Chapter 1 I am getting old, aren't I?

My name is Creen, I'm about thirty-four or so, some people would have others believe I am forty-five but they are LYING. I dreamed of becoming a merchant when I was younger so I went to the most prosperous and influential city on the continent, the great walled city of Orario.

Perhaps I should have been more specific in my job searching when I said I was picking up the 'trade' because before I knew it I joined what I believed at first to be a bizarre cult, but apparently no, I later learned later that I'd joined a familia.

I was of course, referring to trading, not the profession with the highest profile in Orario, the great monster slayers, adventurers.

Familia are organizations of adventurers, set up for the entertainment of gods and goddesses that had descended from the realm of Tenkai. Because apparently a heck of a lot of them descended from this realm for some reason and they won't talk about it. I swear they do it just to annoy us little mortals, they all call us 'children' but if you ask me they are just as impulsive and irresponsible. But yes, back to familia, they are basically a tight knit alliance of adventurers, much like a merchant guild.

At first I thought on the bright side, as the young naïve boy I was, I thought travelling merchants and adventurers share similar jobs, they go around the wider world and maybe I could sell a few goods on the side. But… no. They go into this place under the Tower of Babel, basically a huge dungeon which goes unimaginably deep into the ground.

So there I was, faced with a future confined within the walls of Orario. Sadly, my familia would not let me leave. I'd need the permission of the god or goddess my familia belongs to.

This dungeon under the tower of Babel is full of monsters. Big, vicious things like orcs, hellhounds, giant wasps, fanged skeletons, like please roll back on the monsters there dungeon, somebody could get hurt. They drop valuable gems upon death which can be used as power for convenient day to day stuff like lighting, and since the dungeon is the only place in the world where they quite literally plop out of the walls, it's more than a little bit of a gold mine for the city.

Adventurers fight those monsters. Now, you're probably thinking what I'm thinking, that doesn't sound like the life of a merchant. Yes, I am painfully aware of this. I would love to go back in time to twenty years ago, slap myself in the face and turn my young self around before he passed the gates of Orario.

I'm not a romantic. I don't care much for being a hero. I just want to make money, safely from the comfort of a desk or on the move with a caravan full of goods. But no, I go everyday into the dungeon with a crossbow slung over my shoulder, padded in scales left behind by monsters departed. Or… I used to go anyway.

Now here's where the best bit comes in. I joined the familia of Hera, which was the highest ranking familia in Orario, paired with her doubtfully faithful husband Zeus, god of affairs-*ahem*-I mean thunder. Zeus had a familia of his own which was greater or as great as Lady Hera's.

Now that doesn't sound too bad, does it? I mean, I should count myself lucky to have gotten into one of the best right away. But don't underestimate my background as a poacher. Look, as far as background goes it's not that bad, I mean kings can hardly eat every deer they see so where's the harm in me nabbing a few and making a few dimes here and there?

Well, now to the meat and juice of the story. The two most powerful familias in Orario decided it would be a good idea to have quick shot at the three biggest, badest monsters known to man roving above the dungeon. Granted, they killed two, but the last, a big black dragon, wiped out all of the best adventurers the two familia had.

So the two familia were left with just level ones and twos they hadn't brought on their grand suicidal campaign. Oh and me, I turned level three just in time to miss conscription.

Now the important thing to note is that gods and goddesses are a little selfish, they don't quite get the concept of mortality so instead of quietly shifting Hera and Zeus out of power, these two other goddesses, Freya and Loki, quite literally, kicked the living crap out of us.

There was a war. And it was bloody. Orario would take a while to repair, but mark my words it was a horrific one-sided slaughter.

Now they won without contest and took their places as respective two best familia in Orario. So now I'm in a familia whose name has been dragged through dirt to point a peasant could piss on it without dire repercussions. But wait! It gets even better. We lost this war and now neither Zeus, Hera or their familia members can set foot in the city of Orario ever again!

What a happy ending! I could not possibly get more bitter about this right? Oh, Lady Hera just you watch me because I still hold plenty of grudges against you.

There's a story about an adventurer who picked a certain ability when he levelled up, that goes along the lines of miracle work, it's called 'mystery'. Now not so long ago I made a little potion which I theorised would give me immortal life, it was the very first thing made. So naturally I show it off and in comes Lady Hera, swoops in to knock that bad boy out of my hand, the bottle hits the floor cracks and the liquid within evaporates.

This is just one example of my grudge against lady Hera and it is the most obvious one that comes to mind whenever asks me how I feel about my familia.

I'm a little bitter. Just a tad. But who wants immortality anyway? You know, the all the time in the world to master all skills and attain intellectual enlightenment which would shun the gods of knowledge, pfft, nobody needs that.

So it's been about a year. Understandably I'm not allowed in Orario because of the insignia on my back, and I'm not allowed to remove my insignia from my back because of Lady Hera, the spiteful old woman is denying my every plea. I think she's out to get me for something.

Morale is low in the familia, we are several -quite a lot- numbers shorter than we were before. Including Lady Hera, there are around twelve of us. However, seven of us twelve have vanished to go back to their hometowns, a sign of resignation from the life of adventuring. The rest Lady Hera reluctantly lets go so they could go back and pursue a life of adventuring with a new familia.

