Ob walked into the room and told the group that he had invited Helvuna up for dinner. Ignoring the look from Vincent and Maeva. He stated, "I think I will use the keystone. My… er Celestine race? I don’t know how to say that. It should protect me from anything too harmful, being that I am a being now of perfect harmony. Tomorrow, let''s find a trades hall. I''ve got some stuff to trade in!"


    "Booo, more explorer''s!!" Vincent replied, "But it makes sense. Sounds good to me, Ob!"


    "I didn''t mean to rain on your parade big guy," Marva said apologetically, "I just want you to make the best decision that''ll avoid the most conflict."


    "Thank you, Maeva. Seriously," Ob said with a genuine smile. "I have no idea about the politics of this world, and frankly, I don''t care enough to want to play the political game."


    "Too late, love, you''re deep in it," Maeva said, shrugging. "The way I see it, yeah? Is you learn the big players and avoid them at all costs."


    "Perhaps," Abigail interjected, "avoidance is not the correct call either. You are a bronze tier with an incomplete set. Be a low level, do not concern yourself with other things beyond that."


    Ob sat and thought for a bit. He really hated social games. He found them elitist and trivial. Abigail was right; he just wanted to go out and explore, learn about this world, grow his strengths, and figure out why he was here or how he got here; there were so many great adventures out there. He couldn''t wait to begin that journey.


    "How long are we planning on staying in Andohull?" Ob asked the group.


    "At the very least a few months." Vincent said, "let''s spend time training as a team and completing party quests that we can get at the quests hall. That''ll help us build up some savings and get some gear. We should be ready to call this inn home," there was a knock on the door and a woman clearing her throat. Helvuna stood at the door with a couple of staff and trays full of food. "Especially if that''s what we get served," Vincent finished his sentence.


    "I would quite enjoy it if you all stayed longer," she said to the group, but she was staring right at Ob. Unable to hide her smile. "Although we will need to upgrade your rooms so Maeva can have her own space. And no, that is not for debate." She said to Maeva, "And no," looking back at Ob, "you cannot pay more. I have instructed my staff to not take tips from any of you at all. Especially the tall, dark, and handsome one."


    That comment got the room to turn to look at Ob, who, in turn, was smiling like a little kid. Ob hadn''t felt this way since Charlotte. After she left him that day, he hadn''t opened up to anyone and could barely trust anyone enough to do any type of dating. It had been a long time since dating. Dating on Earth was hard enough. How on earth was he to date here? On a completely new world!?


    As Helvuna started to bring out the food, Ob went over to Vincent, "Yo bro, how does dating work in this world?" He asked, pulling him aside. The look on Vincent''s face made Ob immediately regret asking the question.


    "YAS!" Vincent exclaimed, "well how is it in your old world?"


    "I don’t knw, you text a bunch, set days to go on dates, and then hook up. It''s very informal except for a select few who eventually get sick of the informality and try to be serious."


    "That sounds terrible.”


    "It is, my friend, it''s ass.”


    "Your expressions are so different. Anyway, it''s definitely more formal in the sense of general courting. Ask her on a  date, see where that leads, and become more serious, some do exclusive, some don''t; truly depends, there is no shame in either: marriage, then kids if you want. What is sex like in your world?"


    "Depends on the crowd. Some welcome sexual exploration, some say wait till marriage and are adamant about it. Others are open to it, if it''s the right person, other people record themselves to sell it to other people to watch."


    "Why would they?" Vincent started to stammer, "why watcht? Why not just do it yourself?"


    "That is the great question, Vincent. That is the great question. So courting and such. Got it, thanks, boss, for the assist." Ob said, now looking at Helvuna; he couldn''t stop staring. She was very attractive. Beautiful and calming. Yet smart and demanding. Ob looked around the room; everyone was beautiful; Abigail was up there in the most beautiful being he had ever seen. He figured she was above that standard of normal beauty. Vincent, too, was a handsome man, but he had overheard Abigail and Maeva discuss that Ob was like Abigail, above the standard of beauty or handsomeness.


