The next day Gavin joined Samania on a morning run. He didn't appreciate being woken just before sun up after only four or so hours sleep. She easily outpaced him, having to stop often to let him catch up.

  “You're going to have to get a lot fitter if you want to join the guild. You do want to be a warden right?”

  “Sure do. There's a legend from my world about a man who gets cool spider powers powers, he has a motto; with great power comes great responsibility, and I intend on becoming the most powerful.”

  “That's a good attitude.” Samania said.

  “On another note, reckon we could get some more clothes and things today? I can't keep wearing this same thing even if it does get magically cleaned whenever I walk through your front door.”

  “I'll take you through the guild and show you how it operates. You can even get someone to turn that bonesnapper hide into some armour if you like, and we can sell that crystal you picked up.”

  “Dinosaur armour? Sounds fuckin sweet to me.”

  Later that morning after breakfast they walked back into town where they first went to the adventurers guild. It looked like a small university campus with dozens of young adults milling around, though most wore various forms of fantasy inspired armour. There were functional wood and brick buildings scattered over the grounds, interspersed with well maintained trees and shrubs. Samania led them straight to the main hall, and past a guild representative at an administration desk. Into a busy room. A large map of the surrounding area took up one entire wall, with coloured dots splattered across it like ink stains. To either side were two notice boards with sheafs of paper pinned to each wall.

  “The guild posts contracts for incursions up on this wall. They’re colour coded by level to the map, they’re usually fairly accurate as to where the contract is, but not what it is unless a local spots it and passes that information along to a local guild representative. If we take a contract off the wall it is our responsibility to deal with. Do not take off more than you can complete in a day, it's the one thing mother does not tolerate above anything else.”

  “Yeah, no worries there.” Gavin said, feeling Sam's hard words as something not to test.

  Samania led Gavin on to the next section. “These ones are posted by non-guild members, usually for resource collection, though sometimes they want other things like investigating unsolved crimes, feral animals, that sort of thing, most often the more complicated quests are only available to higher ranked guild members, see this one here” Sam said pointing at a contract to investigate the theft of jewelry “it's a green contract, but requires a tier three guild rank.”

  “Do you go up guild ranks by completing quests?” Gavin asked.

  “More or less. A strong track record of completed contracts, low or no collateral damage, taking on more than average contracts or harder contracts, also thorough documentation.”

  “Documentation? There’s paperwork for killing monsters?”

  “Yes. Every completed contract needs to be documented for you to get paid. The clerks look favourably on people that make their lives easier and your name won't even get looked at if they don't put it in front of the higher ups. Don’t try going around them either, my parents won't do you any favours, they cannot be seen to favour anyone.”

  “Gotcha.”

  After the contract hall Samania led them over to the merchant hall. As they walked Gavin noticed more than a few of the people going about their business were giving them pointed looks, most of them weren't positive. There were more than a few malicious smiles and sneers on the passing faces. Sam either didn't see or was pretending not to see, she remained relaxed and collected.

  “First up, I think you should consider getting a combat treatise to learn some basic fighting techniques.”

  “Makes sense, yeah. There's a movie I watched once about a guy who did a similar thing.”

  “What's a movie?”

  “It's like a story that gets acted out and recorded then played back on a gigantic screen for people to watch.”

  “We have something similar, though they're usually just illusion specialists recreating things they've seen or something from their imagination.”

  “So anyway, what sort of fighting do you think I should go for? Are there different skill books for different styles of fighting?”

  “Yes, there are thousands of styles, all designed to work with different archetypes. We’ll pick a basic one to lay some foundational skills now until you get a better idea of how you’re suited to fight.”

  “I'll trust your judgment there. I can always learn different styles later?”

  “Yes, though training multiple techniques

  up to a competent level will take a lot of effort.”

  “Well then, lets get me started.”

  Sam took Gavin to a merchant selling treatises. There seemed to be two varieties, magical skill books that you could absorb to gain the knowledge on an instinctual level up to the skill and ability of the creator, and others that were closer to conventional training manuals, though they were a lot more detailed than earth martial arts treatises Gavin had seen, similar to the book Soliece had given him but noticeably less impressive.

  “This is Edward Coppertree, Edward this is Gavin.”

  “You can call me Ed if you'd prefer sir.”

  “Ed it is then, but only if you never call me sir again.”

  “We were looking for a combat treatise, what ones have you got in stock?” Sam said, cutting the round of pleasantries short.

  “Certainly mam, what style of combat are we aiming for?”

  “One that covers the fundamentals of fighting with basic weapons, he hasn’t got any combat experience or powers that skew one way or another. If he wants to specialise later we’ll come back for a more focused book.”

  “Then I suggest this one” Ed said, plucking a red leather tome off a shelf “basic fighting techniques with spears, swords, axes and shields, with a focus on more defensive tactics, it was created by Gerlimaine.”