This leaves us as a humble band of five. A level three. Two level twos. A level one. This is not too bad considering outside of Orario, an adventurer who strikes level two is rare, and a level three is even rarer. We might be a very powerful band compared to the general adventuring world outside Orario's safe comfy walls.

But we have problems. They are plentiful beneath the surface of our group.

I tap my foot impatiently on the dirt, watching the three pull down the tents so incompetently is trying my patience. It's been about half an hour and they can't even unpeg the ends of the large grey tent from the ground.

I grind my teeth together frustratingly. "This is unbearable…" I watch the youngest, a thirteen-year-old prum girl trip over one of the lines and bash her head against a rock, her name is Norah and she, as harsh as it sounds, carries most of our luggage. She lifts herself up runs a few steps more and trips up again, dirtying her cute blonde bangs a second time. Being a prum she is short, paired with being a rather timid and polite young girl, she brings out the parental instinct in just about anybody she meets.

The other two are fighting over whether they should have the fabric door down or up when they take the tent down. A really inconsequential debate that ticks me off.

"If we do that it won't pack well." Phil, the muscle headed beast man crosses his arms, despite his strong appearance he is usually on the defensive in most arguments. He has a thick black mane that runs down his back, his cheeks are covered in fur which makes a mockery of most manly beards. He's a good head taller than I and just over ten years younger than me, which would make him thirty -*ahem*- twenty-four. He's a human, but also resembles a bear. He's an anima, as they call them from where I was raised.

Unlike Wako, who's animal features are more beautifying than anything, Phil looks like a bear of his own breed. He is too large for his jacket to close around his chiselled abs. I took a quest as a level 2 which took me outside the wall of Orario, he was a just bordering the age of inheritance but felt uncertain. Again, his motivations for being an adventurer like Wako, or even sticking with Lady Hera thus far is a mystery to me.

"If you could roll it up properly then that wouldn't be a problem." Crossed armed and her cat tail curved like that of a scorpions', Wako the chestnut haired cat girl can only be described as stubborn, like her opponent. If I was younger, the mere sight of her leaning forward with a sly wink or a cheeky drunken grin as she lifted another flagon of ale would have made me deeply blush, but I'm too stressed for that now, not to mention old.

Wako grew up on the harsh streets of Orario. She was from the slums, living an impoverished background with little will to become an adventurer. I can't detail what her previous profession was, but as a result of her past, she despised men leering at her. I don't recall what gave her the sudden interest in being an adventurer, however as a level two hand to hand fighter, she's nimble with a pair of daggers.

Lady Hera will soon be waking. We were supposed to have woken up and left an hour ago but Lady Hera, to get some extra time to sleep, had told me to leave taking down the tent to these three incompetents. Quite crafty if you ask me.

Lady Hera is deeply respected by all the members of her familia, although in the last few months she has taken an almost back seat role in managing her familia, she is on the lookout for her husband Zeus. I can only imagine what she intends to do to him with the righteous fury she feels. I recall her muttering many times on the topic, "that's the last time I let that man sweet talk me into a bad idea ever again!"

Of course, Lady Hera, no matter how much of a grudge I bore a grudge, deserved her rest. Of course, I do dislike her, she is a reminder of my childhood dreams gone. I have more than enough money to live modestly for the rest of my life, but if she says my place is still in her familia, I will reluctantly comply.

We'd been travelling like this for a while now, at least ever since we left Orario and I think it's taking its toll. The camping out in the open under the lonely starry sky that was once therapeutic to us is now a grim reminder of the comfortable lives we left behind in Orario.

I decide to take another walk around the perimeter. We are in the frosty countryside of Northsang. I am glad we arrived here during spring because looking out across the frost covered hilly meadows to my right and the evergreen pine forest on the opposite side of the road, I can only imagine how cold this place was a few weeks ago during winter.

We are a day's travel from Delpine. It's no Orario, just like every town or city we've come across. However, they are unique in their own little way and I can't say I'm not completely enjoying it. Sometimes I take time just to investigate the produce of the areas we travel and imagine up possible trade routes.

I walk a full circuit around the camp before I finally decide to intervene, half out of boredom and half out of sheer frustration. It's best I save them from themselves before they become even more the fools in my eyes.

Don't get me wrong, I do like my companions. But the year of travel with them has made me grouchy. I can't stay around the same people for so long. I used to swap between groups when heading into the dungeon or just go out on my own.

I lift Norah back up onto her feet after her umpteenth fall. She'd been running circles around the two trying to calm them down but the timid girl was far too shy to have a presence in Wako and Phil's argument.

"M-mr Creen, their fighting! W-what do we do! The lady is going to be so mad…" Norah looks on the edge of tears as she pulls on my sleeves.

I let out an exasperated sigh as I rub the stubble on my chin. I really can't be dealing with this. I put on a kind smile and tell Norah to pick the pegs on the outer lanes and leave the other two to me. That should keep her busy for quite a while. Hopefully, she won't lose any of the pegs.

