Following along with the procedure like last time, Mikael got asked to wait for a day.
After questioning why, he was told that different from last time, the employer wants to meet the person, to get a picture.
'Makes sense, after all I have to act as a bodyguard. Who would just trust a foreign person like that.'
Their meeting was set up for the next day, and maybe other people would get a chance, too.
'then what to do with the remaining day?' he wondered, sitting on a table at the ground floor, surrounded by the noises, holding a piece of wood, in which the key information for the mission were engraved.
'A interesting concept.' he admitted.
He trained his reading while contemplating what to do.
The information were simple.
Guarding and gathering mission. Plus one person. Wood rank. Outskirts of Chrysalis.
His eyes wandered to the people around him. He saw man in normal clothes, clean and thick, using this place to gather. Other in outfits and gear for the outdoors, sturdy, with backpacks and weapons. Groups, some only three persons small, another had at least 6.
Males were right now in the majority, but Mikael spotted a lot of them, many wearing similar equipment like the man, and headgear or scarfs hiding discernable features.
'But one thing is sure, I am the youngest. Why not tho, who would let out a ten year old alone roam around?'
As he sat there, he saw all the delicious food, getting himself quite hungry. But despite that, he was accustomed to survive the midday without much, but wanted something to drown his thirst.
"Excuse me, do you have some Mead?"
He asked, somehow shyly.
"Sorry, not right now. How about a beer? We just tapped open a new barrel."
Not questioning his age, he ordered one.
He grew to like the warm feeling he had when drinking something alcoholic and soothing effect it had.
Soon, he got a tankard of foaming beer, and together with the surrounding and a tune a musician with a flute began to play it felt just right.
He paid 1 big copper and some smaller, it not hurting his finances as much as before.
He drank it bit by bit, savoring the cool taste it had, and the accompanied warm feeling.
"I can't believe what I'm seeing, a child drinking beer, and not looking as if it disgusts him."
Two people sat opposite to him, not asking or hesitating.
"Must either try to fit in here, impress the folk here or what I'd like most, drink for the taste."
Mikael eyed the two, wondering why they would approach him.
One had a hat on that protected his eyes from the sun, some black hair coming out from it. Slightly bent nose and normal eyes, a strong looking jaw.
The other silent one had Grey hair, short and straight. He was a bit taller, slimmer overall, but had a broad back and wide shoulders.
They put down their backpacks next to the table, their weapons tho they kept close.
A quick look around, the Ground floors tables filled and no solitude place available, he got his answer.
"For the taste, and the warm feeling." He simply answered.
"Why do you just start casually chatting, idiot. He is a child, so show proper manners." the tall guy said, bumping his comrade with his shoulder.
"Sorry, but you looked quite interesting, or rather out of place. Name's Lars, that slanted nose Sven. What are you doing here."
"And you shouldn't pry into his business. Take a look at him. Clearly a Adventurer, even if a young one."
"A hunter, but only since a short time."
He corrected.
"Basically the same. What really makes the difference is the kind of work you mainly do. What is your next mission?"
He pointed at the wooden stripe.
"Why should I tell you?" Mikael retorted, speculating why these two would ask that question.
"Good question. You shouldn't." the guy named Lars said, throwing Mikael completely off.
"Wait, I don't follow. Who are you guys again,or rather, what do you want?"
Holding his temple like Roàn often did, he looked confused at those two, who grinned at each other.
"We are Mercenarys, Hunter, whatever you need." Lars crammed around his neck, slipping out a necklace with a small copper plate at the front.
"About us two, we are copper ranked, so a while longer in the business."
"And seeing such a young comrade amongst us, we had to make a move. To get the basics right. After all no one here seems to be your partner or party."
"to make it even clearer, we want to tell you some stuff, Do's and Don'ts."
"Just because you saw me here, alone. Doesn't that seem a bit sketchy?"
"Maybe, but we could also have approached you in the dark when you left that blacksmiths house, or early in the morning."
He made a motion as if he held him by his torso, other hand covering the mouth.
"Fast, clean and easy."
