《Pride》 Lovely I''m tired, so damn tired. It should be okay to just close my eyes, rest them for a second. A quick, relaxing nap never hurt anybody, did it? The walls here are so cool, even the ground is flat, no annoying back pains. I should have lost it, I was running... for time.. after all. Just to be safe, one more corner. Right leg? I would like to take a step. Yes, drag a little further, and.. we are done. Lelft leg, it''s your turn now. No, bad left shoulder, do not slip on the wall. Yes, yes, good body, keep moving. Just few more ste..! Down! Clang!! A sword hit a muddy wall just above the head of something resembling a pile of rags. The very same moment an arm shoot out of the rags slashing a brokensaber at a tall, legless figure. While a set of chest armour and thin cloth wailed in pain, rags fell onto the other wall, and pulled out a rusted sword. Enraged armour lungeg, taking a large swing at the smaller figure, and with a loud screech of shattering steel pierced itself onto a broken saber and a rusted sword. Damnit.. Is this thing heavy. My nap can go and fuck itself.. I always feel so refreshed after they die. Can''t I just, not absorb their souls? Can''t they wait until I slept? No! Bloody retarded specter just has to follow me for who the fuck knows how long, and it just has to fucking fall with it''s core onto my blades. Couldn''t just shatter a part of it, and lay there letting it degrade for few dozen minutes. Nevermind, it has a helmet, oh.. and it''s back didn''t break. Some of the rags slowly fell off, revealing some black hair sticking out of a wet and mudded hood, and a tattered gambeson covering a persons body to it''s knees, below which were naked feet. Blacked haired person pulled out a second hood from a bag on it''s side, and fitted the newfound helmet with it. After twenty sluggish minutes the figure managed to tie the broken plate to the gambeson, and with a loud sigh walked - in much to energetic way for it''s taste - away from a gray pile of mud that used to be a specter. After around a hundred steps the very energetic person realised the specter had a sword, and it''s still laying next to it''s corpse, but decided to keep walking. Another fifty steps further there was a dead end beyond a slight bend in the tunnel, and the figure turned around and went back. Which one should I replace... The saber is already broken, but the sword.. Let''s tap the wall with it. Broke.. the damn thing broke. How nice it would be if the wall did. Last time there was small little spirit.. ah.. forget about it. Well, since both are broken, the saber stays, it''s not rusty. Maybe I will stick the sword in the ceiling once I found something to stand on. The specters sword.. No rust, slightly chipped near the tip, good grip.. when was the last time I had a sword with a proper grip.. guard is not moving, pommel isn''t either. A shame stupid thing didn''t have a scabard.. I will have to waste another hour reffiting the rag one I tied for rusty. Woods too short, the tip will stick out.. I will just have to tie some rags around my right leg just in case. Why am I thinking like I''m in a hurry.. specters aren''t gonna run, as long as they keep following be I don''t need to eat, and I just killed one. I don''t have a bed. I have no where to shower. I haven''t eaten since... time ago. If I find exit I will find bed, and food, and water. Thats why I hate those stupid things, as soon as they die I forget how tiresome it''s here. The people back then complained their food was salty and dry, I wonder how other foods taste. Ah, the scabard is done. Let''s march... forward. Hm.. when I was coming here.. I went right.. so now I should also take a right, to be forward. Left, right, left, right... I didn''t notice how long this bloody corridor was. Is it a corridor if it''s a cave? Specters live here, it''s their home, homes have corridors. Here, found the right. It''s dark as always, good. Oh, a larger stone. A figure of cloth, rags and steel climbed onto a rock sticking out of a wall, and jumped to pierce a rusted sword into the middle of the muddy tunnel ceiling. With a noise of steel hitting rock, followed by a litany of cursesthe figurefell onto the ground. The person got up, looked at the sword sticking out of the ceiling, and very proud of itself proceeded deeper towards, now a sligthly brighter part of the corridor. Closing in on the light, the figure got closer to the wall and pulled out the saber. After taking few more steps it crouched and looked out from close to the groung. In a larger space ahead there were two specters mostly covered in cloth, the one on the left had reasonably well preserved boots and a long walking stick, while the one to the right floated in the air and wasn''t armed.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. The two circled around the space, causing the dim white light to flicker when cloth on them shifted. Specter with the stick began scratching some figures on the ground, while the other one drifted towards one of two exits from the room. Suddenly a shadow cut through the floating specter upwards, and lunged towards the specter busy with it''s drawings. Specter managed to parry a broken saber, but was still pierced in it''s abdomen by a blade that came from the left. It howled and lifted it''s stick trying to hit the attacker on the chin, but only swooshed through the air, and a blink later found two baled stuck in it''s chest. As the specters core shattered, cloth slowly fell to the ground covering small gray mound of mud. The specter which was slashed through earlier was still giving off a little bit of light from it''s two halves, but was slowly dimming down. The figure in rags sat down and rested for a few breaths while comparing the size of the specters boots to it''s feet. Finding them to be a little too large, rags began filling them slowly with cloth, and checked every now and then if they fit properly. After four or five fittings they were finally comfortable and didn''t slip around. That went well.. It''s been... sixty or seventy specters since I last had something on my feet. A shame I grew out of the old ones, they were good. Actually.. haven''t I been meeting specters more often lately? Maybe I''m finally close to getting out. I should be. If this caves were larger, more people would be coming. eh.. Just a little bit more. Should I take the stick? Nah, my legs are fine, and it will just make me more clumsy if something gets the jump on me. The floating specters core should be in a decent condition, oh, just slightly nicked. I killed so many of them, and yet.. one, two... six.. fourteen, with the new one fifteen cores. I wonder if there is a way to deal with these things without hitting the core.. a way for someone who would have a need for them... Goddamnit. Anyways, I came from this ones direction, so I should go to the other exit. Hm? This specter maybe.. A small circle here, one line to where I came from.. it splits just like the corridor back there. So.. ahead.. ah. It didn''t finish.. but... ahead and the paths forking from it to the left should be dead