    Helvuna had her hair down, and the blonde wavy hair fell just past her shoulder. Her green eyes caught Ob''s, and she moved her hair, a nervous tick Ob had observed, and gave a soft smile. She had been talking with Maeva and Abigail. Ob wondered what Eclipse would think. She had been resting to level up after the fight with the river hog. "Your words are loud, Ob," Eclipse responded in his head. "We can always speak even if I am resting."


    "Ah, my bad, right, we''re connected," he responded, slightly embarrassed, "since you''re here, thoughts?"


    "I am a dragon. We do not love the same way you physical beings do." she responded with a slightly sarcastic tone.


    "Not that! I meant, do you trust her? Is my attraction blinding my trust?" Ob said, shaking his head.


    "I do." Eclipse said plainly, "I believe she has good intentions. I believe she is genuine. I do think you should not tell her you are not from here unless she figures it out. Be cautious about who you tell. I know, I know, you are aware of that information. I still must inform you. Be careful, friend." She said that last line with sincerity. Ob could feel the compassion expressed by Eclipse much more than he had ever before. He didn''t take offense to her advice as he used to because he felt that it was coming from a genuine spot of care rather than condescension. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.


    "Thank you, Eclipse. I appreciate you big time." Ob said and let his friend go back to resting.


    Helvuna walked over to Ob and gave him a playful nudge. "Now who is the one who is staring off into the distance." she teased.


    "I was talking to my dragon. I''ll have you know." Ob said in a playful, prideful tone.


    "Oh," she paused, "so the draconian does have a dragon. And where is it?"


    "I guess I misspoke, she is not mine, she is my partner. I don''t own her, nor do I want to."


    Helvuna took a moment to look at Ob; she put her arms around his waist to face him. Ob took a deep breath. She smelt like a kitchen that was making the most delicious aromatic meal. "You, Ob, are quite different," she went to kiss him on the cheek, "come on, your food is getting cold." She grabbed him by the arm and led him to the table with his friends.


    <hr>


    "Can I please go see him?" a young voice said, "just cause you hate him doesn''t mean I have to."


    "Quiet Daisy, you cannot! That is the last time you can ask." A deep voice angrily said. "He has abandoned this family, when we have done nothing but provide for him. What more could he have wanted?!"


    "Love." Before Daisy could say the next word, she was slapped across the face by her father. She looked up, tears welling in her eyes. Did he just hit me? "I should have left with Ob! I HATE YOU!" Daisy, without another word, took off running into the forest. That was the last time anyone in her family saw her. Daisy''s mom, Blaire, had expected Daisy to come back through the front door after a couple of hours. After 4 days, she couldn''t handle it anymore and called the police. She had told Blaze, her husband, that she was concerned the first day. He would not allow her to call the police. Until she became inconsolable and he let her.


    The police had come to listen to the filed missing persons report. They were familiar with the Jones family. Seeing that one of their sons was in and out of the small local prison for petty crimes. They knew that the dad had a hot temper and would lie often. To hear that there was a missing person''s case was not surprising to the two officers. They were more upset because they lost the drawing of straws to take this case.


    They took in all the information and left. They hadn''t asked many questions, so they sent out a search party to find her in the woods. The tracking dogs they had sent out found Daisy''s scent. They had gotten to a point in the middle of the woods where her trace had just vanished. No more steps, no more tracks, no signs of struggle. She had just disappeared out of thin air. What happened to Daisy Jones? This became the talk of the town for many months, close to a year. To the family, the Jones'' played it off like she was alive but very ill. They didn''t want to have others think that they were not good parents; after all, their image was important. Eventually, they all gave up searching; they had to accept the fact that their youngest daughter was gone.


    <hr>


    As the group ate, they began telling stories of how they all became the type of person they are now. It started with Vincent telling these grand hunting expeditions he used to do with his family. Vincent was an amazing storyteller; he would use full body gestures, change his tone, pause for dramatic effect, and reenact certain moments; it was very entertaining. The whole group would sit, laugh, eat, and listen to stories together.


