I get in some decent sleep, yet I still feel tired when I get up with the rest of the city the next morning. Even if I wish I could have slept longer, my nap was long enough to recover some of my spent Mana.


    [*Ding!* You slept pretty well! Health increased by 0! Mana increased by 4!]


    Well, my Mana reserves should be refilled enough to use my [Change Shape] power once with that. Not much more though. That is as far as this line of thought goes before I return to thinking about my sleeping arrangements.


    Maybe I really should get into the habit of going to sleep either earlier or elsewhere. Maybe I should look into renting a room, or even just a spot in the barn at one of the nearby farms instead?


    Sure, people there probably get up just es early as the city folk, but there probably aren''t quite as many of them around. Yes, it might just be worth a try. Once I can actually afford anything more spacious than a broom closet.


    Or maybe I should just get used to not sleeping in in the mornings and having a nice nap in a quiet place a little later in the day. That would be the other option. It certainly would be the easier path to take. That in turn means that, in all likelihood, this is the path I''ll follow for the time being.


    I take a moment to stretch as I return the key to my room to the landlady. Just as I leave the little alley behind and step out on one of the slightly larger and busier streets my [Danger Sense] tingles. It''s not enough for a level up, but it improves some anyway. With any other skill that would be most welcome. In this case though, I''m seriously worried.


    My eyes widen as I catch sight of embers dancing in the sky above. A fire? That could be a serious disaster for a city like Riverrun. Especially for district outside the wall, although even the houses inside use a lot of wood in their construction too. Something is off though. The embers are, dancing well above the city. Only the thermals of a serious conflagration would be able to carry them this high. I can''t feel any heat of that sort though. I can''t smell any smoke either.


    It turns out, that I''m not the only one who took notice either. At first there is some worry. I can hear the murmurs, even if I can''t quite make out the words. Most people seem to come to the same conclusion as me in the end.


    And then the embers explode into a spectacular fireworks display. The early morning sky is still dark enough for it to be easily visible. Not a fire then. A spell. A pretty flashy and overly dramatic one.


    I snort in amusement, as the first wave of bright explosions dies down only to be followed by another. Where the first ones ranged from orange to red, these ones are various shades of blue and green. And to top it all off, a few much larger ones, which go off even higher up, in bright white provide a spectacular finish.


    Well, I doubt that there is anyone left still asleep in the city now. I snort in amusement, as a wave of excitement washes over the city. Most people seem well aware of the meaning behind this flashy display of power. Only a scant few are worried, even if just briefly at all. Mostly people new to the frontier, like me.


    The people aren''t unaffected though. No, quite the opposite is true. At first it is just some, but soon everyone who can make some time seems to be heading in the direction of the road heading towards the city gate. Young and old alike seem bent on getting a good look at the source of the fantastic fireworks display.


    It doesn''t take long for me to be pulled along with the flow. And once I''m moving with the rest of the crowd it takes considerable effort to break free again without causing too much of a disturbance.


    Curiously enough the whole ordeal helps improve my [Dodge] skill, as a divine whisper, which catches me by surprise as I work my way out of the crowd, lets me know.


    [*Ding!* Your skill Dodge has leveled up to level 4!]


    Well, this one is most certainly not unwelcome. It should help improve my defense and indirectly my offense too. I can''t really dwell on it right now though. I still want to catch a good look of the source of this whole ruckus after all.


    Catching anything but a brief glimpse is pretty much out of the question down here at street level. There is just too many people up and and about now. Even worse, a great many of them are taller or in general larger than me.


    I could, of course, try to shapeshift into the likeness of someone taller. Somehow that feels like a waste of my sparse Mana though. I better safe what little I have for emergencies.


    Instead I make my way through the side streets and back alleys until I reach a reasonably high house along the road leading to the gate. It''s rooftop should afford me a good view, both of the road and the gate itself. One way or the other I should be able to get a good look at the source of this commotion.


    And since I have the chance I decide to try something new. The alleaway is narrow enough after all. Thus I don''t climb the building in question. Not exactly anyway. Not in the traditional meaning of the word at least.


    Instead I decide to try my hand at a parkour. Well in a way. A running start and a powerful jump are the beginning. The latter allows me to push off the wall of the building on one side and then again, after another jump, off the one on the other side of the alley. By the time I reach the apex of the last jump I''m high enough to grab onto one of the timbers that is part of the half timbered second floor of my prospective vantage point. From there on out, all the way to the rooftop my ascent becomes a much more straightforward climb.Stolen novel; please report.


    Overall the little acrobatics display helps me progress both my [Jumping] and my [Climbing] skill.


    My ascent hasn''t exactly been very subtle though, despite the fact that I picked one of the quieter back alleys. That much becomes obvious when I look back down only to notice a gaggle of kids starting at me open mouthed. Maybe it is for the best that only one of them has enough presence of mind to say anything.


