by Phoenix Grey
Pulling himself into a sitting position took all of Azure's strength. No doubt, his Stamina was still drained, leaving him feeling woozy and physically depleted. Shouldn't his Stamina have recovered while he slept?
Azure did a stat check to assess his condition.
Name: Azure
Race: Human
Level: 7, 65% of the way to next level
Health: 25 / 210
Mana: 200 / 200
Stamina: 53 / 210
Vitality: 14
Intelligence: 13
Strength: 14
Agility: 13
Dexterity: 12
Charisma: 10
Luck: 12
Skills: Archery Lvl 3; 80% of the way to next level
Stealth Lvl 3; 60% of the way to next level
Analyze Lvl 7; 46% of the way to next level
Cooking Lvl 5; 52% of the way to next level
Alchemy Lvl 3; 83% of the way to next level
Foraging Lvl 6; 88% of the way to next level
One-Handed Weapons Lvl 6; 10% of the way to next level
Tracking Lvl 1; 80% of the way to next level
Two-Handed Weapons Lvl 5; 0% of the way to next level
Fishing Lvl 1; 10% of the way to next level
Drinking Lvl 1; 10% of the way to next level
Languages: Common Tongue, Sprite, Goblin-Tongue
Adventurer Rank: E
“Shit,” he whispered beneath his breath. What had happened?
Reaching for his bag, Azure quickly pulled out three Potions of Minor Healing, hoping that drinking them would ease his discomfort. They did, for the most part, restoring some of his strength, though he still felt weak.
Azure rubbed his temples, lying back down and going over the previous night's events. The last thing he remembered was watching his Stamina deplete as the bats attacked him relentlessly. There had been no doubt in his mind that he was done for. Somehow, though, he wasn't dead. Not in the best condition, but not dead. Someone must have found him at the last minute, rescued him, and brought him here. Wherever here was. It was the only logical explanation.
Azure wondered if he should wait for his rescuer to return, but after about fifteen minutes, he began to grow restless. He didn't have time to waste here. Returning to The Adventurers Guild and turning in his quests was of the utmost priority. There were only four days left until his rent was due.
Azure pulled himself out of bed, then rummaged through his bag for a silver. It wasn't much, but it was the least he could do. He tossed the coin on the bed and then proceeded to the door. The rays of the sun seemed even brighter and hotter when Azure was fully exposed to them. It took a moment for his eyes to adjust...and for him to realize that he had no idea where he was.
Bringing up his World Map, Azure sighed in relief. He was in Roselake. The walk back to Squall's End should only be a little over an hour. Azure would take no risks this time, deciding to head straight to the village then follow the road all the way back. Traveling through the fields and forest would be stupid in his condition. While his Health had been restored to a safe number, an unlucky tussle with a monster could deplete his Stamina and get him killed. He would not make the same mistake twice.
In fact, it was time to stop being such a cheapskate and drop some coin on Potions of Minor Stamina. It was now clear to Azure that he wouldn't survive in The Realm without them. Stamina seemed more important than Health, at this point. But he knew he only felt that way because he hadn't had a way to recover Stamina without Lonnell by his side. By parting ways, Azure had essentially lost his healer. Now he needed to be able to both tank and heal on his own.
Praying that Potions of Minor Stamina weren't incredibly expensive (as everything in The Realm seemed to be), Azure made his way to the village of Roselake. Unlike Cragbell, there was only one merchant, set up with his cart outside of the tavern. Azure made haste toward him, never having imagined that he'd crave the horrible taste of the Stamina potions. But damn was he ever looking forward to not feeling like shit anymore.
“Stamina potions!” he demanded, slamming both palms on top of the man's cart as if he could barely stand. Although the walk from the house had only taken about fifteen minutes, Azure felt utterly exhausted.
The merchant gave him a queer look and took a step back. By the way that his hand fell to his side, it seemed that he might be reaching for a weapon.
