Another dream came in. It was me as the World War two soldier. Drills were necessary in the war to keep up into good shape. The rain was hard and sparing looked necessary as it was. it was at the coast of china. The troops were restless and bored being cooped in the battleships and carriers for awhile. It lead to a point where they were going bare knuckle brawling for their thirst of blood. They were fresh recruits waiting for their feel for war. As everybody seeks power to make Japan a superpower, I was one of the very few that dreaded this whole thing. My eyes were dead as the many corpses floating to the sea. Where I was at the moment was on top of one of the big guns taking a break at the intelligence room. One of my colleagues hid some dried squid on skewers under his bunk so I decided to snatch a few to kill some time. It was a good view to get an image of the action from a high place.
But at the horizon I can see streams of smoke and fire from the distance. Funny how the white noise of men fighting bare handed with gambling could blind whatever was happening at the distance. While people were dying with either fire or gunshots at the horizon, where was I? I know! In giant metal circus float with a bunch of imperial jackasses losing their heads under and outside the rain. Watching the men fight wasn't doing any good. It was annoying at most. It evolved to the point that they shifted to forcing some of the troops to volunteer. This didn't set well for me. So I decided to jump on the barrel and leaped inside the ring. As my feet landed, I made a drop roll to recover after leaping from such a high place. "Stop it! Keep on doing that and there won't be anymore troops to fight!" I shouted in Japanese. "Shut up! I don't report to you!" One of them shouted back at me.
The whole group laughed and started to lose it. But that was where a skewer hit the man who talked to me at the forehead. Everybody started to become quiet and glared at me in anger. I then took off my shirt and shouted, "Ten rounds on me! If I lose then you do whatever the hell you want!" All of them laughed even louder. A big guy then comes towards me and puts a grin on. "Alrighty then. Why don't you show me what you got? Big boy." The man insisted. I stood there in an open stance as the man charged at me in a boxing like stance. As he threw the first punch, I grabbed him by the arm and threw him on his back. As I still held his wrist I then started stomping on his stomach until he curled into a ball. Another one then charges at me, only for me to make a quick jab to the neck. Thanks to that the soldier kneels down and tries to grasp for air. But in a third result came another soldier, this time with a wrench from a toolbox. I just stood there with blank eyes and slouching stature. He gives a horizontal swing and I managed to get a hold of his wrist before it lands at my temple. I then press the pressure point as I squeezed his wrist. The soldier then dropped the wrench and takes a knee in pain. "Fighting an unarmed man with a weapon? Do you know no shame?!" I shouted in Japanese. I then let go and knocked him out with a forty-five kick.
Three soldiers were incapacitated on the floor and barely moving. The crowd was paralyzed by the site as three fully trained recruits were beat like a couple of kids in a playground. With a dark gaze and pouring rain I looked at the crowd and shout in Japanese, "What are you looking at?! Come at me!"
But that was where the dream ended. I woke up again in a brief moment near sunrise. I thought there was a Japanese soldier cap next to me, only for me to blink to see my mask on top of the dresser. I then put on some clothes on and my mask with it. The only thing I had to eat were food pills. As sweet as they were, I could use something hot. But again my prayers were answered as I saw Rebecca heating up a kettle of water. She pours me some water for me and hands me some instant coffee mix. I thank her for the gesture and the both of us continued on the start of the day we waited the sun to she'd a bit of light. "Looks like you're getting comfortable with sleeping now." Rebecca says, "You're finally not screaming anymore."
I recalled those times but those were kinda emotionally draining. Just the slight recall made me look like a nut-job. Rebecca reads my face easily as the topic did give me a bit of strife. "Is it something that I said?" She asked me. "No it's not that. It's just recalling it is rather depressing." I replied.
"What about it?" She asked me.
"The memory I've been screaming about was always brooding and was kinda a suicidal maniac on whatever he did. It's really a bad way to start the day." I told Rebecca in a drained tone.
"So what did he do exactly to get you on your last nerve?" Rebecca asked.
"The guy might as well been paired with the god of death himself. He can practically take out a small patrol in a matter of seconds." I Implied.
"So you got an antihero as a past life? That's kinda rare. Do you know him?" She asked me.
"I don't know. Even if I was able to see the memories vividly, the memory makes the guy completely anonymous." I replied.