  “Perfect” Sam said, handing over three coins from her dimensional bag then depositing Gavin’s new book inside.

  “Cheers mate” Gavin said as they left “I'll definitely be back for more later.”

  “I'd appreciate that,” Ed said, smiling warmly.

  Next they browsed the hall's wide array of weapons. They entered a stall containing racks and racks of various items designed for the express purpose of killing, all labeled and arranged by categories from more traditional swords, shields, spears, halberds, bows of every variety, to more exotic weapons, flails, brass knuckles in a glass box that glowed an angry red, a whip made of water, swords that look like they belonged in a final fantasy game. Sam spent a few minutes examining the spears before tossing one to Gavin.

  “How's this one feel?”

  [Item: Extending spear]

  [Type: Polearm, spear]

  [Rank: Level 1, uncommon]

  [description: A magical spear with an extendable shaft, will remain sharp indefinitely]

  [Effect: Activate to extend or retract the length for a mana cost proportional to the change in length]

  “I like it”

  “Good. It's going to be your best friend until you make something better.”

  “Second best friend” Gavin winked

  “No, you're going to like that spear better than the woman you met yesterday. You're going to be relying on that weapon.”

  “I was actually talking about my mate Will, but you're pretty cool too I guess.”

  “Funny guy.” Sam said, slapping a handful of coins down on the counter.

  “One more stop.”

  “Getting this dinosaur hide turned into some armour?”

  “Yes”

  The two exited the building, Gavin carrying his spear as a walking stick, his head hung in contemplation.

  “Thanks Sam. Really, this all means a lot, I'd be poked if you weren’t showing me the ropes.”

  “I'd be dead out there if it wasn't for you.” Sam said earnestly.

  “You're going to have to stop reminding me, you're not in my debt, I don't want to be a friend who has that hanging between them forever. Also, I plan on having you saving my bacon a whole lot if we're going to be on a team together, so behaving magnanimously now will save you lording it over me later” Gavin said matter of factly.

  “How gracious. Alright. I won't bring it up again.” Sam said

  “Good. Now, lunch is on me. Where's a good place to get a pie around here?”

  “Why would you eat a pie for lunch? They're for after dinner.”

  “Wait. You have American pies, not proper pies? Figures. This will have to change.”

  As they left the adventurers guild grounds a severe looking man who had been leaning against a stone pillar spat on the paved path in front of them. He stood to posture himself in their path, his arrogant chin jutting out as he sneered at them.

  “You alright there mate?" Gavin said, wrinkling his nose “Hey Sam, is it rude to spit in this world because back in mine it's a good sign that someone is a bit of a cock.”

  “Gavin, I think it's best you let me handle this.”

  “Sure thing Sam.”

  “Master De Vore" Sam said, nodding towards the man who had moved to obstruct their exit.

  “Mistress Starborne. I'm glad to see you walking around alive.” His tone suggesting that this was a complete fabrication.

  “I am sorry about your cousin. What happened-”

  “Was your fault.” De Vore said, his voice full of spite.

  Sam hung her head, shoulders slumped. “I-”

  “You should have been the one to die out there, you are an amateur playing team leader and you got your team killed”

  “I-”

  “Watch yourself miss Star-bourne.” De Vore jeered.

  “Mate, and I mean this in the most deferential way possible, but can you actually fuck off?” Gavin said, taking Sam by the elbow and pulling her to the side.

  “What did you say to me?” The man said, stalking up to Gavin to get right in his face.

  Gavin who held his spear casually in one hand at his side subtly shifted the point between them.

  “Look, I'm not looking for a fight, but you're being a bit of a prick and we've got things to do.” Gavin said.

  “Gavin, this isn't helping,” Sam said.

  “He threatened you, and where I'm from friends stand together when some dullard bully comes knocking.” Gavin said, turning to her.

  “You'd better watch your tone, you don't have the weight of a noble family to protect you like she does.” Devore jeered.

  “Mate, I'd think twice before coming at either me or Sam here. You don't want to be the guy who accosts me or my friends, so, and I'll say this again politely. Fuck. Off.”

  De Vore spat on the ground again at Gavin’s feet, flecks of spittle staining his boots.

  “You watch yourself too.” He said, turning to leave. Gavin resisted the intrusive thought to kick his ankles out from under him as he stalked away.

  “Sorry.” Gavin said.

  “No, it’s okay, I wasn't ready for that conversation. You handled it rather more crudely than you should though, you may have made it worse for us.”

  “Who was that guy anyway?”

  “Benjamin De Vore. He’s Allan’s cousin. The De Vores and the Wayfarers are closely related, marriages between their houses are common.”

  This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

  “Right. I’m sure I’ll need to know that sort of stuff later, but right now I really need some dinosaur armour” Gavin said, his mood abruptly changing.

