When I got to the guild, it was a ghost town in there, which was shocking because they are normally packed in the comics. "Are you shocked it's empty?" A female voice called. "A little", I replied. "Thats because of the war. Everybody is enlisting." They said. "Why are they enlisting?" I asked. "Its simple. Anyone who enlists can take their own spoils. All the monster parts, all the loot from dead people, its first come first serve." She replied.
"Can I become a mercenary?" I asked. "Sure, but you gotta start from the bottom." She said. "I need your name and identification." She said. "Okay, im Centi van Ince and here's my documentation." I replied. "Looks like we got a nobleman here." She joked. "Fallen noble perhaps?" She asked. "I don't know", I replied honestly. "Here's your mercenary badge! Don't lose it or you have to pay for a replacement!" She said in a cheerful voice.
I could tell she was trying to fix the mood. I went to the job board and I looked at the jobs "wolf slaying, slime hunting, bandit extermination, herb gathering. I think wolf hunting is easy enough, and its worth 5 silver!" I thought to myself. "I'll take wolf slaying." I told the receptionist. "Okay, but you're gonna need better equipment than that." She said.
"Is there a good armor store nearby?" I asked. "Yeah, out the door and 2 doors to the right." She said. "Okay, thank you." I replied.
I left and went to the shop, but it was closed. I went back to the inn with my horse and stayed another night there. When I awoke I went to the store she had mentioned. When I entered the store smelled like coal and dirt. I looked around for some medium armor and I went up to the counter to ask for recommendations.
"Excuse me sir." I said. "Yes?" They replied. "What is the best medium armor that you have?" I asked. "The best armor I have is this", he said. He then pulled out a stunning chainmail/leather armor with a breastplate to cover the heart. "How much?" I asked excitedly. "5 gold, this is one of my best works." He answered. My excitement quickly faded as I learned that cost. "What can 20 silvers get me?" I asked with hope. "20 silvers? That can get you this", he said. He went into the back and motioned for me to follow. He reached into a box of miscellaneous armor and pulled out leather armor with a chainmail helmet with a copper plate covering the heart. "This is 20 silvers." I'll even let you pick one more item from the box free of charge." He said with a amused grin.
I know what he is offering me is junk compared to the stuff inside his shop, but I had little choice, so I accepted. "Deal." I said with a small grin. "Pick 1 item of your choosing from the box. " He said. I peered inside and I saw and assortment of various armor pieces. I chose to get a slingshot. "Is their ammo for the slingshot?" I asked curiously. "What do you mean ammo? There's rocks on the floor boy! Just use those!" He laughed.
I sighed and went into the library after storing the slingshot in the box. I equipped the rest of the armor except the helmet because it looked foolish on me. When I entered the library I was greeted by the librarian. "Hello, are you looking for a specific book?" She said. "Yes, can I see your books on herbs?" I asked. "Certainly", she said. She lead me to them and I began to look for the herbs, both ones to grab and ones to avoid, because I figure I could make some poison to coat on the slingshot ammo.
With my 2 silver I have left I choose to get a basic alchemy kit with my money. "Excuse me miss? How much would an alchemy kit cost around here?" I asked curiously. "It will cost abut 1 silver and 75 copper" She replied. "Here's 2 silver, I need change of possible." "Alright, here is your basic alchemy kit and your change." She said cheerfully.
I went outside with my horse into an alley where I put the alchemy kit in my box, as I left the alley I heard a voice however. "Young boy, you wouldn't happen to need that horse and box would you?" A homeless man chuckled with a knife in his hand. "You must be an otherworlder like me, with a black box and all." The man said with a crazed grin.
This is the first time seeing a person from earth since coming to this world. I was slightly taken aback, but I chose to focus and think rationally. I got my helmet, club, and shield out of my box and I equipped them. "Don't make me do this", I said cautiously.
"Try me", he replied as he lunged at me. I backed up and blocked the knife with my shield, but the man pulled out a second knife and lunged at me again. I knew I couldn't block both knives, so I threw the shield at his face to block his vision and then I jumped up 6 feet into the air, with my feet subconsciously glowing green. I used the club and it collided with his head, or at least i thought it did, but the mace bounced off air like if there was an invisible barrier protecting him.
"Like my artifact?" He said with a mischievous grin as he lunged again. I was in shock, I have my mace, but my shield is gone, so I have no real way to stop his attack. I began to turn to run, but I remembered I had some dirt from earlier in the box, so I grabbed some as I ran and launched it at his eyes. "My eyes!" He screamed in pain. I used this opportunity to rush at him again, and the same thing happened, the attack bounced off. "You won't be able to hit me with that.
Only aura users can pierce the magic shield!" He said gloating again whilst rubbing his eyes. I realized that this is my moment to run, but the artifact made me stay, because it seems so useful if it can block most attacks. I need it. Its crucial for any sneak attacks.