For some time, I thought the two were just joking and would come back to celebrate and leave tomorrow.
I was wrong.
They didn't come back.
It was morning, my armor was done, and I was fucking alone.
Argh… I stared at the mirror. The employees were fitting the armor on me and panicking due to my reaction. I felt bad for them but I felt worse for myself.
I looked good. Black armor with spikes and contrast and greatness and all that crap: in the helmet I basically looked like a Walmart Sauron. But no one to show it to.
Vivia was of course staring at me with admiration for some reason. And honestly, I didn't fault her but… sigh.
"Something the matter, my lord?" Even the shop owner was paling now.
"Nothing. It's a good fit. I like it." Voices came out. I wasn't sure if they sounded right to people around me, but hey, they could at least understand me now… and that was thanks to me leveling up considerably last night and finally being able to manipulate electricity, probably. I sounded somewhere between a high-pitched teenager who'd drunk too much wine for the first time, and a really old man with dementia hurling nonsense… probably.
He let out a breath of relief. "I've taken the liberty of reinforcing the outer layer with Mathril. It should be both lighter and tougher than typical armor."
"Great! How much do I owe you?"
Yesterday I sold the snake. I had a whopping 10 Hex coins in my storage and that meant I was hella rich.
"Nothing my lord. Your companions had paid me in full."
Hadn't they paid only half?
"I see, in that case, here's a little tip for you and your employees. Buy yourselves some good food tonight." I gave them a pent coin and left the establishment with Vivia.
It was still early morning and originally, I was supposed to have breakfast with Escalor and Siarre and then bid them farewell.
Well, that didn't happen. But- "Breakfast?" I asked.
Vivia nodded and we went back to the inn.
The food was good. The reaction to my armor set was also pretty good.
Instead of being awed at from every freaking direction, I was just standing out in a moderate fashion. That was all. Exactly what I wanted!
I did feel weird though. I'd been with those two all week. Ever since the first night I came to this world, they were here. They were using me but I was also using them and although that was true, I'd grown somewhat fond of them. No, that wasn't quite it. The more I thought about it, the clearer it got. I was reliant on them and their experience. So, when they left, I felt insecure and I didn't like that…. So that's what…
Weak.
Weak as hell.
"We're going to get some new jobs from the guild," I said.
I was done eating, Vivia was not.
"With how our party halved, it would be best if we took easier jobs for a while and then gradually-" She tried.
"Sure but I was thinking taking on tougher jobs and then leaving this city."
"Leaving the city?"
"It's a big world out there. I'm sure we can find a little adventure somewhere."
Why?
Because I was getting too comfortable with the life here. I got too comfortable with those two and now that they left, I felt terrible. Aka, I hadn't changed much from before and if I kept this up, the conclusion wouldn't be so different either. I didn't want to die like that again.
I didn't want to end up like that again.
No, never again.
And so- even if it meant risking my life, even if it meant, risking Vivia's and everyone else's life- I was going to change. I was going to go out of my comfort zone, and I was going to level up.
"Okay, works for me," Vivia was done eating.
We paid and headed for the guildhall.
This armor really was a blessing of sorts. Not only was it really cool, but when I had my helmet on, people couldn't even tell that it was me, a skeleton!
Not seeing people bow left from right and fawning over me was a good feeling. And if I missed the fawning, I could just take the helmet off and things would be fine again. I sure hell wasn't missing it though. Heh.
"No matter what, the city never really feels anything other than lively," I said. There were hundreds if not thousands of people out.
Some working, some shopping, some just sightseeing or resting. All kinds of people. It was always bustling here. Didn't matter when.
Well, it is a tourist attraction.
Even during the day, the pond was pitch black and apparently if you looked really hard you could see something down there and that was good luck, or so the rumors went.
"This city is special. Not everywhere is like this. There are places where they don't permit anyone other than undead. And there are places where they keep undead as slaves; though the opposite is more likely. There are many places in this world with many different values," Vivia said.
"I suppose," I said. "Speak freely: are you in any way, against me having you as a slave?" I ended up asking her. It was on my mind for a while now. I didn't ask before because I didn't want to look stupid in front of Escalor and Siarre. I'd nearly put up a mask of sorts for them.
"Doesn't matter what I want as this point. What was going to happen, has happened. That's it. However, I am glad you're my master and not some creep with ulterior intentions." She sighed. "Not everyone is as nice as you, you see."
"I'm aware," I snorted. It came out as a grown though.
But she wasn't entirely right. I didn't feel any sexual desire whatsoever. I didn't even have a dick. But what if I did? Would things be any different? Would I have abused power and did things to her?
I didn't know. And I didn't want to think about what if scenarios. I didn't want to even remotely consider those. I always had a bad habit of overthinking and over complicating simple things. This time, I didn't want to fall into that pitfall.
"Where are you going?" Vivia stopped, and yelled from behind.
"Oh right," we almost went past the guild.
Ring!
We went in.
Rowdy as ever. Big strong fellas were looking my way but they went back to their things a moment later anyway when someone else came in.
No one cared. Which was good. cause normally I was the center of attention for almost the entire duration of my stay inside.
This armor was working way better than I could ever hope for.
So- we went over to the board, took some quests and moved to the counter. "Are these still available?"
"The Hobgoblin hunt is available and wait, you're taking on the enchanted cobra?" the lady behind the counter stared at me and Vivia, particularly at Vivia. "Aren't you lord Sean's?" She paused. "Oh, did he hire you too?" She then asked me.
I just nodded. This was kind of fun.
The lady snorted once. "OH well," she smiled. "Feel free to take them. I would advise you take some antidotes though. those snakes are nasty."
"Right!" Vivia said.
And we were off to the marshes… again.