Gratitude

For a good 5 minutes, Alec sat on his knees with his hands held tightly together as if he was holding on to the last rope keeping him up.

He opened his eyes a squint and took a look at his interface, only to see no changes.

With a sigh tears began to fall down his cheeks.

This was his last option and there was no response.

A flurry of emotions crossed Alecs heart and mind as he thinks of all the events that led him up to now. The embarrassment and pain of his once supportive family abandoning him when he refused to give up on his dreams, the playful laughter of the rhino gang as Rhino gave him his last ultimatum, the disgust of the neighbours and passerby's on the street for relying on Genoa to live.

And Genoa.

The disappointment and guilt he has felt for her always staying by his side. She could be living a good life as the earls head maid but instead she spends all her money to support his collapsing dreams.

Genoa was once young and had options, she dated a young woman when she was in her 20s, but she couldn't afford to spend time with her between work and Alec. Ultimately her girlfriend dumped her.

Alec has always felt guilty about her as it was one of Genoas happiest memories. But no matter how many times Alec has told her to leave, she never does.

She always claimed that her ex was a nightmare to deal with who always wanted the most expensive gifts and was completely selfish towards her situation. However, Alex will always believe it is because of him.

Genoa is a true hero to Alec, one that he needs but doest want. Pain is what he feels mixed with sympathy and guilt. He truly believes Genoa is too good for him.

[Congratulations for completing the basic painting advancement task]

[You have forgotten the skill basic painting]

[You have gained the skill beginner painting]

With the sound of the notification, Alec jumped out of his self-loathing.

In front of him was a painting with a faint golden shimmer displaying Genoa, she is in her work uniform scrubbing his dishes at his sink in the studio.

A look of utmost focus was placed on her face as if the wooden dishes were made of china as she careful circled the sponge around the dish.

Despite her old age doing a number on her looks her eyes still have the same youthful glow.

Her expression though focused, could not hide the content for her life. Although many say she wasted her life Genoa truly believes that serving her young master... her best friend is what has made her life worth living.

[Gratitude]

[A painting of Genoa Millers who spent her life caring for the artist who believes he's on his last leg. A thank you for all the sacrifices that Genoa has gone through. The painting was soon blessed by the god Crow after responding to the painters prayers.]

[grade: bronze]

[observing the painting will cause you to enter a state of reminiscence reminding you of all the kindness others have shown to you.]

[blessing of Crow](when observing the painting a calmness will roll through you expelling most of your guilt and doubt.)

"oh!... My..." A stutter could be heard coming from behind Alec.

Standing in the doorway with tears in her aged eyes was Genoa.

Genoa has stayed with Alec her entire life, all she knows is Alec. When she first met him, she wasn't in a good place, but she could tell neither was he.

Genoas parents didn't die when she was young as many people thought but instead she was sold to the Millers as a slave. Throughout her life she had been stuck going through the emotions of betrayal, untrusting of the world around her.

As she looks at the painting, she feels like all those years ago was yesterday. He was sitting at the piano playing a joyful ball dance tune, however for some reason staring at him the tune seems more sad and lonely. Like a young women dancing on her own with no partner, a hint of longing for someone under a defiance.

She will never forget Alecs defiance, his want to achieve his dreams no matter the cost. The loneliness and blatant greed for his dreams, hidden behind his doll like eyes, but shining brighter than a star in his artwork.

The truth that makes Genoa feel guilty is due to the fact that she has always kept a secret from Alec that she has only told one person.

When she broke up with her ex, Alec was right that she didn't say the main reason behind the break up. Its true that she found her high maintenance that she couldn't afford even without Alec she wouldn't be able to pay for the jewellery, dresses and parties she constantly demanded.

However the main reason she called quits is due to her still being in love with Alec.

For all these years she has been secretly fawning over Alec and his determination.

Right now, looking at the painting, all her guilt and doubts that she had throughout the years all seem pointless at the moment.

She draws her eyes away from the painting and looks into the old mans eyes. Alec has stood up with worry as she has been blanked out on the verge of tears, petrified that he had offended her by painting her without permission. When suddenly Genoa grabs his hands and pulls him into a sweet and tender kiss.

But little did they know that trouble was brewing in Plymouths underworld and their love will become the centre of it.

Crow on the other hand was enjoying peaking into the daily lives of his now more than 20 new followers.

Although the majority of the new believers are shallow believers that bring hardly any faith the extra faith is still helpful.

Today Crow has decided to wear a oversized red hoodie and blue trousers, adding a unique splash of colour to his usually monochrome outfit.

his divine kingdom has also grown slightly over time, as he redesigned it again. The pillars still stand at the edges but he removed the walls in favour of an endless illusion of a green meadow, with flowers growing up and around the bottom of the pillars.

He created a bed out of flowers and a few pieces of furniture out of wood on his now grass flower floor. A small stream flows across the room with crystal clear water sparkling through. He sometimes uses the stream to wash despite the fact he can never get dirty, he just likes the mental notion that he is cleaning.

Over the past couple of days Crow has been paying attention to his many new believers. Ff he likes them, he decided to perform a small miracle to help them and in return they may become devout believers and spread Crows name.

Seeing the story of Alec and Genoa, he decided to go an extra step and bless the artwork. Originally the piece was only going to be peak iron grade at best but with crows blessing the artwork broke through its shackle and can now be called a bonze painting.

In baron Flicks manor, Jacob was becoming overwhelmed by the amount of gifts he had been receiving from all over Plymouth. Many noble families have started to send him gifts of jewels and gems, trying to curry favour.

One family even sent their family heirloom a bronze their sword used for fencing

[Adeloines Sword]

[Bronze grade]

[Adeloine a champion fencer of the Hadrick family used this sword to win a spotless victory against his oppenents completing his second tale. Crafted from an unknown blacksmith Adeloines sword was made to draw the eyes of the audience with its seamless flow.]

[Increases attack by 5, Charisma +1]

Most of the gifts he gave to his father for safe keeping but he kept the sword for use in his sword training classes.

Soon after Jacob became a noble, his parents hired a tutor to teach him swordsmanship like all the other noble kids. Jacob at the start was excited to start practicing his swordsmanship to be able to gain a fighting skill when he becomes an adventurer. However reality soon crashed his dreams as he soon found he had no talent for the sword and his teacher constantly made this fact known to whoever could hear him.

After the change of opinion that has recently happened though he noticed his tutor is a lot more diligent and even managed to help him level up his language skill. Lyrica is the old language of the Lynic empire, it is still used in some villages today but in the Catalan kingdom, it is seen as a dying language. The language is very similar to Canto, as Canto used to be a Catalan derelict of Lyrica. Despite this, Lyrica is still taught by tutors in Plymouth, as many villages around Plymouth still speak it.

Today there was a unique gift, from a delegate from the city lord. He came in expensive clothes in a entourage. A servant was holding a small chest in his arms and gave it directly to Jacob.