It’s the afternoon. The sky had turned red as the sun prepares to hide behind the horizon. Samson and Mila Vert hand back the room key to the innkeeper. They checked the room one last time for anything they may have forgotten before they go to their new home in a new town. The innkeeper sends them off with a smile and wishes them well. As they walk back to their wagon, they have a discussion about the day’s events.
“You know, I was hoping they would have at least gotten to that writing school before the day’s end.” Samson says as he carries a box. “Left it on their list of stops and everything.”
“Our girl always has been very energetic.” Mila sighs. “It’s a good trait for some. It’s just something we’ll have to deal with.”
“Yeah, but now I'm questioning if this Ren girl is a good influence on her.” he says.
“She’s certainly unique. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone else try to be one of those adventurers of old.” she said. “It shows that she is ambitious and dedicated to her goals.”
“Hah.” Samson chuckles at the words of his wife. “Always looking for the best in everyone. I wish that came as naturally to me as it does you.”
Mila chuckles to herself.
“Maybe. The way I see it, she has your ambition and a bit of my romanticism.”
“A bit?” Samson raises a brow at those words. “Our girl is more interested in those stories of heroism than half the country combined.”
Mila just gives a warm smile.
“I just wish she was interested in something else.” Samson says. “Something safer. Like accounting, architecture, doctoring or something that doesn’t have her staring down dragons or what have you.”
“Sure.” Mila nods along. “But I want her to have the freedom to choose. She’s young. I want her to try out lots of things and see what she likes.”
“And here I am, hoping it’s not a troublemaker.” Samson says.
The two have a concerning discussion about their daughter’s future as they leave the inn and walk to their wagon. They fled from a big city, only to try and find safety in a smaller township. Samson has secured a job through his contacts in Blue Pine town, but it’s not nearly as much money as his prior job in Halward city. Thankfully, Mila found a decent home that is cheaper to purchase than the home they had in the city. It doesn’t quite even out to be the same ratio, but it’s somewhat livable. The two have no doubt that their future will be a bit rough, but hope that it will be better than living in a city wrapped up in an imperial plot against the kingdom. The two make their way to their daughter, Sally, whom they left in their wagon with a new friend. Although, the friend who calls herself Ren seems to be a bit of a troublemaker. Earlier today, she supposedly burned some men with a magic spell. It was no doubt done for the protection of their daughter, but parents generally don’t want their children to be involved with setting people on fire. The two of them find their wagon in a dirt lot and call out to the waiting girls.
“Alright! We’re all good to go.” Samson called out and about to set the box he was carrying down. “We have a new home picked out, and I would appreciate it if you helped clean the place up a bit. That includes you Ren. And please, no magic cleaning spells.”
Both Samson and Mila peer into the wagon to find an unfamiliar nun inside the wagon with their daughter. Both Sally and Mila go wide eyed at the stranger. As parents do when they see a stranger in their wagon and near their child, they scream. It is easily loud enough to alert the town guards who have departed some time ago after lecturing 2 children. Town guards who rush back when the screaming started.
“You gotta stop doing this.” a town guard says massaging his temples. “You don’t need to do the super spooky sudden appearance and disappearance every time.”
“I apologize.” Mona the nun said.
“I don’t know why you stopped being an assassin or whatever, but you gotta stop doing this spooky assassin act.” the guard says.
The man huffs at the woman in a nun habit. He turns to face the husband and wife who were screaming their heads off when they found a stranger in their wagon with their daughter. Of which already received 2 separate scoldings from him and her parents.
“Please, be at ease.” he says. “This woman is a bit eccentric, but she is well known in town.”
“Right.” Samson says cautiously. “Then if we may, I would like to take my family and leave. Preferably away from this… person.”
“Right you are, sir.” the town guard nods. “Let us know if you ever feel unsafe. And please remain vigilant. As harrowing as this was, I’m afraid there may be folk who actually mean you harm. Stay safe.”
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Samson nods and leads the wagon out of the dirt lot and into the street. As he does, everyone can hear the same town guard berating the nun. Ren was along for the wagon ride. She agreed to help them clean a dusty and dirty home, as well as move. Thankfully, moving the family in wasn’t an issue. It may have been the single moment of peace the family had all day. They entered and opened all the windows. They swept and wiped away all the dust within. It wasn’t too big, but it could be warm and homey with a bit of work. There would need to be a few shopping trips for rugs and bedding, but it seems nice enough as it is. Despite Ren’s, or rather Apherward’s, suggestion both Samson and Mila were against the use of spells.
Ren returns to the inn and the family wishes her well and welcome her to visit as often as she likes. Ren returns and Apherward really hopes it isn’t sending Ren to bed hungry or thirsty. It’s kind of just eyeballing and guesstimating how much food and water Ren needs. It was a book on supreme magics. Not one on healthy eating. Now it’s hoping it can let Ren rest properly and not pass out from exhaustion again. Ren quietly enters her room at the inn and plops down on the bed. For the third time this day, a feminine voice from closeby surprised Apherward.
“Before you rest, do you have a moment to talk about that quest I offered you.” Mona the nun said from a corner of the room.
Apherward’s book spine shoots up and snaps upright. Ren calmly pulls herself from the bed as calm as a spring breeze.