“I want to buy Potions of Minor Stamina,” Azure said a bit more calmly, trying not to act like such a savage. “I'm not drunk. My Stamina is just...not very good right now.” He stood, no longer leaning on the cart for support.
The merchant seemed to relax. “Oh...Well,” he began, sounding a bit nervous. “I can help you with that.”
“It would be much appreciated. How much are they?” Azure's eyes danced around the top of the cart until he found the small yellow vials amidst all the rest of the merchant's wares.
“That will be seven gold and five silver,” the merchant replied in a voice that sounded automated.
“What?!” Azure's eyes bulged.
“Seven gold and five silver,” the merchant repeated, unaffected by Azure's shock.
“That's more expensive than a class at Hawking's! You've got to be kidding me.” He stepped away from the cart, clawing his fingers through his hair from stress.
“Hey you!” A deep voice called from behind him.
Azure turned to see the knight he had encountered at The Adventurers Guild—the one who had been a dick when he'd asked a question about Quest Points. Azure looked around to see if there was anyone else the knight could be talking to, praying he meant the merchant. His steely gray eyes were glued to Azure though.
This day is shaping up to be shitty, Azure groaned internally as the knight approached him, holding his hands up in surrender. “Listen, man, I don't know what I did to piss you off, but whatever it was, I'm sorry.”
“What are you doing here?” The knight glanced from Azure to the merchant.
“I'm buying a Stamina potion. Well, trying to.” His words fell out dryly. It wasn't any of this douchebag's business what he was doing.
The knight's voice calmed a bit. “You should be resting.”
That caught him off-guard. How would this guy know that he needed to be resting? Could he see how low Azure's Stamina was with his Analyze skill?
"I'm fine. I just want to get back to Squall's End, turn in my quests, and forget that these past two days ever happened.”
“How much money do you have on you now?” the knight asked.
Jutting his head back, Azure wondered if he was about to receive some charity. Maybe the knight felt sorry for him for being in such a pathetic predicament. It would be nice to have a positive turn of events.
“I have eight silver,” he replied honestly.
The knight held out his hand, palm up.
Azure gave him a strange look. “You...want my coin?”
“Am I not making that perfectly clear?” Annoyance flashed across the knight's chiseled visage. He was six feet of pure intimidation, wide with muscle, and had a face that oozed a mix of serious and sinister.
“Why do you want my coin?”
“It's my reward,” a sly smile crossed the knight's face, “for saving your life last night.”
“That was you?” Now Azure was shocked for an entirely different reason. This was not a guy that he wanted to be in debt to.
“Mhm. Now pay up.”
“I left a silver on the bed.” Azure nodded back toward the direction of the house.
The knight's thin lips dipped into a scowl. “Is that all you feel your life is worth? If so, I can just take the rest in blood.” He began to reach for the longsword strapped to his back. “The armor you're wearing would fetch a nice price.”
Oh fuck, I'm being robbed, Azure realized. His eyes danced over to the merchant, hoping he'd take the cue and run for help. The merchant was watching with interest. By his expression, it was clear that he neither felt
threatened nor any desire to come to Azure's aid. More than likely, the two men knew each other. It made sense if the knight actually did live in the house that Azure had just come from.
“I know you deserve more, but I need that money for rent,” he tried to reason.
“Better to be homeless than dead.” The knight drew his sword about an inch out of its scabbard, showing that there was intent behind his threat.
With no other choice, Azure dug into his bag for his remaining coin. He handed it over to the knight with a sigh.
“You are a brokeass motherfucker, aren't you?” the knight chuckled to himself before tossing a silver at the merchant. “Here, Ronaldo, have a few beers on me for having to deal with this twat.”
“Thank you, sir!” The merchant responded, a smile of appreciation taking over his face.
Then the knight simply walked away in the direction of his house, pausing only once to look back at Azure. “And kid, if you stole anything, I'll hunt you down and kill you.”
