We spend the rest of the day hunting Bashers as I practice my control and aim. By the time evening approaches I've gotten pretty good. Even Tesk agrees!
"You're still putting too much power into your attacks, but your aim has improved significantly. And you seem to be handling the mental strain of spellcasting so much rather well…" She dissolves into muttered analyses of my skills, but she said I've improved so I'm good!
After re-entering the city we make our way to the Guild to turn in my corpses and get paid. Instead of the main building, Tesk redirects me to the back where I find a slightly smaller building. Opening the door results in cold air leaking out and I shiver.
"Hi Dave, another newbie with some Bashers," Tesk waves at a buff balding man with a bushy beard.
"Ah, Tesk. Always picking up strays. Think this one will stick around?" He chuckles and Tesk turns a bit red. When I give her side-eye about his choice of words she waves her arms in front of her.
"D-don't get the wrong idea. Whenever I see struggling newbies I try to help out. But for whatever reason they usually end up quitting soon after…" She trails off, looking a bit upset at the admittance.
Dave chuckles. "That's cuz the ones struggling tend to be noble brats who didn't realize being an adventurer takes actual WORK. Sure, they can buy their way into the ranks, but when they realize that they can actually get hurt they quit. Ya don't look like a noble brat though, so I'd say you're in good hands." A wide grin spreads across his face, and I return a more reserved one.
I look around, taking in the view of a couple of people dismantling some kind of deer in another part of the building. "So, where should I drop the Basher bodies?"
"Just leave them over here," he gestures next to him. "I'll examine the bodies, then give you a receipt that you can take to the main building for your pay. Depending on how many bodies you brought back it might take a bit of time though."
"That's no problem, though I might wait outside for the assessment. I don't really do well with the cold." I sniff, trying to keep my nose from leaking.
He waves me off. "That's fine, so long as you don't wander off without saying nothing. Can't expect me to go running off searching for you."
I only half heard him since I dumped the bodies and rushed towards the door as soon as he said it was fine. Giving an exasperated sigh, Tesk follows.
Outside I rub the warmth back into my arms, the everchanging clothing apparently not finding being warm to be very important in my current situation. Which is stupid. If I'm cold, the clothes should change so I'm not cold anymore! Stupid clothing with no instinctive changes. Maybe they're voice activated or something…?
I'm pulled from my thoughts by Tesk waving her hand in front of my face. Why does this seem familiar?
"You really space out a lot, you know that?" She shakes her head in exasperation.
"Yep. It's an ongoing problem, but oh well." I shrug, and in response she rolls her eyes.
"You should try to get it under control if you plan to start a team. You can't be ignoring your teammates all the time to space out."
I say nothing in response. I know she's right, but I can't just ditch a lifetime's worth of coping mechanisms at a flick of a tail.
Neither of us say anything more until Dave comes out. "Well, all the slices on the Bashers were clean, but the blood has soaked into parts of them. The nubs are in good condition for the majority of them though. So with ten Bashers, I'd say you've earned about eight silver. No arguing about the price though! We pride ourselves on the accuracy of our assessments." He looks ready to fight, but from what Tesk told me earlier it seems about right. Plus I'm not about to go hunting down merchants to try and get a better deal.
Instead I just accept the receipt and leave the surprised looking man at the building. Inside the main building we get in line to submit the receipt. While we wait I look over my gains from the day's hunting, ignoring the abilities section of the list.
Status:
Name: Seka
Race: Cat Beastkin
Class: Unavailable
L.V: 6
X.P: 459/600
Health: 150/150
Mana: 440/440
Stats:
Strength: 11
Constitution: 15
Dexterity: 14
Agility: 14
Charisma: 23
Intelligence: 22
Wisdom: 11?
Skills:
Identify: 3
Hand-To-Hand: 1
Sneak Attack: 3
Examine: 1
Acting: 2
'Good experience from all the Bashers, and the skill ups gave me some good experience too. A shame I didn't get any bonus for raising the other skills, but it makes sense since Identify was my first skill to get raised. Though it's odd that acting increased.'
I try to think of what acting I've done today but draw up blank. Maybe it was a delayed level up from yesterday…?
I shrug it off as unimportant. By this point I've reached the front of the line and hand my receipt to the receptionist, but it's not Receptionist. I wonder where she's at?
Thanking her and storing the money in my spatial device, Tesk and I go to the front of the Guild where I turn to her. "Thanks for all the help today, Tesk. I really appreciate it."
She waves me off. "It's really no issue. It's the responsibility of a senior to take care of their juniors. I just wish more members adhered to that ideal. Before we go our separate ways, is there anything else you need help with?"
I tap my chin with a finger as I try to think. "Not that I can-oh! Right, I almost forgot. Can you tell me where the bank is? I want to make an account to add some funds to my guild card. Carrying everything in my spatial device makes me kind of nervous."
"Well it's closed at the moment, but it opens at ninth bell tomorrow so you should be able to go then. It's actually right down the street if you make a right leaving the Guild. So long as you go straight you'll come across the main square and see a huge building with , er, ostentatious coverings. You'll know it when you see it." Her face gets a bit cramped when talking about how it looks, but if it's right down the street then even I won't get lost finding it! As long as I can find the Guild again.
"Thanks, I'll see you around!" I give Tesk a quick hug before heading off for The Lady's Boutique. Back at the Guild, Tesk is frozen, a blush slowly spreading across her face. Soon enough though she shakes off whatever surprised her and heads off to her own home.
At the Boutique I eat a dinner of meat and potatoes then head to my room to sleep off the excitement of the day.
I have one last thought as darkness takes me. 'I wonder what I'll do tomorrow…'