11 "What do we have here?"

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DEar dIaRy,

I thoughT….. I thougHt thIngs wiLl finally be okAy…...

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Azrael had left the house, walking a few miles then looking back. He knew he had no choice but to pay for the pill, but that means he needs money, so he needs a job to get the money. He went to a guild office to sign up for missions for non-awakened users.

"Good day, young sir; how may I assist you?" A Young handsome gentleman sat at the front desk with a holographic screen and a keyboard.

"Ummm… Hi," Azrael said shyly. "I want to know if there is a job that could offer me nintylin bedrock coins in 3 months?" Azrael's head barely fitted over the counter. He looked at the man rather than the screen. The man looked at Azrael. "Well, I would have to check, but before I ask, may I know your age, if you are a user or not, and your skills?"

Azrael looked up at the young gentlemen and replied, "Well, I am 11 years old, turning 12, I am not a User, and I have pretty decent sword skills since for 1 and a half years, the Lucidis family trained me." Azrael had looked at the man while he was speaking, but the man could not return the gaze as the man had been typing.

"Okay, there are some Jobs available, but young sir, please do know that these Jobs that give such huge amounts of money are usually tough" This man had given the advice with a straight face, he was sincere, but he was almost utterly expressionless.

"Mmm, I see, but sir, I forgot to ask your name?" Azrael asked the man who was assisting him.

"Well, this is first not many people care for what our names are, but my name is Titus, Titus Winegard." he smiled at Azrael.

"Well, Mr. Titus, my name is Azrael Raven, and what do you think is the best job for me?" Azrael asked intuitively.

"Well, let's see, I would say this escort quest that will last close to 3 - 4 months long, and the pay in total is 120-lin bedrock coins. Which is more than what you wanted but it's the safest one I can bet you that. He smiled while typing vigorously.

"Well, if you say so. Umm, is it okay if when I come here again, I can come to you for help? I don't know much about adventuring and stuff, and I would like some help. Is that alright, Mr. Titus?" Azrael was shy, blushing a bit.

"Well, sure, do you have a Holoinv? If so, can I give you my number?" He smiled and rubbed the kid's head.

Azrael's eyes sparkled, but he was still in a hurry. He still remembered what situation his parents were in but still smiled as if everything was alright. He hid the sadness that laid dormant and under the mask he wore.

"Yes, okay, cool" he lifted up his arm, the bracelet appeared, and the numbers were shared.

Azrael was about to leave, but then he turned around and said, "Umm, oh yes, I also need to apply for a merchant or adventure card, right?"

"Ah yes, I would also need to put your Nickname and name on the adventure guilds list of adventures or merchants." his glasses were about to fall off. He got up and tried to show Azrael where and how to fill out the forms.

Azrael had noticed that Titus wore a suit. His burgundy colored hair had split halfway through the middle, and he had more glass with a thin frame. He had a lean body with a face that every girl would fall over for.

"There we go. All the paperwork and everything will be done. You still have not put your nickname down?" he sat on a couch next to Azrael with the holographic screen right in front of them.

"Well, I am not sure what to put up on the screen. Mmmm, maybe I can go with Azzy. It's short for Azrael. I can change it again later on when I awaken as a user." He smiled childishly.

"If you don't mind me asking, why did you choose to be an adventurer at such a young age?" Titus looked at the boy; he conveyed something close to interest but also worry.

But Azrael's mask cracked a bit, and a little bit of what had been held back fell through the cracks as his heart sank. "Well, I want to make money to help with something for my parents, you know." Azrael tried to pull a fake smile, but the air turned stale, and Titus decided not to dig any further.

"Well, okay, keep safe. I hope we can meet again; you seem like a good kid. So keep it up, okay!" he patted Azrael on the head and then got up and led the way out.

"Before I leave, I want to say that when I come back, I want 1v1 spar with you. Maybe I can beat you." Azrael smirked and ran off.

"*That kid, he really thinks he can beat me. But I feel like if I stick close and help guide him, maybe one day we can have one more hero to protect this world. The wars are getting more chaotic, and people need more heroes to step up. Sigh, I just wish him the best on his journey. May the gods are with you, little kid*" he checked his watch and brushed his hair back. Titus turned around with hands in his pocket and returned to a seat at the front desk.

….

Azrael had wandered around in the town he was in. It had been his first time anywhere away from home. He had not known what to do, but he remembered what Titus said "Go to fritis road next to Kemi street. Don't ask the locals and speak to people unnecessarily; just follow the street signs, and you will arrive at your destination."

So Azrael avoided everyone and found the vehicle he was going to escort. There stood 2 women, 1 person that looked like a kid and 1 man. They looked odd to him; they were really different.

"Hi, excuse me, umm, is this the escort team for Lauren Heems?" Azrael looked like a lost child. He had the face of an innocent little boy. His silver hair and mercury-colored eyes sparkled in the afternoon sun.

"Yes, we are. Who might you be, little human boy?" one of the 2 women spoke to him first. Her voice and words were pleasant but quite outspoken.

"Hi, I am supposed to be part of the escort team. My name is Azrael Raven, and I will be joining you, so please take care of me and teach me. I am willing to learn as I am fairly new to escorts." Azrael had bowed slightly in front of everyone.

"Hey, let's introduce ourselves. I am Cyra. I am a beast-men, as you can see by my tail and ears. The rude girl who just spoke is my younger sister. Her name is Alohi." Cyra had been a beast-men or rather a beast-women. Her sister had looked 2 years older than Azrael, and she looked 3 years older.

"My name is Glocks. I am a Dark elf." he had a raspy alto voice. He spoke minimally and just went back to cleaning his gun.

Lastly, there stood a boy that looked younger than Azrael who spoke, "My name is Albus, and I am a dwarf. And yes, I do look like a child, but I am 24 years old, so shove it" he was grumpy, he pulled a long face and turned his back against everyone.

"Little boy, what are you supposed to be? Are you human? A dwarf? Elf? Or what?" Cyra was leaning on a wall with her arms crossed.

"Well, I am human, and this is my first time meeting people from other races." Azrael's mouth opened wide.

"IS EVERYONE HERE AND READY!!" A woman shouted, interrupting the conversation.

"I am going to shout out your names and answer me if you are here or not." Having no chance to speak or interrupt the person speaking.

"Azrael, ...!" shouted the women. "Here," he replied. "..Cyra, Alhoi, Glock, and Albus!" and in that order they all shouted "Here!".

"Mrs, may I ask who you are?" Azrael was the only one curious as to who this woman standing in front of him was. The rest of them knew and only looked in shock.

"You don't know who I am? That is insulting but, it's fine doesn't matter. I am Lauren Heems, and you will be protecting cargo for the next 3 - 4 months."