I then took another sip of my coffee to find it empty. It was much like my mind as I had no idea who this guy was. Rebecca pours me some more hot water and I took another instant coffee mix from my bag. "It's weird...every vision of that man is like a teaser trailer to a movie." I said.
"What do you know of him then?" She asked me.
I scratched my head and try to recall what I remember. There wasn't much but it was enough. "From what I can tell this guy was a world war two soldier." I told her. "So...were you a marine or something?" She asked.
"No, I wasn't. I was part of the axis powers."
"So a Nazi?"
"Oh god no… I was a Japanese soldier working as part of the intelligence division."
"..."
The topic itself was an eye-opener. Being past life of one of the villains was something that didn't sit well with me. But I was saying stuff as it was. "But from what I can tell...he really didn't wanna be there. In fact he loathed it." I said. "Is that so… then why bother joining?" She asked. That itself made me wonder why even bother going for a cause. He didn't want to be part of this war neither fight for his country. Just what was that man up to. "I don't know. Reading that man's mind is like telling whether or not if you're going to hit a boat or a lighthouse while at sea in the fog." I told her.
"You think you'll be able to get a hold of his identity before your mind splits?" Rebecca asked.
"I was just lucky that two of my identities were famous. The way this is going is like finding a needle in a haystack." I replied out of pessimism.
Rebecca laughed. The girl then pinches my cheek with a smile. "Look at you all ruffled up. You better find that identity before you become a Nazi. For all we know you're gonna get a Hitler mustache." She joked. It was a joke out of bad taste but then again it did calm me down a little.
Soon we were expecting another visitor. Down the stairs comes Oliver Sage, fully equipped with his short sword, knives, revolver, and leather breastplate. He noticed Rebecca pinching my cheek and he wasn't surprised. "You're pretty close now aren't ya?" He asked out of suspicion. Rebecca then let go of my cheek and patted my head. "Just goofing around." She said. The man looks at as he was reaching for his watch. He puts it away and snugs his hands in his pockets.
The air was awkward. I was wondering how were they were able to talk to each other easily. But then again, Winged sandals and Hunter's bane have been doing co-op missions for awhile, after all. "So what are you up to this morning?" The man asked. "I'm gonna help out Rin with a bit of exercise. You know where's a good spot to train?" She asked. The man then takes out a map from his bag. It was one of Cletus. The both of us took a peak. The man's finger kept on moving around as he didn't know where would be a good spot. He then points the location on the map. "At the Eastern part of Trium there should be a couple of abandoned buildings and factories, but I suggest the Cornerstone." He says, "It's a good place to free run. Maybe teach the guy some moves there." The man then folds back the map and walks to the door to unlock it. "Thanks Mr. Sage." I thanked the man. "Just 'Oliver' you're making me sound old." The guildmaster replied plainly. He then takes out the lock and pockets it in his backpack. "I'll be out for the rest of the day. I got a meeting with a few guildmasters for some of those Lifter Blade moose." He told us.
The man then looked at the horizon as he loathed it. There was nothing left to do but move forward. "I hate these meetings, always full of pricks that don't know shit." He muttered. But awkwardly he turned back and grabbed something off the counter. It was metal flask for alcohol. He poured whiskey in it and walked in dread as he looked a bit too lazy to respond. The man pauses for a moment to take a glimpse of the morning street. "Newbie. Can we talk outside?" He asked me as he looked at the street.
I complied and followed him to an alley near the guild. But we turned at a dark alley, I felt a sudden twitch in my body. It was a feeling of a presence behind me but I didn't know what it was. But this alone made the eyes of the guildmaster stare at me. "You feel that, don't you?" He asked me. I looked at him in confusion as I didn't know what it was. "Figures you don't know. But how would you not know that if you didn't have those eyes?" He implied.
Again there was cryptic sound play as we continued to move. But the faster our pace was, the more I felt that presence was getting closer. I nudge my katana and was ready to draw it out. But behind me at the corner of my eye was nothing. "Don't fight it boy. Your instincts are right, you sense it as much as I do." He said. Oliver then grabbed something behind his waist. It was a tool that collapsed into a compound bow. Only problem was he didn't have any arrows. But that changed as he drew the bowstring. He cast a spell that revealed an arrow of purple light. He launches the arrow at a plain space only for it to disperse and create two orbs encircling in a circle. That was when we heard screams coming in front of us as visions of being on fire came to mind. There was a ripple of space that gave an image of a person. Out reveals a person's true form as he dropped some kind of fabric at the ground. "Invisible cloak, how predictable." Oliver commented. The man snaps his fingers and the two glowing orbs disappeared. Our perpetrator then gets a grip on reality and starts to make a break for it. But before the man could get away, Oliver throws a bola and the man is tied up then trips to the ground.
