Aron had thought of a pressing issue on his way home. He had just used almost all of his remaining coin and had no income whatsoever. He needed coin if he was to keep the house and still have some food on the table.
'I should go to the job center.'
The job center was a place where many applied for a job. It was a place where many businesses offered up positions to those that had the qualities necessary. Aron pondered on what jobs he could apply for. He did not have many skills beyond swordsmanship.
Aron took one last step and before he knew it he was home.
'I better get this to Katarina.'
Aron opened the creaking front door and went inside. Katarina was lying in bed where Aron had left her. She was breathing heavy.
"Katarina, wake up." Aron pushed her slightly, waking her up.
He helped her sit straight and put the potion to her lips. She drank it carefully.
"Thank you, Aron. I will be bed written for some time, but it shall help in couple of hours."
"Anything for you." He said with a smile.
"Will you be fine if I leave you alone?"
"I will, but where are you going?"
Aron sighed and then spoke.
"I am going to see if I can find a job. This potion was quite expensive." He says with a light smile.
"Oh, Aron. I am sorry for being an inconvenience." She was looking down on her lap fiddling with her fingers.
Aron cupped her hands in his.
"You are not. And you will never be." Aron smiled on last time and asked.
"Do you need anything before I leave?"
"Could you maybe bring me a cup of water?"
Aron smiled and went out to the kitchen. There he opened a barrel of water and dipped a cup into it. He brought it to Katarina and reassured her of his safe return.
Aron was now out in the streets again and the day was still young. The sun had just reached its pinnacle and was harassing the people walking wherever they went.
For Aron it was not much. Extreme temperatures were something he was battling from way before his time as a knight.
Aron grew up in the southern part of Bonetdei. There the summer was scorching and the winter all consuming. It gave him the resilience needed to become a knight. Aron had no noble title, so his knighthood was taken away just as easily as it was given.
The job center was at the center of the marketplace. So, it was not too long a walk. Whilst walking Aron felt a little peaceful. This made him more wary of his surroundings. Aron knew how peace was an illusion, that would be his downfall. He could not let his guard down. Just as he was sure no one was following him he bumped into a small kid.
"My apologies, sir."
The child quickly tried to run past him but to the child's demise, Aron had impeccable instincts. He firmly grabbed the child's wrist yanking him back towards him.
"Give what is mine", Aron said menacingly. He had no mercy for thieves.
"I don't' know what you mean, sir."
"Do you take me for a fool?"
Aron tightened his grip feeling the bones and tiny muscles bend. He had forgotten how easy. I was to break children's bones and also, how satisfying it was.
The boy cried out in pain. This made Aron smile uncontrollably. He had truly forgotten this feeling. The feeling of pure adrenalin he got from hurting others. It had always been a part of him but he didn't hate it.
"Please have mercy, sir! I have your coin here!"
He reached out in his jacked and took out Aron's pouch. Aron did not have much so he could not afford to lose any coins on him.
Around him a small crowd of people had circled Aron and the boy. They wore scornful looks, but not towards Aron. No, Towards the thief was all hatred aimed. Thieves were extremely despised in the capital. Normally the punishment for thieving would be maiming. You could say Aron was showing mercy when he let the boy out of his grip.
The boy looked confused but was quickly on his way. He did want what punishment would await him.
Aron casually returned on his path. While walking he thought to himself.
'Should I seek out a mercenary group?'
Whilst pondering this Aron attached his pouch of coins to his brown leather belt. It had seen better days but was still in good condition.
…
After some time, Aron was in front of the job center.
Around him the market was abuzz, with haggling and people behind booths yelling out their prices. The heat of the sun was blocked by the many large pieces of colorful cloths intertwined like a spider's web. There where small holes where light could shine down making small dust particles in the air visible. The ground was of many sandstones in an intricate pattern that leads to the middle of the market.
Aron entered the building and was meet by a refreshing draught.
'Where is the cold air coming from?' Aron thought.
Moving on he walked past multiple people sitting on stools. Some were agitated and others concerned. The atmosphere was quite unpleasant, but the cold air helped relieve some of the tension. The cold was pleasant when it caressed Aron's damp forehead.
When he had walked through the narrow waiting area he was meet by a receptionist.
They looked up from their papers and gave a professional smile.
"How my I assist you today?"
It was a young man that spoke maybe 19 of age. He had a fine outfit that seemed in order. It was nothing flashy, but it was clean and well maintained. He almost looks like a butler who chose a grey pallet instead of the traditional black and white.
