After a few hours, Abad had managed to memorize the [Candlelight] spell. It wasn''t as powerful as [Burn the Weak], but it also didn''t burn with deep red hellfire, so that was something. However, to his eternal shame, the second and third circle spells would take him much longer to learn. He found it frustrating how much more slowly he could ingest information now. If the Goddess''s system offered him a [Focus] or [Comprehension] perk in the future, he decided he would take it.


    By the time he had finished his studies, it was dark outside. His head was throbbing by the time Keila sauntered through the door from whatever errands she had been doing. When she saw him, she smiled and made her way over to his table. He stashed the spellbook and invited her to sit.


    "Always keeping yourself busy, I see." Her eyes sparkled.


    "It''s in my blood. I can''t help myself."


    "Well, would you like to eat with me tonight? Or are you too busy to spend time with me?" She pretended to pout.


    "I can make an exception this time." She sat down before he even finished his sentence.


    Within moments, they had ordered their dishes. He had intended to order an inexpensive meal so as to not be a burden to the woman, but she insisted he order whatever he wanted. When he still ordered simple fare, she took over and ordered for both of them. When the food came, his stomach grumbled violently. Before him sat a massive steak cut fresh and bread slathered in butter and honey. Abad ate and drank happily. It was by far the best meal he had eaten in five hundred years.


    They kept their conversation light. Neither of them was particularly interested in offering up much about themselves or their dealings, so they instead exchanged banter and flirted between the many rounds of alcohol the woman ended up ordering for them. Before long, they ended up in her bedroom.


    ***


    Abad awoke with Keila''s body pressed against him. She was breathing softly in the early morning light, which trickled through the curtained window of her small room at the Green Lady. The window gave him his first good view of the Goddess''s tower since he had woken up. It was beautiful. While the tower itself was merely a sliver cutting high into the sky, the orb at its top had begun to glow with a warm radiance that lit the world below. It was magnificent. He felt an unfamiliar tug in his spirit. The part of him that was born of the sun called him toward it, pulling him toward his people''s legacy. A somber thought filled him then. The things he had done... he was forsaken by his own people and the Goddess herself. He would never be welcome there.


    Shaking away those unpleasant thoughts, he forced his eyes away from the tower and looked around the room. Like most finer frontier inns, the room was well-furnished with rich woods and tapestries adorning the walls. The furniture was simple and rustic, with heavy iron nails and intricate joints binding the room and its belongings together. A small desk was against the wall opposite the bed, and he could see a pile of papers and quills laid neatly on top, along with a small wax cylinder and stamps. A chest of drawers stood sentry beside it.


    He hadn''t realized the woman was so connected to her patron''s doings. When he had met her and her brothers on the road, he assumed she was a simple trader or lowly caravan merchant, but after their discussions, he concluded her position was more significant. That was useful, and more, it was interesting. He was grateful that Shani had sent her to him. Not only had she likely saved him from another troll attack, but she had given him a willing companion. He had missed the touch of another, and the kindness she showed him warmed something within.


    As his thoughts flowed and he considered what the coming days might hold, the woman stirred beside him. Slowly, she woke up, patted him on the chest, and got ready for the day. He watched as her freckled, fit body was quickly covered with finely cut and colored merchant''s clothes. When she finished belting her belt, she threw him some new clothes. She had been a kind benefactor since the day he had met her, and that kindness was still being extended. After he dressed, she handed him another pouch of crystals. When he tried to resist, she claimed that the money she spent on him was well worth it considering the entertainment he provided her. She called it performance pay.


    Shortly after, she grabbed a satchel and turned to leave the room, so he dressed, slung the battered spellbook he found over his shoulder, and followed her. The two exited her room and made their way to the dining room, where her brothers were already seated. Serus was practically green, which Abad learned was normal for the man, and Rhys had a large smile on his face. Keila told him the night before that he had, in fact, been enjoying the brothels after all and was currently sweet on a woman who worked in one. However, before Kiela could tease him, he got the first word in.


    "Look at the two lovebirds! Looks like she really did sink her claws into you, you damn elf bastard. Keep showing up like this, and I might force you to make her an honest woman!" Rhys was all smiles. Serus groaned at his brother''s loud voice.


    "Don''t know if anyone can make me honest, Rhys." She rolled her eyes.


    "Ain''t that the truth."


    "How''s your favorite whore doing?" Keila prodded at her brother, which Abad had learned was a daily ritual. He was beginning to enjoy their banter. The bickering was part of their charm.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    "Excuse me, but she is a courtesan. Big difference." He turned his nose up and pretended to be upset.


    "Fancy whore," Serus added, sweat pouring from his brow. A serving woman brought the suffering man some juice, which he downed as fast as it appeared.


    "Damn right she is." Rhys huffed and downed a full glass of juice. "Said she wants to run off with me. Leave all this shit behind, start a new life somewhere out in the fields where she can grow wheat or some shit."


    "And you said..."


    "Hell no. I''m not cut out for farming." Rhys laughed.


    "Better than our job," Serus groaned. "Least you''d be free."


    They all quieted down for a moment before breaking into conversation again.


    "Speaking of our work, we have news." She shot her brothers a glance.


    "Yeah?"


    "Bolton''s coming tomorrow afternoon, and we''re going to receive our next shipment of goods in two or three days. After that, we''re heading northwest." She was all business then. That was the dichotomy that was Keila.


