Chapter 3: How Legends Get Started

Okay... So I was Carlin... The Red Mage... now what? I didn't exactly know what was expected of me. Did this job place me under obligations of some sort? If so, I would adhere to them, if not, even better. It had been a few days since I had lost my home my family, and everything. I had yet to do anything substantial in the new life I found myself thrust into. I had found a few oddjobs here and there from people to get the funds I needed to keep myself fed and sheltered, but that was pretty much it, except for having taken up BlackSmithing I'd forged myself a Mythril Dagger and sold off the old Bronze one at the auction house.

"At least it helped me get experienced with me Jay Oh Bee." I muttered to myself bitterly. Not that I didn't appreciate having abit more of a clue as to who and what I was in the world but the question remained, what was I going to do with this? I did not think it wise to go all that far from Bastok, though many told me with my current skill level I was more then capable of it. There was plenty of work I could do here, so why bother going anywehre else? Sure my family was gone... But realisitcally, what could I do about that? I hadn't the slightest clue where they'd been taken and I highly doubted anyone here in Bastok would know anything.

Well, at least I knew that.. if I WANTED to... I could go a fair way beyond the borders of Bastok, the oddjobs I'd taken had familirized me with my job, and after some studious studying of various scrolls I'd mastered all of the spells up to level 23, which, was essentially how much experience I had with this job of mine, so it evened out. I had even taken up some practice with being a warrior, but found it to be not to my liking, the lack of magic felt like tieing both hands behind my back and being forced to fight with just one foot. Still, it felt good to have something to fall back on when the magic tapped out.

I groggily threw myself out of my bed. Feeling, shambling and fumbling my way to my bathroom. I took my tiem bathing and refreshing myself, there was no need to rush anything, only fools were hurried in their ways, that led to screw ups, which then of course got blamed on everything and anything but oneself. When I was done with that I dried myself off and got dressed in my Red Mage gear, making sure to place my dagger in its hilt at my side.

...sigh...

And so I left my little hole in the wall called a home to greet the oh-so-glorious dust hewn dawn that was the awakening Bastok. First things first, I needed to get something to eat. I went down west headed for The Bastok Markets. I turned and made my way toward the stairwell that led up to the metalworks. Despite the fact that it was still rather early the Bastok Markets were bustiling with activity, I guess those that consider themselves adventurers don't have the same daily routin that normal folk do.

BOOM

"AGH! WHA TH HEY?" I fell over backward and fell flat on my ass. "Ahhhaahhh, owowowowowowwwwwwwwwww..." I rubbed my rear section and cocked one eye to see who the hell had rammed into me. Before I could blink howevr I was pounced upon by the female, who, judging from the long, thin, swishy thing comin out her rear was a Mithra. She had a look of deepest concern on her face that she seemed almost comical when she spoke.

"OHOHOOHOHOH! I'mmm soooo sorrrrry I diddn't mean to huuuuurrrrrrrt youuuu!" She shot out rapid fire as she turned me over and placed her hands on my rear end. For a few seconds everything flashed from normal to white, normal white normal white. Then it stopped, and I for one couldn't have felt more violated.

"WH-wh-what the hell you doin, dontcha think you should at least ASK before you go placin hands on peoples... private areas?" I asked her in a fit of bemusement and confusion more then anger, after all... how could one dislike such a pretty face... that cute nose... that light red hair... those lovely...brown eyes... and that lovely pair of...

"Hey hey hey, if your gunna ogle her you should at least try bein a little nice. It was just an accident afterall." I looked up to see a familiar silver haied gold eyed guy looking down at me with an amused look. "You aint much the ladies man are you?" He asked sarcastically with a light laugh.

I wasn't amused, in fact, I was highly irritated. I stood up and brushed myself off. "Who asked you?And for that matter, what ARE you doin' here? Aintchoo got elsewheres ta be?" I asked.

The Mithra girl suddenly ducked behind the silver haired guy and stuck out her tounge, with closed eyes. "Nuuu! He wasss helpiin me commeee herrre, I goot looost in a nearrrby forrrest and heee helped me ouuut. He helped me get back to glorrrrious wonderrrfull civilization! I was lost forrr a wholee week!"

Whoa, that voice sure was...nice... AGHHHHHHHHHH What am I doin? I have nothing to do with her! "Egh, whatever, I'm getting breakfast at the craftsman's eatery, later..." I turned to resume my quest for noursihment but stopped short when I heard the silver haired guy speak again.

"Breakfast? Hey that sounds good, I haven't eaten a good meal in awhile. Whatya say Silvie?" The cat-girl perked up immediatly when she heard the silver haired guy( I really aaughta think of a shorter name for him) address her.

"Yeah yeah yeah! FISHYFISHY FISHY! You'll pay?" She burst out ecstatically, adding the last part with a cutesy timidity.

"Heheh, Yeah sure, I'll pay, I've got plenty left over from the odd jobs I did. haddya say... uhmmmm.. What was your name again?"

I turned back toward him. "Carlin, Carlin Ve... The Red." This answer earned another hearty laugh from the dubious Paladin.

"Alrighty then Carlin Ve-the The Red. Whats say we all eat breakfast together? can't hurt can it?" I shrugged and turned back to go to the Metalworks.

"Ergh, whatever, sure. Just don't expect me to pay anything." And at long last I headed off to The Metal Works.