ends. Three paths to the right, and the middle one is a dead end too. The last path looks to have more forks, and short ones too. I will check it first. The figure in rags walked past the first intersection without looking around and only slowed down after about sixty steps where one of the divering paths was slightly brighter. After checking that the specter there was rather far behind some bend, it continued walking till the third path to the right. Finding there nothing, except for some very old remains of a camp, rags turned back slowlybecoming tired again. On the way back the figure checked on the specter, but it was in full armour. Careful to not make any noise while getting away from it, rags slither away and again to the main corridor. Closer to the first branching path the walls were smoother, and less muddy. Though there were branches in the path, only the main path was smooth, and fourth branch had some stones in it. Walking along that path the figure found themselves in a fully stone inlaid corridor. This.. this really must be the bloody end!! Only the entrance looked similar.. ah.. let''s.. let''s forget it. I should keep to the center, don''t want to make noise if I bump into the walls. That would be fun.. after such a long time to be ambushed by the last specter before I reach it''s room.. Fucking damnit! I should raise my spirits! Last sprint and I will be out! That''s a pretty door. Hm.. full map of the place.. Seems like I missed some good rooms way back when. No point in turning back, there isn''t anything nearby, and I may.. who cares about being tired.. or all that. I can get out here. I can always look for some treasures in other caves and ruins. Swords! Need to pull them out.. phew.. I almost walked in there unarmed. Damnit. The figure in rags, tattered cloth, broken armour and decent boots walked into an empty, white room. When it reached the center the gate closed behind, ''causing the figure to tighten it''s grip on the broken saber and damaged sword. Suddenly rags flew back to the gate, keeping the sword in front, and slashing behind with the saber! Something howled, and a slight flicker in the air moved around from the back of the rags slashing them on the left arm. From the top of the rags there was a sound of inhaling, and they hit the wall with it''s back, keeping the sword in a defensive position to the left, and the saber ready to defend in the front. The figure lunged down, and feeling a nock on the helmet spinned to slash with both blades high and low. Rags shifted to their right, and jump back with the sword piercing behind and the saber ready in the front. Finally a slight flicker caught in it''s eyes coming from the front and left, and the saber managed to defend against a force, while a second slash knocked the helmet off shredding the rags beneath. Some blood flowed out of the jaw of an extremely dirty face, but paying no attention to it the figure slashed their sword cutting through something. Rags moved their right arm towards a face, and jumped back towards another wall. Something strongly impacted their back, but the saber to pierced a core. The light in the room dimmed down a little, and the dirty child fell to the ground. I did it! I fucking did it! Ah.. My eyelids are growing heavy.. the air changed.. is it.. those are human noises. Lovely. With a sigh, a child in all sort of rags, with a sword in it''s left hand.. and a mace with a large core as it''s tip, fell asleep on the ground of the exit circle of the dungeon. I dont like the way you ..... talk to me There isn''t much to say about Road. It has two dungeons, is exactly a thousand steps long, and locals here love to sunbath. There was that one crazy guy who passed through a long time ago, and claimed if you stray from the road you can reach a large city filled with all sorts of beings out of this world. After extensive search that lasted a total of a single glance to the side, that claim was dissmissed as there were no streets jutting out of the road. Some think it''s troublesome to stray from the Road, as the dungeons perfectly close off its both ends, but one way or another no one ever had any trouble passing through, or getting out. Since no outsiders have come in the past couple years, no one bothers to question it. The last ones to do so were Jack and Cindy who currently sat in a small room watching a small red-ish haired girl sleep. Hearing a commotion downstairs Jack and Cindy looked at each other for a while, until finally Cindy gave up with a sigh, and left the room to see who was being an annoyance this time. After the door closed, Jack pulled out a thin, blue book, and immersed himself in it,after all, he would hear her when she wakes up. The girl did, noticed she isn''t wearing anything that would make noise, and left through the window. Cindy was walking down the stairs from the second floor of Roads Adventurers Guild, grumbling under her breath something about "bloody greenhorns, fucking attitude, and Gilberts whore of a mother". When she reached the ground floor, everything quieted down, and the only present clerk behind whom she stood,looked very proud of herself for finally taking control over the situation. - Care to tell me what that was all about? Clerk froze up hearing that, and slowly turned around hoping she was just hearing things. Noticing she was in fact not, she stood up at attention. - Ah. Before you speak Monica, would you mind picking up your chair? Monica carefully put the chair back up, not wanting the lightly tanned, younger, blonde woman to have any more reasons to be displeased with her. She wondered why she was so terrified of the Guild Master, who to be honest, didn''t sound nor look threatening, but then she remembered their last dive into the dungeon, and decided to get wasted before going to sleep after work. - The newly formed Ungodly Heroic party had brought badly damaged cores and pieces of Blue Bat hides for our newbie commision, and when I denied them the reward.. eh.. all the other present adventurers decided to explain to them why they shouldn''t have bothered.. Ma''am! - Hm? Are those the brats that refused to participate in the rookie training? Who was so daft as to even register them? - I am not aware ma''am. Allow me to... - My deepest apologies madam Guild Master! I have taken it upon myself to train them, and had them join into the party I formed for them! - Monica, drop Jeffs rank, and register than half the reward for his next forty commisions is to be cut. You all on the other hand, let Robert to the front of the line, and you Robert start your shift as soon as Monica is done with you. Finished giving directions, Cindy thought it was an annoying situation for everyone, especially Monica and decided to help the clerks. She walked to the third desk and charged the magic crystal standing on it to signal the adventurers can come to her. Monica wanted to complain a little seeing the Guild Master didn''t bother waiting for a reply, but seeing the woman sat down to help her, she quickly got back to work. After approximately fifty minutes most of the adventurers were gone, Cindy depowered the crystal and made her way back upstairs. When she made it back to the room, she looked at the bed, and smiled gently seeing the child must have been dreaming about something delicious, since the girl had her face covered in some kind of red and white sauces, and kept chewing some imaginary food. Then she turned to her colleague, and only rolled her eyes seeing he didn''t even bother to look up from his book. As Cindy was sitting down on the chair to his left, she froze, and looked back at the little girl, who had a prefectly clean face but still seemed to be chewing. - I must have imagined it.. No matter. Jack, you ever wondered why these buildings have windows on their sides? Jack begrudgingly looked up from his book, glanced at the closed window facing the inside of the quite solid wall, and then turned to his friend. - I did, you ask me that every day since we came to manage the local Guild. - Jack looked down at the floor - Hm.. What was all the noise downstairs about?Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. - Jeff being Jeff, mayors kid trying to bend the rules... Seemed to be a busy day, so Robert was a little late, and got stuck in line.. the usual. - Hm, hm.. When do you think she - said Jack pointing at the child with his right thumb - be waking up? It''s been an entire night and most of the day since Jeff found her. - Look, she began moving a little in her sleep, so soon probably. How did you not notice? - Huh? - Jack looked at his entirely blue book, and then at the little girl - ah, I finally got through the dark blue, so I was a little - Jack said while caressing the slightly lighter blue pages - too excited. Cindy knocked her lightly tanned, brunette friend on the head, and the two looked at the child in silence for a little while, when they were interrupted by someone knocking at the door. - Come - said Jack while wondering if the child is dreaming about running from something, since her feet moved rhythmically - in. Dark haired, and for this town unusually short woman walked into the room, and bowed before the two Guild Masters. The two, even after years of being in their position, couldn''t quite understand why locals kept doing such unnecessary shows of respect, but rather than ask the smith to stop it of the umpteenth time, they simultaneously gestured for her to speak. - Fixed the kids gear, and it''s all dungeon make, added the reffiting string to it. Guys didn''t find her weapons, so they gone. Finished, the woman put down the sack she had on her back, bowed before Jack and Cindy, and left, carefully closing the door. The Guild Masters gave each other tired looks, and Jack got up to move the sack next to the bed. He then stayed there for a little while, while moving his right ear closer to the girl. Cindy only shrugged her shoulders at that, and tried to read the blue book, but as usual couldn''t get past the last of the dark blue plages. I guess it''s enough lazing around...music off! That was some good goddamn dinner earlier.. mm.. The fucks that ear doing in my face? Mooooove, ah.. those earrings stung. Whats those smiles the bloody twats are making.. - What? Never seen a kid motherfuckers? - Uhm... I don''t like - said Jack while being taken aback by the little girls language - the way you talk to me.. blahblah blah blah blahblah blahblablah... So what? Whats in the sack I wonder.. oh, some shiny stuff! It looks a little familiar.. oh, they fixed my things! I wondered where that trash was.. daaamn.. it''s trash no more, isn''t it damnit. - Thanks for fixing my shit! - You are - said Jack seeing the girl put her things into her pocket space- eh.. welcome. The girl got up, and walked around the room, looked under the old but well maintained bed, checked the night stand next to it, and passed the door to inspect the yellow sofa on which the green eyed woman was sitting. While standing next to Cindy the girl finally looked down to check the clothes on herself. - Who the fuck put me in neon green pajama?! This shit is a crime even against bloody rags.. - ... or name? I''m Cindy, and over there is Jack. - Huh? Ain''t got one. Were the noises, you speaking to me? Jack plopped down on the ground, shaking his head lightly. His grey eyes closed, and he just layed down on the ground. Cindy on the other hand, smiled lightly, patting on the sofa for the girl to sit, rather than stand on it. Black and red eyed girl sat down with her legs crossed, and looked up at the kind, but sharp looking woman. - Are you hungry? - Nah. - Would you like to go for a walk outside? - Nah. - Why? - Already done that. - Hm? I didn''t see you downstairs.. - Went through window. - ? Ah, yes.. Well, I must insist we go outside, I promise to show you something interesting! - .. Why the fuck not. - Jack? Get up, it will be more fun if you come. - Give - said Jack, as he understood just what Cindy wanted to show the nameless girl - me a second. While Jack was slowly collecting himself, red-ish haired girl willed her pajama to switch with her, now no longer rags-like gear. Positevly black and shiny, knee high leather boots, with steel covering their front, and black, loose trousers tucked into them, her torso covered by white, loose cotton shirt with it''s long sleeves rolled up above the elbows, on her left wrist was a thin, silver armlet. The armour, helmet, gloves and gambeson were left in the pocket space. - You must have survived a long time in the dungeon? - Why the fuck do you think that? - Your pocket space, it shou.. - Ah, yeah. Must have gotten it when I killed that twat of a boss. - Shall - said Jack as he patted the girls head in a caring manner - we go? The trio went down to the first floor, and passed through the only door there into the Guild Masters office, where an old, lightly tanned and bald assistant nodded at them. Cindy and the girl continued out and into the corridor to get down through the public stairs, while Jack stayed to exchange a couple of words with the old man. Jack caught up to the two at the front door of the Guild, where the few adventurers still present in the lobby were making large eyes at the profanities spewing girl, and the Guild Master who clearly wasn''t getting angry at her. - We will be going to a tavern next to our Roads larger dungeon, make sure to count how many steps each of us will make. Why the fuck am I supposed to be counting.. eh, if the lady thinks it''s fun, lets try, ain''t got nothing better to do anyway. One, One, One, Two, Two, Two, Three, Three, Three... Fifty, Fifty, Fifty.. the fuck.. Fifty one, Fifty one, Fifty one.. Two hundred, two hundred, two hundred.. Phew.. Five hundred, Five hundred, Five hundred.. What the loving fuck, in the name of all thats magical? - What the fucks that lady? Your steps, were way bigger than mine! This guy was barely even making steps too. - Isn''t it - said Jack with a cheeky smile on his face - interesting? This town is exact... - I don''t like the way you fucking talk to me! The little girl yelled at the dog who stood before the Barking Dogs tavern, and was barking at them. .... it Barking Dogs tavern was