    Awesome!”


    I''m tempted to roll my eyes. I don''t though. Instead I wink at the kids and wag a finger their way in my best teacher impression, which, to be honest, probably isn''t very good.


    Don''t try this anyplace where you''ll fall hard. Maybe over a haystack or something.”


    I keep my voice low, as not to be heard by too many people. Even if I already drew attention I still want to avoid drawing any more after all. Still, at least some of the gaggle seem to hear me. A few even nod. That is good enough for me. Kids will be kids and it isn''t like I''m their mom or anything.


    I make my way over the rather steep roof to one of the dormer windows on the other side, where I make myself comfortable. Well, I make myself as comfortable as I possibly can in the chill morning air, while sitting on a roof.


    Plenty of people seem to be heading to the street below. And for once the guards are not just out and about. No, for a change they make themselves actually useful. They make sure the crowd doesn''t grow too dense in any one spot. I think there might be some skills in use to keep the crowd calm, or at least from getting too wild, in use. They keep the actual street clear too. And they only stop to accept bribes every once in a while. I still don''t like them, but my opinion of them doesn''t get any worse for a change. And, I guess, that already is the best I can hope for with that bunch.


    A murmur picks up in the crowd below as a small group, preceded and followed by a veritable horde of hopeful youngsters makes its way towards the gate. They are the adventurous sort. That much is pretty hard to miss.


    They aren''t quite like the ones I have gotten to know so far though. Their gear looks expensive for one. And, right now, they are very much showmen and women too. They aren''t just experienced adventurers. No, they know how to market themselves too. That would explain the flashy fireworks as well.


    I look up, as someone else approaches my position on the rooftop. Someone who doesn''t trigger my [Danger Sense]. It''s Matylda. I greet her with a curt nod.


    Here to get a good look at the Dancing Embers Adventuring Company?”


    She nods as she sits down alongside me. She points in the general direction of the group making its way to the gate.


    There is of course Ediva Glimmersong. You probably saw her fireworks earlier, yes?”


    I nod and she continues.


    Tweaked a little and set of at ground level she probably would be able to flatten half the town with that. I''m not here for her though. See that woman walking at her side?”


    I nod again. Judging by the looks that woman is a dwarf, like Matylda. She is short, a little stocky and very well armored. She provides a striking contrast to the willowy, robed elf at her side.


    That is Griselda Armetta. She is the groups cleric and her skills and spells are only slightly less flashy and destructive than Ediva''s.”


    I decide to get in a word sideways at this point.


    And you wish you could be like her?”


    Matylda blushes a deep red, but nods quietly in the end.


    Well, of course …”


    I let out a little lough in turn and pat her back, careful not to jostle her too much, as we are both still sitting on a roof.


    No reason to be embarrassed. Most people in the crowd probably wish that they would be like one or another of that group. Who are the others anyway?”


    Matylda shoots me a sideways glance before she explains.


    Well, you know Ediva of course. And I already pointed out Griselda. The warrior bringing up the back, the orc, is Barnim. He may be a little simple minded and even outstanding sword skills have a tough time to compete when compared to two magical powerhouses, but he has a pretty good heart and is reasonably popular too.”


    She pauses briefly, her brows furrowing. I decide not to interrupt though.


    And to be honest, I have no clue who their scout is. She looks human despite the outrageous hair, but I don''t think I have seen her before. I can''t say that I have ever heard of her either. She probably is new.”


    I can feel [Gather Information] edge along ever so slowly, as my companion shares her knowledge and nod. This all, by itself is already some pretty useful information. Maybe I should look into the unknown scout a little myself? I''m not quite sure I want to get too close to renown adventures like that though. That bunch plays in a different league altogether. Of that I have little doubt.


    I''m left wondering though. Just how exactly would Matylda want to be like the adventuring party''s cleric? She doesn''t strike me as the war hammer wielding, plate armor wearing and spell slinging sort. In the end I decide not to inquire directly. I''ll figure it out eventually. Or maybe I wont.


    There is another, slightly more important question on my mind right now though. That one I decide to ask without beating around the bush.


    Say, would you happen to know how we feel about joining the adventurers'' guild? Can we? I mean, we technically are already members in one guild after all. Can we even join another without causing all kinds of problems?”


    Matylda blinks owlishly at first. Then she shrugs.


    I''m not really sure. I haven''t ever heard of any rules that would prohibit it, but you better take a question like that up with your master. You have something in mind?”


    I nod in turn. That of course is the sensible approach. For now though I watch the adventurers some more before I decide to address the question the young dwarf asked at the end.


    They are probably here to deal with the fungal infestation I came across out in the woods. I was wondering if I could possibly somehow get in on the action. Considering Ediva''s display though, I''m not quite sure anymore. If she goes at it like that, there might not be a whole lot of action I would be able to participate in.”


    Now that sends Matylda into a giggling fit.