Before interrupting their argument, I take a step inside the tent, avoiding personal belongings and sleeping backs scattered about untidily around the hall. I knock on the tent to Lady Hera's compartment and open my mouth.

Before I say anything I hear a sigh from the other side. "Can't you let a lady rest?" Her crass voice has a harshness to it, like that of a strict mother in law.

"At this rate, we won't make it to Delpine until late afternoon. I suggest we get a move on or we'll have to half jog our way to our next stop." I act as both guide and manager of this ramshackle group. The remnants of a once proud familia. I'm a level 3 adventurer, but my talents lie in more places than just fighting.

Delpine is the town we were heading to, if my map is correct. It is the second largest town in Northsang and so it is a potential candidate for one of Zeus' hiding places, or at least I like to fool myself into believing.

I hear the rustle of fabric on the other side. "Give me a moment, I shall ready myself now."

I nod, even though she cannot see this affirmation.

I shift my heavy crossbow over my shoulder, it's kept there by a worn leather strap that threatens to break anytime now. There are a lot of things I hope can have maintenance done on whilst we stay at Delpine. Of course, it depends on how long Lady Hera wishes to stay there.

"Lady Hera, how long do we intend to stay at Delpine?" I ask curiously.

"At most a day, that fool is probably halfway to the end of the world knowing him. We better pick up speed to catch him." Although Lady Hera spoke such words, she had no way of knowing which direction Zeus had headed in since his exile from Orario.

A little disappointed at the lack of consideration for her familia in her answer, I turn back and make my way out of the tent, avoiding scattered belongings for a second time.

I notice Norah in the time I was in the tent had struggled two pegs out of the hard frozen ground, and I am truly, deeply proud.

I walk towards Phil and Wako, cross my arms and tap my fingers impatiently. What am I supposed to do with these two? They always had a heated argument over such petty things.

I lift my hand to rub my forehead on my tired looking face. "You two, cut it out." They both shoot me a glare at those words but I don't have the energy to feel intimidated nor intimidate back, so my weary expression remains unchanged. "Lady Hera wishes to get out of here within half an hour so we can make it to the next town before nightfall. Imagine that, lying on soft beds instead of hard compact earth."

My words seem to have a profound effect on them as not a second sooner they turn from each other with childish 'hmph'.

I like to think I have the tact to be a merchant. But it's hard to tell without critical opinion.

I tell them to pack up their sleeping bags and personal effects and leave their backpacks by the road. We can't take the tent down when there's still so much rubbish still within, including Lady Hera.

Honestly, am I the only sensible one in this group? Of course, I know that this is an exaggeration. Nobody can match Wako's speed and deftness, and Phil's strength and will are indomitable. They are both brilliant as level two and given another year or 2, they surely would have made level 3 with effort. And Norah has a few tricks of her own despite her young age.

Lady Hera steps out of the tent, dressed in her travelling cloak. She has the appearance of a lady in her sixties, however, she has a very strict mistress air about her. She may appear old, but she is at least as sharp as an elven arrow and sometimes as harsh as a thick wintery blizzard. Her critical light blue eyes look left and right, finding each of her familia members.

Lady Hera often criticises her husband for being unfaithful and flirting with young girls, but in the presence of handsome young men, she seems to lose about thirty years to her look and proceed to try and catch their eyes. Of course, her beauty in such a state is only second to Freya, and is more in her sudden gentle motherly personality rather than sexual appearance.

I barely resisted my run in with Freya during the war game. Her foul tactics thinned our numbers and will to fight drastically. I have to say, I can see why. Freya is a goddess of goddesses. To simply gaze at her is to surrender yourself to her spell.

Wako looks up from stock checking, having brought the baggage out fairly fast at the drop of Lady Hera's name and the promise of a comfy bed. Her gaze happens to cross Lady Hera's and instantly she straightens herself like a soldier on alert. "M-my lady, we were just taking down the tent."

Lady Hera barely looks over at Wako. "I see." Not a drop of affection in her voice, her tone is as chilling ace the morning frost.

I stare at the scene and can't help but feel a little sorry for Wako. I know though that Lady Hera doesn't care much for formality nor affection from her familia, in fact, she's more likely to get aggravated if someone tries to talk to her about something she can clearly see herself. I bet she finds it patronising.

Phil next to me shakes his head and goes back to taking the poles of the tent out of the ground.

"M-mr Creen!" I hear the light pitter patter of Norah's footsteps stumbling behind me. "W-what should I do with the pegs?"

I look over my shoulder. In her hands and not a single one missing, she has all the pegs. She looks up at me, waiting to hear my response. I am truly, deeply proud.

I'm not entirely sure what to do with the pegs. There should be a bag around here somewhere for them. It's probably lying on the ground from the time we put the tent up yesterday.

"Take those pegs to Wako, she'll know what to do with them." Phil's deep tone sounds like a growl as he speaks. He hasn't turned his head from his job and is the very image of a friendly giant.

"Yes, Mr Phil!" Norah turns around, the tails of her thick coat jumping as she waddles away.

Why does she not sound so nervous around Phil? I can't be more intimidating than an eight-foot bear anima, can I?