'They observed me? Do they want to threaten me? ' his mind worked quickly, his pupils clearly enlargen for the opposite people, but they made no comment, letting him think.
'No, why would they tell me then, they could have just done it. And they came at a busy time, a lot of witnesses. Maybe they really just want to talk.'
He did not notice how his breathing quickened, but now slowed down, his fingers that clutched his tankard white returned to their red color.
"Seems you came to a conclusion" Lars said calmly, "So do you want to listen?"
Mikael looked them in the eyes, the cheerful atmosphere blended out, and said:" What do I have to be careful of."
And then they to began explaining the essentials of being a adventurer, especially as he was a lone one.
"Don't use always the same route.... Be suspicious of every person approaching you... Scrutinize everything someone says to you... Don't trust to easily... Keep a weapon at you at all times... Always have shelter outside... Keep your own water with you..."
The list went on, quickly turning into hours with many examples these two listed. They had to order twice to wet their lips, and drank their beer with glee.
By the end of it, Mikael head was filled with information. He learned a lot of useful stuff, but that opened up another question.
"So, I still should be suspicious of you two. After all you also told me rarely something comes without its cost."
"Good you listened, makes this easier. Are you perhaps missing something?"
Lars had a mischievous smile on his face, and Mikael took a moment to process his words.
His hands wandered to his hips. He checked all his items, but it was all still there. His backpack by his leg, the book and smaller bag on his hip, together with his purse and hammer.
"No? Guess it's all there." He said, wondering what their intention was.
They stood up, both smirking, Sven shaking his head slightly.
"As we said, Careful of your surroundings. Learning by experience is another important factor."
Other people from another table also looked over, pity in their eyes as they watched this little spectacle.
They watched as both of them walked past Mikael, who had a growing bad feeling rising up his chest, but after another quick check, he found nothing wrong.
"Thank you Mikael, may you in the future honor your experience and teachings. And don't hold a grudge." Lars said, and they left the Guild, receiving a eye rolling from the bartender.
He furrowed his brows, looking over to the table on which a party sat, smiling at him.
"And they just told him."
"Unusally nice, maybe because he's so young."
He was lost, not getting what happened now. "What did I miss?" he asked frustrated, tickling out another chuckle that came from them.
A female adventurer wearing a dark green, sleeveless shirt with fitting trousers and a arming sword on her hips answered:" They didn't do it out of malice, but to tech you. All new ones go through something similar. Check your purse."
'My purse? But it is still here.' he crammed it out, it laying with some weight on his hand.
"Check it." came the command from a male mameber of the group.
He did as told, and to his shock when he emptyed it out, his Big coppers were replaced by small rocks, only two big coppers remaining inside.
"Wait, wha..., they stole my money?"
He couldn't believe it. The coins he worked hard for, from dawn till evening, were gone. "When? How?" he looked perplexed at this pile, switching from disbelief, to anger and back in a matter of seconds.
"At least they left some, saw others even taking their entire backpack plus money, not leaving anything valuable."
Mikael looked flabbergasted at them, making a comical sight with his open mouth and empty purse in hand.
"But still, how? I checked multiple times if something changed, but all was the same."
The female ordered a drink. "For the short one, on our tab."
"Quite easy, they had a accomplice, and while talking to you and ordering drinks, they managed to confuse you enough to replace it. As they said, learn by experience, don't trust everybody, and keep an eye open."
The beer arrived, and the waitress that also delivered drinks to them before put his empty purse on his table without saying anything, only giving him a sorry smile.
He once again was surprised. Even the staff was involved, which he truly didn't suspect.
'Guess that is some real good advice then.' he sighed, thanking the party for the drink and drinking it in a matter of minutes, slowly calming down and pocketing his remaining coins.
He got several comments when he finished, walking towards the door with a pained smile.
"Took it like a real Hunter."
"Heads up, happens sometimes."
"Hope ya learned something, rookie."
He left, strangely not feeling mugged, but more informed than before.
'I still pay you back for that.' he thought, walking towards Jenny's store.
'Maybe she can give me some advice on what to watch out for when gathering herbs, she's a healer after all.
An edge over other possible applicants is only beneficial.'