XII. Getting Ready

Waking up to something prodding my head, I open my eyes to see my Dad's face looking at me.

Volph: "It is time to wake yourself up, son. It's nearly time for your mother and I to go."

Valister: "Oh, yeah..."

I stand up and stretch. I go outside to the small pond in the back yard to wash my face.

I come back in to find my Mom cooking breakfast.

Daria: "Hey, sweetie, did you sleep well?"

Valister: "Yeah. It was very comfortable."

Daria: "That's good. Since we won't see each other for a long time, I've decided to make one last breakfast for you. I've made your favorite, scrambled eggs."

Mom shows me a big pan of golden eggs being cooked.

Since I eat so much, Mom usually stores eggs in an ice box, and waits until she has enough eggs to satisfy me. Which makes eggs a rare food I don't get much chances to eat.

I sit on the table waiting for breakfast to be ready.

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Finishing breakfast with my parents, I start to pack my essentials. I don the soft armor Mom got me for my birthday and put on a casual dandy outfit over top.

One change of clothes, soaps, towels, and my signature rose water 'perfume'. A dandy man must always smell good. That, and because my nose is sensitive to bad smells.

As I climb down the stairs to the front door, I can see the both of my parents waiting for me at the front door.

Daria: "Are you finished packing, sweetie? You have everything you need?"

I can smell Mom's sadness. It smells like lavender.

Valister: "Yeah, I got everything I need for my travels. You got your things? I don't see much luggage in your hands."

Daria: "Oh, I won't be needing much of anything except maybe a few clothes. The Hunt won't involve much civilization, so I wont be needing the much of the money I've saved. Here."

Mom hands me a rather large bag of ryō. About the size of a soccer ball. I'm better off separating this into smaller bags just in case thieves have any funny ideas.

Valister: "Wow, thanks Mom. This amount should get me a head start compared to other newbie adventurers."

I can get myself a bigger sword so that I can use it when I'm in my werewolf form. The one I have now is too small to be effective when in that form.

Volph: "It is time. Goodbye for now, my son. Daria, say your goodbyes."

Dad puts his nose to my forehead as he gives his goodbyes.

Mom comes up and hugs me tightly while picking me up slightly.

Valister: "Agh! Mom... Your crushing me."

That's the strength of an A Rank Adventurer for you.

Daria: "I'm gonna miss you, sweetie...! Please, stay safe! And be careful around people of power! And...!

Valister: "I know, I know! Jeez, Mom, you've been telling me to be careful of the same thing since I was a child. Don't worry, you know I'm smarter than others my age. I'll be safe, and I'll get stronger."

Mom finally let go and I wiped her tears away. Copying Dad, she kisses me on the forehead as well.

Daria: "Goodbye, sweetie. Oh, and don't worry about the house, I gave ownership to Takeo-san and his family. If you ever want to visit Koto City again, you can just ask him to stay here."

Valister: "I'll keep that in mind. Thanks. Mom, Dad, I'll see you in later."

I stayed standing at the front of the house, watching my parents go.

I didn't cry, but a few tears managed to escape my eyes.

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I take my time heading to the Adventurer's Guild.

I just needed a bit of time to think of my plan, so I didn't transform to get there faster.

My first quest should be either a gathering type or escort type.

The gathering type might be the more likely, but if my current rank is allowed in an escort type, I'll take that one, but I might just leave the city today anyways.

But first, I need a weapon.

I'll go to the weapon shop, Arms And Armor.

I make my why through the gate using my citizen pass.

Takeo doesn't seem to be on duty today.

I make my way to the shop, which was close to the guild.

I enter the shop and see the same girl at the counter, Haruno Tsuyu, or as she'd like to be called, Yuuchan.

She has her usual short bob dark brown hair surrounding her plain but pretty face with honey colored eyes. She's about 5'6", and he has a moderate figure.

Yuuchan: "Hello and welcome! Oh, it's the handsome man from yesterday! Hello!"

She smiles and waves cutely at me.

Valister: "Hey, again. I was wondering if you have any large two handed swords you recommend?