She really shouldn't be here. It's utterly ridiculous for a thirteen-year-old prum girl to be running around with a group of adventurers. It may sound stupid, but when working in the monster filled dungeon I could rely on knowing what to expect every day, everybody could, but out in the open world, anything could happen.

Phil stops working and throws me a stare. I meet his eyes and I can tell he knows exactly what I am thinking. "You should take your own advice you know."

The words take me by surprise. "What are you talking about?" Is he calling me young or is he calling me…

"You're only getting older. You should leave more things to us. Norah is quick on her feet and only get quicker, but I can tell little things are beginning to take their toll on you."

Gee, the cheek of this guy, if I was just a few years young-*ahem*-if he was just a head shorter I'd pile drive this anima into the ground.

I click my tongue displeased. "I'm thirty-five." I force the words out with a scowl. Why is everybody telling me I'm old? I'm a level three adventurer for Tenkai sake!

Phil lets out a weary sigh as if I'M the one being unreasonable. "You and I both know that you're for-"

"AAAAH!" The scream cuts through the air.

Both Phil and I turn and spot Norah on her behind pointing at the baggage moved out of the tent.

My mind immediately wonders where did Wako go? I thought she was minding the baggage. I look left and right and spot her marching out of the tent with Lady Hera's travelling staff.

Norah looks shaken, not hurt which is a relief. Whatever it was, gave her a scare, not a stab. A general rule for adventuring, a scare is better than a stab. Stabs are harder to recover from and boy do I have the scars to be back myself up on that one.

I nod for Phil to follow me; a bad feeling irks my thoughts. I silently hope it's nothing, that maybe Norah is squeamish around bugs or something and a centipede crawled across her hand. That'd be wishful thinking but after a year of camping, bugs become a nuisance more than an object of fear.

At first, I take a casual air about it but when I am just less than three meders away Norah points with a shaking hand at the baggage. "S-something moved! Something in our bags!" She exclaims.

Instantly I reach for my crossbow, unslinging it from back and Phil does the same, taking the broad two-handed swords out of its scabbard over his shoulder. I'm going to tell Norah off if this is nothing.

I approach slowly, the middling size of bags doesn't stir. In fact, it looks deathly still but my hunter instincts tell me there is something there. No not something… more like.

"SQUUEEEEEEEEEE!" I pull my hand back just inches from lifting the first bag as the baggage pile erupts, spitting forward three different shadows. I casually dodge a bag flying at my face, being level 3 makes the world feel slow in a fight. Half a second is more than enough time to react and dodge for me.

They are small, humanoid, jump on all fours like monkeys. But make no mistake, they are no breed of monkeys I know. Their wispy thin limbs clutch onto the few belongings they stole. They run side by side as they make a break for the forest line.

"PHIL!" I shout and not a moment later I hear a huge growl and a *whoosh* sound as a large pointy object flies threateningly close past and crashes into the leftmost one.

I'm a little surprised and perhaps frightened to the spot for a moment as I realise that the object jutting out of the ground where a kobold runt once existed, the object which I swear sliced the ends off my stubble, is Phil's gargantuan six-foot-long two handed swords.

"Kobold runts!" Phil takes a deep breath as he recovers from the exertion of his throw. He glances a look at me and I and we come to a silent agreement.

I lift my crossbow and train it on the one in the middle, but I only have one shot and with a target so small I can't waste it here. "Wako, you take right, I take point!" I sprint off after the middle one.

"What?! Wait! What's going on?!" I hear Wako call out behind me as I bust through the forest line after the middle kobold runt.

Kobolds are usually prum sized creatures. They are savage and vicious however they are quite weak. These ones are different from their native cousins, they are even smaller, have no weapons besides their cat-like claws, their faces are pointed into a reptilian-like snout and their eyes shifty. These aren't fighters, these are thieves.

I crash through vegetation with as much hunter's agility and deftness as I can manage. At the age of twelve, I began my life as a poacher and found my special quality was my sharp eyes. Of course, back then I had a lighter crossbow.

Now I haul a siege crossbow around with me, thanks to the blessing bestowed on me by Hera, I have the strength to compensate for its hefty weight. I swing it around like a bow gun and can even load it on the move, a feat unfathomable for an ordinary human crossbowman.

"You may be fast," I growled through my teeth as I zoned in on the kobold runt ahead. At some point, the two split and as the old proverb goes, chase two and catch neither. I can only hope that Wako is on its tail. "But… Don't underestimate a level 3!"

Even as I say the words though the ground I'm gaining on it is just inches and, as ashamed as I am to admit it, I feel my body begin to tire. It's been a while since I've given my body a proper rest.

My breathing gets heavier and I swear the thing slows down just to taunt me. My vision blurs, shaking in and out.

Nothing to it, I have to take the shot now or lose whatever it's taking to its dark damp lair forever.

I skid to a halt as soon as I have an unbroken line of sight on the thing. It does a spin in the air just taunt me but it's greeted by the sight of a raised crossbow.

Aww look, it was about to stick its tongue out. I feel so special.