“I can speak, yes.” Ren says plainly.
The system presents the message again.
Quest
Uncover the machinations of the Blood Hoof gang
Despite what Samson Vert told Ren, this is what Apherward had decided. To be an adventurer. Someone who goes on quests and adventures. People who set off to make themselves legends. Heroes who obtain power beyond the comforts of the civilized world. Men and women who seek their own fortune.
“Please explain in detail.” Ren said.
Mona nods her head and explains.
“There’s a crime wave washing over the town. I and a few others were tasked with investigating and stopping it. Some months back, we had a small group of ruffians and thugs. Who caused a bit of trouble, but nothing more. Suddenly they got much more organized and bold. We of course have theories, but nothing actionable. If you are indeed an adventurer, I would like you to stick your nose where it doesn’t belong and never know when to quit. When you find something notable to aiding in our efforts to thwart these brutes, you can consider your job done.”
Really, Apherward couldn’t possibly ask for anything more. To be a troublemaker who makes a muck of a whole affair is the hallmark of an adventurer. Or at least that’s what all the wild stories would have you believe.
“Sure.” Ren said blankly.
Quest Accepted!
The next morning, Apherward imparted more powerful magics unto Ren.
Ren learned Project Mind Level 1. Level capacity has been met. Level up to increase level capacity.
Project Mind is a spell that magically separates the mind from the body. The mind can then navigate the world as an incorporeal consciousness and observe the world. Using this spell, the caster can effectively become a ghost and float around to see and hear around everywhere. One issue that may come into play is that this spell may be too much for Ren. Like casting Locate Location 2 nights ago, this spell could overload Ren’s magic capacity. Comparatively, Locate Location is generally learned by mages around level 25. Project Mind by comparison is a spell the same mages would learn around level 20. It isn’t much of a difference in the grand scheme of things. But if the Project Mind spell works, gathering information on the Blood Hoof gang will be the easiest thing in the world. Ren cups her hands as though she were holding a ball of some kind before she speaks.
“Project Mind!” Ren says.
Apherward waits to see if Ren falls apart or explodes after casting the spell. A moment passes and she seems fine. Apherward check’s Ren’s status to be safe.
Ren
Level 5 Mage
Strength: 8
Magic: 17
Agility: 6
Vitality: 5
Magic Capacity: Dangerous
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
Water Arrow Level 1
Blind Level 1
Locate Location Level 1
Project Mind Level 1
Status: Normal
Ren’s magic capacity was immediately filled dangerously high. That means she really can’t cast this spell that frequently. She, or rather Apherward, would need to wait hours before the magic capacity was clear and a new spell could be casted. However, it appears that the spell has been successfully casted.
“Excellent.” Apherward says in the voice of a prideful wizard. “Now, to peer into every home and find this gang.”
Apherward pushes forward with it’s mind. It uses the spell to move. Or at least, it tries to. Apherward’s vision does not part with it’s body. That is to say, the mind of this sentient magic tome does not leave the tome. The spell lets the caster’s mind move around like a ghost. This should just work. Then it dawns on the book. It lets the caster’s mind move. And Ren was the caster of the spell. And as far as Apherward knew, Ren’s head was empty. The only thing occupying Ren’s mind was Apherward’s voice.
“God’s damn it.” Apherward cusses inside Ren’s head.
Apherward racks it’s mind trying to find a means to complete the first quest it finds. Ren just lies in bed unmoving. The spell had been casted. Ren’s magic capacity had been filled to a dangerous level. However, no new information had been gained. Apherward could still puppeteer Ren without issue even immediately after casting the spell. However, Apherward didn’t feel like moving her, and it was trying to come up with a way to get this quest done. As Ren does whatever she’s doing without a mind and Apherward thinks, a knock is heard at the door. As far as the sentient book knows, it isn’t expecting visitors. It surely wasn’t the assassin walking around as a nun. From the limited interactions Ren had with her, it sensed that she wasn’t the knocking on the door sort of person. Maybe it was the Vert family, but it was unlikely that they went out of their way to visit Ren. The most likely option that comes to Apherward’s mind is the innkeeper. The sentient book just has no idea why. The room has been paid for, and it was doubtful that someone made a noise complaint. Ren will climb out of bed and cautiously open the door. On the other side, a man in a plain tunic stands in the hall waiting for her. He nods before speaking.
“Uhh, hi!” he says. “I hear that you’re a wizard of some kind. Some of the guys by the carpenter’s workshop said you did some fancy magic a few nights ago. Is that right?”
“Something like that.” Ren says.
“Well, you see, some of my mates were hoping to get your help on some strange lights. We’re not sure if there’s some strange monster or weird magic stuff going on. It’s by the old well. It used to be a water well, but it’s since dried up. Sometimes at night folks see some strange lights. Quite frankly, the town guards won’t handle this and as far as I can tell. You’re basically the only magic person around. We’re a simple town. Wizards aren’t plentiful in a town like a city would be. We also don’t want to risk shooting it with guns. So, can you help us?”
Ren thinks on it for a moment. At least, she looks like she’s thinking about it. Apherward poses a question in Ren’s words.
“Wait, what’s a gun?”