Yuuchan: "Yes, I should have a few in the back that were just made a few days ago! I'll go get them!"

Yuuchan heads to the back of the shop, where I can here her talking to a gruff male's voice. Her father, the shop owner, I'm guessing.

After a few minutes, Yuuchan appears with a couple of large swords in her hands.

Yuuchan: "Here we are. My father recommends one of these two swords. This one on the left is a design my father made after seeing some western swords used by elves and demons."

She unsheathes the left most weapon to show me the blade.

Yuuchan: "Like all western swords, this one is straight. Although it's based off western design, it only has one cutting side."

It's looks like a falchion, but with eastern touches made to it. It's about 5 feet in length with 4 feet being the blade and the remainder 1 is the handle. Yuuchan must be pretty strong to carry throat sword one handed.

The handle wrap is similar to that of katanas.

A real falchion's hand guard is either as flat as the blade, or curved down to protect the knuckles, the one Yuuchan is holding has a more oval hand guard, also similar to a katana.

She puts the hybrid great sword back in its sheath and picks up the other one. I think I'll call it the Falkana, Falchion and Katana put together.

Yuuchan: "This one is a called a Great Kodachi. If you've been in this city long enough, you can just say it's the bigger brother of our Empire's Uchigatana."

Instead of the Kodachi I have in my mind, this one is extra thick.

(A/N: Looks like Ichigo's first sword, but slightly skinnier and more streamlined.)

It's 7 feet in length and 2 feet of it is the handle.

Valister: "Can I hold the Fal- I mean the prototype sword?"

Yuuchan nods and hands me the sheathed Falcana.

I unsheathed it and stepped back to swing it around slowly for a few seconds. It feels nice in my hands. Almost like it's meant for me.

Oh who am I kidding. This is definitely meant for me. It's a damn hybrid sword, and what am I? A damn hybrid. I've made my decision.

I'm buying this sword.

Valister: "I'll take this one. It feels natural in my hands."

Yuuchan: "Finally, Father's weird sword finally got sold!"

Yuuchan whispered something I maybe shouldn't have heard, but whatever. It looks nice to me.

Yuuchan: "Ahem... Since this sword went so long unsold, my father told me to give a discount if someone ever bought it, so the total amount for the sword will be 455 ryō! If you'd like I can throw in some cleaning oil for 5 ryō each instead of 10!"

That's sounds good. With the money Mom gave me, I now have 3,710 ryō.

Valister: "Here's the money for the sword and some for 10 bottles of oil."

Yuuchan: "Let me just confirm the amount. One moment, please."

After taking out a magitech-like device that looks somewhat like a weight scale, Yuuchan confirms the amount, puts the oil into a bag and turns to give me a smile.

Yuuchan: "I have successfully confirmed Handsome-san's payment! That you very much for your purchase!"

Valister: "Haha, you're welcome, beautiful. Goodbye!"

I stuff the bag of cleaning oil into a pocket if my backpack, and turned around to leave, not before catching Yuuchan blush at my compliment while letting out the vanilla scent I'm becoming used to.

Damn, I'm such a lady-killer.

---------------

Making my way further down the road, I arrive at the Adventurer's Guild front door and enter.

I look around and spot Rukia handling a party if adventurers.

I'll say my goodbyes after she's done with them.

I make my way to the only open counter that's handling quests. It's manned by a nice looking middle aged man.

I walk up to him and give my greetings.

Valister: "Hello, sir, are you able to help me out? I need some recommendations on quests."

Receptionist: "Ah, yes. Do you have your ID?"

I hand him my ID, and he takes it to a scanner-like device and taps my ID to it. It then glows green.

Receptionist: "I have confirmed your identity, thank you, Vellwood-san. Since you are rank F, I recommend these quests."

The man opens a drawer beside him and pulls out two scrolls and hands them to me to look over.

Let's see here...

∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆

Quest Type: Escort

Rank: F - C

Requester: Koya Food Company

Payment: 50 ryō per day for 2 days

Description: Escort and protect a small shipment of goods from the Toya Company while they head to Sayato Village.