"Bolt this!" I pull the trigger and the tight thick wire launches the bolt with such force it sends a big tug running up my arm. The sound of the crossbow is one I can never get used to, in a good way. A silent lethal *whoosh* and the bolt flies with deadly accuracy towards its target.

The bolt misses its mark, implanting itself deep into the trunk of the evergreen behind.

The kobold runt in blind panic drops its item and vanishes up the tree trunk, using the implanted bolt to catapult itself to safety.

I'm frozen to the spot, completely caught in the moment. The only sound is the skittering in the tree branches above and my heavy panting. I find the sight of my bolt implanted into the tree trunk disturbing.

I lift my hand to my chest and tug on the fabric beneath my scale chest plate. My chest feels too tight.

I take a few heavy steps forward, my crossbow lowered and inspect the dropped item. It's a purse, on it is the picture of a lion in a childish fashion sewn into the fabric.

I dangle the purse in the air by the string that keeps it close. Didn't I buy this a while ago for…

I pocket the thing and rub my hand against my forehead, whipping away the sweat. I feel slightly hollow inside for the reward I've laboured myself over.

I pick up Norah's purse and pocket it, shifting my unloaded crossbow over my shoulder and let out my hundredth frustrated sigh as I walk back to camp.

.1

"Mr Creeeeen!" Norah comes running up to me the moment she spots me step out of the wooded forest… and falls flat on her face.

I can only muster the energy to stare at the back of the little girl's head as she rubs tries to get painfully back up to her feet. "Child, stop rushing, you'll only do yourself harm." I drop her purse into her hands and her eyes light up with glee.

"Thaaaank yoooou!" Initially red faced at my comment, she squeals and she hugs her purse into her chest.

I step around Norah to Wako, Phil, and lady Hera who are all waiting for me. From the bitter look on Wako's face, I guess as much that she didn't catch the third kobold runt. There's not much one can do on such short notice.

Lady Hera looks me up and down. "You look exhausted." Her eyes are critical as ever as she glances over at Norah. "So you took care of it?"

I hesitantly nod. "It's still alive… but I doubt it'll brave death again." I scratch the back of my head embarrassed. It feels like I'm making excuses.

The Lady gives a short nod and walks over to the baggage that had been left in a mess. It would have been nice for them to put everything back into a neat pile or at least check what was stolen whilst I was sprinting through the forest.

I look over at Phil. "So what did the one you take down try to steal?"

Phil wordlessly lifts the bag of pegs that Norah had picked out of the ground by its cord, dangling it in the air for a few seconds before setting it back down. Well, that would have been disastrous if the kobold runt got away with our only bag of tent pegs. Now I just have to hold my breath for what the last one stole.

The lady stops over my bag, tipping it over onto its side with her staff. "Your bag is open."

Funny, because I could swear I had left it closed, I think to myself as I walk a brisk pace to my personal belongings. A cold sweat developing. I hold my breath as I kneel down next to my bag and inspect my belongings.

I'm a level three adventurer, for my level ups I chose Magic, and Mystery. Mystery is an ultra-rare ability which… well, I might be going through the dungeon or resting at home but then I get a surge of motivation and my body guides me through the process of creating an item which can only be described as miracle tier. One was an immortality potion which the lady still owes me compensation for, another would be the golden chocolate called ambrosia that heals all wounds, physical, mental, and spiritual. Ambrosia is described as the food of gods and I have about six portions in my bag, thankfully spared from Lady Hera because she got 'bored' of the taste long ago.

I can't replicate these miracles. It's like my body moves on its own as if on strings, but then after I've made this miracle happen, the strings are just suddenly cut. In fact, most of the things created are super rare and cannot be replicated by any known mortal means and so are super valuable.

If I ever fall on hard times, I can just sell my stock of extraordinary items. Each one is unimaginably valuable to adventurers so losing just one, either misplacing or being stolen is just a scenario I don't think I could bring myself to fathom.

Hera shifts uncomfortably on her staff. She understands as well as anybody how valuable the things in my backpack are so when I remove the empty container that had once housed my ambrosia, she understandably, did not have a very pleased expression.

I tearfully face the reality that I'll never taste the food of gods again. The knowledge that somewhere out there may be a kobold runt who is now hopelessly addicted to a food it can never eat again is only a small comfort.

It could be said the most valuable part of this familia is my bag. Forget everything including the goddess, the contents of my backpack hold the biggest sway in any decision. There are things in my backpack which I dare not tell anybody about and are too dangerous to leave behind.

Something else is missing…

I rummage around the backpack, my movements becoming more frantic.

"What is it? What did you lose?" Lady Hera leans down next to me.

My rummaging stops as I resign myself to reality. "I lost my enchanted crossbow bolt…" I see the tension on Lady Hera's face lessen, but I can't say the same for myself. "With miracle, the enchantment will work and it'll come back to me… But…"

It's a special bolt. Enchanted with magic which means that it will return to its owner eventually no matter how many times fired. Also, it's an ideal focus for my magic.

The problem is that the enchantment only works when I fire it from my crossbow. I doubt my mystery level up will help me out here.

Wako strolls up behind me, Phil towering over just behind. "What's up Creen?" She nods at me. She really does not know how to read a situation.