one of the few wooden buildings in town, with large but dim windows covering it''s wall on the ground floor. There were two small balconies in the center of the first and second floors, decorated with flowers adding colour to the otherwise dark brown building. Most of taverns customers were upstairs, taking all sorts of art lessons, or discusing methods to conquer Roads larger dungeon. Taverns owner Nicolai Gudryk repurposed most of the rooms for such activities since the town almost never had any visitors. The tall and robust, bald man with a fierce, bearded face was now taking care of the only customers on the ground floor, a trio of two adults and a child, sitting at a corner table next to the window. - It''s been such a long time since you visited! I''d almost believe the child is yours! Hahaha! - We''ve been busy ever since mayors kid decided to become an adventurer, there is almost no day he won''t do something stupid, Nico. - What? Brat still won''t join the training program? That bootlicker Jeff giving him ideas? - Sadly - said Jack, while listening to piano music coming from the girl - Mayor never quite trusted us, eh... so he won''t correct the kid. - Well, enough of that! Usuall for you, and what for the little lady? - Usuall is good... - I don''t need no fucking food, drop some drink though. Nicolai looked into girls eyes, scratched his head, and left with a laugh, to prepare the order. The girl nodded her head like all was right, while the other two shook their heads with wry smiles. After few seconds they began taping to the slow rythm of music. - Is it your second ability? - Nah, it''s the bracelet I found. I''ve only got one skill. - Hm.. What do you - said Jack while looking closer at the silver object - plan to do? - Adventuring obviosuly, fucktwat. - Hum, uhm.. - hummed Jack - do you have anything against the guilds training program? - No fucking way, I''ve got anything against it. - That''s good. We will need to register you somehow though... The three distanced themselves from the round wooden table a little, to make space for Nicos son Vladi who brought their food and drinks. Roasted Blue Bat breast with a Wooden Golem salad for Jack, Spectral Beetroot soup for Cindy, and light beer for each of the three. Vladi who was very similar to his father, though lacked the beard, and had long blond hair tied loosely at the back of his head, made some eyes at Cindy, but when she smiled at him, he got red in the face, and run back to the kitchen. The two adults discussed something while eating, and the little girl began looking around the place, with her chin on her arms crossed at the table. She noticed a pale adolescent youth come in, and sit at a nearby table. She found his complexion a little surprising, considering everybody else she was today was lightly tanned. Since he wasn''t all that interesting, she looked at the amateurish art work hanging at the walls, between all sort of trophies likely brought from the beast in the nearby dungeon. Not particurarly interested in the skeleton of a large serpent attached to the ceiling, and inlaid with flame like magic light crystals, she looked back at the adults and sipped from her beer.If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. - I see you are uhm.. - said Jack happy the girl is fianlly paying attention - back with us. - What would you say about Rose for a name? - I guess it''s pretty damn neat, why? - You don''t have a name, and we will need to register you somehow with the guild. - Okay. - Then.. ah.. - said Jack, while being a little lost in thought - what would you say if we adpoted you. It will.. uhm.. make the travel to the next Guild easier for you. - Why the hell would I need to travel to another guild? - You''ve clearly finished the easier of our towns dungeons, but you aren''t ready for the more challenging one. - Is the damn place for proper adventurers? - Quite.. uhm so. - What surname would I be getting from you two? - Simone. - Hmm.. Fuck it, it will do. Can I have a bite from that, and what is it? - It''s Blue - said Jack noticing Rose pointing at his plate - Bat breast, he.. - Jack tried to give her the food, but she just grabbed the fork herself - ...re. The fuck is it!! Spicy, too spicy.. bueeh.. Cindy got soup, maybe it will fix the damn spice bat. Oooh, better.. Jack and Cindy giggled at girls anticts, and the three finished theirfood and beer while listening to the calm music coming from Roses bracelet. Done with the meal they left few bronze coins at the table, and passed Monica at the door to the tavern. On the way back to the guild, the adults tried to talk with the girl, but she was too focused counting how many steps each of them took, to register the Guild Masters voices. When each of them took five hundred steps, the trio found themselves in fron of the Guild building. - It''s bloody five hundred again! - It is, isn''t it amusing? - But I made sure to skip over every other fucking stone this time... - Rose, do you - said Jack while, he and Cindy smiled at the girl - know how old you are? - No damn clue. - Let''s check it then, while registering you in the Guild, shall we? - Okaay! The three made towards the office, while greeting Robert and a tall, slightly plump blonde female clerk who replaced Monica. This time Rose looked around the almost entirely stone, beige building a bit. The stairs were made from sligthly darker, than the benches in the lobby, polished wood. The ceiling was covered in old, completed comissions, and on the wall next to the stairs was a list of what tasks adventurers of three different ranks can take.On the walls of the corridor on the first floor there was a dozen or so simple wooden doors on both sides, and at the end of it was one with a relief of most of the local monsters. Damn, the carpet in this office is so damn comfy. So many books on the walls.. bookcases.. whatevs.. What are they poking around there with this old man...- Whats the old geezers name? -Steven.. Steve, Stevo.. ah, who cares. Rolling to the left, rolling to the right. Hm? Why are they putting this bloody orb in my fucking face? Plop the right hand on the orb, plop the left one... oh, stupid bauble is shining. Twats took the orb.. sleeep. Whats poking me.. hm? another orb? Here, have my fucking chin. It''s so cool. Ah, god fucking damnit, slippery piece of shit, my head huuurts... Sleep. The old secretary covered the girl with his suit jacket, and put a pillow from the leather armchair in the corner under her head. He then went to his desk, and filed Roses data into a cluster of green and black magic crystals, by extending a blue arcane string into the two transparent orbs.
Name Rose Simone
Age restricted 11
Rank Null
Rank potential G
Skills restricted Pocket Space
