6 The Guild

Baptis led the group the same way out as they came. On the way out, Leo asked him:

"What is now about me? My origins? Can someone in this mansion help me?"

Baptis showed him an apologetic face.

"I heard Mr. lost his memories. I'm afraid you have to search for yourself. A task like this can take up time and resources, and we haven't enough of either."

"I could tell. He showed no intention to help him when he heard about him."

Leash said dejected.

"Why would he?"

They left through the door, Baptis bowed to bid farewell.

"By leaving it be he waived the need to investigate further. At least he has no intention to convey his suspicious situation."

Henry said while intertwining his hands behind his head.

"And who knows how much he has to do. We got a clue though."

"That he is a Dwarf?" Leah asked. "Not much what we can do with it. At most asking around if anyone knows a place with Dwarfs."

"Am I something special? What is a Dwarf, compared to a human?"

"Ah right, you know not even that. I explain it on our way to the guild."

They walked along the street back to the crossroad, turning to the left and proceeded.

When the people turned sparser, Sam continued:

"You know, Dwarfs are rare around these parts here, but they are a reserved folk. Hence few people are aware of their personal life. So even harder to find out where you came from.

But some things are common knowledge: like that they are way smaller than average adults, about the size of a older child."

"So I won't grow much more? That sucks!" Leo exclaimed.

'I don't want to be a midget my whole life. It's nasty to be always the one to look up.'

"Bet it does, but you have other demerits. Like your magic affinity is pretty bad to a lot of elements, other than earth and fire. But also positive sides."

"For example?"

"You will have concentrated and strong muscles all over your body, Body enhancements will have stronger effects and your beard will be the masculinity in itself."

"Really, a beard is a plus?"

He unconsciously rubbed his chin. "What is that about the element affinity. Magic in general. I want to know the basics at least."

"Sucks to get a blank sheet in your head, no?" Henry teased. He quickly stopped when Leah threw a piercing gaze in his direction.

"It does." Leo said dejected, invoking regret and sorrow into his companions.

"Wait till we arrive by the guild, we have some time there to teach you some stuff."

Sam said, but got serious the next moment.

"I have to warn you now albeit. As said, Dwarfs are a rare species here. So illegal slave traders are out there waiting for you. Maybe even some legal ones try to get their hands on you.

Your luck you are quite good, as you are hard to be identified as one."

Leo looked around, scared by the info he heard. The people around him seemed a lot more threatening than a moment ago.

'Shit, slaves and slave traders are a common thing here. But that means I can get one, too.'

He thought, a new question ready.

"Legal and illegal? Are slaves normal here?"

"Its somehow strange to explain the whole world and everything in it to a child, you know."

Sam sighed. He Took a sip from his flask, brushed of the water around his mouth and continued.

"Legal slave trader are acknowledged by the governing nobility. People sell themselves to them and are treated humanely. They also get to sell prisoners of war.

Illegal ones abduct people, treat them bad and sell them unknowingly. Why bother with taxes and human rights."

He took a pause, clearly losing interest to explain.

Leah continued:

"And yes, slaves are normal. At least legal ones. In some cases they can gain freedom by fulfilling certain conditions. So they are a needed force in our time."

"Can we stop for now? We are nearly at the guild, and the people around us are increasing like hell."

Leo looked around, and certainly: The people rose sharply in numbers, and the road got even smother.

The buildings around them changed from living houses to a combination of Inns, armor shops, merchants and stalls.

The air was filled with bargain noises, clinging of metal and different aromas of cooking meat and stews.

"Is this really a village? With so many People around?"

The trio grinned, clearly proud of their hometown.

This time Henry began to explain.

"We are nearly big enough to be called a town, but some things are missing for that, like nobility.

Also is the Shan Forest excellent hunting ground for a variety of adventurers, and that allures merchants to come here. Furthermore is the next bigger town pretty far from here, nearly a week on horse. So we are the best option."

"I see, pretty amazing, isn't it."

"Too right."

Here and there they saw other party's of adventurers, here with three members, there with ten.

Some younger ones greeted the trio and welcomed them, while the older ones ignored them.

"Are you some kind of celebs around here?"

Leah puffed out her chest, ready to boast. Sadly she was stopped by Sam.

"Not really, we just are pretty young to be a E Rank party already. It is not easy to rank up as a group. And we are only three, so even harder."

"So you are famous, alright." Leo concluded, happy that he colluded with these people per accident.

Somewhat ashamed, Sam scratched his head and smiled wryly.

"Sweet talker, aren't you." Leah laughed, and ruffled through his hair."

'That feels really pleasant' Leo thought, savoring the feeling.

"What do you do when we arrive?"

"You'll see." Came the answer.

They passed by a fancy looking Inn, reaching a impressive building, also two stories high, but without guards or decorations.

A simple double door led inside. and some windows let the light in. Music traveled outside, and some voices from discussing groups, drinking noises and working staff.