"Nothing." I let the word fall quietly out of my mouth like a sad dying leaf from a tree and get back onto my feet, swinging my backpack over my shoulder next to crossbow. "It was just a keepsake."

A keepsake which I need to take advantage of my magic ability. Without it, none of my magic works. Spells like True shot, fireball, or thundershock don't work. It was basically my wand or staff. With it I could throw magic into one powerful missile, with it I am a level three who's power could rival that of a level four with the terrain in my advantage.

Phil looks back over to the forest. "If it's important we might be able to get it…" He falls quiet as I give him a sad shake of my head.

"M-mr Creen, I-I'm so sorry." Norah tearfully apologises, biting the collar of her coat.

It's hard for me to accept such an apology from a crying child. I don't think she even has the ability to comprehend the loss I've taken.

Quietly I pull the collar of her coat out her mouth. "I can't have you ruin that coat, now can I?" I smile.

This year since we left Orario has really been difficult for me.

.2

With the town of Delpine just a day's travel away, we would have been set to reach there before sundown if only we'd left earlier. Perhaps if we'd left earlier we could have avoided the thieving Kobold runts, but nobody says it.

Instead, I try my best to be as optimistic as my cynical self can manage. That would usually entail acts of kindness of my own. Although being optimistic, or doing acts of kindness leave me exhausted by the end of the day.

Along the way we met with a travelling trader on the road called Ivan, heading to the same place we were. He was kind enough to offer Lady Hera a way to Delpine which didn't involve using her feet. Of course out first meeting was tense because a group of travellers on the road with weapons could be easily mistaken for bandits.

"Mr Creen, I'm tired, my feet hurt…" Norah slugged along, her shoes were practically falling apart, the soles flopped beneath her feet regally, providing inadequate protection from stones. We'd promised to get her new ones in the next town.

Why is that she always complains to me, I wonder to myself as she tugs on my sleeve. Phil and Wako are just on the opposite side of the wagon. Phil had enough strength to carry you and his own two-handed sword, you damn child, stop bothering me. Of course, I couldn't just shake Norah off, that would be heartlessly cruel.

Ivan the merchant had a thick northeastern accent. Clad in warm furs, anybody would envy him during winter, but beneath summer or spring sun I can only feel sorry for the poor fellow. "So what are you guys planning on doing in Delpine?" He pulls on his collar, trying to allow as much circulation flow through his clothes as possible.

Lady Hera barely reacted. She was resting against her staff in the back of the wagon, her eyes closed.

Phil walked on the opposite side of the wagon, he was tall enough to dwarf the driver in his high seat on the wagon. "Business." A barrel of tact he is.

Ivan's eyebrows twitched at Phil's unmoving forward facing glare. He looked over at me with an awkward smile which I shrugged at.

"We are adventurers, some of the best!" Wako crosses her arms with her chest pumped out, her smile cheeky and proud.

"Is that so?" Ivan's face flushed red at Wako's pumped out chest. "Apparently people are having trouble with monsters coming from the forest…" Ivan better not let Wako catch where he's starring.

Oh? Monsters? This picks my interest.

Wako nods, pained as she recalls this morning no doubt. "Yeah, just this morning some of them tried to steal some of our stuff. We got em' good, though." She grins. It's not hard to see that she's trying to make us seem more capable in the eyes of this merchant, but a merchant is more cunning than this, he can read between lines.

The merchant chuckles. "Sounds like they caught you guys by surprise."

"Yeah…" Phil growls and then looks down at Wako to his left. "Somebody wasn't looking after our luggage."

"I was getting Lady Hera's staff!" Wako exclaims.

Well, here we go again… I let out an exasperated sigh on the opposite side of the wagon.

"Mr Creen?" Norah looks up at me concerned.

"It's nothing." I manage a weak smile.

There's a silence. "Sorry." Phil turns his gaze ahead.

"Yeah, let's drop this." Wako throws a glance at me before storming off ahead.

Well, that didn't go as I expected. If anything this change from the usual drill makes me uncomfortable. At least when they were arguing I felt like I had predicted something coming, now if they start changing on me, shaking up their routine, how will I be able to deal with them then?

I look down at Norah. Don't you ever change on me. Stay cute and annoying forever.

"Mr Creen?" She stares up at me with wide eyes.

"Nothing." I look up and over at Ivan. "So tell us about these monsters. We ran into a few, they seemed quite brave raiding a camp of armed adventurers."

The merchant strokes his chin. "Adventurers eh?" he looks me up and down. "I suppose that makes sense. Well, I don't know much but there's a mist that goes around, it's called the red mist. Not because it's red though, but because it makes the monsters braver, stronger, more organized. It's strange. It hangs around for about a month and then leaves. But nobodies seen the mist, there's usually some time to prepare because it moves slowly across the land. I'm no expert but as a trader, I know that the red mist I'm thinking of is still way down south in the desert kingdom of Mumphet."

That does sound like an issue. But I didn't think monster populations got large enough for a bit more organization to be a problem. the problem might be the timing of the sudden change in monster activities.

