Before going to deliver the letter to the high priest so he could turn in his quest, Tim needed to clean up. At least getting cleaned up would be easy. He quickly un-equipped all of his clothes and then quickly re-equipped them. At least his clothes were clean now. He giggled, thinking about what the NPC’s must have thought when they saw all his clothes disappear and reappear almost instantly.
“Probably jealous.” Tim shrugged. “They all have to do laundry.”
A few minutes later, the familiar arch leading to the slums came into sight. The guards nodded to him as he made his way inside. For once it wasn’t raining, but the clouds overhead rumbled, threatening to open up before he reached the inn. Tim started to sprint, hoping to make it under the awning before getting drenched, but he skidded to a stop when his eyes settled on the people milling in the street outside the inn.
Why in the fuck were these people here? The inn was always empty. Tim moved forward and started weaving his way through the crowd toward the front door. When he reached the door, Ernie pulled him inside and slammed the door shut behind them.
Taking a few deep breaths, Ernie glanced sheepishly at Tim. “It seems we have a small problem.”
“That somehow involves me?” Tim hadn’t done anything interesting enough in the game to draw a crowd like this to his location. He doubted most heroes got a welcome like this, so it had to be something else. If the cardinal had sent them, he would not have made it inside.
So what was going on?
Ernie gave him a halfhearted smile. “It seems word of your little miracle with Freddy spread through the slums. We haven’t had an honest to goddess healer down here…ever.”
Tim slumped against the wall, exhaustion from working the bellows finally catching up with him. “And they’re all here hoping I can help?” He looked at Ernie with pleading eyes, hoping it wasn’t the case.
“I hate to break it to you, kid, but there’s no putting the cork back in the bottle on this one.” Ernie smiled warmly at him. “But you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to.”
A long sigh escaped Tim’s lips before he could stop it. If the cardinal found out he was healing people outside the temple, he might not get any future training. If that happened, Tim might have to go to the academy to learn magic instead. There was a lot riding on his choice.
In the end, it wasn’t a hard decision.
Tim kept thinking about his answer to the question the high priest had asked him after he’d healed the boy on the temple steps. Why wouldn’t I? He wasn’t going to let those people outside suffer just to follow the rules. If they needed healing, he would heal them.
Tim glanced into the dining room and saw Gaston’s crew at their customary table. “I take it these guys wouldn’t want a bunch of people coming in and out of here for healing.”
Ernie wrung his hands nervously. “No attention is the kind we like best.” His eyes sparkled as he thought of something. “We have an old storehouse at the side of the inn. I can have it cleaned out, and you can set up shop in there.”
Lowering his eyes, Ernie asked, “If you want to help, that is?”
Tim clapped the man on the shoulder. “Give me a few minutes to get cleaned up, and I’ll be right down.”
Fuck Jepsom!
If these people needed help, they were going to get it. He’d still have to find time to get to the temple, give the high priest Lady Briarthorn’s response, and collect his reward for delivering the initial letter. Hopefully, healing the people outside wouldn’t take too long. He could probably focus on the worst cases and handle the rest tomorrow.
Cool water and a rag weren’t nearly as refreshing as a shower would have been. Tim wondered if they had plumbing on the north side of town. After a week of using a rag to bathe, he’d probably pay good money to have someone dump a bucket of water over his head.
Say what you wanted to about the modern world, toilets and showers really made all the difference. Tim equipped his robe and scepter and headed downstairs. Ernie was waiting for him in the lobby.
“Just follow me.” Ernie shoved the front door to the inn open and led Tim around to the side of the building, where at least twenty people were lined up outside the storeroom waiting for his arrival.
“This is going to take all day,” Tim mumbled. “If this many people come every day, I’m going to need an assistant.”
Ernie smiled. “I’m sure we can find someone to help.” He led Tim past the line of people and into the shed’s single room. “But not until tomorrow.”
There was a table in the center of the room, but no water or towels for him to clean the patients with. Looking at his inventory, Tim didn’t have the funds to bankroll the supplies he would need to make this room acceptable. Maybe if he finished a few more quests, he’d have enough coin to pick up a few things.
Ernie watched Tim expectantly. “Should I send the first person in?”
Tim couldn’t think of a reason to refuse the man. Instead, he thought about all his favorite heroes, and how they had all started from humble beginnings and triumphed not only over the enemy but over life itself.
A smile spread across his lips. “Origin story,” Tim mumbled.
Holy shit, this is my fucking origin story.
“What was that?” Ernie asked, looking confused.
Sometimes all you needed to be happy was a change in perspective. Sure, Tim was working out of a one-room shack hammered onto the side of a dilapidated inn, but the people living in the slums needed him. If he helped them, maybe they could turn this part of the city into something more than a slum.
Maybe Tim could help build something special.
Tim waved away Ernie’s confused expression. “Send the first person in, and let everyone know they can’t come in until the previous patient has left.”
“You got it, kid.” Ernie paused in the doorway. “Thank you for this.”
“I’m not the most gifted of healers, Ernie, but I’ll do what I can.”