Oliver then loads his judge revolver with shotgun shells. He then sits on the man's back and points the gun behind his head. The man then gives out unwanted company a pat down and finds his guild card. "Idea Palace Guild? You're one of those think tank guilds that make new stuff and shit. Too bad you went over to the political route. I used to like your stuff." Oliver said. There he cast another spell and surprisingly out of his hands comes a Scribe. He uses the reference spell copy the details of the guild card and put it in his scribe. "Seriously? Why the hell are all the producers after me? I can think of way better targets than me." Oliver asked me.
"Beats me. Didn't you tell me the freelancer thing is a bit outdated?" I asked.
"If it works, it works." He answered.
Oliver did have a point. In the end of the day, it's a matter of preferences rather than logic. The stalker then cleared his throat and grits his teeth. "It's traitors like you that are the reason why people are dying!" He shouted. Oliver was rather perplexed about the man's response. I was confused myself on where this was going. "How am I the problem here? I'm just a freelancer." Oliver replied. "All of you runners are! You are Terrans and yet you leave your fellow kind to rot! How can you live with yourself?!" Our stalker exclaimed.
"So you're part of UTU? If you want to think about others then why waste your time on us?" I asked.
"Cause you runners are only thinking of yourselves! You have the abilities to be able to survive out there then why not spare a hand on those who can't?!" He asked.
"Kid…we're not immortals. We can still die out there and we humans are many times as fragile than the other races." Oliver replied.
"Yeah, you speak to us as gods but we're not. Most of us are more concerned to head back home with food on the table." I added.
"Then why are you scurrying for scraps when you can make something out of it?! Don't you see with your abilities you can do almost anything!" The stalker shouted.
"What are you suggesting then? You're shooting blanks on time that isn't yours." Oliver asked out of resentment.
"We know you have all those spells in your scribe, Guildmaster Oliver Sage! Why don't you share those spells to help everyone in the capital?!" The stalker asked in spite.
"It doesn't work like that! In inexperienced hands these spells can kill you if they backfire!" I shouted.
"Spare me your nonsense! People need more goods and supplies if they want to survive! Are you gonna really risk that for your pride?!" The man exclaimed.
"Idiot! It's because you're asking us to die." Oliver replied.
"We should help but you should as well." I told him.
"What is that supposed to mean?! We've done our part but not you." The stalker exclaimed.
"Sweet words mean nothing without action. If you just keep on moving your lips rather than your body, then you're just another sack of bones waiting to rot." Oliver said.
"Are you saying we're doing nothing?!" The man shouted.
"All you guys do is prance all around town and start shouting your motto. If you really wanted to help then do an outreach program or something." Oliver explains to the man, "You can always try to get some resources as well from the outside too, you know. The gathering and salvaging quest are free for all classes."
"Didn't you hear me?! Not all of us have the skills as you do!" The stalker shouted.
"Then get stronger and get some new skills. Half on what we learn on survival can be learned on books. If you don't feel comfortable on your own then travel in a group, lots of runners need support classes to help them out." Oliver suggested.
"Oh really? And since when did that happen?" The stalker asked with doubt.
"People at our guild sometimes bring Blacksmiths and alchemist from other guilds to our hunting groups. The blacksmiths help in repairing our weapons and the alchemist help in healing and creating potions to aid in most of our hunts." Oliver added.
The man's jaw dropped. Seeing where this was going I decided to join the conversation. "Come to think of it… I have a blacksmith friend in our ranks as well. He tags along in organizing of materials and gives us a second opinion." I added.
"That's practically slavery!" The stalker said.
"It isn't slavery if you are free to leave the group and get paid by the end of the day." Oliver talked back.
"I don't wanna hear your opinion! Especially from the guys who set me on fire!" The stalker shouted.
"We didn't set you on fire. That was just an illusion spell that stimulates the sensation of being on fire. In other words, zero damage." Oliver corrected him.
"That's almost the same thing!" The stalker whined.
"Are you sad that I hurt your feelings? You wanna cry to mama?" Oliver mocked.