    Maeva went next, and Ob was very interested in hearing more about her story. "I grew up in a small town just south of Eleyross, the city about the size of Andohull on the Soudori Continent. The town was called Aramore. Eleyross is home to all these big-timer Crusaders or Royalty. This is the city that you will often find dukes, princesses, kings, queens, etc. They stay in the royal district, which is about two times the size of the housing district here. They have all these private schools and private everything. It''s all prim and proper. You would think, yeah, with all that money, they would share it with the rest of us? Nope. They took it from us. We were hard working class farmers, crafters, bakers, and all of that. We''d bust our butts to sell food to the big city, but the royals would up the prices to sell, and we''d barely make a gold piece.


    So, I decided that I would be a crusader. Then send money to my family whenever I get the chance. I told my mum that I wanted to be one when I was a wee little girl. She saved every bit of gold to send me to one of them uppity private crusader academies to train me to be the best crusader ever. I made a couple of friends at that school, or so I thought. I''m small and agile. I can scout well, hide, steal, all of it. And you see, this group saw that too. They thought that I would be a good asset to have in their party. I was so excited.


    Until I realized I wasn''t an asset, I was an expendable resource. That''s a story for another day of what happened there, loves. It was at that moment, though. That I decided that I could only work for myself. I told my mum I was off to Andohull to get away from the royals and make a name for myself. So I did, left that is, and still haven''t got a name for myself. I barely make enough to pay monthly rates and for food. My skills set, as it turns out, are meant for a party. So that''s why it made me emotional when you offered to join." She said, motioning to Ob, "there is something about you, Mr. Celestine, that is good-natured; your aura, your presence, whatever it''s what made me decide to join. Now I am eating the best meal I have had in years.


    Now look, I don''t want is you lot give me handouts after hearing that story," she said, wiping tears from her eyes, "I''m a big girl, yeah? I''ll take my share of the loot just as even as this one," she said, motioning to Abigail, "I''ll prove myself to you; I swear by it. I have to make it big. I have to, yeah, for my mum." she concluded, getting too choked up to continue. Ob walked over to her, gave her a big hug, and whispered, "You ain''t gotta prove a damn thing to us, Mae." she hugged him back and burrowed her head in his chest. She had never had anyone outside of her mom that cared for her this much. It felt like she had an older sibling that was ready to fight for her till the end.


    She let go of the hug and looked at Helvuna, "What about you, love? Why be an Innkeeper? Ever thought about crusading?"


    "I am not the crusading type. This used to be my Aunt''s Inn. I was practically raised in it. She and my cousin, Prancey, who you''ve met, and I all lived here. My parents passed when I was young. They were killed in a fight with a cerberus. The vile creature was a soul-link with a demon. The two came to our realm to try to take over our little town. My town was called Hallowbrock, but it has fallen; this is why I came to the city with my aunt and cousin." She paused to gather herself, clearly still shaken by this story, "I met many great people here through the Inn. It was amazing. I loved all the people from the Inn who I could interact with. All the stories, all the adventures, the expeditions, it has been the best few years."


    "Do you ever want to travel and leave the city?" Ob asked.


    "No, I don''t. It''s not that I am afraid of the dangers, but I am an orphan because of the decision of my parents to be guardians." She responded, her eyes now twinkling. "It does make it hard when I meet some extraordinary people, like you all, and they leave for various crusades. I wonder if they ever think about my little Inn." She looked down at her hands and grabbed Ob''s interlocking their fingers. "I learned, though, to cherish every moment with the people who wander into my Inn; you might make some lifelong friends." She looked at Ob, who was giving her a concerned look; she giggled, "Not like that, you''re definitely a first." Ob sighed a big sigh of relief.


    Ob knew that there was an expiration date with him and Helvuna; he would have run for the fences, but he didn''t want to. He enjoyed her. He liked how she made him feel. He liked her cooking and felt he could learn a lot from her. "Well, it looks like I am going to need to find someone for myself now, don''t I?" Maeva said, causing laughter from the rest of the group. "Helvuna, love, you mind snagging me a room before you and Ob call it a night?"


    "Certainly," Helvuna said, unlocking herself from Ob, "I''ll be back," she whispered into Ob''s ears, which made the hair on his neck rise slightly. Ob sat, with a full belly and a full heart, looking at his new friend, a new girl, and smiled wide, watching the two women walk out the door.