Sam led the way in, Leo followed. Greeting him was a truly surreal scene.

He stood in a big room, filled with a bar, a counter with three desk, two with staff, and a bunch of tables. Some with chairs, some high enough to stand at.

A stage was placed at a corner, and a beautiful female in a brown dress, white shirt and a ribbon in the long, curly black hair. She had a violin in her hand, playing a fast, happy tune, fitting perfectly to the mood.

At the tables were man and woman alike, some with booze, others holding papers in their hand, secretly discussing.

Sam, looked at the bard for a moment, moved on to the far left counter, with a man in simple clothing doing his work. He looked unremarkable, aside from a scar running down his arm..

"Hi Bernd, how's going?"

"Good, aside that the itch came back. Driving me crazy, I tell ya. So, what are ya gonna sell?"

Leo came to the realization that they came to sell the ears, and wondered how much they gonna get.

"Just some Goblin ears. Not much prey yesterday." He handed over the pouch containing the 5 ears.

"I heard something happened. Let's take a look. Hmmm, Five, huh? And quite young.

Best I can do is 16 copper, alright?"

"Didn't expect much anyway." Sam said while shrugging.

Bernd smiled, and took out 16 copper from a shelf under his counter.

"Thanks Bernd. And get those nails you ordered."

"Sure lad, right after my shift." Bernd said.

"Do we sit down here?"

Leo asked.

'Is such a untransparent place really the right place to discuss something?'

Henry reassured him.

"We are here among some of the honest people around, and we know the faces. And our conversation is covered by the noises, so no eavesdrop."

Convinced, Leo sat down, together with the three.

Leah ordered three beer and a water, and paid 6 copper.

While waiting, Sam handed out the money.

"Everyone gets 4 copper, as we agreed. When the drinks come, we will tell you some basics."

So, after a minute, the drinks were brought, they bumped their cups and drank some mouthful.

Obviously encouraged, Sam began.

"What do you want to know. Give me some clues what you absolutely need."

Leo didn't thought long about it. In some few words, he listed up what he needs information on.

"Where are we, what time, magic and elements, adventurers, monsters, cities and continents, races. That is in my head the most of the time. Can you explain, please?

"Alright. First, we are on the world named Aardeina, continent of Sakida. Mostly populated by Humans, but also other races such as Beastkin, Elves, Hybrids and Dwarfs, like you.

The races came from the different environments a long time ago. For example your race, escaped into mountains, adapted to the narrow halls and hot temperatures.

Ähm, the next big city is Daruma, a coastal city with important commerce.

The capital city is Dawnstar, a place for all races, impregnable and strong.

Other continents have other kinds of People and races, and we don't know much about them either.

Magic is a kind of living, but not really living form. Like plants. Every species can use it, but it comes with danger. You can only use mana which adapted to your body, so ever person has a reservoir on their own where they store it. It can be quite different in size. To use it, you need to picture the form and result in your magic, chants give you a huge support, like gems do.

When you reach a certain age, elements in the mana gather in you, forming you output. Fire element gives you heat and flames, wind sharpness and invisibility. Why they gather at a specific age is unclear. But this day is used to declare adulthood. So some are considered adult with 14, other with 16.

Can you take over, Leah? No offense Leo, but explaining drains something from me."

"No problem, So what's left. Adventurers I guess. You see, there are different professions like tailor, soldier, smith and so on. Many were Adventurers at some point, because everyone can be one. They travel a lot, learn many things and fulfill requests. You see that board stretching along the wall?"

She asked, pointing toward a over 10 meter long and 1.5 meter wide board. On it were papers of different size, some with long descriptions, others with just few words.

Leo nodded, and Leah continued:

"There the guild staff hang out requests. Far left the easier ones. To give groups, which adventurers can freely create by the way, fitting conditions. The quests and parties have ranks, ranging from H to SS. Increasing your rank is possible through accomplishing enough missions or gathering merits.

But some missions can last for weeks or months, so sometimes you have only done one mission in a quarter of the year.

Oh yes, what time it is was another question.

We have the time of Blossom, where trees get green and warm, then followed by the time of Prosperity, the time of Withering and the time of Bleakness. The year is 1014 till our ancestors began to count the time.

And What else..."

"Monsters," cut Henry in," pretty simple. Again, H to SS. H are weak, and basically no threats. Slimes for example. B rank would be a magical beast like a Queen ant, with hundreds of subordinates even an S rank threat. SS would be old Dragons, fierce magical beasts, not an inch inferior to Humans.

Can we stop now?"

The cups emptied, the place grew deserted as time crawled on.

"Others already picked requests, the bard stopped and we got the most basics covered.

Let's pick a request and get going, we need to make more money."

"Can I accompany you?"

Leo asked hopeful.

But the crushing answer came from Sam:

"No, honestly, you would be in the way. As I said, you can help at home, my father to be specific.