- It''s always like that with them, isn''t it? - Ah.. Well, nothing - said Jack, while glancing at Rose - we can do for them before they get out. - I know, I know... Steven, how did it go? - Your transfer has been approved ma''am, sir. - I suppose it''s uhm.. - said Jack while looking around the books filled office - our last night in this town. - Should we go with our usual goodbyes? Vladi seemed to quite like me. - Mayors - said Jack, while recalling his and Cindys past adventures - wife fancies me too. Fuck it. - Steven, could you carry Rose to the bed upstairs? If she wakes up, tell her we will be back in the morning. Sit the .... down Ummm.. Stone ceiliing... uaaa.. stone floor.. comfy, warm bed. I''m not fucking getting out. Let''s roll up in it.. boring. Hm? My boots are next to the bed. Oh well... I wonder how my swords are doing. Rose willed her sword and saber out of the pocket space. In her left hand appeared the swords, as it should have, but in her right materialised a saber-mace with a white magic crystal at the end. Curious, the girl put down the sword, and swung the mace. As a small ripple appeared around the maces tip, Rose collapsed to the ground, panting for breath. Fuck!! Breath in, breath out. God fucking damnit. Breath in, breath out. I guess.. I won''t be using that bloody thing for now. Few more breaths.. I wonder if those twats have something to eat, this was goddamn exhausting. Having collected herself, Rose fixed her clothes,hanged the sword in the sheat she pulled from the pocket space, and the mace back in there. Then while stretching and yawning she made her way to the office. - Hey old man. You know where those two idiots are? I''m starved. - I''m afraid Guild Masters won''t come for a little while longer, I could share my breakfast with miss Rose. Steven gestured for Rose to take a sit at Guild Masters desk, and put his plate, with some Wooden Golem salad on it, in front of the girl. After he came back to his sit, he looked at Rose enjoy herself, and got back to work while having a small smile on his face. After a few minutes there was a light knock at the door. - Come in. In came a tanned, stern looking medium height man, carrying the same meal Steven gave earlier to Rose, and two glasses of water. He put one in front of the girl, and the other and the meal in front of the secretary, afterwards he excused himself and left. Rose looked at Steven questioningly, waving her right hand towards the door, while stuffing her face with food. - That was one of our clerks, Norbert, he has the morning shift. Rose shrugged, and focused back on the food. About an hour later, when bored girl was in the middle of trying to take apart the very immobile crystal cluster on Guild Masters desk, Jack and Cindy finally came in. Both looked rather sleep deprived, but energetic, and were discussing something while laughing. - Hey Rose, everythings alright? - Steve gave me his salad, but I''m still hungry.. Why won''t the crystals move like they do on his desk? - Ah.. You need to - said Jack while materialising a black robe-like coat with a blue shine to it onto himself - charge a little mana into them. Uhm.. They won''t respond to people who aren''t bound to them though. - We could grab something to eat, while looking for travelling supplies for you. Come Rose. Cindy wore a coat similar to Jacks, though hers had much dimmer blue light, and a little bit of red to it. While Cindy had light, black leather armour beneath her robe, Jack had simple white suit shirt, black slim pants, both wore similar long leather boots. - Suuure! - We will come back later to say our goodbyes... - Hurry damnit! Jack patted Rose who run up to them, on the head, and the three left. They went for about two hundred steps towards the Barking Dog, and stopped in front of a shop with a needle and thread signboard. They''re going inside. I hope motherfuckers won''t need me to turn of the music, it''s a nice bloody tune. What are you opening your mouth at me for Jack? Caaan''t hear you.. Oh, he''s pointing to the corner with a stand. Another pale person... Oh, she brought some jackets.. What are those twats shooing her away for? Those were pretty. Eh? I will drown in this one! -Yes, this should be good. She will grow into it. What do you think Jack? - Blue Bat hide - said Jack while looking at belts of all sizes - uhm.. does last a long time. With those... - he continued while pointing at the belts. - Sir, and madam thought of everything, I will attach them quickly. - Then we will come back to pick it up later, if you could also add some shirts and undergarments so she would have some change. - As a discount for the Guild Master, I will include them in the price for the jacket. - You are a - said Jack while smiling at the tailor - a dear Jannet.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. Cindy waved at Rose to come, and the three left for the general shop on the other side of the street. Rose was again lost in her own world, paying minimal attention to the adults, but as they were leaving she waved around her sword and pointed at the very clear lack of one on her left. The smithy was around fifty steps further towards the Barking Dog. It was made from much darker stone than other buildings, and had an open front. Instead of a signboard. the entire space of the first floors wall was taken by pieces of metal golems, and a red shiningskeleton of some wolf like creature. - Rose? - I''m listening, I''m listening. Can I get a half of a saber here? - Why a.. - said Jack, but didn''t get to finish. - I''m not used to swinging any bloody longer ones. - Sir, ma''am, miss. I''m afraid I do not forge halfs of blades, but maybe a curved dag.. Rose run into the smithy, and began shifting through a collection of blades on, and beneath the right wall. Jack and Cindy went in deeper to talk with the smith in the storage in the back. When they finally chose two short swords, one straight long dagger, and two curved ones, they heard a load sound of something breaking. Back in the main space of the smithy, they saw a very proud girl swinging a broken saber while standing next to a magical anvil, with it''s hammer shining rather brightly. Beneath the anvil were two other sabers, one with only it''s tip broken off, and another broken close to the handle. The girl seemed to have broken all three of them at the same time. - This one will do!! The length is just fucking right! Rose pulled out three damaged specter cores, put them next to the anvil, and began fitting the saber to her belt. Smith quickly run up to give them back, but the girl didn''t even notice her, so Cindy took them, and paid some silver coins. Jack patted the girl on her back, and the two Guild Master left with Rose following close behind them. When they reached the Barking Dog, Rose snapped at the barking dog, while Cindy took a large bag from Vladi who was just leaving the tavern. He tried to say something, but only mumbled beneath his breath, and run back inside, after giving Cindy an awkward hug. Cindy divided food from the bag between the three of them, so they could each put their portion into their pocket spaces, and they slowlywalked back to the tailor. - Do you think we will have any trouble in Mountainfall? - Hmm.. hard to - said Jack while organising his pocket space - say. We will - he said as he looked at Rose behind them - probably have to look for someone to take care of her.. Just in case.. hmf.. - Good thing I didn''t sleep