CHAPTER THREE
THE REALM – Day 49
I hate this place, Azure thought as he made the trek back to Squall's End. Lonnell was right; Uden was stupid to want to come here. Things were so much better back on Crescent Island. So much simpler.
He stewed for the entire journey, his mood fouler than it had ever been since first coming to The Realm. Though he was extremely exhausted, he went straight to the flower merchant to sell his wares before heading to The Adventurers Guild.
“Excuse me for saying this, but you look horrible,” she told him, her pretty face taking on an air of concern. “Are you all right?”
“Rough day,” he confessed as he pulled his Fireweed, Wild Onions, and Blue Mushrooms from his bag. Not feeling much in the mood for conversation, he traded them to her for two silver and then continued on to The Adventurers Guild before she even had a chance to try to sell him any of her flowers.
Being midday, the lines inside The Adventurers Guild were blessedly shorter than usual. There were only two people in front of him in the E line. Thirty minutes later, he was standing before Mel, pulling his quest papers out of his bag and sliding the ten Giant Wasp Wings he had collected across the counter.
Congratulations! Quest: Thin Out the Giant Wasps has been completed.
Thanks to your heroic efforts, people traveling Red Road are now safe from the pesky Giant Wasps. You have earned 1 silver, 5 copper, 2 Quest Points, and 140XP. You have also received the following items:
Starter Bow
Attack: 8
Range: 1
Durability: 8/8
Item Class: Common
Quality: Average
Weight: 1.4 kg
Bronze Arrow
Quantity: 15/15
Durability: 1/1
Item Class: Common
Quality: Average
Weight: 0 kg
The money is less than what I just made from selling foraged items, he thought somewhat bitterly.
Congratulations! Quest: I Need Giant Wasp Wings has been completed.
You have collected the necessary items. They will be delivered to the client. You have earned 6 silver, 1 Quest Point, and 140XP. You have also received the following items:
Potion of Minor Healing
Quantity: 1/1
Item Class: Common
Quality: Average
Weight: 0 kg
Uses: Heals 30 HP
Empty Vial
Quantity: 10/10
Item Class: Common
Quality: Average
Weight: 0 kg
Uses: Alchemy Component
I'm still five copper poorer than when I woke up this morning, another bitter thought came. I pretty much did all of that work for nothing.
The best part of the reward was the experience from the quests because it had been enough to level him up, though he would have to wait until he was somewhere more private to assign his characteristic points and level up the skill of his choosing.
Congratulations! You are now Level 8! Your base stats have been boosted. You have earned 3 points to assign to your characteristics. Please note that adding points to some characteristics(Vitality, Intelligence, and Strength) will further boost your base stats. You may also advance any 1 skill of your choosing by 1 level.
"What are Quest Points?" Azure asked before Mel had a chance to lay out new quests before him.
"Ferne didn't explain them to you?" The clerk cast a disdainful glance at his coworker for forcing him to waste time on a job that she should have done. Ferne was busy registering a new member to The Adventurers Guild and paid no mind to him though.
"Nope."
Mel pushed his spectacles further up onto his long thin nose with a sigh. “Quest Points are a point system for bonuses given by The Adventurers Guild. Once you gain one-hundred, you can choose between a special reward or advancing your Adventurer Rank one position higher than what it should be. This will open up more profitable but also more dangerous quests. Even though you would have access to them, I would not recommend taking them. You can only choose the upgrade once. If you amass another one-hundred Quest Points after that, you're forced to take the reward.”
"What kind of rewards are we talking about?" Azure wanted to be excited about the prospect, but he was still a lot of quests away from earning one-hundred points.
"It's usually high-level weapons or equipment. Now, which quest would you like to take?" The clerk irritably slid three quest sheets in front of Azure.
"I thought I get to choose from four?"
"You took two last time. This is my way of balancing things out." Mel smirked as if he had just slighted Azure somehow.