His first client came through the door shortly after Ernie exited the room. She was clutching one arm to her side. If he had to wager a guess, Tim would have said it was broken. He smiled warmly at the woman, and his real work for the day began.
“This might hurt a bit.” Tim pulled the woman’s arm straight, then cast healing orb. The bones snapped together, and the woman fell to her knees, screaming in pain.
Tim lifted her gently, watching her eyes for any other signs of pain. “How does it feel?”
The woman tentatively extended her arm, testing the range of motion slowly. A huge grin lit her entire face as she enjoyed the results of Tim’s work. “It’s perfect.” She pulled him into a hug. “Thank you so much.”
Tim backed up, shocked by her reaction. “Send in the next person on your way out.” He’d never been great at dealing with gratitude, and he didn’t know what else to say.
A frown tugged at the woman’s lips, and she looked at the ground as she spoke. “I don’t have much to offer you.”
“Whatever you have to give is fine. If you don’t have anything to spare, don’t worry about it.” Tim smiled at her, imagining the look on Jepsom’s face if he found out people were being healed for free. “If you’re injured, you are always welcome here.”
She pulled out a handful of copper coins, looking at them wistfully before putting them in Tim’s outstretched palm. “Thank you.”
Tim plucked ten of the copper coins out of the pile and handed the rest back to her. “Send in the next person.”
It didn’t make sense to give her the money back. He should have taken the coins. This place needed a lot of work, and if he lost access to the temple for training, he might have to purchase spellbooks in the future. Still, taking all of the woman’s money hadn’t felt right.
What he needed to do was find some kind of balance. If he didn’t make any money in the game, he wouldn’t be able to send money home. It simply wasn’t worth it to work his fingers to the bone, knowing that he couldn’t acco
mplish the one goal he set out to tackle. There had to be a way to help these people and make money. All he had to do was figure it out.
Tim smiled wearily as the next person came in, still thinking about how to manage his time. Making money here wasn’t the only thing he had to worry about. He also needed to level up. He couldn’t do quests and run a temple of his own.
Soon there wasn’t enough time for Tim to think about his problems. He lost himself in the work, healing one person after another until he collapsed to the floor in exhaustion.
Ernie shooed the rest of his patients away, telling them to come back tomorrow.
Sitting down next to Tim, Ernie handed him a little blue vial. “This should make you feel better.”
Is this my first mana potion? It kinda felt like a milestone. Tim chugged the vial’s contents and handed the empty container back to Ernie. “Thank you.”
Ernie stood up and held out his hand, helping Tim to his feet. “Think of it as my thanks for everything you’ve done today.”
Tim took Ernie’s outstretched hand and grunted as the man pulled him to his feet. “You know, where I come from, people thank others with food. Lots of delicious food.”
“I can make that happen. When should I expect you?” Ernie held the door to the shed open.
Tim stepped outside, enjoying the smell of the misty air after being trapped in the storage shed for so long. “I’ve got a quest to turn in at the temple. Shouldn’t take too long.”
Ernie closed the shed door and locked it before replying, “I’ll have my daughter Gwenny set up a pot of stew and a loaf of bread in your room.”
“That sounds perfect. Thanks, Ernie.”
The innkeeper waved away the compliment. “What you’re doing here makes a real difference. The people won’t tell you how much because they’re too proud, but the first woman you helped was about to lose her job at the bakery because of that arm. Now she doesn’t have anything to worry about.”
“Healing these people might seem like a small thing to you, but to them, it means the world.” Ernie shook his head in wonder. “You don’t even have the common sense to fleece them like the temple does.”
Tim winked at Ernie. “Oh, I’ll come up with a way for the people to repay me. It will just happen on a much bigger scale.”
“Now you’re starting to sound like an evil overlord.” Ernie laughed at Tim’s response. “Your good guy persona is going to take a hit if you sound too much like a northsider.”
Tim started trudging up the muddy road toward the main part of town. “Don’t worry, Ernie. I don’t want the people working for me so I can keep them under my thumb. What I have in mind won’t be evil. In fact, it might just be the kind of thing that levels the playing field.”
“Don’t go storming the castle!” Ernie started laughing as he ducked back into the inn.
If Tim was strong enough to storm the castle, he wouldn’t be delivering letters. Maybe he was looking at the situation all wrong. He had more than one quest to pursue and an entire world to explore. Sure, things could have started smoother, but he was making progress.
Rome wasn’t built in a day.
Chapter Seventeen
The temple looked creepy at night.
Blue flames replaced the normal orange glow. The black shadows and flickering blue lights made the temple feel like it was underwater. Tim ascended the steps quickly, making his way to the front door.
A brother in the standard white robes with blue trim was waiting by the door to assist any parishioners. “How may the Goddess Eternia serve you?”
Tim wondered if he should just ask to see the high priest, or if he should employ a little deception. Even if he managed to talk his way around the brother in front of him, Tim wasn’t sure he could find the high priest’s chambers on his own. Honesty seemed like the best way to go.
“I’m here to see the high priest.” Tim met the man’s inquiring look. “He’s expecting me.” Okay, so maybe a little deception wasn’t out of the question.