with their Guild Master at least. - We should send him a message when we will be close ah.. - said Jack while scratching the back of his head - Guard Captain may be against seeing me pass by. - At lest we won''t be coming back here. The two laughed for a bit, having walked for about two hundred fifty steps went into the tailor shop. Clerk gave them the clothes for Rose, and they had the girl go into an open space again to see how her new jacket fits. Cindy helped Rose adjust belts on the arms, and back, the girl attached her swords to a belt on the outside of the jacket, while buckling belts on her waist and chest. After some more adjustements the jacked finally allowed for reasonably free movement. Jackpaid the tailor a gold coin, and they left while a red-ish haired girl was skipping around, while watching her currently calf long jacket flip about. - Rose, Rose? Before you tune out, I''d like to ask you something. - Sure, shoot. - You can chose to take different training at the Guild. Children usually are sent straight to the advanced training, but you are a little old for it.. - What''s the other one? - It''s basic training. It''s mainly to help prepare your body for proper training. Most adults and adolescents take it when they decide to... - I already cleared a fucking dungeon. - I understand, advanced it is. Cindy smiled at the girl, who now was adjusting lower ends of her swords sheaths, so they wouldn''t flop too much when jumping. - It''s a little ah.. - said Jack, while taking in the Road - late for her to join, but she is right. She should fit in well.. - We will need to reign in her swearing a little though. Trainers won''t mind, but if other kids pick it up... They were suddenly interrupted by a pale youth jumping in front of them. The scrawny more boy, than man had a twisted scowl on his face while looking at the Guild Masters and the girl. - Why can that brat join advanced training?! You told me! The Bernard Roadish of Ungodly Heroic I can only take the basic training! - Bernie.. I told you many times, even if you want to be a mage.. - But I was in a dungeon! - You watched Jeff kill monsters for you, and messed up numerous times when trying to skin them. Rose had killed a boss on her own. It is not a thing child should be allowed to do, but she nor anyone else had a choice in that. If you want, pack up, and tag along, the basic training doesn''t take long. - How?! You.. - Sit the fuck down!! Interrupted him Rose, and continued hopping towards the Guild, which was about fifty steps away. Cindy followed her, while Jack tried to talk some sense into the boy, who did sit down. Jack caught up to the women as they were walking into the office, and they sat down to drink their last beer with Steven. The two Guild Masters grabbed few books, and withdrawn their mana from crystal cluster on their desk. Jack, Cindy and Rose waved their goodbyes to Monica who came to replace Norbert, and left. They took exactly five hundred steps towards the dungeon Rose lived in until now, and then took exactly thousand and one steps towards the Barkin Dog to find themselves out in an open field stretching towards the horizon. Rose gave the sight a tired look, while Jack and Cindy each grabbed her by her hands, and another thousand steps later they were at a path leading into forest beneath a large mountain range. The fuck? That stupid town is like.. five meters from us now... -Wait! Rose, it takes much longer to get to Road, and it''s easy to lose someone if they step differently. - Okay! Stupid fucking road. Will there be more steppy things like that? - Ah.. Road - said Jack while breathing in the forest air - is rather unique like that. - Stupid fucking Road, and dumber fucking road. Rose had equally excited look in her red on black eyes, wether she looked back towards Road, or at the path leading into the forest. I want to go up there While Rose was fencing against the trees using a stick, Cindy and Jack calmly enjoyed the tranquil silence of the forest. After about four broken sticks they reached a mountain stream, and the air slowly began filling with the sounds of nature. Curious about the sounds Rose cocked an eyebrow and pointed in the direction they were the loudest, she couldn''t quite ask since her mouth was filled with all kinds of berries. The adults looked around, but not seeing anything unusual, they could only shrug. - What do you want to show us? - Gulp. I''m not showing anything, what are those fucking noises? - Noi.. ah.. - realised Jack - there are beasts further in the forest, I didn''t expect you''d hear them from so far ah... away. - Hm.. I wouldn''t expect them to make such pretty damn sounds. - Do you mean birds Rose? - Don''t birds make bloody loud schreeching noises? - Not - said Jack while looking to the side, and up - ah.. quite. Rose stuck her tounge at Jack, run off further to the front and walked slightly skipping and looking around at the trees, after throwing her new stick to the side of the path. At the same time, Cindy poked Jacks side with her elbow, and laughed at him shortly. - I ah.. mean - said Jack while trying to push his insufferable friend of the path - how was I supposed to know.. ugh.. fucking noises means pretty sounds... - Didn''t you just forget she doesn''t know much about the world? She may be aware of this and that, but she didn''t experience it. - Why is it you, the... - Jack did not finish seeing a dangerous glint in Cindys eyes, and just patted her on the back. Rose breath, by breath tuned out the sound of the adults, of the stream, and the leaves rustling in the wind. Focused on the sound of singing birds, she stalked towards a tree slightly away to the right of the path. Suddenly a brown small bird flew out of a bush next to it, and in one fluid motion, Rose pulled out her saber and cut through it. - Eeew.. why does it have liqui.. huh.. - Rose? - No damn problem, just been a while since I was cut, so I forgot animals fucking bleed. Where is it''s core? - Normal animals do not have them. - How am I supposed to keep its damn sounds then? Ah?! Jack picked up Rose, and put her on his shoulders for a piggyback ride. - Cindy? Can you hold my saber? It will filthy Jacks damn robe. Jack waved his left hand, and the saber flew out of Roses hand, the blood slipped from it to the ground, and the saber flew into it''s sheath on girls left. - Rose, would you like that bird cooked later? - ... Sure, if the damn useless thing can''t give me it''s singing, then at least it should try to taste well. Cindy lightly slapped the girl on the back, and barely heard Roses mumbled sorry. Girl then squeezed Jacks ears, and pointed forwards while her faces showed a strong look ahead, if not for the light blush on her cheeks. Young wizard then run, evading trees and branches. A couple hours later the trio made it in time to see the sun set above the mountains, just as they made it out of the forrest. Rose was now nodding off in Cindys hands, while Jack was looking for a magical mark.As he found the little blue symbol, it released a thin line when Jack supplied a little bit of his mana into it. It led towards a caves entrance hidden by rocks.