It's coming to Spring, if this red mist, or whatever it is, has just arrived then this could be a problem for rural farmers. They wouldn't feel safe working in their field. It is said that the prosperity of a town is not determined by the influx of coin, but more the availability of grain. Grain products are usually cheap. Without grain, prices of more expensive foods go up. A constant supply of grain is important then, especially in a town up north. A worker needs to eat after all, and a farmer won't sow seed if his life is in danger of being killed by monsters. The town of Delpine is in for a hard year if the problem isn't sorted out.

Typically, though, I imagine there should be a few familias chasing this red mist so it can't be that much of a problem. I wouldn't be at all surprised either whether the town of Delpine was under the constant vigil of a familia of its own.

Hera and Zeus are not the only gods and goddesses outside of Orario. For instance, I heard Aries, god of war, sits on the throne of his own empire which even Orario feels threatened by. Of course, most familias did not have the great fortune of Aries to have gotten so far outside of Orario.

That might be interesting. After kicking out the Zeus and Hera familias, Loki, Freya and all the other old allies of our familia who betrayed us would be thrown out singlehandedly by an outside force. Talking about getting comeuppance. But it's no joke, though.

I don't press the issue further because Norah makes another complaint, for the umpteenth time. I can tell by the way she wobbles, and the stiff upper lip, that she is trying her hardest with her broken shoes on the hard uneven rocky road, but -no pun intended- it's an uphill battle.

I look over at Phil with a pleading expression.

"I'll take your crossbow and backpack." I see the hint of a smile.

Thanks a lot. I reluctantly hand over the siege crossbow and my backpack. His arms tense under the weight, I can see he had not expected my 'light' crossbow to weigh as much, but he keeps to his word and shoulders the burden-dang it, not another pun!-.

"Are we almost there yer? How far is it? Mr Creen, my feet hurt." Oh for Tenkai sake, she's so impatient. I guess ignoring her hasn't helped.

"Hmm… I don't know… I can't see the town from here." I rub my jaw thoughtfully, naturally, Norah doesn't like that response. As if acting out a play I clap my hands together as though I've just had a 'eureka' moment. I crouch down in front on Norah. "Here, if you get on my shoulders you can see the town before us and tell us how far it is, yeah?"

I don't think I'm good with children. I've been told I frighten them when they see me come over the crest of a hill with my scale armour beneath my black tattered traveling coat, a menacing spiked siege crossbow over my shoulder. That's a complete exaggeration of my character. I think I'm at least good at handling Norah.

Norah understandably shies away at first but then agrees. "Okay!"

Thank the gods, now I don't have to deal with her whining for the rest of the day… Making myself look the fool is a brilliant trade-off for that liberty.

I have plenty of practice not voicing my thoughts or emotions, so most of my rude and spiteful thoughts are kept hidden from their targets. I'm not a fan of offending people or making hurtful gestures or comments, but thoughts, however, is an entirely different topic to tread.

Gak! She's much heavier than I thought! For a small thing with just over the body volume of two ferrets, she is astoundingly heavy. Was this a characteristic of prums or just her?

Maybe I am getting old, my back isn't what it used to be. No, wait! Stop it, must not think of age!

"Um… Mr Creen… U-um, are you okay?" Norah asks nervously. I've been frozen to the spot ever since she climbed on my shoulders, unsure as to whether my back has the strength to withstand this weight.

O-okay? Yeah sure, my knees just buckled under your surprisingly heavyweight, of course, I can't say that because it'd break the poor timid girl's heart.

I put all my strength into lifting myself off the ground and catch up to the wagon. I feel Wako and Phil throwing me sly smiles as Norah pulls my hair during my rush to catch up with the wagon. Even Ivan and Lady Hera have peaceful expressions on their faces as they listen to Norah's nervous yelps of panic.

"W-waaah!" She tightens her grip on my head as I hurry to catch up with the wagon.

To my left, I feel like even Lady Hera threw me a smirk. What is it? Are they laughing at me? Did you know how heavy Norah was before hand?

I grind my teeth quietly but force a smile as I slow down. "Sorry about that, just catching up with the rest of the group." To my despair, Norah laughs and tells me to run again, which I half concede to those demands but I know my physical limits.

I am getting old, aren't I? I let out a heavy sigh. My inability to grasp this reality is likely going to put me into some really bad scenarios.

The scenery slowly changes over the course of the day. By the evening, the forest to the left gets further and further away from the road before breaking out into flats. Even the frosty hills to our right slowly even out and before I know it we are crossing a large stone bridge. The fast running river marks the border between the farmland of Delpine and the rough wilderness to the south.

It's comforting to be greeted by the sight of civilisation, I think at first, but I notice that farmsteads that looked recently lived in are abandoned. Tools and baskets were thrown about across their back yards as though some sort of animal had been digging through their shed. In the golden tinted light of the late evening sun, the abandoned farmhouses give off a chill of their own.

Ivan looks beaming at the sight, however. I look in the back of his carriage and spot several sets of farming tools and a few sacks of grain. Just how much did the sacks of grain cost him to procure this time of year? What a devilish money maker. I suppose there is profit to be made in the suffering of others.

But I think he's arrived at the scene of Delpine too early to truly profit from his scheme. Delpine's stores of grain will still be sufficient to carry it through until summer.

