Chapter 9

  Titan woke up in his bed to the sight of his sister Kristy looking at him while she ate a banana.

  Kristy was dressed in a blue rabbit pajama suit. “You came home late.”

  “Yeah. Sorry. I think I forgot about your muffins. Work got busy.”

  Kristy shook her head. “Momma got the muffins. You had a hard day crawling in the dungeons?”

  Titan grinned sadly. “Yeah. I earned some money for your college fund and the mortgage."

  Kristy stared at him. “You’re working in the dungeon for me to go to college?”

  “Yeah. I was already going to-” He paused because she hugged his neck tightly.

  Titan pet her back gently. The door to his bedroom opened. Caroline looked in on them. She had a breakfast tray in her hands.

  Caroline had a bandage on her hand. She smiled at him. “Good morning. I got your breakfast.” She said.

  Titan sat up in bed but Kristy still held onto his neck hugging him. He rubbed her back.

  “I got to eat kiddo.” Titan said.

  Kristy let go her his neck wiping her face with her sleeve.

  Caroline set the breakfast tray on his lap.

  Titan caught her wrist and kissed her hand. He noticed her bandaged hand.

  “What happened?”

  Caraoline sighed. “I wasn’t watching what I was doing. I cut myself. I’ll be okay.”

  Carooline had dark circles under her eyes and looked tired.

  “I’m fine son.” Caroline said.

  Tita smiled at her. “I’m going to the gym to train today and tomorrow.”

  Caroline smiled. “No dungeon crawling in the shit. I like the sound of that. When are you going to get a girl?”

  Titan merely looked at her as he picked up a fork of eggs and bacon.

  Caroline stared her lips formed an O. “Oh you already have somebody that interests you.”

  “How long will you be a dungeon crawler?” Kristy asked.

  Titan looked at her. “I only need two-hundred grand for your school costs. I’ll work in the dungeon then manage the rest doing accounting for the guild.”

  Kristy sighed. “I never thought you would enter a dungeon for any reason.” She said.

  Titan shook his head. “It’s just a part time job sis so I can make sure everything will be set for you.”

  Kisty stared at him. “This girl you like. What does she do? What is she like?”

  Titan smiled. “She works for the government and she’s a teacher. She’s highly intelligent and pretty.” He said.

  Kristy snorted shaking her head at him. “A book nerd huh?” She said.

  Titan nodded as he cut up pancakes. He put them in his mouth. “I like pretty smart girls. Don’t get jealous, little sister.” He said and grinned at her.

  Kristy’s face flushed with delight and she looked away with a grin on her face.

  “Is she really a ordinary intellectual?" Caroline asked.

  Titan snorted. He shook his head. “She’s a genius, mom. I don’t even have a car.” He said.

  Caroline stared at him. “Don’t start that shit. You’re smart, handsome and a hard worker.”

  Titan smiled. “I agree. It’s just going to be a rough time working myself up to taking her out on a date in the future.”

  Caroline grinned. “That’s the spirit. Besides going to the gym, what do you plan to do?”

  Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  Titan grinned. “I’m going to finish up my breakfast, get washed up and hit the gym.

  Carolina stared at him. “Charlie did tell me you’ve been getting some trouble from other crawlers. Are you really okay?”

  Titan smiled. “It’s rookie stuff. I’m not letting nobody is going to get in my way and if I get pushed I push back twice as hard.”

  Caroline smiled leaning forward and kissed his forehead. “That’s my son.” She said and waved for Kristy to follow her out.

  Kristy followed their mother out of the door. Titan sighed when the door was closed.

  Titan ate his breakfast quickly and he headed to his bathroom and quickly washed up and shaved in the mirror.

  He dressed in black sweat pants, sneakers and T-shirt.

  Titan looked around his room for his sword but he didn’t find it. He frowned not finding it.

  Where’s my Axiom Edge.

  Titan had barely thought of the question before the sword appeared in his scabbard belt.

  Titan took the scabbard and put the belt loop around his shoulder.

  He picked up his magic bag and put it in his pocket.

  Titan was walking down the stairs to find his family down at the stairs waiting.

  His mother had a lunch box for him. He took it and handed her ten gold coins.

  Caroline stared at him open mouthed as he leaded down and kissed her cheek.

  Kristy held out her hand. Titan gave her a slap and kissed her cheek as he hurried out the door.

  “Hey!” Kristy said.

  Titan waved at her. “Later little sister. I'll bring you back something sweet.”

  “You asshole.” Kristy said.

  Titan laughed as he jogged away. He down the street to a headed to the bus stop two feet away and passed a yellow cabbie.