    "Where to?"


    "A city called West Dronar."


    "Never been, but I heard it''s nice. You coming, Elfie?" Rhys asked as their food arrived.


    Keila gave Abad a look, then spoke. "You''ll meet with Bolton, right? See if he''ll hire you to help. He''s been notified about you and is eager to meet."


    He knew he wouldn''t ever serve another, but he didn''t want to turn her down outright. "I will. Just tell me when." She gave him another look he couldn''t quite place, but before he could consider it, it was gone, replaced with her usual smirk.


    She stood and stretched, shot him a wink, and grabbed her pack. "Well, I''ve got work to do before Bolton gets here. You boys behave." With those words, she vanished out the front door of the inn.


    Abad tried to get more information out of the brothers, but they were engrossed in their meals and spoke little. Before long, the three men finished eating. After breakfast, he bid the brothers goodbye and left to wander the town.


    ***


    By the time he made it to the east market district, the tower was shining brightly. Taking in the sights and sounds of the town, he steeled himself against the smell and told himself that he''d find something to enjoy while out. Pulling the sack of crystals out from his belt, he counted twenty-five of the stones this time. Performance pay indeed.


    Like before, there were vendors and hawkers of all kinds in the market, but he figured he''d do well finding new gear this day. He wouldn''t stay in Farnfoss forever, so he might as well start the process now. He made his way to a general supply shop and purchased a backpack, a cast iron pan, a sleeping blanket, and a variety of other odds and ends to round out his travel supplies. From there, he made his way to a tailor and purchased a new cloak. His funds were nearly spent, so he stopped, making sure he kept enough for some jerky or trail rations. He didn''t want to assume Keila would continue to fund him, but he had a feeling she''d keep trying.


    After his purchases were complete, he continued making his way through the market. Now that he had what he needed, he''d be able to observe the people. The same mishmash of races was present as before. Humans, elves, dwarves, gnomes, beastkin, and more. All were engrossed in their own goings-on. However, he noted as he observed that many of the poorer members of the crowd had brands that marked them as claimed.


    Deciding to leave the main thoroughfare, he cut down a nearby alley. A young boy dashed past him, carrying what looked to be some apples, followed shortly by an angry vendor running in his direction. Before the man could catch up, Abad pretended to accidentally knock over a plank of wood, and the man splattered onto the ground in a heap. Picking himself up and cursing, the man shot Abad a look that could kill, but the warlock simply shrugged his shoulders. Cursing, the vendor continued to give chase. Abad laughed. He''d been a street urchin once. The boy deserved those apples.


    When he reached the end of the alley, he crossed through another small side street and continued on down another alley. It was dark and narrow and didn''t smell any better than the streets, but he felt at ease there. There was something comforting about the unlit pathways. He supposed others wouldn''t feel so safe in such confines, but to him, he felt most at home there, where it was easy to lose himself in the winding streets.


    He let his feet carry him wherever they wished, and soon he was in a completely different part of town. The hustle and bustle of the market was replaced with the worn down, quiet desperation that marked places riddled with poverty. The area he was in was dirty and cluttered. Trash and debris filled the streets, and the houses were falling apart and abandoned. Several buildings he assumed were derelict had small heads poking out of the windows, watching him warily as he walked by. The infirm and poor sat against the buildings, silently begging for anything passersby might offer. Still listening to his instincts, he gave the worst-looking of the homeless a crystal. The man thanked him, but Abad merely waved him off.


    The only bright spot in the whole slum seemed to be a temple, its doors opened wide. Several people were visible in prayer and meditation inside, and a portly, elderly human handed out food and bread to whoever approached him. As he did, he greeted them, blessed them, and patted them on the shoulders. Abad almost smiled. His childhood home was similar to this one. It was cold and dirty and bitter, but the people did their best to look out for one another, and a priest similar to this one had served the community well. He had even given Abad treats in the festival times... at least until they learned what he truly was. A flash of the man''s face, screwed up in righteous anger, torch in hand, filled Abad''s mind. He felt an old anger well up in him, but he shook it off.


    Walking to the priest, Abad said, "You have a very kind spirit, sir. The children will remember you well for the kindness you show them." He placed a crystal in the bucket at the man''s feet.


    The old man groaned as he lifted himself up from his stooped position and wiped crumbs from his white robes. "Thank you, my son. The Goddess smiles on your generosity."


    "I can only hope."


    "There is no need to hope. What brings you to our fair town?" The elderly priest asked.


    "A series of events somewhat out of my control brought me here. But I seek to find my path now."


    "Oh yes? And what path might that be?"


    It was a simple question, but he didn''t have an answer. "I suppose I''m still discovering that for myself."


    "I would say trust in the Goddess, but I sense that you are not the type to believe." His eyes seemed to pierce through Abad. "Be wary, stranger. If you choose not to walk the paths laid out for us, you risk walking a lonely road indeed. Know that we are all instruments of the Goddess''s will, whether we intend to be or not. May She guide you on your path." With those words, the elderly priest patted his arm, placed a treat in his palm, and went back to distributing bread and blessings to those who sought them.


    Abad bowed his head in respect and said goodbye, unsure how to respond to the man''s ominous message. Turning, he continued on his journey, unsure of where his feet would take him.