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Cindy put down Rose, and went to the cave to check for tracks of any beast, while Jack stayed to keep an eye on the girl. The woman noticed there indeed were tracks, likely belonging to a lone wolf, she went back to Jack and the two decided to wait for Rose to wake up, as she seemed to be slowly opening her eyes after being moved. - Shhh, shhh... Jack, pay attention to the cave. Rose, stand up and stretch a little with me. - Fuuuck..? Suure.. Jack began forming some blue geometrical figures, while Rose mimicked Cindy. After few exercises little girl felt refreshed, and focused at the adults. - The cave we will rest in has a rather weak monster in it, would you like trying to hunt it? - Just like specters? - Hmm.. uhm.. not - whispered Jack, not stopping his hands, forming more intricate figures - exactly. Where did the specterc have their cores? Rose pointed a little below her heart, and the adults nodded. - It''s the same for most monsters, the weak ones, like the one you will hunt though, unlike specters have tiny cores. You should try to aim for it''s throat, but wearing it out by cutting the sides would be safer. - Got it. Is the fucker behind the rocks? - It''s gone for now, we will mask our scent. You go hide close to the cave, but do not try to fight inside. Rose passed the caves entrance, and hid behind the stone next to it. She tuned out all sounds, and waited for a new noise to come. - This should make up for her lack of education on theory, shouldn''t it? - I would ah.. - said Jack as he finished forming his spells, and they seeped into the skin on his hands - think so. If she can adapt to new monsters, there will be no arguments to send her into the basic course. Ah.. Do you remember what she should know on theoretical subjects? - Don''t small town guild teach local geography? - Would she ah.. even need that? We will be training her later, right? - Guild history? That should be a surprisingly easy subject for her.. at least for the early materials. - Which she will have ah.. missed. - Maybe she will pass to train with kids... The two stopped, as they noticed the small for a wolf monster. It was a green and grey, it''s eyes shone yellow, reflecting the night light. Sound! Pheeew... Sword are on my knees.. good, I won''t fucking trip or make noise. Breath in.. It should be gett.. pebbles.. Ok, it''s nose.. the rest of the bloody head.. breath out, and spring the tip into it.. Fuck!! Motherfucker!! Wolf jumped back, as the tip of the sword Rose held in her left hand brushed by it''s neck, leaving a shallow cut. Beast growled, backing away slowly, it''s head low, while the fur on it''s back raised. Rose stayed low, circling to get out into the open space, her sword kept in front, while saber kept low at her side. Monster lundged at it''s prey, but Rose jumped back trying to pierce the sword into it, only to almost get it knocked out of her hand. She desperately slashed with the saber, and managed to hurt wolfs backside. Rose steadied her stance, slightly of balance, growling at the monster. It lungded once more, swiping wide for the jumpy target, but suddenly whimpered as it felt pain stabbing through it''s chest. Rose barely evaded beneath beasts claws, let go of her sword lodged in it''s chest, and swiped her saber holding it in both hands through retreating wolfs neck. She then quickly sprung back, and from crawl got back up, still holding her saber with both hands in front of herself. The beast though no longer had strength to move, and quickly died. - Fuck.. You guys gave me the damn pretty jacket, and now it''s all dirty. - Don''t worry, remember how Jack removed blood from your saber earlier? - Oh, how nice. - Um.. I will then - said Jack, while his heart beat louder and faster than when he fought monsters himself - help Rose, and clean the cave. - Good, give h.. ok, good you changed, then pass the dirty clothes to Jack, and I will show you how to skin the wolf. Rose wanted to peak at Jacks magic, but she still obediently watched Cindy work. Later the girl set up her own sleeping bag, mimicing how the adults evened out the ground, and when Cindy was finishing the cooking outside the cave, Rose watched Jack check if all the wards are properly set up. - Ah.. I tell you Rose.. I almost jumped in to help. - Was I that fucking bad? - Not that.. ah.. - said Jack while biting into roasted wolf leg - bad, but you could certainly learn some new things in the training program. - Hey, that... Rose no longer paid attention to the other two, and looked towards the north, lost in thought. Once she finished eating her part of the wolf, and was half way through her beer, she stood up, and pointed where she looked. - I want to go up there! Jack and Cindy looked in the direction she pointed, and laughed lightly. - We will be going through a pass thats much closer to our location. - A pass? - Through the.. am.. - said Jack, while sipping from his cup - mountains, to Mountainfall. - Mountains, what fucking mountains? - The.. Adults looked a little higher, and just above the peaks Rose pointed at, saw a half-moon. Thats how the mages do it! Same as the past two days, the trio was in the mountains, they were already on the path before sunrise. Despite it all being new to Rose, she was already growing tired of all the small bushes, rocks, rocks covered by moss, rocks in streams, rocks getting loose under her feet, and throwing small rocks at large rocks. "How much longer, do we need to fucking walk?" "You will see the town, once we got around this peak," Cindy replied to Rose. "It should take the entire day to reach the bottom of the mountain, and we will make it to the town tomorrow, after resting for the night." Rose sighed, picked up another rock, and as she began looking what to throw it at, Cindy sent out a small blue circle onto a rock about firty meters away. "Why don''t you try hitting it?" woman pointed at the target. Girl threw, and missed. She puffed her cheeks a little, and threw five rocks one after another. She hit with the fourth, but fifth went way over the large rock. Cindy continued picking targets, and Rose throwing at them for another hour, while Jack walked slightly behind them and formed barely visible blue lines around himself. "Let''s stop here for a little while," said Cindy as they got over the mountain pass. Beneath them the mountains declined through a forrest, into a distant field of floating rocks spreading as far as the mountain range. Off to the right, at the base of the mountains was a small city surrounded by a dense curtain of rocks connected by clearly visible blue lines. Further from the mountain range, the floating rocks were less and less dense, until they reached low hills spreading towards the horizon. Rose took in the sight, when a dazzling spectacle of colours burts from behind her. The sun rose from behind the mountains. Golden light spread in the distance, and slowly grew closer, while the town and surroinding it area still remained in the shadow of the mountains. Girl looked to the