"I am in need of a job."
The receptionist looked dumbfounded for a second but no more than that.
"I see, sir. May I inquire about what kind of job you are seeking?"
"What kind of jobs do you have available?"
The receptionist took a deep breath and explained in a monotone voice. With a demeanour of one that has done the same thing a hundred times over and is now forced to do it again.
"We have a wide variety of jobs available, if you could inform me of your preferred type of work it would help along the process of finding a suitable job for your specific skillset."
Aron had to process what the receptionist had said for a second and then responded.
"Anything with fighting or hard labour. I am quite adept at those." Aron said with a small smile.
The receptionist suddenly looked upon Aron's figure in a judgemental way. After a second, he seemed to have found what he was looking for.
"You seem quite sturdy." He said drily.
"Eh, thank you?"
"It wasn't a compliment, sir. Simply an observation."
Aron didn't know how to feel about that. He was a little annoyed but let it pass.
"How about working as a bodyguard?"
"That sounds perfect!"
"I am glad, sir." The way he said it did not seem believable.
'This man is lucky I don't crack his neck.'
Aron thought while clenching his fists. He unclenched them immediately taking control of his agitated mind.
"All I need is you papers, sir."
"What papers?" Aron said exasperated.
"Your identification and an application."
"Can I not work without it?"
"My good sir" The receptionist began with a wicked smile on his lips.
"We are running a legitimate business with legitimate customers. If you have no way to prove your identity, we can simply not accept your work. For all we know you may be a convicted criminal."
The smile slowly subsided and he was back to his usual professional demeanour.
'What an ugly personality.' Aron thought looking at the man before him.
'Such a vile person. Deriving pleasure from other people's annoyance!' Aron failed to see the irony of his thoughts.
"Where does one go for such papers?"
"That would of course be at the ministry." The receptionist said as if it was the most obvious fact in the world.
"I don't assume that it is a free service. Acquiring these papers, I mean."
"It is not."
Aron was close to breaking.
'This insufferable bastard! He does not know how easy killing him would be. I just need to take the pen at the desk and-'
Aron interrupted his own thoughts by once again clenching his fists, so much so, that he drew blood.
"How much?"
"For what?" The receptionist asked with a satisfied smile.
'This guy really needs a beating.'
Aron relaxed himself and asked.
"How much for the identification paper? "
"Ten"
'That is not so bad. Ten silver coins is doable.'
"Gold."
"What?"
"It costs ten gold to get the identification papers you seek. You also need at least one person to attest that you are who you say. "
"That's fraudulent!". Aron had accidently yelled that out loud.
Know the receptionist was smiling like never before. All eyes were on them. The atmosphere turned tense.
"How is it fraudulent? It is not our problem that you do not have the means to buy certain documents."
"That is overpriced. Not only does the price not make sense but why do I ha-"
Aron was interrupted.
"Now listen here, sir! You should take that poor attitude and go where yo-".
The world was in slow-motion for Aron.
'This arrogant fool dares interrupt me while I'm talking? He thinks he is better, because of his posh demeanour!?
Suddenly the receptionist's words were muffled. A big, callused hand covered his mouth. Then the man, whose hand was over his mouth spoke.
"You petite weasel" It was said in a whisper, but the expression the man had was terrifying.
It made the receptionist's knees buckle slightly.
"You will know respect!"
Aron yelled out whilst slamming the receptionist's head down on his desk.
*BAM*
…
*BAM*
*BAM*
The receptionist was bleeding profusely, but it was nothing serious. Just a broken nose Aron reckoned.
The place was silent and then people began screaming. Women cried whilst men were yelling to call for the guards.
Aron thought of the consequences, but they didn't strike him as severe. He had gotten a huge adrenaline rush from what had happened. The insolent brat who dared speak mockingly while Aron himself was polite had just learned a lesson he will never forget.
'Don't fuck with me!'
Aron was now calmed down.
People had now begun to run out.
Aron followed, as he needed to avoid being prosecuted. He also still needed to find a job.
'Maybe I should join some mercs' Aron thought to himself as he walked out of the center's front door
The buzz of the market seemed to have been affected little by what had happened inside. Aron hurried away, while several people pointed him out to other onlookers.
"There! The criminal is running away!"
But Aron had already turned around a corner and was continuing down an alley.
Aron had to go the last place where he could find work. Even if he had previously thought of himself as better, he now had little choice.
His next stop; The Adventures Guild.