Azure was too tired to care.
"I wish I could take them all," he mumbled, rubbing his chin. Two of the quests were categorized as miscellaneous and were Very Easy. They also didn't pay well. One would keep him close to Squall's End though, and the duration was only three days. He could probably complete it in one, and it promised the potential of extra loot. The third was a bounty. It paid one gold, but the duration was two weeks, and it would definitely end up being a dungeon crawler. "I think I'll take...this one," Azure said hesitantly, pulling his chosen quest toward him.
Adventurers Guild Quest: A Treasure Sniffing Dog
A blind man named Valerio Smyth has recently purchased a dog that can supposedly sniff out treasure. He's asking for someone to escort him along the coastline on his first outing with the dog to protect him from any monsters that might emerge from the sea.
Designation: E
Type: Misc.
Difficulty: Very Easy
Deadline: 3 days
Success: Spend the day treasure hunting with Valerio and his dog.
Failure: Cancel quest
Reward: 4 silver, 5 copper, 1 Quest Point, and 50% of the loot found.
Will you accept this quest: Yes or No?
Completing this quest would give him just enough money to be able to afford his portion of the rent, but he'd be broke again afterward. Living in The Realm sucked.
Azure took his quest sheet and walked back to the flower merchant. He didn't even care to look at the Open Quests board, focused on getting back to his room at the inn so that he could rest up. With his Stamina still depleted and the day more than halfway over, there was no point in trying to start the quest now. He would hit it early in the morning, hoping that this Valerio fellow would be in for a long day of treasure hunting and that they might actually find something valuable. Besides, he was in no shape to take on any monsters right now.
"I have this Starter Bow to sell." Azure offered it to her. Since his Goblin Bow was better and the durability on it was still good, he had no use for the Starter Bow.
"You know there are other merchants." She giggled.
"But you're the prettiest one." He winked at her, feeling his bad mood slowly abate. This was his last necessary task for the day. Afterward, he was free to relax.
"Oh." She drew a petite han
d up to her mouth, blushing before taking the bow from him to examine it. "I can give you nine copper for this."
"Sold!" he said a bit too dramatically, causing her to jump.
They made the exchange, and as seemed customary, she asked if he wanted to buy flowers.
"Unfortunately, rent is due in a few days, and I can't even afford to pay that right now," Azure confessed, embarrassed for being such a brokeass. "I'll give you a copper if you tell me your name, though." Why was he trying to bribe her? They'd done business a few times already. He should know her name by now. In fact, it should have been the first thing she told him. This wasn't like back in his world, though. Merchants didn't wear name tags here. You had to ask for a person's name, or they had to offer it freely.
"I'm Malina," she divulged, holding up her palm when he began to offer her a copper coin, "and no compensation is required for that information. I know how hard it is to come to a new town and get a fresh start."
"How did you know I was new around here?" Azure raised an eyebrow.
"I see everyone that comes and goes from the port." She smiled sweetly.
"You're very observant." He smiled back, pleased that she had taken notice of him. Not that that meant he was a special snowflake of any type. But he secretly hoped that maybe he was to her. "Well, Malina, my name is Azure. It's a pleasure to meet you." He thought to clasp her wrist but wasn't sure if that was appropriate in this scenario, so instead, he bobbed his head politely.
Another Adventurer came stomping over from The Adventurers Guild, ready to sell his wares. Malina gave Azure an apologetic look but was then quickly swept into a bartering match with her new customer. Realizing that it was time for him to leave, Azure walked back toward the inn, stopping in the middle of the street to contemplate how to spend the rest of his day.
There was still a lot of daylight left, and while he was incredibly tired, he was also still incredibly broke. With an inward groan, Azure decided to leave town again and scour the fields close to Squall's End for alchemy components that he could sell. Every little bit of coin would help. Magic school seemed like a dream at this point, but as long as he could pay rent, he would be okay.