"Kid...if you can't handle that then all the more you won't be able to handle the outside world." I criticized.
That's when rage encircles out unwanted company. His eyes were on fire and nerves intensified. There it was again, that weird aura around that man. Oliver looked at me at the corner of the eye and for some feeling recognized it felt like the guildmaster was seeing through my soul. It was as if Oliver could read my mind right now. The stalker then started to groan in frustration. "All you runners are the same! You don't care who gets hurt as long as you got a few coins in your pocket! Nothing but a bunch brutal barbarians!" The stalker shouts in rage, "I would prefer to be dead rather to be saved by you!"
That itself was out of line. I wanted to bust his head open with pistol I had on my waist. But Oliver beat me to it by pulling a dagger and putting it up behind the stalker's neck. The stalker squealed and cried his head off. Seeing how hypocritical the man was, Oliver got off from him and cut the binds around his body and legs. "If you take your life lightly then I wouldn't mind taking it myself," Oliver says, "Get off your ass and never come at me again!"
Our stalker stained his pants and ran like hell. All that was left was me, Oliver, and puddle of piss on the stone road. Surprisingly the stalker left his invisibility cloak and a dagger. "Cloak and dagger? How cliché." He said. "So you knew about this?" I asked.
"After being reborn and trained for a while, you obtain again habits that came from your past. Mine was sensing bloodlust. That stalker had the urge to kill us from the start." Oliver told me.
He then collapsed his bow and goes closer to me. Oliver takes a good whiff of me and looks at me seriously. "You smell like old blood; it isn't surprising that people with past lives smell like this." He says, "How many times have you been reincarnated? Rebecca has high regards of you."
"This is my sixth." I replied.
"Is that so? I'm not really surprised. Archery, swordsmanship, and acrobatics...no hero I've known had possessed a roster that large. I'm guessing you've been to a lot of wars, no?" He asked.
"Far too many if you ask me. It's a wonder how I'm still sane." I replied out of melancholy.
"Anyhow...this is what I want to talk to you about. It's your status." He said.
Oliver then summoned his scribe in front of me. It revealed pages full of copied guild cards using the reference spell. Honestly I was kinda surprised the mass amount of them. "I've had many enemies in the past but you boy are really something. Do you remember this guy?" He asked as the man pointed at the one of the guild card prints at his scribe. Indeed I remember him. This was the guy during the initiation request. A guy from the Thunderbolt guild that I sliced his arm off. "Yeah I do. What about the guild?" I asked. "A couple of weeks back the guy told his guild about you and told the guard about his arm being slashed off," Oliver explains to me, "I and a couple of other guild members managed to convince the guard with evidence that it was out of self defense but that guild still has a bone to pick with you."
"Great...as if I had enough problems to worry about." I complained.
"It's not just Thunderbolt either but even some at UTU as well. They've been snooping around my place at the inn for awhile now. I may be allied to Hanami but it doesn't mean I can bare with all their problems." He told me.
"So what are you trying to imply?" I asked.
"Maybe stay away from the inn for awhile. It's for your sake and mine." He insisted.
"Why? What's going on?" I asked him.
"It's scaring customers that UTU's people keep on wandering around at my place. I have a business to run other than my usual guild missions." He told me.
"I don't know...it's hard to find anyone to trust now. Most of the people I hang out with are busy with their own thing. Even Mr. Williams has his own missions he has to take with his guild." I told Oliver.
"Not to worry about. Your bloodlust is sharp. I take it that you're beginning to notice this even when at hunting missions with your buddy, correct?" The man implied.
Thinking back, I felt that when I was killing the lifter blade moose yesterday. It felt quite odd on I was able to notice it without looking. Yet then again this wasn't the first time this really happened. Oliver then started to smell me. I moved backwards as it was kinda awkward. "People give off a certain stench that may reflect their emotions. At my time as Robin Hood I smelled many things such as fear and dread. Bloodlust on the other hand was something not only that I can smell but sense." He tells me, "I can see that you are the same as mine but minus the smell."
"How can you tell?" I asked.
"I can read your reaction time. I've known ever since the first time we met. It was faint but I could smell the blood around you. Even now I can smell it." Oliver answered.
"Even if I did have this ability why talk about this now?" I asked Oliver out of suspicion.
"People like you and I are often the scorn of UTU. I just wanted to point this out 'cause you're starting to be well known." Oliver said.
