I walked together with Sherby's group into the town. Perriot and three others were assigned the duty of carrying the magical beasts. Sherby had said, 'It is unwise for people see you carrying that stuff. Best to leave it to the big boys, huh?' Perriot had revolted at this. Said he just wanted to find a flimsy excuse to keep their lot in the deal.
I was sort of impressed though. Sherby did indeed rope me in with that act of his. Now, I'd even thought I'd find this party again if I had some other sort of odd job that needed their hands. But no matter, it wasn't like him trying to get me to be friends with him was a bad thing. If anything, it just meant I'd have someone to watch my back.
We made our way to the adventurer's guild as soon as we got into town. It was an extremely big building with two large words posted on a sign at the front. I'm sure you can guess what the words were.
Anywho, Sherby left our lot and moved to the counter to make the sales. We patiently waited for a few before he came back and announced to us that they would buy both corpses for six silver coins. My heart leaped as I heard this. Six silver coins was quite much, see.
An average person could survive on just two gold coins for thirteen moons, provided all he buys are his basic amenities. So getting three silvers per a low level beast such as this meant killing a higher level one would give us a lot more. Big time adventurer's must be stinking rich.
"I'm sorry, Jace. If the monster cores were available, she said she woulda bought it for two gold coins." Sherby apologised to me, with a face that made it seem like he'd lost everything he had to live for.
"It's okay, nothing to worry about." I gave him an awkward smile as I comforted him. This got his spirits right back up. Meanwhile, it was all chaos in my mind. A gold coin per beast? Come on, I would be crazy if I said becoming an adventurer right here and now did not have the slightest appeal to me.
Suddenly, I remembered I hadn't been home for about two days now. Father must be worried sick! I swiftly moved and took three silvers from Sherby before quickly dashing out of the adventurer's guild while he was screaming at my back, 'will we see you again?'
I made it to the front of the Xilmoa mansion to find it as normal as ever - calm, quiet and heavily guarded. I strode inside while attempting to test the waters; see if my arrival would create a fuss - it didn't. Surprisingly, I got to my room without the slightest uproar.
If not for the regular greeting by the workers around the mansions, I would have thought I was invisible. In my room, Alphonso was waiting next to my window. Upon opening the door, he turned around with a startle and sharply scolded upon seeing me.
"Where in the heavens were you, Jay? I had servants looking everywhere for you!" I stopped just short of him, noticing the worried and paranoid look on his face. Seemed I did have at least one person who cared about me so. I figured it would be best not to stress this one person to death.
"I'm sorry, I just went out to train." I said as I turned away from his face, giving a white lie.
"Train? You went out to train? Why can't to you train with the Ser in this mansion? Seriously Jay, you had me really worried back there and you come back saying you just went out to train? Unacceptable!"
"Why do you care anyway? Just go, and leave me be." I walked past him and sat on my bed, folding my arms. I was unwilling to continue this argument, and he couldn't force me.
"Fine. You want me to go, I'll go. Let's see who's gonna cover for you the next time you go out to 'train'." He stormed out of the room after saying this. If there was anyone I knew who could talk to me like this while knowing of my status and without incurring a penalty, it was Alphonso. There was certainly no way I would let my father punish my best friend for talking to me how he wanted.
"Huu..." I sighed as I thought about what he had said. It seemed he was the reason there were no patrols moving around searching for me. I'd have to thank him properly the next time. Right now, I had other things to do.
I walked over to Father's study and lightly knocked on the door. He spent most of his time in here; when he wasn't entertaining guests or taking a walk around the mansion, or doing some other spontaneous stuff. However, he did not like to be disturbed when he was in his study. The matter I was bringing to him, however, would require me to disturb him.
"Come in." A light, unclear voice rang from inside the room. I made my way in after I pushed the door gently to reveal a small opening. "You know you are not to disturb me when I am in my study. What is it?" Ah, if not for his patience, I certainly wouldn't have tried disturbing him. Sorry, pops.
"Father, I have a request to make of you." I said, holding my hands in front of me.
"And it can't wait?" I gave no answer to this, I just kept awkwardly staring at him. He finally looked up at my face since I entered the room. "Come on, spill it already. I don't have all day."
"Ah... " I actually didn't expect him to receive me so easily. "I want to become an adventurer."
"An adventurer, huh? Why, pray tell." He went back to the book he was reading as he said this.
"I want to gain experience, so I can protect the family if the need ever arises."
"A noble aim, true. However, you don't need to protect the family, because I can do that job, no?"
"Well you won't be alive forever."
"Are you wishing my death, boy?" He was still reading his book, causing the way he said this to seem a tad scary and yet in serious at the same time.
"What, no no. I would never. It's just... Is not it better to start early in life, rather than wait till I have grey hairs jutting out of my head?"
"Haha, you are right." He looked up at me for a few seconds while his finger kept tapping on the armrest of his chair. "Fine, I'll let you go on one condition."
"Yes, whatever it is!" I brightened at this answer. There was basically nothing he could ask me to do that I couldn't do, right?
"Good, I love your determination. However, I'm afraid determination is not enough for the completion of this task. This task... Is to defeat me. If you can do this I will let you go on and become an adventurer. Otherwise... " There was an extremely serious look on his face as he said this.
At the mention of this, my already brightened expression turned swiftly to a darkened, sullen one.
"You don't mean... "
"Yes, son. I am challenging you to a duel."