  “Yo. Kid you need a ride?”

  Titan stopped and turned to look at the driver. The man in the driver’s seat had on mirrored glasses and a handsome smile dressed in black jeans and black T-shirt. He was handsome enough face and straight white teeth.

  He looked in his mid-forties and he was dressed in all black T-shirt and jeans.

  Titan frowned at him. “I only have a bit of gold coins. Your fare bailed on you?”

  The man nodded. “Yeah. I’ll take a gold coin and I drive you where you want. I need the work brother. Help a elder brother out.”

  The cabbie had a charm to his voice and laid back presense that Titan liked instantly.

  Titan smiled. “Alright. I need to go down town to the government license office. You know the place.” He asked.

  “My man. I know the way. Hop in the back brother. I am your personal driver. The name is Darious.”

  Titan back of his head rest and saw Darious's name and cabbie Identification number and picture.

  Titan smiled. “I’m Titan.” He said and quickly got into the back seat.

  The moment Titan got in the cabbie Darious started up the cabbie and drove off.

  “Titan. I like that name. So you are a government dungeon crawler or something?” He said.

  Titan frowned. “Yeah. I just got my license. How did you guess?”

  Darious laughed. “Well you got a sword on your back and I’m taking you to a government dungeon crawler office. So lucky guess.” He said with kind smile.

  Titan's face heated up in embarassment. He snorted. “Yeah. Pretty obvious. Yeah. I’m a rogue. I’m going in for some training.” He said.

  “Rogue? That is an uncommon class now a days. Most Young folks are fighters or mages. Did you choose that or was it selected for you?” Darious said.

  Titan smiled. “I selected it. I wanted to do something that wasn’t boring. I like to think and make tactical decisions.” He said.

  “Oh. I get you. There are plenty of fighters and warrior types running around. Rogue are a more tactical class. Is your father a Dungeon Crawler?”

  Titan sighed. “He was. He was a fighter type. Pretty common but he taught me how to fight. He died a few days ago in a dungeon raid against red Orcs.”

  There was a short pause that followed Titan's words. Darious grimanced staring straight at the road.

  “Oh I’m sorry to hear that brother. My dad was a wizard and an asshole. I never had a talent or interest for magic. I like people and traveling.”

  Titan nodded his head. “My dad was an ordinary guy that worked to put me through school and wanted me to do my own thing.” He said.

  “Sounds like a good father. Rest in peace to him.” Darious said with no hint of joking in his tone or body posture.

  Titan smiled. “Thank you. I hope to be a good father like him one day. I got a ways to go though.”

  Darious grunted and nodded his head silently as he drove quickly through traffic making his way down town.

  “So you planning on being a big government dungeon crawler?” Darious asked.

  Titan shook his head. “Not really. I want to pay off the mortgage on my parents house and pay for my sister’s college fund.”

  “That’s easy to do with what I hear about

  how much gold dungeon crawlers make. Plus the government license gets you big contracts. Won’t take you no time to pay off the bank brother. Anything else you want?”

  “I don’t know. I want to do accounting work for my guild and get married to someone I like.” Titan said.

  “Oh. You got a girl you’re interested in. Now that sounds like something. She must be a special lady.”

  Titan smiled and his lips shook with laughter. “Yeah. She is special to me. I don’t know what she thinks of me but I do like her. She’s smart, pretty and powerful.”

  “Oh. I get you. Don’t think you can hock her?”

  Titan shook his head. “It’s not that. I can’t offer her anything and she’s at another level compared to me.”

  “Oh. Okay. Do you want a bit of advice?”

  Titan nodded. “Yeah. Give it to me straight.” He said.

  “If she likes you. Everything goes easy. If you think you’re not on her level raise above her or ascend to the best version of yourself. That always gets the chicks hot to forget the other bullshit.” Darious said in a serious tone.

  Titan started to chuckle and then he laughed out right.

  “Oh here we are brother.” Darious said.

  Darious parked in a space in front of the single government office building.

  "Thanks. How much I owe you again?" TItan asked.

  "Just two gold coins will do. Thank you for work and conversation brother." Darious said.

  Titan got out five gold coins and slipped them into the hand of Garret.

  “Hey. This is too much.” Garret said.

  “The extra coin is for advice. Thank you. I needed to hear that advice.” Titan said.

  Darious grinned. “Take care brother. Don’t worry so much. You got a good head on your shoulder. Remember what I said now. If she like you, your in. Later.”

  Darious gave Titan a final wave as he backed up his cabbie and then turned and drove away