"How so? I don't talk to people that much." I asked him.
"Some guild known as the Gentle Hand is selling two new powdered medicines for pain relievers. Some rumors were spreading that a person in a mask has been making these using ingredients outside the wall to make these." Oliver put out as he vies an obvious gaze.
"So how does this involve me?" I curiously asked.
"Most medicines in Laputa are liquid potions. With that man's powdered version of pain relievers, people are trying to find him to get the recipe." He said.
"What's the big deal? Some guy made a new version of medicine. It's not like it's gonna cause any difference."
That's when Oliver took a potion bottle and my powdered medicine. He puts them side by side for me for an introduction. "Surprisingly there is. Look at the design of these." He directs to me, "Potions require glass bottles to hold them, some settle to lower the price by making the bottle out of plastic. But Gentle Hand folded paper packets for these powdered medicines. As much as the cost is for paper is high, it is not as much for glass. Whoever thought of this made quick thoughts of cutting corners in coins."
But just like that the man gets sick. He turns at the side and pukes against at the wall. The serious scene was ruined by a hangover. "I shouldn't have been drinking with Grape Vine guild.… (but)I give it to them for making good booze." Oliver complained. I then reach into my bag and get a packet of pain reliever. "Here. I got some meds on me." I said. But as I handed the paper packet of medicinal powder to him, Oliver grabs my arm and snatches it from me. His grip tightened as he shows my packet and one from his pocket. "There is a difference that I noticed between the ones being sold and the one you gave Rebecca last night." He says, "Gentle Hand puts the guild insignia on their items but yours are plain white." His movements were fakes, it looks like he was on me from the start. "Alright you got me...what do you want?" I blandly surrender.
"Freelancers are trump cards that are random in every way. Revealing your one gives you great risk. You were lucky that you were under the radar for so long that people weren't able to notice." Oliver warns me, "Next time don't sell anything new, otherwise people would be on your trail."
"So what do you want me to do?" I asked.
"For now, avoid any contact with me and the inn. Trouble often follows for those who pair up with people in fame. In my case, infamy." Oliver insisted.
"So what are you infamous for?" I questioned the man.
"The god I'm under is Loki. He gave me an entire spell arsenal when coming to Laputa. It's nothing more than a living hell after that. Like does it look like I enjoy being the walking magic encyclopedia? UTU's been after me because of it." He told me.
"Why are you even telling me this?" I asked.
"Nobody else wants to see others die but all the more people don't wanna see people killing each other. Hanami and Oak Cinders are the very guilds that keep that to heart." He tells me, "Besides, the world needs to rebuild now. It's starting to become a drag if we losing people that help others."
"That's rather hypocritical...how do we do that?" I asked.
"Even if magic is there...we can't use shortcuts. The faster the changes the less there is legroom for people to adjust. We just need to take it slow before we can find a better solution." Oliver said.
"Then why would a god come down to give you power?" I asked out of curiosity.
"I really don't know. Loki likes pulling everybody's legs for kicks. He's not the trickster god for nothing." Oliver replied in a dreaded mood.
"So your god is the troll of Valhalla? Gods are weird." I commented.
"For Loki that would be a complement. Anyways there's another thing I would wanna talk to you about." The man insisted.
"And what would that be other than what you just told me?" I asked out of suspicion.
"Try not to get too close to Rebecca too much. Really...I wish I was making this up." Oliver said in an embarrassed matter.
From a gaze of suspicion it shifted to awkwardness. I was lost for words as hearing those made question the man's morality. He could sniff my doubt as it circled into his nose. "I'm being serious here...quit looking at me like that." He insisted. But my eyes were fixed in a cold stare, one that can cast doubt on anything. "Are you a stalker or something? 'Cause that can really explain why you suddenly just drop by after an awkward moment comes between us." I asked out of hostility. I even pulled the hammer of my pistol back as all the more this vibe was getting more awkward. "Christ! Just let me explain!" He insisted out of panic. I then disarmed my 1911 pistol and gave him a minute.