  They continued on out of the guild campus to a tailors shop in town. The words ‘Bethanies adventuring attire’ emblazoned in bright filigree above the door. Stepping inside Gavin craned his neck to get a good look around. There was a small wooden front desk blocking the way through to the workshop. A large waist high table dominated the central area, on all sides were benches covered in strange apparatuses and materials. The far wall was a floor to ceiling rack of shelves filled with various leathers and fabrics.

  “Ahh, hello Mistress Starbourne, and company, I don't believe we’ve met master?” asked a weather worn woman who looked to be in her late seventies.

  “Gavin, and I’m not a master, just a bloke wanting to turn some dinosaur hide into armour.”

  “Well you’ve come to the right place Gavin. Come right in. you weren't after anything today were you Mam?”

  “No, just here for him. He’s new in town and a guest of the family.”

  “Right you are then mistress. He’ll get the very best then.”

  “Too right.” Gavin chimed in.

  “Now, Gavin, what exactly were you looking for?”

  Samania had produced Gavin’s dinosaur hide and laid it out on a cutting table “well, I'm more in love with the idea of having some sweet dinosaur armour than I am with having something specific, so I’m open to ideas.”

  Bethany took a moment to inspect the hide, Gavin felt a surge of tingling energy in the room as she used some sort of ability.

  “Bonesnapper hide, untarnished, looted with a looting power? yours?”

  “Yes”

  “It’s an excellent preserving job, you’ve tanned hides yourself by hand?”

  “Yeah, possum skins when I was a kid, how did you know?”

  “Looting powers tend to work better if the user is familiar with the techniques involved, a potion maker with a looting power will usually get better potions than normal and a warrior or smith will get better quality weapons and armour.”

  “Good to know, cheers.”

  “My pleasure dear” Bethany smiled. “I think we could make you a fantastic cloak or cuirass and helmet with this, there’s not enough material to make a whole matching set of armour, though if you found more of this later I’d be able to do that too.”

  “Dinosaur leather duster? Sign me up. I'd rather not fight more of those things if I can help it just yet. How soon can you get it done?”

  “Just a moment” Bethany said as she turned her gaze on Gavin.

  He felt extremely vulnerable as if she was peeling back all of his layers down to his bare skin. She then turned to the leather on the table and traced glowing orange lines across the surface with a wand that materialised in her hand from nowhere. She formed the cut pattern for the large garment in minutes while they watched. Snapping her fingers the cut strips of leather floated into the air, wrapping themselves into the loose formation of a cloak. Tendrils of twine spun from Bethanies fingertips to loop through the cloak sewing it together as they watched.

  That done, Bethany disappeared the scraps of leather off the table and slung another roll of fabric over, repeating the cutting process from earlier, this time the dark brown material formed an inner inside the cloak, and was similarly sewn in place in moments.

  “Why don't you go ahead and try it on?” bethany beamed

  Gavin took the coat in his hands, inspected it and threw it over his shoulders, it slipped over his arms and formed to his body as if it were part of him. Gavin flexed experimentally, it was extremely comfortable and flexible

  [Item: Bonesnapper hide greatcloak]

  [Type: Clothing, armour, cloak]

  [Rank: Level 1, Very Rare]

  [Description: A cloak made from the hide of a bonesnapper by an expert craftsperson. Provides additional protection to the wearer]

  [Effect: Has greatly enhanced resistance to physical damage and enhanced resistance to magical damage]

  [Unenchanted: may be enchanted with an enchantment up to Level 1 - Very Rare]

  “This is excellent, cheers” Gavin said, ecstatic with his new cloak.

  “You’ll want to get it enchanted if you plan on fighting in it. If it’s damaged it can be fixed, but a self repair enchantment will keep it good as new so long as it's not fully destroyed.”

  “Cheers Beth, how much do I owe you?”

  “Seven thousand solars” Bethany said matter of factly

  Samania retrieved a handful of coins from her bag and handed them over

  Gavin turned to Sam and asked “how does money work here? What’s a solar?”

  “Here, take these and tell me what the difference is,” Sam said, handing over two identical silver coins and a gold coin.

  “Ahh, this silver one's more tingly than the other but it's about the same as the gold? They're magical?” Gavin guessed, popping them into his inventory to check them more thoroughly.

  “Yes, exactly ten times more tingly. The coins are imbued with a bit of ether, this first tier silver is ten times less magically dense than the second tier, and that gold is the same value as the second silver” Sam said.

  “They’re close to their mana capacity for the material they’re made of, and they’re useful to use in crafting, you can extract more mana out of them than you put in so you can boost your rituals beyond your own limits if you’re willing to pay for it.” Bethany added.

  “I think I got it. How much are they worth in terms of buying stuff?" Gavin said, noting that the new information had added itself to his user interface, tallying up the total value of his money.

