A villager headed to Differentia for new livestock offered to give us a ride back, so we accepted. While the wagon was bumpy and uncomfortable, it definitely beat walking.
During the ride, I decide to check my stats.
[God's Blessing]
Level 1: Human
Class: Rogue
Strength: 7
Agility: 8
Fortitude: 4
Stamina: 10
Mind: 9
My eyes widen at how much I've already improved.
All of the stats max out at 100, and you can level up after getting all of your stats to at least 80.
So the fact that my stamina is already 1/8 of the way to leveling up is mindblowing.
'Matt just leveled up, and I think because he took down a General by himself. The level up conditions must have something to do with defeating powerful enemies.'
When the group finally made it back to the town we thanked the villager, then decide to split up. Matt waves goodbye as he, Bernadette, and Alcon take the equipment and materials to the market. Natalia and I head to the Guild to report the completed quest and to collect our reward. We also need to talk to someone about the Goblin King and the potential threat he poses.
"I'm sorry, only level 5 adventurers or higher can request a meeting with the Building Manager."
After grabbing our reward from the desk lady, Natalia and I leave in disappointment. After thinking for a bit, I might have found a solution.
"We might be able to have Burch or one of the other teachers request a meeting for us. They should be a high enough level, and will at least listen to us."
Natalia taps her thigh.
"My teacher wont work, I was mostly taught by a level four Druid. What about Burch?"
"He's level seven, so let's head to the house real quick."
Natalia looks at me in confusion.
"What house?"
"Oh, you've never been there, have you? Well, it's time for you to see where I trained!"
***
"This isn't a house, it's a mansion!"
I smile and laugh at Natalia, then slip off a ring and press it into the middle of the door. After hearing a click, I push the door open to find all the lights off. Motioning for Natalia to stay put, I slip past the doorway.
I quickly check the ground floor for any signs of struggle, but it looks like no one has been in the house for at least 2 days. Stepping into the dinning room, I find a note lying on the table.
"Not sure who's gonna be reading this, but I'm gonna be gone for a couple of months. We have a new recruit, so don't kill him if you see him in the house. However, feel free to kick his ass and teach him a thing or two.
-Burch"
I release a large sigh after reading the letter.
'Where did you go Burch.'
I place the letter back on the table and walk outside. Natalia, who was appreciating the outside of the mansion, looks at me hopefully.
"He's gonna be gone for a few months, so no luck over here."
Disappointed, we head back to town to meet up with everyone else. After explaining the situation I ask how selling the supplies went.
They ended up getting around 6 silver, which is 4 silver less than what we got for the quest.
By a majority vote of 4-1, we decide to give the village 5 of the 6 silver and put the last one towards our party's savings.
After splitting the quest reward we head to Wyvern's Head. The main room is dark and gloomy, and the clientele looks like a bunch of crooks. The first time we came in, everyone had looked around nervously as Alcon confidently found a table. Now its just Matt that looks anxious.
After a ten minute wait, a waitress finally walks over to take our order.
"What do you guys want to drink?"
"Get me and the guys tankards of ale, the girls glasses of wine."
Alcon is the one that responds to the waitress, who looks like she's on something. Giving him a nod, she walks away before we can interject.
Alcon grins at us and starts excitedly flipping through the menu. Everyone else picks up the menus too and starts looking at their options.
I flip to the first page, but quick move to the next one.
'Forgot about that. Why is the first category rodents, and how is it popular enough to be on the menu?!'
As I'm looking, a few of the things on the menu turn my stomach but all in all it looks decent. I decide on the sheep burger and set the menu to the side.
At this point, the waitress has returned. With skill betraying her appearance, she pours each of us guys a tankard of ale and the girls a glass of wine. After taking everyone's order, she zooms off again.
"Do you really expect me to drink this? I'm not paying for it."
"Don't worry Nat, I'll pay for it but you have to drink it."
"What did you just call me?!"
Ignoring Natalia, Alcon starts downing his ale, only stopping once half of it's gone.
Seeing his gusto, I also decide to try the ale. Surprisingly, it's pretty good. Last time I stuck to food, but am happy to drink the brew tonight. Matt and Bernadette trade beverages. She also downs half of her tankard while Matt swirls then sips his wine.
Seeing the rest of us participating, Natalia begrudgingly takes a sip. Apparently she seemed to find it pretty good since she continues sipping on it.
Not wanting to be left behind, I match Bernadette and Alcon until there's not a drop left in our cups. Luckily, the waitress comes with our food so we order another round for us three.
As I bite into the burger, fatty juices drip and some of the vegetables fall to my plate. The meal also comes with roast potatoes on the side, and I can't get enough of the interesting yet fantastic mix of flavors. In no time the waitress comes back with three more tankards, my food nearly halfway gone.
Before we can start drinking the next round, Alcon stands and raises his cup.
"To us completing our first quest!"
""Cheers!""
Both Bernadette and I raise our cups, then the three of us take a large swig.
The night continues like this, each of us proposing a new toast for each round. Matt and Natalia dont participate, sticking to the wine. When a fight breaks out in the bar Alcon stands abruptly.
"O-o-ok, time to win some money!"
He's clearly hammered, stumbling to and fro, but makes it to the circle where coins are being passed between hands already. Matt chuckles darkly, his cheeks a touch rosy from a third glass of wine and his next words slurred.
"Ish he really doing this afer the pash few days we've had? We've seen so much vience recently, how can he sh-tand more? And he's prollably gonna lose his money anyway-"
Alcon is already returning, a red cheeked smile on his face.
"Aaaaand bam! The rest of the dr-uh-drinks are on me!"
A pouch filled with silver falls to the table, surprising us all. We can't help but accept his offer, drinking another one, and another, and we finally reach the last round.
Solemnly, I stand up, swaying slightly while raising my cup.
"To those poor villagers and the families that had to go through that. They didn't deserve that, and I will make sure no one else has to. We will make sure."
Even Natalia and Matt raise their cup and drink when I make this toast. We all silently finish whats in our cups, then head back to the dorms. As soon as my head hits my pillow I pass out, having a dreamless sleep.