1 Fresh start

- It's dangerous around there - said the young man with a slight smile on his face, crouching over a little green corpse. He wore some light, leather armor on his chest, arms and legs. He had no helmet so it was easy to see his unnatural, black hair and simple yet kind of handsome face with brown eyes.

His words, however, were not meant for a mere prey that's been just killed. He spoke to the young, blonde lady sitting nearby, under the tree, still trembling a bit. Her dress wasn't just another piece of cloth. Mostly red with white and gold parts, was definitely too expensive, even for nobles.

With an even wider smile, he asked.

- What is such a beautiful lady doing in a forest full of morgles?

- I-I was... M-m-my guards... - she was speaking falteringly so Marcus couldn't make anything out of what she tried to tell.

- It's good for now, just calm down and then we can try talking to each other again.

From the sheath placed on his left hip he pulled out a long dagger and in a smooth cut one mogrle's body was separated from its foot.

- I'm sorry for this unpleasant sight my lady... - he started while taking out a small flask out of his bag hanging on his right side. - but money has to be made somehow.

Marcus filled one by one, three flasks with greenish liquid dripping off the cut. Morgle's blood was well known for its use as a medical ingredient. Therefore, it could be sold for a quite fair price. After filling three flasks he cut the foot of the second body doing exactly the same and filling another three bottles. Eventually, he filled last two flasks with the third body and collected cut feet to brown sack which he tied tightly.

Finally, he looked at the blonde girl, still sitting under the same tree and looking like was about to burst out crying. Some tears even appeared on the light skin of her cheeks. He sighed, squatted down in front of her and with his hand on her head, he started to stroke light hair. Now that he could see it closely, her hair was more like golden than blonde.

- Come on, you don't have to keep it in. I'll never tell anyone about that, alright?

She noticed a black dog tag hanging on his neck - symbol of adventurers. She heard they were nothing more than cruel mercenaries but it didn't matter. With her head resting on his chest, she started speaking through tears.

- I-I couldn't help them... I couldn't...

- Now, now... - still stroking her hair, Marcus felt that she was calming bit by bit. He had his suspicions about what happened.

She was probably some noble girl, that had her guards defeated by some forest creatures. It was probably the first time she has seen someone being murdered.

When the girl calmed completely and fell asleep he got a stick and wrapped one end in some cloth from his bag. Then he took out small ampoule and poured pinkish mixture on cloth.

With sleeping beauty on his back and burning torch in his hand, he went back to nearby town.

***

For some reason, he wasn't scared or even surprised. He was transferred to a parallel world as if he was living in one of those stories the pop culture was overflowing with recently. Luckily for him, he was kinda into that stuff and even if he wouldn't admit it, this scenario was his little, impossible dream. "Dreams really come true, huh?" he thought.

There was only one 'but', how is he supposed to live here, he could talk normally to the natives, however, he lacked writing or reading skills. Not to mention other things like basic knowledge about pretty much everything in this world.

Marcus, that's how he introduced himself to some people by now, decided to check all knowledge gathered so far. He could talk to natives but couldn't read any inscription. His black hair and brown eyes were not only rare but ridiculously rare. Approximately, ninety-five percent of people in this country have never seen it, there were also guys who haven't even heard of it. "That can be troublesome".

The overwhelming part of the society was blonde, then came other colors like red, blue, green and so on. Being black-haired could possibly attract unnecessary attention. For the folks here, he would be just a part of some freak show.

This city was named Salavel and was the biggest agglomeration on northern lands of Myria. This world resembled his own, but in middle of the medieval era with some minor changes and one major - magic. He found out that magic exists in this world but didn't know anything about it.

It was safe to tell that it was his own world that at some point discovered the magic and instead of developing technology, they have developed handicraft and art - magic or traditional.

- For now, I have to focus on finding some money to survive. That woman before said something about adventurers. After all, the only thing I can is to fight... - he stood up from cold, cobbled steps of one of the back alleys of Salavel and started looking for some stable income source.

After almost an hour of asking random people, he finally reached what he thought of from the very beginning - an adventurers' guild hall. Well, it wasn't named like that but Marcus was used to it as many books, named it like this.

The building was around twice as tall as the casual houses, so it had to have at least two floors. It was placed just next to a city gate, but he couldn't know that as he woke up in the middle of a street.

Taking one more step, he opened the door and went inside.

- Welcome to the Salavel's quest hall. You have to be new, aren't you, mister? I've never seen you before. My name is Cindy Velander. - Said young girl behind the counter, her blonde hair was tied in braid laying casually on her shoulder. She had cute round, face, light blue eyes and top-class figure. To put it in a nutshell, she was stunningly beautiful.

- Yeah, I just arrived and was looking for some job. You got something easy that can help me make my living? - black-haired lad spoke as if nothing was happening but deep inside his heart raced like crazy.

- Of course - the girl answered with a happy clap - But firstly, you have to register so maybe we proceed straight to that, shall we?. - Without waiting for a response, in a smooth movement, she took out several sheets of yellow paper, pen and bottle of ink.

- So, mister... Can you write?

- Unfortunately, no.

- No problem, I will fill it out for you then. What's your name, sir?

- Marcus, just Marcus.

- Age?

- Twenty-two.

With a permanent smile on her face, counter girl asked questions one by one. There were simple ones like gender, date of birth and more but some were really hard to answer for him.

- What kind of magic can you use?

- I cannot use any.

- I'm sorry?

Based on her reaction, not being able to use magic was really rare. He started thinking about how to get out of this uncomfortable situation but she continued.

-That's rare... But it's definitely not the most unusual thing about you, huh? - just as she said that she realized something and turn red. - I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have said that, sir. Forgive me for my hardihood. - she apologized, bowing so deeply she almost have touched the counter with her head.

- Hey, that's no big deal. I know I look weird. - with a bit forced laugh Marcus tried to calm her down.

After a few more questions his registration form was filled out and guild girl disappeared in the back room. He looked at the rest of the building.

Just as he thought it had two floors. Lower one served as meeting place and tavern while upstairs were located guest rooms for those willing to stay overnight or even for the longer period. The girl has told him that at this time of the day, there was usually not a single soul to find. Some adventurers were still at home, some wandering around town, and most of them, obviously, on their missions.

He came to the corkboard standing next to the counter and started looking at posted quests. After a few minutes, Cindy came back and gave him a small, metal item. A dog tag, with his name and birthdate.

- You start from the iron one. Do you know how the hierarchy goes, sir?

- To be honest, I know nothing. Would you kindly explain everything to me?

- With pleasure.

From their conversation, he learned about the guild system, tags, missions and much more.

- So what kind of quest are you interested in, sir?

- Something simple that can cover my stay here. I don't have any weapon so it would be better to keep it safe - he answered with a smile.

- We've got something just right for a beginner - both of them came to the corkboard and she took one of paper sheets and handed it to Marcus. - This one is about gathering herbs in safe parts of the forest so you should be satisfied with it, sir.

- Looks great, thank you very much - While smiling broadly he showed his gratitude. - If I may ask, can we just skip formalities? I'm Marcus.

- If you insist. I'm Cindy then.

- Well, then I'll get going. See you later Cindy" Sheet with the mission was folded several times and hidden in Marcus' pocket.

- Yes, please come often here.

When black-haired came out he looked on the paper once more.

"This isn't dragon hunting..." he thought "but Rome was not built in a day."