First date

I waited for her at the entrance and then we entered together.

, Maria"I said, how are you this morning?"

, Very well, Novak, thanks for asking" she smiled as she answered me back, how are you?"

, Excellent, now." I said and smiled back, How is the game going?"

, Not bad" she said after you told us about the production classes me and Anna found one instructor and I got a cooking class. Now I can make food for the two of us. Anna is still looking for a decent production class for herself."

, So you took the cooking class. Does that mean that you know how to cook in real life too?"

, Yes my mother taught me."

, I would like to try your cooking one day." I said that in the heat of the moment and couldn't believe it myself. Such courage, what happened to me today?

Maria looked at me and just said:

, I look forward to it I hope you like it."

Now, I said to myself. Now or never. I mustn't miss this chance.

, Maria, would you like to go out with me for a drink or dinner?"

Seeing that she was quiet I panicked and then added:

, We can talk about the game I have new useful information about combat classes and leaving the village."

Thinking that she maybe doesn't want to go out I started to talk about the game. Age of Gods is a worldwide conversational theme for everyone after all.

, We don't need to talk just about the game. I would like to go out with you. I was just surprised you asked me so sudden after all this time." she laughed and I could see all her beauty with just this one laugh.

I scratched my head awkwardly. I didn't know how to respond to that. Seeing that I was quiet she smiled at me again and asked:

, So where are we going and when?"

, Are you free tonight?" I asked.

, Tonight? What's the hurry?"

, Tomorrow I am leaving the village so I am not sure what am I going to meet on my first day of the journey."

, You are leaving the village. How? And why now?"

, Well, why don't I tell you that over dinner tonight?"

, Haha, you win. Tonight it is." she smiled again at me and I almost melted.

We were already in front of the school entrance so we made an arrangement where and when to meet.

As soon as we entered teachers lounge Maria went to Anna and started talking to her. Anna quickly looked in my direction with blushing face and after I smiled and nodded my head to her she nodded back and returned to her conversation with Maria.

It would seem that she was shy even when it was other peoples in question. Maybe I should introduce her to Wolf. I don't know if they could have anything in common but at least Wolf can make Nick back away from Anna for a while.

I went to teachers bathroom to wash my face with cold water to make sure if this wasn't a dream. When I exited and saw Maria smile at me I knew that it wasn't. What will my family say when I tell them that I have a date tonight. One step at a time Novak old buddy one step at a time.

When I returned home I first entered the game. Even though it is still dark a little I went over the fields into the forest which was going in the west direction for some herbs.

I wasn't there so I assumed that there should be a lot of herbs still left. Since I had Herb Appraising skill I could easily spot herbs I already knew so even in the dark I could fill my one leather bag full of herbs.

I filled the boxes with medicine, checked all my things and decided that all herb related things are ready for tomorrows trip. Hunting will wait after lunch and final preparation will be tomorrow before I leave the village.

During lunch, the main thing was my date tonight with Maria. My dad just said well done and nodded his head to everything mom gave me a lecture about. She told me how to dress how to talk, what food to order... I could see that she was more anxious than me about my date. I guess when your child is like me every parent, mother especially, worries about their love life. Nerds don't have many girlfriends in the first place.

Hope just said that I was rather quick about asking her out and then called Mia, to see what did Maria told her.

I didn't want to wait anymore so I went to my room and entered the game again. Since we agreed to meet at 20h I had maybe two hours left before I need to get ready for my first date.

I first checked my shoes when I entered the game. I didn't pay them any attention because I knew that old merchant wouldn't trick me. For 3 silvers I got a decent pair of shoes.

Deer leather shoes

Common

Leather armor

Agility + 5

Movement speed + 2%

Even though the numbers seemed small +5 to agility and +2% to movement speed were precious options. I wanted to try them out so after I went to the temple I ran to the forest. I could see a difference in my speed. It was small but it was still there.

I went into the forest and I could see players all around me, fighting Rage Beasts. At first, a was surprised how come there were so many of them. Seeing that some of the players were injured I went and helped them dress their wounds.

As soon as they spotted me they called me out.

, Doctor, Doctor you are here, excellent. Now we don't need to look for you."

I recognized that player, he was my first customer. I went to him and asked what is going on. In short, a couple of days ago when players learned about Rage Beasts they went in their habitat and then started hunting them. They caught all of them, bet next day more of them showed up. At first, they were joius but today it was almost like a stampede going down the mountain.

