At last, the third great crusade of the sacred kingdom of Avantia had ended. This great conflict, whose main enemy was the barbarian tribe of the Qwenza—savages who worshipped demons and sought to destroy the kingdom of Avantia—had found a victor. The kingdom stood victorious, richer and more treasure-filled than ever before.
However, when any conflict ends, the warriors who gave their lives in the struggle must return to their normal lives. Sometimes they returned to the kingdom to continue serving as soldiers, but other times it was the adventurers and mercenaries who returned with pockets full of money earned during the war.
Many adventurers, however, were not fortunate enough to secure loot that would last for years. Often, they only managed to get just enough to live for a couple of years, and then waited for the next great war to offer their services again. The kingdom had no place for adventurers and mercenaries, as the guard was relentless about the needs of its people. There wasn't much that a group of adventurers or mercenaries could do, so they practically became unemployed and aimless during each period of peace.
Fortunately, with the return of thousands of needy adventurers and mercenaries, a new beacon of hope emerged that could help them find simple, everyday jobs unrelated to war or conflict. This beacon was an employment agency known as "The Golden Dragon" which trained these adventurers and mercenaries to learn simpler trades and live off them while waiting for the call to arms.
The Golden Dragon was responsible for teaching the most muscular warrior, the most skilled elf with bows or daggers, the most adept mage or sorceress in arcane arts, and the most stealthy assassin how to plow the land, prepare any food, drive a cart, and forge steel with a hammer. In short, any simple task was taught, and they could even secure contracts with any employers or companies in need of staff, without any previous experience, of course.
Thanks to this employment agency, a young man named Dimitri Polock Argento came in one calm morning to drop off his mercenary resume and find a job that suited him perfectly. Dimitri was not the best of mercenaries, but he had qualities that had made him stand out during his time in the crusade, so he was confident that he could find a good job here. More accurately, he needed to find one, as his bills, food, and his home were in danger of disappearing in the blink of an eye.
—Well... here I am... Employment Agency "The Golden Dragon"... I don't think I've ever felt so nervous since I killed my first rock lizard... I wonder if I'll find something good here — Dimitri shook off his shyness for a moment and stepped into the large building of well-maintained white bricks, probably painted recently. Upon arriving at what seemed to be the lobby, a somewhat cozy place with fine furniture and numerous job advertisements on the walls, he felt a pit in his stomach. He would have preferred to stay in the crusade with his old companions rather than do this; getting stabbed in the shoulder by a dying enemy seemed less embarrassing than this, or at least that's what Dimitri thought. However, shortly after approaching one of the many desks in the lobby, a dwarf with long, well-kept brown hair, wearing a not very fine green dress and well-maintained glasses, came forward.
—How can I help you, young man? — asked the dwarf politely.
—Hello, I passed by this street yesterday and heard a street speaker announcing that you had new job openings here, so I wanted to leave my... um... resume here. Maybe you could help me find a job. I'm a mercenary, but since there is finally peace in the kingdom, I don't have a backup job. So... could you help me, miss? — Dimitri handed over a folded sheet from his pocket that had his general information, address, and his rather unremarkable mercenary career.
—Of course, sir. My name is Valeria Drumma, and I'll be assisting you in your job search. Let's see... Dimitri Polock Argento... 25 years old... no work experience but extensive mercenary experience... you were in the crusade... skilled with a rapier and with knowledge of survival in wild environments... it seems to be a promising resume, Mr. Dimitri. Now I'll note a few more things to create a file for you at the agency, understood? — Valeria took a stack of blank sheets from a drawer in her desk and began to jot down a series of questions. For Dimitri, this was somewhat embarrassing because he was not used to talking much with people beyond his employers on some contract or task.
—25-year-old male, height... about 1.82 meters, approximately 95 kilograms in weight... dark skin... short black hair... I believe that would be the most accurate physical description, Mr. Dimitri — Valeria said as she noted each detail in the upper-left corner of the sheet where she had written the questions she was about to ask. — Mr. Dimitri, are you single or married? Do you have children or live alone?
—Single... I don't have children either — Dimitri replied. Valeria wrote down the answer and then added one more note that Dimitri could not read. Before he could even attempt to look closer, Valeria continued with the questions. — Did you do any work as a young man, such as working on a farm, watching over livestock, being an apprentice blacksmith, or being a hunter? — Valeria asked, not taking her eyes off the paper.
—None, miss. Since I was a child, I used to deal with small pests with a kitchen knife I found. I have always been a mercenary and only learned to read and write because some... um... allies taught me to avoid being cheated in contracts — Dimitri explained.
—Well, no experience of any kind, mercenary for life... let's see... Do you have any criminal record? Do you have any enemies or rival mercenary groups that might seek to assassinate you? — The question took Dimitri by surprise, but instead of answering yes or no to both questions, he preferred to simply shake his head. Valeria observed Dimitri's reaction and, although she expected a verbal answer, she did not get one. — Well... let's leave it as no for both questions. Lastly, are you willing to take any job the agency offers you, even if it's not something you expect or want? — Valeria seemed quite serious with this particular question. Dimitri smiled for a moment and pointed to the wall full of job vacancy ads.
—If you give me a good contract, a decent pay, and a job that doesn't involve numbers or too many letters... I'll accept it without complaints — Dimitri said.
—Well, those were the necessary questions the agency asks all its new prospects. For the job you applied for, they might ask for more information, but that's all from my side — Valeria said, carefully folding the question sheet and placing it with Dimitri's resume in a leather folder where she wrote Dimitri's name in very fine black ink. — You're in luck, sir. Not only were you the first to come to the agency, but I also have a job that could be useful to you. It pays well, around 50 gold coins a week... are you interested?
Dimitri immediately smiled, shaking Valeria's hand with enthusiasm and firmness.
—Of course, miss. I'm very interested... what do I need to do?
Dimitri's first simple job was none other than working as a guard for a small deposit of valuable minerals on the outskirts of the kingdom. Valeria shared more details about the job, but Dimitri was so pleased to be starting a job related to something he knew, like guarding and securing the deposit, that he was eager to begin as soon as possible. What could be seen as a boring and demanding job to others was perfectly suited to his skills. So, after clearing up his doubts about the job with Valeria, the young former mercenary ran out of The Golden Dragon to prepare his weapon and tools since his new job as a mining deposit guard would start the next afternoon.