Deadline to Accept: The 26th day of the 10th month

Meeting Place: West Gate

∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆

The other one is...

∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆

Quest Type: Escort

Rank: F - C

Requester: Red Bird Company

Payment: 100 ryō per day until destination.

Description: Protect a carriage with valuables inside.

Deadline to Accept: The 27th day of the 10th month.

Meeting Place: North Gate, before mid-day, small carriage with the symbol of a red bird.

∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆

Today is the 26th day of the 11th month. The first one ends tonight. I probably won't do that one. I want to pack some dry foods today and I won't have time.

That last one pays alot more, but says less in the description.

The deadline to meet is tomorrow though, so that's good. I'll just take the second one.

Valister: "I'll take this one."

I hand him the second scroll and put the other to the side.

Receptionist: "Very well. You are the last of the adventurers that the Requester had asked for. You will head to the Requesters designated meeting point at the North Gate with this tag as a symbol of you accepting this quest."

Valister: "Thanks. Oh, by the way, the person who handles my registration the other day failed to explain how to rank up."

Receptionist: "Oh my, that was irresponsible of them. I'll explain to you as simply as I can. There are only two ways to rank up in the Adventurer's Guild. One, must complete 30 quests. Two, one can challenge the Guild Master to a duel. If the Guild Master deems your skills acceptable to warrant a rank up, he will do so."

Valister: "Okay. Am I able to request a rank up test with the Guild Master today?"

Receptionist: "Oh, I will have to check with the Guild Master, one moment."

The receptionist leaves to inform the Guild Master of my request.

After about 10 minutes, the receptionist come back along with a tall, largely built man with long black hair ties in a back bun and black eyes. He's taller than me, being about 6 inches taller. He wore a plain looking dark blue hakama.

The man struts up to me and looks me up and down.

Guild Master: "You... Yer Daria-chan's son, Valister. Correct? Ya have the same hair, ears an' face."

I had a feeling Mom and the guild master knew each other. She was Rank A after all.

Valister: "Yes, Guild Master-sama. You are correct."

Guild Master: "Eh, no need fer ya to speak so formally. This former sailor is used to the rowdy language of the thugs 'round here. Jus' call me Abe."

(A/N: Pronounced: Ah-Beh.)

I nodded in response.

Abe: "So I heard, yer wantin' to rank up? I had already suspected you was gonna ask as soon as I heard you was registerin', so I cleared me schedule fer the entire week in case you wanted to challenge me."

Valister: "Yea, I want to rank up so people don't immediately disregard me as soon as they hear I'm F rank."

As much as I would like to be underestimated, that invites way to many flags, so it's troublesome.

Abe: "Awright then, get yerself ready now, I'll be testin' you in one hour."

Valister: "Got it. Thanks for accepting my request, Abe-san."

Ave: "Yea, yea. Just get ready, kid."

The receptionist then speaks up to me.

Receptionist: "Shall I guide you to the arena to get yourself warmed up?"

Valister: "Sure, thank you."

The receptionist leads me to a large door at the back and opens it to reveal a medium sized arena with a few rows of seats around it. I turn to the receptionist.

Valister: "Thanks, I think I'm fine now. I won't be needing anything else."

The receptionist bows and turns to leave.

I turn forward and put my backpack in the locker in the corner. I then go to the middle of the arena and unsheathe my new sword, the Falkana, from my back and start doing practice swings.

About an hour later, I hear the doors open and turn to see the Abe clad in a chest plate and gauntlets while wearing his hakama over it. He is wielding a heavy looking naginata. The blade is thicker than it's Earth counterpart.

(A/N: Spear with a short 'katana' as the blade.)

He sees me warming up and smiles.

Abe: "Ya ready, kid? I ain't one to hold back much, sorry if I hurt you in advance."

I smile back at him in response.

Valister: "Yep, I'm ready. I'm also sorry too, in advance."

Abe: "Ho? Yer approachin' me? Instead of running from the A rank Guild Master, yer comin' right fer me?"

Valister: "I can't beat you in this duel without getting closer."

Abe: "Ya Haha! Then come as close as ya like!"