In the back of the horse drawn wagon, the girl collapsed by the side of the road slowly opens her eyes. As she does, her gaze is met by a little girl with brown hair and blue eyes. The girl gives a delightful smile.
“Hello!” she says. “Are you okay, miss?”
“I forgot to eat and drink.” the collapsed girl in shabby armor speaks raspily.
In response, the little girl giggles.
“Silly! You’re supposed to eat and drink plenty.” the younger girl puts her hands on her hips and puffs out her chest.
“Evidently.” the girl in shabby armor weakly nods along. “I am Ren.”
“I’m Sally!” the younger girl says. “It’s nice to meet you, Ren.”
As they greet each other, Sally’s mother and father peer over to see that Ren is awake.
“Sounds like our guest is awake!” the father says to the back of the wagon. “Ren, is it? Glad to see I was worried over nothing. I’m Samson Vert. I’m sure you met Sally already. Over there is my wife, Mila.”
“Hello.” the mother looks over. “Are you fleeing Halward city too?”
“Yes.” Ren responds flatly.
“I see.” Samson nods along with the conversation, despite looking forward towards the road. “Then, come along with us. We were heading to the town of Blue Pine. It’s a township. Nothing like the big city. But it’s got high walls, town guards and notably isn’t the target of some foreign plot by the empire. I have some work connections there.”
“My daddy is a big business man!” Sally said boastfully.
“Something like that.” Samson says back. “Blue Pine town mostly functions as a hub for travel and trade. All the villages and farming communities send their goods to Blue Pine. Then the goods can be sent off to the eastern border or to Halward city.”
Mila quietly offers Ren a waterskin as Samson explains. Ren accepts the water as she presumably listens.
“Back in Halward, I worked in an office warehouse. Just accept deliveries and then send them to people in the city. But after everything, we figured it was time to head elsewhere. We’re heading to Blue Pine. I’ve been there a few times for work. It’s a pleasant place. It’s not flush with magic items and wizards quite like a city, but it still has it’s merits.”
“If you like, you can join us on the trip.” Mila says.
“I would like that.” Ren says in her usual tone of voice.
“Well, it’s a short trip.” Samson says. “We’re already here.”
At those words, the three in the back of the wagon peer out. Before them lies a town gate. Not grand or heavily fortified and armed like a castle wall, but a decently strong town wall made of cut stone. The walls have a patrol looking over and guards at the gate entrance standing ready to receive visitors.
The Vert family wagon comes to a stop before the gate. As expected, the guards question the family and Ren. The guards and the Vert family just weren’t expecting Ren to respond as she does.
“I am Ren. I am looking to become an adventurer.”
Samson Vert, Mila Vert and the 4 guards at the gate give Ren a confused look. Sally looks at her curiously.
“I’m sorry, did you say you wanted to be an adventurer?” one of the guards asked.
“Yes.” Ren replies as flatly as ever.
“I- I guess some kids don’t grow out of the stories.” another guard responds.
“In any case, you will need to pay the entry fee for the town.” the guard says. “Unless you have a residence here. And I’ll be surprised if you do. I don’t recall seeing you anywhere in town.”
“I’m not.” Ren says. “How much is the fee for the family here and myself?”
“It’s 12 gold. Not that you could afford it. No one is looking to have their basement cleared of rats.”
“Look Ren,” Samson Vert speaks up. “I can take care of the entry fee for you.”
Ren replies by pulling a coin pouch. It is decently big and the sound it makes implies that there are at least a hundred coins inside.
“This is the least I could do.” Ren says as flatly as ever. “Not a single one of these coins would help me if you did not happen upon me.”
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When they see the coin pouch, everyone goes wide eyed.
“Adventuring is essentially risking your life for above average pay.” Ren explains in a very dry tone. “It is violent, dangerous and not guaranteed to be profitable. However, it is the stuff of legend. And sometimes you can turn a profit.”
Of the hundreds of coins inside, she palms the guard 12 gold easily.
“O-okay then.” the guard says. “Well, welcome to Blue Pine town. You uhh… you all stay out of trouble.”
All the guards have a mixed look. It is a look of confusion and worry. Sally looks at Ren with a sense of awe. The guards step aside and let the wagon through. Passing through the gate, the town opens up to the travelers. The road is paved with stone and the buildings are made from brick and mortar. In the dimming sunset, the streets are still sparse with activity. No one seems to be closing their shop or market stall just yet despite the sun threatening to leave them in the dark. The wagon of the Vert family merrily rolls through town. As it does, Samson prompts a question.
“So, Ren. Me and my family are looking to rent a room at an inn for the night. In the morning, we plan to look for a permanent residence in town. What do you plan to do?”
“I will also stay at an inn for the night.” she says plainly. “After that, I must begin looking for adventuring work.”
Samson nods along with a look of concern.
“Right. Well, I’m afraid that’s where we’ll need to part ways. I still need to speak to my work associate. I plan to work in this town for the foreseeable future.”
“Ren is staying with us?” Sally speaks up. “We can have a sleepover and you can tell me all about your cool adventures!”
Samson gives Sally a troubled look. Ren gives Sally a blank look. Ren takes a moment to pat Sally’s head.
“If your father is not opposed to it, you can stay at my room in the inn. But we sleep when he demands it.”
“Okay.” Sally says a bit miffed. “But you have to tell me all about your adventures.”
“Keep in mind that my adventures are not the stuff of legend.” Ren responds and looks to Samson for a response.
Samson shrugs his shoulders and rolls his eyes.
