Raymond blinked, trying to process what was right before him. The blue panel hovered in the air, its glowing letters steady and clear.
"I'm not imagining things!" he thought, a thrill of excitement washing over him. "My cheat is finally here!"
With a quiet breath of relief, Raymond grinned, grateful he hadn't missed this opportunity. He had heard stories of mysterious powers, abilities only the chosen could unlock, and now, it seemed he was one of them. He wouldn't need to wait years for some distant chance, his moment was now.
As he stood there, clutching a tray of rum and snacks he was supposed to deliver, he noticed Arya, a fellow server, signaling to him from across the restaurant. She gave a quick wink and shifted her gaze left and right, her eyebrows raised in a teasing way.
"Is she trying to get me to laugh?" Raymond chuckled to himself. "Come on, Arya, we're in a restaurant, wait…"
Raymond's heart sank as he realized he'd frozen in the middle of the dining area, tray still in hand. He was supposed to deliver the refreshments to the rowdy adventurers at the back table. Mrs. Becker, the restaurant's stout, no-nonsense owner, had spotted his hesitation. She marched toward him, her brows furrowed, and he braced himself.
"Raymond!" she snapped, snatching the tray from his hands. "That's today's pay gone!" Her voice was sharp and final. Without a second glance, she turned and carried the drinks to the adventurers herself, all smiles and servile charm despite her earlier frustration.
The scene was almost comical if it weren't so tense. The two adventurers barely looked at Mrs. Becker, who, with a tight, nervous grin, approached them cautiously.
Before she could even settle herself near the table, one of the adventurers, a hulking figure in dented armor, slammed his fist on the wooden surface. "Can't you tell we're not in the mood for company?" he snarled, his voice deep and dripping with irritation. "Just leave the drinks and go."
Mrs. Becker's face flushed as she stammered, "Y-yes, of course! Please, enjoy." She scurried back to the counter, her hands visibly trembling.
Raymond glanced over at Arya. Their eyes met, and they both fought to stifle grins, a shared amusement flickering between them. Mrs. Becker, normally so commanding, had been put firmly in her place, and they couldn't help but relish the moment.
As the excitement died down, Raymond drifted to a quiet corner of the restaurant, eager to examine the panel that had appeared before him. It floated in front of him, still and expectant, displaying his basic information in crisp, blue text.
- Name: Raymond Kelton
- Age: 15
- Occupation: None
- Skills: None
Underneath, more lines glowed:
Awakenable Professions:
- [Fighter] – Awakening requirements: Engage in a fight where you're surrounded by at least three people and knock down one of them.
- [Warrior] – Awakening requirements: Defeat ten monsters using ordinary weapons.
Raymond stared at the requirements, feeling a mixture of excitement and frustration. "So, if I fulfill the requirements for either 'Fighter' or 'Warrior,' I can awaken to that profession?" He tried asking the question out loud, hoping for some sort of response from the panel. Silence.
"Looks like I'm on my own to figure this out," he sighed.
But a dilemma began to tug at him. What if he could only choose one profession? Could he unlock both if he met the requirements for each, or would he be bound to just one path? He mulled over his options.
Choosing "Warrior" seemed ideal. Warriors were known to be powerful, indispensable members of any adventurer's team. "Fighter," though respectable, didn't carry the same weight or status. But taking down ten monsters with ordinary weapons? That was a monumental task for someone like him, a mere kitchen helper in a bustling restaurant.
A thought dawned on him. "I only detected these professions because of those two adventurers over there… their proximity must have triggered it." His eyes flicked to the other patrons. "If that's true, then as long as I'm around awakened professionals, I might uncover even more paths. A magician, a priest, a swordsman…"
Raymond's imagination ignited at the possibilities.
Raymond decided that he'd bide his time, gather information, and see what other professions he could access. Once he had a range of options, he'd choose the one that seemed both powerful and achievable. But there was one problem: Seth and his gang. They'd been looking for an excuse to give him trouble, and if he didn't awaken a profession soon, he'd have no way to defend himself.
"Still," he thought, clenching his fists, "a little physical pain is worth it if it means unlocking a stronger profession."
Determined, he dismissed the panel and focused on his tasks for the night. The two adventurers he'd served were deep into their drinks, hardly speaking, and staring blankly into the flickering lantern light. When their main course arrived, they each took a few distracted bites, barely touching the food before returning to their drinks. Before long, they drained their tankards, threw a few coins on the table, and left without a word.
Raymond moved in to clear the table, stacking the empty plates and glasses, when Arya came over to help. Her fair skin and bright red hair glowed warmly in the dim light of the tavern, and as she leaned in close to reach for a plate, a gentle, floral scent drifted toward him.
Raymond's nose twitched before he caught himself. 'What am I doing?' he thought, mentally chastising himself. He stole a quick glance at Arya, relieved that she didn't seem to notice his slip.
Arya glanced at him, her eyes filled with concern. "Raymond, are you okay? Earlier, you just… stopped mid-step. Is it because of that head injury?"
"Uh…" Raymond hesitated, trying to think of a plausible excuse that didn't involve telling her about the mysterious blue panel. "Yeah, just a bit of a headache, that's all."
"Next time, don't push yourself so hard, okay?" she scolded gently, though there was a hint of warmth in her voice. "I'll take care of the dishes tonight; you go home and get some rest."
Embarrassed, Raymond scratched his head. Having a younger girl lecture him, especially one so sincere in her worry, was a little mortifying. "Don't worry, I'll be careful. And as for the dishes, honestly, I can handle them myself."
"But—"
"It's fine. Besides, Mrs. Becker already docked my pay for today. If I slack off again, I'll be out tomorrow's pay, too," he said, shrugging.
Arya sighed but eventually nodded. Together, they carried the dishes back to the kitchen sink.
As they entered, Raymond noticed Seth and his gang huddled together, talking in hushed tones. They stopped abruptly when they saw him and Arya, and Andre, one of Seth's lackeys, shot him a dark, mocking look.
Raymond didn't need to hear their conversation to know they were plotting something against him.
As they left the kitchen, Arya turned to him, her brows knitted in concern. "Raymond, what's going on? Why do Seth and his friends keep looking at you like that?"
Raymond forced a reassuring smile, hoping to brush it off. "It's nothing, really. Don't worry about it."
Arya frowned, sensing he wasn't telling her everything, but finally just sighed. "Well… if they try to bully you, you'd better tell me, alright?"
Raymond couldn't help but smile. It wasn't every day that someone stood up for him, and Arya's kindness was heartening.
The restaurant was finally winding down around nine. As the last of the patrons left, he and Arya set about cleaning up, stacking chairs and wiping tables, until it was just the dishes left.
Raymond glanced over at Andre, who was usually quick to shove the biggest pile of dirty dishes onto him, but tonight, Andre seemed oddly eager, scrubbing away at plates and cutlery without complaint. Whether it was because of Raymond's earlier success in defending himself or for some other reason, Andre worked more than usual, even finishing before Raymond did.
"Hey, Raymond," Andre sneered, his lips curling into a malicious grin as he dried his hands. "Just wait until tomorrow. You'll be crying for mercy soon enough." With that, he turned and strode out of the kitchen without a backward glance.
Raymond sighed, bracing himself for whatever awaited him.