I spend the evening reading some books about the history of the city. Pretty boring but meh not much else to read. I wish I had a phone from my old life.
I start hearing some ruffles and I turn my head to see Arla shifting in her bed a bit. She shifts herself over to her side facing my direction but is still asleep. I can't help but smile to the sight of her sleeping.
-Next day-
I walk up bright and early towards the window with my bare chest to the window as I open it. I feel the breeze go passed me and it feels nice. I notice some people walking by just staring at me like I am a weirdo which I am proud of.
I leave the window open and get a brown tight shirt and black and boots on. Arla seems to still be sleeping so I will let them sleep the rest of the time. I am sure she will be fine here.
I walk out of the room and lock it with my set of keys and move downstairs where the tiger man has a book in one hand is sipping tea out of the other hand.
"Good morning kid. hope you slept well"
"I did, I also think Arla has since she is still sleeping cozy."
"Thats good"
I head outside of the tavern and breath in and out deeply ready for this new day. I start walking down towards the Adventurers Guild building where we circled for hotels and taverns around.
As I make my way there I get stares from orcs and humans as I walk by. Very uncomfortable for me of course but ignoring them is my best course of action.
-10 minutes later-
I finally arrive at the front of the building and it has a sign that says "Iron Maiden". I wonder what that is supposed to mean. I know what iron maiden is but eh who am I kidding.
I open the door and eyes immediately go towards me like a deer hearing a snap. I suddenly feel this was a mistake but I can't back down if I want to be an adventurer. I walk inside slowly looking at both sides with uncomfortable eyes on me but I push through it.
Most of those looking at me are human and I see a few beastmen but most of them are grouped up at a specific table.
I make myself known to the front desk and ring a bell for attention. Eventually, as I wait people start talking normally again and continue with their own business.
I wait for a while then eventually a woman with a uniform in black comes out and places her hands on the table with a wide smile.
"Hello sir. How may I help you?
"Hi I was wondering about applying to be an adventurer or something?"
"Ah yes, not long ago we had some new recruits. But lets just say you aren't exactly welcomed newcomer."
Great here we go again.
"But you seem like a nice guy so I will make an exception." *Winks*
An exception of being welcomed? Huh?
"Hmm lets see. Ah yes I think we can make room for you to join our club if you will hehe"
"Awesome! What do I have to do"
"Strip down..."
"E-excuse me?"
"It is for an examination sir. Please do understand this is guidelines," she says while tilting her head
"Guidelines? Let me see them!"
"I am sorry but we ran out of those so please strip down.
"No!"
"then you can't apply for a membership"
"But I-"
"Nope..."
*sigh* "Fine"
I take off my shirt and then my pant but that is all I will remove!
She widens her eyes to her surprise as I do it and sees my muscles and abs and calves and all. She eyes me intently and bites her bottom lip. I get the feeling this was a trick and I made a fool of myself.
"W-well then I suppose you..ahem made the cut. So please sign here."
"Really? That was it?"
"Did you want more to be stripped down?" she asks
"N-no! I mean no..."
I am glad I don't need to strip any more than I need to. I have already embarrassed myself more than I needed to. I will say though it seemed she had the hots for me when I flexed a little of my muscles. I did it because I was cold not because I wanted to.
I take my clothes back on and sign the papers. I guess that makes me a member of the guild I suppose that easily.
"As a bonus for your uhm, demonstration...We will allow you to get lower-level contracts for now."
Okay, then I guess I am getting started now. I wonder what is available. Hopefully something good for a beginner for someone like me. Suddenly however I hear screaming.
I turn my head and many others do as well and run out of the building outside. I follow suit as well. As I make my way outside I hear someone screaming about a kidnapping of a cart. The cart had some hostages and had been hijacked.
"Someone help! Th-the cart has been hijacked!"
The cart I notice starts moving away and start speeding up and takes a turn on a block. I guess that was the cart that was hijacked. Suddenly all the people from the building start following in pursuit of the cart in all directions. I also do as this could be my chance to prove myself. I have already gotten some experience fighting some thugs so this shouldn't be to hard. Right?
I take a few left turns and follow the sound of screaming. I eventually cut off the cart and notice it speeding my way. I pretend to get out of the way but jump on the side of the cart keeping myself tightly on the speeding object.
I make my way up the side and see and man wrestling with what seems to be a young girl who is blonde with red eyes. She seems to be crying while fighting back. I need to help her. I try to pry the door open but the moving vehicle makes it hard while also the door is locked.
"Damn! The old fashioned way"
I take my left hand and ball it into a fist and punch through the door window and open it from the inside. The man inside noticed me and attempts to push me out but I grab him and throw him out of the window easily with my strength.
I then make my way inside and she is screaming. She definitely is afraid of me for what is going on. I try to hush her and show I am not a threat but she keeps crying and screaming. I need to get her off of the cart. The best way to do that is to jump but I doubt she will.
"Hey, we need to jump off okay?"
"W-what? No! I am too afraid!"
I try to convince her but we go over a bump in the road and I fall backward nearly falling out of the cart. I catch myself and notice another way to deal with her safely is to take out the driver. I get back on the outside and climb on top where there is second guys who notice me.
"H-hey who the fuck are you?!"
"I am nobody"
"Grr!" the man says
He runs at me with a blade which I easily grab his wrist as he missed me and throw him off the cart. He falls as the cart keeps going and he rolls on the ground. I then look at the driver who finally notices me after I threw the other guy and he runs at me with a wooden club of some sorts.
"What the? Where are...Agh whatever! I will deal with you myself!" he pulls out two knives and charges at me. He attempts to stab me with his right arm but I grab his wrist and kick him in the nuts. He winces but attempts to stab me with his left arm next. I catch it, turn him around then chuck him over into the street. But now there is no driver and I notice the horses are running wilding and have gotten away snapping the ropes.
Shit, not I can steer! I need to get her off this before it crashes in a wall! I climb back inside the carriage where she is holding one of the knives I knocked off of the guy and she shakes.
I knock it out of her hands and grab her and jump out quickly. My back hits the ground and we roll for a bit mostly me taking the brunt of the pain and impact. We roll a good 20 feet until we stop and the cart crashed into a wall shattering its front of it.
My back hurts as well as my chest from the arrow not that long ago. I got some scratches from the fall as well but that will heal. I notice I got a big gash from the fall on my left elbow but that is fine. Not life-threatening.
I get up and the girl gets up as well with tears in her eyes and she is whimpering. She is afraid and alone I need to confront her until the authorities come. I take my hand and help her up and she takes it. I speak to her with the calmest and softest tone I can.
"It's okay, you are safe now. Your won't be hurt by those men anymore"
Her eyes glitter up in tear and she hugs me around my waist crying. She seems so afraid and scared. But I think she is just glad all that stress and likely trauma has finally passed over for now. Before I can reciprocate the hug I hear yelling.
"Overhear there! Thats them!"
Finally the guards have arrived. Maybe-wait...
"There there move!"
They are very aggressive I get but they seem almost over aggressive with here movements. Wait do they think I am apart of the group that attempted the hijacking?
"Get don't he ground now!" one says while pointing a crossbow at me
I move the little girl behind me and shield her from them but they take it as a threat and fire shots at me.
"Agh! Shit!"
I got shot in the leg by one of them and fall over backward. They start advancing toward me and the little girl runs in front of me and hugs me. I think she is shielding me from the archers.
I sighs in pain and the sharpness I recognise returns