The brother by the door clapped his hands, and a young boy in a simple brown smock appeared. “Take this man to the high priest’s chambers.” He glanced at Tim. “We will let the high priest’s personal guards decide what to do with him.”
The boy motioned for Tim to follow him into the temple.
As Tim walked past the brother, he noticed that the man was smirking at him. Something wasn’t right here. He felt like he was walking into a trap.
All of the passages looked the same to Tim. He wouldn’t be surprised if the brothers deliberately walked in circles to obscure the route to the high priest's chambers. That or the temple had been built with the winding passages as a defensive measure. Thankfully for him, his life didn’t depend on the answer tonight, and his guide was doing all of the heavy lifting.
The golden door loomed ahead of him as Tim entered the high priest's antechamber. Two burly guards pushed open the door as soon as they approached. The young boy gave a squeak of shock at the sight of open doors and ran back the way they’d come. It wouldn’t be long before Cardinal Jepsom heard he was here.
Tim had to get the letter into Paul’s hands as fast as possible. Darting through the gap in the door, he sprinted toward the high priest's chair. Two men stepped out of the shadows and blocked his path with their halberds. Paul rose from his chair, lifting a single finger into the air, and the guards faded back into the shadows.
Paul smiled as he closed the distance between them. “I believe you have something for me?”
“I do.” Tim reached into his robes and pulled out the letter. He placed the sealed envelope in Paul’s hand and took a respectful step back so Paul could read the letter without worry.
The high priest seemed absorbed in the letter, so Tim took a moment to check his notifications.
Quest Completed: Turning The Tables
You have successfully delivered Lady Briarthorn’s letter.
The good Lady Briarthorn already paid you for the quest, but at least you don’t have to worry about Reginald cutting off your fingers anymore.
The high priest looked up from his letter. “I believe I owe you something as well.” Paul handed him a small coin purse and a ring with a blue stone at the center.
Tim continued looking over his rewards as the high priest returned his attention to the letter.
Quest Complete: Deliver the high priest’s Letter
You have successfully delivered the high priest’s letter, and earned the ire of Cardinal Jepsom.
Reward: Ten silver coins and a ring of wisdom +1
Tim equipped the ring, noting that his wisdom had increased to nineteen. He was so close to twenty and the first bonus, he could almost taste it. Just a few more quests or a couple of levels, and he’d find out what the bonus was.
Paul wasn’t done reading his letter yet, so Tim checked his last notification.
Skill increase: Healing Orb
You have reached apprentice rank three. Your healing orb is now twelve percent more effective, and the healing over time effect lasts for an additional second.
Not a bad increase, but the progress Tim received for healing people had diminished greatly once he’d moved from the novice to the apprentice rank. The amount of effort needed to move up seemingly grew exponentially as he leveled. Tim didn’t even want to think how much it would cost to level a skill once he reached Grandmaster rank.
Paul tucked Lady Briarthorn’s letter away and handed Tim a new envelope. His eyes danced with mischief as he spoke. “I’m afraid I’m going to need your services once again.”
Quest received: Deliver the high priest’s letter (again)
Success: Deliver the letter to Lady Briarthorn.
Failure:???
Reward: Free level-ten class change
Paul smiled at him. “I can’t stress how important this is. Not just for me, but for the Goddess Eternia. To impress upon you the importance of this matter, I offer you an additional gift.”
“Will
you accept my quest?” Paul extended his hand.
The reward being offered was so good he couldn’t help but feel the risk involved with the quest might be more than he wanted to take on at the moment. Sure, things had worked out well so far, but that was mostly due to blind luck and a whole lot of running. Plus, if Tim didn’t take Paul’s quest, he only had one other option. The quest at the inn could turn out to be interesting, but it was probably going to end up being just as dangerous.
Fuck it. What was the worst that could happen?
Tim clasped the high priest’s hand. “I won’t let you down, Paul.”
Paul nodded solemnly before releasing Tim's hand and shuffling back to his chair.
Tim followed him, wondering if the older man might have lost his marbles. He got his answer when Paul retrieved a small chest that was hidden behind the chair.
Paul opened the chest and rummaged inside. After shaking his head several times, the high priest finally nodded in approval. Closing the chest, he rose back to his full height and turned to face Tim. “Please accept this as a token of the Goddess Eternia’s gratitude.” He motioned for Tim to kneel.
Tim wasn’t sure if there was a proper way to kneel, so he dropped his left knee to the ground and bowed his head slightly forward. It almost felt as if he were getting knighted until he felt the cold metal brush his forehead.
“Stand and receive the lady’s light,” Paul intoned, holding one arm out in front of him and the other across his chest.
Tim rose to his feet as a searing white light engulfed him. His body rose into the air, then, soft as a feather, his feet touched the ground.
Holy shit, I feel fucking fantastic.
That was the thought roaring through his mind, but what he said was, “What was that?”
Paul smiled. “A small blessing from the Goddess Eternia. Long may we bask in the holy righteousness of her light.”
Rise of the Grandmaster Page 14