There the man takes out a flask of liquor from his coat pocket. He goes for a sip and gives a big sigh. "You really don't hold any punches back, kid." Oliver told me. "It can't be helped. It's either freaks or monsters that are waiting to get on my neck now. Richard was no different, past or present." I replied. The man was not amused. His jaw dropped just by hearing that. But he retracted his lip and started talking. "I'll just give it to you quick. You know Rebecca's popularity between her and my guild, right?" He asked me. "Not really. I have more time out of the capital rather than in it. Why?" I replied. The man sighed and leaned his back at the wall. He looked more annoyed rather than concerned. I was starting to have doubts but he went on with it. "Anyways...you know, Rebecca has a lot of admirers. She's a rising star. Some were giving you the evil eye whenever you came to the inn." Oliver told me.
"Weren't you giving me that look too?" I asked out of suspicion.
"I was acting. Besides, I got a wife in Romania; she was visiting her folks when I was in the HAP." Oliver denied.
"Then you were faking it the whole time? Why bother?" I questioned the man's method.
"I rather not get my head into it. She's like a big sister to most of the newbies and guild members. Some are rather protective of her." He told me.
"Protective? What for? Rebecca is capable of handling herself." I told Oliver off.
"She's not in 'that' kind of danger, you pile of bollocks! I mean, that the guys in the guild don't want anybody to touch her." Oliver corrected me out of embarrassed spite.
It took me time to piece it together but I managed to get it. I was even more annoyed now as I was before. My hand did a facepalm slap on my head and I wiped my face. "So you're trying to say that Rebecca is the 'Idol' of Hunter's Fangs and Winged Sandals Guild?" I asked dumbstruck. The man sighed and continued on. "Yeah...they take a liking to her but it looks as if her admirers are too chicken shit to do anything." Oliver admitted in an embarrassed manner. His eyes couldn't meet mine as the issue itself was rather childish. All I could do is sigh as even I could tell this was rather stupid on its own. But then again there was a way for me to work with this. "So...you want me to stay away to divert attention? You guys do realize we're just friends, right?" I asked. "Sorry...it's just that my party hasn't been able to focus that much since you came along. No offence." The man apologized.
Despite how awkward this conversation was, I decided to let it slide. After all I was told to set a low profile at the scenes to prevent any squabbles. "Alright but what do I get in return? I can't just make this an excuse, you know." I asked him. He then hands me a cloak and dagger. It was the invisibility cloak that guy dropped a while ago. "Here. Whenever this is worn, you will be able to turn invisible. It's hard to find and is considered an A-rank item." Oliver said. "What of the dagger?" I asked. Oliver then summons his scribe and cast a spell. Two magic circles hover at the dagger from top to bottom and it started to float between them. Soon the circles fade and the dagger slowly descends at my hand. "It's just a normal dagger but I give it points for craftsmanship." He said. As out of the open it was, I was more curious on what that spell was. "So what was that spell?" I asked. "It's the appraisal spell. It's a spell that allows you to appraise items and see the quality and components of certain things." He explains, "Whatever you scan using this spell goes to your scribe." Oliver flips his scribe to reveal the image of the dagger with a description of it. But it eventually fades away until the page turns blank. "Odd enough the appraisal spell description fades after. Only if you use the reference spell after is when the information can remain." He repeats this method and shifts the information showing to another page. You can really tell that it was permanent when the font was no longer glowing.
"So when will I be able to learn something like that? The appraisal spell?" I asked.
"What level are you?" He asked.
"Eighteen."
"Then you'll be able to request for a promotion of your class at level twenty."
"Can't I just learn it from you?"
"Freelancer spells are S-rank spells to be learned based on class rank. Besides, you'll still need a special license for it for you to learn it."
"Then what if I don't get the proper license?"
"The Scribe serves also as a curse to restrict a person's magic to learn certain spells. If they gain a spell illegally they seal the magic of the freelancer until they pay the fine of twenty gold."
It gave me a few seconds to materialize what he said. But based on what Oliver said, I was fucked. "Wait...I'm only allowed to learn spells up to E and F Rank! Sure I was given special permission for a few of my shikigami spells once I came here, but what's gonna happen if I get a memory of another spell?!" I exclaim in panic. "I guess you have to start leveling up then if you don't want your magic to be sealed. Like twenty gold? That's twenty thousand shillings wasted right there." Oliver insisted.
This is bad… Two thousand shillings was something me and my group couldn't make up in a month. We are lucky to even make half of that. But that's when Oliver pats me at the back and said. "Maybe you should start training now. Besides, you would be lucky enough to gen enough merits to gain two levels. Running helps too." He suggested. With a panicked face I started dashing for my life. Without my magic I'm practically dead.