“I’ll allow it.”
“Yay!” Sally leaps at Ren.
The Vert family and Ren find themselves at an inn. The cost of rooms for a night are split between them and Samson pays for dinner. They went to a simple restaurant with outdoor seating. Food and drink was brought to them and they ate together at the same table. As the meal comes to a close, Sally speaks up.
“Hey, Ren! Tell me about an adventure you had.”
At those words, a tome in Ren’s pack begins to go into a cold sweat. In actuality, it can’t sweat. It only feels like it’s going into a cold sweat. In truth, Apherward has no idea if Ren has gone on an adventure before. Despite being a book, Apherward has no tales of grand adventures written in it. In a panic, Aperward puppeteers Ren into describing the magic laboratory of one of the wizards who formed a pact with it long ago as if it were some kind of unexplored dungeon.
“I once was tasked with exploring an old magic laboratory. A monster of some kind was using the lab as a lair or nest. It was described as a winged monkey that shot lasers from it’s eyes. It was unlikely since there was an abundance of magic seals, safeguards and wards keeping the lab safe. When I dispelled them all, I went inside. There were a variety of magical symbols and vials of rare substances.”
“Woah!” Sally interrupted. “You can break the spells? Are you a wizard?”
Apherward looks over Ren’s status again before making her respond.
Ren
Level 5 Mage
Strength: 8
Magic: 17
Agility: 6
Vitality: 5
Magic Capacity: Clear
Titles: None
Skills:
Swordsmanship Level 1
Housekeeping Level 1
Spells:
Ice Bolt Level 1
Fireball Level 1
Haste Level 1
Raise Zombie Level 1
Stone Wall Level 1
Status: Normal
Anyone who could use the system with any amount of competency could see that Ren was only a mage. A mage could normally be promoted to become a wizard at level 30. However, it is not normal for someone to be a mage at level 5. In either case, it would not make sense for a wizard to demote their class to being a mage. Especially at level 5. Now Apherward is left to try and explain that to a 12-year-old.
“I am not. I am only a mage. Wizards are much more powerful than me.”
“A mage!” Sally said in awe. “So you can do magic? And why do you have a sword and armor?”
“A variety of magics, yes.” Ren responds flatly. “The armor is for my protection. I had it since before I became a mage. Generally, casters prefer cloth armor as it better vents the build up in their magic capacity. This let’s them cast spells more frequently and aggressively. I weighed the options and chose settling for armor I already had instead of buying a new set of robes. The same with the sword. The truth is, I became a mage at a much earlier level than most. It is rare but it happens. It comes in handy when dealing with many magical threats.”
“Like the laboratory?” Sally said.
“Yes. However, like I predicted, the laser eyed winged monkey was not using the laboratory as a lair. Instead, a mote of elemental power being kept in the lab underwent an arcane cascade and took the form of a shark made of fire that could swim through the air about as well as a normal shark swims in the water.”
“Woah! What happened next?”
“It came after me. I had to respond by using a water spell. I used the spell water arrow.”
“Really? Can I see it?”
Apherward screamed inside Ren’s mind.
“Damn it!” Apherward screamed. “Why did I have to fluff up the story so much? Please tell me I can just impart the spell to the girl now.”
Ren learned Water Arrow Level 1. Level capacity has been met. Level up to increase level capacity.
“Oh thank the gods.”
“Water Arrow.” In response to Sally’s plea, Ren lifted a hand. Water apparated before Ren’s hand. It took the shape of a pointy stick. It didn’t have an arrow’s fletchings but it wasn’t quite long enough to be a javelin.
“Woah!” Sally looked at the magic in awe.
Around the restaurant, some people looked over at Ren performing magic.
“In the end, the elemental was defeated.” Ren said as the magic arrow made of water vanished. “The issue is that it wasn’t the monster threatening the client. Despite the danger it posed, it still wasn’t the flying laser monkey. As monkeys do, it was high up in a tree when I found it. Doubly so when it could fly with wings.”
“Cool!” Sally looked wide eyed. “How did you beat it?”
“I used my magics to blind it.” Ren said.
“Can I see?” Sally asked.
“Ugh!” Apherward moaned inside Ren’s head.
Ren learned Blind Level 1. Level capacity has been met. Level up to increase level capacity.
After a moment, Apherward stopped to think.
“Wait a minute! How am I supposed to show a blinding spell?” Apherward spoke inside Ren’s head.
“It is difficult to show you a blinding spell.” Ren said.
“Aw!” Sally groaned in disappointment.
“Alright, sweety, it’s time we head back.” Mila said to her daughter. “We have a long day tomorrow.”
“Okay mom!” Sally said. “But Ren has to tell me all about her adventures later.”
Samson and Mila gave an exhausted sigh as their daughter spoke. Apherward screamed at those same words.
“Y’know, Ren.” Samson started speaking. “Tomorrow, if you’re willing, could you look after Sally? I’ll be talking to my people from the Forthright Cargo company. My wife will be trying to find a home for us. It would help us focus on our tasks if you watched Sally for us while we work.”
Apherward really doesn’t want to, and at this point it doesn’t know what else to do.
“I will be looking for adventuring work. I’ll be looking for the adventurer’s guild.” Ren responds.
Samson furrows a brow.
“Uh. About that.” Samson says. “I know if the stories of old, there were adventuring guilds everywhere, but I haven’t seen any in all my life. And I travel a lot for my work.”
Ren stares at him blankly. Apherward would furrow a brow and give the man a confused look if it had a face.
