As the new day began, I quickly finished freshening up as excitement coursed through my veins. Today would be my first day of classes with Otto, of which I was sure I would learn many new things. After having sold my family's donkey yesterday, I used the several silver pieces I had received to purchase several feathered pens, a few bottles of ink, and large amounts of parchment so that I would be capable of taking many notes during my lessons.
Grabbing my bag filled with my school items, I quickly made my way out to have breakfast while taking a quick glance at my status window. I was quite curious as to what the difference was between a feeble creature and a feeble corpse, though judging by the fact that I could also summon a feeble spirit, I thought that the difference may be the aspect of a soul or spirit residing within the body of the arisen creature.
I knew I wouldn't be able to summon anything in the near future, after all. I didn't have any major excuse to be going out into the woods, let alone going into dungeons in an attempt to summon anything. And figuring that gaining as much survival education as possible was the higher priority compared to attempting to learn more about my class and skills. Once just one person found out I was a necromancer, I would have to immediately run since more people will come; it didn't matter if they came to investigate the death of the witness, or if they came because I let the witness live and they alerted the inquisition.
After breakfast, the morning passed by quickly as I and Otto's five other students recorded everything Otto was teaching us. Amongst the small number of adventurers who had been awakened in the past month, only two of them were actual healer type classes, the other three were people who were taking these classes so they could later lower their parties' costs by being able to know the different healing herbs and what medicinal remedies and potions could be made out of them.
An upside that I was happy for was the fact that no one knew who I was, and so none of them knew that I was "classless", leading to them being quite friendly with me. I didn't have any intention of getting to know any of them closely, after all, I would eventually have to leave, and they would most likely cut contact with me upon learning that I was classless.
By the time lunch came, my head was already aching due to all the different types of herbs Otto was teaching us. Looking at my detailed notes and diagrams, I grimaced after seeing the nearly thirty different herbs we had spent the last few hours going entirely in depth. The good thing though was that I would have these entirely recorded and would never have to worry about forgetting what types of herbs they were.
Otto would be teaching a class that was farther along than my group, since they had awakened a month or so ago, during the afternoon, leading to me having the entire afternoon to myself. As much as I wished to be able to go and sit through one of the other theory classes that were being offered, since I was not registered as an adventurer, I would not be allowed into their classes, unless I paid an exorbitant price.
But I had very little to my name, added into the fact that I would also begin paying for my stay in the next month, meaning I needed to come up with a source of income quickly. The only thing I could think to do, would be to try and find a job out in town, and as such I left the manor after lunch. As I wandered around, I eventually came across one of the town's butcheries. The large burly man behind the counter seemed like a jovial fellow as he spoke with both his customers and suppliers.
After the people in his store left, the butcher gave me a soft glance before returning his attention to the slab of meat he was cutting up. "What can I get ya kid?"
"Good afternoon sir. I was wondering if it would be possible to get a job here as your assistant."
The butcher paused as he looked at me with a raised eyebrow, scrutinizing me as he made mental judgments on what he thought of me. "Ye ever cleaned an animal before?"
"Only chickens and rabbits sir. My family didn't raise any other animals."
"How's yer handling with a knife?"
"I'm somewhat decent thanks to my father, though definitely not as good as you."
"Well, me boy came an adventurer just last spring, and I'll need the extra set of hands to prepare all me meat before winter. When can ye start?"
"I'm one of Master Otto's trainees, and so I won't be able to work all day, only in the afternoons after lunch, and I can start now if need be." I responded quickly upon hearing his willingness to higher me.
Reaching up to scratch his thick but short beard, the butcher nodded to himself before speaking. "Aight lad, since yer only be working half a day, I'll only be paying ye for half a day's work. I can pay ye three copper pieces each day you work."
"Thank you so much sir!" Bowing my head in gratitude, I quickly prepared to do whatever he asked of me.
Shaking his head, he replied with a low chuckle. "Name's Donven. No need for any bowing, and lastly, I like yer spirit to start working, but ye need some practice and teaching before we can get you started. If yer free this evening, come on back after I've closed up shop, I'll be able to teach ye then. "
Nodding in understanding, I once more thanked Donven before making my way out of the butchery. I still had a long part of the afternoon, and with nothing better to do, I figured now would be a good time to wander and explore the town.
As I explored the town, I discovered the single blacksmith, two more butcheries, several dozen taverns, and finally a small library. The library had been funded by the mayor, along with the guild, to mostly house many stories about different legends around the world along with every local found creature, plant, and item so as to allow to populace to both have a place to relax while also being able to learn of the different dangers in the region they called home.
By time I had finished my exploration, it was already becoming evening, and was roughly time for supper. I immediately rushed back to the guild, had my dinner, and then made my way back to Donven's butchery. That evening, Donven spent teaching me the process of skinning, cleaning and then butchering different animals, with many of them being different wild animals that hunters brought in, and a few domesticated pigs that some farmers had brought for coin.
By the time I returned to my room that night, I felt quite knowledgeable about how to butcher the different animals, and thanks to my notes that I had made while he was teaching me, I figured that I wouldn't have to worry about the future when I finally made my way out of here. What's more is, now that I would have a stable job being able to pay for my costs, but my job was also the perfect job to get me accustomed to dead creatures, and being able to learn their body structures. I also felt it would be best to hit the library and learn what I could about the different monsters in the area, but I would have to fit that maybe in the evenings when I wasn't working.
As time flew by, I quickly found my days falling into a state of repetition, wake up, have breakfast, go to Otto's class, have lunch, work for Donven, return to the guild to have supper, and then maybe go to the library to inscribe several of the books there for my own collection. By time I had realized, the entire first month had passed and Otto was standing before me.
"Aight boy, I've gone ahead and stopped by Natilda's records to get the document on how much you would owe the guild for this month. The room costs twenty copper a week, so that will be sixty copper due. The meals cost ten copper a week, leading to thirty copper due. Your total dues would come out to be exactly ninety copper for the entirety of this month."
Hearing this, I looked at Otto with slight confusion, "Teacher, you forgot to mark the cost of your classes."
Otto glanced up at me before he gave a soft sigh. "Kid, I know for a fact you wouldn't be able to afford my classes, especially since you aren't going on any quests or hitting any dungeons. Other than blacksmithing or tanning, you wouldn't be making much copper to begin with. As such, I'm willing to cut your expenses from my class, if you're willing to become my assistant after you complete my class. I've seen how hard you've been working, along with the precise notes you've been making. Compared to the others, you are by far, my best student, and as such, I'm willing to take you as a proper apprentice once you finish my basic course."
Gratitude filled my heart, though I couldn't return much to this man, the kindness he had shown me would forever remind me that there is still some worth in others. "I won't let you down, sir." Nodding my head in thanks, I immediately agreed to becoming his apprentice.
"Good, I hope you continue working as hard as you have been in the next few months. After all, I'm going to begin covering more advanced herbs, brews, and potions in the next few months."