  “A good rank one weapon made by an expert craftsman with a useful enchantment might be about three thousand solars. Your spear was only twelve hundred solars since it’s only basic, and the book was two hundred and ten solars” Sam said.

  “Can you give it to me in how much food it can buy?”

  “My weekly food allowance for the family is about three hundred fifty solars” Beth added helpfully “a meal and a drink at a tavern is about twenty”

  “Wait, hold up, is a solar is like a dollar or two in terms of buying power. You just spent twenty one hundred solars on me today?”

  “Yes”

  “And that's like two or three weeks income for a normal wage earner?”

  “That's about right, yes,” Beth said.

  “And you just bought me all this stuff, just like it was nothing?”

  “I doubt it is even a rounding error for father. You'll find that your looting power gets you a significant income by itself let alone the rewards for monster contracts. That demon soul you have is worth quite a lot.”

  “How does the economy even function here?” Gavin asked, mildly exasperated.

  “It just does. I haven't really thought about it, how does the economy work where you're from?” Sam asked, shrugging a shoulder noncommittally.

  “Ahh, actually, I don't know.”

  “Well there you are then. If you really are curious you could visit a temple of Soliece and ask one of their clergy.”

  “No thanks. Economics is not a fun subject except to economists” Gavin said, putting the issue from his mind.

  “What's an economist?” Sam asked.

  “Someone who doesn't get invited to parties” Gavin muttered.

  They bid Bethany farewell, Gavin wearing his new cloak proudly as they left the store. It was a brisk day outside and his cloak felt comfortably warm and cosy. They passed street stalls selling food, and shops of all varieties.

  “Hey Sam. Just thinking about how to make that pie, where can we get some beef?”

  “What’s a beef?”

  At Gavin’s insistence Sam bought a selection of ingredients from the local market on the way back through town. They weren't the same as earth ingredients, there were no cows or wheat on this world, but there were things Gavin thought could be acceptable substitutes.

  When they returned to the estate Gavin busied himself in the kitchen, the head chef, Garland, grumbled at the unwanted intrusion at first, though as Gavin picked his brain about cooking techniques in their world and ingredients to substitute in he warmed up to the newcomer. Several hours later it was mid afternoon and Gavin finally had lunch prepared. He presented Samania with a steak and cheese pie

  “Kiwi classic, all I need to do is figure out how to make V and we'll have a champions meal”

  “What's a kiwi?”

  “It's a bird from my country”

  “You eat them in pies?”

  “Not on your life. People from my country call themselves kiwis. We also have kiwifruit but that's more of a marketing thing.”

  “I'm not quite sure I follow.”

  “Ahh, doesn't matter, what does matter is getting a pie in your gob.”

  They took bites out of their pies at the same time

  “It's quite nice" she said as chewed and swallowed her first tentative bite.

  “Nice? This is awful, dairies wouldn't even sell this. I'm going to have to do better. A kiwi should know how to make a decent pie. I need whatever the equivalent of Edmonds cookbook is here”

  “You know of Edmond the chef?”

  “Who?”

  “Edmond, he's a cooking magic specialist. Made it big here and went off to be the personal chef for the king in the northern territories.”

  “Did he write any cooking books?”

  “Not sure, you could probably find out though.”

  “Yeah. Anyway, now that lunch was a disappointment, how about we read that skillbook?”

  “Yes, you should, they can be quite taxing but you'll be fine.”

  They returned to Gavin’s quarters, him taking a cross legged position on his bed while Sam sat at the chair by his desk. She handed him the skill book which he discovered was more like a magical prop that was made to look like a book rather than an actual book.

  “OK, how do I do this?” Gavin asked

  “Just feed a little mana into it, the magic in the book will activate and want to be absorbed into your soul just like a soul crystal, just let it in, it will be uncomfortable, but don't resist it.”

  “You know that’s not how I absorbed that power right?” Gavin said.

  “Just try it.” Sam said, taking a seat.

  “Gotcha.” Gavin closed his eyes, focusing on the book. “Here goes nothing.”

  Magic flooded into him like a fire hydrant, fingers of magical energy creeping into his soul. He felt his mind being bludgeoned with raw information. Ears ringing he felt dizzy as if he'd been hit in the head, he gritted his teeth, willing his mind to relax but the sensation persisted.

  The book began to dissolve in his hands, turning to a thick mist that streamed into his body. He could feel his vision dimming as he fought to maintain consciousness. He gritted his teeth and tried to steady his mind, letting the raw data wash over him rather than standing like a bollard against the tide. The pulsing nausea abated very slightly, the worst was over, the only thing left was to ride out the last of it.

  When it was done Gavin slumped back, exhausted.

  “I know kung fu'' he groaned before his world went black and he fell to the bed, unconscious.