sides, noticing the rainbow like spectacle was only spreading from around her and Cindy. "How do you uhm..." said Jack, with a proud smile on his face. "Like it?" "It''s fucking awesome!! How the hell did you do it?" yelled Rose excitedly. "He''s jus gonna throw out some excuse like ''It''s a trade secret''." Cindy chuckled. "I only tell you that, because you''d..." said Jack, with a sigh. "Burn down the entire area." Cindy opened her mouth to refute him, but only nodded her head dejectedly. She picked up Rose who rose her hands, and the three continued down, while admiring the sight in silence. Around noon they took a break to eat some lunch. Rose helped Jack cook, while Cindy left for a walk. Cooks were in the middle of their meal, when she came back, and nodded at Jack with a smile. "Do you ah..." said Jack while putting down bowl "like magic Rose?" "Are there idiots who don''t?" answered the girl, looking at Jack as if he was the biggest idiot in the world. "There are some, I ah..." said the mage, and chuckled. "Guess you''d like to see us do a little presentation?" "Fuck yes!" Jack and Rose quickly finished their meals, and cleaned up the camp, while waiting for Cindy to finish hers. When everyone was done, Cindy led the other two for about fifteen minutes towards a group of stone golems. Largest among the monsters was about three meters tall, and resembled a walking pine tree, while smallest was barely a meter tall and looked like a poor caricature of a gray dog. There were four boulder like, floating golems, and the rest were about the size of the dog like one, and also resembled animals.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. "Why are only the large ones colourful?" said Rose, while tugging at coats of both adults. "They grow crystals as they age Rose, can you see..." said Cindy, while pointing at a deer like golem. "That ones horns are black." "Yes, ah..." said Jack, picked up Rose onto a waist high stone, and set up spell formation around her. "Stay here Rose, and enjoy the show." Can I sit? eh.. I will sit. What is taking those idiots so long... can''t they just send those squigglies out? Maybe thats why people don''t like magic. If it''s gonna take so much fucking... Jack was preparing a large blue magic formation all around himself, while Rose crafted a small purple spell around her left hand, and threw a barely visible red orb with her right. The red orb grew in size and intensity of colour until it reached the hundred or so meters away group of golems. After a few seconds delay, it exploded into fire engulfing all of them. Once flames began dying down, Cindy shot out her left arm, and a ripple flew out of the fully formed spell. Almost immediately the spell hit the tree like golem, blasting it pieces. With no flames to obstruct their view, the rest of the golems quickly detected their attackers, and rushed in their direction. When the group of monsters run for about fifty meters, Jack with a yell, sent out his spell blasting all the small ones to pieces, and forcing the boulder like ones to the ground. Cindy in the meanwhile covered herself in purple armour formed with geometrical shapes, and run towards the surviving golems. Her elbows glowed red and when she closed in on the monsters, bursted with flames propelling her, fists first, into the closest one. Outer layer of the spell on her hands, broke, blasting the golem into pieces. Golems to Cindys right and left were split vertically by two waves of energy that flew from Jack at the same time. The last golem finally flew up, and lunged at the closer attacker, it''s upper tip first. Female magician collected the rest of the armour spell into a conical shape, and shot it out through the golem. A wall of blue lines spread in front of Cindy, it''s source in two box like spells around Jacks hands, and pieces of now dead golem hit it with dull sounds. "Thanks Jack!" yelled out Cindy. Jack nodded in reply, and began undoing the spell around Rose, who had her face plasterd to the clear magicall wall in front of her. When the spell unfolded, girl fell forward, into already waiting Cindys arms, who then spun around, and child exclaimed excitedly. Cindy put Rose down and said with a proud look on her face, "That''s how mages do it!" Male magician looked equally proud, and formed two blue crowns on his and Cindys heads. Rose bowed before the adults while laughing. "Can I do that too?" asked Rose, with excitement filled voice. "You can start learning once you''ve aquired your third ability, my little vassal" began explaining Cindy in a reagl tone. "Before then, your body won''t be able to properly transmit mana." "That sucks..." murmured little girl dejectedly. "Ah, don''t worry..." said Jack. "You should acquire your second one, in a couple of weeks if you will be diligently training." "That''s right, and as an adventurer, you will quickly grow stronger after that." Cindy chimed in, to cheer up Rose. "I will work hard, damnit!" "Good... tell me Rose," asked Jack while forming a third crown on top girls head. "What''s the most important thing, for an adventurer?" "Good weapon, strong spells?" Said Rose, and swung her saber. "That''s certainly part of it. It''s preparation, having a constructed spell ready for when you run into an enemy, weapon placed in an easy to draw way, armour that help you survive blows" began explaining Cindy. "Your jacket for example, may seem thin, and only good for keeping the cold and rain away..." "But it''s made from the hide of a Blue Bat, resistant to magic, and beneath is the fur of an Ember Wolf, dampening the physical blows..." Continued Jack where Cindy left off. "ah... It''s also been sewn with refitting string, even if it won''t adjust to the wearer, since it''s not dungeon make, it has some degree if self-repair." "What the fuck is dungeon make?" "Your clothes, and weapons belonged to specters, right?" asked Cindy. "Uhum.." "Dungeon make is what gear..." said Jack. "born, in a dungeon. Applying magical properties to such gear is much easier." The adult adventurers continued giving lessons to Rose, until they reached the forrest at the foot of the mountain. There they had the girl look for a good spot to set up camp. Tracks, tracks, show me a stream, go away from my cave, show me where the berries are.. nom, nom, nom. Fucking tracks I will slaughter what you came from, stupid monster your cave be will mine, and the damn rain won''t get me. Oh, I got a stream... Maybe there will be some nice spot on the other side. Berries!! Damnit, orange spots means baad.. Hm.. this is not quite a cave, but should do. "How about under this rock?" asked Rose while pointing at a large, flat rock sticking out of the ground between the trees. "If I cover the sides with branches, it should be safe from rain, right?" "And?" Asked Cindy. "I didn''t find any tracks, the stream is close by, and I have two fucking mages in the party so no need to worry about wards, or checking anything more..." Said the girl, finishing with a grumble. "Fine..." laughed Cindy. "Jack, help me with the wards, and Rose will cook. It''s Mountainfall tomorrow..."