The crafty merchant catches my eyes on the contents of his wagon and gives me a cunning smile. "Seems you've uncovered my plot." He laughs half-jokingly.

I shrug. "We are adventurers; we know you got to make money to survive. Taking advantage of opportunities is day to day."

It's rare for a level 3 adventurer like me to be outside Orario, I'm incredibly powerful and valuable to many familia in this environment. If I threw off the mantle of the Hera familia it wouldn't be hard for me to head back to Orario on my own and find work there. But… I look over to Wako and Phil, believe it or not, I do consider them my friends. There's a heavy burden on my shoulders, Norah as well, how certain would her future in the familia be if I up and left. As for Lady Hera, I believe she owes me a debt, a debt at some point I intend to collect.

I have always wanted to be a merchant and when I look at young Ivan, I'm painfully reminded of this seemingly unobtainable dream. I know how to weigh what's important to me. Would I risk an uncertain life and throw away these delicate level one and two adventurers just for myself? The guilt would far outweigh my profit so no.

I look down at myself with a smirk at my own hypocrisy. Perhaps I am a bit of a romantic after all. Just a little bit, though. Perhaps age has made me so.

I guess we'll see how things go in Delpine. I'm sure they will have plenty of issues of their own in store for us.

I only have a day there so shopping is going to be hectic. Perhaps painfully so. I can't help feel downtrodden by this despair. Does Lady Hera have no mercy? My supply of crossbow bolts is down to its last three. My quiver is practically empty.

I can't speak for the rest of the group, but I do think a bit of rest will help us all. Equipment maintenance and supply replenishment should go without saying.

Ivan's wagon jolts as the wheel grinds over a rock on the road. He curses beneath his breath.

An idea pops into my head. "Ivan, I have a favour to ask."

He looks away from the road for a second with a blank expression on his face. He's practically unreadable.

I must look quite the idiot, attempting to be serious whilst a child tugs on my hair as she sits on my shoulders. I do wish she'd stop this pulling, I'm fortunate enough not to have gone bold over the years and I don't want that to go waste because of her.

"I've got a problem. And there is going to be money in it for you depending on your capital if you're in for a bit of profiteering." I need to speak Ivan's language if I want to keep up with him in negotiation.

His expression lightens and I think I've caught his interest. "I suppose I may be of service depending on the price." He smiles ruefully.

I chuckle lightly, all for show. I feel the gaze of Lady Hera on me but I do not falter. Surely she is wondering what I am up to. "Well, you see I'm not going to be in town very long, I doubt I'll have time to look around for the things we need to stock up for our next journey."

A pained smile crosses his face. "So you want me to collect them for you."

I nod. I don't have to point out the benefits of the scheme. He'll buy the items I need at their market price, and I, will buy them off him at his price. But the risks in his mind are that I may decide to jump town before he makes an offer, leaving him with goods he doesn't want. Naturally, he wants some sort of promise.

Nodding like a teacher satisfied with his student's answer, I go on to the next step of my plan. "You see, I'm thinking of staying in Delpine at least long enough to check out the mystery with the monsters, it would hurt my pride as an adventurer if I didn't. Norah here also needs new shoes, and whilst I'm at it, I might as well have her practice her reading and writing."

It would not hurt my pride if I didn't see any monsters. But I think I'm growing dull. The dungeon monsters which kept me as sharp as a fencer's rapier have been cut off from me. I can't speak for the others, but I think it'd be nice to spend an hour or two to reconnect with my former skill.

The lack of response from Norah makes me wonder whether she is with us. Every now and then I do feel her lurch to one side followed by a painful tug. Don't tell me she's falling asleep on my shoulders.

The sun is just on the horizon, the sky behind us starting to turn purple. I suppose it's natural that she'd start to get tired.

Another rock passes under the wagon wheel and jumps the wagon. Ivan darts his gaze back ahead, slightly flustered. "R-right. I see, maybe I can help you there. When do you need them?"

I keep a calm face, however, on the inside, it's as though fireworks of triumph are firing off. "The day after tomorrow is the deadline. I can pay you in advance for this or…"

Ivan shakes his head hastily. "No, we'll discuss prices after I've fetched them for you."

Theoretically, that will give him the greatest bargaining power, however, the reality is far from it. This is the best case scenario for me because he can't scam money out of me in advance payment and neither can he decide he wants more for his errand at the end. We'll both likely reach a comfortable price, I wanting my supplies and Ivan wanting to get rid of them.

The things I'm looking for are bolts, ingredients for health potions, basically odds and ends for much-needed maintenance. I'll pay for it from my bountiful retirement fund. The familia has earnt itself its first rest in a while on me.

We decide to settle on the finer details when we arrived in town. This is no contract so there's always the possibility in Ivan's mind that I might ruin him. Discussing the details in a fine and professional manner should dispel such concerns, well, hopefully anyway.

With every passing step, we come closer to the town of Delpine. When I look forward along the winding road through the farmland, on the not so distant horizon I see the expanse of buildings and the bright signs of life.

The one job simple job I give Norah, and she falls asleep before she can finish it.