I didn't go up the mountain in a long time so I had no idea this happened. What could be the cause?

A small worm of suspicion crept in my mind but I didn't share it with other players. I decided to help them here and then after a date with Maria, climb the mountain to the cave they come out and make sure that my suspicion is correct.

I spent my two hours going where I was needed curing the wounded and fighting Rage Beasts. I raised my skills a little, like Appraisal, Wound Dressing and Staff Mastery, but since there were a lot of players sharing the experience I couldn't raise my level to 8. I only got 400 EXP for two hours.

I helped when there was a player in trouble who got himself of balance, but since there were almost three players per monster I didn't have much to do. I still needed to kill two of them alone to raise my level.

When all the Rage Beasts were killed i helped some of the wounded players and said that I will go later to see what happened in the mountain. Everyone thanked me and most unexpectedly i gained a tittle.

Little Rock village's Doctor

Intelligence + 10

Fame +50

A tittle gained by helping other adventurers. Other adventurers named you Doctor because you helped them selflessly and showed courage and compassion.

Whit all the "Doctor, doctor" going around I am not surprised about this title. But +10 intelligence and +50 fame this is a great reward for everything i did.

When I logged out of the game I got into a shower, washed my teeth and shaved. I wanted to look nice for Maria. Or in my mother's words, you need to look presentable, whatever that means.

I said bye to my parents and Hope who wished me luck and exited the house.

I even heard a splash behind me. Water met the pavement and door of the house closed. That was my mom. She didn't throw water after me even when I was going to college examination or my first day of work. But she did it now.

There is a custom here on Balkans that whenever someone goes to do something important, the first day of school or work, then mothers or grandmothers throw the water after them. It symbolizes that everything should flow like water.

I couldn't believe it that mom remembers that. Last time I heard the water splash behind me was my first day in junior school when my late grandma did it. Either way, I never heard that someone throws water when their child goes on a date.

Well if I am that child I can understand mom's concern.

This actually made me relax a little, only until I saw Maria. Then I became more nervous that when I asked her out. She was standing at the place we arranged to meet. This place was a city square, it had a statue, and it was in a center of the city. Most of the couples meet here for their dates.

Everybody was looking at her she was the only girl in the world. I could sense jealous looks from men around us when I came to her. I quickly offered her my arm and she put her arm under mine and we went to the restaurant. I honestly didn't know how to talk to her right now. Thankfully she spoke first.

, What's wrong you hadn't said a word, did cat eat your tongue?"

Seeing her sweet smile, I smiled back I tried to say something.

, Not the cat but your beauty did. How come you are more beautiful every time I see you?"

Probably not expecting compliment this soon, Maria just lowered her head a little, but I could see a small smile and her blushing cheeks. After she recovered she said:

, Aren't you a real Don Juan. I bet that you say this to every girl?"

, Only one." I said and looked straight in her eyes.

She only smiled again and we continued on our way. It wasn't a long walk to the restaurant. We entered sat at our reserved table and ordered food and vine. The only thing my father said to me during lunch was, Son when you are on a dinner date with a girl you must order nice vine." Since I am the dutiful son I listened to him.

I thought that we couldn't start a conversation right away but, we quickly found a similar language and the flow of the conversation went naturally. We talked about our families, our experience at work so far, what are we expecting in the future. We also talked about the game. I mainly talked and she listened and asked me about some things. I told her about combat classes and how to arrive at the towns. We laughed and talked a lot, it was one rather enjoyable evening.

Almost two hours passed and we didn't notice. I guess that shows that we both enjoyed the company of each other. After dessert, I paid the bill and we went for a little walk. We walked around the city center and talked a little bit more. As we were walking we were getting closer to her home.

She lives with her parents in the center of the city, and they are one of those families who are rich enough to live here or have a house inherited from their ancestors. This is the case with her family. They own a 100-year-old business and that is a reason they have a house in the center of the city.

When I escorted her home we stopped at the door to say goodbye for tonight. I had no idea what to do. Should I kiss her? As we were standing there we noticed a man's figure watching from the window above us.

Seeing that her father was watching I could see that he was very strict. I didn't dare to kiss her on her lips so I kissed her hand like the knights of old. She also saw that her father was watching so, but just before I started to turn around she kissed me on the cheek and entered her house.