simir to a bag of holding from all those video games and shows. Not as good though, also pretty expensive from what I understand. Doesn’t mean most people don’t have one. Just a question of how rge the space inside is and how slow time flows inside.”

  Taking the bag, Marcy bowed slightly to the man before leading us out of the building. The crowds outside had grown thicker during our time inside the store. Above us, the sky was turning a dark blood red color as the suns set. “Last stop then we need to head home. Hopefully our guests are gone.” Marcy sighed as she led us back to the main street.

  The building she led us to next was the rgest in sight with no other building within at least a hundred feet of the structure. People were swinging swords and various other weapons in drills as other read books or cast spells at targets. Passing through the double doors, the noise seemed to quadruple when compared to that of the street. Laughter and yells came from various pces around the room.

  Tables filled one side of the room while various counters and boards filled the other side. Stairs on both sides disappeared up into the next floor. Marcy ignored everything around her as she pushed through the throng of people to the nearest open counter.

  Before the women could ask a question, Marcy said, “These two need to register.”

  Nodding, the women reached under the counter. Pulling out two clip boards with forms attached to them. Handing one to each of us, she said, “Please fill these out to the best of your ability. If you are unable to read or write, I can help you.”

  To my utter shock, I could read none of it. With everything else magic was doing, you would think it would have allowed me to read the nguage. How was I even understanding what everyone said anyway. Looking over to Victoria for help, I noticed that she was quickly filling the form in.

  Seeing my look of confusion, Marcy gave a weary sigh before smacking the back of my head lightly. A wave of dizziness accompanied the sp as a wave of something passed from her hand and through my brain. “Fill out the form. We have other things to do.”

  Shaking the feeling away, I went to tell her I couldn’t read the paperwork. As I turned though, I realized that the words were now readable. Whatever she had just done had either changed the text on the page or gave me the ability to read it. Shaking my head in shock, I quickly read over the form.

  It asked quite a few questions, but all of them were basic information. Name, age, race, job, skills, and various simir things. I answered them honestly. Not that I had any skills other than those with a sword. Given that I had listed myself as a swordsman, I felt that was obvious and just left the skill area bnk.

  Looking over at Victoria’s page, I was shocked at just how much she had written in the areas she had filled in. Pces like her race and guardians name were bnk. She had also left out her st name. Before I could ask, Marcy grabbed both of our papers and passed them back over the counter.

  Giving the papers a quick once over, the receptionist reached under the counter and pressed a button. The center of the counter clicked before sliding over, revealing a gss-like surface. Victoria’s form went face down on it first. As the surface glowed blue, the paper fred before disappearing. In its pce was a simple card.

  As transparent as the gss, the card was bnk as the woman pced it in front of Victoria. Quickly repeating the process with my paper and putting a simir card in front of me. “Please deposit a tiny bit of your blood onto the card to finish the registration.” She said as she held out a tiny bde barely the length of my pinky.

  Taking the knife, I realized that the only sharp part was the tip. Poking my thumb, I squeezed out a drop onto the card. Fshing a dull red, the card absorbed the blood as words and images etched themselves into the surface. Passing the knife to Victoria, I picked up the card to look it over.

  Basic information filled in some of the space on the card. Things like my name and an image of me. At the lower right corner of the card sat a single letter ‘G’. Though the rest of the bottom of the card was bnk minus the words ‘No Quests Completed’.

  “Do either of you need me to expin the card, the functions of the guild, or the quest system?”

  “Not right now, thank you,” Marcy said. Her gaze was sharp as her head looked around. As if she was looking for someone or something.

  The receptionist bowed as Marcy started for the door. “Have a good day.” Rushing to keep up with her, we passed through the city faster than we had walked all day. As if we were trying to escape whatever was coming. The guards didn’t stop us as we left through the gates. Breaking into a light jog, Marcy raced for the woods. I had to practically sprint to keep up. Victoria was right behind me as she did the same.

  Passing the edge of the woods, Marcy stopped and turned around. Partially out of breath, I stopped next to her. Victoria, not able to react as fast, crashed into my back as she huffed and puffed. If not for my parents’ ruthless routine, I would have been just as bad as she was after that three-mile sprint.

  Turning to see what Marcy was looking at, I saw three dragons descending on the town. One of which nded at the gate, blocking people from exiting. Another disappeared into the town as the third circled the area. Watching everything from the air.

  “What the fuck?” I asked, not expecting an answer.

  “An unknown dragon bled in the city. They are here to get to the bottom of it. Though they are a bit faster than I had hoped.” Marcy said grimly. Under her breath, though I don’t think she meant for me to hear her, she continued, “I am going to have to pay them a call and get them to back off.” With that, she turned and resumed our trip from the area at a more sedate pace.